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How To Add Value To Your New York Home With Landscaping

If you’re getting ready to sell your New York home, you may wonder what the return on your investment will be for specific projects. One of these potential projects is that of landscaping. Will you get more money for the sale of your home? How much more will you get if you make these outdoor improvements? Everyone knows that it’s a general rule that curb appeal adds value to your home in many different ways.

First, buyers will feel more welcome if they see a home that appears inviting from the outside in. Elaborate landscaping excludes buyers who are solely focused on buying a fixer-upper.

It’s suggested that you invest about 10 percent of your home’s value in landscaping. That’s a significant investment. We’re talking about $20,000 on a $200,000 home. That’s not an easy decision to make. There are some simple things you can do if you don’t have the money to invest in landscaping.

Add color with seasonal flowers and shrubs

Add mulch

Add edging

Do an excellent job of weeding the yard

Give the lawn extra TLC

Even something as simple as a deep clean of your yard can make a big difference. The costs of these jobs range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The main concern is making your home look good from the curbside.

These little changes can make a significant impact on the appearance of the home. The return on your investment can really vary. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact number as to how much return you’ll actually get for spending time and money landscaping your home. The only sure thing is that it will be worth it. Not only will your California home sell for more, but it will also be more attractive to buyers that are out there.

The Negative Side

A good landscaping job does deter buyers who don’t want a high maintenance property. Too many shrubs to trim or too much grass to mow is definitely a deterrent to these buyers. The bottom line here is that the more extensive the landscaping job you do before selling your home, the bigger the risk you’re taking.

Focus On Simple Things

The best thing you can do to landscape your yard before you sell is to focus on simple things in the yard including:

Weeding

Keep it free from chemicals

Add potted plants

Keep the lawn looking trim and watered

Mulch the yard

Remember that inside and out, a positive first impression of your New York home is critical to the sale.

New Construction: Green Features to Improve Your New Build

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With a greater focus on energy efficiency in recent years, new construction has been using green features. These features are designed to reduce negative impacts on the environment and help homeowners reduce their energy usage. If you’re planning to have a green home built, the following are some of the more common energy-efficient features available. Having these features installed in your new home can significantly lower the amount of energy you use and the amount you spend on your utility bills.

Eco-Friendly Windows

Newer windows typically have one or more energy-efficient features that help homes stay warmer in winter and colder in summer. This helps cut back on the energy used for cooling and heating homes. Low-emittance, or low-E, windows are made to reflect more of the sun’s UV rays, which helps keep homes feeling cooler during summer while still letting in plenty of natural light. Vinyl frames with insulation and fiberglass frames provide high amounts of resistance to heat flow, which also helps reduce energy usage. Other eco-friendly features to consider for windows include gas fills and double or triple glazing.

Energy-Efficient Appliances and Plumbing Fixtures

Stoves, washers, dryers and other major appliances typically use up a lot of energy if they’re older models. Green new construction homes usually come with Energy Star appliances, which helps improve energy efficiency. These appliances require less electricity, resulting in lower energy bills. Green new construction homes also tend to have plumbing fixtures with energy-efficient features, such as high-efficiency toilets and low-flow showerheads and faucets. These fixtures use less water overall and can significantly lower the amount of water your household uses on a regular basis.

Energy-Efficient HVAC Systems

HVAC systems are one of the biggest sources of energy usage in homes. New eco-friendly homes often have an HVAC system that is designed to use lower amounts of energy overall, such as a heat pump or geothermal system. These HVAC systems also use cleaner sources of energy compared to gas furnaces and other heating and cooling systems that require fossil fuels. Green homes also usually have a programmable thermostat rather than a manual one. Programmable thermostats provide an easier way to keep homes cooler or warmer as needed without using as much energy.

Eco-Friendly Lighting

Green new construction homes are much more efficient when it comes to lighting compared to older homes. These homes often have compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs that use up higher amounts of energy. These energy-efficient bulbs provide a lot of light without using up as much energy, and they last longer. Green homes also tend to have design features that allow as much sunlight in as possible, such as skylights or oversized windows. Increasing natural light helps cut down on the amount of lighting used during the day.

Cool Roof

Cool roofs refer to roofing that is designed to reflect more of the sun’s rays. These roofs, which are often made of metal and light in color, can help keep homes much cooler inside when it’s hot out. This leads to a lower need to run the air conditioning or have ceiling fans on. Having this kind of roof can help you lower your energy bills, especially during summer.

