paint colors palette options

Color Me Happy: Using Color to Effect the Mood of Your Home

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Blue
Blue comes in a sea of colors, but whether you think it’s cool as a river or calming as the ocean, this is the color to choose if you’re looking for your home to be a haven.
Effects/Emotions: Relaxing, calming, serene, focus, communication
Best Use: Bedrooms, offices, hallways
Rooms to Avoid: Gym–the calming nature of blue isn’t great for high-intensity workouts

Yellow
There’s nothing mellow about yellow! This sunshine-y shade works great throughout homes and can be used as an unexpected alternative to a pure white without being overwhelming.
Effects/Emotions: Lively, Energetic, Cheery, Sunny
Best Use: Entertaining areas and public spaces like the kitchen, dining room, bathrooms and living/family room
Rooms to Avoid: Bedrooms

Orange
Orange is a very boisterous color and can be an unexpected hue for decor, but when done correctly sets a great tone for the rest of the room. While it’s often used as an accent color because of the attention-grabbing nature, tones such as terracotta and burnt sienna have been very popular in the United States southwest decor for ages.
Effect/Emotions: Warm, energizing, exciting, creative, social, confidence
Best Use: Bar areas, kitchens, patios, gyms
Rooms to Avoid: Bedrooms

White
Pure as the driven snow. Bridal white. Pearly white. White is heavily linked to cleanliness and freshness which makes it the perfect canvas for any other colors or a powerful color to leave on it’s own. The difficulty of keeping a crisp white color in decor has also led to the association with class, privilege, and luxury.
Effects/Emotions: Purity, Clarity, Thoughtfulness, Openness
Best Use: All rooms. This blank canvas is a great way to layer in other colors without being too overwhelming or can be used on its own for a clean, pure aesthetic.

Green
With many shades of green from lime to forest, you can find a green for any room with the darker hues having a classy, rich feel and light shades eliciting sunny emotions like near-spectrum yellow.
Effects/Emotions: Balance, harmony, tolerance, understanding, connection, fresh
Best Use: All rooms, depending on shade
Rooms to Avoid: Avoid bright, lime shades in bedrooms as they take on the qualities of yellow rooms

Turquoise
Turquoise is the unofficial color of the tropics for good reason–it’s easy, breezy, yet fun and effervescent nature is perfect for anywhere you want the “Don’t worry, be happy” vibe of the islands to follow!
Effects/Emotions: Cool, calm, healing, happy, peaceful
Best Rooms: Bedrooms, bathrooms, yoga studios, dens
Rooms to Avoid: Gyms or anywhere high energy is needed

Pink
Pink is the color of cotton candy, bubblegum, and all things baby girl so it makes sense that this fun, lighthearted color is the perfect choice anywhere you want to keep the mood light and tension down.
Effects/Emotions: Playful, nurturing, love, sweet, dissolves anger
Best uses: Bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms
Rooms to Avoid: Office, library, or anywhere directness and focus are required

Black
Traditional design wisdom says to avoid ink-colored walls, but black is surprisingly versatile and elegant when used as an accent wall or in purposeful ways. Be sure to pay close attention to the finish and texture of the walls in your room, though, lest you end up with an unintended Addams Family aesthetic.
Effects/Emotions: power, reflection, class, drama, protection
Best uses: Kitchen, living/family room, dining rooms, foyers
Rooms to Avoid: Rooms without windows (unless you’re going for a cave-feel)

Red
Red hot, firecracker, scarlet letter: Red has long been associated with heat, passion, and competitiveness. In fact, teams with red uniforms are statistically more likely to win at any given challenge or competition than those wearing any other color. In many Asian cultures, red is the color of luck, making it a great choice for the home.
Effects/Emotions: Energy, power, strength, heat, stimulates appetite
Best Use: Kitchens, dining rooms, bar areas, theaters, office
Rooms to Avoid: yoga room, spa, patio or other relaxing areas

Purple
The high cost of indigo traditionally meant that the color purple was reserved for nobility, but today all can enjoy this beautiful hue. Ranging from lilac to plum, all purples are a mix of calming blue and fiery red which means you can find a purple shade to fit any room or purpose you desire!
Effects/Emotions: Spirituality, luxury, ambition, royalty
Best Use: Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Closets
Rooms to Avoid: None, depending on shade

map of radon levels throughout the us

Radon Gas: What you don’t know could kill you!

