Home Staging – Increasing Your Homes Market Value

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Increasing Your Homes Market Value

Marketing your home is like dealing with any other product people buy or sell… you need to appeal to the buyer to get the sale.

The goal of staging a home is quite simple… to sell the property for the most amount of money in the least amount of time.

Suppose you can make your property appeal to the most significant number of prospective buyers. In that case, you increase your chances of getting higher offers in a shorter period or even multiple offers.

The first step in staging your home is to de-clutter and depersonalize every room. I tell people to use the 50% rule when de-cluttering their homes. Go through every room in your house and try to reduce the amount of clutter, including furniture, by up to 50%. Think about it… you’re selling your home, so you have to move… why not get a head start on packing.

De-cluttering will make your rooms appear more prominent and allow the buyer to visualize their personal belongings in place of yours. This brings us to the second part of this first step, depersonalizing. When you de-clutter, you are, in a sense depersonalizing at the same time… but you need to take this a step further and put away anything too personal. This would include family photos, religious items, or anything that might distract a buyer. The idea again is to allow the potential buyer to visualize their things instead of yours.

The second step in staging your home now that you have created more space by de-cluttering and depersonalizing is to enhance the attractiveness of each room of your home. You can accomplish this easily with simple techniques such as opening your blinds or curtains to allow as much light as possible. This makes your rooms appear larger. Also, if there is a section of a poorly lit space, consider using a floor lamp that you can turn on when your property is being shown so that the entire room is lit up nicely and brightly.

Now take a good look at the walls of each room… paint is one of the cheapest improvements you can make to a home to increase its value, and it wouldn’t hurt to put on a fresh coat if needed. If re-painting, consider neutral colors, as this will appeal to the most significant number of potential buyers.

Lastly, you probably have your furniture just the way you like it. However, if there is a more practical way to position your furniture, it wouldn’t hurt to re-arrange it. This is especially important if you have a table in the middle of a room, such as a couch in the living room. It would be more practical to position a sofa along a wall to free up the space in the middle of the room.

Consider fabric covers or pillows to make the table more appealing if you have outdated furniture. Or move some of your more dated furniture into a storage locker and contact a home staging company that will bring in more modern furniture while your home is on the market.

These few tips will help you increase the value of your home and should help speed up the sale of your property.

Happy staging!

5 Key Reasons Many Choose To Own, Instead Of Rent!

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Own instead of rent

Although we each need a so-called place to hang our hats and call our home, there are various options and alternatives to continue renting, purchasing, and owning a house. While financial considerations are apparent factors, this article will emphasize five other key factors involved and related to why many choose to buy rather than rent. Remember, however, that each of us has specific personal priorities and a comfort zone that can either be real or not and of service that works with our interests. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, review, and discuss these five considerations and why they often make a huge difference in one’s approach and actions related to this.

 

1. American Dream: Many feel/ believe owning a home is a critical component of the so-called American Dream, and they want to claim their part of that perceived deal. When we hold, our monthly payments, and costs, although often higher than when we rent, instead of going to a landlord. Build some financial equity, and, for the vast percentage of the public, the value of one’s house is their single-biggest financial asset.

2. Pride of home ownership: Beware of the dangers of focusing and emphasizing, Keeping up with the Joneses. It seems many want what is often referred to as bragging – rights and having a house to show – off, even if it may mean more stress and less – than the highest degree of happiness, and satisfaction, in the longer – run with the purchase. Nevertheless, this pride-in-home – ownership is often a major, significant factor.

3. Equity versus mere – expenses: When we rent, we gain, no financial gain, from the years of paying rent and being a tenant. Although some may not be equipped for home owner’s responsibilities, many first-time buyers focus on the potential equity gains of their primary asset. However, it is also essential to consider the dangers of trying to market-time flip houses.

4. Tax advantages: Several tax advantages are associated with owning a house. These include deducting mortgage interest-paid, real estate taxes from one’s gross income, and determining net income for tax filing purposes.

5. Customizable: When you rent, you live in a place owned by someone else, and no matter how – hard you try to make it yours, only when you own is it possible to customize living conditions, and quarters, to meet your personal needs, priorities, perceptions, and, life – situations/ changes.