Alternative Funding: Crowdfunding for Down-Payments

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In an age where collaboration is on the rise, it’s not surprising that some are looking to find an alternative source of funding for their home or business purchase. Crowdfunding has been a successful way to fund various projects and business propositions, but it seems that some have found a way to make it work when purchasing property. The only question is, where’s the catch?

Banking Institutions & Lenders

It’s no secret that crowdfunding may cut into the banking industry’s bottom line. And yet, some people are highly successful when it comes to utilizing it to secure their properties. How do they do it? Diligence and strategy.

Each donation by patron, if the funds are to be used immediately, is considered a gift. These gifts require letters stating that the funds don’t have to be paid back and are, indeed, a gift.

If you only have a few people donating to your crowdfunding campaign, that should be apiece of cake. However, if you have multiple donors, you might want to start checking them off one-by-one as they give until you’ve secured letters from all of those willing to send them to you.

If you run into anyone who isn’t willing to write the letter, is unresponsive, or you simply have time to wait on your purchase, you can put the funds from your crowdfunding adventure into a different account, and leave them alone. After a few months, the funds will have aged and may no longer need a letter.

The success rate is still iffy on securing funding through crowdfunding sources, however. The biggest hurdle is whether your lender will approve this unconventional method of down-payment.

The Patrons

Most crowdfunding requests usually has a story or mission attached to them. Some ask for the money to help their parents out of the rent cycle because they’re retiring, while others might be looking to open a new type of coffee shop and need a little extra to get things up and running. No matter the reason, you’re selling your story, but will folks buy it?

If you choose to go the crowdfunding route, you have to remember that the people funding you need a reason to fund you. You’ll have to give them the perfect story and reasoning or you’re going to end up flat and without funding. Some find this task incredibly daunting, while others are silver-tongued pros. Either way you slice it, crowdfunding is about marketing and storytelling.

If you decide to go the crowdfunding route, be sure to do ample research, line your ducks up and ensure that you’re ready for the journey. If it seems like it’s a little too much but you still want to find an alternative method of funding, chat with your real estate agent. There’s a plethora of options available, and we’d love to help you find the right one.

Conditions, Covenants & Restrictions of Local HOA Can Limit Green Improvements

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For a homeowner who wants to make green improvements and renovations to their personal property, the Conditions, Covenants & Restrictions, or CC&Rs, of the local homeowner association can pose problems that cost time, money and freedom of choice. This is especially true for homeowners who wish to make structural or aesthetic changes to existing homes. Here are only a few of the battles you might face when the local HOA discovers your plans for going green in a traditional or historic neighborhood.

Your Planned Solar Panels Aren’t Warming Anyone’s Hearts

While some HOAs may interfere with your choice of color of solar panels, others may not permit them at all. It’s an aesthetic dilemma. Allowing solar panels on one home differentiates it from the others. In a community that’s built upon history or tradition, individuality is rarely a good thing. If you’re thinking of adding solar panels to a home that’s governed by an HOA, you may be forced to buy certain-colored panels, or you may be banned from adding them at all. Consider this before buying a home, if you plan to make green upgrades in an area that features a homeowner association.

Your Energy Efficient Windows Are Getting a Cold Reception

Windows that feature double-paned glass or visible solar tints may get you in hot water with your HOA. Changing out historic windows and doors for more energy-efficient versions should be advantageous, right? Not if doing so sets your home apart from your neighbors or your condo unit apart from the rest of the building. If you want those new, modern windows that lower the cost of your energy bill over time, and you live in a home regulated by an HOA, prepare to fight for your right for window replacement.

Your New Cool Metal Roof Is Being Hotly Debated

Cool metal roofing is all the rage for homeowners who live in dramatic climates. Cooler in summer and warmer in winter, they’d be a big improvement over those old cedar shakes your home is currently rocking. But you’ll probably never experience the convenience of cool metal if you live in an historic area where cedar shakes abound. While your HOA can’t prevent you from repairing or replacing a failing roof, they can legally limit the materials you use to do it.

While homeowner associations do a lot for the communities they serve, they can cause consternation to those homeowners who place value on energy efficiency above historic appeal. If you’re planning to buy or renovate a home that’s regulated by the CC&Rs of the local HOA, make sure you completely understand the limitations they impose before you buy. Once in, you’re bound by the rules you agreed to follow, even if it means sacrificing energy efficiency in lieu of tradition.

Items to Buy Before Moving Day Arrives

If you recently bought or sold your home, moving day may be rapidly approaching. Fortunately, you still have time to pick up must-have supplies so you can get ready for moving day.

