8 Ways to Keep Children and Pets Safe in Your Home

With our spring cleaning tasks just about completed, it is now time to prepare for carefree summer months of enjoying more time outdoors with neighbors, family members, and friends. With summer BBQs and impromptu picnics, there is likely to be more traffic in your home than usual in the coming months. Of course, you want to make sure that all guests, from those with the tiniest feet to those with four paws, stay safe when spending time at your home.

In order to keep everyone from children to pets safe this summer (and all year through), we’re offering a few safety tips. Here are eight ways to child- and pet-proof your home:

1. Protect your personal belongings. 
This tip is two-fold and will help protect your visitors and your valuables. When you know you’ll have a lot of traffic coming in and out of your home, it is a good idea to lock away things of value. This way, no one will get hurt, and nothing will get broken or misplaced.

2. Restrict areas with safety gates. 
One of the best ways to prevent children and pets from getting into things they shouldn’t be around your home is to install safety gates. Often placed at the top and bottom of staircases, gates not only prevent children and pets from falling, but they also provide a great barrier, restricting access to forbidden areas.

3.  Secure unstable furniture. 
It is natural for children and pets to run, jump and climb while they play. But when they get a bit rambunctious around your furniture, they run a risk of getting hurt. To prevent items like bookshelves, TVs or other larger pieces of furniture that you might have pushed against your walls from tipping over, it is a good idea to use brackets or anchors to safely secure them.

4. Lock cupboards with child-proof locks.
For every item from cooking oils and spices to kitchen knives, you simply never know what children and pets might try to get into. Prevent them from finding anything dangerous by locking up the cupboards and drawers where you don’t want them to peek.
 
5. Keep medications and cleaning solutions on high shelves. 
Just as it is important to keep children and pets away from items in the kitchen, you also want to make sure that any medications and harmful cleaning supplies are far out of reach from little fingers and paws. It is a good idea to keep these items locked away or on shelves without easy reach.

6. Remember to put the seat down – every time!
It might sound silly, but pets are prone to finding any watering hole they can in a home. To prevent them from using your toilet bowl as a watering dish, make a habit out of putting the lid down every time you use the bathroom.

7. Don’t keep poisonous plants in the house.
Though they may add beauty and freshen the air in your home, some plants can pose dangers to children and pets. Be sure the plants you’re adding to your décor are safe. Opt for greenery that will not poison children or your four-legged family members who just can’t keep their paws off.

8. Don’t allow children or pets access to electrical outlets and cords.
Newer homes may offer a bit more protection when it comes to electrical outlets, but you don’t want to have cords lingering around your home when you have little feet and paws scampering around. Do your best to tuck cords away from areas where children and pets might play inside your home.

Finally, when it comes to keeping children and pets safe in your home, a little common sense can go a long way. Take a few precautions to protect your tiniest and furriest family members and friends, but also keep a watchful eye over them as they play inside your home.

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Five Reasons to Work with a Licensed Real Estate Agent

The internet has enough information to turn almost any beginner into an experienced do-it-yourselfer. Have a running toilet? Check out a couple of YouTube videos, and the next thing you know you are replacing the float, flapper, chain, and now have a perfectly quiet toilet. Never planned a dinner party? Stop by Pinterest, and your guests will think you hired Martha Stewart. But while the web has great tools to assist with buying or selling a house, it cannot provide the skills you will require from an experienced licensed real estate agent. 

1. Neighborhood Knowledge
If you are looking to buy a home, you may know what neighborhood you want to search in. You may even have friends or family who live there and can provide you with helpful information. But an experienced local agent has likely sold homes in that area. They know the market from start to finish. They are aware of comparable prices and have access to homes that are available but have not gone on the market yet, the information you will not find on the internet. 

2. Convenience and Access
Looking for the perfect home is time-consuming, even when you only consider the time you take to go look at potential homes. Now, imagine you don’t have an agent who is in charge of contacting the listing agent, setting up a time for you to tour the home, acquiring access to the house, and is a trusted agent who can make sure everything in the house is left as is. If you are arranging all of the previously mentioned necessities yourself, you are adding a lot of time to your search.

3. Negotiating 
You may have negotiated $20 off that used bike you bought off Craigslist. But negotiating the price of a house takes a lot of experience and knowledge. A seller can reject a potential buyer's offer for any reason, including just because they don’t like you for some reason. An agent communicates your needs for you and won’t let any issues a buyer or seller might have from getting too personal and ruining the deal. Also, an agent will help draw up a purchase agreement that allows enough time for inspections, contingencies, and anything else that's crucial to your particular needs.

