Tag: home buying guide

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A Nanny could be what you need, There are two types of nannies

types of nannies

types of nannies

There are two types of nannies, a live in nanny and a part time nanny or the come and go nanny.

A nanny could be a great help for your to balance your lifestyle. In the fast moving world of today both parents have to generally work to maintain the social standard of living. In the process the children get neglected.  Every parent wants to enjoy with the child but fails due to the lack of time. This is where the need for a nanny arises. But before you employ a nanny you must understand what a nanny is and what you can expect from her.

A nanny is a person who takes care of a child at the child’s own home. She is going to be a companion to your child when you are not around. A nanny is a caretaker, an educator, and even a mentor to your child.

There are two types of nannies, a live in nanny and a part time nanny or the come and go nanny. A live in nanny will stay with your child for the entire period of time that you hire her, whereas a part time nanny will come and go as per working hours. Therefore you have to first decide what kind of nanny do you want to employ.

Once the time factor is decided, you need to start looking for a nanny. To look for a nanny you can give a local advertisement, or you can look for one by the word of mouth, asking your near ones to help you, you can also contact an agency which specializes in nannies, you can search the internet , and the last option is that you can look on your own .

When you get the feedback you should look into the background, skills , qualifications, and experience of the future nanny of your child. When you have zeroed upon one nanny then comes the time to talk and negotiate.

As a parent you have to make your expectations and limitations clear to the nanny. Discuss with her the basic job of protecting, teaching, loving and playing with your child. Also tell her about how to take care of your child’s meals, laundry, room and personal belongings. At the final step you should discuss the salary with her.

A nanny gradually becomes a child’s best friend, but that may not be always true. So you should keep checking the compatibility of your child with the nanny. The relationship between nanny and the child’s family should be built on trust. Don’t expect a nanny to be your housekeeper, a maid, your bestfriend, and your confidant. Always remember she’s there for the most important member of your family …..your child.

There are two types of nannies and finding a nanny is not a too difficult task, But you have to be very careful what type of nanny you employ to take care of your kids. As mentioned above is an easy ways to find a nanny .

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Commercial carpet, Carpet for your flooring need

Carpet for your flooring need

Carpet for your flooring need

Carpet for your flooring need? Most of the time you want to go for durability and the longevity that this type of carpet can offer.

The thing that makes commercial carpet different from the type that you might get for your home is the style. These carpets are generally very flat and very finely woven types of floor covering. This means they are more durable, and you don’t have a lot of material that will wear down and leave paths that are very obvious in your most traveled areas. The material used to make commercial grade carpet is very tough, as it is made to last more so than made to feel good to the touch. This type of material for commercial carpets also have the ability to take in a lot of dirt and water near the entrance so it is not tracked through the rest of your building.

The types of commercial carpet you buy are going to be more expensive, but you can consider it a good investment in the long run. If it lasts, you are not going to have to replace it nearly as often, and that does mean you save. This carpet is also very easy to clean, and you don’t have to worry about footprints making it look untidy when you haven’t had time to get it cleaned as you should. If you use a commercial cleaning company, you will find the time they need to clean your carpets is cut down, leaving time for other things and saving you money in cleaning costs as well.

The most common colors of commercial carpet are in the dark blue, gray, beige, and darker green families of colors. Though not companies many go with lighter colors, there are times when they are okay. These colors are common because they go with many types of décor, and with the exception of dark blue, they tend to hide dirt and mud rather well. When choosing a color, the best tends to be something neutral, but that does not mean that you can’t get something brighter when you wish to have that type of look for your business. You may not find what you need right away, but the right commercial carpet for your flooring need or décor is out there.

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Do It Yourself Solutions To Your Flooring Problems

flooring problems

flooring problems

We tend to like to do things by ourselves. You, too? Here’s how to handle your flooring problems .

Add to that picture a couple of bathrooms that were tiled in 2004 when textured beige-y brown tiles were popular (they were, right?), and we are facing multiple rooms that need new floors. The entire first floor needs new floors, if we’re being honest.

And while we have examined many, many (really, it seems like hundreds) of options over the last couple of years, nothing has stuck well enough to actually get to it. Part of the issue is that we don’t want to hand over the installation to someone else. While that would probably be the most practical option, it’s not the most economical, and we tend to like to do things by ourselves. You, too? Then come with us on this journey to find the best DIY solution to our (and your!) flooring dilemmas.

