Archive for category: Ideas & Advice

According the the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 Characteristics of New Housing, of the 738,000 new single-family homes completed in 2016 the median home was 2,422 square feet, nearly 1,000 more square feet than a home built 50 years prior! Homes in the United States have been getting larger and more spacious, but all that space comes with some downsides as well. As the population continues to age and prices on everything from building materials to cleaning supplies continues to rise, if you’re in the market for a new home, it may be a good idea to consider how much home you really need.
 

 
Requirement: Private Space Needs
Having a family of five move into a two bedroom home may be a challenge that leaves everyone a bit too close for comfort, but having too much space can be a problem as well. While it’s a nice idea to have a little extra room for guests, it’s important to balance that desire for space with the practicalities of maintaining a large home.

Consider: Try looking at different home layouts. If you like the idea of extra bedrooms because it creates a privacy buffer, try looking at a split home design where the bedrooms are on opposite sides of the home. Likewise a split level may offer you the same privacy without adding a lot of costly extra square footage.

 

 
Requirement: Shared Space
Homes with both a family room and living room or parlour/den/reception room have come and gone many times in home design. Some homeowners value the space this adds, as it allows entertaining for multiple groups at the same time, while others seldom use it.

Consider: If you’re the type of person who enjoys alfresco dining or reading on the porch, look at homes that make the most of outdoor spaces. You may be able to shave off some space (and the money involved with it) by finding a home that has the shared space you desire in an outdoor or semi-outdoor setting.

 

 
Requirement: Easy Maintenance
Whether you’re looking for a seasonal home or just wanting to ease your choreload, downsizing might be the way to go. Large homes, while beautiful, have more area which means more space to dust, vacuum, and repair. It also means more wear and tear on systems such as furnaces or air conditioners that have to work harder to heat and cool larger spaces.

Consider: Maintenance is a fact of homeownership. Looking for homes that are well-built and have newer fixtures can help to lower this cost (as will buying a home warranty at time of purchase), but there’s no guarantee you’ll be in the clear.

 

 
Requirement: Low Monthly Cost
In many places, the cost of owning a home is less than renting, even when taking mortgages and maintenance into account. While the price of a home is based on a variety of factors, higher square footage does tend to drive the monthly (and overall) price up. A larger home will also require more cleaning supplies, more furnishings, and more upkeep which can add to the overall cost.

Consider: In real estate, there’s typically a pick two scenario between home size, location, and price. If you’re wanting a large size in a great location, you’ll have to pay a premium price. If you’re wanting a great size and price, you’ll have to be flexible on the location, and so on. If price is a key decider for you and the location isn’t negotiable, you’ll probably have to consider a smaller home.

Beautiful and functional homes come in all shapes and sizes. By choosing a smaller home you may be able to save yourself the costs and hassles typically associated with large homes.

Curious to see the size of a new construction home the year you were born? Find out with this cool tool!

When you’re living in a house without children, you take certain things for granted. No food in the fridge? Chinese takeout or pizza it is! Have a sharp corner on a table or counter? Just avoid it (or swear at yourself when you stub a toe, your choice)! When you find out you’re going to have a baby, everything changes. You have to start planning for things like nutritious meals and safety precautions. Your perspective starts changing as well. Instead of loving your downtown apartment where you could walk to all the great bars and clubs, you might be thinking that a home in the suburbs is more your style. Maybe you want a backyard for your kids to grow up in or sidewalks where they can ride their bikes.

It might seem strange, if not completely insane, to make the choice to buy a home when you have a baby on the way, but it can actually be the perfect time. While you should not buy a home before you are ready (if you’re not sure, check out this article ) if you are ready financially, pregnancy could be the perfect time to buy a house!

 

 
The Push You Need
It can be hard to find a house that is right for you. It can be very easy to decide to wait until the holidays are over, then wait until winter is over, then wait until you’re done with this-or-that, then wait until…whatever comes next. Knowing that you have big life changes (and new real estate needs!) could be exactly the push you’ve needed to spring into action.

 

 
No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk (or lost houses)
Assuming you’re looking to buy a home from someone you don’t know, you’ve got to be ready to act in this hot market. Inventory of available homes is low and homes within certain price ranges are flying off the market at incredible speeds. If you’ve got a high budget for your area, you’ll probably have a bit more time to scoop up a property you like, but if you’re in a hyper-competitive market you may need to be ready to see a property on a whim. This can be difficult to impossible when dealing with the napping, feeding, and changing schedule of a baby so being able to do this before baby comes could be your best option.

