Tips for Buying Dining Tables for Your Home

Photo by: Annie Gray via Unsplash

In many homes, the dining table is the ideal get-together spot to share a meal, hold gatherings and talk about important topics. However, it’s not only for eating, clinking glasses or having family discussions. It’s one of the focal points of your house and should be carefully considered. If you’re interested in buying a dining table, you’ll probably want to buy it to last, to compliment your home’s decor and only have to buy it once. Here is a guide on how to choose the best dining table material for your home.

Choosing Materials

Sturdy Wood

The ideal dining table is one that can last through years of wear and tear. A traditional dining table made from hardwood will take what you dish out. The best hardwood tables to go for are walnut, oak, mahogany or maple. Make sure that the hardwood is solid and from a reputable manufacturer to ensure its strength and durability. If hardwood isn’t your favorite option but you still want a solid table with a nice, wood finish, try composite wood. These tables are engineered from different, sturdy materials and are very economical.

Glass

Though wood remains at the top of the list, glass dining tables are also a popular choice, especially if you’re looking for a sleek or minimalist design. One of the unique advantages glass has is that it can blend seamlessly with many home decor themes. Additionally, it makes the room appear larger, lighter and brighter.

Marble or Granite

If you’re looking to impress your guests, a marble or granite dining table may be worth looking into. Natural stone has an irresistible and timeless appeal. They’re also incredibly sturdy. However, they still have their downsides such as weight, cost and upkeep. If you decide to go with a natural stone table, remember marble can stain easily and granite requires annual treatment with sealants.

Choosing the shape

One of the advantages of a round table is its ability to fit into any room, be it a small nook, large dining room, or a part of the living room designated as the eating area. They offer flexible seating for conversation; an attribute many other dining tables lack. Likewise, a long, wooden, trestle table allows for guests to sit across from each other for friendly conversation and may still give you that classic, traditional rectangle. Finally, the ever-popular pub table adds ambiance to your space with a modern yet vintage appeal. 

Finding Your Color

Just because your table may be natural hardwood doesn’t mean it can’t have a splash of color. Chalk paint finishes on wooden, farmhouse tables might be just the look to tie your spaces together. You can also stain your wood in a dark finish to give it a dramatic glow. Glass tables come in colored or frosted glass, giving you the option to stick with a clear surface or add a little color to your dining area. Marble and granite range from pale off-whites to deep red or black hues. Whatever your choice may be, be sure to let the colors accentuate your interior decor.

Getting a dining table might seem like a daunting task, but with these tips, you will be able to choose one that serves the exact purpose you envision. If you don’t have space for the table of your dreams, let me know, so I can make a larger dining area one of our priorities during your home search.

Identify Your Home’s Weaknesses

If you intend to add your residence to the real estate market, you should try to differentiate your house’s weaknesses and strengths. That way, you can plan ahead for the home selling journey and make myriad house improvements before you list your residence.

Now, let’s take a look at three tips to help you identify your house’s weaknesses.

1. Analyze Your Home from a Buyer’s Perspective

Oftentimes, it helps to take an objective view of your house and consider why a buyer may choose to purchase your residence over others. At the same time, you may want to think about why a buyer may shy away from your residence too.

By analyzing your house from a buyer’s perspective, you may be better equipped than ever before to identify potential home problems. Then, you can take the necessary steps to address these issues. And as a result, you can boost the likelihood of enjoying a fast, profitable home selling experience.

2. Perform a Home Inspection

A home inspection may be worthwhile for a home seller, and for good reason. Conducting a house inspection enables you to receive in-depth insights into your home’s condition that you may struggle to obtain elsewhere. And with a house inspection report in hand, you can prioritize home improvement projects accordingly.

Of course, if you decide to conduct a house inspection, you should hire a qualified home inspector. Perform a comprehensive search for home inspectors in your area, and you’re sure to find plenty of great options. If you choose a home inspector who possesses lots of industry experience and a sterling reputation, you can conduct a house inspection and gain the insights you need to upgrade your house.

3. Employ a Real Estate Agent

If you are unsure about how to promote your residence to prospective buyers, there is no need to panic. Because if you hire a real estate agent, you can get the help you need to showcase your residence to the right groups of potential buyers.

