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If you’re thinking about selling your home, chances are you’ve been told that the end of the year is a terrible time to do it. You’ve likely heard two main reasons to back up this assertion: the holidays are too stressful and there are no buyers this time of year.

Well, we’re here to argue that this is no longer true in today’s market. While selling during the holidays can present its own set of challenges, it actually can be a great time to put your home up for sale. Here are five great reasons why.

There’s less competition

During the holiday season, many homeowners decide to forgo any perceived hassle and take their homes off the market. This can be a great opportunity if you decide to sell now. Fewer homes on the market means less competition for your home, which is especially good if there are many houses like yours in your community. If there are fewer homes for potential buyers to visit, you’re more likely to get a better offer due to low inventory.

Buyers are motivated

The holidays are a busy time. Add into that a home search and it’s easy to see how some people could be overwhelmed and simply opt out of their home search during the holiday season. If a buyer isn’t restricted by an upcoming relocation, they can afford to take a little time off from their search. But there will be some buyers out there who need to find a home by a certain time. These types of buyers are a seller’s dream, as they are particularly motivated. They’re willing to set aside comfort and savings in order to expedite the buying process.

People are browsing online listings

Since the holiday season generally brings vacation time for most people, it means they have extra time to devote to home searches, especially those conducted online. If your home is on the market, it will show up in online searches, giving many more potential buyers an opportunity to discover your listing.

International buyers are increasing in number

More and more foreign homebuyers are becoming interested in the U.S. real estate market. These buyers don’t often follow the same schedule or calendar as we do in the states, so they may be using this time to do some serious house hunting.

Your home looks particularly nice

Even if you’re in the process of selling, you probably still feel compelled to celebrate the holiday season by decking the halls. Don’t fight that urge. Emotion plays a key factor in a buyer’s decision-making process, and if your home looks especially lovely decorated for the holidays, that could work in your favor. Just be sure to keep the decorations tasteful and that they don’t take away or hide any of your home’s best features.

So there you have it. Don’t let fear keep you from selling your house during the holiday season. Now is a great time to list – and think how nice it will be to start the year with a sale under your belt!

Compliments of Virtual Results

‘Tis the season for out-of-town guests, whether they’re staying overnight or for an entire week. While you’re making preparations for all the upcoming festivities, don’t forget to prep the house for all these guests. Use this simple checklist to make sure your home is as welcoming and cozy as possible.

The Basics

When your guests arrive, make it easy for them to settle in by providing them with:

• Your Wi-Fi network name and password.
• A spare key if they will be coming and going at different times than you. Duplicate keys with the help of professional locksmith services. You may contact locksmith downtown miami. And if you need to change the locks, give Locksmith in Brampton a call.
• Any special instructions, like alarm codes, what kind of treats they can give your dog, how to turn on and use the TV or other electronics, and whether or not one of your door locks is sticky and if they get locked out you can give the number to your local commercial locksmith for quick assistance and while you’re at it you can also consider keeping your car safe by getting a new key from a car locksmith.
• Emergency contact numbers in case anything happens while you’re not there. This includes neighbors, family nearby or even your plumber.
• A list of local activities they may enjoy.

The more basic information you can share with them, the less they’ll feel like they’re bothering you and the more they can relax and enjoy themselves.

The Guest Room

If your holiday plans include overnight guests, you’ll want to get the guest room into shape, especially if it doesn’t see much use. In addition to cleaning as usual, be sure to hit the following:

• Put fresh sheets on the bed.
• Set out extra blankets and pillows.
• Make a spot for their luggage.
• Clear some space in the closet/drawers for their items and add some empty hangers for clothes.

Do you want to turn the guest room into a retreat? Then include a small table and a reading light next to the bed. Set out a couple bottles of water and a small vase of fresh flowers. Put out a couple of books or some magazines for their enjoyment. Wondering whether or not your guest room is truly comfortable? Then spend one night in the room. You’ll see exactly what’s missing and how you can make it more functional and enjoyable for your guests.

