Hiring a real estate agent can be daunting if you’ve never done it before, but here’s the good news: You probably already know what you want—you just haven’t articulated it to yourself or to an agent.  As the buyer or seller, there are a few things you’ll need to assess to figure out which agent is the best fit for you. These are the questions you should be asking every real estate agent you consider hiring so that you can ensure you’re making the right choice.   1. How long have you had your real estate license? This question will give you a sense of how experienced your agent is, b ..read more

Mortgage rates are one of those numbers that most people don’t pay any attention to unless they happen to be trying to get a mortgage—a loan to buy a house. Then, mortgage rates become pretty critical! In April 2022, the mortgage interest rate for a fixed-rate, 30-year loan rose to above 5%. It’s the first time mortgage rates have climbed so high in more than a decade, since 2011.  So what does that mean if you’re trying to buy a house? It depends on where you are in the process. To determine how mortgage rate shifts could affect your buying power, answer the following questions.   A ..read more

Anyone who owns a home has wondered whether it’s worth the time and effort to list your home on Airbnb. Here are 25 things you have to do before and after listing your home.     Research Learn about occupancy requirements Obtain necessary permits Check with your HOA or co-op Decide how much of your property to rent and when to rent it   Sorting out finances Look at other homes listed in your area to benchmark price Calculate your break-even and profit margins Make a plan for paying taxes Does your homeowners’ insurance cover short-term rentals? Secure additiona ..read more

Upgrading your house isn’t exactly a dollar-for-dollar investment. You probably aren’t going to make all of the money back that you sink into an improvement. So think about how long you’re likely to stay in the house and which upgrades you’ll enjoy the most before you start renovating.   Kitchen Average remodel cost range: $22,000-$24,000 New appliances New (laminate) counters New flooring Updated cabinet fronts/hardware For $64,000: New appliances New (laminate) counters New lighting New flooring New wood cabinets New island New sink and faucet $80,000-$126,000 ..read more

A well-designed kitchen will go a long way in increasing your home’s value and upping the enjoyment of the room where you spend most of your time. Here are five gorgeous kitchen trends you’ll love.    1. Rethink standard white cabinets with gray Gray is clean, sophisticated, and timeless; it works with both traditional and modern kitchens.   2. Add a classic subway tile backsplash You can’t go wrong with this clean, elegant look; go with a gray or dark-colored grout to show off the tile lines.   3. Consider quartz countertops Quartz is more durable than granite and is easy ..read more

Establishing yourself as a community and working together with your neighbors is one of the best ways to increase feelings of safety while actually reducing crime in your area. Here’s how to get started. 1. Form a Facebook group or get active on Next-door  Form a community safety Facebook group and use Next-door to assess which neighbors might want to help with safety efforts. 2. Create clean-up groups Sometimes all it takes to make an area safer for everyone is a little coordination and elbow-grease. 3. Meet your neighbors and talk to them Learn who your neighbors are, the cars ..read more

Like so many things in life, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know. Find these essential people for your homeowners’ network.   Insurance agent To protect your largest asset from risk, you’ll need homeowners’ insurance.   Cleaner If you’re ever in a bind (maybe you’re sick), you’ll want to have a cleaner on hand to help out.   Landscaper It’s never a bad idea to have a landscaper or two on call in case you need them.   Painter Keep your house and fence looking nice and crisp by hiring a painter to touch them up every now and then.   General contractor You want a co ..read more

Home renovations are more popular than ever before, but this isn’t a journey for the faint of heart. To streamline the process and set yourself up for success, avoid these mistakes:   1. Forgetting about permits Head to the permitting department at your city or county office and ask them what you’ll need.   2. Setting an unrealistic timeline Your timeline needs to reflect realistic estimates that you’re hearing from contractors, and a little bit of wiggle room.   3. Creating an unrealistic budget Like your timeline, your budget needs a little bit of room to stretch.   4. Bu ..read more

If you’ve never owned a home before, cleaning it from top to bottom for the first time can feel like a daunting task. Here’s a guide to deep-cleaning your house.   Declutter Before you start cleaning, get rid of as many items as you can — then you’ll have less to do! If you haven’t touched it or worn it in the past year, ask yourself: Do you really need it? Start at the top Gravity can be your friend — or your enemy. Start cleaning at the top of each room and work your way down so that you aren’t knocking dust and debris onto your freshly cleaned floors. Let there be light When ..read more

It’s that time of year again — when agents start taking stock of their business over the past several months and start deciding what next year is going to look like. Some agents thrive on business planning and don’t need to be nudged to work on an outline for their profitability and goals for the year … but others don’t find real estate business planning nearly as fun or enticing, and they need a little kick in the pants to get going. Don’t wait until December to decide that you’re going to get on board the real estate business planning bus. If you know that it takes you a little bit of tim ..read more