You're not thinking of selling -- so why keep your home in market-ready shape? There are some excellent reasons for upgrading your home while you live there; keeping your house in good repair and in "ready to sell" condition benefits you in a variety of ways:
Your own comfort: It's just more comfortable to live in a home that is in great shape and that does not require a lot of extra work or repairs. When your HVAC system is in peak condition, you'll save money on heating and cooling your home -- and when you've already taken the time to unclutter and organize, home cleanup becomes a breeze. Get things ready for your own comfort and enjoyment and you'll also be ready to sell in a hurry if you have to.
Your life circumstances change: Getting married, having a baby, combining households or even becoming an empty-nester can lead to big changes in the way you live. If you suddenly need more (or less) space, those changes will be easier to deal with if you are not also burdened with getting your home ready for sale, too. You'll be ready to go, and are sure to get a top offer, when your home is already in selling shape.
The unexpected happens: A job loss or transfer could leave you stuck with a home you own but can no longer live in. If you are not prepared, you could end up becoming an unintentional landlord -- and you'll be responsible for a bundle of repairs and maintenance at once. Keep your home in market ready condition and you won't have to scramble to get ready. This is also likely to be an incredibly stressful time, so having your home ready to sell if you need to can take a big burden from your shoulders, too.
Company's coming: It will be easier to host and entertain when you know your home is in show worthy shape. If chaos and clutter is keeping you from truly enjoying your space or delayed repairs and maintenance are preventing you from having company over, getting your home ready to show will remove this burden. In some cases, the changes you make will let you fall in love with your home all over again -- and be able to proudly share it with others, too.
Whether an unexpected job transfer pops up, the in-laws are coming or you simply want to enjoy your home in comfort, committing to keeping it in "show-ready" condition will give you peace of mind and ensure you are not inconvenienced by life's little (or big) surprises.
If you get an offer to buy your house, there is no need to make a snap decision. Instead, it generally is a good idea to allocate the necessary time and resources to analyze an offer and determine the best course of action.
Ultimately, there are lots of reasons why you should analyze a home offer, and these include:
1. You can boost the likelihood of getting the best price for your house.
An offer may fall at, above or below your house's initial asking price. However, regardless of the offer that you receive, it pays to perform a full evaluation to ensure you can maximize the value of your residence.
For many home sellers, it is beneficial to conduct a home appraisal prior to listing a residence. That way, when a home offer arrives, a seller can compare the proposal to a property valuation and proceed accordingly.
2. You can weigh the pros and cons of all of your options.
Let's face it – deciding whether to accept, reject or counter a homebuying proposal can be tough. Luckily, analyzing an offer enables you to weight the pros and cons of each option, making it easier than ever before to make an informed choice.
Oftentimes, creating a list of pros and cons can be helpful. This list will enable you to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each potential home selling decision. Then, you can use your list to guide the decision-making process.
3. You can receive expert housing market insights before you finalize your decision.
Imagine what it would be like to take a data-driven approach to decide whether to approve a homebuying proposal. Now, you can, thanks to the wealth of housing market data that is readily available to sellers.
As a home seller, you should have no trouble examining the prices of comparable houses that recently sold in your city or town. You then can use this housing market data to determine whether a proposal is "fair" based on the current real estate market's conditions.
Of course, as you assess a home offer, it often helps to collaborate with a real estate agent. This housing market professional knows exactly what it takes to sell a house – regardless of the real estate market's conditions. As such, he or she will enable you to conduct an in-depth review of any homebuying proposal, at any time.
A real estate agent also is happy to help you after you determine whether to accept, reject or counter a proposal. If you accept an offer, a real estate agent will help you move forward with the home selling journey. Or, if you reject an offer, a real estate agent will show you how to promote your house to potential buyers to boost your chances of receiving better proposals in the future. And if you counter an offer, a real estate agent can negotiate with a buyer's agent on your behalf.
Evaluate a home offer closely – you'll be glad you did. If you perform a deep analysis of a homebuying proposal, you can assess a home offer from multiple angles and make the best-possible decision based on your individual needs.
If you're ready to pursue your dream house, it generally is a good idea to enter the real estate sector with an open mind. In fact, there are many benefits to keeping your options open as you search for your ideal residence, and these benefits include:
1. You may be able to discover a bargain.
As you kick off your home search, it helps to pursue houses in a wide range of cities and towns. Doing so can help you separate your dream home must-haves from your wants. Also, this may enable you to find an affordable residence that matches or exceeds your expectations.
There is no telling whether a real estate market will favor buyers or sellers. The housing sector fluctuates constantly, and a buyer's market today may morph into a seller's market tomorrow.
Luckily, if you maintain an open approach to buying a house, you can remain patient as you search for your perfect residence. Perhaps most important, you can capitalize on homebuying opportunities as they become available and avoid the temptation to overspend on a house.
2. You can move quickly to acquire your dream residence.
With an open approach to the homebuying journey, you should have no trouble moving quickly to acquire your ideal residence. If the opportunity presents itself to buy a great house at a terrific price, you can submit an offer and proceed accordingly.