Now, let’s take a look at three items that you should purchase prior to your upcoming move.

1. Moving Boxes

In all likelihood, you have a wide range of personal belongings that you need to pack. If you have lots of moving boxes at your disposal, you should have no trouble securing your personal belongings so you can transport them to your new address.

Home improvement and moving equipment companies often sell moving boxes in many sizes. You also may want to consider visiting a local grocery or convenience store to find moving boxes; in some instances, a grocery or convenience store may be willing to provide you with its empty food and beverage boxes free of charge.

2. Packing Supplies

In addition to moving boxes, you’ll need supplies to ensure that you can pack your personal belongings safely. With packing supplies in hand, you can guarantee that your personal belongings are protected as they go from Point A to Point B.

Must-have packing supplies include bubble wrap, packaging tape, markers and labels. If you pick up these supplies today, you can move one step closer to finalizing your moving day preparations.

3. Snacks and Beverages

Oftentimes, moving day can be hectic, even for those who allocate significant time and resources to prepare for the big day. As such, it sometimes is easy to forget to eat and stay hydrated as you try to bring all of your personal belongings to your new address.

For those who want to do everything possible to prep for moving day, it generally is a good idea to pick up snacks and beverages. Granola bars, trail mix and other portable snacks are ideal for moving day. Meanwhile, purchasing bottled water and other beverages is beneficial too.

If you need extra help with moving day preparations, you may want to consult with a professional moving company as well. A moving company goes above and beyond the call of duty to help individuals map out all aspects of the moving day process.

A moving company employs friendly, knowledgeable moving experts who can guide you through your move. Plus, the company can offer packing guidance, moving services and other support to ensure that you can seamlessly relocate to your new address.

Lastly, for those who will need to move soon, it may be beneficial to hire a real estate agent. This housing market professional can help you buy or sell a house in any city or town, at any time. Furthermore, a real estate agent is available to provide support at each stage of the homebuying or home selling journey. And if you are uncertain about how to proceed along the homebuying or home selling journey, a real estate agent is happy to provide plenty of assistance.

How To Choose The Right Location To Buy A Home

When it’s time to buy a new home, you’ll hear a lot about the importance of location. How can you choose a place? Whether you’re moving around the corner or across the country, there are a few essential things that you should know in order to select the best place for you to live. Read on for some questions that you should ask yourself when trying to find a good fit for a location to live.

What Should Be Close?

There’s more to a home than what schools are nearby or how close you are to work. While these things are essential, you’ll need to understand more about our lifestyle to find an excellent location. You’ll have to look at your life and your family’s life on a day-to-day and weekly basis. What types of activities do you enjoy? How close do you want to be to a grocery store, a gym, or a shopping center? How close do you want to live to the city? The mountains? The beach? Does your family enjoy outdoor recreation like hiking or walking through the park? Making sure that the things that are important to you and your family are accessible will be a big part of choosing a location to move.

How Walkable Is The Neighborhood?

If your kids will be walking t school, or you enjoy daily strolls with the family dog, the walkability of a neighborhood is important. Many places allow you to walk everywhere right out your front door to the grocery store or the hair salon without ever setting foot in a car. You may even want to be able to walk to a bus or subway in order to get to work each day. Walkability is an important aspect to consider when looking at home locations.

Who Lives Nearby?

You may want to consider who lives nearby when looking at different neighborhoods to move. If you wish to live near family or know some good friends who live close, this could be a good starting point for finding the right location to live. It’s always easier to make the transition to a new area when you know a few people.

How Quiet Is Too Quiet?

Some people love peace and quiet. Other people need a lively environment that allows them to access the hustle and bustle any time they choose. Knowing your want for peace is a big lifestyle choice and a large part of selecting a location to live in. The closer you move to a big city, the easier your access to the more exciting side of life will be. The further away you live from the city, the more likely you are to have more quiet.

Moving North? Here’s How to Prepare Your Home for Your First Winter

The winter time can be a beautiful season. The cold weather makes spending the holidays gathered by the fire that much cozier and more cheerful. However, the winter also brings new challenges that you’ll need to adapt to and prepare for.

If this is your first winter as a northerner, read on to find out how to prepare your house so you can keep things running smoothly throughout the freezing season.

Clean up the leaves

Those beautiful autumn leaves only last a few weeks before they start to litter your backyard, driveway, and clog your gutters. While small amounts of leaves can be mulched and turned into a healthy fertilizer for your lawn, huge piles will attract insects and decompose too slowly to be useful throughout the winter.