The Guest Bath

Just like the guest room, the guest bath needs a thorough cleaning before guests arrive. Also make sure to:

• Put out clean towels and washcloths.
• Make space on countertops for their items.
• Stock the bathroom with travel size items like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, lotion and cotton swabs. Also consider having pain reliever and other first aid items like antacids handy in case anyone happens to overindulge.

The Kitchen

Make it easy for your guests to grab a snack or something to drink without them having to ask. Stock the kitchen with snack items, soft drinks and water that are easily accessible, and let them know they can help themselves. Show them how the coffee maker works and make some easy breakfast items, in case they’re early risers. This way, they don’t need to disturb you in the morning and you can sleep in without worrying about playing host.

While the holidays can be stressful, they can also be a wonderful time to connect with family and friends in a meaningful way. As a host, you can set the stage for relaxation by taking a little time beforehand to get your house ready for your loved ones’ arrival.

Compliments of Virtual Results

If you’re in the market for a new home but aren’t sure you want a big yard to take care of, you’ve probably considered buying a townhouse. But do you really know what you’re getting? While it may seem natural to lump apartments, condos and townhouses together, there are distinct differences between them. Here’s what you need to know to decide whether or not a townhouse is right for you.

What is a townhouse?

A townhouse is generally described as a two-to-four story building that has common walls with neighboring properties. You may also sometimes hear a townhouse referred to as a row house. Townhouses can be found in every type of community, from rural to metropolitan neighborhoods. The building is on a very small footprint, and usually contains a tiny landscaped yard. Generally speaking, living rooms and kitchens are on the first floor, while bedrooms are on the upper floors. Many townhouses also include garages in the front or back.

What is the difference between a townhouse and a condominium?

While most people think of condominiums and townhouses interchangeably, there is one distinct difference. With a condo, you own only the airspace inside the walls. But with a townhouse, you actually own the little piece of land that the house sits on. So if owning a piece of property is important to you, then opt for a townhouse over a condo.

How is maintenance handled for a townhouse?

A townhouse community often contains shared amenities, such as a pool or rec room. As a result, most townhouses require monthly payments to a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) to keep up with maintenance costs of these shared spaces. HOA fees can also cover the upkeep and maintenance of your yard and the exterior of your home.

What are the pros of a townhouse?

Some of the reasons that homeowners enjoy living in townhouses include:

• Not having to deal with upkeep of outdoor spaces, like cleaning up leaves, mowing the lawn or snow removal.
• Owning the land on which the townhouse sits.
• Having neighbors nearby, so it’s great for security and for those who want to feel like their neighbors are looking out for them, especially the elderly or those with medical issues.
• Having interior finishes that are more modern or luxurious than what you could afford in a single-family home.
• Traveling is easier with a townhouse, as security and upkeep are generally taken care of for you.

What are the cons of a townhouse?

Here are some things to consider that might make townhouse living less than ideal for you:

• Not having as much privacy as you would with a single-family home.
• Sharing walls with your neighbors on either side.
• Not having a yard if you enjoy gardening or want a big outdoor space for your kids or pets to play.
• Having less freedom with your outdoor decorating style, as you’ll need to follow the guidelines established by the HOA.
• Having no room to expand, especially if you are considering growing your family or you anticipate having an elderly parent move in.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Have you ever stopped to consider how important your home is to your safety and health? Did you ever think about the connection between the place where you live and your family’s wellbeing?  Have you stopped to consider what life might be like if you didn’t have a safe place to come home to, where you feel comfortable putting your children to bed each night?

There are more than 800 million people worldwide who live in inadequate housing in slums. How would their lives change if they were given safe, clean homes in which to live?

Why are homes so important?

For the charity New Story, everything starts with a home. Having a safe, consistent place to live gives people a foundation on which to thrive. Children living in inadequate housing have a much higher rate of death due to unsanitary conditions, and even replacing a dirt floor with concrete significantly reduces the number of parasitic infections they can develop and can even look fabulous in a home if they are maintained by polishing concrete services. Professionals will apply specific concrete chemicals that will make their surfacing work last a long time.

In addition, children living in slums are less likely to go to school and as a result have fewer opportunities as they age.