Painted wood

Frankly, anything that starts with “Sand surface” is an immediate turnoff. If they ever made a National Lampoon’s Renovation Vacation movie, there would undoubtedly be a scene where Chevy Chase’s Rusty Griswold lost control of the electric sander and major havoc ensued. That’s pretty much what we envision happening around here if a big, hulking sander is involved. That notwithstanding, painted wood floors do look pretty cool.

SF Gate has a good tutorial for painting heavily trafficked wood floors that involves really good preparation (so if you’re a step-skipper, maybe not for you) and high-quality primer, but, honestly, we’re skeptical about smooth floors that look like the above.

But, we’re loving the rustic beachy-ness of this look. Our shabby floors are already part of the way there, and if the dogs scratch the surface, it just adds more texture, right?

Painted tile

We first saw blogger Remington Avenue’s tutorial for painted floors in 2015, which should tell you how long we’ve been tossing around ideas for our floors. She crafted a stunning painted tile floor using chalk paint and a stencil that created a trendy Moroccan cement tile look.

Stencils have become more readily available and in greater variety since then, and her new tutorial is even more interesting because she used luster epoxy paint, like you would use to paint a garage floor. That spells greater durability, and since multiple children and multiple dogs live in this house, finishes that can’t endure kid feet and dog paws are a NO GO.

Should we do it? This would be a jackpot for that cave-like kitchen floor and beige-y brown bathroom tile floors (that look just like her “before” floors, ironically).

Floating floor

First, let’s get This Old House’s take: “It’s hard to imagine a house being cozy without the warmth of wood flooring. The quickest way to get new wood underfoot is to install a floating floor. Unlike traditional solid-wood strips, a floating floor isn’t nailed down. Instead, the planks are either glued or snapped together. The planks go down fast, over virtually any material – concrete, plywood, sheet vinyl, even ceramic tile. They have a complete tutorial here.

Now, our thoughts for flooring problems : The advantage to using a floating floor is that it’s definitely DIY-friendly in comparison to numerous other options because it requires no demolition under than removing baseboards – something we wouldn’t have to do if we were painting the existing surfaces, BTW. We would have to put down plywood on the concrete surfaces to make everything flush, but that’s not a big deal. The continuity that would be created by laying down one surface throughout the first floor of the house would be a dream given how broken up it currently is. The downside: it’s a pricier solution than paint, and the price, not surprisingly, goes up with the quality. Whether you are looking at using luxury vinyl planks, laminate, or engineered wood), it’s an investment.

Carpet tiles

We just haven’t been able to get rid of the idea of a soft, cushy carpeted surface in the bedrooms, but we’re not about to try to put in wall-to-wall carpet on our own. “I wouldn’t recommend any homeowner try to install their own wall-to-wall carpeting,” said Popular Mechanics. “First, just getting the carpeting into the room is a huge job. Second, precisely cutting it to size takes experience – one wrong cut can ruin the entire piece.”

The potential answer: carpet tiles. Oh, we know. We say “carpet tiles,” you say “ugly office building,” right? Fortunately, carpet tiles have come a long way in terms of design. The carpet tiles below from Flor and these that are are our favorite newer release are beautifully textured with a great neutral color palette.

The best part: they’re super easy to install. “One 3-inch-diameter dot is placed at each corner of a carpet square, with the sticky side up,” they said. “The next square is set in place tight against the first square, and then it’s pressed down onto the adhesive dots. In the end, the result is a floating floor of carpet squares all stuck together at the corners by adhesive dots.”

Actually, this may be the best part: Remember those previously mentioned kids and dogs? They make stains. Lots of stains. If one area of your wall-to-wall carpet gets stained beyond repair, you’re out of luck. If the same thing happens to a carpet tile, you rip it up and set another one down. Tempting. Very tempting.

 

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3 basic things your dog should learn through basic dog training

dog training

dog training

If you have a new dog or puppy, you may be interested in getting some basic dog training.

If you have a new dog or puppy, you may be interested in getting some basic dog training. Dog training can be taught by an obedience instructor, or you can do the dog training yourself.

Dog training with an obedience instructor can vary in price and it usually takes place in a class. If you do the dog training yourself, it is usually free and you can do it from your own home. If you do choose to do the dog training yourself, it is best to get educated on dog training.

There are 3 basic things your dog should learn through basic dog training. These are: sit, stay, and come. The first part of dog training is to teach your dog to sit. To start this dog training, you will first need some dog treats.

