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Adulting For the Home Home How To

It’s Time To Ready Your Home For The Worst Of The Weather

Terrible weather conditions can have a devastating impact on your home. It can lead to expensive repair bills and take weeks or months before your home is usable again. That’s why it’s important to take steps to ready your home for the worst of the weather.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

How to Ready Your Home For The Worst Of The Weather

Invest In A Backup Generator

One of the worst impacts of bad weather is arguably going to be a power outage. Recently, many homes have been hit with power outages that have lasted for days or weeks. Not only is it dangerous, but it brings a financial toll because food goes bad and must be replaced. Electrical appliances can also be damaged, requiring expensive replacements. Backup generators can prevent these issues, and they are suitable for any sized home.

Improve The Insulation

When the weather turns, you need to make sure that your home remains warm and toasty. The best option is to make sure you improve the insulation around your property. There are a few ways that you can improve the insulation. For instance, you might want to think about replacing the windows if they let in any drafts. While this is an expensive change, you can create the same type of impact by adding thicker curtains to your home. 

Remove Any Trees Close To Your Home

You must think about how the weather could potentially damage your home. It’s possible that there’s a tree leaning close to your property. If heavy winds bring this tree down, it could come crashing on your house, damaging your property. To avoid a situation like this, think about hiring the right removal service such as STC. They’ll get rid of your tree and ensure that a tragic incident can be avoided. 

Check The Roof

Finally, you must check your roof for any damage or signs of holes. A problem like this could become a massive headache in the future. You will need to contend with the fact that water will be dripping into your home, leading to problems with dampness and causing mold to grow in certain areas inside your roof too. Arrange to have your roof inspected at least once a year, ideally just before the worst of the winter weather is likely to hit. 

Ready Your Home For The Worst Of The Weather

We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to ready your home for the worst of the weather. Explore the best options here and you can make sure that you don’t have to deal with a large repair or a bill that is difficult to manage. 

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For the Home Home Parenting

3 Essential Ways To Set Up Your First Home For Good

Moving into a property to call your own is a life milestone and achievement, and you should feel free to celebrate it. That’s not to say you haven’t worked for this outcome, but even so, it’s worth paying yourself some credit and feeling a sense of enthusiasm for your future. Once that’s over, then the new work begins. It can take some time to unpack and may need some creativity to get right. However, when you set up your first home, it can also require a few additional considerations.

How To Set Up Your First Home For Good

Pest Control & Prevention

Pest control is an essential means of resolving an infestation, but it can also be a worthwhile preventative measure. From using rodent deterrents, placing traps, and using other materials to prevent insects, you can protect your home against creatures. These services can also help if bats make a nest in your attic or if you need a wasp’s nest removed.

Set Up Security As Needed

It’s essential to secure your home even if it is in a safe location. Some locations may require more security, though. For instance, a suburban house will have more people around it, meaning it’s statistically more likely to suffer an intrusion attempt. However, you’re much closer to a security safety net and neighborhood watch to balance that out. 

In rural areas, you’ll be around fewer people but will have fewer immediate police responses. Plus, you may not live next to neighbors that can support you. Without the added security, it is why using a reliable and proven home security company is key to finding the best solution for your unique needs.

Ventilate Properly

The build-up of damp and the weakening of insulation can cause problems in your household. Both of these issues can be fixed. Refitting poor or damaged windows, setting lock strengths, and making sure that your home can accept and circulate fresh air without opening up to adverse effects from the weather or bad insulation is essential. These measures may take a professional to inspect and rectify any issues or install new ventilated features.

Set Up Your First Home

With this combination of efforts, you’ll set up your first home for good. Do you have any other tips? Leave a comment and let us know.

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Adulting Finances For the Home Home Life

5 Ways to Know You’re Ready to Buy a House

There’s a point in everyone’s life where they consider buying a property. However, the decision to go ahead and do that or not depends on a few factors. Someone who’s in a position to buy a property might decide that it’s not the best option, and someone who would face an uphill battle could decide that it is the right decision. The good news is that you don’t have to make this decision blindly. There are some key considerations you can keep in mind that’ll help you know if you’re ready to buy a house.

