Having A Solid Understanding of The Local Home Market

It's no secret that the housing market is constantly changing. What may be a hot commodity in one area may not sell at all in another. As a business owner, staying up-to-date on the latest trends in your local home market is important. This will help you make informed decisions about your products and services and how to best market them to potential buyers and sellers. This blog post will discuss some of the critical things you need to know about the local home market!

1) The local home market is constantly changing:

Just like any other market, the local home market is constantly changing. This can be due to a variety of factors, such as the economy, population changes, or even just fads and trends. As a business owner, it's important to stay on top of these changes so you can adjust your products and services accordingly.

2) There are a variety of different types of homes in the local market:

Not all homes are created equal! In the local home market, you'll find a variety of different types of homes, from luxury condos to fixer-uppers. It's important to know what type of homes are prevalent in your area so you can cater your products and services to that market. You'll also want to know what type of homes are selling and at what price point so that you can make informed decisions about your own property.

3) Location is everything:

In the world of real estate, location is everything. The same goes for the local home market! Homes in prime locations will always be in demand and will sell for a higher price than those in less desirable areas. As a business owner, you need to be aware of the location of your properties and how that might impact your bottom line.

4) Know your competition:

In any market, it's important to know who your competition is. For example, you'll likely compete with other businesses that provide similar products and services in the local home market. Therefore, it's important to stay ahead of the competition by offering unique products and services that they don't.

5) Hiring a professional:

If you need to become an expert in the local home market, it may be worthwhile to hire a professional who is. This can be a real estate agent, a property management company, or even just a consultant. You were having someone on your team who knows the ins and outs of the local market can be invaluable!

6) Keeping up with trends:

As we mentioned before, the local home market is constantly changing. One of the best ways to stay ahead of the curve is by keeping up with trends. This can be anything from new construction methods to changes in buyer preferences. By staying on top of these trends, you'll be able to serve your customers better and keep your business one step ahead of the competition.

In conclusion, it's important to have a solid understanding of the local home market if you're in the business of buying or selling homes. By staying up-to-date on the latest trends, knowing your competition, and hiring a professional, you'll be able to serve your customers better and grow your business!

5 Ways To Successfully Sell Your Custom Home

Custom homes are built as a result of a certain preference and mindset. They are often built to custom specifications, including features that are of personal or design importance to the owner. Most custom homes are luxury ventures, with many being dedicated to recreating a certain design era or concept. 

When the homeowner of a custom home decides he/she wants to sell or move on, they might become susceptible to trepidation because it is hard to sell a custom luxury property. Here are some ways you can enhance the appeal of your property and successfully sell your custom home. 

1. Know The Basic Threshold 

Knowing the exact market price of your custom home, especially regarding the neighborhood it is in, is the first step. Gaining market knowledge can ensure you do not over or under-bid your home in front of a potential buyer. It is certainly not necessary to enlist the help of a real estate agent to sell your property especially if you are selling to cash home buyers who might come from other channels to invest. 

Hiring a realtor or real estate agent does boast of considerable advantages however because a realtor overtakes all the responsibilities of finding potential buyers and showing them the property along with hosting open houses. Find out what your custom home is worth from a realtor’s office and then ideally aim for a higher number. 

2. The Needs Of Buyers

Buyers are not likely to be fully impressed by the fact that your house has two pools, two gyms, or a giant kitchen. Like you, every potential home buyer has their own preferences and they might find previous extreme customization to be a headache. If you have one or two serious potential buyers, sit down with them to discuss their concerns. Some buyers may want the changes or renovations in the house to be completed before they make an offer, while others might consider putting down a deposit to reserve the sale. 

3. Is It A Good Time To Sell?

The real estate market does have its ups and downs and it is in no small way influenced by the reigning economic conditions. Some parts of a year might just not be the right time to sell because there are lower chances of getting the price you deserve. Consult a real estate market researcher to understand the trends in your area so you can adjust the price or decide to wait and postpone putting your house on the market. 

When the home was being built, custom home builders will have used any manner of expensive materials on the house such as marble or rarer wood types. When you sell your house, you ideally want a reimbursement on the cost of the materials that make up the house. Selling at a price that doesn’t adequately cover the cost of pricey materials after adjusting for inflation is a massive loss. 

4. Cover All The Bases

A custom home is usually a high-quality, designer home but you still want to tone down the ‘personal’ aspect of it in order for it to sell well to the right client. Have the house professionally cleaned if possible and remove all your personal effects and load them into storage. You should have the cabinets, cupboards and other built-in storage options empty as well so potential buyers can see how much space is available for their belongings. 

Declutter the house down to the last item again to show the expanse of space so the buyer can envision their own life there according to the décor styles they like. Getting your house professionally staged is another way to increase interest in it because professional stagers will use a neutral color scheme and generic but stylish furniture so that the space and its possibilities can be emphasized as opposed to a certain design concept. 

