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Are you ready for a new home?
Selling your family home is hardly ever about building your financial portfolio. For most of us, it’s usually a matter of necessity.
A growing young family or a changing lifestyle usually demands extra space. Maybe your kids are old enough now that they need separate rooms. If you have outgrown your living quarters — for whatever reason — it’s time to explore a move-up forever home.
How can you tell that it’s time to move? Here are four common scenarios:
1. You’ve had a change in family size. Whether someone is moving in or you have a baby on the way, you naturally need more space for more people. If you’re struggling to achieve functionality with your current setup, then you need a home with additional rooms.
2. Your DIY and design projects don’t happen — or they cost too much. Maybe you bought your starter home intending to renovate it, but you underestimated how difficult it is to fix up a house. If your fixer-upper has become a money pit or a huge source of stress, it may be time to call it quits and seek greener pastures.
3. You find it difficult to entertain or have guests over. If you have too little space to host or have few boundaries between your party and private space, it’s hard to entertain comfortably. A larger home that allows more freedom and possibilities for hosting will better align with your needs.
4. You spend all your time in other parts of town. Imagine being closer to work and your favorite restaurants. Instead of wasting hours in your car, why not pick a home that’s close to everything you love?
And if everyone else in the neighborhood is selling, it may be a sign that it’s the perfect time for you to do the same.
Are you ready to find your next home? Get in touch today.
The True Value of a Real Estate Agent
With the wealth of information available online, many of today’s consumers are incredibly knowledgeable about the homebuying and selling process. Add in the desire to save — or make — as much money as possible, and it’s easy to see why you might be tempted to pass on hiring an agent.
But before flying solo, consider the benefits of having an empathetic and experienced negotiator on your side.
Local Data and Insider Knowledge
You may have lived in your neighborhood since the kids started school and know exactly how much the neighbor’s house sold for. But do you have all the tools of an expert? An agent’s local data can show you everything that’s selling right now and what buyers in your area are prepared to pay for your house.
Contract Expertise
Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make — and the amount of paperwork and legal jargon required proves it. Omitting or miswording even one line can lead to a costly mistake that’s much higher than the price of an agent’s commission.
Skilled Negotiation
Haggling over contract contingencies and home pricing can lead to negotiation fatigue and poor judgment calls for emotionally invested buyers and sellers. One key reason to work with a real estate agent is to have an experienced negotiator who’ll put your best interests first.
Professional Networks
The complexity of property transactions means contractors, attorneys, lenders and financial advisers are also involved. A well-connected agent can put you in touch with other qualified and trustworthy real estate professionals who are ready to help.
Thinking about listing your home? Or looking for a new place to call home? Reach out today.
Can You Invest in Real Estate as a Millennial?
Millennials who want to invest in real estate have it harder than many other generations. Real estate prices are at record or near-record highs in just about every major market in the country, and even though employment is good, wages still haven’t kept up with the home price increases, making it tougher than ever to start building a real estate portfolio — especially on an entry-level income.
But that doesn’t mean the American Dream is dead for millennials. In fact, many millennials have an advantage when it comes to real estate investing: They are more tech-savvy than any other adult generation to date, and new tech-driven methods and strategies of investing are supplementing traditional investment methods and strategies.
So how does a millennial get a foot on the property ownership and investment ladder?
Make your credit shine
Investing in real estate often involves borrowing money, usually from a bank or a nonbank lender. That means convincing strangers that you are trustworthy and will more than likely pay back the money you owe, and in this day and age, their inclination to trust you will depend heavily on your credit score.
So take all the appropriate action to polish up your credit. Pay off as much debt as you can, always pay your bills on time, maintain old lines of credit, and try not to use too much of your available credit. You can request your own credit report from the major credit bureaus once each year for free, and a credit counselor can help you identify which debts to pay first and how to improve your credit score if you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
Once you start seeing that score increase, resist the temptation to use it to buy something big. It’s only natural, but if your goal is to start building wealth using real estate, then you’re going to want to keep increasing your credit score — and a big purchase will definitely ding it for a spell.
Save whatever you can
The less money you have to borrow, the less overall interest you’ll pay, and the bigger reward you could reap from your investment. If you want to buy property yourself, you’ll also discover that the more you bring to the table in terms of a down payment, the lower your monthly payment will be. Mortgage loan borrowers who don’t have at least 20% of the home’s sales price will usually have to pay mortgage insurance every month, so whenever you are buying property, having at least a 20% down payment is an excellent rule of thumb.
Saving can help you in other ways besides a down payment. Lenders are going to want to see evidence that you can be responsible with money, and saving money over time is an excellent point in your favor.
And even if you don’t plan on investing in real estate directly, instead going the route of a crowdfunding or real estate investment trust (REIT), saving a lot of money is still going to give you a lot more flexibility and more options than saving a little money. No matter what your investment strategy, a comfortable nest egg can only make it stronger.
Network
Networking feels like a dirty word to some people, conjuring up images of stale pastries, lukewarm coffee, and insincere handshakes. But no truly successful real estate investor is an island — to flip a house and make money doing it, for example, you will need to know and trust an electrician, plumber, general contractor, inspector, supplier … the list goes on.