A real estate agent is a home selling expert who is unafraid to be honest. Thus, he or she can provide unbiased home selling recommendations and suggestions and ensure you can upgrade your residence in no time at all.

Let’s not forget about the assistance that a real estate agent can provide throughout the home selling journey, either. A real estate agent will help you craft an effective home listing, set up home showings and open house events and keep you up to date about any offers to purchase your residence. Plus, if you have concerns or questions as you navigate the home selling journey, a real estate agent is ready to respond to them.

For those who want to achieve the best-possible results during the home selling journey, it helps to identify a house’s weaknesses as quickly as possible. Thanks to the aforementioned tips, you can immediately identify any home weaknesses and address such problems early in the home selling process.

Homebuying help: How to minimize risk

Image text: How to minimize risk during your homebuying journey

Every real estate transaction comes with a certain amount of risk. Whether you’re buying or selling, you leave
yourself open to potential issues at every stage. It can be especially difficult for homebuyers – luckily, there are
some simple ways to mitigate common risk factors and find your dream home.

Set realistic homebuying expectations

How you search for a home may determine whether you are successful or unsuccessful. For example, if you evaluate
houses that fall outside your price range, you may struggle to find a home that you can actually afford. On the
other hand, if you establish realistic homebuying expectations from the get-go, you may be able to streamline your
house search.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is essential to avoiding multiple potential homebuying pitfalls. Pre-approval
lets you enter the housing market with a clear budget and narrow your house search accordingly. It can also give you
an advantage over competing buyers, as it shows the seller you’re financially prepared to follow through on the
sale.

Work with a real estate agent

When you hire a real estate agent to help you buy a home, you have a powerful teammate in your corner. A real
estate agent understands the housing market and can share valuable expertise and guidance on every step of the
journey. An agent will also be your legal representation, helping you navigate all the paperwork and logistics
involved.

Infographic: Avoiding risk during your homebuying journey

For many, buying a home is the biggest financial decision of their lives. As such, it’s not a process to be taken
lightly. The more you can do to avoid common risks associated with homebuying, the more successful and happy you’ll
be in your new home.

Differentiate Your California Luxury Residence from the Competition

If you want to sell a luxury home in Los Angeles, Cupertino or elsewhere in California, you likely will need to differentiate your residence from the competition. Otherwise, you risk a long home selling journey due to the fact that your Golden State luxury residence is unlikely to stand out from comparable properties in your city or town.

Fortunately, there are many ways that a California luxury house seller can differentiate his or her residence from similar homes. Let’s take a look at three tips to help you distinguish your Golden State luxury house from comparable properties, and ultimately, make your home an attractive option for buyers.

1. Craft an Effective Home Listing

How you promote your luxury residence in Beverly Hills, San Francisco or any other California city or town can have far-flung effects on your property selling experience. If you craft an effective listing to showcase your Golden State luxury residence, you may make it easy for buyers to fall in love with your house.

Include relevant information about your California luxury residence in your listing, along with details about any unique home features. Also, it may be beneficial to include high-resolution images of different areas of your Golden State luxury home in your listing to help buyers visualize what it would be like if they purchase your house.

2. Eliminate Clutter

If your California luxury home features a wide array of distinct antiques, paintings and decorations, you may want to remove these items from your residence. By doing so, you can cut down on “clutter” and show buyers the true size and beauty of your house.

For those who want to eliminate clutter as quickly as possible, you can list your excess items online or host a yard sale. In addition, you can always rent a storage unit in Malibu, Sacramento or anywhere else in California to keep your personal belongings safe until your residence sells.

3. Work with a Real Estate Agent

Differentiating a luxury home from the competition may prove to be difficult, particularly for a California luxury house seller who tries to work alone. Lucky for you, real estate agents are available in cities and towns across the Golden State, and these housing market professionals can help you distinguish your luxury residence from the competition.

A real estate agent typically will meet with a California luxury home seller and craft a personalized property selling strategy for him or her. Therefore, if you want to sell your San Diego luxury residence without delay, a real estate agent will create a house selling strategy to help you do just that. On the other hand, if you want to maximize the earnings from the sale of your Bay Area luxury house, a real estate agent will do whatever it takes to help you get the best price for your home.

