Author: Marlowe Clark

Staging can be very helpful in highlighting the best aspects of your home. Decluttering and rearranging furniture can make your home look bigger or more airy. In some cases, it can even hide some minor flaws with clever placement of furniture. But there are some things mere staging can’t hide.

Buyers aren’t going to move your furniture around, but they may check under rugs. Cracked tiles are easily noticeable, and if you try to hide them, buyers will think you’re hiding an even bigger problem. Every buyer is going to look at the windows, even if its just to check out the view. Broken or cracked windows are very obvious. Same with torn screens, which are easy to replace. The most important issue to fix is any roof problems. Having a roof over your head is the reason to live in a home. Buyers will expect you to take care of it.

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For many people, buying a home — especially a first home — is a stress-inducing endeavor. It’s common to worry about whether you’re actually making the right decisions. While no one can tell you which home is right for you, it’s surprisingly simple to figure out whether homeownership is right for you. Chances are, if you can, it’s a good idea.

The most important factor is whether or not you can afford it. Most homebuyers don’t have the money to pay cash for a home, which means you’re probably going to get a loan. That requires two things: a down payment and a high enough credit score. While it’s possible to qualify for a loan with a down payment as low as 3.5%, it’s probably not a sound financial choice. Higher down payments translate to lower mortgage interest rates, and they are also more appealing to sellers. Qualifying for a loan also requires a minimum credit score, as determined by individual lenders. If your credit score is low, it may be difficult to find a lender who will give you a loan.

There is one scenario in which buying may not be the correct plan, even if you can afford it. While renting is certainly more expensive than buying in the long term, and less stable, it could still be cheaper if you don’t plan to stay in one place for long. If you get transferred frequently for your job, it may be better to stick to renting.

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Kitchens are generally a relatively small space. Unfortunately, they need to fit a lot of things — refrigerator and freezer, pantry, oven, dishwasher, sink, counter space, pots and pans. How do people find room for all these things in such a small area? Your kitchen space is probably already cramped, but you may be able to maximize the capacity even further.

Fridge magnets aren’t uncommon, but what is uncommon is that they’re used for any useful purpose. Knife blocks and spice racks can be magnetized and stuck unto your refrigerator. Just make sure the magnet is strong enough; these are not things you want falling. Speaking of racks, overhead racks utilize ceiling space rather than floor space, expanding the effective size of the room. In addition, wine racks don’t necessarily need to be used for wine. They can hold many kinds of bottles. Your cutting board may not actually need to be stored. It’s possible that it fits neatly over your sink. Another thing is drawer inserts. It may seem like they reduce your available space, and they do, by a small amount. But they increase the usability of your space by ensuring that you don’t need to dig through things you don’t need to get to what you do need.

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Traditional water heaters are generally not visually appealing, and are often hidden as much as possible. But a water heater is a pretty important appliance, so no one wants to go without one. There is one potential solution: a tankless water heater. This choice isn’t for everyone, though. Going tankless has pros and cons.

You aren’t going to be worried about someone seeing your tankless water heater. They’re much smaller — about 20 in by 28 in, rather than 24 in by 60 in — and feature more appealing designs. This also means they free up more space, which always impresses buyers. Tankless water heaters also are significantly more energy efficient. This is because they heat the water only when needed, rather than constantly. It also leads to them lasting about twice as long as traditional water heaters, about twenty years rather than ten.

The big drawback? Well, they don’t have a tank, which means they can’t store large quantities of water. Their effectiveness is limited to a few gallons at a time, so running the dishwasher and washing machine at the same time, or two people taking a hot shower simply won’t work. The other con to tankless water heaters is that they’re more expensive, at approximately $1000 compared to $300-400 for a traditional water heater. Given the higher energy efficiency and longer lifespan, you’ll likely save money in the long run, but the upfront cost difference is significant.

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Water leaks or burst pipes can be disastrous and unpredictable, but many homeowners don’t know how to maintain their plumbing. Obviously, a plumber could do a lot more than the average homeowner, but you can still do your part to help the pipes last longer. Long-term stress is the primary cause of plumbing issues, so reducing their work load is the most effective preventative method.

Most people enjoy high water pressure when showering, and may even upgrade to a higher pressure system. But higher water pressure means higher pressure on your pipes. They will slowly start to wear down. If your water pressure is higher 80 psi, consider hiring a plumber to lower it. The $300-400 expenditure is a sizable sum, but still far less than the cost of a water leak. Another thing that can damage the pipes is having a lot of minerals in the water. Think about purchasing a water softener, which will also improve the effectiveness of your washer and dishwasher. They are expensive, though; a good water softener will cost about $500. One method that doesn’t cost you anything at all is to simply avoid pouring grease down the drain. It may seem like liquid grease will pass through easily, but it solidifies as it cools and can clog the pipes over time.

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There are several options to decorate your windows. Some of them also help maintain privacy. The most common is window curtains, but there are other things you can do to make your windows more stylish.

If your window isn’t in a location that necessitates privacy, such as the kitchen, try putting some plants on the windowsill. A traditional valance performs a similar job, but you can also use painted wood or metal to achieve the same effect. For more privacy, consider frosted glass. It lets in more light without being see-through, and doesn’t need to be fiddled with. If you’re the more traditional sort, you can opt for pull-down shades, which aren’t as commonly used nowadays but do the same thing as curtains.

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Out-of-state purchases are becoming more common, with improvements in remote showing technology as well as increased popularity of the work-from-home model. People have even been purchasing sight-unseen, and requesting remote closing processes. Remote transactions may not be what you’re looking for, but regardless of your reasons for buying in another state, being prepared is even more more important than usual.

While big-name real estate agents are big for a reason, it may be more beneficial to choose a local agent for the area you’re looking in. They will be more intimately familiar with the area. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, especially about the area’s transaction process. You may think you’ve been through it before, but it could be different in another state. Even if you’ve been to the state before, a local agent will likely know more than you. Not just the agent, either — ask the locals questions as well.

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Many homeowners don’t want to consider renovations unless they plan to continue to live there, or the home is in dire need of upgrades. After all, part of the return on investment is emotional. But there are some relatively inexpensive upgrades that can boost your home’s value immediately.

Instead of committing time and money to replacing floors and countertops, update some less permanent fixtures. Replace mirrors and light fixtures, making sure they coordinate with the space and with each other. Professionally cleaning the floors often does just as good a job as replacing it for a much lower cost, especially if you have carpet. While higher end models can be expensive, new appliances won’t necessarily break the bank and will definitely be appreciated by buyers.

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