Not every real estate investor is going to require an entire posse, of course, but it’s still a good idea to spend some time getting to know people who may be part of a long and beautiful business relationship. And if you really don’t enjoy traditional networking events and aren’t your best self when you attend them, then don’t. Instead, find some online communities where you can ask questions and learn. Grab a group of friends who you know have an interest in real estate investment and coordinate a meet-up in your living room. Strike up a conversation with the person you’re always seeing at the home improvement store.
Relationships are key in every business, and real estate is no exception. Investors who have been in the business for years can tell you that some of their best deals emerged because they knew the right person at the right time. Be friendly and interested in what other people are doing and try to attune yourself to their needs, and you will be pleasantly surprised by the opportunities and offers that unfold as a result.
Don’t be afraid to start somewhere …
The big problem with making a decision to invest in real estate is that it feels like a very big decision. It can be paralyzing. Would-be investors who are afraid of making a mistake with their money instead make the very big mistake of not doing anything at all. As Wayne Gretzky told us, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Investing in anything can be risky — there is always the chance that you’ll lose the money you put into the venture. And real estate feels especially risky because the purchases are significant and you’re often borrowing money to make them. The good news is that there are many less-risky options than buying a house by yourself and trying to flip or rent it, so explore the avenues open to you and consider taking a few small steps before you jump in with both feet.
But don’t make the mistake of waiting forever to get into the game. You’re missing an opportunity to learn more about the business and hone your strategy until it’s perfect.
… But don’t let your emotions take control
Homes can be very emotional places for us humans, who spend thousands of vulnerable moments in homes every day. And it’s absolutely normal and natural for some of those feelings to overflow into a real estate investment deal, especially if you’re walking through a house that you’re thinking of buying and suddenly some detail brings back your childhood home in full force.
Emotional responses to homes can range anywhere from “I’ve always wanted to live in a home just like this!” to “This place reminds me of So-And-So’s house, and So-And-So did me wrong.” If you find yourself having a strong gut reaction one way or the other to a real estate opportunity, don’t make any sudden movements or rash decisions. Ask yourself why you reacted that way and try to figure out whether that information has any logical bearing on the deal before you proceed either way.
Study the market
It’s easy to be distracted by national headlines about real estate prices, but real estate is an intensely local business, and a market trend that’s clearly evident in most of the country might not apply to one small area that you know intimately. Paying attention to national stories is always useful, but smart real estate investors spend more time examining the local market.
Some of that market research should be data-driven, but don’t discount anecdotal evidence from your network, either. If the local multiple listing service (MLS) reports that home prices have stopped creeping up, and your favorite mortgage broker revealed over lunchtime that it’s become much harder to find loan origination clients and his business has decreased as a result, those two pieces of evidence could give you an early indication that home prices are going to drop in the near future (and you could get some deals out of it).
Multifamily? It’s an option!
It doesn’t occur to most people to buy a duplex, triplex, or four-unit apartment for their first home, but it can make a lot of sense, especially for millennials. The cost is usually higher than a typical entry-level home, which is definitely a barrier, but if you buy a building with two to four units and live in one of the units, you can often qualify for better loan terms, and your insurance and tax rates will also be lower.
Taking this route requires a lot of planning and a solid budget. You’ll want to make sure you have a cash reserve for any repairs you have to make, or for apartment vacancies. And you’ll want to have a plan for how to find and evaluate prospective tenants. But the benefits are also excellent: You’ll have regular help paying off your mortgage and a lot more equity in your home when you eventually do sell it.
Consider REITs
A REIT is a real estate investment trust, which typically involves commercial real estate. Usually, a trust owns and/or manages commercial properties that are rented to tenants, so a REIT can be a relatively hands-off way to dabble in real estate without having to own or manage anything yourself.
Investors can put their money into a REIT either individually and directly, or through a fund like a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund, further removing the investor from direct involvement with the REIT. Some REITs are publicly traded, so anybody can invest in them — just like any other stock offering.
One other advantage to investing in REITs instead of buying real estate yourself is that REITs are liquid; they can be bought and sold quickly, especially compared to a home sale transaction.
Team up with friends and family
There’s no rule that says real estate investing has to be a solo entrepreneur activity. If you have friends or family members who are also interested in real estate investing and want to try pooling resources with you, this can be a great way to increase your price range or even buy a house with all cash if you have enough partners or enough money available.
Some groups of investors in larger markets where real estate is expensive will look to less expensive markets where they can realistically bring an all-cash offer to the table. It helps to know something about the area where you’re investing, of course, but the other advantage to teaming up with other people is that their networks and their experiences will vary. Your office coffee buddy might know about a great vacation rental spot where she went to college. And companies like Roofstock are making it easy to find rental properties with tenants already living in them all over the country.
Could crowdfunding be for you?
It seems obvious that there are huge opportunities for crowdfunded real estate, but many would-be investors don’t even know it exists. The idea is similar to teaming up with friends and family, only on a much bigger scale, which increases your options.
