Tag Archives: Homeowners

Tips for Buying Your First Condo

Have you decided to buy a condo but not sure if there are differences between purchasing a condo or a home? Or maybe you don’t know what you should be looking for? Well, you don’t have to worry because this article is here to help you make sure you are financially geared up before you rush into a decision.

Strategies to Make Sure You Are Financially Ready

Buying a condo for the first time can be tricky, and all you need are essential tips from experts and consultants to help you in this world of real estate. The following are six crucial strategies to help you become successful in owning a home. They include: 

Budgeting Your Finances 

It advisable you jot down the critical points to help you in handpicking the best home. A condo has a lot of specifications and in getting it, requires proper planning of finances to make sure all the amenities and stocking of the house is well budgeted for. 

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Five Reasons to Have Backyard Chickens

Keeping backyard chickens has become increasingly popular, and for good reason! While chickens do take a lot of work, they also have quite a lot to offer to anyone who is ready to take on the challenge. Here are five of the top reasons why you should consider keeping backyard chickens. 

They Provide Produce.

Raising your own chickens means you have your own supply of eggs, poultry, or both! While commercial manufacturers are typically reliable, raising your own flock means that you know exactly where your food is coming from, and you know how the flock was handled and cared for. Whether you raise chickens for eggs, poultry, or dual-purpose will depend on the breed. Here are some recommendations: 

  • For eggs, consider the Easter Egger, Golden Comet, or Orpington! They are all quiet docile, and are well sought-after. 
  • For dual-purpose, consider the Rhode Island Red or the Wyandotte! Both are recommended for beginners. 
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Does a New Roof Boost Your Home’s Value

Are you considering putting in a new roof? Sure, this isn’t a project that’s quite as popular and snazzy as remodeling your home’s interior. However, it does have some advantages, especially in improving your home’s resale value; not to mention the newer and nicer appearance, the improved warranties and lower bills. Still, there are a few different factors to keep in mind when thinking about a new roof over your household. With that in mind – we’ll take a look at some of the most pressing ones.

Your New Roof And Home Value

Naturally, one of the main remodeling ideas behind putting in a new roof is to protect your home beneath it. However, there are other practical advantages, such as having better insulation. Plus, if you’re going to use one of the newer roofing materials, your summers won’t be quite as unbearable; the heat will be reflected from your rooftops instead of being absorbed. In terms of comfort and lower utility costs for AC, this is a great relief. 

And the functional additions aside, even if you just put in newer asphalt shingles, there’s an aesthetic appeal to think about as well. Of course, there are plenty of options available to you, including natural wood; many homeowners prefer it due to its objective and natural appearance. 

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Six Ways to Create Wow-Factor Rentals

Most investors are interested in improving the value of their asset over time. Investors typically seek both capital growth – I.e. turning a profit when they want to sell – but also maximum rental yield and minimum vacancy whilst holding the asset. The best way to do this is to create maximum appeal for prospective renters in the area.

But this can be tough to do, especially in suburbs or cities that are flat, facing oversupply (too much choice for renters, which pushes rent rates down), or perhaps aren’t offering the property type that rental seekers are looking for in that area.

Many different home improvements can be made to the property to increase its appeal and functionality to renters. Today the team at Property Correspondent offer up some innovative ideas to make your property stand out from the pack in pursuit of the best quality tenants looking in your area.

Houses – Install a New Garage Door

This is a big one. Older garages often appear tired to renters and older garage doors often lack the security level needed to protect the tenants’ vehicles being stored. Garages and sheds should be in good condition to allow the home to look maintained. The garage door is one of the main features on buildings that influence the aesthetics of the home and the good news is there are many tools available to design your own shed or garage.

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Landscaping Trends to Increase Home Value

Your curb may be close to the drain, but don’t be confused: Putting money into curb appeal is in no way throwing money down the drain. Homes with better landscaping sell for a higher price — and few people would ignore the kind of value it can add to your home. Depending on where you are and how much landscaping you do, you could be talking about tens of thousands of dollars. Here are a few landscaping trends that increase the value of your home.

