Real Estate Blog

Real Estate Blog (Page 22)

Landlords: Protecting Your Capital

More homeowners than ever are looking to the rental market to line their pockets as they struggle to sell their property during the recession. This has led to a growing breed of ‘accidental landlords’ – homeowners who are being forced to rent out properties that won’t sell to cover their mortgage payments and weather the storm. The number of rental properties flooding the market was 40% higher in February than in December 2008. If you number among these... ❯❯❯

Making a Move Abroad Successful

Don’t make the mistake of moving half way across the world and then regretting it. It’s important to do your homework thoroughly before committing yourself to a property – and a life – in another country. Maybe you already know where you want to go, but have you really considered all the alternatives? Why Do You Want to Move Abroad? The first question you should ask yourself is why? Do you want to move permanently, or is it just for your holidays? Are... ❯❯❯

5 Benefits of Annual Tune-Ups for Your Air Conditioner

When it’s hot outside and you walk indoors and turn on your air conditioner, chances are, you don’t think to call a professional technician over to inspect it unless it’s stopped working. Well, actually unless it’s stopped working and none of the DIY tips that you found on Google seemed to work. Usually, we shy away from having tune-ups done to things like our HVAC units simply because we see it as just one more way to spend money that we’re trying to... ❯❯❯

5 Citrus Tree Care and Maintenance Tips

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that helps to support many systems in the body and fight off a variety of health problems. Most people know that it boosts the immune system (although contrary to popular belief, it does not cure colds), but you might not realize that it’s also good for your skin, your eyes, and your cardiovascular function, amongst other things. What most everyone is aware of, however, is that citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin... ❯❯❯

Quick and Easy Weekend Renovations Projects That Add Value to Your Home

Whether you are improving your home for your own enjoyment, or in preparation to sell it, you want to make sure that the DIY projects you do are helping to improve your home while also being worthwhile investments. Here are some quick and easy weekend renovation projects any homeowner can do that will add value to your home. Paint Paint is the best way to transform any space in your home quickly, affordably and easily. Paint will also have a huge impact,... ❯❯❯

5 Pest Prevention Tips for New Homeowners

One of the most exciting days in any person’s life is when the move into a new home. Not only does it symbolize having a piece of the American Dream but it also marks being able to create some lasting memories. So when you’re in the process of moving in your furniture and hanging up pictures, one of the last things that you want to see are pests. Yet sometimes, it does indeed happen. And while you could call over a professional exterminator to handle the... ❯❯❯

5 Ways to Improve Home Audio System Performance

If you are an audiophile, there is a good chance that the sound of your home audio system means a lot to you. In fact, a true audiophile may change out their old surround sound system every year or so – just to have the perfect sound. When it comes down to it, designing your home audio system takes careful planning and positioning – speakers must be in the ideal spot and they must communicate with each other in such way to maximize the sound in your home.... ❯❯❯

The Dos and Don’ts of Investing in Rental Properties

Earning a passive income via rental properties is a pretty attractive proposition. And if you can afford to get started in rental properties (come up with the down payment, qualify for loan approval, and make mortgage payments until you find tenants) there’s no reason not to purchase more property and seek out renters to pay the costs for you and put a little money in your pocket in the process. However, there are some things you’ll need to know before... ❯❯❯

5 Ways to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Warm in Winter

In the summertime, your hardwood floors can be a cool respite from the punishing heat outside. However, in the wintertime, your hardwood floors can feel worse than walking on hot coal. If you live in a particularly cold region, or if you have an older home, you may be experiencing all the downsides of having hardwood floors. The solution, though, is to not remove the hardwood floors – removing them could decrease the value of your home – the solution is... ❯❯❯

5 Weather-Stripping Tips for Windows and Doors in Your Home

The winter months are approaching and that means cold temperatures are on their way. Keep the cold outside where it belongs by reducing those stubborn cracks and leaks around windows and doors that lead to chilly drafts entering your home. Drafts make maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home during the winter seem almost impossible. Luckily, you can use these 5 weather stripping tips for windows and doors in your home. The first thing you... ❯❯❯

