4 Graceful Exit Strategies to Get Out from Under a House You Can’t Afford

options when you can't pay mortgageDon’t let yourself get out from under that house you can’t afford with a belly-flop whose splash keeps you wet for a long time—instead, get out of the soaking pool, dry yourself off, and exit gracefully. Here, we offer four ways to help remain composed and unruffled when you’ve just got to give it up.

Listing through an agent seems so straightforward; nothing could go wrong here, right? Wrong. According to Gracie Weis from Blonde Girl Homebuyers in Jacksonville, an excellent agent might not be able to do anything with your house in less than 3 to 6 months. So, keep in mind how fast your equity may be evaporating with lender fees and interest piling up. If you want to use this option, use it quick and you might come out with some cash.

Some people have enough cash-on-hand and can help you by buying your home, and they’ve figured out ways to make it work for them as a business. These smart folks are called investors. Find the good ones that care enough to get to know you, then, consider selling to the investor. Working with an investor can prove to be a lot quicker than signing on with a real estate agent, but be careful because investors are very smart and know what your home is worth more so than an average buyer led in by an agent. Two upsides here: First, the paperwork can be amazingly clean and quick to execute. Second: No fees to pay a REALTOR. In any event, if you do choose to work with an investor, be sure to hire a good real estate attorney—one of your choosing, not the investor’s—to review all of your paperwork before signing on the dotted line.

If you abandon your home there are definite dos and don’ts. If you’re definitely going to lose it anyway, do not make the mortgage payments because you will—trust me on this—need the cash. Do cut expenses by stopping the daily bleeds of all nonessential expenses. Restaurant meals? No more. The same with movies and popcorn, using the car to drive around the corner, landscaping guys, premium (or any) cable—no more! Get in touch with one of the programs in your town that help distressed people pay bills. Have a garage sale for everything you can unload because it costs something to take it with you. No time to be … Read More

Home Maintenance – Spring and Summer Checklist

home maintenance tips

When summer and spring set in, you should take advantage of the seasons to carry out a home maintenance routine. A routine maintenance will ensure your home stays clean and units are working optimally.

Below is a cleaning checklist you can follow during summer or spring to maintain your home.

Exterior Maintenance

Roof. Check the roof for any signs of trouble. You don’t need to climb the roof to inspect it. With your eyes or a pair of binoculars, you can easily spot trouble. Staff from Missions Restoration suggest that you should check for cracked shingles that may be allowing water in or nail-pops­­ on the roof. These should be replaced to keep the roof at peak performance. Check their website at MissionsRestorations.com

Chimney. Inspect the chimney joints and check whether any bricks or stones have fallen out. Also, look for vegetation growing on the chimney or a white calcium-like deposit. Any signs of such a white deposit will be a signal that the chimney should be resealed.

Foundations. As you inspect the exteriors, check the foundation for masonry cracks. If you spot some cracks, hire a foundation specialist to fix them.

Exterior walls. Look for trouble spots on your brick, stucco or wood siding walls. If you spot water stains, this means the gutters are not containing roof runoff adequately. Check whether there are any damaged areas or knots that have popped out.

Windows. Check the caulking and weather stripping on your windows and ensure they are intact. Otherwise, the windows will let in air when you don’t need it. If you spot condensation inside the glass, your water seal is compromised.

Interior Maintenance

General Cleaning. Clean the areas of the house that are usually neglected. For example, clean the ceiling fans, table lap joints, tops of wall-mounted cabinets, window casing and vinyl blinds. If you find residue in the kitchen, wash the walls and cabinets with warm water and mild detergent.

Air Conditioning. If you moved in a while back with the help of a moving company, check that your AC units are in good working condition. Check the hose connections for leaks, vacuum any dust settled on the unit and change the filters.

Attics. Check for signs of critters and insect colonies. Also, check for molds and ensure proper ventilation. Clean the attic before the warm weather sets in.

Basements. The basement is prone to insects … Read More

How to Sell Your House Fast

Some readers have been asking us what is the best way to sell houses fast. This week, we are tackling this topic. To help us out, we got insight from Lauren White, a real estate broker from North Carolina. If you are looking for  houses for sale Southern Pines NC, visit Lauren’s website; Laurenwhite.com.

Let’s get started.

If you are looking to sell your home, timing is everything. Putting the home on sale during the peak homebuying season will make your work easier.

During the season, the demand for homes is usually high. This means you can easily get an investor to purchase your home at a good price.

If you want to sell your home after the homebuying season has passed, there are still ways you can ensure a quick sales.