Sustainability

The low-maintenance, low-water and eco-friendly yard is not a myth. While a thick, green lawn is always appealing, you can always mix things up with xeriscaping elements or native plants to bring out the best in your yard. Sustainability has become a keyword in the landscaping industry. Clients want to see yards that add to the natural biodiversity of their neighborhoods. Another benefit? A yard that’s easy to keep up is a good selling point for potential buyers.

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Finding an Accessible Home

There are many reasons to search for an accessible home. Whether you have a need for more mobility, are caring for an aging parent or plan on aging in place one day yourself, it is crucial to have a home that is barrier-free. Some homes will already be perfectly suited to accommodate homeowners, of all abilities, but others will need a little improvement before they get there. Below, find out what features you should keep an eye out for when searching and discover what can be changed in a house to make it more accessible. 

Finding a Move-In Ready Home 

Some homes already incorporate elements of universal design, which has fewer barriers for people who use a wheelchair or other mobility devices. An accessible home may have features such as wider hallways and doors, low-threshold doors, hard floors and low storage space that’s easy to access. Even features such as a front-load washing machine, rocker-style light switches, and lever-style doorknobs make a home more accessible. 

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Revamping Your Yard After Winter

Harsh winters can be tough on your yard, and can leave them looking a mess-dead grass and plants, damaged shrubs, trees and more. Your yard could be so damaged that you consider drastic measures, such as hiring different people and companies to fix up your yard again. Luckily, there are easier ways to revamp your yard after a hard winter and they don’t require you to spend as much money. 

Fertilize the yard and replace grass

After a long and cold winter, your grass can be looking flat and brown, which calls for a lot of tending and caring. The best way to help your grass to look luscious and lively again is by supplying it with the nutrients it needs to do so. Luckily, this is an easy task that you can complete on your own. Fertilizer supplies the nutrients that grass needs to flourish.  By following the directions on the fertilizer you buy, you’ll have your grass looking green and full of life in no time. 

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Valentine’s Day Decor You Can Keep Up Through the Spring

Love is in the air and with that comes Valentine’s Day! 

Unlike Christmas or Halloween, Valentine’s Day isn’t a holiday many people spend weeks leading up to with shopping and decorations. It’s a short lived holiday. Some people may not want to spend money on decor that they’ll keep up for one or two weeks in February. 

Although Valentine’s Day may not be the biggest holiday on the calendar, that doesn’t mean it’s a holiday you can’t decorate for at all. There are plenty of Valentine’s Day decor items that can be kept up well into the spring, especially if you choose your decor items wisely.  

Wreaths and Door Decorations

It’s not uncommon for people to keep wreaths or another type of decoration on their door up year round. There are wreaths and other door decorations for every occasion and season – Christmas, winter, spring, Easter, summer and more. This includes Valentine’s Day. 

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5 Easy Ways to Save Big on Monthly Home Expenses

Having a home comes with a lot of advantages, especially for the modern family. You don’t have to deal with unhappy first floor tenants when your 3-year-old is running around upstairs, there’s no aggravating landlord popping up unannounced and your family has more than enough freedom to truly make it feel like home. 

However, there’s also a lot of upkeep and all-around oversight that you have to take into account. From utility bills, monthly mortgage payments or even grocery costs, home expenses pile up quickly. If you’re looking for some easy ways to gain quick relief, test out some of these tricks to get your family’s finances in the green. 

1. Consolidate Other Debt

Oftentimes, debt can cripple our abilities to budget effectively. Other debt may be taking away from extra money to put toward your monthly home expenses. Instead of struggling to make ends meet, consider accessing the value that your home has accrued over time and start living comfortably.

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Gifts for First-time Homeowners

What gift do you get the first-time homeowner in your life? If this is something you’ve been struggling with, we’ve got you covered! From household gadgets to decor items to things that make your house feel more like a home, our list of gifts for the first-time homeowner will give you plenty of ideas for what to give (or what to buy yourself)!

Custom return address stamp

Since your loved one recently became a homeowner, a return address stamp is a gift they can use over and over again! While many would opt for purchasing customized stationary, a stamp is much more useful, versatile, and reusable. It’s also affordable, if you’re on a budget and need a heartfelt gift!

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