Ready to add your luxury residence to the California housing market? Use the aforementioned tips, and you should have no trouble distinguishing your Golden State luxury home from all others in your city or town.

A beginners guide to qualify for mortgage approval

Things to know before you start the journey of mortgage qualification  featured image

As you prepare for homeownership, it is beneficial to become familiar with requirements necessary to qualify for a
mortgage. 

Mortgage payments are paid over an extended period and give potential homeowners the ability to find and pay for the
home of their dreams. Knowing how to qualify for a mortgage allows you to line everything up to get the funds needed
for your desired home.  

Mortgage income requirements

Even though potential homeowners of all income levels can apply for a mortgage, a few key financial factors can make
or break your mortgage loan qualification. 

Having a well balanced debt to income ratio demonstrates you have enough funds after paying off monthly debts such as
credit card payments, to comfortably afford a mortgage. A ratio of 36 percent or lower is considered most ideal to
lenders. 

Next, your gross monthly income should be steady and expected to be received for at least the next 3 or more years to
demonstrate financial stability. This too demonstrates to lenders you can afford a monthly mortgage payment. 

Collateral & mortgage loan eligibility

Sometimes, to qualify for mortgage approval, lenders require the loan borrower to put down collateral that can be
seized if the loan is not paid back in terms of the mortgage contract. For mortgage loans, the collateral would be
the home itself. 

As you prepare to apply for a loan, it’s essential to manage your debt which boosts your credit history in the eyes
of lenders. Your new home is a large asset, so before applying for a mortgage, consider speaking with a lender near
you to answer any questions you may have.

Flipping: 4 Avoidable Mistakes to Remember

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

The potentially high-profit world of house flipping typically gets ambitious entrepreneurs going on the offensive. House-flipping profits reportedly topped an average of $67,000 in 2020, proving that the ambitious can certainly earn a good living in the industry.

But the other side of the coin doesn’t always trend in the news or social media. Inexperience and/or a lack of caution can sometimes cause otherwise savvy business people to make critical mistakes. If you are considering buying, renovating and selling homes for profit, it may be in your best interest to play a little defense. These rank among the most common mistakes that could cost you money.

1: Overpaying for a Property Cannot Be Undone

It’s not unusual for novice house-flippers to begin their property search in familiar places. These often include popular real estate apps and search engines. But only a few inexpensive homes in need of renovations appear. What happens next stands among the biggest mistakes. An eager house flipper buys the cheapest listed property.

Although it may make sense at the moment to select from inexpensive inventory, these houses are not often priced for resale. While some homeowners are looking for possible kindred spirits who want to take on a low-priced home and invest some DIY equity, don’t jump on the property just yet. Experienced professionals won’t buy unless the property cost and total rehab tally 70% or less of the expected resale price. The "70 Percent Rule" is a wise philosophy to adopt in the flipping business.

2: Not Having the Rehab Infrastructure in Place

Securing the right property makes up only part of the battle. To remodel it into a valuable and marketable asset, you will need the tools and people to get the job done. It’s not unusual for newly minted house flippers to try to nail down the equipment and necessary subcontractors after the fact. Lack of preparedness often results in the project taking too long to complete. Every day you own a fixer-upper is a day that money goes out the door. It’s essential to have the equipment and people in place before buying.

3: Beginning a Project Without Adequate Funding

People who enter the fix-and-flip world should probably have some experience in the construction sector, especially since new construction and rehab projects routinely run over budget.

Common reasons for overspending include increases in materials or labor costs. Sometimes unexpected structural or abatement issues arise that add to the job. Other times, subcontractors find themselves choosing between your project and another that will pay more money, in which case you may have to negotiate a new deal to keep your project on track. Anticipate that your contractors may add an additional 20% to their original estimate as a buffer for incidentals that may arise. 

4: Failure to Create an Exit Strategy

The business model involves buying low, renovating the home and selling it quickly for a profit. What happens when the property does not move? That’s a caveat that too many house flippers usually forget to consider.

Like any business proposition, there needs to be a fallback position that doesn’t involve a lender exercising a lien on the property or draining your resources. It may be worthwhile to set up lease-to-own options or converting the short-term fix-and-flip financing into a long-term mortgage.

