2018 Homebuyers Guide

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HOME BUYERS GUIDE

Home Buyer's Guide

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 | 1

Sunday, August 19, 2018

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HOME BUYERS GUIDE

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How to manage relocating for a new job Moving can be a considerable undertaking.

While working professionals who are single or married with no children may find it easier to move than men and women with families, it’s fair to say that anyone who is moving in the near future has some significant work ahead of them.

In its Job Relocation Survey, the moving company Allied Van Lines found that people move for a variety of reasons.

Fifty percent of the 3,500 respondents indicated they relocated for career advancement or money, and many more indicated they relocated because of a job transfer (12 percent), their companies moved (9 percent) and to be closer to family/rela-

tionships (8 percent).

Regardless of what’s motivating men and women to relocate, and whether or not they’re relocating on their own or uprooting their families, various strategies can make a forthcoming move go more smoothly.

4Inquire about relocation assistance. The Allied survey found that 63 percent of companies offered relocation packages. That’s a considerable perk, as moving can be expensive, especially for adults moving to different parts of the country. Asking about relocation expenses before being offered a job can be tricky, but some companies may mention such packages in their job ads or in their initial meetings

with out-of-town candidates.

4Ask what relocation packages cover.

Relocation packages vary from company to company. The Allied Survey found that 54 percent of companies that offered such packages covered moving expenses, while 21 percent gave new hires a lump sum of money to use as they deemed necessary. One in five companies even sponsored trips to search for homes. Adults who are offered relocation packages should get the specifics so they can start creating moving budgets.

4Emphasize organization. Much of the stress associated with relocating can be traced to the logistics of uprooting

oneself and one’s family.

Men and women who are unaccustomed to making lists may want to start, as doing so can help keep track of all the tasks that need to be completed before hitting the road.

Various unique tasks, from canceling utilities

to changing insurance policies, must be completed before moving, and it’s easy to lose track of what’s been done and what hasn’t. Maintaining a to-do list and checking off tasks as they’re completed can simplify the relocation process.

4Rent your first home. The Allied survey found that 31 percent of respondents indicated the most challenging part of relocating for a job was finding a home, while 29 percent felt acclimating See RELOCATING, 6

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cal themes and create the impression of a relaxing and laid-back property for entertaining by the beach.

Certain rules should be followed when staging a home. Furniture, decor and other amenities in the home should not detract from the house itself. Instead, such items should complement the architecture and feel of the space. Here are some additional staging suggestions.

4Remove personal effects. Homeowners are urged to replace personal

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and living in the property.

While homeowners can effectively stage their own homes, sometimes it is well worth the investment to call in a professional designer or stager.

Stagers often work their magic on vacant properties or those that have been sitting on the market awhile. A stager conducts careful research into the market of a particular area and learns about the neighborhood before deciding how to appeal to likely buyers.

For example, when staging a coastal home, a stager may go with nauti-

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Homeowners must consider a variety of factors when putting their homes on the market.

One of the more important things to remember is the benefits of making a strong first impression on prospective buyers.

That’s why many homeowners rely on staging when selling their homes.

Staging requires more than just clearing out clutter or baking a batch of cookies to create a welcoming aroma.

Staging helps potential buyers visualize the potential of a home and see themselves owning

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How to stage to impress buyers

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Staging can help impress buyers by allowing them to imagine their own lives and personal belongings in the home.

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Folks who are downsizing might find that they need to make hard decisions on which items to keep and which to sell or donate.

Learn to downsize before a move

Aging men and women often take inventory of their lives in an effort to focus on activities or lifestyle changes that can ensure happy retirements. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows there are some 76 million Baby Boomers — those people born between 1946 to 1964 — across the country.

With the youngest of the Boomers in their mid-50s and the majority having already reached retirement age, many Boomers are trying to decide if it’s time to move out of their family homes and into smaller, more manageable abodes.

Many older adults find they do not need the same amount of space as

‘Many older adults find they do not need the same amount of space as they did when they had children living at home.’

they did when they had children living at home.

Retirees and those on the cusp of retirement may find that downsizing is a smart financial move that frees up more time for recreation.

However, it can be challenging to cut down on living space and then deal with figuring out how to make furniture,

belongings and stored items fit in more condensed areas. Moving can be stressful even without having to cut down on prized items.

Taking an inventory of belongings can help the process go smoothly.

Before moving, men and women can go room by room, making piles of items that will be kept, donated, sold, or discarded. This can be a tedious task, but it is necessary to avoid clutter in a new home.

People downsizing can attempt to sell items they do not need. Appliances and furniture in excellent shape may fetch good prices. Any extra cash See DOWNSIZING, 7

Did You Know?

Outdoor remodels and landscaping projects can add valuable curb appeal to homes. The National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Landscape Professionals agree that certain proj-

ects offer significant returns when selling a home. The NAR says these are the 10 most appealing outdoor features to buyers.

4Standard lawn care 4Overall landscape upgrade

4New patio 4New wood deck 4Softscaping 4Sod lawn 4Seed lawn 4Outdoor firepit 4Outdoor fireplace 4New pool

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Simply taking care of your lawn can give a big boost to your curb appeal, which is an important factor in selling a home.

