Some well-intentioned homeowners may actually be doing more harm than good when they're completing normal household chores. Realtor.com® recently featured a list of cleaning myths that could actually reduce the value of a home. Here are a few cleaning habits to warn your clients against:Too much bleach.Homeowners may be under the assumption that bleach is the best cleaner in the bathroom. “Bleach does not clean anything,” Leslie Reichert, cl
Real estate associations and firms are rushing to help thousands of displaced hurricane victims find temporary housing in the Houston area. The Houston Association of REALTORS® launched a housing section on its website to help victims of Hurricane Harvey find a temporary place to live. The site allows real estate professionals, property owners, landlords, and property managers to post homes they agree to make available. Some of the homes poste
Indoor air pollution is present even in housing that has been built according to green standards, according to a new study by the Silent Spring Institute, which appears in the journal Environment International.Researchers collected nearly 100 air and dust samples from newly renovated subsidized housing in Boston before and after residents moved in. The building had been renovated to eco-friendly standards, particularly for energy efficiency. Re
If you’re ready to move forward with flooring but are uncertain about which direction you should go, these simple facts about the differences between solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood will have you landing on solid ground.1. Installation TimeIf time is of the essence, your clients may want to consider engineered hardwood. This option comes prefinished in the color of choice, and the planks easily click into place. No need to hire
What do we really mean when we say a house has great bones?It’s a feature that all buyers want, but few can define. Understanding how to identify qualities that add up to the coveted “great bones” feeling can help you set your listing apart. Recently, Architectural Digest’s Lindsey Mather asked a handful of designers to get specific about the qualities that give a home this elusive quality. Here are a few distinct items to look for:G
About 60 percent of home buyers put 6 percent or less down on their home purchase, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. Considering the median existing-home price is $258,300, a 6 percent down payment would be $15,498.Some aspiring buyers may be unsure of how to come up with that amount. But there are plenty of seemingly simple things they can do to start saving. NAR offers the following infographic. Sou
September is REALTOR® Safety Month, and data from the National Association of REALTORS®’ recently released 2017 Member Safety Report shows that 38 percent of members have experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety or the safety of their personal information. Common situations that caused fear included open houses, vacant and model homes, properties that were unlocked or unsecured, and properties in remote areas.O
Bitcoin millionaires are now looking to cashing in their digital currencies in luxury real estate.Bitcoin trader Mike Komaransky has listed a 9,500-square-foot mansion in Maimi for 1,400 bitcoins, now equivalent to about $6.5 million. Komaransky also has agreed to accept Zcash, another form of digital currency. Komaransky first purchased the home in 2014 for $4.6 million.Bitcoins, created in 2009, are a decentralized digital currency, or “crypt
You may be able to shave up to 30 percent off your energy bills this fall by conducting appropriate preparation measures on your home. For example, stripping and caulking the home to prevent drafts could be a major money saver, according to WIN Home Inspection.WIN President Steve Wadlington offers the following five tips to share with your clients on how to clean and update the home to get it cold weather-ready: Check the roof. Sun exposure can
Outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are the hottest landscaping trend for fall, according to a survey from the National Association of Landscape Professionals. The association surveyed more than 5,000 of its landscaping professional members.Here’s what topped the NALP’s list of the five hottest outdoor trends for fall:1. High-tech fire pits: Fire pits today can be automated and programmed to turn on and off at certain times or controlled fr
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