Neighbourhood Issues to Look for When House Hunting
After deciding to buy a house, one of the biggest questions facing you is where you want to live. There’s the decision between urban or suburban, but even within those choices you have to discern between neighbourhoods. To make sure that you’ve made the right neighbourhood choice, consider these issues before committing to a certain area. Environmental IssuesThis may not be one of the first things you think of when considering where to buy, but a poor environment can lead to health problems for you and your family in the future. Enquire about the air, soil and water quality in the neighbourhood you’re interested in before deciding. These factors can also affect the market value of the home in case you decide to sell. FacilitiesTake a look at businesses in the area to check whether everything you need is nearby. Having grocery stores, restaurants, gyms or parks within a reasonable distance from your prospective home will make your life a lot easier. You might not mind the ten-minute drive to the grocery store at first, but when you’re missing a key ingredient for your dinner, proximity matters. NoiseWhile a neighbourhood may seem quiet when you visit an open house over the weekend, it could be much louder during the week. Take a trip to the area at different times of the day, throughout the week, and see if there’s loud traffic, transit that creates noise or even airplanes that fly low over the area—you don’t want to be woken up by traffic early in the morning. PresentationYes, appearances can be deceiving, but it’s still a good idea to make note of how the neighbourhood is kept. Do the other homeowners do their part in making the neighbourhood look nice? Is there litter along the streets? Graffiti? These may be indications that the area isn’t the best. You can always talk to potential neighbours to get a feel for whether your first impression is right. SchoolsIf you’re looking to raise a family in the house you’re buying, schools will be one of the most important factors in deciding the neighbourhood. Consider how your kids will get to school—walking, the bus, or will you need to drive them—as well as the reputation of the school. Many school boards provide information about the school options in different neighbourhoods, so do your research before committing to a home.
5 Minutes to a Whole New Outlook
From the stress of life’s competing priorities to the constant distraction of social media and almost anything in between, there are so many ways to find yourself distracted, envious or just plain stressed out. When you’re in the middle of a project or tackling something that needs your full attention this is less than ideal. Try these three mental hacks to ground yourself and experience a positive outlook. Take a mini break to watch something funny. Things that make us laugh boost our spirits and refocus us almost instantly. The next time you’re feeling anxious or negative, take a quick break to watch your favourite funny pet video on YouTube or peek at a photo that makes you laugh. Transport yourself. Sometimes to get yourself out of a negative mindset, the best strategy is to mentally transport yourself somewhere else. Think about a vacation spot, activity or event that makes you feel good. Think about each sense associated with it: taste, smell, feel, touch. Our memories are often physical as well as mental, so recalling those positive memories changes our entire outlook. Replay your awesomeness. If you’re feeling particularly depressed, it can be really helpful to review some of your most awesome accomplishments. Whether they are recent or not, thinking about items you have a sense of pride about makes you feel proud, competent and might even inspire you to get through whatever you’re tackling at the moment. People often talk about self-care as though you need to commit a serious amount of time and energy for it to have its full effect. And while there is definitely a time and place for a spa day where you ditch your phone, sometimes self-care can be as simple as a few minutes where you focus on something funny, pleasing or achievement-oriented.
3 Tips for Making a Reverse Offer
An underdog idea for selling a home is getting a lot more interest lately. Usually, a purchaser makes an offer to a seller. However, the reverse offer is being seen with increased regularity. There are a couple of prime scenarios when a reverse offer may be used. For instance, if your home has been on the market for a while with lots of showings and open houses, you might want to ask your agent to go back to the salespersons of potential buyers and present an offer to them. In another case, your salesperson could contact the agent of a buyer who seemed interested—someone who perhaps had a look at your home a few times, but has been hesitant in making an offer. A reverse offer shows the seriousness of the homeowner’s intent to sell, as it is often lower than the original asking price. A reverse offer may also include things to sweeten the deal, such as appliances or TVs. The seller may even be willing to pay fees associated with the transaction, such as the buyer’s lawyer costs. Here are some tips for making a reverse offer: Make the response time short. You want to get the would-be purchasers to respond to a reverse offer as soon as possible, so don’t give them days to make a decision. A day or two is ideal to create a sense of urgency. If you’ve presented the offer to more than one buyer, all parties and their agents should know about it, and everyone should be aware of the fact that the first to accept the terms will get the house. Sellers facing lots of competition should consider reverse offers. If your home is identical to other homes for sale in your neighbourhood and listed for around the same price, you’ve likely been thinking of ways to make it stand out. A reverse offer may elevate your home in the minds of potential purchasers, putting it ahead of others in the same mix. Again, a reverse offer may create a sense of urgency in a buyer. Ask your agent to check on a buyer’s agent for someone who has seen the home repeatedly. Critics of the reverse offer believe it may create a sense of desperation regarding the seller, but that doesn’t need to be the case. It may actually show a buyer that you’re motivated to sell. So, by asking your salesperson to contact the representatives of buyers who seemed very interested, yet hesitant to make an offer, you may be able to garner what the problem is and present them with a reverse offer that addresses any issues. Serious buyers will more than likely be surprised that you’re willing to help them solve any issues that have kept them from buying your home.
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