4. Contracts
Buying or selling a home requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. Agents have the expertise to not only do this work for you but also the training to do it properly with the oversight of their agency. Buying or selling a house is a transaction where delays or mistakes can have serious financial consequences. Trying to sell or buy a home without an agent is like trying to represent yourself in court – a real gamble.  

5. Fiduciary Responsibility 
An agent is a fiduciary of the client, which means they are legally obligated to act in their clients’ best interests. A short list of those responsibilities includes the following. 

Accounting: The agent must account for all funds entrusted to them and not commingle (combine) client/customer funds with their personal and/or business funds.

Care: The agent must use all of their skills to the best of their ability on behalf of the client.

Confidentiality: The agent must keep any confidential information given to them by their client, especially information that may be damaging to the client in a negotiation.
    
Disclosure: The agent must disclose to the client any information they receive that may benefit the client’s position in a negotiation.

Loyalty: The agent owes undivided loyalty to the client and puts the client’s interests above their own.

Duty: The agent must obey all lawful orders that the client gives them.

While it may seem like something you can do on your own, buying or selling a house is a complex process in which you deserve the help of an experienced professional to ensure your happiness and success. 

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9 First Time Home Buying Mistakes To Avoid

Are starting to house hunt? First time home buyer? Here’s 9 common mistakes house buyers make when it comes to buying their first home.

1. Not getting pre-approved before looking at homes. You should always speak with a lender before you officially start looking at homes. Your budget is extremely important when it comes to buying a home and an official pre-approval letter from a lender will be required to view most homes outside of Open House events. You don’t want to fall in love with a house you can’t afford. Or have unrealistic expectations of what’s truly in budget. Not to mention there’s different types of loans that have different requirements for the home buying process. If you’re loan is an FHA vs. conventional loan there will be differences in the home buying process. Not sure who to talk to about lending? Reach out to me, I’d be happy to recommend some amazing local lenders with knowledge and experience.

2. Understanding compromise and flexibility. As a real estate professional, I’d love to tell you that you can have your cake and eat it too. However, that is rarely the reality of the home buying process. Have a firm idea of what are needs vs. wants are and what you’re willing to compromise on verse what you can’t budge on. You may need to have a further commute to get the acreage you want or sacrifice that beautiful remodeled kitchen to be closer to work. Curious about a specific neighborhood? Reach out, I’d be happy to provide some insight to recently sold homes in the neighborhood.

3. Finding the right agent. So, you go to an Open House and you love it. You start talking to the agent- disclosing your budget and how much you'd pay for the property and what you LOVE about the home. You want to write up an offer on the spot. You’ve just made a HUGE mistake. That agent represents the homeowner who is SELLING the home- not you. You just disclosed a ton of information that could be used against you. YOU COULD HAVE JUST COST YOURSELF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! Start house hunting smart- choose an agent you are comfortable with, an agent who sits down and discusses your wants, your needs, an agent who knows the market, someone who can protect your interests from the start. I’d be happy to sit down and talk with you.

4. Looking too much online. A smart homebuyer does their due diligence. Knowledge is power! Check Megans Law, research the local school district, the local municipality, and other things that are important to you. Looking too much online, referring to county assessment, Zillow estimated value, and other ‘real estate’ sites with conflicting information. Sites like Zillow simply use an algorithm to make an educated estimation of a home values. The home could be worth significantly more or less depending on multiple variables. When it comes to pricing a home or calculating an ‘offer’ price there is significant research that goes into it. Zillow hasn’t been in every home in the neighborhood. Zillow doesn’t know if the home has a new kitchen, granite countertops, or if the home needs a new furnace or roof. Ask your agent to show you comparable sold properties, review market conditions, and ensure you’re offer is solid.

5. Expecting your home to increase in value. Markets can change drastically. You could build equity at a very modest pace or in some rare cases lose value.

6. Underestimating repairs and expenses. Even a new home will require maintenance and upkeep. And unexpected expenses are bound to occur when you own a home. Play it safe and don’t exhaust yourself financially. General rule of thumb, budget 1% of the homes cost for yearly upkeep and expenses.

7. Feeling rushed. Go with your gut. You should never feel rushed or pressured into buying a home you aren’t comfortable with. The pressure could be from family, friends, or your agent. This is going to be your home, you’re going to be making one of the largest investments of your life. You should be comfortable and confident. However, this does not mean drag your feet. In a hot market it’s not uncommon for a home to be on the market less than a day. Take your agents advice and be prepared to make that dive. You’ll kick yourself in the rear when you see the home you loved get sold because you were second guessing yourself. It’s an all too common mistake.