 

 
Use Nesting to Your Advantage
Imagine having to clean your home to a spotless finish, deep clean a new home to make it “yours” and decorate a room for baby. Now imagine doing this with an almost-superhuman sense of smell and attention to detail. Welcome to nesting. Nesting can show itself in a variety of forms, from decorating a nursery to cleaning the kitchen with a toothbrush, and if you choose to move during this time it can be a godsend. Where you normally wouldn’t think twice about what’s behind the oven, how much dust is on the inside of the light fixtures or if a color “soothes” you, the nesting urge will help boost your desire to clean and decorate.

 

 
[Physical and Emotional] Labor of Love
While it might seem like it makes more sense to wait until you’re physically recovered from childbirth to move so you’re able to help in ways you can’t while pregnant, that might take longer than you think. Having a baby takes a huge physical toll on a female body and a huge mental toll on both partners. It could take weeks, if not longer to heal from the physical act of giving birth and then you’ll be working with the challenges of new sleep schedules and routines as well as all the needs of a newborn. This could push back your plans even more, so it might be a good choice to home shop while it’s still just the two of you.

 

 
[Physical] Labor of Love Part 2
No one likes to move. Few people like to pay for services they can do themselves, but baby bumps and heavy lifting do not mix. If you were on the fence about calling in friends or a moving company to help, this can be your deciding factor. You’ll get to move without having to move.

 

 
Saving Your Bottomline
Depending where you live and what your financial situation looks like, you could save money by purchasing a home. While this isn’t possible for every person in every real estate market, oftentimes mortgages are comparable, if not less expensive, than paying rent. Homeownership comes with the added bonus of building equity which helps you to get more money for your house when you sell than you paid for it. Babies are expensive. Saving money by reducing your cost for housing might be exactly the right thing for you.

 

 
New Priorities = New Home
Even if you already own a home, being a parent will change your preferences, priorities, and requirements. While in your childless days you might have enjoyed living in an interesting, multi-level home with a narrow spiral staircase, as a parent that same design will make you a nervous wreck. Can you block the stairs so a newly crawling baby won’t fall? Is the master suite on the same level as the nursery or will you have to navigate the stairs (while half asleep) to comfort a crying infant? What about school district? Daycare? Your new priorities will shape your preferences on what kind of house you need and where it should be located.

Whether you’re expecting or not, you can find your next home on the RealtyHive marketplace. Find your new home by searching here

While most real estate agents love working with people and looking at homes, writing listing descriptions tends to be a necessary evil of the job. Some agents can put pen to paper and make it sing, while others can barely strings together a coherent sentence. It can also depend on the home. Some homes have so many great features it’s easy to describe them, but for simple or not-so-nice homes, it can be a real challenge. Here’s how to write a winning listing description.

Make a list of the cool things about the property. What exactly this means will change as you can call out certain features that make this property stand out from others nearby. For this you don’t want to worry about characters or sell-able features this is just to get you up and running. Make sure to pay attention to features both inside and outside the house and think about utility throughout the year (ie don’t forget about a beautiful backyard just because it’s currently covered in snow!)

Exterior Features
-Association Lake (stocked with fish and good for lite recreation)
-Tiered backyard
-Private balcony from suites (2)
-Garage door leading to the backyard
-Sunroom/3 seasons leading to backyard with bar area
-Paver patio
-Right in front of beach area (shared)
-Right in front of the shared dock
-Near tennis courts
-Near firepit
-2 car attached garage

Interior Features
-Skylights
-First-floor laundry
-Tons of windows/light
-Pocket doors for privacy
-Hardwood floors
-Fireplace
-Built ins
-Kitchen with island, lots of storage and counter space
-Bricked/built-in stove area
-Breakfast nook adjacent to kitchen
-Office
-Window seats
-Crown molding
-Ceiling fans
-Some vaulted ceilings
-Closets with built-in shelving
-Finished basement
-5 bedrooms ( 2 are suites)
-5.5 bathrooms

After you’ve got your list together, go through and highlight some of the best, brightest, and most unique. This will be your starting point. To start writing, focus on the interior or exterior (whichever you have more to talk about) and work your way to the other.

This property has a lot of great features inside so we’ll start that.

The beautiful 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath home is full of light and has the perfect balance of private space and room to entertain! Enter through the double front doors and you’ll find a living room, den/office, formal dining room, kitchen with breakfast area, and a heated three seasons room overlooking the spectacular backyard. Each room has special features and upgrades from the brick fireplace in the living room to the dry bar in the three seasons room to the built-ins throughout. The chef in your life will love the kitchen with ample storage and counter space as well as the brick alcove which houses the gas stove, separate oven, and more storage.

Then move to the other areas of the home. If it’s a single story or very basic home, you may not even need this part.

