Style is as individual as human beings are, but we can generally agree that there are some style trends that should be left in the past — some in the very recent past, others long ago — because they make your rooms look, well, terrible. And dated. Before you jump on the latest home decorating bandwagon, consider how these super-popular decor trends have fared and imagine whether you’re still going to think your latest design obsession looks cutting-edge in a year or three.   Clutter We’re not saying that it was ever a good look to resemble a hoarder, but there was a time where just the ..read more

Daydreaming about owning your own home is one of the most intoxicating practices known to modern man, especially now that HGTV is a thing. But when the time comes to actually put your money where your daydream is, it can be challenging for first-time buyers especially to understand how a home that doesn’t currently come anywhere close to “dream” status could be whipped into shape — and how a home that they think is perfect now will end up feeling like a mistake in a couple of years. To avoid that unfortunate scenario, first-time buyers will need to think carefully and weigh all of their option ..read more

Escrow is a critical component of the home sale that typically takes between 30 and 45 days — but for many buyers it seems to stretch on for centuries. What should you do?   1. Keep a close eye on all communication channels To make sure everything closes on time and everyone is happy at the end of the day, it’s critical for buyers to manage communication.    2. Order the appraisal It’s usually the escrow manager’s job to book the appraisal. Appraisers can be in short supply, and as the buyer you have a right to ask about timelines and how the appraisal went, so check in with you ..read more

Flakes aren’t welcome in any industry, but they’re particularly problematic in real estate, where you don’t get paid until close. In other words, instead of merely causing an annoyance and possibly wasting your time, flakes can actively cost you money as a real estate agent. If you’re not with a client that’s going to close, then you’re not making money, and it’s pretty optimistic to think that a flake would get as far as the closing table, let alone past it. Experienced real estate agents know how to identify a flaky buyer, but if you’re new or haven’t encountered one in a while, then you ..read more

If you’ve always rented before, then you might not have put too much thought into which neighborhood you were planting your (temporary) roots. After all, most leases are up after a year, so you can change your mind in a matter of months. Buying a house, however, is a different story: if you don’t want to pay capital gains taxes, then you’ll have to stay there for at least two years, and depending on which concessions you made when you bought the place, the neighborhood can affect everything from the home’s appreciation to how easy it is to sell. Before deciding where exactly you want to buy ..read more

You hear it on the news all the time: “It’s a buyer’s market,” “It’s a seller’s market,” or “The housing market is on the rebound.” And while you probably get the gist of what these folks are talking about, having a deeper understanding of the housing market and how it works can help you immensely during the homebuying or selling process.   Let’s start with the basics The housing market refers to the general market of houses being bought and sold between buyers and sellers. These houses are either bought or sold directly by owners or indirectly through brokers. Like any market, the h ..read more

The original American Dream will always be to own a home, but there’s a variation on that standard for 2018: the dream of owning your own vacation home. Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO.com revolutionized the world of vacation rentals, giving everyday homeowners an easy and relatively risk-free way to take advantage of the short-term rental market. If one of your dreams is to buy a home and then rent it out short-term, then there are some things you’ll need to know before taking the plunge. An ideal vacation home typically doesn’t look exactly like a typical permanent residence, so you’ll wan ..read more

There weren’t many nice things to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, but one thing we can appreciate is the increase in remote work. More and more employers realize that you don’t need to rent commercial business space to have a productive workforce! On the employee’s side, of course, is the question of how to create a comfortable workspace where they can focus on work. Here are our best tips for setting up home offices to maximize productivity.   Carve Out Your Space Whether you work from home occasionally, on a hybrid schedule, or every day, it’s a good idea to keep the workspace sep ..read more

When you move into a new house or apartment, you’ll want to clean it. This is especially important if you’re moving into a place that’s been lived in before. Even if it looks clean, there could be dust, dirt, and other allergens lurking in the nooks and crannies. A deep cleaning will eliminate all of that and leave your new home sparkling clean. Make a list, then divide and conquer One of the most overwhelming parts about deep cleaning is undeniably when you realize just how much there needs to do. Before letting yourself go there, stop and list everything in your home that requires attention ..read more

Today, more than ever in human history, some things can be done to make our homes feel safe and secure. But with all the time we spend indoors looking at screens instead of making connections with neighbors, it also makes sense that many homeowners today feel less safe and secure than they did a few decades ago. Violent crime rates have decreased even as our feelings of danger lurking around every corner increase. So what can you do to help assuage your fears — and make the community safer in return? Plenty! Establishing yourself as a member of your society and working together for its better ..read more