New Story believes that when families are given a home with clean water, appropriate sanitation, a concrete floor and a roof, that they are healthier. When their basic needs are met they have more opportunity to focus on income and to send children to school.

What does New Story do?

New Story focuses on transforming slums into communities by building homes. They work from the idea that nobody knows better what they need than those in the community, and their work focuses on the expressed needs of that community. They train local labor and buy local materials to build the homes, stimulating local economies. In their words, they help “families transition out of survival mode” so that they “can begin focusing on their new story.”

New Story is currently supporting relief efforts in Haiti, transforming the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. More than 60,000 people are without shelter, and they are collecting donations to build durable homes and create sustainable communities in the country.

Who is behind New Story?

New Story is comprised of a small team based in San Francisco. They are aided by a team of advisors who are leaders in the field, including Pete Flint, the founder of Trulia, and David Butler, the VP of Innovation at Coca-Cola.

How can you help?

New Story uses 100% of all donations to hire local workers and buy local materials. A private group of donors fund operations so that all public donations can be used to build homes. Each home costs approximately $6,000 to build. When you donate to New Story, you receive a video of the specific family that you helped, moving into their new home.

Would you like more information?

If you’d like more information about New Story, their team, where they work, who they partner with and how it all helps families in need of safe housing, please visit their website at https://www.newstorycharity.org/

Compliments of Virtual Results

There’s no doubt that daydreaming about your upcoming move to a new city on the other side of the country is exciting. Think of all the new things you’ll get to experience – getting to know a new town, meeting new people and discovering what makes this new place special.

What’s not so great? Thinking about all the planning that a cross-country move involves. If you’re getting ready to jump from one side of the country to the other, here’s what you need to do to prepare.

Start planning now

It’s never too early to start planning. Moving long distance can be logistically complex, and getting a jumpstart is key to making sure the move goes as smoothly as possible. Ideally, you should begin planning at least eight weeks before your move date.

Lighten the load

Chances are, you’ve been holding on to things in your house that you don’t really need or love anymore. Now is the time to go through all your belongings, and sell or donate what you don’t want to take with you. Remember, the larger your moving load, the more expensive it will be. Consider what you can easily replace when you arrive at your new destination.

Arrange transport

How will you get your belongings from Point A to Point B? Will you hire a moving company? Will you be renting a truck and packing it yourself? Doing a combination of both? Do your research to find the most reputable companies and compare rates. Decide on your moving date and book your company or rental.

Create a to-do list

The weeks leading up to your big move are going to be busy and probably a little stressful (okay, maybe a lot stressful). Do yourself a favor and create a master to-do list of everything that needs to be accomplished by moving day. If you’re moving with your family, share this list on Google Docs or another sharing platform and designate who will be responsible for each item.

Collect boxes and begin packing

Unless you’re paying a moving company to pack your items, start collecting boxes as soon as possible and packing them up. Be sure to clearly mark the contents of boxes on the outside and fill them full. Pack heavy items in smaller boxes and save lighter items for the big boxes.

Set aside important documents and valuables

While you’re packing, locate all your important documents and valuables and set them aside. You should carry these items separately with you, not in the moving truck with other items.

Cancel accounts and change address

A couple of weeks before the move, cancel local memberships and contact your utility companies for shut-off dates. Fill out a change of address form with the post office and alert employers, banks and other important places of your new address.

Stay calm

It’s easier said than done, but do try to stay calm during the process. Be sure to allow for some time to decompress, either by doing something fun like watching a movie or taking a hot bath. Remember – it’s likely to be stressful for a couple of weeks, but eventually the move will come to an end and you’ll be happily exploring your new community!

Compliments of Virtual Results

Can you feel the chill in the air? Old Man Winter is on his way – which means it’s time to get your garden ready for the coming cold weather. By doing these gardening chores now, you’ll give yourself a great start for the next planting season. If you’re about to build a garden, make sure that you have a landscape design that will help make its maintenance more manageable no matter the season.

Here’s a rundown of what you should accomplish before winter descends.