How to Know You’re Ready To Buy a House

Steady Income

It can be enjoyable to have a property, but there’s no avoiding that it is a financial commitment. You’ll be signing yourself up for monthly payments for several decades. While there’s no such thing as a 100% secure career, there are some jobs that offer more security than others. If you’ve been working in your position steadily for several years and can’t envision a future where you’ll be out of work, then you’re in a strong position.

Debt Management

You don’t necessarily have to be free of debt to buy a house. It all depends on what type of debt you have. If you have manageable debt then everything will be fine. If you have unmanageable debt, or you’re struggling to stay on top of your payments, then it’ll be better to get those things under control. Plus, if you have a history of good credit, you’ll be able to get better deals on a loan.

Deposit Savings to Help Get Ready to Buy a House

You’ll need to have some money set aside as a downpayment on your house. There’s usually a minimum and maximum, and talking to an experienced mortgage broker will help you get the best mortgage deal based on the value of your savings. Once you’ve decided to buy a house, it’s recommended to ramp up your savings goal. It might mean that you need to tighten your belts for a year or so, but it’ll be worth it!

Emergency Funds

There’s another calculation that you should make before you decide to buy a house: your capacity to deal with unexpected costs. While you can predict many of the costs of homeownership, there’ll always be something that surprises you. If you know that you have enough of a safety net to meet those costs, then you’ll be OK.

Ready to Commit

Finally, are you ready to commit? There’s value in having a property, but you have to make some sacrifices. But if you love where you live and your life, then it’ll be worthwhile making those sacrifices! 

Are You Ready To Buy a House?

Buying a house is an exciting time in your life, but you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to buy a house first. If you’re ready, it can be a beneficial move. Do you have any other tips for knowing if you’re ready? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

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For the Home Home

The Most Important Home Hazards You Need To Deal With Now

Home is one of the most common places where accidents happen. It is essential to take all necessary precautions to prevent injuries, health problems, or deaths because of these home hazards. This article will introduce some of the most common home hazards and how best to deal with them.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

What Are Some Common Home Hazards?

The home environment can be dangerous, even for people without children. Many dangers lurk around the house, but some of them might be more obvious than others. As a homeowner, it is essential that you know these hazards and take the necessary precautions to prevent an accident. The most common risks include children’s toys, outlets, stairs, toilets, kitchens, and pools.

A home is a space that includes many different hazards. As a homeowner, it is important to know what these hazards are and take the necessary precautions to prevent an accident. Some of the most common risks include children’s toys, outlets, stairs, toilets, kitchens, and pools.

How to Prevent Common Health Risks From Carbon Monoxide & Mold

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be toxic to people and animals. Exposure to large amounts of carbon monoxide can cause oxygen deprivation and death. Carbon monoxide poisoning is an emergency, and it happens when you breathe in large amounts of gas because it replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream. It’s essential to have a detector to help you be aware of this.

Mold is a type of fungus that grows on the surfaces of buildings and other materials that have moisture or high levels of humidity, such as showers and bathrooms. Mold can trigger asthmatic reactions for people allergic to common mold spores. It also causes allergic reactions in people who are not usually sensitive to mold but have developed an allergy because they’ve been exposed to it over a long period. Getting mold removal, click here for options, can help keep your home healthy.

How To Prevent Injury & Accidents Around The Home

Keeping your home safe may not be easy. Many dangers lurk around the house and result in an injury or accident. It’s helpful if you keep your home clean, tidy, and organized to avoid an emergency situation where you cannot find what you need. You should also regularly check for any hazards in your home, such as leaking pipes or unsafe wiring.

It’s essential to keep an open line of communication with your family so they know what is happening at all times. Also, keep matches, candles, cigarettes, and other things which may cause fires away from children who might play with them. Finally, you can also think about using timers to turn off any appliances in case you forget.

Keeping Your Home Safe & Hazard Free

By following each of these points, you should find that you’re able to remain hazard-free and keep your family safe. By being proactive and staying on top of things, it helps you ensure your home stays hazard-free.

