Author: Marlowe Clark

You may already be aware of the value of staging your home to attract buyers. Just knowing that you should consider it doesn’t actually tell you how to accomplish that, though. It’s important to note that people spend a lot of time in their bedroom, even when they aren’t sleeping. It’s a place for a multitude of forms of relaxation. So, you want it to look relaxing. If you’re having trouble making your bedrooms look appealing to buyers, maybe these tips will help.

Be careful not to make the place look too much like you, specifically, live there. While staging does involve decorations of some sort, otherwise the place will simply look bland, the decor needs to be somewhat more generic. This allows buyers to imagine themselves living there. On a related note, you should choose neutral colors. You don’t know what colors the buyers will like. They may repaint anyway, but you don’t want to turn them off from even trying. White bed coverings and curtains are best, as they amplify lighting. The position of the furniture is also important. As one would expect, the bed is generally the focal point of a bedroom. It should be situated such that it provides a sense of balance. If possible, put it across from windows or doors. Try to make sure there is space to move around the bed. If none of this is possible, at least place the bed against the room’s longest wall.

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You’re likely aware that having a pool will probably increase the value of your property. But if that’s your only reason to get one, you may want to rethink your plans. It may or may not be a good idea, depending on the circumstances. Of course, if you want a pool anyway for your own use, you may be less inclined to care about the numbers. However, regardless of why you want a pool, there are several factors to consider.

A pool is expensive. It’s not like some small upgrades that can have a major impact over time for a low cost. Unlike energy upgrades, pools don’t generate more value as time goes on; their value changes only with buyer demand. In fact, a pool will actually cost you more money over time, in addition to the large up-front cost. Cleaning and filtering costs add up over time, and having a pool increases your insurance costs. If your plans don’t include using the pool, it may not be a good return on investment. In addition, depending on the area, you may not actually want to increase your home value. Pools are ultimately a luxury feature. If you live in a low-cost area, it’s unlikely that prospective buyers searching in that area have large amounts of money to spend. Conversely, if you live in a high-cost area but don’t have a pool, adding one could help bring your home some more appeal.

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In order to figure out how best to organize your closet, there are two major questions that need to be answered: What can it store, and what do you want to store? The first question may seem obvious, but many people don’t actually properly measure their closet. You’ll want to know exact dimensions and also account for storage aids such as rods, dividers, and shelving. Figure out how to get the most out limited space. You can even hang hangers on other hangers, if you need to.

The second question is rarely considered at all. Any leftover space is generally occupied by anything that can be shoved in there with the clothes. This isn’t optimal, and you should really plan ahead what exactly you want to go in your closet. For example, snow clothes probably don’t need to be there. You’ll only wear them in winter, so you don’t need easy access to them most of the year. Think about what you use each item for, and group the items by function. Also, clothing doesn’t even have to be what it’s used for at all. Maybe all or most of your clothing can be put in a dresser, leaving room in the closet for things like sheets or towels.

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With the current market’s low inventory and high prices, buyers are struggling to find entry-level or starter homes. There is one type of home they can afford to buy, though: fixers. These also aren’t in high demand, so competition isn’t as fierce. The problem is, first-time homebuyers typically don’t want to spend extra or can’t afford the additional cost of fixing up their homes. But that can be resolved with home renovation loans.

Two common home renovation loans are the FHA 203k loan and the Fannie Mae HomeStyle loan. Both require a minimum credit score of 620 and a minimum down payment of 3%. They cover most home improvements, including both structural and cosmetic. However, keep in mind that the FHA 203k loan can only be used for primary residences, while the HomeStyle loan can be used for both primary residences and investment property.

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An increasing number of people are seeking ways to contribute to the environment. While a single person isn’t going to suddenly solve the climate crisis, every little bit can help. Planting gardens improves air quality and also gives you access to fresh fruits, vegetables, or herbs, while also slightly improving your energy efficiency. Some other energy efficiency upgrades can also significantly reduce your annual costs.

