If you are on a tight budget after moving in your new home, there are plenty of ways to decorate on the cheap. How many bags of trash do you accumulate within a week? 1? 2? Maybe more?

As climate change accelerates, global movements have pushed people to reduce waste and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. People may think that recycling their garbage and buying eco-friendly products is more than enough, but the truth is that it isn’t.

What everyone should be doing is reducing the number of products they’re throwing away. One way to do this is by purchasing reusable items, but if someone has non-reusable items that they don’t need anymore, what do they do?

This is where DIY comes in! There are a bunch of great DIY products that anyone can make using their trash. Some popular DIYs are listed down below. These will help reduce waste and create excellent items that can be used around the house.

1. Tin Can Plants

Tin cans are found in pretty much every house; some people will have old cans of paints while others will have empty tinned vegetable cans. All these tins can be repurposed as plant holders! Here’s how.

First, empty and wash the tins. After that, spray paint the tins a bright color. Once the paint is dry, some patterns could be created. Some people may draw geometrical designs; others may decorate the tins with colorful abstract drawings. Once the tin is painted, wait for it to dry and then fill it up with a lovely plant.

This DIY ‘tinned’ plant can be a nice piece of décor for both inside and outside the house. These tin-can plants can also complement the furniture if painted and designed accordingly!

2. Bottle Cap Map

Bottles are often repurposed as vases or item holders. However, what ends up in the trash are bottle caps. These small items are thought of as useless and often thrown away, but that’s not true! Bottle caps can be repurposed to create beautiful art pieces that will serve as a wonderful decoration for your house.

A bottle cap map is one such piece. To make a bottle cap map, one has to store any bottle caps that may otherwise be thrown out. Once a considerable amount of bottle caps have been collected, decide what map you’d like to make. A common one most people do is the US map.

Create a rough outline of the map and then begin to fill it with bottle caps. Most people use a wooden canvas and hot glue to create bottle cap maps. A pro tip is to use bottle caps of different colors and designs to make the map stand out.

3. Tic Tac Spice Containers

Anyone with many old tic tac containers lying around can use them to create spice containers. They’re very simple to make too. All one has to do is clean the containers thoroughly and fill them with your desired spice.

Ensure that the containers are labeled. One can do this by merely using some colored paper and marker! This is a great DIY product, and can be made with other small containers too – not just tic tac boxes!

These are just a few simple and easy ways to DIY in your new home when you are on a tight budget.

Keeping the house clean has never been more relevant, as good hygiene (and regular hand washing!) is more important than ever. Nobody likes a dirty house, but keeping your house clean can be a lot of work. Doing all the cleaning alone can be a tough job, especially if the person cleaning doesn't know how to clean. Here are five simple and effective tips that'll make cleaning the house much easier.

Avoid Zone Cleaning

Zone cleaning refers to completely cleaning a single part of the house, before moving onto another. A lot of people can get caught up in trying to make sure one area of the house is as presentable as possible. After putting all their efforts into making sure one area is clean, they lose motivation and do not have enough energy for the other rooms.

The pros recommend the habit of task cleaning. This means completing one chore around the entire house, such as sweeping or dusting, and then moving on to another chore. It will make cleaning go by much faster, and the extra steps makes this approach a better workout.

Arrange Cleaning Tools

One of the biggest mistakes that amateurs make is not keeping their cleaning tools together. It might seem like an over exaggeration, but knowing all your cleaning supplies are in one convenient location when you need them can be a blessing. Cleaners centralize all the supplies in a bucket or a tote bag for extra portability.

It would be terrible if you are starting to clean a room and you don’t have the right supplies. It'll be a waste of time, and gathering all the supplies from various closets and cupboards will make cleaning the house seem like a much tougher job. A well-arranged set of cleaning supplies can save you a lot of time and trouble.

Clearing out all clutter

The first priority when cleaning your house is to first clear out all the clutter - this is one of the most crucial tips. Go through the entire house and pick up any clutter that is visible, especially from surfaces you will later need to wipe down. While you’re at it, clear out all the garbage cans as well and it'll make the job much easier.