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For the Home Home

6 Essential Tasks for the Ultimate Homeowner’s Upgrade List in 2022

With 2022 fast approaching, millions of homeowners are now thinking about how they can improve their properties over the months to come. Whether you plan to start the work right away or once the new year arrives, now is the time to plot your moves. The harsh reality is that most homeowners will have a long list of projects to complete. Therefore, prioritizing your list is essential. Here are six essential tasks for the ultimate homeowner’s upgrade list.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Homeowner’s Upgrade List

Home Efficiency Upgrades

If the home isn’t as energy-efficient as it could be, it requires instant attention. Aside from causing added damage to the environment through carbon emissions, it wastes your money due to excessive bills.

Home upgrades can include roof insulation and water-saving appliances. Renewal by Andersen window replacement services is another popular choice that can aid the look of the home and its energy use. Adding Smart thermostats is another choice, which can be done yourself or by a professional HVAC company.

You will need to follow these upgrades with habitual updates, like turning appliances off at night. When you do, your property will be better than ever. 

Home Security Updates

There is nothing worse than feeling vulnerable inside your own home. Sadly, this will be the case when your security features are not at the desired levels, even if you live in a safe neighborhood where crime rates are low.

Improving your home security features can be achieved with several simple steps. Security cameras are the natural starting point. However, it is also essential that you consider the windows and doors. Meanwhile, a yard landscape with good visibility is also vital.

You can aid the situation further by joining a Neighborhood Watch program. Nonetheless, taking control of your home security should always be the priority.

Personal Touches 

Personalization is a key ingredient in the recipe for success. Whether you’ve recently moved into a new home or haven’t updated your property for a long time, adding character is vital. For starters, add family photos or decorate using memorabilia and souvenirs.

Personal touches can be made by moving away from general trends and closer to what adds value to your life. If you prefer a home basketball court over a swimming pool, go for it. Likewise, adapting the garage into your recreational space can work well.

Unless you are planning to sell soon, your happiness must take priority over ROIs. Enjoying life to the max is the most valuable reward by far.

Reduced Clutter 

A cluttered home is hard to enjoy. After all, living spaces should be for living. While opting for a minimalist design isn’t for everyone, you can certainly borrow some ideas from it. Borrowing ideas from the minimalist design is helpful, especially if you have a small space to work with.

Embracing paperless technology can be a great option. From paperless billing to digital streaming, the reduced need for physical products will save space. You can also look for ways to make your storage spaces work better. Many steps are simple DIY tasks.

When combined with a regular cleaning strategy, you will find that the home looks and feels bigger and better than ever.

Updates For Sleep

Getting a better night’s sleep will improve your life. Underestimating the impact of home upgrades designed with sleep habits in mind is a big mistake. Naturally, the bedroom is where you must begin the process.

Finding a Tempur mattress with the right firmness level for your needs is a great starting point. New sheets and pillows will further improve the situation. Upgrading the HVAC is another step that can lead to a better night’s rest and better quality of life.

Outside of the bedroom, improved bathroom experiences can help your body and mind prepare for sleep, too.

External Improvements for the Homeowner’s Upgrade List

When thinking about exterior home improvements, it’s natural that you will focus on energy efficiency and security. However, don’t overlook other factors that influence safety and looks. Flood barriers and other tools to prevent weather damage are key.

Meanwhile, driveway repair services from experts like Newnan are ideal. Aside from adding curb appeal, it’s a great way to stop puddling water. Similarly, it will help protect your car tires and prevent the risk of family members encountering trips and falls.

Some yard improvements have already been mentioned, but a deck can be useful too because spending more time outside is great. 

Essential Tasks For the Homeowner’s Upgrade List

Of course, if you have any issues like leaks, you must fix those, too. When combined with the improvements mentioned above, the home will suit you and your family better for 2022 and beyond.

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For the Home Home

House Flipping: 4 Mistakes That Can Make Your Investment Fall Flat

Real estate is a very safe investment and can provide handsome returns. If you want to start investing in real estate, there are many ways you can begin. One of the many ways you can invest in real estate is house flipping. However, you must do your research first and avoid common house flipping mistakes.