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Most people spend the majority of their time at home so it’s important to have a home that is both comfortable and safe. While smoke detectors have been a staple in American homes for years and carbon monoxide alarms have been required in any home built after July 1, 2008, there’s another highly dangerous, extremely common danger that many homeowners ignore: Radon gas.

While many people know of radon gas and the potential dangers associated with it, many have never heard of it until they’re ready to buy or sell a home. Natural levels of radon are highest in the majority of the Midwest and Plains state, but high radon levels can be found from Washington to North Carolina. Some state have laws that require a home seller or real estate agent to disclose any known radon information about a property, but no states have laws requiring the testing before the sale of a property. Whether you’re buying or selling a home (or just living in one!) here’s what you need to know!

What is Radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell, or taste. By breathing in radon, you’re increasing your chances of lung cancer. In fact, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, causng 21, 000 deaths each year.

Where does it come from?
Radon gas is a product of the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Typically it moves up through the ground to the air above and into homes through cracks and other holes in the foundation, but it can also enter through well water.

Who should test?
Everyone. Homes all over the US have been found with radon issues and the US Surgeon General suggests testing all homes below the third floor for radon. There are two versions of the test, a long one which spans more than 90 days and a shorter version that can be completed in 2-90 days. You can find professional to conduct the test for you or there are simple kits to test as well. If you’re planning to do the testing yourself, make sure you buy a kit that includes the lab testing in the price or you’ll have to pay another fee to have it processed.

I have a new home, I’m safe, right?
Nope. All homes should be tested. Whether your home is old and draft or new and airtight, this gas can slip in and do its damage to your air quality. Nearly 1 in 15 homes in the US is estimated to have elevated radon levels above 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) which is the Environmental Protection Agency considers to be a high-risk level of exposure.

I’m selling my home. What should I do?
Some states require disclosure of any known radon testing results. A potential buyer may ask for a new test if the EPA’s Radon Testing Checklist items were not met, the last test took place more than two years prior, you have renovated or altered your home since the test, or the buyer plans to use a lower level than you tested such as a basement. States that require disclosure of previous test findings include: Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kanas, Maryland, Mine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. More information about laws regarding testing and disclosures can be found here.

I’m buying a home. Should I ask for a test?
It’s always a good idea to ask for a test if possible. If there has been a previous test done you can accept the results of prior radon tests or ask the seller to perform a new one to be conducted by a qualified tester. Before accepting previous results, keep in mind that results can differ based on who conducted the test, where in the home the test was conducted, and if any structural changes occurred since the test.

I found high radon levels. What do I do now?
There are a variety of methods to reduce radon in your home. The most basic approach begins with sealing cracks and other holes in the foundation, but the EPA recommends taking it a step further with a vent piper and/or fan solution. Often referred to as a “sub-slab depressurization system” these do not require major changes to your home and can help prevent radon gas from entering your home from below the floor/foundation. Radon mitigation specialists will be able to help you find the best solution based on the design of your home and other factors.

Radon Protection: How Homebuyers can do Their Due Diligence
A home purchase is one of the most significant transactions people go through in their lives. This guide will discuss radon’s natural presence in a home, acceptable radon levels, what protections are available, ways in which a radon issue may be resolved and how to reduce radon levels in a home. Get the guide here.

For more information you can read the EPA’s full Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon here.

white house yard

White House History: Celebrating the Most Famous Home in the US

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With up to 100,000 visitors per month, the White House is the most visited residence in the United States. To celebrate President’s Day, we’re taking a look at some of the more interesting facts about the “Presidential Palace”.

Who lived at the White House?

George Washington was the only president to never live in the White House. While he was alive during its construction, he died before its completion. Prior to the construction of the White House, Philadelphia was the nation’s acting capital and wasn’t happy about the impending transition to D.C. The city built its own presidential palace in the 1790s, but Washington refused to stay there, instead opting to stay in other Philly-area residences.

drawing of white house construction

Where is the Cornerstone?