Crowdfunded real estate comes in all shapes and sizes. A REIT is a form of crowdfunding that’s been around for a long time, but there are also crowdfunding platforms for commercial, multifamily, residential, rental, and even for down payments on homes. There are dozens of websites with lots of options, and you don’t need thousands of dollars to jump in — usually a few hundred will work just fine.
Building wealth through real estate is an accessible avenue to financial independence for everyone, even (especially!) millennials. By researching and exploring all options, then jumping in with both feet, you’ll find that it’s a wide-open opportunity for you, too!
Renting vs. buying: Where do you land?
You’ve always been told that owning a home is the ultimate American dream.
Imagine renovating your master bath into a mini spa or choosing your favorite appliances for your dream kitchen. Or just getting to repaint whatever room you want. Plus, there’s the potential for financial gain when you own.
But renting has its own advantages: flexibility, a smaller financial commitment and the chance to try before you buy.
So when do you know it’s time to take the plunge on a purchase? Answer these questions to see which side of the rent vs. buy debate you might land on:
Why do you want to buy?
Sure, owning a home might be the great American dream — but is it your dream?
For some, the idea of a home where you can raise a family, be close to schools and build a community is enticing. For others, buying is a great investment. But for many, it’s about freedom: the ability to keep pets, renovate and be independent.
Will you stay in the area?
No one has a crystal ball — but knowing how long you plan to live in an area can help as you consider the pros and cons of buying. Generally, longer stays align with purchasing.
If the thought of travel fills you with more passion than the idea of settling down in your dream property, you may not be ready for your forever home. But there’s always the possibility of turning your house into an investment property.
What can you afford?
While renting usually costs less in the short term than purchasing property, owning a home can build long-term net worth. A rent vs. buy calculator can help you understand the costs of each option.
Don’t have the deposit for your dream home now? That doesn’t mean you can’t buy. We can work together to find affordable homes, and there are plenty of low or no down payment mortgage options.
Have questions about buying or financing your purchase? Let’s discuss your next steps.
11 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Start Flipping Houses
Flipping houses can be a path to wealth if you play your cards right, but it can also result in money pits and small returns if you don’t know what you’re doing. To make sure that you’re maximizing your investment and using your time wisely, it helps to spend some time considering what you’re getting yourself into.
If you’ve never flipped a house before, but the thought of being your own boss and managing your own destiny is enticing, then you’ll need to educate yourself about what the flipping process looks like and how you make your money back in a timely manner. So before you get ready to flip your first house, make sure you’re considering (and finding answers to) all of the following questions.
WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT, PURCHASE PRICE OR SALES PRICE?
In 99 real estate flips out of 100, there’s an obvious correct answer — and it’s purchase price. Some rookie flippers don’t realize that there’s an upper limit to any sales price they can possibly attract for a flip, no matter how nice it looks when they’re finished. People shopping in the area will only be willing to spend so many dollars per square foot on a home, and unless you plan on adding square footage (not usually the best way to make money on a flip), you’ll be pretty limited in terms of how high you can set your selling price.
That makes your purchase price the most important aspect of your first real estate flip. You don’t want a house that’s just a little bit underpriced for the market — you want a real deal, a house that’s well under the average market price for the area. These houses usually need some work, and it’s not always easy to locate them and snap them up before other would-be flippers do, so once you’re aware of how purchase price is going to affect your sales decision-making, it’s time to figure out a plan for finding those homes.
HOW WILL YOU FIND THE BEST DEALS?
In most markets, there’s more than one fix-and-flipper looking for a real estate steal, so perusing the MLS while crossing your fingers probably isn’t a great strategy. Most successful flippers who have been doing it for years will have one or more sources for finding these underpriced homes. Divorce court or probate court, which manages unsettled debts when someone dies, can be two good sources for flippers to find those homes. Foreclosed homes might also be a good option for you as a flipper.
The trick is to find a home that is more or less sound, but needs some cosmetic work to bring it up to par with the rest of the market. Ideally, your first flip won’t need anything major like new plumbing or electrical work, foundation work or any other big, expensive fix that’s necessary but mostly invisible. It’s much better if you can put your money where buyers’ eyes will be in terms of updates.
SHOULD YOU GET AN INSPECTION?
Even if you’re paying cash for a home, it’s a really good idea to hire an inspector when you’re flipping your first home. The last thing you want to do is discover while you’re renovating that the house has dry rot or another big, expensive fix (see above), and an inspector can identify those potential issues before you claim the house at the closing table.
Ask the inspector to focus on the major issues, but it’s also helpful to get an idea of what features might be outdated or not up to code so that you can address them while you’re fixing the place up.
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS CAN YOU TACKLE?
We’d all like to fancy ourselves experts at something — but if you’ve never used a screwdriver before, “practicing” contracting skills on your first flip is probably not something you should try. Think about the things that you have experience doing and doing well, whether that’s hanging drywall, painting, installing cabinetry … or absolutely nothing. You need an inventory of the skills that you bring to the table and what you’ll need to hire for, so be brutally honest in your assessment.
There are some people out there with a lot of experience in home improvement who might want to tackle most of the flip themselves. If that’s you, then that’s great — and congratulations on building such enviable life skills! — but don’t forget about timing. If you can hire help and get the house done twice as quickly, that could be well worth the hours you’re spending on contracting help.
