A serious, motivated seller doesn’t simply list their home on a whim. It’s something that happens over the course of time. A life change generally dictates a home sale and, although there are times when life changes happen abruptly, generally you know about them in advance and have time to plan. Deciding to sell your home, whether you’ve been there two years or 22 years, is a decision not to be taken lightly.
Most warranties for newly constructed homes offer limited coverage on workmanship and materials as they relate to components of the home, such as windows, siding, doors, roofs or plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. Warranties typically provide coverage for one to two years, although the specific time period may vary by from component to component; coverage may last up to a decade on major structural elements. Warranties also routinely define how repairs will be made and by whom. Warranties generally do not cover household appliances, tile or drywall cracks, irrigation systems or components covered under a manufacturer’s warranty.
Real estate and text messaging. Is there really a connection between these two seemingly unrelated things? Interestingly, the answer is yes. As texting becomes more ubiquitous it is also entering the realm of real estate law, raising questions about whether texting information between landlord and tenant is legally binding. In many cases, it is!
The most important design feature of a room is functionality. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about detail and finishing touches, but if a room does not function well, all the vignettes in the world are not going to make it a happy place. So, I would start with determining how that room needs to function. Ask yourself, “What is going to go on in here?” Then decide how to furnish the room. From a purely design sense, every room, no matter what the function, will benefit from beautiful molding. Molding is also relatively inexpensive to install. The impact it makes when done right is definitely worth the minimal cost.
Packing supplies can be purchased at a local moving retailer, a mail service store, or an office supply outlet; however, for the best choice and most variety, go online. By taking the time to surf the Internet, you can compare prices and find specialty items that may be difficult to purchase at a local retail shop. Be aware that some packing suppliers deal with large companies, so you will need to make sure you are able to purchase smaller quantities. Just remember that buying the right supplies from the beginning will save you time and energy.
See moving as an opportunity to organize and purge. Make "donate," "pitch," and "sell" piles in each room for belongings you no longer want or need. Arrange for a charity to come pick up items you plan to donate at the end of your packing schedule. Paper is heavy and there is no need to move junk mail or outdated documents. Shred paper with personal information and send it all to the recycling bin. Packing can become a trip down memory lane. Resist the temptation and get items packed rather than reminiscing.
You've got a copy of the floor plan, which is all marked up with where everything needs to go, and your copy of the mover's inventory list is tucked in the big folder right beside it. The kids are happily playing with their cousins at your sister's house, and your brothers-in-law are meeting you at the new house. You know you'll need them to help unload the truck and arrange the furniture. But what else do you need to do when you arrive at the new place? Check out the next 10 pages to find out.
Research neighborhoods first. Before you start seriously honing in on an apartment, study the neighborhoods in the city where you’re moving and get a sense of which ones are right for you. The key categories: the personality of the neighborhood, the price of the neighborhood and the time it will take you to commute to work. Do some research online: Read the local papers and look through brokers’ and real estate agents’ websites. They’ll give you a taste for what each neighborhood is like, as well as approximate pricing. If you’re worried about crime, most city police departments will provide crime statistics for each neighborhood. Also use an online mapping website to check the commute times.
Getting all your furniture, clothes, kitchenware, electronics and valuables from one place to another is no simple task – whether you’ve hired professionals or are managing the move yourself. The specifics of each move are different. Moving down the block, from one studio apartment to another, is less complicated than moving from a 3,000-square-foot home in New York to a similarly sized house in California. No matter how or where you’re moving, preparation and careful planning will make the process smoother.
"People need to do their homework on the moving companies that they use," says Rick Gersten, CEO of Urban Igloo, an apartment finding service in the Washington D.C., and Philadelphia areas. "Where people tend to get hurt [is] they hear a low price going in, and then they find out it's hourly, but they forget to look into the details of what that means."
Bigger isn’t always better. Increasingly, homeowners are choosing to live in close quarters where the traditional 3-bedroom house is traded in for something much, much smaller. Tiny homes are typically 100 to 400 square feet, but anything under 600 square feet is considered small. Some are modern works of art; others are rustic cabins in the woods. Here’s a look at a few for-sale listings that fit the bill.
