If there was a magic formula for selling real estate quickly and easily, you can bet every real estate agent would be signing up. Real estate sales affect agents, buyers and sellers one way or another. Although homes need to be in good condition and offer what buyers are currently seeking, ultimately the real estate agent drives the sales. To stay on top of their...
For all the talk of recovery, blighted communities appear immune to progress. This phenomenon, once thought common to urban settings, is in fact universal, according to a recent Keep America Beautiful (KAB) report that expounded upon an issue that can be felt even in the most rural communities. “The term ‘blight’ continues to evolve as communities confront different...
Contributed by Karen Highland Keeping a consistent real estate blog is a lot of work. On top of the actual job of being a REALTOR®, a blog requires a layer of technical knowledge and writing skill, and demands some artistic and creative talent as well. Successful blogging also requires continued learning; as search and web technologies change, a blogger must keep...
The recent Supreme Court same sex marriage ruling has individuals applauding across the nation. But, many real estate pros want to know, how will it impact the housing market? Many believe it's too soon to tell. What we can bet on, however, is a boost in same sex marriage, which will likely equate to a growth in same sex newlyweds purchasing homes. And as acceptance...
Do you have an indoor kitty dying to escape the confines of your home? Expand your cat's territory with a brand new catio - a patio for your cat! If you're anything like me (total cat person - guilty!), you want to protect your feline friends from the dangers of the outdoors (cars, owls and coyotes, oh my!), but you also feel sort of guilty about taking away their...
Preparing your home for a walkthrough can be tough, especially when you’re still living in the house. One of the hardest things is keeping your home clean while you’re taking the other necessary steps to sell your house -- like removing personal items, staging the house and increasing curb appeal. While you can spend money to hire a cleaning service, it adds up...
The White House has undergone tremendous change throughout the decades, embracing new interior design styles while pairing them with antique furniture that has been there since the very beginning. As one can see on the infographic below, courtesy of The Rug Seller, rugs serve far more of a purpose than functional floor coverings that give comfort underfoot. They're...
Yesterday on Housecall, we discussed ways to increase your home value with indoor décor. Today, we're focusing on what you can do outside the home to give it an added monetary boost. Curb appeal is everything when it comes to selling your home, and that means your home’s exterior needs to be in optimal condition. In fact, 71 percent of prospective home buyers...
Contributed by Kristin Belt If you’re like a lot of homeowners today, you might be tempted to chalk decorating choices up to personal preference and think they have little to do with home value — but this is a mistake. Whether or not you’re planning to sell your home soon, here’s what you need to know: the right decorating choices not only make your home...
