Tag: tips

One of the most sought-after pieces of information to learn about a potential new neighborhood is the crime rate. No one wants to move to an unsafe area if they can avoid it. Even if you are required to move there because of a situation outside your control, you’ll want to know what you should be on the lookout for and how prepared you need to be. There are a few different websites to help you learn more about crime in your new neighborhood.

SpotCrime and CrimeReports are very similar. Both allow you to enter an address and gain an instant report of recent crimes in the neighborhood. They also both allow you to sign up for alerts. SpotCrime additionally lets you provide information to help others anonymously. Neighborhood Scout provides per capita crime rates in any neighborhood you select, not just your own, and also has a comparison feature that allows you to find other neighborhoods with similar crime rates. Family Watchdog has a more narrow purpose. It specifically looks for the locations of registered sex offenders and informs you if one is living in the area.

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There’s a lot of talk about first-time buyers, from their impact on the housing market to advice to help them secure the home they want. Not as many people talk about first-time sellers. Of course, many first-time sellers already have some experience with the real estate process. They probably bought the house they’re trying to sell, though it’s possible they inherited it. But that doesn’t mean they have experience with selling, and they could still make mistakes.

First-time sellers are often thinking about how much money they can get, rather than whether or not they even can sell successfully. While getting too little money for the sale is a bad idea, you won’t get any money at all if your house doesn’t sell. Instead the primary focus should be on making sure you get offers, then you can enter negotiations. Don’t try to cut corners by selling without an agent. It is an extra expense, for sure, but most prospective buyers won’t even know your property exists without the help of an agent. The agent can also help you set a realistic listing price. If it’s too high, you won’t generate interest, and if it’s too low, people will assume there’s something wrong with the property. Even once you get offers, don’t just pick whichever offer is highest. Take a look at the terms of the offer. The buyer could be asking you to pay for certain costs, which could make a slightly lower offer actually a better deal. In addition, a slightly lower full cash offer avoids financing headaches and possibly some closing costs.

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If you’re in a situation in which you think you’ve settled on an area for your new home, but aren’t getting your offers accepted, you may need to think a bit creatively. Chances are you’re only looking at homes that are currently listed for sale. This may seem obvious, but it’s not the only possibility. Though it most commonly only happens between people who already know each other, it’s not illegal to make offers on off-market homes.

A good way to skirt the opposition is to look for recently expired listings rather than active listings. Your agent can easily set up this search for you. If a listing expired recently, it means the seller probably did want to sell, but wasn’t getting offers. It could also mean the seller wasn’t very serious about selling, but you won’t know which unless you contact them yourself. There’s also another option that’s less likely to work, but more likely to get you what you want if it does work. If you see what you think is your dream home, but it wasn’t on the market at all, you can still try contacting the owner. For the right price, they may be willing to sell even if they weren’t trying to. There are certainly some homeowners who aren’t listing their home only because they think they won’t get a buyer.

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It’s rather common for neighbors to get curious about open houses and just pop in for a look. Most of the time, they aren’t planning to buy anything, let alone a house right next to where they already are. This has the potential to frustrate some sellers who are perceiving more interest than there actually is, but the neighbor is not necessarily simply being a nuisance. Open houses are an excellent opportunity for people planning to sell, as well.

Buyers usually don’t look in their own area, but as a seller, you can definitely use prices in your own area for a general assessment of the value of your own home. This is especially true if the homes are similar, but even a vague less than/greater than guess is better than nothing. Just keep in mind that it’s only a loose estimate. The price point isn’t the only information you can gather from an open house, though. Recently remodeled homes are great pointers for current trends, and can help you decide on how to remodel your own home. You can also pick up general decor tips. Even the things that you find wrong with the house can tell you what not to do.

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It’s pretty typical for first-time homebuyers to purchase a starter home, one that is cheaper and smaller, but that they aren’t planning to live in for an extended period of time. First-time homebuyers expecting children soon, or even who already have children, will instead tend to purchase a larger home that their kids can grow up in. But kids aren’t the only reason to skip the starter home, if you are able to afford something better.

While it’s true that any home you live in will build equity, this is mostly proportional to the value of the home and time owned, barring dramatic shifts in neighborhood desirability. Therefore, a cheaper home that you live in for only a few years will build less equity than a more expensive home that you live in for decades. In fact, if your time spent there is unusually short, it may not even cover the costs of selling the property. There are also less tangible benefits to going straight for your forever home. Getting settled in a community can take a number of years, especially in high-density areas where there is typically a larger percentage of low-income housing than in medium-density areas. If you’re moving out in a few years, you may never feel established as part of the community or be able to form lasting connections.

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It’s common for sellers to perform a few upgrades to their home just prior to selling, in the hopes of fetching a higher price. But there are some upgrades that simply aren’t worth it. Of course, if you’re planning to stay living there, you can go through with these upgrades for yourself. You shouldn’t expect them to help you get a profit, though.

Bathroom remodels are tricky. While remodeled bathrooms are appealing to buyers, they’re also rather expensive. The return on investment usually isn’t very high. Also, if any problems arise, it could result in a much larger amount of time and money spent than expected. This could delay the sale significantly and reduce your profit, even if the end result does bring in interested parties. Living room updates are neither in high demand nor quick. Moreover, if it’s not done in a way potential buyers would want, it could actually reduce interest. While many people nowadays want home offices, unless you need one for yourself, don’t break down walls to convert existing bedrooms. Bedrooms are far more versatile, as they can be used as offices without any structural renovations, or used for their intended purpose. A home with 3 bedrooms and no office is worth more than a home with 2 bedrooms and an office.

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Wood floors are in high demand and significantly increase the value of your home. Unless buyers are specifically looking for the softness of carpeted flooring, even false wood is more appealing than carpet. Of course, hardwood is always going to bring the highest increase in value. Because of this, you may think that if you already have hardwood floors, you don’t need to change anything. But you should still consider replacing it, since new hardwood is even a significant improvement over old hardwood.

It’s fairly simple for buyers to tell if your flooring is old. Hardwood gets scratched and its color dulls. Heavy use and oversanding are easy to spot. Some of these issues can be fixed by simply refinishing it, but if the damage is more than simple wear and tear, such as nails sticking out or boards coming apart, you absolutely want to replace it. Your buyer is going to anyway, so you may as well get more value for your home while improving buyer interest. Even more importantly, old flooring can pose structural issues. This can be spotted anywhere the floor seems to move too much when walking on it.

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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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