Whether owning or renting, you can always choose to make a home as cozy as it can be for yourself and your family. 

How To Plan For a Stress Free Move!

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Stress-Free Moving!

Planning in any endeavor is crucial, and it goes true for moving home, too. If you could arrange it, you could be a happy and contented man or woman in your new home, keeping your leg up in your favorite chair and reminiscing about the day you moved for a long time into the future.


Moving is not an easy task, and it would drain you of mental and physical strength throughout the episode. For that, you would need to be ready and face it with courage and wisdom too. The average American is researched to be moving 11 times in his lifetime; that is a lot and also a billion-dollar industry which, because of some rotten eggs, is being relegated as a very corrupt and fraudulent industry in the United States.

The Federal Motor Carriers and Safety Administration are bending backward to make this industry safe. However, we hear very alarming incidents of fraud being perpetrated by some, and gullible people are still falling prey. Planning is essential, and everyone desires to have no untoward thing happening when they move from one location to another.

Finding the best moving company
Hence, early planning should begin with finding the best moving company, which is also like finding a needle in a haystack because there are a dime a dozen movers. Still, all of them are not genuine, and there could be fraudsters in their midst, leaving a bad taste all around, which has given this industry a terrible reputation.
You could begin your moving endeavor by making a complete list of all the Things To Do, tabulating them in a folder, and keeping a record of all you have done to execute your move on the date you chose.

Once you have listed the chores that you may need to accomplish during a specific period, it becomes necessary to ensure that they are followed to the letter and that everything moves to military precision so that you need not tear away your hair when the day comes to do the physical moving. You can’t carry all your belongings by yourself; hence you may need the help of professionals, and after finding them, getting them to handle the move would be prudent.

Listing what to do
Listing what you need to do long before and ticking off one by one when you complete each one would allow you to concentrate on the other little chores concerned with the moving.
Informing the school authorities and obtaining the school leaving certificates to enroll your kids in the new school, then going around to the Post Office and telling them in writing your move and the new address where they should redirect your letters are all necessary chores to attend to. Getting all the family medical records transferred to the new area where you would go to live and informing all your friends and others about your new address is all important. Walking to your bank and telling them and finding out if they have a branch closer to your new home, transferring your accounts, or closing your accounts should also be done.

I am packing fragile and breakables.
It is easy if you start packing the fragile and breakables early into cardboard boxes, and ensuring they can stand some rough handling during transit is also necessary. Going through the stuff you have and then deciding what you would need to take with you and what you would need to dispose of should be done at least two months before moving. This would give less hassle of packing and also would rid unnecessary stuff being carried along with you which does not serve any purpose for you or your family. Labeling the boxes and ensuring that everything that went into it is well and carefully packed and cannot be damaged in transit is what you should provide; this information about the fragile items should be passed on to the professional mover on the day of the move.

Winding up
Get the kids transferred to the new school in the new location you are moving into and get the necessary transfer certificates. If the need arises’ transfer the bank operations to your new site, too, as it would be a hassle for you to come all the way to attend to urgent bank matters. Visit the local Post Office and get the required documentation for the transfer of location and ensure you obtain confirmation because essential documents should not be stolen or lost after you leave.

Documentations
Documentation to confirm that all final utility payments have been settled and confirmation that they are all in order from the relevant authorities, landlords, or estate agents. Having these documents with you is necessary as you may be required to produce them later if the unforeseen happens.

Movers
Written confirmation from the movers and packers to whom you have commissioned your move, confirming they will arrive at the appointed time and date to execute the contracted action. You must select the right mover so that you would not want and wait in wane, and they would not arrive even after collecting some part of the charges that they are expected to receive.

Packing list and inventory
The packers and movers would have to sign the packing list and the inventory while delivering your stuff, and they are obliged to provide the same to your new location; if they fail, you could be in serious trouble. They do not have at least the items on record that have been handed over to them.

Drones Have Landed in the Real Estate Industry!