Gardening tool guide: Dethatcher vs aerator

When homeowners need to improve air circulation in their lawns, they usually come to a decision between two different tools: dethatcher vs aerator. Both tools are essential to maintaining healthy grass lawn aeration, but in different ways.

To help you understand the difference between dethatchers and aerators, here is a basic guide to help:

What is a dethatcher?

Dethatchers are tools used to pull up the accumulation of “thatch,” or dead organic matter underneath the grass. Dethatching allows water, air and nutrients to reach the soil to help the living grass.

There are multiple dethatching tools you can use, including rakes, power rakes and verticutters.

What is an aerator?

An aerator is any tool used to dig holes into the soil to improve lawn aeration. By piercing a few inches deep into the ground, aerators reduce soil compaction, so water, nutrients and air can get to the lawn’s roots.

Many devices can be used to aerate a lawn. There are engine powered aerators, push aerators and aerators you can tow behind you. For smaller spaces, you can also use special aerator shoes similar to soccer cleats.

How to decide

While both dethatching and aerating are keys to maintaining a healthy lawn, different scenarios require different tools. For example, aerating is best for when you have extremely compacted soil. One common sign of soil compaction is poor drainage – if water accumulates on the soil surface instead of absorbing quickly, the lawn might benefit from aerating.

Dethatching, however, is useful when you have at least an inch of dead grass and debris hindering your lawn’s health. If your lawn seems dull or pale, you might have a thatch layer suffocating the grass’ roots.

Timing is also important in deciding whether you need to aerate or dethatch. The best time to use an aerator is in the early spring or fall during mild temperatures. Prime dethatching time is late winter, after plenty of dead grass and organic matter has had time to accumulate.

Lawn aeration and dethatching are both important aspects of lawn care. While you can accomplish both tasks on your own, there are professionals to help, especially where particularly compacted soil is concerned. Consider a lawn aeration service or dethatching service to assist with large properties and especially thick thatch layers.

Crash Course: The Ins and Outs of Home Building Contracts

When you decide to have a new home built, you’ll need to find a builder and sign a contract with them. Since home construction is a complex process, it’s important to make sure you understand your home building contract before signing it. What should you expect to see on one of these contracts? You should make sure your contract includes the following information. If not, you should have the builder revise the contract to include this information before you sign it.

Estimated Timeframe

Your contract should include information on the estimated timeframe for your home building project. It should show when construction is scheduled to start and when it is scheduled to end. You should also see details on when different phases of the project are scheduled to take place. Keep in mind that delays can happen for several reasons, such as adverse weather, labor shortages, material shortages or inspection delays. However, if these conditions do not occur, your builder should make every effort to complete your project within the scheduled timeframe.

Scope of the Project

Your home building contract should provide you with detailed information on the services that are included. This goes beyond the actual building process. Your builder should also state that they are performing any other tasks that are needed for your project, such as obtaining permits and providing materials, equipment and labor. Your contract should also show that the builder agrees to follow the house plans and specifications and will not make any changes or modifications to these without consulting you. This helps ensure that you’ll get the exact house you’re expecting.

Payment Details

Your contract should include details on payment, including when each payment is due, how much is due and how payments should be made, such as by check. You should also make sure your contract from the builder includes detailed information on all the fees and costs for your project. This helps you understand what you’re paying for, so you can ask questions or point out errors if needed. Your final payment might be due when your project is considered substantially completed. Since this interpretation can differ, your contract should provide a clear definition of substantial completion.

Project Scope Changes

If you change your mind about certain features or other components of your new home, such as wanting to adjust a room’s layout, add a window or have a custom feature installed, the contract should address this. Your contract should provide information on how these changes will be handled. For example, your contract might state that you will need to provide written documentation with approval from both you and your builder to change facets of your project. Keep in mind that your builder might want to make changes during the project. Having this section in your contract stops your builder from doing these without your approval.

Inspections

You should be able to check on the progress of your home construction project. Your contract should state that you may do this, as long as you plan to stop by at reasonable times, depending on the specific work that is going on. These inspections give you a chance to make sure your project is going as planned and bring up any issues you might have with the builder.