Do this dog training in a quiet environment so your dog doesn’t get distracted. Tell your dog to sit repeatedly as you hold the dog treat just over their head. This way the dog has to look up and may sit on there own to reach the treat.

If not, gently push there rear down. When they sit, praise them and reward them with a treat. This kind of dog training works because the dog constantly hears “sit” and will learn to associate the command with sitting and receiving praise.

The next part of dog training is to teach your dog to stay. This is often a difficult part of dog training. This kind of dog training is also incorporated with teaching your dog the command “come.” Sit your dog in an area with no directions.

Tell your dog to stay repeatedly as you back away. Start out by keeping eye contact with the dog. If the dog gets up, tell it “no” and start again. Remember this dog training takes a while. You may need someone to sit with the dog to help reinforce the dog to stay the first few times.

Once you have made progress with this dog training, you then start by walking away with your back turned. Dogs will often get up to follow you at this point. Tell your dog “no” and start the dog training again by repeatedly telling your dog to stay as you walk away.

Once your dog has mastered this part, you can teach it to come. After your dog has stayed, tell it to “come.” Have a happy voice and pat your knee as you say “come.” Your dog should respond to this dog training right away and you may then reward it.

Always use praise instead of punishment with dog training. Dogs respond best to positive dog training, rather than negative. With all of this in mind, you should be able to teach your dog the 3 basis commands.

Follow all of this advice and you should soon have a more obedient dog that is worth everyone’s praise!

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The first step in home security

first step in home security

first step in home security

Every home owner wants to protect their families and belongings, the first step in home security is the realization that there is a need for it.

Protection of our home has never been as important and as visible as it is today. In recent years there has been an increasing number of home-based crimes including home invasions and break and enters. Of course, any home owner wants to protect their families and belongings, the first step in home security is the realization that there is a need for it.

The single most visible aspect of home security is the monitored alarm system. Home security systems have been around for a long time and have evolved due to the increased need and indeed, demand for these protective measures. The security of mind offered by alarm systems is second to none as they provide a wealth of services in addition to the monitoring of the home. In a time of emergency in the home, most alarm systems will provide convenient one-touch connections to the Police, Fire and Ambulance services. Also, you are always alerted by your monitoring company if your alarm is activated. Additional services are also available such as the instant dispatch of security personnel in the event of an alarm when you are unable to attend. This can provide a great peace of mind when on extended leaves of absence from the home. Finally, most insurance companies will offer a reduction in the cost of home insurance for a monitored home.

There are a variety of other things that a homeowner can do to help ensure the safety of their home. Most of them are simple commonsense steps that are often overlooked. One of these aspects is exterior lighting around the home. If the front of your home is dark and secluded, it might be a good idea to introduce some lighting that makes the entranceway more visible. Never forget that visibility will usually dissuade petty thieves as a darker area is much easier in which to conceal their activities. Next one should consider where it is that thieves usually enter the home, that is, the windows. Look over all the windows in your home and ensure that the locks are in good working order. Its also a good idea to check the locks on your doors, are they old and a bit shaky? Replacement with new strong locks might be in order.

Communication with the neighbors is another great preventative measure. They will be just as concerned as you are about the security of their homes and families. Keeping informed about strange occurrences in the neighborhood can help to increase the awareness and safety of all concerned. An attitude of involvement and awareness is one of the best defenses against home crimes.

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Solar energy is safe for the environment

Solar energy is safe for the environment

Solar energy is safe for the environment

Solar energy is safe for the environment since it does not emit any harmful gases or chemicals into the air. It is a renewable resource.

Solar energy is simply extracting the sun’s energy for power. Just to tell you how powerful the sun is, it can burn scrub lands and give you sunburn if you are out in the sun without any protection. In fact, the Greeks and the Chinese used this to set fire until the 1880’s by Charles Fritts made the first solar cell.

Instead of using a heater to warm up the home, sunlight can be used to control the temperature. You will just need large windows and shades to control the amount of sunlight that will go inside and keep the heat absorbed during the day to remain at night.

Solar energy can also provide warm water as it warms up cold water that passes down through the closed flat panels called collectors.

But solar energy does not only give warmth to the home. It can also be used to help power it which reduces our dependence on non-renewable resources like oil or coal.

This occurs when solar cells are installed on the roof so it will be able to capture as much solar rays as possible and then converts this into electricity. You will need 10 or 12 to capture at least a kilowatt of power and more if you are powering more than just your home.

