Are You Afraid to Sell Your Home Too Early?

Selling your home for a profit is always ideal but what happens if you sell your home then it doubles in price a year or two later?  You may then kick yourself for not holding onto your property for a little longer. 

This feeling you may have is called seller’s remorse- a feeling most people get who have sold their home.  There’s no time limit to when seller’s remorse will hit after you sell your home. You may ask yourself, when is the right time to sell my home?

You can’t predict the housing market- Just like stocks, you never know what the housing market might do.  You can’t beat yourself up for selling your home when you did to find out it doubled in price a year or two later.  To snap out of your seller’s remorse always remember, home prices could drop in price.

Home prices could go up- You may get more money for your home; your new home could cost you more.  With the extra cash you are receiving for your home, you may have to invest more into your new home.

Sell your home when you have to- Chances are you aren’t selling your home just because, there is a reason you need to move.  Don’t hold onto a home that doesn’t fit your family or you aren’t comfortable in.  

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Real Estate Etiquette- How to Respect Others When Purchasing/Selling a Home?

If you are a buyer or seller there are certain “guidelines” you should follow to keep your experience positive and prevent any issues later like legal action.  Even if it is your first time buying or selling a home, you’ve had social interaction before. 

If you are looking for real estate- If you are wanting to purchase a new home but you aren’t quite sure where or what your budget may be- you should do research before contacting a realtor.  Once you’ve established the area and budget of your new home, contact your trusted realtor.  Once you’ve contacted your realtor consider asking them: their fees, if they work on a team, methods of communication, if they are familiar with the are you are looking in, what info they have to provide for the new area you are looking in like comparative market analysis, and your preference on open houses or touring houses

Honesty- Be honest, if you don’t like the home let your realtor know so he or she can find something in your style.  If you are selling a home, be open to feedback- taking personal pictures off the wall or removing personal items.

Respect Time- Time is something people don’t have enough of, try not to call at all times of the night and day with every detail you can think of. Jot your thoughts down and make one call or one email.

Making an Offer- If you fall in love with a property, make an offer right away.  Chances are someone else likes that property too but don’t except to hear back right away.  The seller may take some time to review your offer or other offers as they come.  If you are the seller, you should show the same respect.  When you are presented with an offer make sure you are aware of the amount of time you are given to respond.

Don’t forget to send your realtor a “thank you” note once you have found a house, make an offer, closed, and moved or if your agent has sold your home.

How to Declutter Your Closet

With spring comes spring cleaning and what better place to start than your closet! Decluttering your closet will not only make yourself feel good by accomplishing a task but you can also help those in need by donating your clothes.

Tackling your closet doesn’t have to be done all in one but can be spread out over a course of a few days or even weeks.  Start by focusing on one area of your closet and have a box to fill with the items you no longer need or want.  If you still can’t decide what you want to donate, establish a new rule “one in and one out.”  For every new item you purchase, you must donate one.

Establish another rule- if you haven’t worn the item in over 6 months or a year chances are you aren’t going to wear it ever again.  It’s time to get rid of that piece.  If you have holiday outfits you knew you were only going to wear once but still have them- toss those in the box as well.

The more items you can get rid of the better you will feel, and you may even reward yourself with a few new items!

What are 10 Things You Need to Know When Buying a Home?

Purchasing a home can be your biggest financial purchase in your lifetime.  In fact, recent reports have shown that Americans have about 40% of their wealth tied up into their home.  But some people may not understand everything that goes into buying a home.

Buy a home for long term- On average, you should stay in your home for at least five years to build equity.

Improve your life by buying a home, not to speculate with your money- Your home is a place where you sleep, eat, host friends, get married and ever raise your kids.  It where your life happens.  It’s not intended to be a place to live for a short amount of time and move to make some extra cash.

 Focus on what’s important to you and your family- With inventory being so low, try to focus on finding a home you can afford that meets your needs and not get distracted by things that might break the budget.

Stick to a budget- It’s very important to establish a budget and stick to it before you even start looking. 

 A 20% down payment may be ideal but it’s not required- Buyers are not required to put down 20% when purchasing a home.  Some loans may even allow you to put as little as 3% down with a premium. Putting less than 20% down may require you to pay private mortgage insurance or PMI.

Set aside money for improvements- It’s no secret, owning a home comes with more responsible and issues.  Set aside money in case some major breaks at your home.

Get pre-approved- Get pre-approved before you start looking at homes.

Shop around to get the best rate- Compare rates from different lenders to see which lender can offer you the best rate.

Spend no more than one third of your after-tax income on housing- It’s always better to spend too little than too much on your home in the long run.

Always be willing to walk away- If the deal doesn’t go the way you want or it’s too much- walk away.  There will be other homes.

What Does It Take to Be the Best Neighbor?

Getting to know your neighbors doesn’t have to be a thing of the past- you may need that cup of sugar one day.  Getting along with your neighbors can make a huge impact on your daily life and how you feel about your home or neighborhood.  Below are some tips on getting to know your neighbors- you may even want to start after reading this!

Be friendly- If you are new to the neighborhood be sure to give a wave or smile when you see your neighbors.  Introduce yourselves when you run into your neighbors- small baked goods are also a great treat to help establishing rapport with them.

Be considerate of the noise coming from your home- Try not to have loud conversations or play music after 9:00pm and try not to start any power tool before 9:00am.  However, if you are planning a party, talk with your neighbors before the party or even invite them.

Deal with problems in person- All issues should be addresses promptly and in person. Sure, a note may be easier to deal with but give your neighbor a chance to hear what you have to say face-to-face. Your neighbors probably aren’t going anywhere for a while so it’s best you get everything resolved in a timely fashion.

Be respectful with your pets- The biggest complaint a neighbor may have is a dog barking into the night and early in the morning.  Make sure you don’t allow your pet to disturb your neighbors.  Be sure to clean up after your dog when you are out in the neighborhood.

Parking etiquette- Try not to park in front of your neighbor’s home if possible and never block other’s driveways.

How Can You Get Better Sleep at Night?

It is recommended to get eight hours of sleep a night to keep a healthy lifestyle but most of us are getting a lot less than that. Maximizing our comfort in our bedrooms is one way to help us get more sleep! 

Choose the colors that soothe- Tones of gray create a calming design that is also rich in detail and can be cool too so try to incorporate a yellow or pink base to add some comfort.  Try to avoid blue based versions.

Upgrade your bed- The bigger the bed the better sleep you and your partner will get. You will avoid disturbing each other while you sleep.

Ditch the TV- The TV in the bedroom will delay the release of sleep-inducing melatonin. If you must have a TV in the bedroom allow half an hour between viewing and sleep time to start the countdown to better sleep.

Ditch the cellphones too- It’s easier said than done but remove all phones from the bedroom.  Charge your phone well away from the bedroom.

Reduce the light- Street lights shining in your room can hinder your rest so bring on the darkness! Install window treatments that block light out completely.

Get a new mattress- If the mattress is causing you aches and pains, it might be time to get a new one. Find a new one that is compatible to both you and your partner.

Take a warm bath- Taking a warm bath before heading into a cooler bedroom can get you to sleep quicker and let you rest better.

Turn down the heat- If your body is too warm it can cause restless sleep. Try turning it down a few degrees to help you sleep better.

Don’t turn your bedroom into an office- Keep your office outside of your bedroom. If it helps, get a desktop instead of a laptop to completely avoid it.

Stick to a schedule- Even on the weekends, wake up and go to sleep at the same time.