WHO’S GOING TO HELP YOU?
Most people can’t tackle a house flip all by themselves, and the most successful flippers have a solid team of helpers (and even backup helpers) who share the burden and meet the deadlines. Once you’ve assessed your own skills, think about what gaps you need to fill and start looking for people who can fit one or more of your gaps. Ask them about their rates and availability, and make sure you pay them on time and maintain good working relationships with them. If this is going to be the first of many high-return flips, then you’ll probably want their help again pretty soon.
WHAT’S YOUR TIMEFRAME — AND IS IT REALISTIC?
A realistic timeframe is going to depend on exactly what needs to be done to the house, which is another excellent reason to get an inspection. Some fixes will take longer than others, so make sure you’re fully aware of what the house needs before you put it back up for sale and make sure you build in plenty of time for each task, plus some wiggle room. Weather, illness, missing supplies or tools, and any number of other annoyances could interfere with your timeline, so anticipate some “scope creep,” as project managers call it, and accommodate it in your timing so that you’re not working against the clock.
DOES THE MARKET MATTER?
Watching television, it’s easy to believe that professional fix-and-flippers can pick a house in just about any neighborhood and make lots of money on the flip. It’s a lovely fantasy, but it just isn’t true — some markets are much more lucrative than others for fix-and-flippers. Markets that are experiencing a lot of price growth, or “hot” markets, tend to yield lower returns for flippers than up-and-coming markets, at least in part because the asking price across the board for any home is high.
Look at the markets where a flip might make sense for you and do some research before you dive in and start making offers. Talk to real estate professionals about what the typical asking price and price per square foot are in the area, and don’t make any decisions about where to plant your first flip until you’re sure you understand the market well enough to choose wisely.
WHAT WILL YOU DO TO BALANCE YOUR PORTFOLIO?
The most successful house flippers usually are dabbling in more than one type of real estate investment, balancing their portfolios to help build wealth. For example, many house flippers are also buy-and-hold rental investors; maybe after every third or fourth or fifth flip, they sink their profits into buying a house to rent, and they keep that house for years.
Whether it’s offering lease options or entering the buy-and-hold arena, it’s probably a good idea for you to figure out which diversification methods appeal to you so that a single missed flip doesn’t sink your business entirely.
CAN YOU JUGGLE MULTIPLE DEALS AT ONCE?
A professional fix-and-flipper knows that they are only as good as their next deal, and the best ones have a method for lining up the next flip while they’re wrapping up their current project. It takes time to search for and buy a home, and if you wait until the flip is done before you start hunting again, then you’ll miss opportunities and wind up with weeks of flipping downtime when you could be working on a new house.
Think about where you’ll find your next flip and start working on it before you’ve wrapped your current one in order to build momentum, stay busy and use your time to its best advantage.
CAN YOU THINK LIKE AN INVESTOR INSTEAD OF A HOMEOWNER?
When you’re flipping a house, it can be tempting to outfit it exactly the way you’d like it if you were going to buy it. From fixtures to features, some flippers get carried away and start choosing top-of-the-line or custom work that might look amazing … but, honestly, doesn’t really appeal to everybody.
Instead of thinking like a homeowner (and imagining yourself moving in), think like an investor. Choose materials and features that are classic and long-lasting, offering wide appeal without sacrificing too much in the way of quality.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO SELL?
Although you don’t want a market so hot that price growth is out of control, you do want to look at a real estate market where homes are moving relatively quickly. Once you’re finished with the flip, you’ll have to get the house on the market and sell it — and that house is going to be your financial responsibility until it’s sold, so it’s wise to find a market where you won’t be waiting too long for qualified buyers to bite.
Flipping houses can be a fun and rewarding way to make money, freeing you from a daily office grind and giving you the opportunity to run your own business. But make sure you understand what it entails and do your homework before you buy your first flip if you don’t want to burn out before you really get started. If you’re smart and thoughtful, you can turn that first flip into the first step on a new career path.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Selling Your Home
Many homeowners will tell you how emotional it was to buy their first home, but you rarely hear about their experience selling it. It’s only natural to grow attached after creating so many wonderful memories, which can make selling a challenging process.
Fortunately, you’re not in it alone. Together, we can simplify the process and make sure you get top dollar when selling your home.
Let’s get started with some simple do’s and don’ts for selling your first home:
What should you do?
- Get your home ready for the market. We’ll collaborate on strategic repairs and updates, home staging, photography and more options to attract buyers.
- Plan for your next move. We’ll work together to make sure that you’ve got your next home lined up when your current home sells.
- Be aware of your timeline. While our goal is to sell your house fast, you never know what hiccups a buyer might encounter along the way. Being aware of your timeline is essential.
- Prepare to negotiate. After the home inspection, the buyer may ask for repairs or concessions. That’s why it’s always best for you to have a local real estate expert represent you when selling.
What shouldn’t you do?
- Don’t assume you have to sell in the spring. Homes are sold every day. In fact, it can often be in your best interest to avoid selling in the spring because you’ll have less competition. Ultimately, the right time to sell is when you’re ready.
