Are you ready to give your landscaping a facelift? Just as with an interior home renovation, investing in the grounds surrounding your home should start with a prioritized list of what you want to accomplish with your investment. Create a budget, define the scope of your project and stay within both. When you’re ready to bring in a pro, you’ll want to interview several landscape designers to find one...
If you’re thinking about a major renovation on your home or planning to buy a fixer-upper, you’re probably not looking forward to the renovation process. But, there are also specific steps you can take that will not only reduce your stress, but also reduce the risk of a major delay or misstep. Here are 10 tips based on advice from San Francisco-based architectural color specialist...
You follow the trends. You have good design sense. Then, why do your best intentions at decorating your house sometimes fall flat? Whether you’re sprucing up your home so you can put it on the market or simply want to keep it looking its best for your family and friends to enjoy, it can be disappointing when the results aren’t what you expected. Here are fixes for four decorating...
When it comes to you home, memories at priceless. Unfortunately, those good times are of no use when trying to come up with an objectively derived price for your home. This is where an agent comes in. As your agent, I can provide you with an estimate of your home’s value, show you comparable sold properties and recommend a list price for your home. Ultimately, though, you control the...
Arizona has the third-most installed solar PV capacity in the country, behind only California and North Carolina. Of course, solar energy is just one component of living more green. If you’re in the market for a new home and thinking about going more environmentally friendly, you may have heard things about going green that have you wondering if it’s a wise decision. Here are the top five...
If you’re a first-time home buyer, or simply haven’t been in the market for awhile, it can be easy to make a misstep in the buying process. Fresh paint and a favorable floor plan can blind you to bigger items that could bring buyer’s regret down the road. No matter how hot the market is or how rushed you feel, be sure you like the neighborhood and aren’t getting in over your head with a fixer...
Every buyer is looking to get value for their dollar. For some, that will mean searching for a foreclosure or distressed property. When buying a foreclosed property, the seller is actually the bank or mortgage lender and they are hoping to recoup as much as possible from the sale. The bank or mortgage lender has already seized the property from the previous owners because of non-payment. Why is it...
When inventories are tight, it’s tempting to forge ahead with an offer quickly once you’ve found a house that checks all the right boxes. If you wait too long, you could lose out to another buyer. While that’s true, a home is the largest purchase of your life. It’s important to learn all you can about it before signing a contract. But do you know all the right things to ask? Here are five...
Most new homeowners decided to go from renter to homeowner because they had saved a sizable down payment, and either they or a mortgage lender determined the costs of home ownership were no greater than 30% of their income. But what if you’re retired and on a fixed income? Suddenly deciding between renting and buying isn’t so simple. No matter why you’re moving as you enter...
You found a new home that checks all the right boxes. You’re elated. But now, it’s six months later and the bloom is off the rose. Something that seemed like a “must have” is now a “wish we hadn’t.” Where did things go wrong? Sadly, it happens. Sometimes, it’s predictable. Like buying on a busy street despite the traffic. Or, wishing you’d listened to that little voice that...