Investing in house flipping is a smart way to gain control over your finances and build up a steady passive income. One of the biggest advantages of house flipping is that it allows you to work with your hands. Working with your hands helps you learn how to renovate, helping you get more comfortable with your creative skills.

It also gives you a chance to make a lot of money if done correctly. Many house flippers make around eighty thousand dollars on their first deal. Plus, they make lots of money from future sales. However, some mistakes can cause issues for your investment, making it fall flat.

House Flipping Mistakes

Not Doing Your Research 

When house flipping, you must do your research to ensure you do everything efficiently. Not doing research could be a bad idea for two reasons.

First, there are many hidden costs involved. Make sure that you have the finances available to cover the cost of renovations, taxes on profit, etc. Second, there is no guarantee that houses will sell quickly – some might not sell at all!

Not Putting In Enough Money

Putting in enough money is essential for house-flipping projects. If you don’t put enough money in, the project will not be successful, and you will not profit.

Estimate how much time and money it will take to complete the project. If you estimate that it will cost $15,000 and take 18 months to complete the project, you’ll be prepared for the process. You can’t spend too much or too little on your house flipping projects because it will not be successful if the money invested is off.

Not Getting People With the Right Skills 

It is not easy for house flippers to find the right person with the right skills. Not everyone wants to work on flipping houses. House flipping can be very profitable, but it requires a commitment, which some people are unwilling to make.

As a result, we have often seen people who are not qualified for house flipping trying to fix parts of the house instead of reaching out for a professional like an air conditioning repair service, or an electrician, to save money. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’ll make things worse.

Unrealistic Expectations 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not giving yourself enough time to work on the house. To invest in house flipping, you must be realistic about what the house will sell for when you finish. Look at how much you have to do to fix up the property and how much time you are willing to put into the house. Additionally, consider how much you will sell it for.

If your final price point is lower than what you can get for a similar-looking property in the same area, then it’s probably not worthwhile. Consider the amount of work you have to put into it when deciding which properties are worth the investment. Before beginning, you’ll want to make sure that you have realistic expectations and make sure that you can handle it.

House Flipping Mistakes That Can Make Your Investment Fall Flat

These house flipping mistakes can make all the difference in a successful flip or one that doesn’t make a profit. Have you ever flipped a home? What are some tips that you have? Leave a comment and let us know.

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For the Home Home

5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Exterior for a Professional Look for Viewings

Getting a property ready for viewings can be a surprisingly tricky thing to do right, but it is also one of the most important things to consider doing. After all, the more work you put into it, the higher the chance to impress potential buyers. Focus on the exterior of your home, which is one of the essential aspects. If you improve your home’s exterior, you will have much more chance of success.

How to Improve Your Home’s Exterior

1. Consider An Extension

Although it is not always possible or necessary, you might think about adding an extension to your home. An extension is a way to improve and expand upon its exterior. There are many different kinds of extensions you might want to consider.

For instance, adding a bathroom or kitchen expansion will add considerable value to a property. Alternatively, you might want to add to an existing living area or build a sunroom. Whatever you do, an extension always goes down well, and it improves the look of the home considerably.

2. Give It A Paint Job

Repainting the exterior of your home is something else that can make a surprising difference in how professional it looks. It doesn’t have to be a new color or anything, but it can often have an interesting feel about it. Either way, it will help make the building look a little fresher, which can only ever be a good thing. Consider keeping the colors neutral to ensure that it is more attractive to a higher number of people.

3. Use Lighting to Improve Your Home’s Exterior

If you have not thought about your exterior lighting, it is essential to consider it. After all, the better the lighting is, the more likely it is to look great during the first impression. If you want to make the first impression as good as possible, the best way is to get in touch with a team like NightScenes Landscape Lighting Professionals, who are able to rig up entire professional lighting sets for your exterior, so that your home looks movie-ready and amazing to the naked eye. The lighting can drastically improve what people think of the building right away.

4. Keep It Clean

One way to immediately remove any sense of professionalism from the exterior of your home is to allow it to become dirty or messy. You’ll want to put the necessary work into keeping the place clean to make it as attractive as possible. Keeping it clean is usually a simple task, but it requires putting in the necessary effort. Your effort will make a huge difference to how many people like the look of your home.