Speaking of the construction, the cornerstone was laid on Saturday, October 13, 1792–but nobody really knows where it is today. According to the story, a group of freemasons met at a Georgetown tavern and paraded to the proposed site of the president’s mansion. In a ceremony, they placed an inscribed cornerstone to mark the start of construction then marched back to the tavern to make a toast. They then repeated their march back to the mansion site and back to the tavern for a total of 16 trips. All this celebrating and toasting meant that no one really documented where the stone actually was.

How much of the White House–is really the White House?

It’s hard to imagine that much has changed to the structure of the White House, but actually very little of the original remains. The British burned the original in 1814 after US forces set fire to Canada’s parliament during the War of 1812. First lady Dolley Madison saved the famous Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington as she was fleeing and some of the exterior stone walls also survived. Unfortunately, this was not the only fire that ravaged the property. A blocked fireplace flue caused another damaging fire on December 24, 1929. President Hoover left a Christmas party to personally direct firefighting efforts.

white house backyard

This was not the only rebuilding effort required by the home. When President Harry S Truman tried to upgrade the White House in 1948, it was nearly condemned! Engineers discovered it was structurally unsound and close to falling down at which point Truman began to reside at the Blair House. It took four years to complete the renovation project. While the structure was opened for rehabilitation efforts, Truman tried to find the missing cornerstone but was without success.

Today anyone interested can visit the White House to see this great home themselves. Public tour requests must be submitted through the guests’ Congressional representative and are awarded on a first come-first served basis. Tours are free of charge, however, all guests aged 18 or older must have a valid, government-issued id. For more information on scheduling a tour, visit the White House Tours & Events page.

house with a for sale sign in front

Real Estate 101: The Basics for the First Time Home Seller

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1. The Price is Right (or it needs to be!)

Have you ever fallen in love with an item in the store, but when you saw the price tag decided it wasn’t worth the cost? Maybe you decided to just wait until there’s a sale, figuring that the price would come down before the item sells out. If you’re selling your home, this is exactly what you don’t want to do. Getting the price of your home right can be one of the most difficult parts of the home selling process. Especially in a “hot” market like we’re experiencing now. If you price it too high, it’s going to take time to sell, but if you price is too low, you’re leaving money on the table.

One option would be to work with a real estate agent. Real estate agents have access to tons of information about previous home sales. For example: they can tell you about another home that was built in the same year, with the same number of beds and baths, with the same size lot just sold for $152,000 in 3 days! This info helps them suggest a proper price. While some people shy away from using an agent in the sale of their home, usually being deterred by the commission, a real estate agent can help you sell your home for a higher price, leaving you with more money–even after figuring in their commission.

Tip: If you’re not planning to use an agent, make sure you do your homework. Your first step will be to get a home appraisal. This will give you a good frame to start your pricing on. You’ll also want to check sites like Zillow or Redfin. You can see the estimated value of your home on these sites, but they can be off by tens of thousands of dollars. So, the best use for these sites is to research homes similar to yours. Not only can you see how much homes like yours are listed for, but also how long they’ve been on the market. Additionally, you can see the sale history. This research will ensure that you’re getting pricing where it needs to be.
 
interior of a living room
 

2. Prepare to be Seen

Before you stick the sign out in the yard or list your property online, you’ll want to make sure your home is ready to be seen. If you’ve already moved into another home, this will just be a deep clean of the home for sale. If you’re still living in this home, you’ll want to make sure it is picked up and ready to show at anytime. Staging the home by adding extra decorations or “homey” touches is great, but clutter-free and clean are the minimum.

Tip: If you’ve got the time and budget, it’s a good idea to throw a fresh coat of paint on the walls–especially if that hasn’t been done in a few years. Most advisers will tell you to not spend money on renovations before you move. However, a fresh coat of neutral paint is known help entice buyers and get you a great return on investment.
 
home with sale sign in yard
 

3. Get the Word Out

There’s a reason that real estate agents always put signs in the yard of the homes they’re selling–they work! Prepare yourself for it to work really fast as well, depending on your market. If you’re in a city or larger town and have a home in the low to middle-high price range, it’s very possible that as soon as you put the sign up, you’ll have people calling and knocking on your door. Make sure you’re prepared to take the next steps as soon as that sign hits the ground.

