It's all about warm shades, rugged textures and simple fixturesCool neutrals, white kitchen accessories and marble is out, and earth-toned shades, stonework and concrete accents are in, says Houzz for its 2018 home design predictions.Here are the ten design trends expected to define the upcoming year:Photo credit: Rikki Snyder © 2015 Houzz1. More color in kitchens. Houzz says white will always be a classic color for kitchen design, but homeown
A more luxe-looking home will sell for a higher priceAs a listing agent, it’s your job to help your clients get the most out of their sale. Anything you can do to make the house look more expensive is likely to help boost buyer interest and sales price.But how do you make listings look more expensive?The methods range from very simple to completely replacing older or dated items. Encourage your client to think of any updates as an investment i
A burglary occurs about every 20 seconds, and some homeowners may be making it too easy for intruders. A burglar may knock on the door first to check if a resident is home. Some will then test the doorknob—if it’s unlocked, they’ve got easy access.In a survey of 1,000 consumers across the country, home security review website SafeHome found that many residents lock their doors, but many also forget to do so. For example, residents in the
19 Ways to Get More Real Estate Agent Reviews from Premier Agent | Zillow & TruliaHere are 19 tips from real estate agents who have dozens — if not hundreds — of reviews:Be upfront with your clients Ask for reviews. Very few people will just write a real estate agent review on their own. You have to ask them to do it. If you’re just starting out, aim to get at least five reviews.“A big change we made — one that changes the bal
More homeowners are putting an emphasis on their pets’ priorities when home shopping, according to recent surveys. For example, a third of recent home buyers ages 18 to 36 say their decision to purchase was based on the desire for a larger property with a yard for their dog, according to a survey by Harris Poll conducted for SunTrust Mortgage. Further, 33 percent of 412 young adults surveyed listed their pet as their top homebuying motivation.
Most home buyers put in the effort to save for their down payment, but that is only a fraction of the cost they should expect for homeownership. There are many other lesser-known costs that can sometimes come as a shock to buyers. Make sure your home shoppers plan accordingly for the following extra expenses, including:Earnest money: The amount of earnest money required varies by state and local market. In a slower market, $500 to $1,000 migh
Home features—particularly those that are technology-based—have a stronger pull on millennial home shoppers than the promotion of brand names, according to a new survey by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, conducted with 20,000 new home shoppers. Millennials tended to show a preference for tech-focused amenities that could make their lives simpler.Young adults born in the 1980s and 1990s are half as likely as their parents’ generation to
If your sellers are looking for ways to improve their kitchen before listing, or if your buyers want to make cost-effective updates to a dated kitchen in their newly purchased home, professional organizer Colleen Klimczak, owner of Peace of Mind Professional Organizing, has five tips. Install under-cabinet lighting. This simple project is low in cost and leaves a big impact, giving the whole kitchen a beautiful glow. Try LED rope lights that pl
Many people may be visiting your website or blog, but if they aren’t moved to contact you, it’s time to rethink your lead conversion strategy. Jayson DeMers, a columnist for Forbes.com, points out several ways marketers are unknowingly sabotaging their conversion rates.Serving up mediocre content: “If a visitor comes to your site and starts reading your content, but finds it to be thin, unoriginal, or inaccurate, they’ll instantly lose t
Instead of popping the champagne after your clients officially become new homeowners, how about setting up a photo shoot to help them document the occasion?First-time buyers are showing greater interest in sharing their status as new homeowners with their peers online, so many real estate pros are staging photo shoots to help them capture and share the moment on social media. The photos may include props such as a “First Home” sign, or the bu
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