Everyone knows about solar panels, and you may even have already upgraded to solar energy. But there are other solar energy upgrades you may not be aware of. There are solar attic fans and solar water heaters as well. If you haven’t upgraded to LED lighting yet, you definitely should. LEDs are massively more energy efficient than regular lightbulbs, which translates to much lower utility bills. They also last longer, so you won’t need to spend money on replacements as often. Even windows have gotten energy efficiency upgrades. Energy efficient windows combined with good insulation reduces the workload of heating and cooling units.

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The idea of open concept living used to be pretty hot, but it’s started to cool down recently. Shifting trends in usage have made open concepts less useful to most families. That doesn’t mean the advantages have disappeared; they’re just not in high demand right now. This is mainly a result of COVID-19, which has made the advantages less appealing and the disadvantages more salient. Ultimately, though, it’s a personal choice.

But what are these pros and cons? The biggest con is noise. Open concept floorplans have fewer walls and doors to muffle sounds from other rooms. With more people transitioning to work-from-home, the added noise is distracting people from their work. In addition, having lots of empty space is just not a priority for most people. Yes, people want larger homes, but that’s to accommodate more usable space, not empty space. The biggest benefit of open concept living, and the reason it rose to popularity, is that the wide open spaces with good natural light allow for excellent entertainment spaces. However, the pandemic had drastically reduced the appeal of hosting indoor events. What it does still accomplish is creating a feeling of togetherness, even when family members are in different rooms.

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Especially if you are a first time buyer, buying a home can be an exciting prospect. Unfortunately, that excitement can lead you to overlook potential problems. Slow down and make sure you know what you’re getting into, otherwise you may regret your purchase. On the bright side, there are a few things you can do to curb potential issues.

Possibly even before looking at homes in an area, you’ll want to get to know the area itself. Visit the neighborhood to learn about the local amenities and maybe meet potential neighbors. When inventory is low, you may be tempted to look at homes that are slightly out of your budget. While this can be a good way to find homes that are overpriced, if it turns out the home is actually out of your price range, don’t think too much about it. Stick to what you know you can afford. But that doesn’t mean go looking for dumps that are well below your price point. Even if you’re a DIY type of person, fixers are a big job and frequently more trouble than you’d expect.

Another thing you don’t want to get involved with is large bidding wars. Even if you eventually win the war, it likely came at the cost of paying more than you intended. It may not be worth the cost anymore. Getting involved in homes that are selling fast also doesn’t give you time to really think about the properties. It could be an excellent deal for someone, but that someone isn’t necessarily you. When you do find a home you like, don’t rush to make an offer immediately. If you think you’ll run out of time, that also means you’ll probably run into a bidding war. Instead, take your time, look at other properties, then come back and look at that property again. You may find you missed some details that could be a dealbreaker.

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In many regions, the weather during much of the year is not very conducive to outdoor living. Which is why many people like to introduce elements of nature into their home with a few houseplants. That’s all fine and well, but with the weather warming up, what about introducing your home into nature?

Instead of bringing plants inside, plant a garden outside. If you don’t have a large enough plot of soil, you can plant a container garden. That way, you can grow your own herbs and vegetables. Your garden becomes an extension of your kitchen. You can make it even more of an outdoor kitchen by cooking outdoors as well. The easiest way to do this is by grilling, but there are even outdoor stoves, ovens, and sinks. The kitchen isn’t the only room you can bring outside. An outdoor patio doesn’t have to have outdoor furniture. You can put a couch, coffee table, and even a TV outside and create a new outdoor living room. Since you probably don’t want to haul these back inside when the weather cools down again, you can invest in a patio covering.

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Moving fraud has increased recently in the wake of the work-from-home relocation boom, nearly doubling from 2020 to 2021. Fortunately, moving fraud is actually fairly easy to detect if you know what you’re looking for. Most of the things you can look out for aren’t necessarily indicative of a fraudulent company, but probably wouldn’t be the case with a good company. Major red flags involve legal requirements not being met or legal information not being provided, and almost surely indicate fraud.

Very importantly, the company must provide a copy of Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move. This is a legal requirement. Included in this document is the requirement that moving companies only collect money for successfully delivered items, meaning demanding up-front payment is illegal. Moving trucks are also subject to FMCSA regulations. If they aren’t willing to provide their FMCSA registration, they probably aren’t registered and therefore not operating legally. The company should also provide contact information, including an exact address, and you should be able to find them online.