8. Falling in love with a home. Getting emotionally invested can be easy when you’ve found the perfect home and you’ve already envisioned your life there. Stay focused and remember a house is an investment.

9. Buying when you should be renting. I know, it’s crazy right? A real estate agent telling you that buying might not be right for you. But the truth of the matter is- it might not be. Should you be renting or should you buy a home? Let’s talk and find out.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! I would be happy to answer any questions you have and help you with your real estate journey!

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Important Questions to Ask When House Hunting with Pets!

Not all homes and neighborhoods are pet friendly. Here are four important questions you need to ask when you’re house hunting with your four legged best friends in mind!

1. What are the local pet laws? Pet laws can vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. Are there breed restrictions? Size restrictions? How many pets are allowed per home? Who issues dog licenses?

2. How close is emergency vet care? Better safe than sorry. Be proactive and know where the closet emergency vet care is! How far from your current vets office are you, too?

3. Does the house have pet friendly flooring? As much as we love our four legged friends- we know the messes they can make. Are those floors going to hold up to dirty paws and claws? How easy will cleaning and upkeep be? Hardwood floors can be a life saver.

4. Can you pet handle the stairs? Our pets age faster than we do. Is a 4th floor walk up and option for an aging dog?

5. Is the neighborhood safe for your pets to roam? Be aware of the local community. Is there parks near by for your pet to roam? Hiking trails? Dog friendly entertainment and community functions?

Any other concerns I should have addressed? As you know, I’m a huge animal lover. And I love my gentle giant breeds. Let’s find you and your pet the perfect home and neighborhood!

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Colors That Will Hurt My Home Sale?

The colors you choose now will affect your home sale in the future!

1. Go easy on the orange, black, and violets. These colors tends to overwhelm buyers and leave an unwanted first impression. It doesn’t mean you have to ban these colors from your home! Use them on small surfaces- just try to keep them off the wall.

2. Don't over saturate your interiors. Keep it simple throughout. Buyers sometimes just can’t seem to see past the current colors and will fear being stuck with the colors forever!

3. Be bold on the outside. Do you want a crazy pop of color? Show some personality on the front door or the shutters! Make those your own!

4. Stay true with the blue. You want to be blue when it comes to home decor. Blue is a calming and neutral color. Just accent it with your personality pieces.

What colors are your walls? What colors do you love? What colors do you dislike?

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24% of Renters Believe Winter is the Best Time to Buy a Home

In real estate, the spring is often seen as the ideal time to buy or sell a house. The term “Spring Buyer’s Season” exists for a reason, as renters and those looking to move on from their current home thaw out from the winter and hit the market ready to buy.

According to Bank of America’s annual Home Buyer Insights Report, 41% of renters surveyed agree that spring is the best time to buy a home. The surprising result, however, is that when ranking the seasons, winter comes in second at 24%.

In many areas of the country, the spring and summer are the most competitive seasons for buyers. Families with children often want to move over the summer to make sure that their kids are ready for school in the fall. This often leads those families who haven’t found homes to buy to push pause on their search in the fall and winter months.

This creates a great environment for buyers to find a home with less competition. According to moving.com, scheduling a move during the winter months also comes with the best price.

“If you define ‘best’ by cost then, generally speaking, you are more likely to save on a move during the late September to April window. Demand for movers usually slows down during this time frame and rates are low.”

There are also many benefits to listing your house for sale during the winter months as well!

As we recently mentioned, buyers who are out in the winter are serious about wanting to find a home, and there is traditionally less competition on the market which gives you greater exposure to those buyers.

Bottom Line

As always, the best time to buy or move all depends on each individual buyer or seller’s goals and needs. If you are one of the many who would like to make a move this winter, let’s get together to create a plan to make it happen!

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The #1 Reason to Not Wait Until Spring to Sell Your House

Many sellers believe that spring is the best time to place their homes on the market because buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year, but what they don’t realize is that if every homeowner believes the same thing, then that is when they will have the most competition!

The #1 Reason to List Your Home in the Winter Months is Less Competition!

Housing supply traditionally shrinks at this time of year, so the choices buyers have will be limited. The chart below was created using the months’ supply of listings from the National Association of Realtors.

As you can see, the ‘sweet spot’ to list your home for the most exposure naturally occurs in the late fall and winter months (November – February). 

Temperatures aren’t the only thing that heats up in the spring – so do listings!

In 2017, listings increased by nearly half a million houses from December to June. Don’t wait for these listings to come to market before you decide to list your house.