How to Turn a High Profit when Selling Your Home

Photo by PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay

You’ve finally decided to sell your home and now you want the REALTOR® to show you the money! While that sounds like it can happen at the snap of a finger, there are a few things to consider. Are you selling for a profit or is your goal to make the biggest profit you can? If it’s the latter, here are a few things you can do:

  • Step onto the Stage

Staging your home can bring in big bucks. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 77% of REALTORS® agree that buyers who can visualize a staged property as their future home makes a difference.

  • Research Your Ideal Client

Who are you selling to? Are your buyers people who have children and want a nice neighborhood? Are they wanting a move-in ready home? Unless they are buying solely for the neighborhood, the condition of the home has a lot to do with their decision.

  • Create a Digital Showing

Let’s face it – social media and digital marketing are one of the best ways to connect with potential buyers. Adding a 3D element where they can “walk through” will not only create additional interest, but widens the number of people that may add your property to their list. An additional plus would be if you could upload the floor plans, any warranty and maintenance records to show how well you took care of the home.

  • Appeal to the Curb

If you think buyers aren’t looking at the exterior of the home, think again. They want to see the home in its best light – that means pressure cleaning or painting the exterior, washing the windows, repairing any cracks in the driveway and investing in landscaping.

  • Invest in Upgrades

Upgrades to the kitchen and bathrooms truly make your home stand out. New appliances, eat-in arrangements and lighting have a lasting effect. Have some water or something to drink in the refrigerator and make sure it’s clean. Buyers do peek. If you can afford new, inexpensive flooring that speaks to the environment, that will be a positive in your favor.

  • Have a Neutral Palette

Painting the walls in a neutral color lightens up the space and allows potential buyers to consider what their furniture would look like in the space

  • Stay Clutter-Free

The more you can get rid of so buyers can see an actual representation of how much space they will have the better. Your staging should demonstrate different ways the spaces can be utilized, giving them a wealth of ideas.

  • Other This & That

Installing ceiling fans, smart home tech and other simple touches can instantly put your home at the top of the list.

These are just a few ways your home can help you get top dollar for your home to move forward with a smile on your face. For more tips on getting your home ready to sell for top dollar, work with your REALTOR® for awesome results.

Get Your Home Finances in Order

For those who want to acquire a house, it helps to get your finances in order. That way, you can quickly and effortlessly navigate the homebuying journey without having to worry about how you’ll afford your dream house.

There are many quick, easy ways to straighten out your finances before you embark on the homebuying journey, such as:

1. Assess Your Credit Score

Your credit score ultimately can play a major role in your ability to secure a great mortgage. If you understand your credit score, you may be able to find ways to improve it prior to conducting a home search.

It is important to remember that you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report annually from each of the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion). Request a free copy of your credit report today, and you can take the first step to evaluate your credit score.

If you find that your credit score is low, there is no need to worry. You can always pay off outstanding debt to improve your credit score over time.

Also, if you identify any errors on your credit report, you’ll want to address these mistakes immediately. In this scenario, you should contact the agency that provided the report to ensure any necessary corrections can be made.

2. Look Closely at Your Monthly Expenses

When it comes to buying a house, it generally helps to have sufficient funds for a down payment. The down payment on a house may fall between 5 and 20 percent of a home’s sale price, so you’ll want to have enough money available to cover this total for your dream residence.

If you evaluate your monthly expenses, you may be able to find ways to save money for a down payment on a house.

For example, it may be beneficial to cut out cable TV for the time being and use the money that you save toward a home down payment. Or, if your dine out frequently, cooking at home may prove to be a substantial money-saver that could help you speed up the process of saving for a down payment.

3. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

With pre-approval for a mortgage, you can enter the housing market with a budget in hand. Then, you’ll be better equipped than ever before to narrow your search to houses that fall within your price range.

To get pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll want to meet with banks and credit unions. These financial institutions can teach you about different mortgage options and help you assess all of the options at your disposal.

Furthermore, don’t hesitate to ask banks and credit unions about how different types of mortgages work. This will enable you to gain the insights that you need to make an informed decision about a mortgage based on your financial situation.

If you need extra help as you prepare to pursue a house, you may want to hire a real estate agent as well. In fact, a real estate agent can help you find a high-quality house at a budget-friendly price in no time at all.