Real Estate - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

When DIY Home Renovation turns iffy

Some homeowners take on more than they should with do-it-yourself home projects. They could wind up hurting their home value.Homeowners hope to save money through DIY takes on projects, but some lose that savings when they sell. Chicago-area home inspectors recently shared with The Chicago Tribune some of the common DIY mishaps they most often see, including:Using online videos as tutorials.Homeowners may follow an online tutorial to in

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Fall Landscaping Trends

A newer color palette with jewel tones is taking hold in landscaping, and it’s among the hotter trends for this fall, according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Seventy-seven percent of Americans report relaxing in their yards at least once a month, according to a survey from Engine’s Caravan, conducted on behalf of the NALP. Carving out an inviting outdoor space is becoming increasingly important for homeowners.The NAL

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TIP: Take Caution before Drilling Holes in the Walls

Drilling a hole in the wall to hang pictures or a TV might sound like a simple DIY project. But handyman services are warning that homeowners could do a lot of damage to a home if they aren’t careful.Many homes have pipes and wires that run through a wall. Homeowners who are unaware of these could risk personal injury or serious damage to their home.Realtor.com® recently featured safety tips to avoid hole-drilling nightmares, in

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TIP: 3 Tips to Reach your Best Credit Score

Only about 1.4% of the population has a perfect 850 on their FICO credit score. “Achieving a perfect credit score is largely out of your hands,” Riley Adams, a licensed certified public accountant and senior financial analyst for Google, told Apartment Therapy. It can take years to build up a perfect credit score of paying bills on time and paying off debts.Apartment Therapy recently asked financial experts how consumers can improve their sco

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TIP: 3 Home Lighting Mistakes to Avoid

Good lighting can enhance the look of a space. Houzz.com contributor David Warfel, a lighting design specialist, recently shared the common mistakes he sees with interior home lighting in an article on the home remodeling website. Problems he sees the most often include:Too many lights shining downwards in the kitchenWarfel notes that many kitchens have more light shining on the floor than on the countertops, where it has the biggest impact.

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TIP: 4 Overlooked Areas that make a Big Difference in Staging

When you're staging properties for resale, you likely target all the main areas: decluttering the home, adding some fresh flowers, and fluffing the pillows. But realtor.com® recently highlighted some other areas that are often overlooked when staging but can still make a big impact, including:Tend to the mailbox.Repaint the mailbox or make any repairs, particularly if it’s showing its age or leaning. “Replace the mailbox—literally the firs

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Smartphones are Guiding Buyers to Homes

Mobile devices are what buyers turn to for finding properties and connecting with real estate agents. This has put increasing importance on real estate pros to make sure their websites are mobile friendly and that they’re connecting in a way that clients most desire.The typical home buyer used a mobile device to search for properties online, looking at websites with photos, home listings, and information about the homebuying proc

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TIP: 3 Home Maintenance No-Nos

From water damage cover-ups to dismissing small foundation cracks, homeowners may be trying to hide certain household issues. But a little routine maintenance can help prevent some situations from becoming bigger issues.Home inspectors recently chimed in on Apartment Therapy with the most prevalent maintenance mistakes they see in properties all of the time, including:1. Painting over water damage.A fresh coat of paint can help work wonders in a

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Confusion about Ownership is Hindering Young Buyers

Young adults may need more resources for learning about mortgages and homeownership. More than half—55%—of young adults recently surveyed say that they’re lacking knowledge on homeownership and mortgages. That confusion has prevented them from becoming a homeowner, according to a new survey of 1,000 consumers between the ages of 23 and 38 conducted by LendEDU, a personal finance resource.Homeownership preparation is not typically

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The Top Destinations for Movers

On average, home buyers move only 15 miles from their current residence. But some metros offering affordability, strong employment, and large boomer populations may be enticing some Americans to move further away, a new study released Wednesday from realtor.com® shows.Realtor.com® researchers ranked metros on which areas received the most out-of-state views on realtor.com® during the second quarter of 2019. Among the areas topping the list las

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