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Should you upsize your home?
Should you upsize your home? A question almost all homeowners have at some point. When it comes to housing, each stage of life brings a variety of needs and some wants too. Todays homebuyers looking to upsize are no longer just the young family needing more room. A surprising trend, is among those who would normally be looking to downsize are in fact upsizing. Upsizing your home has many benefits in whatever stage of life you are in. Here are some benefits and tips on upsizing and finding the perfect home.
The benefits
Consider these benefits to owning a larger home for a growing family or creating space for multi-generational living.
- More space to spread out, creating more opportunities to entertain and host family gatherings.
- The additional square footage might allow you to start that business or hobby you have always dreamed of.
- The ease at which to care for and spend more time with an aging parent.
- Multiple generations could share living expenses which would benefit everyone.
- Sometimes, it’s just a matter of being able to finally afford the home you have always wanted.
The downside
There are some things to consider before making that final leap of buying a bigger home.
- Owning a larger home comes with larger bills such as higher utility bills, a larger mortgage and tax payments.
- A larger home may require more maintenance and more furniture to fill the space.
Finding the perfect upsized home
- Find a home that not only meets your immediate needs but also future needs. For some that might be a master on the main floor or a mother in law apartment that can also be used as rental income. To make room for a growing family a 4 bedroom might be a better choice than a 3 bedroom.
- Consider location. Do you desire a home close to parks or trails for an active lifestyle? A home near a golf course? Or, do you prefer a home close to shops and dining. Whatever your lifestyle, finding a home close to things you like to do is always a plus.
- Consider the long term maintenance required on the home. Is the home a project or is it move in ready? What do you have the time and resources for? These things could be the deciding factor.
- Pick a real estate agent who gets you. Someone who listens and takes the time to understand your needs and wants. An experienced real estate agent can counsel you on the right time to sell your home, and if you should sell before you buy. They will help you navigate the process smoothly and efficiently.
Should you upsize your home? The move to a bigger home can be scary and exciting at the same time. The possibilities are endless in creating a living space that is larger than your current one. Once you are aware of the pros and cons you can move forward knowing that your decision is a good one. To get started on your search, checkout our current office listings http://windermeremillcreek.com/listings/office-s-listing
Written by Rondie Martin
Reator® ABR® e-PRO SRES®
Windermere Senior Transition Specialist
Creating the Home Office of Your Dreams
Whether you work full-time at home or occasionally need to conduct business in the evenings or on the weekends, a home office a great way to utilize an extra room. A dedicated workspace in your home can be designed to increase productivity and comfort.
Here are 5 quick ideas to get you started because a little can go a long way.
- Invest in a good office chair. Investing in an ergonomic office chair is essential. You may be spending anywhere from 30 to 50 hours a week sitting in it, so your back will thank you. Purchasing one with multiple adjustments is ideal so it fits you just right.
- Switch up your lighting. Fluorescent lighting has been proven to be hard on the eyes. Make the switch to LED or halogen light bulbs in your home office and try to let in as much natural light as possible. Also, consider finding a desk lamp to reduce headaches and eye strain. Proper lighting, is proper design.
- Keep essentials in reach and organized. Nothing helps maintain productivity like a clean, neat home workspace. Select a desk with a lot of storage options or install creative shelving to keep items like pens, pencils, extra batteries, calculators, notepads, and more stored within arm’s reach.
- Decorate bright. Pick a color you love and use it to spice up the room. Use cheery yellow or red or relaxing tones like green and blue, instead of beiges and browns.
- Aim for the view. If possible, place your desk so you are facing a window instead of a blank wall. Natural light can do wonders for staying alert and it allows you to give yourself a short mental break whenever necessary by looking to the outdoors.
For more ideas and a look a some fabulous office spaces check out https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/home-offices-slideshow
How You Can Finance Your Home Renovation
How am I supposed to finance this home renovation project?
Outdated kitchen. Overrun backyard. Unusable basement space. If you’re looking to finance a home renovation, here are some of the most common options to make your dreams a reality.