Tip: Not everyone lives in an area with a booming real estate market. For example, you may live in a rural area and you don’t see a lot of drive-by traffic. If this is the case, you’re going to need another tactic to sell your home. There are many websites that will list your home for free. However, because these are free listings, you may just blend in to the rest of the listings on the site. Another option to consider is an advanced marketing option like event marketing. Using an online event marketing platform, your home will stand out because of the interest gained through range pricing. Think of an opening bid and “Buy It Now” pricing – you’ll gain interest from those searching the lower price ranges and interest from those who want to jump on a deal right away. But, you still retain control of the final sale price. You can learn more about how this works here.
 
women at a business meeting
 

4. Understand the Players

If you’re handling the sale of your home without the help of an agent, it will be up to you to coordinate showings. Most buyers will not want to purchase the home sight-unseen, so expect to let potential buyers in for a look. In many cases, this includes buyers who are working with an agent. It may be uncomfortable for you to allow strangers to roam your house. However, this is how buyers fall in love with a property.

Tip: If you’re working with a seller directly, it’s a good idea to stay on premises, but if they have an agent the best thing to do is leave. The buyer’s agent will facilitate the showing (after all, they want their client to find a home), and it stops you from talking the buyer out of a sale.
 
accounting spreadsheet and calculator
 

5. Know the rules

This part gets a bit trickier for home selling DIY-ers. The laws concerning real estate vary by state.  There are laws as to what the necessary inspections are, the time frame for everything to be completed and what needs to be disclosed to the new buyers. In some states you need to tell potential buyers if there was a death in the home, in other states you are required report on your annoying neighbors, and the list goes on. In short, know the rules or risk getting sued.

Tip: Even if you choose to not use a real estate professional in your home selling, that doesn’t mean you should completely go this process alone. Selling real estate comes with many financial, legal, and tax implications so it’s best to consult a lawyer and an accountant with real estate expertise that can help ensure you have the proper documents and don’t wind up with any costly surprises down the road.

Selling your home is a very exciting process. It can lead to many positive changes and help set you up for future financial success, but it’s important to consider all the moving parts to make sure your experience is a positive one!

puppy pet on white carpet

What’s that SMELL?! Remove Pet Odors in 6 Easy Steps!

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We’ve all been in one of those homes. Whether you’re a cat-lover, a dog-person, or have no interest in pets of any kind, we’ve all been in a home that smells like “pet.” It’s a distinct smell and it’s never good. Sometimes it’s a noxious ammonia smell from an unkempt litter box, other times it’s the smell of feet and garbage coming from a gassy Labrador. In either event, it makes you not want to stay, and most of the time the homeowner has no idea their home is that house.

With the rate of pet ownership on the rise, it’s likely that the next time you move, you will be buying or selling a home that has had pets. Depending on the type, number, and behaviors of the pets (and their owners!) these homes can come with their unique scents.

If you’re planning to list your home or you’ve just moved into a new one, you’ll want to address this right away. A new owner may choose to replace flooring such as carpets that hold stains and odors, but if you’re renting or selling it simply doesn’t make sense to do that. Follow these tips to tame the smells and remove pet stains.

Find out where the smell comes from

Because you might not be sure exactly what is causing the smell, when it happened, or even where it is, you may have to do some detective work.

To find urine stains, you can use a black-light. Feline urine glows very brightly because of the high levels of phosphorus, but canine urine will also appear. These can be purchased online or at most big box stores for relatively cheap and will make your cleaning process go much faster.

To remove the smell:

Once you’ve identified the areas you need to target, gather your supplies. The basics you’ll need will be baking soda, water, distilled white vinegar, paper towel, and if you’ve got some really tough stains to treat, an enzymatic cleaner.

To remove stain dried stains:

  1. Combine baking soda and water to form a paste
  2. Apply paste to the stain area generously. Cover with paper towel (or newspaper or upside-down laundry basket. Just keep kids and pets away) and let it dry.
  3. Once dry, spray or pour enough vinegar over the stain area. It will bubble and foam.
  4. Using a clean paper towel, press down on the stain to remove moisture.
  5. Repeat as necessary, no more than two times.
  6. Rinse with water and blot to absorb.