- Don’t price based on your emotions. You value your beloved home, but if it’s priced beyond its worth, it will sit on the market. We’ll review local comps and discuss your home’s market value together.
- Don’t forget to plan for the closing. To seal the deal, be fully prepared for settlement. Bring your ID and be prepared to review and sign paperwork.
Have you been thinking about selling your home? Or are you just curious about what it’s worth in today’s market? Reach out today for a comprehensive review.
19 Home Renovation Mistakes to Avoid
One of the very best things about owning your own home is that you can change it to fit yourself and your lifestyle. Home renovations are more popular than ever before, and there are countless shows, blogs, magazines and other resources where you can indulge your dreams of a perfect home — if you’re willing to jump into renovating.
But a home renovation project isn’t a journey for the faint of heart. It’s expensive and time-consuming, and there’s a lot that can go wrong before the finished product is, well, finished. To ensure that your home renovation process goes as smoothly as possible, make sure you don’t make any of the following home renovation mistakes.
FORGETTING ABOUT PERMITS
This might not be something you realize you forgot about until it’s time to sell the house — which is basically the worst possible time to discover that your house needs a permit for something and doesn’t have one. So when you’re sure of what form and shape you want your home renovation to take, do yourself a favor and head to the permitting department at your city or county office and ask them what you’ll need.
In general, you probably don’t need a permit to do things like paint walls, replace cabinetry, repaving your driveway or other minor updates. But if you’re going to be changing a room’s purpose or knocking down a wall, then you definitely want to check on the permits that should be filed to make a change like that.
SETTING AN UNREALISTIC TIMELINE
You’ve no doubt heard horror stories from fellow homeowners about the amount of time it takes to actually finish a renovation. And you might think that those people probably just had bad luck — that won’t happen to you!
Here’s the thing: Everybody thinks that their home renovation is going to be completed on schedule (and on budget, too, but more on that later). Even professional house-flippers who have worked on dozens of renovations can get it wrong. So your timeline needs to reflect the realistic estimates that you’re hearing from contractors, and it also needs to include a little bit of wiggle room in case something outside your control pushes it back.
CREATING AN UNREALISTIC BUDGET
After watching a few different tanned and glossy couples complete a specific renovation for a certain amount of money, you might feel perfectly comfortable deciding that you can designate that certain amount of money for that specific renovation, too. But like your timeline, your budget needs a little bit of room to stretch. Between material upgrades, hiring extra labor, emergencies or any other budget-breakers, at some point during the renovation, you’ll be glad you built in some budgetary breathing room.
BUYING THE CHEAPEST MATERIALS
It’s really tempting to try to discount your way through a home renovation. And one of the easiest ways to do that is by choosing the cheapest materials — but resist! The adage “you get what you pay for” is as true for home renovation materials as anywhere else, and if you’re buying flooring, windows or doors that you’ll have to replace in five years instead of twenty, then you’re not actually saving yourself any money because you’re going to have to do this all again sooner rather than later.
Talk to your contractor (or contractors) about the options open to you, and make sure you understand what sacrifices you might be making in quality or longevity for price.
SKIPPING PREP WORK
If you’ve ever painted a room, then you already understand how critical prep work can be. It’s a lot easier to thoroughly tape off the area you’re going to paint, right? Well, that truism holds for home renovation in general, so make sure you’re doing yourself favors by smoothing the road for yourself.
Cover furniture with drop cloths, for example, or make sure that you’ve got a food prep area set up outside the kitchen that you can use while it’s having work done. The small steps you take to protect your belongings and make necessities more accessible will be well worth the time they take in the long run.
TAKING INACCURATE MEASUREMENTS
If there’s one home renovation mistake that you should try to avoid at all costs, no matter what, this is it. “Measure twice, cut once,” is sound advice, but when it comes to your money and your house, what’s the harm in measuring ten times before you cut?
Imagine realizing that your new cabinets don’t leave enough room for your fridge, for example, or that you didn’t order enough flooring, or that the bookshelves you’re installing are too tall for the office. All of those catastrophes can be avoided if you measure carefully and accurately, so whatever you do, don’t breeze through this step.
STARTING WITHOUT A PLAN
This might not be as critical for smaller projects, but if you’re renovating an entire room or an entire house, then you absolutely need a game plan for exactly what you’re doing and when. Planning also includes your own time, so make a plan for how much time you can devote to the home renovation, and avoid starting projects when you know you aren’t going to have time to finish them.
You’re really going to have to know yourself and your tendencies in order to plan for them and around them. If you’re the kind of person who loves to start projects and has trouble finishing them, then you might want to call in assistance in the form of a friend or loved one to keep you accountable. Or perhaps this is a project you need to outsource. Whatever the case, make a plan that makes sense for you and your lifestyle today.
FAILING TO ANTICIPATE A MESS
A home renovation is usually a big, messy project. There’s likely to be dust everywhere at the very least, and some of your rooms might not be usable while the renovation is taking place. That’s not always a big deal in the case of a closet or bedroom, but when you’re redoing a bathroom or kitchen, then renovating a house where you currently live can get quite a bit trickier.
