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Showing posts from March, 2018

5 Hurricane-Proof Improvements You Can Make to Your New Coastal Home

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With hurricane season upon us (hello: Harvey and Irma), it’s more important than ever for coastal homeowners to prepare their abodes for hurricane-force winds, tropical storms and possible flooding. While we hope you never have to deal with any of these horrible disasters, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Fortunately for those who live in a hurricane zone, there  are  ways (very good ways, in fact!) to protect your home from hurricane damage. Some improvements are as simple as pruning trees and cleaning gutters. Other changes may cost an extra thousand dollars but are well worth every penny. Not only is hurricane-proofing a home good for resale value, but it also ensures that you’ll  still  have that home to sell later on. If you’re currently house-hunting for a beach house, I recommend adding these 5 hurricane-proof improvements to your home buying checklist as well. Trust me when I say that they can make a  big  difference when it comes to how well yo...

10 of the Best Home Staging Tips

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When you’re selling your home, you want it to look its absolute best for the potential buyers who walk through the door. That’s where home staging comes in. Home staging is a method of decorating meant to highlight your home’s most impressive assets and help buyers imagine themselves  moving  in and living there. Do it right, and you should have no problem selling your home quickly. According to the  National Association of Realtors’ 2017 Staging Stats report , 49% of buyers’ agents believe that home staging has an effect on how a buyer views the home, with 77% saying that it makes it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their own. On the sellers’ agent side, 21% report that home staging increases the value of a home between 6% and 10%, and 39% note that it greatly decreases the total amount of time a home is on the market. With so much to gain, it makes sense for sellers to put time and effort into staging their home, and fortunately, many of the best ...

10 Questions to Ask When Buying New Home Construction

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My husband and I recently signed a contract on a new construction home. While it’s been exciting getting to this point (and will be even more exciting once permits are in and the actual building can commence), it’s also been quite the learning experience. Buying new construction is a different process than buying your typical pre-built home. What’s included, what’s not, and what’s hidden in that massive contract depends on the builder that you use. As with any situation where you’re  moving  or about to spend a lot of hard earned money, it’s important to go in prepared – and that means asking the right questions. The first interaction you’ll have with the builder – and in fact, the first several, at least – will be with the builder’s sales representative. These early meetings are your chance to ask all of the questions you might have regarding costs, labor, and other essentials that you need to know about before jumping in. Write your questions down before you go in so ...

10 Moving Mistakes to Avoid

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To help your move go smoothly, we offer these 10 common moving mistakes to avoid: 1. Failing to research your mover Thoroughly  check your moving company  before committing to a contract. Are your movers licensed by your state’s Department of Transportation? Have you examined their record with the Better Business Bureau? Did you check their references? 2. Spending too much on packing Boxes and newspaper are easy to come by, and often free of charge. Spend a little extra time scrounging to save money on packaging. 3. Packing heavy items in large boxes Heaviest items should always go in the smallest possible boxes. Your back, shoulders and legs will thank you later. 4. Forgetting to take measurements Make sure to measure the clearance space in your new residence prior to moving day. You don’t want to arrive at your new home only to find that your furniture won’t fit through the front door. 5. Packing flammable, explosive or corrosive materials Yo...

Long-distance home buying: how to make it work

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Whether you’re  moving for love , you’ve landed a sweet new gig, or you’re just looking for a change of pace, buying a new home is never not stressful. Doing it from a distance can be daunting, to say the least, but never fear: the pros at  Moveline  have some tips to help you make sure you’ve got the home of your dreams waiting for you at the finish line. Know before you go Get as clear and specific about what you want (and don’t want) before you head out for a weekend of home tours. If you’re working with a professional, don’t be shy about sending emails and hopping on the phone with them often. This way, when you take a trip to look at potential homes, you’re only looking at places that could conceivably be winners. A good agent will expertly narrow the field so they’re not wasting your time with things you don’t want. Friends of friends Just because you’re not in your destination city yet doesn’t mean you can’t still gather a ton of information. One of the ...

Pros and Cons of Moving During Different Seasons

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Every season has its own beauty. And its specific benefits. And its unique challenges. So, when scheduling a move, you need to take into consideration all the peculiarities that different seasons have to offer in order to choose the best time to relocate (provided that you have the liberty to choose, of course). It is not only the weather conditions that differ in different seasons – moving rates, traffic conditions, and personal engagements are also quite different in different times of the year. Depending on the specific circumstances in your case, these differences may be critical for the success of your move. Therefore, to be able to make the right decision and pick the perfect time for your relocation adventure, you need to be well acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of moving during different seasons. To make things easier, we’ve broken it all down for you: Moving in the Spring – An Adventure in Fairyland A season of renewal and hope, spring is widely cons...