The only limitation which challenges the use of solar energy is that it can only generate power during the day. The answer to this is to put an auxiliary system in place that will store the energy and kick when the sun is not available. This comes in the form of batteries which will provide power in the evening or a brownout.

Advances in technology have taken solar energy to the next level. NASA uses it to power satellites in orbit, solar panels installed onboard aircraft allow it to fly across oceans while cars can travel speeds up to 40 miles per hour. It is used to power a lighthouse so seafarers will be able to find their way at sea while aircraft can land in an airport in the middle of the frozen desert.

Solar energy is safe for the environment since it does not emit any harmful gases or chemicals into the air. It is a renewable resource that has not yet been fully tapped by a lot of countries which makes it very viable for the future.

Aside from protecting the environment, you get to save a great deal of money. But before you switch to solar energy, here are a few things you should consider.

First, is your roof right for solar power? Most solar power systems can be installed as long as the roof is flat and made of material such as bitumen, composite shingle, cement tile, metal or tar and gravel. If this is how your roof is positioned, then there shouldn’t be any problems.

The solar panels will be installed parallel to the roof surface. If you are concerned that the weight could be too heavy for your roof, don’t be since this is very light and quite rare that you have to do some structural work before installing the system.

When you are looking for a contractor, find out how much it will cost to install the system. You should compare these first before you decide in picking the best one. But you should know right now that installing solar powered cells are a bit expensive. There are also no financing programs you can avail of. Your best bet if you don’t have enough money is to apply for a home equity loan.

If you are planning to install this in a commercial establishment, the various loans you can avail of include the capital equipment loan, equipment secured loan, property secured loan or energy efficiency loan.

Non-profit organizations may also avail of special loans for solar energy and the best one is through third party financing. In this case, the non-profit organization and the contractor will purchase the system and make use of the tax credits. The third party will then pass on the charges for the produced power to the non-profit and after the system has depreciated, this is sold to the non-profit at a discount.

The end result is that you pay for less than what you are currently paying for because it is maintenance free.

In fact, people are encouraged to borrow money to pay for solar energy. This is because you borrow money at a fixed rate and in return recouped your investment of about 7-11% annually as the utility rates increase so you pay less for it every month. This makes investing in solar energy very similar to other investments such as bonds, property and stock.

Will installing a solar system have any effect on your property? The answer is yes. In fact, it will increase the resale value of your property without having to pay much more in terms of property taxes. If you have a lot of space to spare, you may even be able to zero out your electric bill as long as the sun comes out so you can convert sunlight into electricity.

Aside from increasing the properly value, you will also be able to avail of tax credits from the government.

Solar energy can power your home in the same way you get electricity from the grid. You won’t be able to use it when there is a power outage or when the sun is shining but fortunately, this doesn’t happen daily so it is still an alternative form of energy worth considering.

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Condo Gate : Is there a Scandal in your Community Association?

condo gate

condo gate

Once in a while, we do learn of such scandals, which I would call “condo gate.

Question. I own a unit in a condominium association. It is managed by a property management company. The wife of the President of the Board of Directors has been employed by that management company. The President has monopolized the other Board members and keeps increasing our condominium fee every year since he became President. The management fees have also increased. Management is working for the President and not for the entire Board and our members. What the President says, management does. I would not even be surprised if there was some sort of “kick-back” between management and the President. What can I do as a unit owner?

Answer. Scandals and swindles make good newspaper headlines; they also make or break politicians. But you must be prepared to document your case before making any formal allegations, or you could be sued for libel.

Most Board members and property managers are honest, hard working and dedicated. Service on a Board of Directors of a community association is a thankless — “payless” — task. But it is an obligation that someone has to perform. And once in a while, we do learn of such scandals, which I would call “condo gate“.

My first answer to all these issues is that you should try to get elected to the Board of Directors. However, this is not always easy, especially if incumbent Board members have access to mailing lists and hold a large number of proxies.

You must treat an election to your Board as if you were running for a state or national elective office. Arrange a campaign committee, a fund-raising committee and start knocking on your neighbor’s doors to advise them you are running for the Board of Directors.

You should also obtain the current mailing list of unit owners from your management company, and send every owner an announcement, advising them of your candidacy and your platform — what you stand for. Generally, the mailing list contains private information and unless unit owners give their permission, management should not release that list. However, if you submit your information, management must circulate it to all owners on the list.