The vinegar smell may stay for a bit, but should dissipate after a couple of days. If this process does not lift the mess, use an enzymatic cleaner following the directions on the package. These cleaners are designed to break down and oxidize the chemicals in urine that cause stains and odors.

If the stains are really set in, you may need to rent a carpet cleaner to really get down in there. The professionals suggest not using steam, as the heat will set in the stain and smell, and it’s also recommended to not use the store-bought carpet cleaning chemicals as they can be dangerous for pets and ineffective for these stains. Instead, for these tough stains you’ll want to use a wet-vac with plain water and an enzymatic, pet-safe cleaner. Check out the clip below of Oprah on Live with Kelly & Michael to find out her favorite cleaner as well as tips for removing fresh pet stains!
 

us bank stadium football nfl infographic

Touchdown in the Twin Cities: A Look at U.S. Bank Stadium

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Minnesota is known for its cold weather, friendly residents, and love of hotdishes, but this weekend football takes over the Land of 10,000 lakes. The North Star State will be host Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles in its newly designed US Bank Stadium. Here are some of the more interesting facts about arena, known as The People’s Stadium.

The Basics

  • Opened in 2016, the stadium took 16 years from concept to completion–12 years to get funding and 4 years to design and build.
  • Total Cost: $1 Billion+
  • Total Size: 1.8 Million Square Feet

Fan Facts

  • Seats more than 66,000 fans
  • Included 23 Turf Suites–located on the field!
  • Need snacks, but don’t want to miss the action? No problem! Concourse has 12,000 HD flat screens!

Design Feats

  • Has largest operable doors in the world-55ft wide and up to 95ft tall!
  • Asymmetric design is reminiscent of Viking boats–also helps shed snow.
  • 1st ETFE roof in a US stadium

Upcoming Events

The stadium has already hosted acts like Metallica, U2, and Guns N’ Roses

  • ESPN’s 2018 Summer X Games
  • American Ninja Warrior
  • 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four

City Stats

  • 150,000 visitors will come to city for event
  • Estimated to contribute $343 Million to area economy
vacant land with wide open spaces

Buy Beware! 5 Things to Consider When Buying Vacant Land

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Vacant land seems like it would be a very straightforward deal when it comes to real estate. Without an established structure you don’t have to worry about the condition of a foundation, what a home inspector will find, and you get to make all design choices yourself, but whether you’re looking for a spot to build your dream home home, you want acres of hunting land, or you have dreams of harvesting lumber from an established forest there are a variety of considerations that need to be made.

1. Zoning

Depending on where the land you’re interested in is located, you may run into issues with zoning. While some zoning laws are pretty laissez-faire (Houston, we’re looking at you!) there are others that are very strict as to what can be done on the land. If you have dreams of having a dog kennel or in-home daycare or any other home-based business, you’ll want to make sure that unexpected issues won’t arise from this after you close. Keep in mind that both the county and the city may have zoning rules in place.

2. Plot Lines

If you’re interested in a vacant parcel because of a certain feature– water frontage, mature fruit trees, anything– you’ll want to make sure it’s actually on your property. Without houses, fences, or a well-staked property, it can be hard to determine what would be yours and what would be your neighbors and that’s not something you want to learn after putting in an offer.

3. Land Type

When you think you’ve found the perfect piece of land, you can develop a blind spot over the weaknesses of the property. Sure, it seems perfect to tuck your home back from the road, but will the driveway cross through protected wetlands? Your dreams of a cozy basement can easily be derailed by silty or sandy soil, would you be okay if it doesn’t work out?

4. Weather/Seasonal/Nature Factors

If you’ve lived in the area where you’re planning to buy, you may know some things to look out for. While most things can be fixed with proper grading or covered with the right insurance, if you’re not planning (or budgeted) to make changes, you may need to pick a new spot. For the Midwest, you’ll want to watch out for what drainage will look like after the snow melts. For the coasts you’ll want to consider the floodplain and in the mountains you should watch the topography.