Be prepared for a big mess, and think especially hard about how it will affect you if you’re living in the house while it’s being renovated. Use plastic sheeting and drop cloths to keep as much of the mess as you can at bay, and realize that any clothes you’re wearing into the construction zone might need a lot of wash cycles before they return to normal, so dress accordingly.
FOLLOWING TRENDS
There’s nothing wrong with admiring a super-trendy house — but nothing dates a house quite like a trend. Remember, shag carpeting and avocado-green kitchen appliances were once the height of trendiness.
If you absolutely love one of the kitchen or bathroom trends that’s been making the rounds and you really want to try it, consider asking your contractor about a modern twist or spin on a classic look that might satiate your desire for the trend without obviously dating the house and the renovation.
USING THE WRONG TOOLS
The beauty of construction tools is that each tool was specifically designed to do one job, and to do it very well. But when you don’t use those tools every day — or if you’re missing a tool that you should have — then it’s pretty tempting to use the wrong tools for a project that you’re trying to finish on time.
But the danger in using the wrong tools isn’t just in potentially damaging your materials or the tool, which can definitely happen; you could also hurt yourself pretty badly trying to leverage a tool in a way it wasn’t designed.
SELECTING THE WRONG PAINT
Some people just look at paint color and think they’re done, but paint comes in so many different finishes and price ranges because it’s meant to be used in different ways. The paint typically used for ceilings is usually less reflective and less sturdy than the paint typically used for walls, so make sure that you’re considering the paint’s purpose as well as its color before you buy.
CHOOSING MATERIALS THAT AREN’T SUSTAINABLE
Even if you aren’t particularly environmentally conscious, there’s a lot of merit in considering “green” building materials and upgrades when you’re renovating. For a start, they can be very appealing to buyers when the time does come to sell — but they’re also often money-savers for you as the homeowner. Low-flow toilets or showerheads, solar panels and other upgrades might be worth adding to your house whenever you renovate so that you can save some money down the road.
IGNORING ADDITIONAL STORAGE OPPORTUNITIES
Almost every house has some odd nooks and crannies that could use a little attention, but they’re often ignored during a home renovation. So when you’re working on your renovation, consider storage and think about creative ways to use it.
When you’re redoing your kitchen cabinets, consider adding a shelved lazy susan to the big, deep corner cabinet so that you can easily access everything you store. Drawer dividers, shelves and bins can also be used to make storing your stuff feel easier and more natural than ever.
NEGLECTING SAFETY MEASURES
Goggles and hard-toed shoes might not feel very sexy, but if splinters go flying or you drop a hammer, you’ll be pretty happy you indulged in them regardless. Make sure you’re following best practices for safety for any renovations you’re helping with — and if you’re hiring out all the work, ask the contractors you interview about their safety practices to make sure everything is in order.
FAILING TO SECURE SUBCONTRACTORS OR BACKUP
Speaking of contractors: It’s commendable if you want to do your entire renovation yourself, but at the very least, make sure you have a backup plan for what you’ll do if something unexpected happens and you can’t finish it yourself.
It’s also not so commendable to mess up your house because you didn’t correctly gauge the level of expertise needed to finish a job … so make sure that you’re actually qualified to complete any renovations that you tackle.
HIRING THE FIRST (OR CHEAPEST) CONTRACTORS YOU TALK TO
Finding and hiring a contractor to work on a home renovation can be incredibly stressful; it’s a huge trust, and you may be tempted to make an “easy” decision by hiring the first person who calls you back, or just going with the cheapest option.
Resist! This is your home, a huge financial investment, and you should really make sure that you can rely on the people you’re hiring to help you realize your dream.
BEING AFRAID TO THINK BIG
Sometimes homeowners just don’t know what’s possible in a renovation, and sometimes they’re worried that their plans might be too complicated. But you might be surprised at what a skilled contractor can accomplish — you can change the entire layout of a bathroom, for example. So if you think you might want it, but you’re not sure it’s possible, just ask! You might be pleasantly surprised.
OVERBUILDING
Overbuilding is the mistake at the opposite end of the spectrum of buying the cheapest materials possible. A room can start to look and feel overwhelming if you don’t consider balance when you’re making your plans, so be wary of adding features … upon features … upon features as you renovate, especially in places like the kitchen and bathroom. It’s easy to get carried away, and the results probably will not have the cumulative impact that you hoped for.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Before you take the first step on your renovation journey, make sure that your mind is set in stone and that you have no intention whatsoever of changing it. Because if you don’t, you’ll be spiraling well beyond the realm of “reasonable and realistic” when it comes to both your budget and your timeline. It’ll stress out your contractors, and the end result is almost never worth it.
Believe it or not, this also applies to changing your mind to accommodate more affordable options when you’re renovating. There will be times when you need to cut corners, but make sure that you’re really okay with cutting this specific corner when that time comes so that you don’t regret eliminating something that you really wish you’d kept.
If you can avoid these mistakes, your renovation will undoubtedly make your house shine. Good luck!
Ceilings Are the Perfect Blank Canvas
One of the many joys of homeownership is incorporating your signature style throughout your home. From furniture and rugs to artwork and paint colors, there are so many ways you can make a space all your own.
