Tag: Homeowner

Red Flags to Watch for While Looking for a Home

On April 19, 2024

Buying a new home is a significant investment, and ensuring you find the right one for you and your family is essential. The process can be overwhelming for first-time homebuyers. It’s beneficial to remember while searching for your dream home to look for any red flags that could indicate potential problems.

From structural issues and water damage to problematic neighbors and inconvenient locations, there are many potential red flags to be aware of when searching for a new home. Doing your due diligence and paying attention to these warning signs can save you time, money, and stress in the long run. Here are some of the most important red flags to watch for while looking for a home.

Poor Maintenance

Poor maintenance is a significant red flag for looking for a home. It’s essential to look for signs of neglect, such as peeling paint, cracked walls, or leaky roofs. These issues can be costly to repair and may indicate more significant problems with the property.

Structural Problems

Structural problems can be difficult and expensive to fix and cause significant safety concerns. Look for signs of foundation issues, such as cracks in the walls or floors, or doors that won’t close properly.

Water Damage

Water damage can indicate a more significant issue, such as leaky pipes, poor ventilation, or foundation problems. Look for water stains (walls, ceilings, or floors) and check for musty smells or signs of mold.

Electrical Issues

Electrical issues can pose serious safety hazards and can be costly to fix. Look for outdated electrical systems, such as knob-and-tube wiring or fuse boxes. Check for flickering lights, non-functioning outlets, or circuit breakers that frequently trip.

Pest Infestations

Pest infestations can be a significant problem, and they can be challenging to get rid of. Look for signs of pests, such as droppings, nests, or holes in the walls or floors. Check for signs of termites, such as wood, that sound hollow when tapped.

Strange Smells

Strange smells can be a red flag and may indicate underlying issues with the property. Look for musty smells that indicate mold or water damage or strong odors, which can be a sign of pet urine, smoke damage, or other issues.

Location

Location is an essential factor to consider when buying a home. Look for signs of noise pollution, such as busy roads or train track nearby, or environmental hazards, such as industrial areas or landfills. These issues can impact your quality of life and the property’s resale value.

Property History

It’s essential to research the property’s history before making an offer. Look for any past or current issues with the property, such as flooding, fire damage, or previous structural problems.

Buying a home is a significant investment, and you must do your due diligence to decide wisely. By watching for these red flags, you can avoid potential problems with the property and save yourself time, money, and stress down the road. Hire a qualified home inspector to evaluate the property thoroughly and provide a detailed report of any issues. You can find your dream home without any unexpected surprises with careful consideration and research.

What to Expect for the Real Estate Market in 2023

By W Darrow Fiedler

On January 9, 2023

In Investing, Real Estate

The real estate market has changed drastically over the last few years. The pandemic brought a surge in demand for houses, followed by a freeze in the market as inflation and interest rates rose. That begs the question, what should we expect from the following year?

Most experts believe 2023 will bring a new semblance of normalcy. That means the market will settle down and return to more normal levels. Inflation should reduce or at least balance out, while interest rates will slow down. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect this year.

Housing Prices

Experts are quick to weigh in with their opinion on housing prices and values. Unfortunately, not all experts agree on this. For example, Realtor.com believes that housing prices will increase by another 5.4%, while Zelman believes the value will decrease by 5.1%. Ideally, these two extreme estimates will land in the middle, providing us with a stable market.

In other words, if we balance out the expert opinions on prices, it indicates little change. This means we’ll see a flat or neutral appreciation in 2023. This is good for sellers and buyers, as the market will not change drastically.

Rate Lock-In Phenomenon

Mortgage rates hit a record low a couple of years ago, countering the current higher rates we’re seeing. This results in homeowners with a low rate (below 6% in most cases and below 4% in exceptional circumstances). That’s great for those homeowners, but they will unlikely consider selling their homes with an average mortgage above 6%.

Homeowners are unwilling to give up their low mortgage rate in exchange for a higher interest rate. Some homeowners will sell regardless, either because of need or desire. But a large percentage will stay at their current home to wait out this shift.

