Monthly Archives: September 2013

Friendly Neighborhood

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When moving, it’s crucial to understand whether the environment and place is clean and safe. When looking for your dream home keep a few basic pointers in mind and trust us you’ll do just fine.

  • Keep the area in mind- if you love peace and tranquility then opt for a location that is clean, high-end and suburban. Don’t simply focus on the house,; look at the larger picture.
  • People Matter- Be it your neighbors or just the general vibe from the place, be certain that it’s the kind of place that is safe, comfortable and similar to your current surroundings.
  •  The Little things- Be it your children or your animals, you’ll want them to walk, stroll and jump around free of fear. Make sure it is the kind of place where you can leave toddlers and pets unattended.

 

“Bling” it up-

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HTR090813You moved to your dream home and found the perfect house to build into a home. A warm, loving home where the whiff of freshly baked cookies and hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and cinnamon are as inviting as it can possibly get. Home is where the heart is and in this case where the soul is as well. Once you know you’ve struck gold with the kind of place you’d always dreamed of, you can then focus your attention on getting soft, plush interiors for your place. Get that Elizabethan styled curtain for your drawing room with burgundy velvet and dull gold tassels, making it the quintessential accessory for you. If the Baroque era defines you like none other, then we suggest that you get that sizzling gold chandelier replete with fuchsia pink and orange glass petals that is fit for a princess.

We know it means the world to you; handpick everything you want and embellish and garnish it with unconditional love in your home. It defines you in more ways than one and residing in a place that is truly yours is what you want your home to look like.

Characteristics of a Great Neighborhood

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HTR090713Almost everyone would agree that the best places to dwell in are those that are appealing and convenient in a number of ways (a few you might not even think about on average).

Below are some characteristics that you should look for when thinking about moving into a locale to make sure you get a chance to live in a great neighborhood.

ü  Accessibility matters – people always prefer living in a neighborhood that’s well-equipped with an adequate network of roads and alternate transportation methods.

ü  Culture & Entertainment – living in a great neighborhood would mean that you’ll never have to run out of stuff to do. For instance, if you’re bored or have family or friends coming over from another town, you can easily take them to a new restaurant or catch a concert or play or go to the museum or even grab a beer and have fun.

ü  Visually Pleasant – try looking for a home that’s located in a peaceful and clean locale. This includes clean streets with trees and flowers and good lighting (and intriguing storefronts).

ü  Socially Sound – walkable sidewalks, patio dining, benches on the corner of the streets along with other social areas where interaction can easily take place make a neighborhood quite attractive.

A great neighborhood will always stand out from rest of the surroundings of the city, providing you with a sense of moral calm and pride. Thus, you’ll always have something to look forward to every time you head home.

Save Your Turnover

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Being a landlord, you must be aware of the cost associated with a tenant turnover. How about saving that money plus the efforts that you will have to put in looking for a new tenant!

Here are some tips to retain your tenant.

Start on A Good Note

The first and most important thing is to start on an honest and positive note. In other words, don’t promise your tenant something that you can’t deliver. If you have sewage running down the walls and won’t inform your tenant of this issue, there are high chances that he or she might not extend the lease.

Lend a Helping Hand

Help them out with unpacking, shopping for groceries in the neighborhood etc. The least you can do is give them some important numbers like contact information of the nearest grocer, plumber, carpenter etc.

Small Gestures of Care

A cup of coffee or cheerful greetings in the morning are just a few small gestures that can make your tenant comfortable in their new home.

To know more on how you can save your tenant turnover cost, go through the article available at the below link.

http://www.propertymanagementsoftwareguide.com/blog/resident-retention-strategies-for-2012-1011112/

Protect Your House from Mini Beasts

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HTR092213Good Night! Sleep Tight! Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite! 

Bed Bugs are getting common day by day. No matter how tightly shut you keep your windows and doors, these unwelcome guests will find a way to reach your bed and bug you while you are amid a beautiful dream.

Don’t worry! Check out the following places to know if you have unwanted guests in your house.

  • Behind the headboard and bed frame
  • Under the bed’s mattress
  • Under or behind the furniture such as dressing table, nightstand etcetera.
  • At the corners of wallpapers and carpets
  • Behind the wall frames and clocks

If you spot such creatures, don’t delay the bug extermination process as they spread quickly. Grab your phone and call a professional bug exterminator. While your bug killing team is on its way, pick up the pipe vacuum and run it through all such places.

Tips to Save Electricity

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You don’t have to stop using the dishwasher and other heavy electrical appliances to save electricity. You can do so even without making your life difficult.

Following are some small things that we usually ignore, but together they can contribute to reducing electricity bills.