Near the kitchen, you’ll find the first-floor laundry/mud room with access to backyard as well as a secondary staircase leading to the second-floor bedrooms. The second story features two suites, a Master suite and Mother-in-Law on opposite ends of the home, each with a private balcony. Master also includes a fireplace and jetted tub with separate stand-alone shower. Also located on the second floor are additional bedrooms, bathroom, and common area with skylights which overlooks the backyard.

Follow up with a little about exterior (or interior, whichever you haven’t already covered).

You’ll enjoy the paver patio with covered awning in the back of the home and convenient location just steps from the association-maintained beach, dock, fire pit with seating, and tennis courts. The two car attached garage includes an overhead door leading to the backyard–ideal for easy access!

Now drive it home with any updates or features that sell, but don’t photograph well, like a boring, but finished basement.

This home has been meticulously cared for and updated throughout the years and includes updates to the forced air, radiant heating and central air systems. Also includes hardwood floors with in-floor heat and a finished basement with daylight windows and bar/rec area with wine room.

There is no reason to finish with a “This is a must-see!” or “Won’t last long!” or any other jargon or overused call to action terms. While these used to stand out, now they just sound dated and get skipped right over.

Perfect! You now have a unique and creative listing description, but it’s a bit long. If you’re dealing with a listing site that has a character limit, you’re going to have to tighten it up. First, copy your full listing description.

The beautiful 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath home is full of light and has the perfect balance of private space and room to entertain! Enter through the double front doors and you’ll find a living room, den/office, formal dining room, kitchen with breakfast area, and a heated three seasons room overlooking the spectacular backyard. Each room has special features and upgrades from the brick fireplace in the living room to the dry bar in the three seasons room to the built-ins throughout. The chef in your life will love the kitchen with ample storage and counter space as well as the brick alcove which houses the gas stove, separate oven, and more storage.

Near the kitchen, you’ll find the first-floor laundry/mud room with access to the backyard as well as a secondary staircase leading to the second-floor bedrooms. The second story features two suites, a Master suite and Mother-in-Law on opposite ends of the home, each with a private balcony. Master also includes a fireplace and jetted tub with separate stand-alone shower. Also located on the second floor are additional bedrooms, bathroom, and common area with skylights which overlooks the backyard.

You’ll enjoy the paver patio with covered awning in the back of the home and convenient location just steps from the association-maintained beach, dock, fire pit with seating, and tennis courts. The two car attached garage includes an overhead door leading to the backyard–ideal for easy access!

This home has been meticulously cared for and updated throughout the years and includes updates to the forced air, radiant heating and central air systems. Also includes hardwood floors with in-floor heat and a finished basement with daylight windows and bar/rec area with wine room.

Then go through and highlight the items that can’t be found elsewhere. If characters are limited, there’s no reason to describe things you can obviously see in the pictures or that’s included elsewhere in the listing like the number of bedrooms or square footage. Once you have your best parts highlighted, copy them below, take out all descriptive words (great, beautiful, spacious, etc) and edit to make sense. If you’re still taking space, you can follow these tips for more ruthless editing: 1) Limit number items in a list 2) take out transition words (also, as well as, etc)

full of light and has the perfect balance of private space and room to entertain Each room has special features and upgrades from the brick fireplace in the living room to the dry bar in the three seasons room to the built-ins throughout the first floor laundry/mud room with access to backyard as well as a secondary staircase leading to the second floor bedrooms. The second story features two suites, a Master suite and Mother-in-Law suite on opposite ends of the home, each with a private balcony. Master also includes a fireplace and jetted tub with separate stand-alone shower. Also located on the second floor are additional bedrooms, bathroom, and common area with skylights which overlooks the backyard. enjoy the paver patio with covered awning in the back of the home and convenient location just steps from the association-maintained beach, dock, fire pit with seating, and tennis courts.updates to the forced air, radiant heating and central air systems. Also includes hardwood floors with in-floor heat and a finished basement with daylight windows and bar/rec area with wine room.

Now look what you’re left with and trim as needed.

Full of light with a balance of private space and room to entertain! Each room has upgrades from the dry bar in the three seasons room to the built-ins throughout. First floor laundry/mud room has access to backyard and second story features Master suite and Mother-in-Law suite on opposite ends of the home, each with a private balcony. Paver patio with covered awning in the back of the home is just steps from the association-maintained lake and tennis courts. Updates to forced air, radiant heating and central air systems and has hardwood floors with in-floor heat, finished basement and bar/rec area with wine room.

Congratulations! You have created a listing description that is sure to attract attention! Remember that many sites are keyword-optimized so using terms that people in your area will be searching as well as not abbreviating (when not needed) will be to your advantage. Pair your new and improved listing descriptions with some high-quality photos and you’re sure to see a boost in activity on your property.