5. A Pleasing Exterior 

Most homeowners forget to pay attention to the exterior when they put their custom homes on the market. A clean roof and outdoor area, a well-landscaped lawn, and an abundance of designer features like lawn gnomes, lawn furniture, and a fountain can help potential buyers see why the property is a viable investment. Generally, buyers do not want to spend months upon months undergoing costly repairs and renovations on an old custom home unless they are speculators (investors who buy damaged properties for future economic gain) or are invested in the design era the house belongs to. 

7 Tips For Keeping Kosher While Traveling

If you are someone who has a dedicated kosher way of living life, things can become challenging if you have sudden or work-related travel to do. Keeping kosher might seem extremely difficult if you are flying especially to an international destination but here are some tips to make it easier to maintain your kosher way of eating. 

1. Alternative Travel Meals 

Every airline gives you a meal once you are on a flight but in order to maintain kosher, you should pack your own meals. You can also check beforehand if your airline offers the kosher meal option as many large international airlines do. If you are on the plane without a self-made meal on hand, choose a raw, organic, or vegetarian option that contains only fruits and vegetables. Pack items like tuna, nuts, dates, or even miso soup cups that require warm water to activate. 

2. Plenty Of Snacks

Having enough snacks is the bane of every parent’s existence when they’re traveling with kids. Pack kosher granola bars, trail mix, chocolates, and dried fruit, all items you’re likely to find in shiva baskets so you can easily snack as often as you need to. Having an abundance of snacks is incredibly helpful if you’re diabetic or are prone to your blood sugar falling rapidly during the long hours of traveling. You can repackage or decant certain items like sardines or salad into small ziplock bags which will easily get through security and will be invaluable on a long-haul flight! 

3. Prior Accommodation-Related Planning 

If you are staying at an Air Bnb you have many options for maintaining kosher in a convenient way. You can do research beforehand about nearby grocery stores and supermarkets that sell kosher foods. Big chain supermarkets usually have a kosher aisle as well regardless of country. If you have a ton of experience staying at Air Bnbs you can pre-order basic, inexpensive cookware from Amazon so it is ready for you when you arrive. 

Many Air Bnb owners manage their property using short-term rental software and they also use the latter to create advertisements. The advertisements are a good indicator of the appliances that will be available to use among other things. You can pre-order kosher meats and other kosher groceries too especially if you are traveling with the family on a budget, as eating out can become very expensive. You can communicate your kosher lifestyle to the Air Bnb owner so there is no confusion once you arrive! 

4. Fridges In Hotels Can Be A Lifesaver

If you’re staying in a hotel, make a point of asking for a fridge when you check in so there is somewhere to put fruits, vegetables, hummus, and chocolates! The fridge can be a real lifesaver and keep you snacking like a king or queen during your trip. Make sure the hotel does not over-charge you for the existing drinks and chocolates and you can ask them to be removed as well. 

5. A Kosher Itinerary 

As any experienced traveler will tell you, it always helps to have an itinerary to use once you land. This not only allows you to make the most of your time in any destination but means you will have mapped out kosher restaurants, shops, and supermarkets and won’t be confused once you start sightseeing. If nothing else you can rely on garden salads in most restaurants to stay safely kosher during your stay! 

If you’re traveling to a foreign country where English is not the first language you may want to have the names of kosher foods translated beforehand and saved on your phone or on paper. You can share these with a store attendant or waiter to ensure you do not order incorrectly. For a trip that is only a few days, your zip-locked snacks will go a long way! 

6. Non-Refrigerated Kosher Items 

There are many kosher food items that do not require refrigeration which makes them ideal for traveling purposes. Canned or packaged soups, nuts, dates, chocolates, and noodles can all be stored in your carry-on to help you out in a fix. If you know you will be traveling in the coming weeks, stock up on these kosher food items to maximize convenience for your trip ahead. 

7. Make A Point Of Asking 

There is a lot of awareness about kosher globally even in foreign countries on the other side of the globe. There is no harm in asking your hotel or a restaurant whether they serve kosher and if they can accommodate you or not. Many places are more than happy to oblige! 

6 Ways To Make Your House Look Expensive On A Budget

Everyone wants their house to look expensive, designer and high-value, but doing this on a budget can be tricky but not impossible. There are many ways to impart that deluxe vibe without going into credit card debt. Here is how you can make your home look expensive on a budget. 

1. Declutter Down To Purposeful Or High-Value Items Only

If you ever look in a magazine or social media at custom, luxury homes you will see that they are clean and decluttered. Most decorative elements either tie into the overarching design scheme, they are super functional or they are very pricey and therefore enough in themselves to be regarded as a statement piece. You can emulate that high-value vibe in your own home by deep cleaning and using specialty products for a good effect such as a steel cleaner or wood polisher. 