You also should obtain the most current accounting statements. Most state laws requires that an audit of the Association books and records be conducted at least once a year, if at least five percent of the unit owners make such a request. If no audit has been performed, get a petition signed by the required number of owners, and formally demand that the audit be done.

In some states, Boards of Directors have a “fiduciary duty” to the owners who elected them to serve on the Board. In other states, such as in Maryland (and now in the District of Columbia), the standard by which a Board of Director is held is the “business judgment rule.” Under this rule, the courts will not involve themselves in the internal affairs of the association. However, as was stated in a 1992 Court case handed down by the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, “the business judgment rule…. precludes judicial review of a legitimate business decision of an organization, absent fraud or bad faith.” (emphasis added).

But under either standard, it is clear from the case law throughout the country that members of a Board of Directors cannot operate in bad faith.

What is bad faith? Clearly, when a Director personally receives financial gain from his or her service on a Board of Directors — especially if there is no disclosure of these gains to the membership — this cannot be considered “operating in good faith.” And, in my opinion, even if the Board member fully discloses the potential gain he or she may derive, the potential conflict of interest is still great. This standard would also apply to a situation where the wife of the President receives financial benefits by virtue of her husband’s position.

It must be noted, however, that even under the fiduciary duty concept, this does not preclude a Director (or the Board itself) from making an honest mistake. Service on a Community Association Board of Directors is a voluntary job. No one would serve on the Board if they can be held personally accountable for every decision made by that Board.

But there is a clear difference between serving in good faith and serving for personal, selfish reasons.

You asked what you can do if these practices are objectionable. In addition to trying to get elected, another solution is to mount a recall campaign and “throw the rascals” out. Read your condominium documents carefully, and you will find provisions spelling out the procedure to remove Board members. Circulate a newsletter to all owners, and call a special meeting solely for the purpose of voting on the removal petition. You must, in fairness, give the challenged member an opportunity to defend his or her position. It is also advisable to discuss your concerns first — directly and privately — with that Board member, if you are not uncomfortable in approaching him.

Finally, since you live in Montgomery County, you have one additional remedy that is not available to homeowners outside of that jurisdiction. Several years ago, the County Council created the Commission on Common Ownership Communities. The purpose of this Commission is to attempt to resolve disputes between homeowners and their associations. This is a form of “alternate dispute resolution” and you can get more information about this process by contacting the Commission (301 217 3636).

In the final analysis, you should send a loud and clear message to Board members: if you want to serve on the Board of Directors, do so because you are concerned with the operation of the Association and not for personal gain. You must avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

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Home Insurance : Easy tips for cheaper home insurance

home insurance

 

home insurance

Do you love cheaper home insurance policy? Who doesn’t ? Try these simple tips to see how you could reduce your premiums.

People don’t likes paying for home insurance, but it’s a necessary evil for most of us. This doesn’t mean you have to pay through the nose for it you know, try these 8 easy tips for cheaper home insurance and see if you could reduce your premiums by a substantial amount.

– Shop Around

By comparing prices from several insurance companies, you’ll probably be able to reduce your premiums by a substantial amount. This may seem obvious, but research has shown that a surprisingly large proportion of people either just renew their current policy, or get only one or two quotes. Many insurance web sites will automatically compare dozens of policies for you, making this one of the easiest ways to reduce your insurance bill for a cheaper home insurance .

– Buy online

If you buy your home insurance policy online you can often get a discount of up to 20% on normal prices, because there are less administration costs involved and the savings can be passed on to you.

– Combine your buildings and contents policies

Many insurers will give you a discount if you take out both types of home insurance with them, and this usually works out cheaper than getting the two kinds of policies from different companies.

– Pay upfront

Although most insurers let you pay your premium in monthly instalments, many will charge interest for this. If you can afford to pay a full year’s premium in advance, then this will work out cheaper in the long run.

– Don’t claim for small amounts

Making many small claims can increase your insurance costs, as your insurer may see you as a greater risk and increase your premiums. You will also lose any no claims discount your policy has. Of course, you’re entitled to claim for anything your policy covers, but ask yourself if making a small claim is really worth the hassle and possible future costs.

– Voluntary excess

This is related to the last point. Insurance policies feature something known as ‘excess’, which basically means that the policy won’t pay out on claims below a certain value. On some policies, if you choose to raise your excess to a higher level, then your premiums will be lower.

