Working from home seems like the dream when you're
stuck at the office. Sweatpants! Pour-over coffee! Lunch at that cute cafe in the neighborhood! TV—whenever you want! And, work ... well, that will happen sometime, right?
The reality is much less exciting. Sure, there's freedom. But there are also distractions galore, all of which hamper your focus.
Creating a peaceful and productive home office is the key to work-from-home success. These nine design tips will help you cultivate a space that's not just beautiful, but also supportive of your career aspirations.
Here are six questions to ask a real estate agent to flush out what he's truly thinking, that could help you figure out if this place is really right for you.
This question may be the ultimate litmus test of whether you should purchase a home. If your agent would have reservations about buying the house for himself, that’s a waving red flag. So if you get the sense your agent isn't as enthusiastic about the home as you are, ask why. His answer might give you pause, too.
Was it previously an expired listing? Was it leased? Was it ever a bank-owned property or other type of distressed home? These factors could suggest a home has been a struggle to sell—which could mean you could snap up this home at a bargain-basement price.
So how binding that contract is depends on the details. Some contracts have contingencies built in that enable the buyer or seller to walk away from the deal without penalty. And contingencies are often included for a home inspection and an appraisal.
But note that having too many contingencies tends to turn off sellers, so make sure to strike the right balance by asking your real estate agent for guidance. For instance, you might be OK waiving a home inspection contingency if the home is newly constructed, whereas it's more essential with an older home that might need extensive repairs.
When you purchase a condominium or a home within a homeowners association, you’ll receive the HOA's financial documents, which outline important information such as reserve funds and CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions).
These condo docs and disclosures can be hundreds of pages long—which could overwhelm home buyers, who could forget to check if there are any upcoming assessments. Assessments are periodic one-time payments made to the HOA above and beyond the monthly fee, usually to cover capital improvements or repairs.
Since they will affect your monthly housing expenses, you'll want to know whether they could go up anytime soon—and your agent is adept at navigating these documents to pinpoint the answer.
So go ahead and ask: Are the neighborhood’s home prices rising or falling? Are there new amenities (e.g., parks, shopping, public transportation, Whole Foods) being built in the area?
T
hese are all important things to consider before buying a house, and a real estate agent can help you cut through the noise and really tell you what's up.
Getting ready to Sell or Buy doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking, but it’s one where details really matter. When you’re working with real estate professional Carriene Porter of Precision Realty & Associates, you’re guaranteed to get the expertise and advice you need to Sell or Buy your home.
#RealEstateForSale #Homeownership #UtahRealEstate
The reality is much less exciting. Sure, there's freedom. But there are also distractions galore, all of which hamper your focus.
Creating a peaceful and productive home office is the key to work-from-home success. These nine design tips will help you cultivate a space that's not just beautiful, but also supportive of your career aspirations.
Here are six questions to ask a real estate agent to flush out what he's truly thinking, that could help you figure out if this place is really right for you.
1. ‘Would you buy this house?’
This question may be the ultimate litmus test of whether you should purchase a home. If your agent would have reservations about buying the house for himself, that’s a waving red flag. So if you get the sense your agent isn't as enthusiastic about the home as you are, ask why. His answer might give you pause, too.2. ‘What is the sales history of this house, and how would it affect my offer?’
Before making an offer on a house, ask your agent for the property’s sales history.Was it previously an expired listing? Was it leased? Was it ever a bank-owned property or other type of distressed home? These factors could suggest a home has been a struggle to sell—which could mean you could snap up this home at a bargain-basement price.
3. ‘What contingencies do you think are worth getting—and skipping?'
“When buyers and sellers get cold feet about the purchase or sale of a home, they sometimes think they can just back out.” But when a seller accepts a buyer's offer, both parties sign a legal and binding contract—an official document that requires the buyer and seller to execute the transaction.So how binding that contract is depends on the details. Some contracts have contingencies built in that enable the buyer or seller to walk away from the deal without penalty. And contingencies are often included for a home inspection and an appraisal.
But note that having too many contingencies tends to turn off sellers, so make sure to strike the right balance by asking your real estate agent for guidance. For instance, you might be OK waiving a home inspection contingency if the home is newly constructed, whereas it's more essential with an older home that might need extensive repairs.
4. ‘Are there any upcoming condo or homeowners association assessments?’
When you purchase a condominium or a home within a homeowners association, you’ll receive the HOA's financial documents, which outline important information such as reserve funds and CC&Rs (covenants, conditions, and restrictions).These condo docs and disclosures can be hundreds of pages long—which could overwhelm home buyers, who could forget to check if there are any upcoming assessments. Assessments are periodic one-time payments made to the HOA above and beyond the monthly fee, usually to cover capital improvements or repairs.
Since they will affect your monthly housing expenses, you'll want to know whether they could go up anytime soon—and your agent is adept at navigating these documents to pinpoint the answer.
5. ‘What's happening in this neighborhood, and how will that affect home prices?'
Good real estate agents hear everything about what's happening in the communities where they do business. And although federal fair housing laws prohibit real estate agents from commenting on a neighborhood’s demographics, your agent can still give you advice on whether you’re making a solid investment based on local housing market trends and economic factors that affect home values.So go ahead and ask: Are the neighborhood’s home prices rising or falling? Are there new amenities (e.g., parks, shopping, public transportation, Whole Foods) being built in the area?
T
hese are all important things to consider before buying a house, and a real estate agent can help you cut through the noise and really tell you what's up.6. ‘Can you recommend a home inspector/handyman/real estate attorney in the area?'
Local expertise matters not only with the real estate agent you hire, but also the other professionals you could meet while negotiating this real estate deal. So if you need recommendations for a home inspector, handyman, or anyone else on your home-buying journey, make sure to ask your agent for recommendations to boost the odds of smooth sailing.Getting ready to Sell or Buy doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking, but it’s one where details really matter. When you’re working with real estate professional Carriene Porter of Precision Realty & Associates, you’re guaranteed to get the expertise and advice you need to Sell or Buy your home.
#RealEstateForSale #Homeownership #UtahRealEstate
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