Ironically, this is going to affect another market. Homeowners that wait out this shift may choose to work on home improvement projects. This will ultimately encourage a stronger contract market and increase home values – if done carefully.

Reduction in Building

There will likely be a reduction in the number of homes built over the next year or two. Specifically, experts believe that builders will cut back on the number of new single-family homes they are constructing. Likewise, building permits will likely decline as homeowners settle in and wait for rates to change.

Ways to Get Organic Leads as a Realtor

By W Darrow Fiedler

On November 9, 2022

In Investing, Real Estate

Every industry has unique tactics and requirements for getting things done. This is especially true for realtors, who must handle several elements of their own business. One such concern is generating organic leads as a realtor.

It can be challenging to create these leads, especially at first. It takes time and practice for them to feel more comfortable and organic. However, once you get the swing of things and establish a pipeline of leads, you’ll have no problem succeeding in the industry.

Networking

One of the most important things for any realtor to consider is networking. Networking can easily generate the most leads and should never be overlooked. Neighbors, coworkers, friends, etc., can all help generate word-of-mouth advertising. Each new professional connection you create introduces new opportunities.

In other words, to create a base for organic leads, you have to network. There’s no way around it, so get it done. If networking is intimidating for you, take some time to research tips & tricks. This will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.

Branding

You’ve likely heard the term branding regarding a company’s image – but personal branding is something to consider. A strong personal brand can generate leads while you sleep if done right. How? Your name will be out there, traveling out (by word of mouth, advertising, and other branding techniques), even without your active participation.

Put another way, the better your personal branding strategy, the more consistent your work can be. People will approach you with work, creating more organic opportunities to follow through.

Referrals

Never underestimate the value of a good referral. They’re like gold, showcasing your talent and reliability to potential clients. Referrals come in many forms. For example, it may be a comment from a past client on your website. Or it may be an associate forging a connection between you and a prospective client.

Don’t forget always to show appreciation for these referrals. Especially the ones that have gone above and beyond for you. Encourage this behavior by sending them a thank you note or showing appreciation.

Social Media

Finally, don’t forget about social media. Social media is a powerful tool, with varying effectiveness depending on your goals and utilization. When using social media to generate leads, be sure you’re picking the right platform for your goals. For example, you don’t want to be on TikTok if you’re looking for leads in older generations.

Finding your stride with social media marketing may take a minute, but once you’ve nailed it, the leads will come in. Just keep working on it and be willing to adapt your strategies.

Don’t Make these Mistakes as a New Homeowner

By W Darrow Fiedler

On December 14, 2021

In Real Estate, Welcome

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. There are so many things to do and decisions to make! But if you want your new house to feel like a true home, there are some mistakes that you should avoid. We’ve compiled this list of four mistakes that people often make when they’re first starting as homeowners:

Not getting to know the neighborhood

One of the best things about moving into a new home is getting to know your neighbors. But this can only happen if you take the time to get to know your neighborhood. Spend some time walking around and talking to people. Find out what kind of activities going on in the area, and see if there’s a neighborhood watch program or community garden that you can get involved in. The more connected you are to your neighborhood, the more comfortable you’ll feel living there.

Not decorating enough

It’s easy to want to just move all of your furniture in and call it a day, but unless you’re good at arranging furniture, your house is going to look pretty boring. Take the time to decorate your home in a way that reflects your personality. Hang pictures on the walls, put up some shelves, and buy some plants. Not only will it make your house more comfortable to live in, but it’ll also make it feel like home.

Not taking care of the basics

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of moving into a new home and forget about all of the basic upkeep that needs to be done. But if you want your home to last, you need to take care of the basics like painting, caulking, and repairing broken appliances. You don’t have to do all of this yourself, but it’s important to have a plan in place for who is going to do it and when.

Not getting organized

One of the best things about having your place is being able to finally organize all of your stuff the way you want. But this can only happen if you take the time to get organized right from the start. Create a system for everything and stick to it. This will make finding things a lot easier, and it’ll also help keep your home clean and clutter-free.