Blog

June 27, 2017 - 12:00am

First and foremost, selling your home is stressful. So prepare yourself before you jump in with both feet. That being said, consider this a warning — today’s buyers are demanding. They’re savvier about market dynamics, can easily access home value data online, and will most likely want to see your home on their own schedule. Today’s buyers will come to an open house armed (and dangerous!) with research, analytics and tough questions. Baking cookies...

June 16, 2017 - 12:00am

Savings-savvy homeowners know the value of comparing estimates from different companies, but it’s a good idea to look at relative costs across service menus as well. Most people assume that DIY, van rentals, and other “self-serve” options are cheapest, but this isn’t always the case. It may not be significantly more expensive to hire a full-service moving company, especially when you consider the opportunity cost of packing and transporting everything all by yourself. Of course, it’s also a good idea to look for customer reviews – a discounted price isn’t worthwhile if it nets you shoddy...

June 14, 2017 - 12:00am

Everyone wants to live in a safe, friendly place. We should feel secure and comfortable on our evening stroll, early morning run, or while we sleep the night away. But great neighborhoods need the people who live there to pitch in and create this kind of safe environment. Get your friends and neighbors excited about protecting your homes and each other with a Neighborhood Watch!

How it Began
The National Neighborhood Watch program was launched in 1972 with funding by...

June 14, 2017 - 12:00am

Everyone wants to live in a safe, friendly place. We should feel secure and comfortable on our evening stroll, early morning run, or while we sleep the night away. But great neighborhoods need the people who live there to pitch in and create this kind of safe environment. Get your friends and neighbors excited about protecting your homes and each other with a Neighborhood Watch!

May 24, 2017 - 12:00am

 

You’ve just signed on the dotted line for your new home. Whether it’s your first home, a larger home for an expanding family or a downsize as you start that next phase in life…don’t just haul your boxes in and start unpacking. Take care of these important tasks before you get comfortable. The house may be move-in ready, but you still need to tie up some loose ends on your new home purchase.

May 12, 2017 - 12:00am

Are you planning the perfect open house to make your home marketable and fast-track a sale? It takes a lot of work to whip your place into shape to land a buyer with a dream offer. For a terrific open house—the kind where every room looks magazine perfect — keep in mind, the kitchen is always the heart of a home. Here are some simple tips to stage your kitchen to make a great impact for minimal effort or money.

April 28, 2017 - 12:00am

People with pets will readily admit, their animals are a part of the family. But when it comes time to sell your home, potential buyers may not be welcoming of your four-legged family member. Believe it or not, there is a pretty big part of the population that are not animal lovers (gasp!) Or, it could be a simple case of allergies that will concern a buyer. Regardless of the reason, you may find buyers are turned off by a home where pets previously lived. When selling a home with pets, use these tried and true strategies.

April 17, 2017 - 12:00am

Open houses are a long-standing tradition in the sale of residential real estate to expose more people to a home for sale. Open houses are normally held on weekends to capture more traffic because that is when most people are off from work. The real estate agents put out signs on boulevards or near street corners to draw drive-by traffic and usually list the homes in the real estate sections of newspapers to bring in more people.

March 14, 2017 - 12:00am

You love your home, but it’s time for a facelift. Remodeling is a big investment and it can disrupt your daily life for months or longer. Before you start knocking out walls, make sure you have carefully planned your renovation project by getting a contractor’s estimate up front. However, pay close attention to the bottom line. There very well could be costs NOT included in your contractor’s bid.

February 15, 2017 - 12:00am

If you’re renting, but desire to own a place of your own, you’re not alone. Only one in 10 people who rent said they prefer renting over owning. Home ownership is viewed as an accomplishment to be proud of or a dream come true. However, the biggest barrier to achieving that dream is having enough money for a down payment.

The standard 20% down payment is not always required anymore. In fact, options may be available for down payments as low as 3% or 3.5% for different loan programs. The first step is figuring...