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Drones in the Real Estate Industry

Real Estate is the second largest industry for drone use, after aerial photography, which is easy to understand when viewing the compelling aerial photos and videos used by many realtors today. Drones are technically referred to as UAVs, “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” or when referring to the drone and ground controller unit, an “Unmanned Aircraft System” (UAS). Today, UAVs are affordable, easy to operate, and highly maneuverable. Though a pilot’s license was once necessary for commercial drone use, the FAA now allows operation with a remote pilot certificate (FAA Section 107 regulations).

How and Why Drones Benefit the Real Estate Industry

Differentiating property listings by offering high-quality aerial photography and video is a hot button for realtors today. Statistics show homes with aerial images sell 68 percent faster than houses marketed using stock photography. Here are nine ways in which real estate agents and brokers are benefiting from drones:

1. Drone photography offers dramatic, captivating images.

Modern drone technology allows real estate professionals to create unique shots quickly GPS-programmed flight paths combined with automatic point-of-interest camera targeting results in professional and appealing views.

2. Drones can shoot engaging virtual tours.

A camera drone can fly throughout a home or office building and travel through each room, creating a detailed virtual tour that stationary photography cannot capture. Today’s video editing software allows agents to create a professional voice-over soundtrack, giving the potential buyer a rich and compelling visual story.

3. Drone photography can show enhanced features of the property.

Aerial photography can capture landscaping shots, outdoor living areas, pools, hot tubs, walking paths, nearby parks, local schools, and other exciting features that potential buyers want to see.

4. Drone photography attracts sellers and will generate new business for the real estate agent.

Using drone photography and videos to market properties is a huge selling point for prospective sellers who want their property presented in the best way possible.

5. Drones provide realtors with a competitive edge.

Real estate listings with drone-produced images and video outperform listings that only offer traditional photos, resulting in increased sales for the agent.

6. Drones are a cost-effective alternative.

Drones are inexpensive to purchase and use. Or realtors can cost-effectively outsource aerial photography to professional drone operators.

7. Drones offer a high-level impact on luxury homes.

Drone photography can highlight a waterfront view, a beautiful garden, expansive grounds, unique swimming pools, or water features. Aerial drone photography can capture the elegance of a high-end property in a way that no other photography method can.

8. Drones offer advantages for commercial real Estate and property development.

Drones are used to plan high-rise apartments and other residential multi-unit projects. They are used to inspect, survey, and market the property to potential buyers and for aerial overviews of the land to be developed and surrounding neighborhoods.

9. Drones aid in the roof and home inspections.

A drone allows inspectors to identify roof and other issues in ways that a ladder never would. Beyond offering a safer inspection solution, they can readily identify lifting shingles, bent flashing, or chimney-related problems.

Current FAA Regulations

All drones weighing more than a half pound (0.55 lbs.) must be registered with the FAA. Registering drones is only $5, but the fine for using an unregistered drone can be $25,000 per UAV. Current FAA guidelines include the following:

No drones may be flown within 5 miles of an airport or terminal.
Written permission is required from each person before drones can fly over or photograph them.
Commercial drones are limited to an altitude of 400 feet.
Drone pilots must remain in sight of the drone they are operating.
All operators must secure a drone/UAV operator’s license from the FAA.

Risk Protection for Realtors

While drone photography has a shallow risk of damage and injury, some risks are involved. Every drone operator should carry commercial drone insurance. Most drone operators should consider both accidental and liability insurance. Many real estate companies require a minimum of a $1 million limit of liability for third-party operators. There are several types of coverages applicable to drones, including:

Drone Liability Insurance
Hull Insurance (damage to the actual drone)
Drone Payload Insurance
Ground Equipment Insurance

Drone liability insurance protects the operator and company from third-party claims or property damage. Some policies may extend their insurance coverage to financial loss protection associated with negligence and invasion of privacy. Every realtor using drones should review their coverages to ensure they are protected when using this growing technology.

Is A Smart Home, For You?: 4 Considerations!

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Is A Smart Home, For You?