Cash.
Paying in cash is the most straightforward financing option. Save up until you have enough money to cover the expenses. This will help eliminate spending outside your budget, however, it can also extend your timeline.
Mortgage Refinance
If you’ve been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than current market rates, you could qualify for a mortgage refinance. This will reduce your payments and free up some money.
Cash-Out Refinance
A cash-out refinance replaces your existing mortgage with a new home loan for more than you owe on your house. The difference goes to you in cash and you can spend it on home improvements. You must have equity built up in your house to use a cash-out refinance. This option is encouraged only when you’re making improvements.
Home Equity Line of Credit
Obtaining a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money against the value of your home. You receive up to 80 percent of your home’s value, minus the amount of your loan.
Retirement Funds
Pulling money from a 401K or IRA account is another way even though they aren’t specifically meant to cover a home renovation. This option might incur additional penalties or tax payments. It might be worth it when making improvements that will benefit that will increase the value of your home in the long run.
Be sure to check out our other articles on home improvement and interior design by visiting our blog. If you’d like some more ideas on home remodeling and renovation, go check architectural digest.
Top Tips For Searching For A Home Online
Hunting for a new home online is a great place to start your search, but it should not be your end all be all. Good listing agents are excellent at highlighting the best features of the home, but keep in mind there may be more than meets the eye. To make the most of your time and efforts and gather a well-rounded picture of home listings online, keep the following three things in mind.
Stay up to date
When you start your search, make sure you find a site that pulls up-to-date listings directly from the multiple listing service (MLS) where real estate agents actively post their most current homes for sale. Many online resources update less often or fail to remove listings that are off the market, making it more difficult to sort through the clutter.
Pictures can be deceiving.
Real estate photographers are experts at showing a home in the best possible light. Many use tools and strategies to boost appeal, such as a fisheye lens to make areas look larger and creative editing to make colors and textures really pop. But, often listings will not contain photos of unappealing parts of the home, like small closets or outdated bathrooms.
See it to believe it.
Once you find what appears to be your dream home online, call up your real estate agent and schedule a showing. You want to take the opportunity to vet the home in person and explore every part of it before beginning the offer process. Your real estate agent will help you cover all your bases and will ask questions you may not have thought of.
Be sure to check out our other articles on home improvement and interior design by visiting our blog.
Search for properties online https://www.windermere.com/
Why you should Stage Your Home
First impressions matter when selling a home. Buyers decide within the first 5 minutes if they want to buy a home. If it is appealing on the outside it will draw the buyer in. Once the buyer is inside, the impression received depends on its visual appeal, organization, and cleanliness. Staging a home defines space and highlights it’s best features. Therefore, making it easy to see the home in it’s best light. According to the National Association of Realtors NAR, Eighty-three percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. This is why you should stage your home.
Staging your home is an important and sometimes overlooked step in the home selling process. Homes that are staged typically sell quicker and for more money. The process is more than placement of furniture, and the first step is to look at your home through the eyes of a buyer.
Improve that first impression
- Paint a fresh coat of neutral paint
- Make sure the home has curb appeal curb appeal-trim bushes and branches that hide the house, mow, edge and lay fresh bark,
- Clean, clean, clean
- Declutter -get rid of the items that won’t be moving with you and put away personal photos and valuables.
- Rearrange furniture- Home should appear spacious and bright.
- Repairs- Hire a professional to inspect the roof, attic and crawl space.
we can help
As a result of staging ~a new look, a new perspective, and a renewed sense of value. This is why you should stage your home. Rhonda and I are here to help you through the home-selling process from beginning to end. Rhonda is an experienced broker with over 13 years of experience, and I am a broker, certified home stager, and a certified relocation/ transition specialist. We strive for excellence and value for our clients and their home buying/selling experience.
For more info on staging check out https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2019-profile-of-home-staging-03-14-2019.pdf
We’d love to help your home become the one that all buyers love!! You can reach us through our contact page!
Written by Rondie Martin