Clean Up

Prepare perennials by cutting back dry or dead stems to the ground once frost appears. For some perennials, such as ornamental grasses or those with seed pods, you may choose to leave them until the end of winter/beginning of spring to add visual interest to your garden. They also give beneficial insects like butterflies and moths a place to lay their eggs or build their cocoons, which will then hatch in the spring.

Rake up leaves to have them collected by the city. Even better, run over leaves with your lawn mower and use them as mulch on the lawn and in garden beds. Or collect and compost them with other clippings, spent plants and kitchen scraps. You’ll be thrilled to then have nutrient-rich material to add to your soil in the spring.

Care for the Lawn

Your lawn needs residential lawn care or grass services now before winter arrives. Keep mowing the lawn and reseed any spots that are thin and if  is too long getting a Cutting Grass service is the best choice. Add a half-inch of compost on top to build up the root system and aerate any patches that have become compacted. Fertilize well and keep it watered if it gets too dry. Visit https://drjimz.com/products/cannabis-nutrient-marijuana-fertilizer if you’re looking for the perfect fertilizer for you cannabis plants.

Feed and Mulch Garden Beds

Your plants are only as healthy as the soil they grow in, and now is the perfect time to help beef it up for the next growing season. Add high-quality compost to your garden beds and top with a one- to two-inch layer of mulch. Adding compost and mulch now gives them time to break down, so in the springtime your soil will be fertile. Mulch also helps to make sure winter rains don’t wash any loose soil away.

Attend to Tools and Irrigation Systems

If you live in an area that experiences freezing weather, be sure to turn off your irrigation system and drain the lines before that first cold snap. Drain your garden hoses and store them in the garage, basement or shed for the winter. Drain or add fuel stabilizer to your lawn mower and any other gas-powered equipment.

Clean up all your tools like shovels and shears. Remove any caked-on dirt and coat metal parts to keep them from rusting. Tools with wooden handles can be treated with linseed oil to keep them from drying out. Store all your tools in a dry place over the winter.

Bring Potted Plants Indoors

If you like to give your houseplants a breath of fresh air over the summer, you should now bring them inside before it gets too cold. Flush the pots with water to remove any insects you don’t want hitching a ride inside. Remove dead or dying leaves, trim up the branches and add a fresh layer of mulch on top of the soil. When finding a place for them inside, be sure it mimics the type of light they became accustomed to outside, or slowly introduce them to their new home.

Compliments of Virtual Results

We understand the dilemma – you absolutely love the handmade patchwork quilt you inherited from your grandmother, but it really doesn’t go well with your Mid-century Modern décor. Or perhaps your spouse owns of collection of antique books that have been passed down from generation to generation – but you’re just not sure how to display them. No matter what the situation, it can be tough to work family hand-me-downs into your aesthetic.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to make it work. Here are the best ideas we’ve found to decorate your home with your cherished family heirlooms.

Handle with care

When dealing with family treasures, you should treat everything with more care than you might with something you picked up at Target. If you have anything framed, be sure to use archival quality, acid free products. If an item is damaged, say an upholstered chair has a tear or a secretary desk has some chips, have it professionally repaired, instead of trying to fix it on your own. Many items may lose value if they aren’t repaired or restored properly in a way that’s in keeping with the period they are from.

Don’t be afraid to mix styles

When the bulk of your home décor comes from the same store or is in the same style, it can look a little static, like it just leaped off the pages of a catalog. By mixing in family treasures and pieces from other eras, you give your space depth and character. In fact, those family heirlooms tell a story and could be a wonderful conversation starter for when you have guests. So don’t be afraid to pair that metal and glass table with a Victorian-era lamp.

Update pieces that are tired or worn

Perhaps you have a set of dining chairs from your grandmother that you love, but have seen better days. Why not give them a modern facelift, especially if you’re not concerned about devaluing the pieces. Paint them a bold color and reupholster the seat with a vibrant fabric that gives a modern look to a vintage silhouette. The result can be very exciting and really enliven your space.