We hear a lot about so-called smart homes, but, what this means, seems to vary considerably between individuals. Like, most other things, one individual’s necessities/ needs are another one’s wishes and another’s unnecessary features. Some features usually included in these amenities are security features; robotics, central cleaning/ vacuums; heating and ventilation amenities, and other priorities and perceptions. Which one seeks and why is often individual, yet, it makes sense to understand what is available, its potential uses and advantages, and whether they are worth the expense. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, review, and discuss four considerations and why they may matter.

1. Your priorities, perceptions, abilities, discipline, and tech-friendly: What features would be nice to have in your house, and which ones do you feel are more important/ needed, essential? How would you use these to your perceived – advantage? How much extra, in terms of costs, would you be willing to pay for these features? Although few studies have been done to see if they add to a house’s resale value, they would probably have very little (if any) return on investment because technology advances constantly, and today’s new things, maybe tomorrow’s old ways. Do you enjoy using technology, are you comfortable with it, and why? Always ask yourself, what is the value, not to others, but to you, personally?

2. Cleaning; robotics; central vacuum: Many seem to enjoy the advantages of using certain intelligent products for cleaning and maintaining their homes/ There is many robotics available, and perhaps, the most popular is one to vacuum for you remotely. Others find they prefer using a central system, so doing so is, as convenient, with minimal labor – pains.

3. Controlling settings: lights, heat, air conditioning: More – advanced technology is becoming popular in controlling specific locations within a house. We often see homeowners using their cell phones to maintain their heating and air conditioning remotely and turn on and off lights throughout the home.

4. Doorbells; cameras; monitoring; alarms: It has become somewhat popular to use Smart Doorbells, including cameras and voice features, and some may even open and close doors remotely. It seems, in – favor, of using these devices to further the characteristics of their alarms and monitoring.

Before purchasing any innovative – feature, ask yourself what it may be worth. What has the most significant value from your perspective?

6 Tips For Moving House During Winter!

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You can do it! Move house in Winter

In summer, it cannot be easy to move during winter. The main reason is that hiring in the cold season requires much effort. The first problem is that the cold weather is quite unforgiving. But the good thing is that hiring a mover or getting a truck will be easier and cheaper. This article has tips to help you move to your house during winter without any problem.

1. Prepare your Stuff

First, you should prepare your stuff for the movers you have hired. It would help if you had the snow cleared from the front of your house, including the walkways and driveways. It is better to pour some salt to ensure that these areas are not slippery. After all, you don’t want the movers to drop your expensive stuff and cause huge losses.

2. Get Plenty of Salt

Make sure that you have access to plenty of salt and a shovel. Make sure that you keep your eyes on the road throughout the journey. If you can see a lot of snow on the road ahead, we suggest you step down and clear the role first. You only need to place plenty of salt on the problematic areas. This approach will help you ensure that the road ahead is not slippery.

3. Serve Hot Drinks

Always provide hot drinks. We should drink hot drinks in the cold season to keep ourselves warm. Apart from this, you can also serve some snacks. Hot tea and chocolate can help you boost your energy levels. Once your professional movers arrive at your new house, you can prepare a mail for them after they unpack everything.

4. Use Plastic Containers

As far as packing is concerned, you can use plastic containers, especially in winter. The beauty of plastic boxes is that they are reusable. Plus, they can stand the test of time. They come with a lower price tag when compared to cardboard. Another plus point is that plastic can protect your valuable items against the snow.

5. Check the HVAC System

You also must ensure that your new house is ready for your family. Therefore, you may want to ensure the heating and lighting systems work correctly. In other words, all of the systems should be in working order. If possible, visit your new house at least 24 hours before you arrive.

6. Check the Weather Chart

Sandstorms may happen in winter. Therefore, we suggest that you have a backup plan in place. Consequently, we recommend that you contact your moving agent to find out about their policy. In such circumstances, you may have to postpone your more. So, you should find out if your real estate agent can help you extend your stay for a few more days.

We suggest you consider these steps if you move to your new house in the cold season.

AXIOM - The APP created for Real Estate Agents

7 Tips to Help You Choose a Good Builder

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Choose a Good Builder

AXIOM - The APP created for Real Estate Agents

If you are going to build your own home, you should be pretty excited. Since this is a huge project, make sure you hire the best builder to get it right. In other words, hiring the best builder is vital if you want to turn your dream into reality. In this guide, we have presented a list of essential factors that will help you choose the best professional to cover your needs. Read on to find out more.