Sweeping your driveway and walkways will also ensure you remove any stones that may get caught in your snow blower once the first winter storm hits.

Finally, remove leaves and other debris from your gutter. Wet piles of leaves in your gutter will freeze and damage your gutters, stopping water from effectively running off of your roof and eventually causing leaks and water damage.

Roof and chimney maintenance

While you’re up on the ladder, it’s a good time to inspect your roof and chimney. A blocked chimney isn’t only a safety hazard, it can also up your utility bill by decreasing the efficiency of your stove.

When it comes to the roof itself, make sure your shingles are in good condition and that none are missing or decayed. Roof shingles take a beating in the winter time and, if you aren’t quick to remove any snow that falls onto your roof, outdated shingles can easily become a source of water damage.

Outside water

After you’ve cleaned your car one last time, detach your outdoor hoses and shut off the water supply to your outdoor faucet. This valve is usually found in your basement, crawl spaces, or sometimes in your garage.

Check for safety issues near heating sources

Before you turn on the heat for the first time, it’s a good idea to walk through your home and make sure curtains and other fire hazards are a safe distance from your stove, radiator, and any other heat sources.

To make sure all of that heat you’re producing stays in the house, this is also a good time to check for air leaks. If you’re concerned with energy costs (and who isn’t?) you could consider improving the insulation of your home by replacing weatherstripping, using insulation film on your windows, or replacing your windows altogether.

Monitor and compare your heating bills

If you use electric heating, many utility companies offer online tools to compare your bills with previous months and years, or with other homeowners in your area. This will give you a good idea of how much money you should be spending on heat and troubleshoot any issues you find.

Tips for a DIY Indoor Home Theater

An indoor home theater offers a good way to make sure you’re able to watch your favorite movies on the big screen from the comfort of your own house. With an indoor theater at home, you don’t have to worry about the weather or outdoor noise levels. You don’t have to hire experts to build a home theater for you. Instead, you can set one up on your own. From seating to sound systems and screens, keep the following tips in mind if you decide to do a DIY indoor home theater.

Choose the Right Space

Your indoor home theater should be in a dedicated space that you can use only for watching movies or shows on a large screen. If you’re in an open floor plan house, use a guest room or spare room that offers enough space. Being near the kitchen or living room in an open floor plan home makes it harder to control lighting and noise while also minimizing distractions. Your indoor home theater should provide room so that you’re able to sit back far enough from a projector screen or gigantic TV screen.

Control Household Sound and Natural Lighting

When you set up an indoor home theater, you’ll need to control sounds and lighting from other sources, such as household noise or natural light from windows. Light-blocking shades or other window treatments help keep natural light from shining onto screens. You can also block outdoor noises with thicker curtains on windows. For household noises, consider installing a solid wood door instead of a hollow wood door. You might also want to soundproof the room with sound-absorbing panels on the walls. This helps block noises from other parts of the house.

Install an A/V Rack

An A/V rack provides a convenient place to keep all the electronic components for your home theater, such as your Blu-Ray player and audio equipment. You can buy one of these racks or build your own, but make sure it has plenty of ventilation to prevent your equipment from becoming damaged.

Set Up Lighting and Sound

For a cinematic experience, consider installing recessed ceiling lights with dimmer switches. You can also add some elegance with wall sconces. Position speakers so that they provide the right level of sound on all sides. You can also ensure you have wonderful sound for watching movies by installing wall-to-wall carpeting, since this helps absorb sound rather than having it bounce or echo off bare surfaces.

Choose Comfortable Seating

Depending on your budget, home theater seating can range from reclining sofas and chairs to specialty seats made for these rooms. Arrange your seating so that everyone watching has an unrestricted view of the screen. If you’re going to have multiple rows of seats, you might put rear seats on a raised platform. This provides tiered seating that ensures unobstructed views.

Position the Screen

Whether you’re going to use a projector screen or an enormous TV screen for your home theater, it’s important to put it at the right height for viewing. Rather than placing it on a flat surface, suspend it from the ceiling or wall. This allows you to adjust its position as needed for the best viewing experience.

Tips for Selling a California Condo

Although you may have enjoyed your California condo for many years, now may prove to be the perfect time to list your residence. However, if you intend to list a Golden State condo for the first time, challenges may arise that prevent you from maximizing your property’s value.

For example, the value of a San Francisco condo is unlikely to match the value of a similar condo in Oakland. And if you don’t know the ins and outs of the condo market, you risk missing out on the opportunity to get the best price for your condo.

