eNews, Home Design, Homeowners

Make Your Bedroom Feel Like a 5-Star Hotel

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A bedroom that looks and feels like a 5-star hotel

What makes a night in a nice hotel so endlessly alluring? Is it the crisp linen, the luxurious pillows, the complimentary hand lotion? Maybe it’s the room service, the neatness, or the peace and quiet? The truth is, it’s all those things and more. Over the years, a lot of thought has gone into what it takes to make hotel rooms as relaxing and welcoming as possible.

The good news is that you don’t have to travel the world or spend lots of money on a hotel to experience this. You can emulate most of these things in your very own bedroom.

Read on to learn 9 simple ways to make your bedroom feel like a 5-star hotel. All our tips are simple and easy to implement, and most are affordable too! 

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Home Buyers, Real Estate

How Much Can You Expect to Pay in Closing Costs

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a wooden house and a calculator symbolizing closing costs

The process of buying a home requires many steps. One of the final ones is paying the closing costs on your new house. Here is everything you need to know about these expenses.

What Are Closing Costs?

Closing costs are the fees you owe at the end of a real estate transaction. Your lender will provide you with an estimate after receiving your mortgage application. In the U.S, the average closing cost is $6,087 with taxes. Yet, the price will vary based on several factors, such as your home’s purchase price and the type of loan.

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Health & Safety, Home Design, Homeowners

Why Replacing an Old Mattress in a New Home is a Good Idea

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a new mattress in a bedroom

When moving to a new house, the most challenging decision you may have is deciding which possessions to carry with you and what to leave behind. Depending on the precise conditions of your migration, choosing what to do with your stuff can be either a simple chore or a challenging test of your decision-making abilities. The mattress is one home item that you may have difficulty deciding what to do with. Whether you know it or not, your mattress is among the most crucial pieces of furniture in your home because you sleep on it for one-third of the day.

The best time to get rid of your old mattress is when you move to a new house. However, people still have doubts about whether they should buy a new mattress or stick to the old one when they shift to a new home.  If you are one of them, don’t worry because you are in the right place to get answers! We will provide a detailed overview of why you need to change your old mattress, along with the drawbacks of moving the old mattress to the new home.

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Awards Spotlights, Executives Giving Back, Executives in the News, Press Release

Andrea Martone: Giving It All When It Comes to Giving Back

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The Realty Executives Platinum Agents’ owner is passionate about getting involved in the communities she serves.

Andrea Martone, owner of Realty Executives Platinum Agents.

Andrea Martone, a top New Jersey Realtor® and the owner of Realty Executives Platinum Agents, has an unquenchable passion for real estate combined with compassion for her community… and both of those qualities are evident through her dedication to both her clients and community service.

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Family Home, Holidays, Home Design

6 Home Styling Tips This Holiday Season

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A living room transformed by holiday decorating.

When the seasons begin to transition from fall to winter, you know it’s time to dress the entire home into something more toasty and comfy. While a holiday makeover sounds like it’s a lot of work to pull off in a very short amount of time, it doesn’t have to be stressful.

You don’t have to make it perfect and you can always decorate on a budget. What’s important is that you capture the holiday spirit the way you know how.

That said, here are six tips to help you get started if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed about making your home merry and bright this holiday season.

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Holidays, Home Sellers, Real Estate

Pros & Cons of Selling Your Home During the Holiday Season

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a white wooden home decorated for the holidays with a for sale sign.

While your neighbors are slowly starting to decorate their homes for the upcoming holidays, you are decorating your home for sale. While they are waiting for their guests to arrive, you are waiting for the potential buyers to arrive. Now you might be wondering – is this time of the year a good time to sell? Like all other things, selling your home during the holiday season comes with its pros and cons. If you plan to put your property on the market in the upcoming months, keep reading for some valuable insight.

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eNews, Home Sellers, Homeowners

Things to Consider Before Renting Your Property

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a sign in from of an apartment signifying you are renting your property

If you’ve decided that you want to rent out your home or investment property, you may think that all you need to do is publish a listing and, voila! You’ve got a new tenant! Well… renting out your property may not be as simple as it seems. Before creating a listing online, there are a few things you need to consider.

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eNews, Home Design, Homeowners

Garage Doors That Increase Home Value

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By: Bearfoot Garage Doors

new garage doors that increase home value

According to the 2021 National Cost vs Value Report, garage door replacement ranks as the number one most important home improvement project for return on investment. In fact, homeowners that replaced their garage door recouped 94.5% of the cost of the new door in home value. That’s why it’s a good idea to move the garage door near the top of your home improvement list, especially if you want to sell your home within the next several years.

When it comes to upgrading your garage door for increased home value, you need to maximize three factors. These include curb appeal, safety and security, and energy efficiency. If you work to develop these three areas when replacing your garage door, you will see a return on investment with the sale of your home.

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eNews, Family Home, Homeowners

How to Save Energy in Winter

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a home with a scarf, showing how it's important to save energy in winter

Dark and dreary winters can often lead to higher energy costs as families try to make their living environments more enjoyable. Common culprits include lights flipped on all day to accommodate fewer daylight hours and increased use of the heater, thanks to freezing temperatures. Energy expenses also build up with seemingly small gestures like humidifiers, running taps, and hot water heater usage as you try to find the perfect way to defrost when winter blues take hold. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to lower your energy costs, which means big winter savings.

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Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Real Estate

Buying Out of State, Virtually, Without Overpaying

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By: Agnes A. Gaddis on Oct 26

Man searching for a home to buy out of state, virtually.

Can you believe that it is possible to live in California today, make an offer on your dream home in Springfield, Missouri tomorrow, and close within a month? The prevalence of remote work and state-of-the-art real estate technology has made it easier than ever to search for homes without concern for geographical limits.

Millions of Americans now work remotely, far from corporate HQ, and sometimes from the flurry and fuss of city life. In fact, during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, one in five Americans moved or know someone who moved, especially from big cities. One of the primary reasons for this exodus was affordable housing. People relocated to suburbs and vacation hotspots in search of larger, less expensive homes as more companies became remote-work-friendly.

Buying a home in one state while living in another, whether it be for more affordable living, work reasons, or as a second home, might not be as straightforward as buying in your current state. It can be challenging to purchase in a place you are not familiar with- housing laws, walkability of the community, home maintenance concerns, etc. can be vastly different from one state to another. This article is a step-by-step guide to follow if you are considering buying out of state.

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