1. Check the Past Projects of your Desired Builder
First of all, you should take a look at the portfolio of the builder. You will find a lot of designs and images on their portfolio. If you take a closer look at their past projects, you will get a pretty good idea of their style and experience.

2. Insurance and Registration
Secondly, we suggest that you look for a builder that is registered with an authority. Similarly, your desired builder must be insured. In case of damage to your property, you will be able to recover compensation from the insurance provider of your builder.

3. Services
Generally, professional builders use a wide range of industry terms. You should be familiar with these terms. Besides, you must understand the contract and the points it talks about, such as power points, light fittings, insulation, and driveway, just to name a few. If you don’t understand something, you should discuss it with your builder. You should sign the contract only after you understand everything.

4. Get References
After you have made a list of some professional Builders, we suggest that you check their references. You should then go to some of their previous clients and discuss their experience working with the builder. If they are happy with the builder, you can go ahead and sign the contract with that builder.

5. Do your homework
If your desired builder has built some homes in your neighborhood, you can visit those homes and ask the homeowners if they were happy with the services they received. This type of honest feedback can help you get a better idea of the skills, experience, and service quality of the builder.

6. Communication
During the interview process, you should ask questions and notice how they answer your questions. If they are not good at communication, we suggest that you look around for a better service provider.

7. Cost
Once you have considered all of the factors described above, we suggest that you talk about the service charges. You should get at least one cost estimate from each provider. After you have received all of the quotes, you can compare them to get the best deal.

Long story short, we suggest that you consider these important factors before hiring a builder to construct your home. Some homeowners make the mistake of hiring a builder without taking their time. We suggest that you don’t make this mistake and take your time to look for the best builder.

Short, Intermediate, And Longer – Term Impacts On Home Sales, When Rates Rise!

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The Term Impacts Home Sales, When Rates Rise!

For many economic reasons, while others related to the pandemic-related so-called fatigue, home prices in most areas have increased at or near record amounts. Because of the prolonged period of artificially – created low-interest rates, mortgage rates have been at historic lows. For most home buyers, financing is essential to afford a purchase when a low rate causes cheap money; thus, the ability to afford more home-for-the-buck prices usually rises. It permits qualified buyers to qualify for more money/loans because the monthly mortgage ratio to overall income is artificial – reduced. How long will this trend continue, and will it become the new – normal, or will previous trends/ cycles return? How will pricing affect the immediate, intermediate, and longer – run? These are all factors to consider. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, review, and discuss some possibilities to view and understand.

1. Short-term: The Federal Reserve Bank planned to raise rates significantly in 2022. Of course, this was before the potential implications and ramifications of the Omicron variant. Many feel pressure to act quickly to take advantage of today’s low rates before they go up. Three increases will probably translate to at least a 0.75% higher rate. This will translate for most mortgages to hundreds of extra dollars per month. Something to consider, and pay attention to, is that this rate of increased home prices will probably not continue, especially at such a large degree. How longer one expects to keep a specific house is one issue to consider thoroughly and wisely before proceeding.

2. Intermediate – term: Although many believe to know the precise timing of any projected rate hike is uncertain. The Fed has changed and altered its strategies and approaches in the past. What the intermediate term may bring, including potential inflationary pressures, how long the economic conditions are, and unknown factors related to the pandemic, will determine what this phase may bring. In addition, the attitude and perceptions of buyers and their confidence broadly impact this real estate market.

3. Longer-term: In the long run, will things restore what we have seen so often in the past, which is alternating cycles between Sellers, Buyers, and Neutral Markets? The possibilities include a continued considerable escalation, a more – gradual but persistent – one. Some leveling, and will we see at least in certain areas some falling prices for a period?

Since no one has a Crystal Ball, it is wise to fully know and understand the possibilities, implications, and ramifications. Will you learn as much as possible to proceed wisely and well-prepared?

What Is the Need for Corporate Office Movers?

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Corporate Office Movers?