Group items into an eclectic collection

Do you have a box of old skeleton keys from your family ‘s previous homes? Why not display them as a collection? Has your family been collecting seashells from every beach vacation for the last 50 years? Put them in a beautiful glass apothecary jar and display it on a bookshelf. And those antique books and typewriter will look amazing as a display in your home office. Light up a room full of antiques with nautical sconces. Let your imagination help you find how the items you’ve inherited are connected, and use that to guide your displays. You may visit some trusted sites like https://www.antiques.co.uk/ if you’re looking for more great antique collections!

Let go of obligation

One important thing to remember when choosing how to use heirlooms in your home, is that you should not feel obligated to display them. Some items just aren’t your taste or style, and that’s okay. If you don’t love an item, or it doesn’t bring you happy memories, it’s perfectly acceptable to pass it to another family member or keep it in storage.

Compliments of Virtual Results

You don’t have to be a billionaire to enjoy a little luxury. With some smart choices and a bit of imagination, you can live a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. For instance, you may get a water softener installation to improve the quality of water in your bathroom and kitchen. Here are some more strategies to maximize the luxuriousness of your home and life while minimizing the amount of money you spend.

Focus on quality, not quantity

Living a minimal lifestyle has been popular in the media lately, whether it’s following Marie Kondo’s advice about tidying your home, or transforming your closet into a capsule wardrobe. What each of these concepts stresses is prioritizing quality over quantity. Instead of purchasing 12 trendy, discount home décor pieces that you kind of like, why not save that money and splurge on one quality, timeless piece that you really love and that you’ll use for years? Then if you love horses, you should have a look at this wonderful equestrian homeware store, as they offer some gorgeous equestrian homeware, and you can even personalize a lot of the products.

Brighten a room with fresh flowers

Ever notice when you walk into a room that has a vase of fresh flowers, it just feels a little more special? There’s no reason you can’t have that feeling all the time. Fresh flowers can be very inexpensive – you can even gather some from your own yard. For an added bit of luxury, put them in a special pitcher or vase that you might normally only use on special occasions. There’s no reason every day can’t be a special occasion!

Buy vintage furniture

You can make your home look fabulous for far less money if you’re willing to buy some of your furniture secondhand from an antique furniture online store. Not only will you save, you’ll likely get a higher quality item with unique character than if you spent the same amount of money in one of today’s big box retailers. Check a local furniture store, online classifieds and yard sales to score some great deals.

Looking for a gorgeous bedroom collection, a sectional, a vanity dresser, or a full bunk bed? Look no further than Homeelegance furniture deals as your source for furniture! Whether you want a new look for your living room with all-new furniture, or you need a new dining room table and chair set, you have many styles to choose from.

Splurge on good sheets

One place in your home where luxury really counts is the bedroom. But instead of splurging on a fancy duvet or bedroom furniture, use your money to invest in a good set of sheets. There’s nothing quite like slipping into bed every night wrapped up in luxurious fabric. And think of how much better you’ll sleep and feel in the morning!

Use those fancy soaps and candles

If you’re like many people, you’ve probably amassed a collection of fragrant soaps and candles during the years. And like most people, you’re probably saving them for company or for a special occasion. But there’s no reason to wait! Bust out those wonderful soaps and candles and use them around your house. You deserve it.

Take advantage of free local events

Communities across America host free events all the time. Have you ever actually attended any of them? There are so many fun activities to enjoy, from free outdoor movie nights at the park to the book club at the library. Search for free events in your area using Google and check the websites of your local library, parks and schools for fun activities happening in your area.

So there you have it! You don’t have to be rolling in cash to enjoy a little luxury in your life. Try one of these tips and you’ll be well on your way to living a more pampered and luxurious lifestyle!

Compliments of Virtual Results

An important part of buying a house is getting your financial life in order. One reason is that the higher your credit score, the better rate you’ll secure for your mortgage. Mortgage lenders look at your credit score to determine how smart and diligent you are about debt management, which could indicate how disciplined you’ll be about making your mortgage payments on time.

If you’re preparing to buy a home, here are some things you’ll want to avoid that can negatively impact your credit score.