Setting the price right and ensuring the home makes a good impression on the buyers are some of the steps that can improve the likelihood of selling fast. Apart from this, what else can you do? Here are some tips that will ensure a speedy sale.

Improve the Interior and Exterior

There are some easy ways in which you can improve the exterior and interior of your home. For example, you can update the landscaping, buy new fixtures or paint the walls. Making your home look current with what is in style in the market will attract many buyers. Moreover, you are likely to get a fair price for it.

Work of the aesthetics of the exterior. If you have lawn, make sure the grass is mowed and the bushes trimmed. Check the condition of the exterior walls and determine whether they need a fresh coat of paint. Painting the exterior walls is not expensive but can instantly make your home look modern. Just makes sure you avoid shades such as lime green as they will make your house stand out for the wrong reasons.

Determine the Price

One of the things that investors will be considering when searching for homes is price. Ideally, you should set your price just a little bit lower than the amount that comparable listings by realtors are going for.

Do not set your price too high and then wait for investors to come to negotiate. Most investors will not take your listing seriously if you price the home too expensively.

A good rule of thumb is to price the home at … Read More

Loft Conversion: Design and Build your Perfect Space

loft conversion

Last updated, May 2017
The beauty of a loft conversion lies in the rare opportunity to transform what is usually a highly underused space into a valuable addition to your home. A stylish and innovative loft conversion can help to unlock the full potential of your home whilst enhancing your day to day lives. As a growing family, you may require a beautiful bedroom for your new addition or a bright and distinctive playroom for the little
Alternatively, you may be crying out for some rest and relaxation; somewhere to hide away from those little feet. A professional company can help you create a tranquil sitting room, home cinema or even a creative studio allowing you the space to work and think, tucked away from the disturbance of daily activity. Many loft conversion service in the UK aim to marry a top class job with a cost effective price. Several business have decades of experience in the industry and have perfected their offering, ensuring modern and stylish loft conversions finished to an immaculate standard.

Add value to your home

There really has never been a better time for a loft conversion. With the housing market still stagnant and with house values nowhere near the levels of a few years ago, many are turning to a loft conversion as an economically viable alternative.
So why choose a professional loft conversion company to convert your loft? We asked Alex Parker, the lead blogger at a loft conversions company, that question. This is what he had to say:

 

Experience

They will usually have many years of experience and expertise having worked on hundreds of projects in all different types of property. Rest assured that your loft will be finished to the highest standard and meet your expectations if you do your research right.

Service Quality

Your loft conversion project should be managed by one of their company directors, who will ensure that right from the word go you receive service levels which are unparalleled in the industry.

Highly Qualified Tradesmen

Professional businesses understand this is your home and the decision to convert a loft can be a big one, so you want to be assured that the tradesmen working in your home are going to deliver a fantastic job. All their tradesmen should be fully qualified and experienced specialists who will ensure your loft not only looks fantastic but also meets the … Read More

5 Things You Should Know When Moving

preparing to move

Moving is a crazy and stressful time, perhaps one of the most stressful and craziest times of your life! And, when emotions are running high, a lot of things can happen that you can never predict. One of the biggest things that can happen when you move is the risk of being scammed. But, there are things you can do to minimize that risk!

We got in touch with a leading Ipswich removalist firm for insight on what homeowners should know before hiring a moving company. Read on for five moving tips you should know before the big day.

Get Estimates

While federal law requires that all moving companies must give written estimates, federal law doesn’t mandate that they must be binding. Make sure that you get a binding estimate or a “not to exceed” estimate, if it all possible. You don’t want any surprises when you arrive at your new home!

Arrival Time

If you’re moving across country, you’ll need to make sure you plan your trip to arrive in time to meet your movers at your new home. Normally, when a moving company loads your belongings, they’ll give you a span of about 1-3 days for an anticipated arrival at your destination. Once they are on the road transporting your stuff and as they get closer to the destination, they’ll call you and let you know the exact date of arrival. Make sure you allow enough cushion in your trip if you’re planning a sightseeing vacation on the way to your new home!

Person in Charge

If you’ve been given an estimate, make sure you know who that person is. Although against the law, there are times when a household goods broker will show up to your home and give you an estimate. (A broker is simply a person who “brokers” the move.) They aren’t responsible for any loss or damage- make sure you know who the responsible party is before anyone loads one stick of furniture on that truck!

According to Federal law, movers must offer a dispute settlement program in lieu of settling a loss or damage claim. Make sure you ask them about this and, if they give you that “deer in the headlights look”, run far, far away.

Sign a Contract

If you are required to sign any documents, make sure it is filled out as completely as possible, with the obvious exception being … Read More