  • Set the water heater at 140oF – maintaining the temperature at this rate consumes less electricity.
  • Try to use less hot water. Unless the cloths and dishes are greasy, use cold water to wash them.
  • Switch off all the unnecessary lights and electronic appliances before going to bed. Cell phone chargers, Television, computer and music system are some items that are usually connected to the electrical board almost all the time, even when they are not in use at the particular time.
  • Replace all the incandescent lights with compact fluorescent light bulbs as they consume about 70% less energy than the former.
  • Try switching to solar energy. You can start by installing a solar water heater.

For more tips on saving electricity, read the article available at the following link.

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00442/homeelectricity.htm

Why You Should Hire a Buyer’s Agent

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Nowadays people seem to be doing the job hunt on their own, rejecting the help of any buyer’s agent. Experts think this could cost the buyer. One of the reasons why you shouldn’t be reluctant in hiring an agent is that you don’t pay the agent. The buyer’s and the seller’s agent simply split the commission cost. So for the buyer, the service is free.

Local Market Knowledge

A buyer’s agent is aware of the minute details of the local market. Such details may not be available on the internet and the buyer may not be aware of them, like flood zones and wetlands.

Expertise

Buyer’s agents have handled hundreds of closings! This is something you cannot disregard. They can help you with negotiations, and hiring other experts like home inspectors, attorneys, etc.

A Friend or Foe

If you don’t hire an agent somebody else will and then their expertise will be used against you.

For more information, please watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAoHwaT4J4E

How to Choose a Home Inspector

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When you want to buy a new house, it’s best to get it inspected. A house is one of the most expensive commodities one buys. A defect missed can cause you to pay 10 times more. Since you are going to spend a good few years of your life there, hire a good home inspector.

Licensed Home Inspector:

Make sure the home inspector is licensed and is a member of a professional association.

Inspection Experience:

The inspector should be experienced. Do some research and find out what his background is and how much experience he has in inspecting the type of house you want him to inspect. If he has an engineering or a construction background, it’s a plus.

Ask for a Sample Report

At the end of the day it’s all about what you understand and how interpretable the report is. So ask your home inspector to provide you with a sample report. Make sure it is detailed and comprehensive. In a good report, defect disclosure stands out.

Let the Choice Be Yours

You want an experienced home inspector who can carry out a detailed inspection. So make sure you go for recommendations instead for someone who will save you from costly surprises.

Avoid Price Shopping

Inspection fees may vary depending on the size of the house or the complex installations. Somebody offering a low fee should be thoroughly checked as they may be new to the business which is not so good.

For more information, watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWMej5QBcik

Common Defects Found During a Home Inspection

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The owner of the house should be prepared for a home inspection after putting up their house for sale. There are a few common defects found with easy fixes that can save the value of your house from going down.

Roofing Defects

In a majority of the homes, roofing defects due to wear and tear or inappropriate installation are found. A little maintenance can do the trick.

Electrical Safety Hazards

Mostly in old homes, a construction fault or an unqualified electrician can leave ungrounded outlets, lack of shock protection devices or faulty wiring. If it is found by the home inspector, it could hurt the value of your house.

Rotten Wood

Rotten wood can mostly be found where there is a chance of standing water. It can cause fungus and in the long run, it could get hard to get rid of it.

Unsafe Fireplace

Lack of maintenance or faulty fixtures can make your home unsafe and devalue your house. Make sure that if you have a fireplace, it does not violate safety measures.

Plumbing Defects

Faults like dripping faucets, leaking and slow drains, and loose toilets, are also some of the common problems found during inspection.

Other defects you can check your house for are the seals around windows, fire violation due to faulty construction in the garage, and unsafe gas heaters and water heaters. This will give the buyer less to bargain on.

For more information, watch www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxGyTKolFnA

Neighborhood Threats That Devalue Your House

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Neighborhoods can have a major affect on the value of your house. The worth of your house may decrease if you live in a bad neighborhood or vice versa. It is imperative that you consider such factors when you go out house hunting or consider relocating to a locality.

The following factors can drive down the value of property in a neighborhood

Foreclosed Homes

The most damaging factor that can devalue your property is the presence of a foreclosure home in the neighborhood. If they are not sold off quickly, these homes tend to become eyesores as the yard becomes a dump and sidewalks get covered by overgrown weeds.

Lack of Landscaping

Landscaping can improve the value of your house. A poorly landscaped neighborhood may look very shabby and harm the worth of your property.

Sex Offenders

The closer you live to a registered sex offender, the more the value of your home will depreciate.

Delinquent Neighbors

Often in neighborhoods, where they do not care about real estate values, residents tend not to take care of paying maintenance fees, do not take care of the appearance of their homes and some don’t even pay their mortgages. This consequently tends to bring down the value of the houses nearby.