5. Accessibility

You’ll want to know exactly what you can expect for buying this particular piece of land. Is it already prepped for sewer/water/electric? Can you drill a well if need be? Do you have a plan and/or budget for any of the above if the answer is no? You’ll also want to be sure that you can access the land you purchase. Believe it or not, there are thousands of properties across the U.S. that have no road access whatsoever because they are completely landlocked by other private properties. In cases like this, you can generally legally establish an easement, meaning a neighbor will grant you access to your property through theirs (usually via access road or driveway), but it’s something that you may have to pay extra for and will definitely want in writing.

Keep in mind, these are just some of the considerations when purchasing vacant property. To protect yourself you should always do your due diligence and start with a clear vision of what you’re looking for. It also may be a good idea seek out a licensed real estate agent for help if you need advice.

photo of open concept white kitchen to living room

6 Things to Do–and 4 to avoid!– for Great Real Estate Photos

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They say that a picture is worth 1000 words, but if that’s true then real estate photos are worth even more. In an industry that typically confuses “cozy” and “cramped” or “vintage” and “outdated”, having good quality real estate photos can bring more attention and interest to a home or listing you’re trying to sell.

While some real estate agents will suggest you hire a professional, there are many tips and tricks you can use yourself to create appealing home photos–without breaking the bank! Here are the 6 Must-Do things for taking great real estate photos and 4 things to avoid!


real estate photo lots of light
 
1). Clear Out the Clutter

The best home photos have enough items in them that a potential buyer can get a “feel” for the size of a room, but not so much that they get distracted by your possessions. Clear off your counter-tops, remove excessive knickknacks, and clear the floor of unnecessary objects.


 
room with blinds open
 
2). Let the Light In

How do you perceive a home that’s dark and shadowy? Scary, creepy, or just not right? Few things will put off a buyer than the impression that your home doesn’t have a lot of light. If you have blinds or curtains, open them! Overhead lighting? Turn it on! No overhead lighting? Grab some lamps (and set them up outside the frame). Natural light is the best for taking pictures and modern cameras have adapted remarkably well to preventing the wash-out effect that film cameras often faced. If you’re taking exterior pictures, schedule a time to take them where the sun will be behind you. If possible, otherwise about 1.5 hours before sunset seems to be the magical photo time. While it shouldn’t make a difference, having a sunny day or a pretty sunset will actually attract more attention to your listing than an overcast day will.
 

photo of house at dusk with lights on
 
3). Night Light Can be the Right Light

If your house looks good at night, show it off! While the night look isn’t for every home, homes with many windows and thoughtful landscaping look great when showcased at night, just don’t forget to also include daytime pictures!


photo of room shot from corner
 
4). Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner (Unless it’s a Real Estate Shot!)

Most often you’ll find that pictures taken from a corner are the most flattering. You’ll be able to include more of the room than in a picture taken from the middle of a wall. Additionally, room will appear actual-sized (if not larger), and visually it’s just more interesting.
 


 
5). Keep it Classy (and Legal!)

Some of the funniest “real estate fail” photos come from what people didn’t mean to take a picture of. Maybe it’s your reflection (sans pants) in the window or the unkempt state of your bathroom or any number of other didn’t-even-think-of-that things. Though, funny (and failing) is not what you’re going for here. Before you share your photos, it’s a good idea to have a friend look over them to make sure that there are no gross, funny, or illegal items shown in any part of your photos.


 
woman's hand while looking at photos online
 
6). Take More Than You Need

You should always take more photos than you need. If one turns out blurry or off-kilter you’ll have backup. It might turn out that the antique vent covers and wide woodwork that you rarely think about are actually the charming pièce de résistance that your buyers were hoping for. Having photos of close up details as well as broad photos will help you decide what the best features of your home might be.
 
Don’ts

 
1). Don’t Wait

While you may think that you need a fancy, expensive camera with all the bells and whistles, don’t let that stop you! It is very, very difficult to sell a property these days without photos as most buyers start their search online. While you will still get a better photo from an SLR professional-quality camera, the camera you’re using is much less important compared to how your shots are set up and any photos you can add will greatly help reach buyers.
 