Secondly, you can declutter items such as paperwork or excessive small figurines or crockery and only display items that look valuable or are handmade or unique. The idea is to show that the space only displays valuable items as opposed to over-cluttering it which will make it look smaller and cause anxiety. Adding small touches like an essential oil diffuser or fresh flowers to have a beautiful odor around the house contribute to this concept as well. 

2. Keep It Neutral 

Some of the most expensive homes you will ever see live in the world of neutrals in terms of color scheme, fabric, paint, and furniture. Neutral colors like white, cream, ivory, grey, beige, taupe, brown, and so forth not only match well together, they match well with bright, vibrant colors used anywhere. Using neutral colors does not mean you are toning down the personality of the house but rather creating a stylish backdrop to further decorated with personalized pieces like a retro radio, pet portraits or couch, or a hand-painted table. 

3. Use Inexpensive Varieties Of Luxurious Materials 

Most homeowners who want a deluxe, luxurious vibe in their home would want high-quality and expensive materials like grey, white or pink marble, granite, or mahogany wood. Buying cost-effective varieties like penny tiles with marble added in or faux varieties of pricier wood can help you create the same vibe without breaking the bank so to speak. 

Many people also love the wonders of contact paper to create a marble or wooden effect in rental houses! Furthermore, if you cut the expert fee out of carpenting for example, and are skilled in this yourself, you can create small touches like a radiator cover or a mantelpiece for your fireplace by inexpensively buying a slab of wood. 

4. Update Hardware Pieces

It often costs a fortune to completely redo a bathroom for example but small touches like updating light fixtures, light switches, or bathroom hardware like faucets and doorknobs can make a world of a difference! It can make an older house look brand new and updated without the costly renovations that would otherwise be required for this process. As with the above mentioned piece of advice, you can change out cabinetry and install new doors and shelving if you know some basic carpentry. Often the more basic pieces look more expensive because they show you’re not trying too hard! 

5. Sensible Landscaping 

One of the first signs of a well-kept, expensive property is that the lawns and all the outdoor areas are immaculate. You can install a small gate or fence, such as the ones that are from the Dallas temporary fence panel rental, and there are plenty of DIY ways to make fountains and fish ponds! All you need is a few free days to make these projects come to life.

Hire a landscaper (or do this process yourself) to mow your lawn and trim all the hedges and bushes along with cleaning away dead foliage from the ground as well as your roof. If you are having problems with your roof due to accumulating organic material such as rotting leaves and this in turn is damaging your attic or walls consult commercial roofing contractors in Richmond to have repairs done. 

6. Molding Adds A Luxurious Touch 

Molding is always associated with designer, luxurious homes because it is a pleasing detail to add to your roof or your wall. Crown molding is typically more expensive and picture frame molding can be done by hand and then painted over to match the color of the rest of the wall. Painting the walls in a superb color like burgundy, navy blue or even turquoise can complement the molding wonderfully well.

5 Crucial Tips For Hiring The Right Contractor For Your Remodel

Remodeling a house becomes a significant step for a lot of people after a couple of decades worth of wear and tear has taken place. Remodeling might also be done in order to not only update certain aspects of a house but to almost remake the house to be more stylish. As any homeowner who has undergone renovations will tell you, the right contractor makes all the difference. Here are some crucial tips for finding the right contractor for you. 

1. Take Your Time

You might be keen to just get on with the remodel but you need to give the process of hiring a contractor enough time. Try to get several different estimates from different contractors or companies so you can make an informed decision. The older contracting companies might seem more trustworthy as they’ve been around a long time but they are also the ones that hire sub-contractors for every job and do not really have the best contractors working on individual projects. In that case, you may be missing out in the sense that you’ll still be required to pay the top price tag without getting the top talent. 

Secondly, some local professional remodeling experts near you who are sole traders or not associated with a bigger company might be a better fit for a smaller house or if you are on a budget. Since smaller contractors in many cases have the skills and qualifications but not necessarily the experience, they will be more willing to do a good job in order to secure a great client testimonial. Conduct interviews, do online research, and look up the companies on forums like Better Business Bureau to ensure they do not have pending lawsuits or a history of negligent behavior towards clients. 

2. The Past Is A Perfect Indicator 

When you are looking at a colossal project like remodeling your home, you might think finding a dream contractor is a difficult, complicated job. The past is a simple and effective indicator of someone’s skills and the general scope of their work. Whether you are looking for residential contractors or commercial general contractors, before you even interview a contractor or a representative of a contracting company, always check the qualifications and licenses. Whether or not the contractor has insurance such as employer’s liability insurance is a useful touch in the case of unforeseen accidents. Furthermore, always double-check previous client testimonials wherever you can find them, you can ask the contractor to share them as well.