5. Get The Lawn Manicured

Finally, make sure that the lawn itself looks great. Taking care of the yard is one of the most important things for people looking for a new home. You’ll find that you garner much more interest, which is likely to translate into a sale. 

Improve Your Home’s Exterior

Before you sell your home, you’ll want to improve your home’s exterior. These tips will help make a difference in the look of your home. If you have any other suggestions, leave a comment and let us know.

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For the Home Home

4 Simple Tips To Improve Your Home Security In Winter

When you think about winterizing your home, reviewing your security might not be the first thought you have. It’s true that home security matters all year round. It does, however, arguably matter more in winter because nights are longer, people go out more, and there are new Christmas presents in homes. With that in mind, here are four tips to improve your home security.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Improve Your Home Security In Winter

Check Your Doors and Windows

You should be checking your doors and windows all year round, but it’s particularly essential in fall and winter. It’s more important because any damage to your doors and windows will usually impact your insulation as well as your security. For example, if the glass is loose in the frame, it’s easier for cold wind to get in and usually easier for a criminal to break or cut.

In general, you can usually work around minor damage for the course of the fall and winter. Then you can get your doors or windows replaced in the warmer months when it’s less disruptive. (Bremerton Window has some great options for replacement windows). However, severe damage will need to be dealt with no matter the season.

If your door doesn’t have any security features on it, then now is the time to install some. Smart doorbells can enhance your security, but it’s risky to rely on them. They need both power and internet connectivity to work. Both of these can be vulnerable in winter. A plain, old-fashioned door-chain and viewing glass always work no matter what.

Make Sure You Have Plenty of Light

Light serves two purposes. First, it allows visitors to find their way to your door. Second, it makes it easier to see unusual or unexpected visitors. These visitors may be legitimate as winter tends to be the time of year when people get a lot of home deliveries. Then again, they may not be safe visitors.

Because people get so many deliveries in winter, it can be a cover for criminals. These days, many packages are delivered by freelance delivery drivers. The companies behind them may encourage them to wear branded clothing, but it can be legally challenging to make it obligatory. What’s more, branded clothing doesn’t guarantee that somebody works for a company.

Ideally, you want to use motion-sensitive lighting. It’s the most economical (and environmentally-friendly) form of light. Plus, it can act as a form of alarm. Seeing a light suddenly come on will often draw your attention to somebody approaching your home. Criminals are well aware of this.

Protect Your Driveway

The closer a criminal can park to your door, the easier it is for them to move your property into their vehicle. This may sound far-fetched but remember, winter has long hours of darkness, bad weather, and many tradespeople doing legitimate business. All of this provides perfect cover for criminals. Fortunately, it’s now easy to protect your driveway.

If you already have or can install a fence or wall, you can add an electric gate. These essentially work in a similar way to automatic garage doors. In other words, you can open them without getting out of your car. Plus, you can get them in swing and slide versions, so you should be able to get something to suit your space.

If you can’t have a fence or wall, you can use smart parking barriers. These are basically rise-and-fall barriers you can operate from your phone without getting out of your car. They are easy to install and do a great job of protecting your driveway without sacrificing convenience.

Remember Out of Sight is Out of Mind

Technically, this isn’t strictly true. Criminals know that people will have presents in the house around Christmas time. They also know that people tend to go out more around Christmas time. You do not, however, need to make life easy for them.  

Keep your valuables out of sight and out of mind. If you put presents under the tree, keep the tree out of sight of the window or use fake gifts. It’s best to do both. The sight of fake presents might be enough to tempt a criminal to attack your home. Once they’re in, they may take a lot more than your fake gifts.

Similarly, be careful what you post on social media. Even if you think it’s private, it’s impossible to stop information from being shared, often with entirely innocent intentions. Keep information about your gifts and plans for people who need to know and encourage them to keep it private.

Tips To Improve Your Home Security In Winter

Protecting your home in the winter can be easy if you know what to do. These tips to improve your home security can make all the difference. Do you have any other tips to share? Leave a comment and let us know!