2). Don’t Pretend

While you want to showcase your home in the best light, don’t be disingenuous with your photos. Don’t use a wide-angle lens (like those found in GoPro cameras or filters available for other camera models) to make the rooms appear larger or frame your shots to exclude the neighbor’s home that’s this close to your home. Keep in mind that buyers will be seeing your home in real life and you don’t want to waste your time or theirs with the wrong expectations. The same rule applies to photo editing. Yes, you want your real estate photos to stand out, but no, this is not the time for 45° angle shots or crazy, unnatural filters. Likewise, changing the brightness or contrast of a photo is fine, but completely transforming your room via Photoshop is not.
 

3). Don’t Forget the Good Stuff

When you list your home for sale, you’re also going to need to have a description of your property. Depending where you have your home posted, these descriptions may be keyword searchable meaning you’ll want to talk up the biggest selling points of your home, but don’t stop there. Make sure you have photos to back it up! Nothing is worse than a description saying that a home has a “lavish and unique wine cellar” with no picture to go along with it.
 

4). Don’t be Afraid to Stage

Sure, you don’t always have your dining room table set for formal dinner, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t for your photos! No matter who buys your home, they’re going to have different decor and tastes than you, so your job isn’t to make your rooms look like your rooms, you just need them to look the best they can be. Need to borrow a painting from another room? Do it! Want to move a television set out of your kid’s bedroom? Do it! There’s nothing wrong with changing your decor to attract a buyer!
 

Things Your Real Estate Agent Can’t Tell You

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5 things agents can’t tell you (and how to find out yourself)

Using a real estate agent is a great way to avoid many of the headaches (and potential heartaches!) associated with buying or selling a home. As part of their services they can help you appropriately price your home, negotiate on your behalf, and their access to an MLS –an exclusive network of property listings– can help you sell your home or find the right one before the general public ever sees it. But, as licensed professionals, there are some things that your agent can’t tell you.

Not won’t tell you, but legally or ethically, I’m-sorry-but-I-really-cannot-tell-you.

Now that doesn’t mean you’re on your own and just have to hope for the best, though. For that information, you’re going to have to do some of the digging yourself. Here are the 5 surprising things your real estate agent can’t tell you.

“This area is great for young families!”

This one seems so innocent and well-intentioned, but is actually illegal! Maybe you passed a park on the way to the home or noticed the nearby elementary school, but whether you’re looking to live in an area where your kids can roam with the neighbors or you’re trying to avoid children altogether, your agent isn’t allowed to tell you who lives in the area.

Reasoning: Under the 1968 Fair Housing Act, family structure is a protected class meaning a comment like this could dissuade older couples or a single party from the property, making it illegal.

How to find your answers: If driving through the area isn’t an option, Google maps is one of the best tools for doing neighborhood recon. Simply type in the address of the property you’re looking at and check out the area you’re interested in. Are there parks and schools nearby or is it in a more industrial area? Is the area filled with side streets and cul de sacs or is it on one of the main roads? Depending on what you’re looking for you may want to switch your search based on what you see.

“You don’t want to live in that area. That’s where the [nationality, gender, age group] live!”

In addition to not telling you where to live based on the demographics, your agent also cannot tell you not to live somewhere because of the people in the neighborhood.

Reasoning: As mentioned above, the Fair Housing Act prevents any discriminatory statements based on protected classes.

How to find your answers: You can find out more about the general demographics of an area by checking out the US Census Bureau’s website. This tool, with most recent studies being from 2016 can tell you the age, sex, and race of the population down to a zip code level.

“Are you sure you’re interested in that area? It’s pretty high crime.”

While you might think that an agent saying this is just looking out for you, this is another no-no statement. Crime statistics are public information, but because crime rates often lead to conclusions about the racial makeup of an area, your agent is best protected by letting you find your own conclusions.

Reasoning: Race is a protected class under the Fair Housing Act and whether it’s the intention or not, discussing the crime rate of a particular area could lead to assumptions about the racial makeup of that area.

