4 Professional Moving Tips Straight From the Professionals

Moving houses can be physically and mentally challenging. Without proper planning or preparation, it can also crush you financially. In fact, according to the American Moving and Storage Association, the average cost of interstate moves is roughly $4,300. Multiply this by the number of times the average American moves, which according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 11.7 times throughout a lifetime, and this amounts to almost $50,000 in moving costs. To help you execute a cost-effective and hassle-free move, here are four tips sourced straight from professional movers themselves. 

1. Lose Some Luggage

Many professional movers are astonished by how much stuff people pack with them that they…

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The Art of Buying As-Is Properties Like a Pro

As-is properties, as the name implies, are properties listed for sale in its present state. This explicitly means that any structural problems that the property comes with will not be fixed or financially shouldered by the current property owner. For instance, if a bathroom pipe leak or a pest infestation behind the kitchen walls is identified during a comprehensive assessment by a third-party, the buyer cannot request that the homeowner first repair or pay for the damages prior to closing the deal. For this particular nature of the deal, buying as-is properties requires expert insight to curb the relatively higher level of risk. 

Identify Common Problems

It's easier to ascertain the potential repair…

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3 Tips for Sanitizing Homes in the Age of COVID-19

Along with wearing face masks and practicing social distancing, sanitizing homes after the announcement of COVID-19 precautionary measures is a major concern in order to keep everyone healthy. It's always good to have several ways to protect each other against the potentially dangerous pathogens. Here are three tips for sanitizing homes during this global pandemic. 

1. Start Clean

Wearing a face mask and gloves isn't just for going out; it’s also necessary to wear them for protection before you begin sanitizing. Before you begin, you'll want to wash your hands for 15-20 seconds with warm water and soap. While the soap doesn't have to be antibacterial or antiseptic -- remember, COVID-19 is a virus…

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Real Estate Moguls Respond to COVID-19 With Kindness and Compassion

Due to COVID-19, many homeowners and renters have faced severe financial hardship. There have been millions of jobs lost during the pandemic, and unemployment has spiked higher than any other time in recent history. Luckily, many real estate moguls have offered assistance to individuals who are struggling as a result of the pandemic's economic impact. 

According to Real Trends, the decline in the real estate market was so severe during April that 27% of homeowners changed their minds on their plans to sell their home. Almost 23% of people who were selling their homes withdrew their listings. Here are a few ways that commercial property owners have helped individuals facing a hard…

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3 Tips to Help Homebuyers Feel Comfortable During COVID-19

Even though COVID-19 has required many areas to apply social distancing regulations, some people need to move during this pandemic. However, many homebuyers will feel uncomfortable when it comes to looking at homes, visiting them and entering potentially contagious places. We have three tips to make homebuyers more comfortable during COVID-19.

Offer Virtual Tours

Homebuyers need to see the condition of various homes, but they may not want to enter them during the pandemic. However, you can work past this by offering virtual tours to people who want to see the home for sale. This lets potential buyers see it without putting themselves at risk of catching COVID-19.

The virtual tour will…

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Selling Your Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 may have prevented you from leaving your home or going to work, but what if you need to put your house for sale? You may feel worried about having people in your home or having an inspector over during this pandemic. If these are your concerns, then we would like to show you how you can still work toward a sale during these difficult times.

Should You Have People Go Through Your Home?

Most states aren't requiring people to stay at home anymore, but you should still limit the number of people who enter your house at a time. Yes, you can have people enter your home and look through it, but you should take some extra precautions when doing so. This will help you to keep everyone who enters your…

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How to Find Out What Your Home Is Worth Before You Sell It

If you're looking to expand or to downsize your living situation, selling your home for the right price is always at the top of your list. But how do you know how much your home is really worth? You could check what you paid for, but unless it's recent, it's most likely not the same number. Understandably, this can be quite a frustrating experience for homeowners. Therefore, here are some of the best ways your agent can help you determine the overall value of your home before placing it on the market.

Your Agent Can Provide a CMA

Although an agent is there to help you determine your home’s value, this doesn't mean you shouldn't take some action in getting a rough estimate. This can often…

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3 Ways the Weather Impacts the Real Estate Market

Understanding trends in the real estate market is essential to success. Many people focus on the economy to determine demands in the market. However, the weather can often make the difference in selling a home quickly or waiting additional months to find a buyer. Understanding these real estate market trends can help you determine your pricing and avoid common mistakes. Here are the top three ways that weather impacts the real estate market.

1. People Are Less Active When It's Cold

One of the biggest challenges in the real estate industry is to sell a home during the winter months. People are much less active when the weather is cold, which makes it more difficult to find prospective buyers.…

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The Home Closing Process: What to Expect

Closing is the final step in your home-buying journey. On the closing date, the keys to your new home are handed to you, and you become a proud and legal owner of the home. But if you are not careful, the process can be a nightmare by dragging out too long. As much as a buyer and seller can settle on a closing date, the lender determines the actual closing date. The lender and title agency must be available and ready for closing to go through.

How Long Does the Closing Process Take?

On average, the closing process takes about 41 days. This is because 32% of all the transactions stall or experience some delay. Pre-approved loans are also said to close sooner than pre-qualified loans. With pre-approval,…

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How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Made Home Buying Harder

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced changes to everyday activities as well as rare events in your life. If you'd been planning to buy a home before the pandemic hit the United States, your plans may have been curtailed. Read on to find out if the COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder to buy a home.

No Open Houses

For decades, real estate agents have hosted open houses. This is an event that allows prospective buyers to walk through the home and see it in person. Neither homeowners nor real estate agents want to come into contact with dozens of people during an open house. This makes it difficult to get a feel for the size, layout, lighting and features of the space. Some real estate agents…

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