Vacuum basics

Ideally, before vacuuming the house, all fans should be turned off. This will stop dust from flying around everywhere while you are vacuuming. If there aren't a lot of carpets in the house, using a vacuum isn't necessary and isn't as effective as a broom or a mop. When vacuuming, make sure to vacuum in a grid pattern and cover all the nooks and crannies in the house.

Disinfection

Disinfecting the house is important now more than ever. Pour the disinfectant in a spray bottle, spray all the surfaces, and wipe down everything. Make sure to read the label on your disinfectants and rinse surfaces with a damp cloth if necessary. There are different recipes for home-made disinfectants online, but it's best to stay away from these. Buying a store-bought and approved disinfectant is the way to go to kill bacteria and protect against illness!

Conclusion

Everyone loves having a clean house but cleaning can be a drag. Following these various tips and tricks for household cleaning can make this dreaded chore go by much faster.

Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors® is here for all of your home needs. Call us at (866) 742-5732 or email us at ClientCare@RealtyExecutives.com.

With mortgage rates reaching a historic low, homebuyers have the opportunity to get additional buying power as a result of the decrease in interest rates. Even a 1% drop in interest rates significantly increases your purchasing power, so now is a great time to buy a home.

Mortgage Rates Fall Below 3%

The Federal Reserve’s efforts to support the economy during this global pandemic has translated into significant decreases in consumer borrowing costs. Their new policy has caused the average fixed mortgage rates to fall to historic lows.

The Freddie Mac survey of mortgage rates nationwide showed the average 30-year mortgage rate at 2.98%. This is the first time that rates have dropped below 3% since they began publishing this information in 1971. 15-year mortgage rates have also decreased to 2.51%, which is a significant reduction from last year's average of 3.22%.

Although most potential buyers were facing stay at home orders and quarantine requirements, pending home sales had a record jump of 44.3% in May. This has led the National Association of Realtors to predict that a comeback is building within the housing sector.

Additional Buying Power from a 1% Drop in Interest Rates

As rates continue to decline, the buying power of consumers continues to increase. Even with higher home prices, this provides a very attractive opportunity to lock in long-term rates since lower mortgage rates equate to lower monthly payments.

For example, a 1% drop in interest rates – such as the decrease from 3.98% to 2.98% – can lead to significant monthly savings. Here is the illustration on a $250,000 30-year mortgage:

As you can see, this 1% decrease in rates results in monthly savings of $140. This means that you will save about $50,400 in interest over the 30-year mortgage term!

Another way to look at this is to consider the boost in buying power. If a borrower is comfortable making the $1,191 monthly payment, then they can afford to take out a larger mortgage. Consider this example:

In this scenario, the 1% drop in interest rates has boosted your buying power by over $30,000. This means you can buy a more expensive home while keeping your monthly payments affordable.

What Does This Mean for Potential Homebuyers?

For potential buyers that qualify for mortgages, lower interest rates can counteract increasing home prices by boosting purchasing power. This has convinced potential borrowers to jump into the market, and mortgage applications have climbed close to the highest levels since the 2008 housing market crash.

Lower rates also have positive implications for existing homeowners, as refinancing provides an opportunity to lower their monthly expenses and free up cash for other purchases like remodeling.

Overall, this low mortgage rate environment has made it a great time to buy a home! For assistance in purchasing a home during these unprecedented low interest times, please call Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors® at (866) 742-5732 or email us at ClientCare@RealtyExecutives.com.

The coronavirus pandemic has ruined innumerable plans, and buying a house may be one such plan for some people. However, now with lockdowns easing in most parts of the country, people are gradually starting their lives again. This means that many people are now beginning to get back to their paused plans.

Even though buying a house is a tale as old as time, it is still as confusing and challenging as ever. People who are investing in a property in such uncertain times have to consider a number of things, including the economy, health risks, and the changing governmental policies.

So how does one buy a house during this chaos? Luckily, it’s not impossible. This post tackles the process of buying a house during a pandemic. So, read on.

Financial Aspects
The current pandemic has led to a global economic downturn. Despite this, a few areas still remain unbothered by the health crisis, including the housing sector.

Interestingly, there has been no significant drop in the number of homes currently being sold. In fact, the US economy is now recording historically low mortgage interest rates, which have given a push to home sales. A low-interest rate ultimately guarantees lower monthly payments when an individual buys a house. This means that buying a house now is more economical compared to before the pandemic.