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For the Home Home How To

5 Ways to Give Your Home Some Vintage Charm

If you feel that your home lacks something essential and doesn’t quite offer the charm and character you’re looking for, now is the time to do something about it. Updating your space can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. Luckily, there are many ways to add more vintage charm and style to your home.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

How to Give Your Home Some Vintage Charm

Choose Vintage Artwork

One of the best and easiest ways to deliver more vintage charm inside your home is by hanging vintage artwork. Landscape paintings and things like that can help. However, it’s up to you what you choose and how you interpret the word vintage within the context of the art. There are not any right or wrong answers here.

Make Use of the Original Features

If you live in an old home that has seen many changes and renovations over the years and decades, you might want to think about stripping things back a bit. Using the home’s original features, you can deliver on that authenticity factor and utilize the home’s underlying vintage charm.

Go Back to Basics

Going back to basics and not worrying too much about small details can be a big help. Focus on the things that truly matter and strip back the layers. By doing so, you create a home interior that feels classy and charming. It’s a strategy you might want to consider if you’re looking to keep things clean and simple.

Choose Furniture with a Vintage Spin

Pick out a couple of new vintage-inspired furniture pieces for your home to add vintage charm. At independent retailers like A Cottage in the City, you can find a wide range of furniture pieces that are heavily influenced by vintage aesthetics. 

Go Antique Hunting

If you don’t want to buy new furniture with a vintage spin, look for original pieces instead. You can find pieces from the design period of your choice. There are so many great antique stores and websites out there that you can browse and search through to find the ideal pieces for your home.

Give Your Home Some Vintage Charm

There’s no shortage of ways to bring some of that warmth and vintage charm into your home. If you’re unsure where to start, make the most of these ideas. Just make sure you put a personal twist on the tips you implement.

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For the Home Home

What To Do When Your Home Offer Is Rejected

Setting out on the adventure of buying a home is exciting but also nerve-racking. Then comes the time to put in the offer, sit back, and wait to hear from the owner. What do you do when the offer is rejected?

Offer Is Rejected, Home Offer Is Rejected

First, don’t be too hard on yourself.

There are plenty of reasons for rejection, and even seemingly perfect offers can end up getting pitched. Here is a quick rundown of why some offers are rejected and steps to take afterward.

For starters, we’re in a hot market — as you probably already know. Generally, in a hot market with rapid sales, a buyer has an increased probability of seeing his or her offer rejected as sellers see an increased number of bids. Receiving a negative response to your offer can stem from many issues. Was the amount of earnest money or the bid too low? Was there a competing offer with a higher down payment or even a cash offer?

All these financial issues and more could have factored into the seller’s decision. It could also be something so simple as the owners decided to remain in the house for personal reasons or you asked for too many contingencies. Having such conditions is good because it shows seriousness. However, having too many contingencies may put more responsibility on the seller than he or she is willing to accept.

The first course of action is to understand why the offer was declined.

Follow up with the real estate agents involved or ask an expert to review the bid.

Next, draft a counteroffer if one was not provided with the rejection.

If the sale was not made contingent with another offer, you can possibly seal the deal with a counter. It’s advised to seek the help of an agent for this part of the process, as well. Be sure to work with an agent who understands seller interests and is going to have your back. Aside from counteroffering, there are a few other steps.

Ensure your finances are in top shape to better compete with other offers. You can also seek new construction.

While the price may be higher than pre-existing homes, the process for buying new construction can be simpler and you might not have to face rejection after rejection. As you continue your journey, remember to keep in touch with an agent, stay informed, and don’t compromise too much. It’s better to miss out on a home than to agree to terms with which you are not comfortable, or pay more than you can reasonably afford.

While the market is currently wild, finding a place to call home is not impossible. It’s important to stay positive and to keep looking. If you can’t seem to find any luck, there are experts available to help get you on the right path. For further information on what to do when an offer is rejected, please see the accompanying resource.


Infographic Provided by Marketplace Homes

Author Bio: Ian Hall is Vice President of Marketing for Marketplace Homes, a national brokerage and property management company. He specializes in real estate functions, such as buying and selling homes, with a particular interest in new construction homes and SFR investments.