Real Estate Myths That Might Surprise You

Inspiring and creating transformative solutions in an evolving marketplace. Whether you’re hosting a small team meeting or a large training program, we have the houselogic.com space to meet your needs. Many fabric softeners have also been linked with harmful chemicals, including quats, or quaternary ammonium compounds. “Your floors will look gorgeous when you first put floor polish down, but it’s a short-lived reward,” says Shawna Eikenberry of Footprints Floors Raleigh. “Vinyl is one of the most common types of flooring in households now, so steam cleaning floors is not an option for many homeowners,” says Chris Willatt, owner of Alpine Maids in Denver. We asked the experts about whether they love or recommend losing these seven popular home cleaning tips, from the vinegar cure-all to the pumice stones some homeowners swear by.

What Not to Include in Staging

She also likes baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, each of which can be found for just a fraction of the cost of their popular store-bought equivalents. “Vinegar will clean a lot of things, and it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than buying pricey cleaning supplies,” says Prettelt. In addition, look for electronics you don’t use (hello, DVD player) or maybe get rid of that extra refrigerator. These vampires can account for as much as 20% of your total energy costs, Duke says. A money waster that’s easy to overlook is an energy vampire — an appliance or appliances in your home that are always on, but don’t need to be.

HouseLogic

• Just swapping out an old front door for a new one can make a big difference in a home’s curb appeal.
• If the house you’re buying has more than one unit, you may need to put down 15%.
• I can’t stand junk mail, spam, and dinnertime phone calls.We’re with you.
• Experts say it’s important to choose a style that complements your home’s architecture.
• Nearly half — 46% — of home buyers surveyed in the NAR report say they’re less willing to compromise on a home’s condition when purchasing.
• First-time home buyers in particular are seeking co-buying solutions to overcome home affordability hurdles.

For indicators on state, city, and county levels, please contact state and local REALTOR® associations. So, keep an eye on your statement and whip out that calculator when you’re getting close. You’ll have to pay for PMI until your loan balance drops to 78% of the original appraised value of your home. You’re probably paying for private mortgage insurance, or PMI (a type of insurance that guarantees your mortgage lender will be covered if you default). If it doesn’t fit in your home, is it really worth keeping?

• Today’s market looks very different from the one in 2008, Yun says.
• “New homes have historically been dramatically more expensive than existing homes, sometimes 20%, 30%, even 40% more,” says Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda, a new home construction data firm.
• Catch more eyes – and buyers – by adding personality to your home staging.
• Even if you’re buying off-brand products to save costs, you’re still wasting money.
• The app has become an invaluable resource for many individuals and families embarking on home makeover projects.

Best Colors When Selling a Home

Realtors are fighting back against the idea that consumers might be able to use the Internet to bypass them. Can the National Association rise above it’s image of a monopoly? Its initial beta release to the public is November 12, 2009, and the hard launch is set for sometime in February. The strategy, and position is straight out of the movies, but real enough to take on Wall Street, make no mistake about it. The website is equipped with mechanisms to build not only membership for consumers, but also collect valuable data points on consumers just like any big media company, and without a doubt, it is a media company with a political arm, and it is clear and transparent about the effort in being a partner with consumers. The Association’s goal is to bridge Realtors with consumers in an attempt to maintain the brand relationship with consumers they’ve enjoyed for over 100 years.

How to Avoid Regrets Over DIY Home Projects

If you’re considering buying or selling in the short or long term, start developing your strategies with the expertise of a REALTOR®. The right time to partner with an agent who’s a REALTOR® is now. Here are seven common money mistakes homeowners make—and now you won’t. When you’re a new homeowner, the excitement can make you look right past big problems in plain sight. Sometimes the little things can make a bigger difference than you’d think. Market changes call for buyers to brush up on how to negotiate home price and other expenses and conditions related to the sale.