Added Bonus: Only Serious Buyers Are Out in the Winter

At this time of year, only those purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the marketplace. You and your family will not be bothered and inconvenienced by mere ‘lookers.’ The lookers are at the mall or online doing their holiday shopping.

Bottom Line

If you have been debating whether or not to sell your home and are curious about market conditions in your area, let’s get together to help you decide the best time to list your house for sale.

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Buyers: Don’t Be Surprised by Closing Costs!

Many homebuyers think that saving for their down payment is enough to buy the house of their dreams, but what about the closing costs that are required to obtain a mortgage?

By law, a homebuyer will receive a loan estimate from their lender 3 days after submitting their loan application and they should receive a closing disclosure 3 days before the scheduled closing on their home. The closing disclosure includes final details about the loan and the closing costs.

But what are closing costs anyway?

According to Trulia:

“Closing costs are lender and third-party fees paid at the closing of a real estate transaction, and they can be financed as part of the deal or be paid upfront. They range from 2% to 5% of the purchase price of a home. (For those who buy a $150,000 home, for example, that would amount to between $3,000 and $7,500 in closing fees.)”

Keep in mind that if you are in the market for a home above this price range, your costs could be significantly greater. As mentioned before,

Closing costs are typically between 2% and 5% of your purchase price.

Trulia continues to give great advice, saying that:

“…understanding and educating yourself about these costs before settlement day arrives might help you avoid any headaches at the end of the deal.”

Bottom Line

Speak with your lender and agent early and often to determine how much you’ll be responsible for at closing. Finding out that you’ll need to come up with thousands of dollars right before closing is not a surprise anyone is ever looking forward to.

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Females Are Making It a Priority to Invest in Real Estate!

Everyone wants a place to call home; a place that gives them a sense of security. We are currently seeing major interest from females who want to achieve this dream, and the numbers are proving it!

In 2018, for the second year in a row, single female buyers accounted for 18% of all buyers. In 2017, 60% of millennial women listed as the primary borrowers on mortgages were single.

According to the 2018 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends Report by the National Association of Realtors, one in five homebuyers in the U.S. were single females (most of them part of the baby boomer generation) as you can see in the graph below:

This does not come as a surprise since 50.8% of the U.S. population is female and 15.6% of them are 65 years and over, according to the Census Bureau.

What are the reasons for this demographic’s booming interest in homeownership?

Bankrate published an article with what they believe to be some of the reasons:

• Divorce rate: Known as the “Gray Divorce,” the divorce rate has doubled for those ages 50 and over and tripled for those ages 65 and over.

• Average life expectancy: For women it’s 81, four years longer than men.

• To build home equity: Women want to build equity through their home. As mentioned by Bankrate, “some are hoping to escape rising rents, some might be downsizing or looking for a new start,” especially those going through a gray divorce.

Are they only downsizing and buying small homes?

Not really; The Institute of Luxury Home Marketing recently stated that:

“The number of female billionaires grew faster globally in 2017 than the number of male billionaires. This redistribution of wealth has seen an impact on luxury real estate both in its purchase and design attributes – and obviously, this is important for realtors to recognize when relating to their clients.”

Bottom Line 

Whether you are a millennial who wants to buy a starter home, a billionaire looking for that luxury home you’ve always wanted, or maybe even someone who just went through a gray divorce, let’s get together to help you create your real estate portfolio so that you can start investing your money in real estate today!

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7 Reasons to List Your House For Sale This Holiday Season

Every year at this time there are many homeowners who decide to wait until after the holidays to list their homes for the first time, while others who already have their homes on the market decide to take them off until after the holidays.

Here are seven great reasons not to wait:

• Relocation buyers are out there. Many companies are still hiring throughout the holidays and need their new employees in their new positions as soon as possible.

• Purchasers who are looking for homes during the holidays are serious buyers and are ready to buy now.

• You can restrict the showings on your home to the times you want it shown. You will remain in control.

• Homes show better when decorated for the holidays.

• There is minimal competition for you as a seller right now. Inventory of homes for sale traditionally slows in the late fall, early winter. Let’s take a look at listing inventory as compared to the same time last year:

• The desire to own a home doesn’t stop when the holidays come. Buyers who were unable to find their dream homes during the busy spring and summer months are still searching!

• The supply of listings increases substantially after the holidays. Also, in many parts of the country, new construction will continue to surge and reach new heights which will lessen the demand for your house in 2019.

Bottom Line 

Waiting until after the holidays to sell your home probably doesn’t make sense.

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