1. Planting trees too close to the home.Homeowners may not realize how big a tree will grow as it matures and plant it too near the property. “Plant them several feet away from your home so their limbs won’t rub against your home,” Melissa Okabe, a real estate professional at Alta Properties in Los Angeles, told Apartment Therapy. “Overhanging limbs can also damage the roof, and spreading roots might damage the foundation.”2. Failing at
The era of real estate-focused reality television is encouraging too many homeowners to put aesthetics before function in their remodeling projects, industry experts note in a recent Forbes.com article. For example, the trend toward no-door kitchen cabinetry, which has been made popular by home improvement shows, isn’t a smart choice for a homeowner who isn’t a neat freak or who doesn’t have matching dishes.“Everyone wants a kitchen or ba
Some of today’s most popular design trends could prove to be less than ideal for your buyers. Real estate pros tell Apartment Therapy which interior design trends they believe won’t impress potential buyers—and may even make them want to pass on a home, including:Colorful kitchens. The trend toward bold colors in the kitchen, rather than just white or neutral colors, is catching on. But real esta
A termite infestation can be costly, and sadly, many homeowners don’t discover there’s a problem until these wood-eating pests have already caused a great deal of damage to a home or an inspection uncovers it during a home sale.“Termites are referred to as the hidden enemy,” says Mike Duncan, an associate certified entomologist and eastern region trainer for Truly Nolen, a pest control company. The damage can reach $7,900 or more before t
While some home features have the kind of buzz that makes home shoppers think they must be part of their next home, living with them may actually cause ongoing regret, according to a new article at realtor.com®.One of those highly desired items: an open floor plan. An open layout may actually end up a nuisance as noise and privacy become issues, but that doesn’t stop it from holding a top spot on many buyers’ wish lists.“Sounds are multipl
Color can greatly influence people's perception of not only physical spaces but those online, too. How one feels about certain colors is largely subjective, but there are some universal themes that researchers have recognized. “With the rise of the internet and the shift to online marketing and e-commerce, this reach has expanded to include web design,” notes DesignAdvisor.net, a professional website design service.The color of your website
Even as paperless transactions simplify the homebuying process, not everyone wants to go completely digital. So for buyers who want to opt out of an online closing or are not eligible for one, Notarize, an electronic notarization provider, has debuted a “hybrid closing” option. With this process, buyers can review and sign the majority of closing documents digitally, but the paperwork will still be physically furnished on settlement
At an open house, buyers will carefully size up a home, either to buy or simply out of curiosity. Here are a few details to pay particular attention to when prepping for an open house:The front door: This is the first spot buyers see. Is the paint chipped? Are the lighting fixtures covered in spiderwebs? The front door could set the tone for the rest of the house on whether this is a well-kept house or one that lacks maintenance, Elizabeth L
If you spot a bird nest near a home, don’t be quick to dismiss it. Nesting birds can cause more damage to your home than you might expect, warns a new article at realtor.com®.By nature, birds want to nest near homes, associating it as a protected location away from predators and extreme temperatures, Dirk Van Vuren, professor of wildlife biology at the University of California, Davis, told realtor.com®.But nesting birds can actually physicall
A great lawn adds instant curb appeal to a home’s first impression, but according to Reviewed.com, homeowners may be making one of these common mistakes in their lawn maintenance:1. Cutting the grass too short. Most grasses should be cut no shorter than 2.5 inches, according to Reviewed.com. Anything shorter could impede the grasses’ ability to absorb enough sunlight to thrive.2. Failing to water enough. Reviewed.com says that most
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