Of course, you should always think ahead before you submit an offer on any house, at any time. If you put together a competitive offer on a residence, you may receive an instant "Yes" from a home seller. Then, you can seamlessly finalize your home purchase and move into your dream residence.
3. You can minimize stress throughout the homebuying journey.
Buying a home is a major decision, and as such, stress can be problematic throughout the homebuying journey. If you are open to new ideas as you pursue a home, however, you may be better equipped than ever before to purchase your perfect residence.
Remember, stress may force a homebuyer to make rash decisions – something that a homebuyer probably wants to avoid at all costs. But if you're willing to take a deep breath and step back from the homebuying cycle at times, you can look at the big picture. And as a result, you can remain calm, cool and collected as you consider all of your homebuying options.
For those who are looking for extra help in their pursuit of the perfect home, it may be beneficial to hire a real estate agent too. This housing market professional can share details about a broad array of houses in cities and towns where you want to live. Plus, a real estate agent can keep you informed about new residences as they become available, help you submit offers on houses and much more.
Make your homeownership dream come true – take an open approach to the homebuying journey, and you may be able to accomplish your homebuying goal faster than ever before.
As a home seller, it is crucial to do everything possible to prepare for a house showing. Yet determining the best ways to prep for a showing sometimes can be difficult. Fortunately, we're here to help you get ready for any showing, at any time.
Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you plan for a house showing.
1. Upgrade Your House's Curb Appeal
Although a property buyer likely has seen pictures of your house or walked or driven past your residence, there may be no time like the present to upgrade your home's curb appeal. Because if a buyer sees your home's beautiful front lawn and other stunning exterior features on the day of a showing, he or she may instantly fall in love with your residence.
Completing assorted home exterior improvements is crucial to enhance your residence's curb appeal prior to a showing. In fact, performing home exterior tasks like mowing the lawn and repairing damaged siding will help your residence make a positive first impression on potential buyers. Home exterior improvements ultimately may help you accelerate the property selling journey too.
2. Remove Clutter from Inside Your Home
Clutter is a major problem because it may make your house appear small and messy. If you allocate time and resources to remove clutter prior to a home showing, however, you can highlight the true beauty of your living space to potential buyers.
If you own items you no longer need, you can always sell these items online or at a yard sale. You also can donate unwanted items to charity or give them to family members or friends.
In addition, you can always put various items you want to keep in storage. If you rent a storage unit, you can keep assorted belongings safe until your residence sells.
3. Consult with a Real Estate Agent
With a real estate agent at your side, you can receive comprehensive support leading up to a house showing. A real estate agent will offer recommendations and suggestions to ensure you know what to expect from a showing. Plus, he or she will respond to any of your home showing concerns or questions.
Furthermore, a real estate agent will help you navigate the home selling cycle. He or she first will meet with you, find out why you want to sell your residence and help you craft a property selling strategy. Next, a real estate agent will promote your residence to dozens of prospective buyers. And if you receive an offer to purchase your home, a real estate agent will help you analyze this property buying proposal. A real estate agent will even negotiate with a buyer's agent on your behalf to help you optimize your home sale earnings.
When it comes to hosting a home showing, there is no need to worry. Thanks to the aforementioned tips, you can plan for a home showing. And as a result, you can take the necessary steps to ensure a home showing is an instant success.
The daily commute can be a daily grind. What if you could commute and get a workout in at the same time? You can if you take on the task of commuting by bicycle. Whether you’re established in your current neighborhood or searching for a new home, you should always consider your location in relationship to your work in addition to your preferred mode of transportation. Especially in regions where the weather is nice the whole year through, you’ll want to check on your options for commuting by bike. Below, you’ll find some tips that can make commuting to work by bicycle from your home a bit easier.
Plan Ahead
Depending on weather conditions, you’ll need to plan ahead. If you have a longer commute, you’ll most likely need to bring a change of clothes to work. You don’t want to spend an entire day at the office in sweaty, smelly clothes. If you need to dress professionally, you should plan to bring clothing that won’t wrinkle easily. Also keep some items to help you freshen up in your work bag including deodorant and wipes. As temperatures get warmer throughout the year, this will become ever important. If the weather looks like it might rain, you might want to bring additional gear or just skip the commute by bike altogether on those days. You can even store some spare clothing or toiletries in your desk in case you forget to pack something one day.
Have A Space To Keep Your Bike
Both at home and at work, you’ll need to find a spot to keep your bike. It’s important to find a place where the bike will be secure and is able to be locked down. Depending upon the type of area you work in, you’d hate to ride to work on your bike only to find out that when you’re ready to return home your bike has been stolen. Your bicycle should also have a convenient location where you can store it around your home as well.
Keep In Mind That You Still Could Encounter Problems
Even though you’re riding a bike and not driving a car, you can still encounter problems on your ride to and from work. Hit one bump the wrong way and you’ll end up with a flat tire. This means that you’ll need to have a kit ready in case of any kind of issues that you encounter during your commute. Keep this commuter kit with your work things so that you don’t need to worry about where the spare tubes and bicycle pump are.
When you choose a commuter friendly neighborhood, you’ll be surprised at how much fun and how easy commuting to and from work by bicycle can be. Just heed some convenience and safety tips and you’ll be well on your way to a good workout to and from work.