There are also less surefire red flags. As usual, “if it’s too good to be true, it’s probably false” applies. Scammers offer low prices to entice customers, but frequently add hidden surcharges or fees, or simply bump up the cost well above their estimate — if they provide one at all. They may say they’ve been around forever, but they may not have any proof of that. Especially if all their reviews are recent. If they’re all five star reviews, they’re probably all fake. Scammers are also frequently very pushy.

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More: https://journal.firsttuesday.us/real-estate-professionals-look-out-for-moving-company-scammers/83501/

Prospective buyers tend to cancel viewings on days of unexpected rain. This makes sense, as most people don’t want to be out in the rain. However, a sudden downpour may actually be an opportunity. If you’re able to tolerate the weather, rainy days are actually the best day to evaluate a home.

Water damage can be extremely expensive to repair. But how are you going to know whether or not a home is prone to water damage? Well, by looking at it in the rain, of course. After rainfall, the water is naturally going to run downhill. If you see water running towards the house, that’s a potential problem. You can also watch for signs of pooling or flooding, especially with waterfront properties, and try to spot leaks before water damage occurs. Sight isn’t the only sense you can use; mildew has a more pronounced smell in the rain. There’s also a bonus advantage — the fact that many people don’t know all this, meaning you’re going to have less competition.

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More: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/look-at-house-rainy-day-37073067

When you’re trying to buy and inventory is low, it may seem inevitable that sometimes there simply isn’t anything available that suits your needs. If this happens to you, it may be that you need to expand the scope of your search. This doesn’t necessarily even mean broadening the range of acceptable homes, but rather looking for them in a different way. There are a couple different options for doing this.

The first option is looking at different media. Many homes are listed on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and can be easily found by your agent or on an aggregator site such as Zillow. Off-MLS sales aren’t common, but they do happen. And they’re becoming more frequent with the increasing popularity of social media sites. You can potentially find listings on sites such as Facebook or Twitter. The other is to look at old listings or listings slightly outside your price range. Often these will actually be one and the same. Overpriced homes tend to sit on the market longer because no one wants them at the current price. But that also means there will be less competition, so you may be able to offer below asking price, even in a generally competitive market. Even if the listing isn’t old yet, you can keep tabs on potentially overpriced listings and see if the price drops or it hangs around for a while.

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Moving to a new area and not knowing anyone there can be an awkward situation. Some people are social butterflies and will be eager to get to know their neighbors. Others may need a little help. Here are a few suggestions to break the ice.

The most forward approach is to simply go up and knock on their door. Not everyone is going to answer the door to strangers, but you may be able to entice them. Consider bringing a gift of homemade cookies or any other dish you know and love. If you don’t want to take the situation to them, you can instead invite them over. Throwing a housewarming party is a great opportunity to invite all your new neighbors, or you can suggest a block party. For the less socially inclined, there’s an option that doesn’t require contact, but can build up familiarity over time. That is taking walks around the neighborhood and simply greeting people you happen across. If you have a dog, there’s a good chance you’ll do this anyway, but it could just be part of your exercise routine.

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When buying a new home, you should not always expect that you’ll stay there forever. This is especially true for first time buyers, who often need to buy a starter home first before they can build up enough equity to buy a forever home. But sometimes it’s the right call. Keep in mind that you don’t actually have to live in your forever home forever; it just means that you could see yourself doing so. And a starter home doesn’t have to be your first home; it can be a middle stage on the way to your forever home. Neither is a binding commitment.

So when should you buy your forever home, and when should you buy a starter home? Starter homes are generally less expensive, and are something you plan to sell later. If you immediately purchase a new home after selling, you may be able to avoid capital gains tax. It’s an investment for the future. The downside is that they’re generally smaller. If you are planning to have kids soon, a smaller home may not be big enough, and moving frequently can be hard on kids. But that isn’t the only factor in determining if you should buy a forever home. Even if you could see yourself living there forever, that doesn’t mean it’s financially sound. More expensive homes will also have higher mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance fees. You may want to consider it, though, if you are able to secure a low interest rate.

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