5 Key Qualities of a Good Property Manager

If you own rental properties, you need a property management company – it is as simply as that. A property management company will review rental applications, screen potential renters, collect rent and they will make sure that your property is well maintained. Not only that, but they will make sure that your property gets occupied, because they will plan and execute successful marketing campaigns to make sure units get rented. However, it can be hard to... ❯❯❯

5 Things to Consider When Searching for Your First Home

Searching for your first home can be an exciting experience, but it can also be a frustrating one. Not to mention, looking for your first home can be a little confusing too. When it comes down to it, there are a lot of things to consider. If you fall in love with a home, how do you know if it is the right home? The last thing you want is to purchase a home on impulse. There is nothing worse than the feeling like you have bought the wrong home, or that you... ❯❯❯

Building Your Dream Home: How to Choose the Perfect Floor Plan

Just about all of us have a certain kind of house that we dream of living in. Sometimes it’s one that has already been built like maybe a historic Victorian house or one that is 100 percent solar-powered. And then sometimes, it’s one that we actually want to build from scratch. If you’re considering building your own house, as you probably already know, one of the first things that you need to consider is your floor plan. And in order to come up with one... ❯❯❯

Top 5 Residential Construction Safety Tips

Safety is critical in home construction – even if it is just a remodel. Anytime there are heavy tools or other hazardous items, it is critical to have precautions in place. Each year, millions of construction workers are involved in serious, sometimes life threatening accidents. Some construction workers lose digits and even their lives Most of the injuries that do occur, however are ones that can be avoided. Most of the time, though, just putting some... ❯❯❯

5 Tips for Researching a Home’s History Before You Buy

When you purchase a home – whether it is your first home or your fifth home – it is critical to do some research about the home’s history first. The home’s history can tell you a lot of things – including whether owning it is a good idea or or not. Some homes might seem sound on the outside, and even on the inside, but as you dig a little deeper, you may find a lot of telling information that could make you think otherwise. For instance, what if there is... ❯❯❯

Top 5 Potential Red Flags for Homebuyers

If you’re currently in the market to purchase a new home, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve contacted a real estate agent to assist you. And while they usually will do what they can to make sure that you get the kind of house that you’re looking for, something that you must keep in mind at all times is the fact that selling homes is still their business and so they might not divulge all of the things that you should know. So, in order to prevent... ❯❯❯

Should You Restore or Sell Your Fire Damaged Home?

When it comes to our homes, if there’s one thing that none of us ever want to experience, it would have to be a fire. Not only because it has the potential to put us in physical danger while also being emotionally toiling but because the amount of damage that a fire can leave behind can also make it really hard to repair. So that you can be prepared in case something like this happens to your house, we wanted to take out a moment to discuss the process... ❯❯❯

5 Things You Should Avoid Doing Before Buying a Home

Owning a home is something that many adults dream of. Of course, we’d all love to have a mansion on the side of a cliff, overlooking the ocean, but most of us are pretty happy to settle for something smaller and more reasonably priced that requires far less cleaning and maintenance. Unfortunately, we’re not all so practical when it comes to our finances. As a result, many would-be homeowners commit terrible mistakes that could make it well-nigh impossible... ❯❯❯

Top 5 Home Exterior Sun Control Tips

One battle that many homeowners wage is a fight against the elements, or more specifically, an ongoing attempt to keep them from compromising the interior environment. And yet, unless you’d like to hermetically seal your home, chances are that your house will be exposed to the natural incursion of sun, wind, and water at some point. The roof may leak and exterior air will certainly sneak in around doors and windows, especially when they’re opened. But... ❯❯❯

5 Things You Should Know in Order to Negotiate the Best Deal on a New Home

Are you in the market to buy a new home? If so, probably your first priority is finding a house in a safe neighborhood that has all of the features that you want. Your second? Making sure that you can get it at the lowest price possible. So, in the effort to help you negotiate the absolute best deal possible on a new home, we wanted to provide you with five solid tips. Check these out below: Research comparable sales. The first thing that you should do... ❯❯❯

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