– Increase your home security

Beefing up your home security with better door locks, window locks, outdoor lighting, and alarm systems can all result in lower premiums. Ask your insurer what you could do to get extra discounts.

– Reduce your cover

Many policies feature benefits that you might not need, such as cover for personal possessions while travelling, or ‘free’ legal advice. Look through your policy and see what parts of it you really need – by cutting your cover down to size you may be able to reduce your premium.

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A home garden can be a wonderful addition to your yard.

home garden

home garden

Do you know that a home garden can be fun and educational for the whole family ?

Home gardening has become an increasingly popular hobby for people of all ages. Currently, studies show that in the United States, eight of ten households take part in some type of home gardening endeavor. Based on these statistics, gardening is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities in the nation.

Typically, when people start planting their garden, they start with flowers. In addition, most people will pursue planting roses. The novice garden does not realize that roses usually take the most time and effort as compared to other flowers. With such an enormous array of flowers to choose from, it is best for the novice to start of with easy care plants and flowers.

Vegetable gardens have become quite popular too. A vegetable garden can bring a sense of pride and accomplishment when you place those fresh vegetables on your dinner table. The list of vegetable plants is endless, therefore when planning your vegetable garden choose the right vegetable for your growing climate. For instance, cool weather crops would be green beans, zucchini, and cucumbers.

Many gardeners will consider planting fruits as well. In a warm climate, you could plant watermelons, and trees such as apricots and peaches. A berry garden is also fun, planting strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. These types of berry gardens are easy to care for and take less space than a traditional vegetable garden.

Herbs are another favorite for the home garden. If you have limited space, you can grow your herbs indoors in a sunny window. The most often used herbs for cooking are basil, thyme, oregano, parsley, and cilantro. These herbs are easy to grow too.

Landscaping your yard is another form of gardening. There are different types of grasses and shrubbery to decorate your yard. Decorative rocks, ponds, and statues are also included as a form of landscape gardening. Landscaping your yard is not limited to plant life. As with a garden, your lawn and shrubbery need upkeep.

As mentioned earlier, gardening can be fun and educational for the whole family. In addition, what a delight to see the flowers bloom and harvest the vegetables. However, as with anything else, to be a successful home gardener takes work. Plants need to be weeded and watered. Do not get discouraged if the flowers are not as brilliant as expected or the beans did not do so well. Research the plant in question and then try again next planting season, eventually you will have a wonderful garden.

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Home appraisal: how it works and how sellers can improve it

Home appraisal

 

Home appraisal

Home appraisal is less expensive than inspection it costs about $300 dollars on average.

Home appraisal is the process aimed at determining the true market value of a house, so that the mortgage company or a bank receives the unbiased estimate of what the property the buyer is trying to receive the mortgage for and makes sure that the amount of money the borrower asks for is appropriate for that exact house.

The thing that makes the appraisal process so stressful and deal breaking for both parties involved in the sales-and-purchase agreement is the fact that it takes place after the seller and buyer have gone through the negotiation process, agreed on a certain price they’re both most comfortable with, spent a good share of money on lawyer’s services, signed the contract and approached the few last, but particularly tense steps to closing their real estate deal.

In fact, both homebuyers and sellers underestimate the importance of the appraisal process until they face the bank that isn’t willing to lend the selling price the sides have already settled on due to the fact that the appraisal received from a real estate agent or a property valuer came to be lower than the mortgage claim.

In this situation, the deal the homebuyer and the seller have already sealed is most likely to be over unless the seller agrees to lower the price to meet the bank’s requirements, the borrower finds another bank ready to finance the mortgage to the fullest extent or manages to gather the difference between the seller’s price claim and the sum covered by mortgage in cash to fulfill the seller’s requirements and not to abandon the deal he has already spent so much time, money and effort on. The aforementioned scenario is too idealistic to have something in common with real life, as rare reliable financial institutions are willing to lend more than the essential appraisal stated. There’s no wonder that most sellers, who’ve already dropped the price for their property during the negotiation process, do not agree to decrease it even more. Surely, the buyer isn’t interested to pay more than the home’s estimated worth as well.

Consequently, it’s rather important for home sellers to thoroughly prepare for the home appraisal process to avoid failed deals, losses in value and time wastes. Obviously, the appraisal professional is an independent expert, who provides adequate home selling price estimates without being subjected to the seller’s and agent’s direct influence.