But there’s one space in the home that’s often left untouched — the ceiling. Though rarely considered, it’s a vital part of your home’s story.
Whatever your design style, there are plenty of ways to dress up your fifth wall. Check out these ceiling styles that designers and architects are raving about:
Go Modern Minimalist
If you like sleek and elegant design schemes, minimalism is for you. A minimalist home has clean lines in a defined color palette. Forego bright color schemes and add elaborate elements sparingly.
Paint, tile or paneling in black or grey add engaging contrast to ceilings without stealing the show.
Add Some Rustic Charm
If you’d prefer a more accessible look, then rustic style is the answer. It’s comfortable, warm and inviting with neutral tones and natural textures like wood and stone.
Wood is the order of the day with a rustic ceiling motif. Rough-hewn panels, bold beams or reclaimed wood will add stunning character to your barnhouse decor.
Keep It Traditional
If you’re looking for a style that’s casual and understated, consider a classic look. It’s a great option whether you enjoy muted tones or simple pops of color.
For traditional ceilings, bright white paint with recessed lighting is a tried-and-true choice. Your cool and classic fifth wall can be flat or vaulted with lavish details like crown molding or coffers.
Bring the Focal Point Down
If a crisp, white ceiling is your preferred style, you can dress up your fifth wall with a custom pendant or light fixture.
Ready to get rid of those old popcorn ceilings? Get in touch if you’d like referrals to interior designers in our area.
Or reach out today if you’re ready for a new space to design.
14 Deep-Cleaning Tips for New Homeowners
If you’ve never owned a house before, then it’s entirely possible that you’ve never deep-cleaned a house. (Hey, no shame in that game.) But when the house is yours, the desire to see it as clean and sparkling as it can possibly be is strong — and you might have no idea where to start or how to go about getting your clean on.
Don’t panic! Take a deep breath and remind yourself that nobody knows how to do everything. Then follow these tips for new homeowners that will outline exactly how to go about deep-cleaning any home … and how to maintain it so that next time you don’t feel so overwhelmed.
MAKE A LIST, THEN DIVIDE AND CONQUER
The most overwhelming part of deep-cleaning is undeniably the moment when you start to realize just how much there is to do. Before you even let yourself go there, stop and make a list of everything you need to do.
Begin by listing all the rooms in your house. Include a space for your garage, the basement or the attic (if you have one) and for outdoor living spaces like porches, balconies or decks. You might even add a general “outdoor” category for tackling additional projects.
When you have your house more or less divided by space, start listing what needs to be done in each of those spaces. Before you know it, you’ll have a comprehensive list of absolutely everything that you need to do to get your house as clean as it’s ever been.
After you’ve got your master list, start dividing it up. You can assign different rooms to other household members who are helping with the massive clean, or divide it by day of the week so that you’re spacing out your deep cleaning in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you.
START AT THE TOP
Gravity can be your friend or your enemy when you’re cleaning a house. You can avoid a lot of heartache by understanding this truth and beginning your work at the top of each room, moving your way down. That way any dust you’re knocking loose from high shelves or light fixtures will land on a floor that you haven’t yet cleaned instead of a floor you just finished mopping.
It might help to organize your list from literal top to bottom before you even walk into the room. That way you can easily run down the list in order without messing up an area you just cleaned.
DECLUTTER, DECLUTTER, DECLUTTER
When you have a lot of stuff — books, clothes, sports equipment, pots and pans, whatever — then cleaning around all of it becomes a challenge. The first step in any room should be a sweep to assess what you use and what you haven’t touched in a year or more. Anything that falls into the latter category should be considered for disposal — give it to a friend or donate it if you like, but if you haven’t used it or worn it in that long, then maybe you don’t really need it.
It may feel painful in the moment to part from your things, but keeping your house looking neat and clean will be so much easier if you can power through the hard part and let go. Get serious about decluttering now so that your home will look cleaner and more presentable forever.
CLEAN YOUR SCREENS AND WINDOWS
Let’s be honest: Cleaning screens and windows can be a real pain, which is probably why it doesn’t get done very often. But it makes a huge difference in the quality of light that pours through those windows, and it’s well worth addressing at least once a year.
Remove screens and wipe them down and dry them, and make sure you’re washing both the inside and outside of the window. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the windows to minimize streaks — it also helps to wash windows on an overcast day, as bright sunlight can cause the cleaner to dry too quickly, leaving streaks.
While you’re washing the windows, make sure you’re paying some attention to the windowsills both inside and outside the house. These areas can be a magnet for dead flies, dirt or pollen, or other gross or gritty unwanted guests, and you’ll thank yourself for seeing and eliminating them in the moment.
DON’T FORGET THE LIGHT FIXTURES
Windows aren’t the only factors influencing the quality of light in your house. Your light fixtures might be dusty or dirty and you wouldn’t even notice because they’re so far above your head. Make sure that you’re removing and cleaning light fixtures in each room, drying them thoroughly before you replace them.
CLEAN OUT YOUR DRYER VENT
Despite the best effort of lint traps in dryers everywhere, quite a bit of lint still gets into many dryer vents. It’s not only a potential allergen, but also a possible fire hazard, so add “clean out the dryer vents” to any seasonal cleaning lists and make sure you’re paying attention to it at least semi-regularly.
