So you’ve found a piece of property that you want. There is even a house built already; but how do you know if you should merely renovate that structure or tear it down completely? Here are some things to look out for to help you decide whether to restore or to tear down.
The size of the house. If the house built on the property is way too small and you know that a larger structure can be accommodated by the land, then you might want consider tearing down. It would be such a waste of land if you settle for a tiny house. Naturally, you’d have to take into consideration your budget and the condition of the house.
The design of the house. Take a look at the neighborhood and compare the house to the other structures. Is it terribly outdated and dilapidated? If so, then tearing down may be your best choice. You would probably end up saving more money on restoration and repairs if you build completely from scratch in this case.
The amenities and foundation. A house may look good, but it is worth almost nothing if the foundation is becoming “wobbly.” Bad walls and foundation will certainly bring about more trouble later on. More so, if the house is severely lacking in amenities – good plumbing, electric wiring, and the like – then it is better to tear it down and build a house that you will be happy in for the rest of your life.
Photo courtesy of jdlong
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Most of the time, you hear and read about home improvements aimed at saving energy and heating costs; but we don’t really hear much about saving water, do we? If you think about it, though, saving water is just as important as saving on electricity and other utility bills. After all, water is fast becoming a precious commodity and we have to start conserving this resource NOW or suffer for it later. Here are some home improvements you can consider geared towards helping save water.
Upgrade to a new toilet. You may not know it, but flushing the commode uses up so much water; so much that it accounts for about 30% of the water consumption of a single household! There are newer models, though, which use up much less water – go for them!
Get a nice shower head AND take more showers than baths. I know, there is nothing like relaxing in a hot bath after a long hard day at work. I suppose every now and then wouldn’t hurt much, but make it a habit to take showers more than baths. In order to entice you to take showers more than baths, get a nice shower head that has a powerful spray. Newer models also use less water, so you do your part for the environment.
Check for leaks regularly. If you don’t do this, you may never find out that you have a leak until you get an astronomical water bill. By then, it will be too late – the water has been wasted and you’d have to pay for the bill. In order to avoid such things from happening, do regular checks and maintain your plumbing.
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I was watching reruns of the TV show Criminal Minds, when a thought for a post occurred to me. In that episode, the serial killer pretended to be a potential customer. He got the real estate agent (a woman) alone in a house for sale in a secluded neighborhood. The rest, as they say, is history.
While it is highly unlikely that you will find yourself in that exact same situation, it is quite possible to be in unsafe circumstances when you look at houses. Reverse the scenario. After all, you may not know who you are dealing with, and who is to say that unscrupulous individuals are not pretending to be real estate agents?
If you think about it, both real estate agent and potential buyers can be in danger. You never know exactly who it is you are dealing with. The only thing you can really do is to take certain steps to stay safe.
A cardinal rule is to always let people know where you are going and with whom. As much as possible, do not visit houses alone. Actually, even if you are with another person, it does not ensure your safety. At the very least, tell someone else what you are up to.
Another important thing is to find out everything that you can about your real estate agent. If you have been using this agent for a while, or he/she has been personally recommended, then you should be okay. But if you are dealing with a new agent, make sure that he/she is from a reputable agency.
You can also suggest a meet up in a neutral, populated area first. The real estate office is the best place. This way you can check out the legitimacy of their operations.
Do your homework. Stay safe.
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Are you looking for waterfront property? This is perhaps one of the dreams of many an average person. Having a piece of property fronting a lake or the sea is something that makes you think of the ultimate relaxation, time off from your daily routine. If you have the means to purchase waterfront property, now might be a good time to do so. Before you do that, however, why not take a look at some of these tips to help you make the right choice?
Look for a specialized agent. There are a lot of real estate agents offering their services. Perhaps you may even have one already. However, if it is waterfront property that you are looking for, you should make sure that the agent handling your purchase is specialized in waterfront property. He will be able to provide you with information that you will be thankful for in the future. This includes points such as fishing spots, seaweed problems, and so on.
Take a look at insurance costs. Waterfront property may have higher insurance costs, especially if it is located in a hurricane-prone area. You should make sure first that you will be able to handle these costs and if the property is worth the premium.
Find a specialized inspector. Much like with the real estate agent, you would want to hire an inspector who knows what to look for in waterfront property. Aside from regular damages that may be present, an inspector specializing in waterfront property will know what to look for in terms of damage due to the weather and water.
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Technology is permeating our daily lives like nothing else, and it is but common sense to take advantage of what is available and use it for our specific purposes. When it comes to buying a new home, technology has got a wide array of offerings for those who are willing to make use of them. Here are some of the best new useful tools in this regard.
The iPhone!
Yes, the iPhone is more than just a phone. It is a gaming machine as well, among many other things. More than that, you can actually use it to get information on a house or property that you pass on your way to wherever. Say you see a sign on the lawn of a piece of property that you just have to take a look at. Of course you have some info on the sign, but that is not enough. If you have an iPhone, you do not have to wait till you get home or to the office. Just go to Zillow.com, which has released a special version for the iPhone. There you can get all the information you need on over 88 million homes! How’s that for accessibility?
Trulia
This is another web site that can prove to be very profitable for those who are looking for houses on the cheap. Trulia.com recently launched a feature allowing home buyers to filter out listings at a reduced price. You just need to know which town (or the ZIP) you want, enter it, and you’ll get countless results. It’s an easy way to narrow down your search!