Not checking your credit report

Preparing to buy a home means you need to check your credit report. Around 25 percent of credit reports contain errors, which can negatively impact your credit score. You can check your report for free every year. If you find any mistakes, including an address or credit card that isn’t yours, you should take the necessary steps to have the error corrected.

Making late payments

Think it doesn’t matter whether or not you pay your bills on time? Think again. Your payment history is a significant factor in determining your credit score. The more often you make late payments, the lower your score will be. If you find yourself behind on a payment, call the customer service department. In some cases they will give you a goodwill adjustment or delete the incident from your history if it was the first time.

Closing an old account

While paying off and closing an old credit card seems like it would be a good idea, it’s not advisable to do it before you apply for a mortgage. Closing old accounts can decrease your credit history while increasing how much of your available credit you’re using. Avoid closing your oldest card if at all possible.

Not paying your taxes

If you rack up unpaid state and federal taxes, it can damage your credit for up to 15 years – not a great idea if you’re hoping to buy a home. In addition, tax liens that are paid remain on your report for seven years. Pay those taxes, folks.

Financing a major purchase

If you’re getting your finances in order to buy a home, avoid using credit to finance a major purchase such as a car, appliance or vacation. Up to a third of your credit score is influenced by how much debt you carry and affects your debt-to-income utilization ratio. The more debt you take on, the lower your credit score will be.

Not paying parking tickets or library fines

This may come as a shock, but that $4.25 you owe the library can actually harm your credit score. And if you’re sitting on parking tickets, get those paid off as well. More and more local governments are reporting these types of unpaid fees to collection agencies, which will then show up on your credit report, negatively affecting your score.

In the end, being responsible about your purchases, making your payments on time, settling debts and being diligent about spotting errors are the best ways to make sure your credit score is as high as it can be.

Compliments of Virtual Results

One of the frustrations you may encounter when selling your home is dealing with people who may not be serious about buying. Perhaps they’re just testing the waters of the market or daydreaming about one day owning a home when they walk into your open house. You can save yourself a lot of annoyance by learning how to spot the serious buyers.

They’re preapproved for a mortgage

The one thing all serious buyers know is that they need to get preapproved for a mortgage before looking for a home in earnest. That preapproval from a lender is a signal to sellers that says they’re ready – and able – to move forward with an offer. They’ve taken the time to be vetted by a lender and they’re financially capable of purchasing a home. Any potential buyers who have not yet been preapproved for a mortgage should move behind those on your list who have.

They’re looking at homes that match their wish list

Perhaps a potential buyer comes along that is looking for a home in a certain price range and yours fits the bill. But you learn that they are really hoping for a home in a suburban community that is close to amenities, while your home is a rural property on the outskirts of town. If your home doesn’t hit the marks on a buyer’s wish list, it’s likely they aren’t serious about it.

They’re more likely to be judgmental

Buyers who aren’t too serious about putting in an offer on your home are more likely to be polite and friendly when taking a tour. But those who are a little more reserved or point out various flaws? It’s more likely they’re the ones who are actually thinking seriously about your home. Don’t let their poker faces throw you off. Most buyers know or have been coached by their agent to refrain from displaying an emotional response to your home.

They return for a second or third look

Those buyers who come back for a second or even a third look at your home? Those are the people who are the most interested and probably the most likely to put in an offer. Those who are just browsing will not take the time to come back for another look.

They make possessive comments

Seasoned real estate agents are attuned to what potential buyers are saying about your home, and there are certain types of comments that can provide clues that a buyer is serious. If they make remarks about how a piece of their furniture will fit in a room or how nice one of their rugs will look in the living room, they are already envisioning themselves living in the space.

They’ve been looking for awhile

Buyers that are at the beginning of the process looking at their first homes probably aren’t quite ready to pull the trigger and put in an offer without looking at other homes first for comparison. The further the buyer is into the process, the more likely they are serious. This is especially true if they are up against any deadlines, like the beginning of a new job or the start of the school year.

Selling your home can be an emotional and complex process, but learning to spot serious buyers can save you time and heartache in the end.

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