You can find fixtures for your vacuum cleaner online that are supposed to help with this task, and make sure you give the outside vent a good look and clean-out while you’re tackling this job.
LOVE ON YOUR FLOORS
Different types of flooring are going to require different methods of care, and you may have more than one in your house. Steam-clean your carpeting and your tile floors, and also consider re-sealing tile floors — they’ve probably been through a lot, and it never hurts to give them a little sprucing up. Likewise, wood floors can usually use a decent waxing. Whatever your floors need, consider providing it to them on at least an annual basis; after all, they see wear and tear every day but usually don’t get any tender loving care.
ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE, ORGANIZE
If you just moved in, then the odds are good that you’ve still got a box or two packed up and stashed away in a closet. Deep cleaning means deep organization, so if the stray-box theory sounds a lot like you, then it’s time to finally finish the job.
Even if you’ve already unpacked absolutely everything, this is still a good time for you to figure out how you’re going to establish a place for everything and everything in its place. Once you have an organizational system that works, be it for your bookshelves or your toolshed, then all you have to do to keep everything spiffy is follow that system.
DON’T FORGET THE GARAGE, BASEMENT OR ATTIC
Out of sight can sometimes be out of mind, and it’s easy to dismiss areas like garages, basements and attics when you’re deep-cleaning … but don’t make that mistake. Messes have a tendency spread and multiply, so if your house is pristine but your garage is a mess, don’t be surprised when items from the garage disaster start manifesting suddenly in your perfectly clean home.
If you didn’t add the garage, basement or attic to your list of rooms to tackle, do it, and give yourself the same systems and tools in those areas that you’re using in the main house. It’ll keep everything under better control — promise.
VINEGAR-STEAM YOUR MICROWAVE
Microwaves can be beasts to clean well, but as long as you don’t mind the smell of vinegar lingering for a few minutes, there’s an easy way to get your microwave spotless. Put a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water in a microwave-safe container, crank up the power and nuke it for five to ten minutes. Then wipe it down and marvel at how easily all that crusted-on gunk comes off with a little help from chemistry.
TACKLE THE KITCHEN APPLIANCES
If your microwave is crusty, then odds are good that your other kitchen appliances could also use some attention. The oven, the stove and the refrigerator are usually the dirtiest appliances in the house, so make sure you’re putting them on your rotating “to clean” list — and stick to it.
Some newer refrigerators include easy-to-remove shelves and door inserts that you can clean in the dishwasher. If you’re due for a fridge upgrade soon, then look for a model that has some of those cleaning-friendly features.
PLANT PERENNIALS
Now that the inside of the house is spanking clean, it’s time to consider the outside. Apart from basics like mowing the lawn and weeding, you might also consider planting some perennials — plants that come back year after year, so you don’t need to keep replacing them.
Ask the experts at your local nursery about the perennials that grow well in your area and how much care they need. A couple of well-placed rose bushes or a lavender hedge can make your curb appeal pop like never before.
POWER WASH
While you’re sprucing up the outside, rent or borrow (or buy) a power washer and tackle the house itself. You will be amazed how much dust and dirt accrues on the outside of your house, the deck and porch, and other areas — washing it off can make your house look like it’s got a brand-new paint job, plus you’ll be eliminating any cobwebs in the bargain.
MAKE IT A HABIT
If you only do all of these things to your house once a year, then it’s not going to stay clean for very long. Keep your list of rooms and think about your daily and weekly schedule, then try to squeeze in some deep-cleaning work every now and again. You’ll find that your entire house stays cleaner for longer, and any special-event deep cleaning that you might have to do will be much easier when you have a plan for upkeep.
What incentive is better than money?
Are you wondering how to avoid getting into a fast and furious bidding war once you find your dream home? Even if you can afford to pay more, it’s not always the best move.
Money is one thing that turns sellers’ heads, but it’s far from the only incentive when you’re competing with other buyers. So why raise the ante with more money?
If you want to offer your seller something they can’t refuse, try offering a flexible closing date.
Why is the closing date important?
On closing day, the home’s sales documents are signed and ownership changes hands. In most cases, that’s about 30 to 60 days from when your offer is accepted.
But what if that doesn’t work with the seller’s timeline?
How can a flexible closing help you?
Some sellers need to get out fast. They could be relocating and need to move immediately. Maybe they already bought a new home. By offering a fast closing, you can help them to avoid paying two mortgages.
Other sellers need more time. Maybe they’re building their dream home and hit an unexpected construction delay. Your flexibility with a delayed possession date offers them the security of having their new home lined up before they have to move.
How else can we sweeten the deal?
Let’s say the best bid you can make is a bit lower than the listing price. Offering a seller rent-back might encourage them to choose your offer over others that are less accommodating. This lets the seller rent the space from you for a set amount of time until they’re ready to move.
To make a flexible closing date work for you, remember to go on a month-to-month lease or have alternative housing options ready.
When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, keep in mind that understanding what motivates the seller is how we’ll get your offer accepted.
Ready to start your search? Reach out today.