These are only two of the most useful tools out there. In the next post, let’s take a look at a couple more.
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Getting a mortgage used to be an easy thing; at least during the height of the real estate boom. We know that all good things must come to an end, however, and currently, getting a mortgage can be as difficult as going through the eye of a needle. For those who are looking to buy a home in these hard times, your best bet would be to get a preapproved mortgage, even if you have not decided on what to buy yet. But how do you get this? Is this even possible?
The good news is that yes, getting preapproved is quite possible despite the difficult times. Here are some tips on how to get preapproved for a mortgage.
Do it early!
If you plan on buying a house next year, shop around for mortgage lenders NOW. The chances are that you will not get a preapproved mortgage on your first try. Probably not even on your second, third, or fourth try. As such you will have enough time and you do not have to go through additional stress because of the time factor.
Get your financial records in order.
No matter how you look at it, you are going to be asked to share your financial information. Get your act together – proof of income, credit, assets, and everything else that will help you prove that you are capable of paying the mortgage.
Know this: preapproval does not obligate you to borrow from the lender.
This is the beauty of the arrangement. You can get preapproval but you can back out in case you decide not to borrow money. You are not tied down. Remember that.
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While we’re on the topic of searching for an apartment, let us go into more detail. When you are actually taking stock of the units, you should go ahead and ask all the questions that are in your mind. Do not hold anything back. A good thing to do would be to actually write them down so that you do not forget anything. Here are some questions that you might want to include in your list.
How much are the utility bills each month?
Of course, you cannot expect to get the same amount as the utility bills will vary depending on your own consumption. But of course, getting a rough estimate will help you get an idea of what you will be getting yourself into. You can get a better idea if you mention the appliances that you will have and the number of people that will be living in your apartment.
Are the noise levels manageable?
Of course, the unit is not the only thing that you have to consider. You will have neighbors around you and if you are sensitive to noise, you have to make sure that the neighbors are not prone to all night parties and other noisy activities.
What is the cost of living in the area?
You have to make sure that you will be able to afford living in the area. Food sources, transportation, entertainment – all these things should be taken into consideration. Otherwise, you might be in for a surprise.
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Are you looking for your own place? Maybe you have just decided to move out of your parents’ house. Or maybe, you have been living on your own for quite some time but have just recently decided to move to another place. You might have an idea of how much of a headache it can be to find an apartment. Here are some tips to help you find the perfect place for yourself.
Know what you want.
I think that this is the most important thing that you should do. Indeed, it should be the first thing that you should settle. Make sure that you know what it is that you exactly want. It would help to write down your “requirements” so that you do not accidentally forget a detail or two. Take note of the things that are non-negotiable and things that you are willing to compromise.
Be realistic.
You do have to know what you want but you have to stay realistic. You have to strike a balance between your dream apartment and the real world. For example, you cannot expect to get an apartment in a prime location for a few hundred dollars.
Take notes.
The chance are that you are going to go around and look at several apartments before you find the right one – unless you’re extremely lucky. In any case, having a notepad and pen (or a PDA!) will be handy. Take good notes. What do you like about the place? What don’t you like? These notes will come in handy when the time comes to make the decision.
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Summer is almost here and I am sure that some of you are already feeling the heat. The air conditioner will probably we working over time pretty soon, but you know that high electricity costs might bother you more than the heat. One solution is to make use of ceiling fans as an alternative. Having air blown gently from the top creates a wind chill effect, making it cooler than it seems. Here are some considerations to bear in mind when choosing a ceiling fan to help you beat the heat.
Materials. You can find ceiling fans made of various materials. Make sure that you choose those which do not warp and are rust free. This is especially important if you live in a coastal area.
Size. Ceiling fans come in various sizes as well. The best choice would be the biggest possible for the room you are going to place it in. The size is measured from the tip to tip of two opposite blades.
Height of the ceiling. You have to consider how high the fan will be from the floor. The best height would be around 9 feet from the fan to the floor. If your ceiling is much higher than that, consider getting an extension rod that will lower the fan.
Lighting. You might want to incorporate lighting into the fan. This is not a problem since a lot of ceiling fans have built-in lighting.
No matter what you choose, rest assured that you can cool your home without having to pay much in terms of electricity. More than that, you can add a bit of beauty to the house.
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I have lived in a condo for the past few years and I have to say I like it. I still want my own house one day, and I have no serious plans of buying a condo but I am very much open to the possibility. But what about buying a condo in a building that is half full? I actually have a friend who is considering renting to own a condo. His concern is that around half of the units remain unoccupied, despite the fact that the building has been operating for more than a year now. Is it a good idea to buy a condo under such circumstances?
There are some things to consider here. One, you have to realize that the amenities in the building do not come for free. Association dues and other charges cover these amenities. In the beginning, it may not seem much since the developer usually covers these charges. In effect, they subsidize the costs. In the long run, however, the developer usually pulls out, leaving the upkeep to the residents of the building. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the more people who live in the building, the lower the costs. In the same way, the less people occupying the building, the higher the costs for each resident.
Considering this, it really is up to you if you think that it would be worth buying a condo in this situation. Perhaps the units will sell later on. Perhaps not.
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