How to find your answers: If finding out about crime in an area is of particular interest to you there are plenty of free sources to look. The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) offers a location-based lookup that links the data from public state, territorial, and tribal sex offender websites. To find incident-level crime lookup, you may have to check a couple of website as not every jurisdiction reports to every available site. Here are some good ones to start with: MyNeighborhoodUpdate, CrimeReports, SpotCrime, and NeighborhoodWatchDog. You can also check the website of the local police station as they may provide a link to the crime mapping site they use.

Buying home is an emotional time. It’s a big investment with a lot on the line, but having an agent you trust can make all the difference. Ready to take the leap and connect with a top agent? Check out Cashifyd, a program offered by RealtyHive that connects you with top local agents who offer cash back incentives when you buy or sell your home.

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Event Marketing: A New Tool for the Trade

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Read this next sentence and tell me if it sounds familiar. Lately, when you get a listing for a modestly-sized, fairly priced home and before you know it you get SO much interest, you can barely add it to your MLS before you start receiving offers– some even above list price. But when it comes to your commercial listings, vacation homes, or even some residential properties, for whatever reason, some properties just sit. And sit. And sit. Your sellers start to get restless, your listing expiration is coming up, and you’ve already considered a price reduction. What are you to do? Sure, almost everything will sell if you wait long enough, but that’s not the strategy that will make your sellers happy, after all, they’re ready to sell, not wait for some time in the eventual future. This is where event marketing can help.

What is event marketing?

Event marketing is an online auction marketing strategy that helps properties rise above the noise and clutter of traditionally marketed listings and grab the attention of potential buyers. Once an interested buyer becomes aware of the property, a genuine sense of urgency develops due to the auction format. Since there is a specific time and date assigned to obtain this “deal”, buyers have to act. This sense of urgency typically creates a very competitive bidding environment. Whether it’s at the online event or at any time prior to the event. In many cases, properties can sell prior to the event if the potential buyer’s offered “pre-auction” bid entices the seller to remove the property prior to the scheduled online event.

Advantages of Event Marketing for Real Estate

Increased exposure on a global level

It used to be that home buyers usually lived near the area they were buying. With the advent of telecommuting and increased globalization, buyers can come from anywhere in the world these days. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, foreign buyers closed on $135 billion worth of residential US real estate between April 2016 and March 2017. This is why online marketing is so important. Sure, a potential buyer could find your listing from your local MLS’s website, but why leave it to that? Using an event marketing platform exposes your property to a global audience, at no cost to you, the agent. Additionally, you can use it to generate more interest (and more offers) on your listing from all over the world.

Alternative to Price Reduction

One of the hardest subjects to tackle with your sellers has got to be the price reduction talk. Your sellers are emotionally and financially invested in their home. For this reason, it can be hard to convince them that it is not worth the price they’d like to ask for it–especially if they’re looking to sell quickly. While having hard facts can help with this discussion, for example talking them through what similar homes in their area have recently sold for, it doesn’t always go well.

Using an event marketing platform allows homes to have a lower suggested opening bid than current list price to attract more buyers. Yet, it allows the sellers to remain in control of the actual sale price. For example, a home can be listed at $390,000 with an opening bid of $290,000. If the seller receives a high bid of $350,000 they have the choice to accept the bid and move forward with the sale (after all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush), or reject the bid and start the process again.

The advantage of taking a property to auction in this method is twofold. On one hand a lower opening bid attracts more attention, more attention creates competition, and competition ultimately raises the price. On the other hand, this method can help determine the true value of a property. If a seller is receiving offers that are tens of thousands of dollars less than asking price, they may see the property is overpriced for the current market conditions.

Tool for Listing Extension

One of the most difficult parts of being a real estate agent is having your clients see the value of the service you provide. Sites such as Zillow assist sellers with by owner sales and a hot housing market. This leaves many clients wondering what you are doing that they couldn’t themselves (hint: a lot, but that’s a subject for another day). One of the advantages of event marketing is that it is another tool in your arsenal to extend your listing. You can go to your clients with this new and innovative process to help gain exposure and increase activity for their home. Interested in getting started with event marketing? Whether its commercial buildings or vacant land. Luxury homes or the Caribbean islands. RealtyHive has the experience and tools you need to move your listings through its event marketing platform. Click here to learn more or get started today!