Ascertaining the potential contractor’s web presence or social media presence is a great indicator of how well they are managing their business. Part of a contractor’s job is to procure high-quality materials and you want to make sure they have a supply chain sorted out and a running mechanism so they are no unnecessary holdups once the remodel gets underway. 

3. Their Network Of Professionals 

Contractors as a matter of daily life need to team up with and work with other professionals such as a roofing contractor, a carpenter, or a painter. Ask the contractor questions that relate to their existing network so you know in advance the experts that will be brought in for various jobs around your house. If a potential contractor seems unsure of this aspect, you can expect untimely delays and disruptions once the project starts. 

4. How Far Can They Plan? 

A contractor needs to have vision and imagination as just skills are not enough. Once you have shortlisted a few contractors, ask for an approximate modus operandi to assess their planning capabilities. The following are some steps on which you should have some clarification:-

• A critical path or a set of milestones that detail each step and the materials, money, and experts like a commercial flooring contractor required. 

• A general budget plan with approximate costing done for each step of the remodel including their own fees. 

• A beginning and end date of the remodel. 

• If the contractor is offering any guarantees or there is any insurance provision for any aspect of the remodel, it should be shared beforehand. 

If you end up hiring one contractor, make sure to have a lawyer draw up an official contract or look over the contract if your contractor is providing you with one. 

5. A Winning Personality

Last but not least, the personality of the contractor and their general energy and vibes are very important because this is someone you might be speaking to or meeting nearly every day for the duration of the project. If your chosen contractor is a good communicator and takes the time to understand you well, your remodel will go smoothly. 

How To Improve Your Vacation Rental Property’s Appeal

A vacation rental property is a good source of additional income since many people are choosing to rent a property instead of going to a hotel.

This is because it is more private than a hotel, and you get the same amenities you would have at home. It is also perfect for family vacations since you won’t need to book multiple hotel rooms.

If you own a vacation rental property or are planning on getting one, we cover some of the ways that you can make it more appealing to guests and maximize your revenue from it.

You can find out more information about Vacation Rental Management here.

Upgrade The Outdoor Space

The outside of your property is the first area that your guests see, so you want it to be a good first impression.

This includes a well-kept garden, flowers, and additional seating.

The outdoor areas of a property are typically where groups of people come together, so amenities like fire pits and barbecues are much appreciated by guests. Include some solar lights so that your guests can stay out there even when it gets dark.

If your property is in a heavily wooded area you should encourage wildlife. Have some bird feeders or baths so that your guests can take pictures or simply bird watch.

Have Good Quality Furniture

This includes large pieces of furniture and smaller furnishings like dishes, cloths, and bedding. Having good quality furniture sets your property apart from the others. It can help to make your property look luxurious, no matter how much it is on for.

Keep the colors of your furniture neutral and only add pops of color here and there. Too many bright colors can be off-putting to some people so neutral colors are safer.

You also want to have updated appliances on the property. People rent instead of going to a hotel because they have access to utilities so you need to make sure they work.

Create A Work Area

Many people have started working remotely, so having a designated work area will appeal to a lot of guests. People would be inclined to book a longer holiday if they have a room that they are able to work from. Some people may also not be able to book off long periods of time from work.

This can be a whole separate room so that way they can have the option of closing the door or just a section of the room.

A requirement for a work area is a comfy chair, a desk, and a strong internet connection.

Look At Feedback

Guest feedback is important, even if it is negative. It can tell you what needs to be improved on your listing or what isn’t appealing to guests.

They can sometimes leave suggestions both big and small. The small items can be things like maintenance issues that aren’t big enough to cause a complaint over. These smaller issues can build up into larger issues so it is important to deal with them when you can.

Some comments could be ways how to improve your property that you have yet to consider. It can be about possible amenities to add, what items need to be replaced, or if there are any local activities you didn’t know about that you can recommend to guests.

If you do have any feedback on issues, make sure you respond to them about the issue being resolved. This way any future guests can see that you are actively listening and making your property better. It is a good way to show that you care about your guest's experience.

Clean After Every Guest

Keeping your property clean is imperative to not getting many bad reviews. People don't want to clean while they’re on vacation so you need to make sure they aren’t welcomed to any mess.

This includes clearing out any bins and recycling. It is a good idea to hire a cleaner after every guest so that your property stays clean.

A cleaner will also find any items that the previous guest left behind so that you are able to notify them and possibly return them.

Final Thoughts

The goal is to set your property apart from everyone else. You want to make it unique so that people would be inclined to book it instead of a blander property.

You want to make sure that your guests have the best time possible as happy guests leave good reviews.