Currently, many potential buyers are leaving the more populated cities and heading for the suburbs. For this reason, it is critical that serious home buyers get pre-approved by a recommended lender and have all their financial “ducks in a row”. This way, should there be multiple buyers interested in purchasing the same suburban property, the buyer able to demonstrate their financial strength will be at a huge advantage.

Safety-Related Aspects
People are also trying to avoid coming in contact with potential COVID-19 carriers, and this may make buying a house more challenging. Many cities have banned open house showings. Even where these aren’t banned, a one on one appointment is required for a home viewing to minimize contact with other people. Viewing through an appointment can slow down the process of looking at houses, but it lessens the chances of viral contraction.

Another safe way people are buying homes now is through a virtual tour. Potential buyers are now provided with photographs, video vignettes, and 3-D online tours to make it easy for them to decide whether or not they like the house.

Lastly, health concerns have also changed the documentation work related to buying a house. People buying and selling a house during this pandemic have to sign a disclosure claiming the absence of any viral symptoms and ensuring they have had no connection to anyone with symptoms.

Conclusion
Buying a house during the pandemic is not impossible. One just has to take extra care and try adapting to the new changes. Doing so will make sure that they own a house with a minimum probability of contracting the disease or bearing any other loss.

For more specific guidance on buying a home during this pandemic, please call Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors® at (866) 742-5732 or email us at ClientCare@RealtyExecutives.com.

Close person-to-person interaction is something people should avoid during this pandemic and it will certainly become a part of the "new normal" even after cities and countries are marked 100% clear from the virus. Shops, restaurants, and many businesses are greatly affected by this change.

This includes the real estate industry.

Although many state governors ruled that real estate was a necessity, some buyers and sellers put their plans on hold when the pandemic started.

Many leases were dropped, in-house viewing was canceled, contracts were left unsigned, and constructions were put on halt; these are just some of the negative impacts on real estate business brought by the pandemic. Nevertheless, there are still many distinctive ways to sell a home during a pandemic. Here are some of the things to keep in mind and follow when selling a house during this period:

Limit In-person showing
Taking good photos of the different parts of the home was the norm before. At this time of social-distancing, one must take it to the next level. To limit the contact or close encounters with people, taking clear videos of the spaces they are trying to sell is a good alternative as others don't prefer just seeing still images. This allows the buyer to walk through the house virtually.

Some buyers still prefer in-person showing. If this is the case, set rules beforehand. Let the potential buyers know what to do before entering the house, such as leaving shoes outside, Wearing a face mask and gloves, limiting or not touching anything in the house, and using hand sanitizer before entering the house.

Virtual showing
Aside from high-definition photos or videos, having virtual tours is an innovative way to show houses. Conducting in-person showings run the risk of endangering the seller, the potential buyer’s, and the Realtor’s health. Some have done 3D tours wherein 3D photos of the rooms were taken, and interested buyers can view the rooms just by swiping or toggling the photo to the right or left.

Virtual tours can also be done via video calls. Facebook Live and Zoom meetings can be used to show the seller’s house to interested buyers without making any physical appearances.

Limit on-site inspections and appraisals
Inspections are part of the many processes before one can sell a house. In this process, some agree with just seeing photos or videos. However, many still want to inspect and appraise in-person. Similar to in-person showing, make sure to agree on rules before the beginning of any transactions. If possible, limit the number of people to come as well. And after the inspection, make sure to clean and disinfect thoroughly.

Remote home closing
Some areas are open to doing remote home closures. With this, limiting the number of people attending a closing is a good step toward limiting direct contact. If remote home closing is allowed or doable, send the necessary information and files online, and make sure that both sides can receive and reply to messages promptly to avoid any delays or misunderstandings. Many states for the first time ever are allowing remote Notary signing under specific rules and regulations. These mobile notaries are the ones moving from one place to another instead of the buyer or the seller.

The pandemic has certainly shaken the economy. It has also brought about a lot of major changes in dealing with several businesses. Nevertheless, selling a home during this time can still be done successfully as long as all parties involved adapt to the changes.

For more specific guidance on selling your home during this pandemic, please call Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors® at (866) 742-5732 or email us at ClientCare@RealtyExecutives.com.