However, there’re a few tricks and preparation steps one may take to get a positive appraisal, finalize the deal with the buyer and receive the money your house deserves to be sold for.

Everything you need to know to prepare your house for an appraisal

1. Get educated about the details of the appraisal value determination process to know what the experts conducting the evaluation pay attention to

This article’s purpose is not to give an exhaustive description of the appraisal procedure, but rather provide the sellers with a few pieces of advice on how to improve its results. But, we’re going to base the further info considering these most important facts about house appraisal:

    • its real purpose is to figure out whether the home’s value expressed in the monetary equivalent (the selling price)coincides with the average prices of similar local properties, which have been recently sold or which are currently available on the market;

 

    • it takes the evaluation expert one 45-60-minute visit to collect the necessary data for his conclusion;

 

    • it’s safe to say that home appraisals are normally carried out to protect the interests of the lender and prevent the excessive crediting – the home value’s estimate is used as the maximum amount of money the bank may offer to the borrower to finance the mortgage of the house, that is the subject of the contract;

 

    • even though the expert conducting the appraisal is supposed to be independent, honest and unbiased in his estimates, it’s the bank/mortgage company who orders his services and becomes his client – more often than not the evaluation expert is going to make sure that the client doesn’t invest in the property more than its actual market cost;

 

    • in most cases, lenders don’t accept appraisals from experts they haven’t approved for a particular appraisal;

 

    • the process doesn’t take too much time – home appraisal is far from being as deep as home inspection homebuyers order to receive a professional inference on the condition of the property they’re particularly interested in, identify its possible hidden flaws, understand the true value and continue the negotiations guided by the inspection’s results; home appraisal is a brief estimate conducted within an hour or so;

 

    • the things appraisers pay attention to are: lot size, square footage of finished and unfinished space, the overall condition of the property, upgrades that boost its value, style and age of house, garages, fireplaces; when those are reviewed, the property’s value is compared to the selling prices of similar houses within the same neighborhood and the mortgage limit is determined;

 

    • home appraisal is less expensive than inspection  – it costs about $300 dollars on average and most lenders include it in the mortgage costs;

 

    • house appraisals are also carried out during mortgage refinancing initiated by the borrower.

 

2. Think about what you can do to get your home appraised in your favor. According to the sellers and appraisers, these measures tend to work the best:

    • Get your home deep cleaned professionally to make sure that its true value isn’t hidden under the dirt and dust that’s accumulated over the years.  Hire house cleaning specialists to get your windows washed, your walls cleaned, your kitchen spotless, your wooden floors polished and your carpets steam cleaned. Tidy homes look more attractive to appraisers, as the cleanliness is a sign of a well-kept property.

 

    • Point out the most recent upgrades and additions you’ve carried out, as those boost the property’s value and reflect on the expert’s report in the most positive way. Let the appraiser know that you’ve installed new kitchen cabinets, refinished hardwood floors, upgraded plumbing, replaced windows, installed new energy-efficient HVAC units, protected your household by an advanced security system, replaced bathroom tile or got new carpet not too long ago. Even the smallest details may make a significant difference.

 

    • Consider minor repairs and sprucing up. Walk around your house paying close attention to the damage the expert’s critical eye may notice and use as one of the reasons to give a lower appraisal. No roof leaks, loose floor boards, shabby windows, dirty gutters, scratched walls and other flaws are allowed. Fix everything that has to be fixed, repaint walls, install new blinds or refinish kitchen cabinets. If you have some money to spare, think about hiring remodeling contractors to replace obviously outdated things like countertops, bathtubs, linoleum floors or garage storage.  Do everything you can to prove that you’ve maintained your house in a great condition and showcase its modern, but not outdated appearance.

 

    • Get your yard picked up. It has to look as nice and organized, cause appraisers pay just as much attention to the lot as to the house. Clean driveways, neat fences, mowed lawns, trimmed trees, a well-kept landscape and a patio, a good-looking curb and maintained house exterior make a positive impression on appraisers, as these factors indicate the property’s condition.

 

    • Conduct your own market research. It goes without saying that appraisers gather their own data regarding the value of similar properties and the prices they’re sold for in your local area. But carrying out your own research to have a few real numbers justifying the appraisal price your claim, determine the common problems similar properties faced during their appraisal, as well as understand what you may realistically hope for and what else may be fixed prior to the expert’s visit.

Realtytimes