Let’s not forget about the potential problems that may arise if you fail to notify your condo association about your decision to list your condo, either. If your condo association has rules in place for selling a condo – and you fail to comply with these mandates – you could put your potential condo sale in jeopardy.

When it comes to selling a California condo, it helps to plan ahead as much as possible. Lucky for you, we are here to help you do just that.

Now, let’s take a look at three tips to ensure you can quickly and effortlessly sell your California condo.

1. Consult with Your Condo Association

Don’t wait to consult with your condo association. Instead, reach out to your condo association before you list your residence to boost the likelihood of a stress-free condo selling experience.

If your condo association has rules in place for selling and vacating a condo, comply with these mandates. Otherwise, you risk encountering potential hurdles that could slow down the condo selling journey.

Furthermore, once you sell your condo, notify your condo association. Since the new condo owner will be responsible for your property’s fees, the condo association will need to reach out to this owner and maintain a relationship with him or her going forward.

2. Learn About the Prices of Condos in Your Area

Regardless of whether you’re selling a condo in Malibu, Sacramento or elsewhere in California, it helps to perform condo market research. That way, you can establish a competitive price for your condo.

Take a look at the prices of currently available condos in your California city or town. Also, it may be a good idea to check out the prices of recently sold condos in your region. With this condo market data at your disposal, you should have no trouble setting a price for your condo that hits the mark with potential buyers.

3. Collaborate with a Local Real Estate Agent

Working with a real estate agent who understands what it takes to sell a condo in San Diego, San Jose or any other California city or town is essential. This housing market professional can take the guesswork out of listing a Golden State condo and help you achieve the best-possible results.

Ready to sell your California condo? Use the aforementioned tips, and you can seamlessly navigate the Golden State condo selling journey.

Buy a Luxury Home Near One of Florida’s Top Beaches

Can’t get enough of the Florida beachfront? Purchase one of the luxury homes available near Florida’s top beaches, and you can celebrate the beach life every day.

Ultimately, you should have no trouble finding a luxury residence near any of the following top beaches in Florida:

1. South Beach

A neighborhood in Miami Beach, South Beach brings the beauty and majesty of the Sunshine State to life.

South Beach offers 825 miles of beaches, including everything from dog-friendly beaches to nude beaches. Plus, all of these beaches are well maintained and of the highest quality, guaranteeing you can enjoy fun in the sun at any time.

Of course, no discussion of South Beach would be complete without mentioning the area’s legendary attractions.

From South Beach’s historic Art Deco architecture to its amazing waterfront dining, there’s a lot to like both on and off the beach in this one-of-a-kind Sunshine State neighborhood.

2. Clearwater Beach

For those who appreciate the luxury of white sand beaches, you simply cannot go wrong at Clearwater Beach.

Many families make the trek to Clearwater Beach thanks in large part to the beach’s clear, shallow water and awe-inspiring landmarks. In fact, Clearwater Beach offers the captivating Clearwater Marina, Pier 60 and other stellar beach attractions that visitors of all ages are sure to enjoy.

If you want to relax, Clearwater Beach may prove to be the right place for you too. This beach boasts cabanas, beach chairs and umbrellas that are available for rent, guaranteeing you can lie down and rest comfortably in warm, beautiful weather.

3. Siesta Beach

Perhaps best known for its sugar-fine, quartz white sand, Siesta Beach offers a beach experience all its own.

Siesta Beach consistently ranks among the best beaches in the United States, and it provides an unparalleled Sunshine State destination for relaxation and rejuvenation.

If you want to go kayaking, you can always launch a kayak from Siesta Beach. Or, if you want to conclude a beach trip with delicious seafood, you can sink your teeth into mouthwatering fare at one of the first-rate seafood restaurants located just minutes from the beach.

Clearly, there are many terrific beaches across Florida. And if you work with a real estate agent, you can quickly and effortlessly purchase a luxury residence near any of the aforementioned beaches.

A real estate agent will meet with you, find out where you’d like to live and help you map out your luxury home search. By doing so, this housing market professional will make it easy for you to find a luxury residence near South Beach, Clearwater Beach or any one of Florida’s top beaches.

Also, a real estate agent won’t settle for inferior results. If you’re struggling to find your ideal luxury home along the Florida beachfront, a real estate agent will go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure you can locate your dream residence.

Take a look at some of the luxury homes available near Florida’s top beaches, and you’re sure to discover an outstanding residence that matches or exceeds your expectations.