If you are planning to make a move to transfer your office or even the warehouses, corporate office movers can be the perfect solution for them. Such a professional moving firm can help you meet the requirements of a perfect moving company. Even the thought of moving all the items in the office can be a huge challenge since it requires a good amount of effort and time. When you have a commercial moving firm, they will take care of the requirements for a hassle-free movement of goods, and the work will be finished in the minimum time. So if you are confused on whether you should hire a corporate office mover for your office shifting, you must get started with finding a good moving service since this decision will not make you regret it later.

Why should you opt for an office mover?
Free yourself from the hassle of renting types of equipment for moving: If you are planning to do all the moving processes by yourself, you might require a lot of equipment that can help you in moving. But the process of finding and getting them all in one go is a tedious task at hand. So this problem can be avoided if you have a professional mover at hand.


Reduced hassles: By hiring a professional mover, you are one step closer to reducing and removing all the hassles associated with moving. You do not have to spend your time looking after the process of moving and get a smooth moving process in the shortest time and with good efficiency. With the right pieces of equipment, the moving company can make the process of moving stress-free and help you to sit back comfortably.


Support to your employees: You might be thinking of putting all your employees at work in the process of moving, however figuring this out can also require a lot of time since they might not be well experienced with this process. So when you hire a professional mover for your office, they serve as the backup for your employees and can even ensure hassle-free moving in the shortest time. Hence it is a great idea to get started with a professional mover.


Checklist filled at any cost: When a professional mover is hired, they will ensure that all the things are being taken care of in the best possible way. They can take note of the minute things that might be required at work for proper and smooth moving. So they have the solution to most of the problems that one faces if they were to move all by themselves.
How to select the best moving service for your office needs?

If you have finally decided to hire a moving service, you have to ensure to read the customer reviews and ratings given by people who have used their reviews. Another guide is to get advice from your friends or family who can give you honest reviews on the services offered by the firm. Ensure that the firm is insured and have a close look at the moving firm’s prices offered for different services.

Short, Intermediate, And Longer – Term Impacts On Home Sales

by Industry

When Rates Rise!

For many economic reasons, while others related to the pandemic-related so-called fatigue, home prices in most areas have increased at or near record amounts. Because of the prolonged period of artificially – created low-interest rates, mortgage rates have been at historic lows. For most home buyers, financing is essential to afford a purchase when a low rate causes cheap money; thus, the ability to afford more home-for-the-buck prices usually rises. It permits qualified buyers to qualify for more money/loans because the monthly mortgage ratio to overall income is artificially – reduced. How long will this trend continue, and will it become the new – normal, or will previous trends/ cycles return? How will pricing affect the immediate, intermediate, and longer – run? These are all factors to consider. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly consider, examine, review, and discuss some possibilities to view and understand.

1. Short-term: The Federal Reserve Bank planned to raise rates significantly in 2022. Of course, this was before the potential implications and ramifications of the Omicron variant. Many feel pressure to act quickly to take advantage of today’s low rates before they go up. Three increases will probably translate to at least a 0.75% higher rate. This will translate for most mortgages to hundreds of extra dollars per month. Something to consider, and pay attention to, is that this rate of increased home prices will probably not continue, especially at such a large degree. How longer one expects to keep a specific house is one issue to consider thoroughly and wisely before proceeding.

2. Intermediate – term: Although many believe to know the precise timing of any projected rate hike is uncertain. The Fed has changed and altered its strategies and approaches in the past. What the intermediate term may bring, including potential inflationary pressures, how long the economic conditions are, and unknown factors related to the pandemic, will determine what this phase may bring. In addition, the attitude and perceptions of buyers and their confidence broadly impact this real estate market.

3. Longer-term: In the long run, will things restore what we have seen so often in the past, which is alternating cycles between Sellers, Buyers, and Neutral Markets? The possibilities include a continued considerable escalation, a more – gradual but persistent – one. Some leveling, and will we see at least in certain areas some falling prices for a period?

Since no one has a Crystal Ball, it is wise to fully know and understand the possibilities, implications, and ramifications. Will you learn as much as possible to proceed wisely and well-prepared?