Three ways to use your lawn for curb appeal Returns on home improvement projects vary. A host of factors, including the type of market (buyers’ or sellers’) and the region where the home is being sold, ultimately combine to

determine if homeowners’ investments in home improvement projects will provide the returns they were hoping for.

Though there’s no way of guaranteeing a home improvement project

will yield a great return, real estate professionals often cite improving curb appeal as an excellent way to attract prospective buyers and potentially get

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Relocating: Rent your first home

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Continued from page 2

to their new community was the most challenging aspect of their relocation.

Adults who rent their first homes upon relocating can remove some of the pressure to find the perfect home, knowing full well their first home in their new community will

be temporary. If possible, rent in a location that makes it easy to immerse yourself in your new community, which should make the adjustment easier. In addition, place items that are unnecessary for day-to-day life in storage. Having some of

your possessions already packed should make your next move less stressful.

Relocating for a job can be exciting and stressful.

But there are ways to make moving go smoothly.

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Curb appeal: Maintain your lawn Continued from page 5

the asking price or more when selling the home.

Improving curb appeal makes even more sense in today’s real estate market, when many people do their own searching via real estate websites such as Trulia or Zillow.

When using such sites, buyers will likely be less inclined to click on a listing if exterior photos of the property are not eyecatching.

Various projects, including tending to lawns and gardens, can improve curb appeal. An added benefit to focusing on landscaping to improve curb appeal is it promotes spending time outdoors in spring and summer.

In addition, many lawnand garden-related home improvement projects need not require professional expertise.

Maintain a lush green lawn.

Lawns that fall into disrepair may not give buyers a correct impression about how homeowners maintained their homes. Lawns with multiple dead spots and grass that appears more brown than green may lead

many buyers to assume that the home’s interior was equally ill-cared for.

Maintaining lush green lawns is not as difficult as it may seem. Applying fertilizer and aerating at the appropriate times of year (this varies by region) can promote strong roots and healthy soil, making it easier for grass to survive harsh conditions like drought. When watering in summer, do so in early morning or evening so as little water is lost to evaporation as possible.

Address brown patch.

Even well-maintained lawns can fall victims to brown spots. Lawns in regions with hot temperatures and high humidity can be infected with brown patch, a common lawn disease that is caused by fungus, which can produce circular areas of brown, dead grass surrounded by narrow, dark rings. Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences notes that removing dew that collects on grass leaves each morning, which can be accomplished by mowing or dragging a water hose across affected areas, can be an effective way

to reduce brown patch.

Homeowners without much lawn care experience can consult professional landscapers to address the issue. But those looking to sell their properties should note that buyers often walk the grounds of homes they are considering buying.

So addressing any issues on the lawn should be a priority for sellers.

Confine dogs to certain areas.

Dog owners may want to let their pets roam free in their yards. But homeowners about to put their properties up for sale may want to confine their fourlegged friends to certain areas. That’s because dog urine can be high in nitrogen. Nitrogen itself is not harmful to lawns, but in high concentrations it can contribute to yellow or brown spots. Also, highly acidic dog urine may even adversely affect pH levels in the soil.

Curb appeal can go a long way toward helping homeowners sell their homes, and a lush lawn can be used to catch the eye of prospective buyers.

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Downsizing: Hard decisions

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Continued from page 4

can be put toward buying new items that are size-appropriate for the smaller home.

Another way to clear out clutter is to sort duplicates from the stock of items. A person may no longer need multiple sets of dishes or silverware. If the move involves switching from a king-sized to a queensized bed, donate or trash bed linens that will no longer fit. Pay close attention to kitchen and bathroom items, which tend to accumulate over

time but might not be discarded when clearing a home of clutter.

People moving from a detached home to a condominium or a townhouse may learn that homeowner’s association fees cover everything from snow removal to lawn maintenance to pool upkeep. If so, it’s unnecessary to bring lawn and garden supplies.

Homeowners are advised to look at the floor plan of their new dwellings and pay atten-

tion to storage space.

This can make it easier to plan ahead for what may fit, what will need to be purchased new and which storage solutions may be needed. Having a plan in place can make unpacking and settling in go smoothly.

Downsizing can free up time and money.

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Staging: Make a good impression Continued from page 3

photographs with neutral artwork and remove other decorative items that reflect their personalities. As an example, an avid outdoorsman probably will want to remove hunting trophies.

The goal is to help buyers see themselves in the home, and that can be difficult if existing residents’ personal effects are everywhere.

4Put away nonessential items. Staging helps homeowners create dream spaces.

Coffeemakers, back-

packs hanging on the wall and dishes in the drainboard may be part of daily living, but they can make it hard for buyers to see a home’s potential. Store such items before holding an open house.

4Maximize lighting.

Whenever possible, take down or open window treatments to display architectural moldings and let in as much natural light as possible.

4Opt for neutral colors and furnishings. Use neutral taupe

and gray paint to keep homes prime for buyers.

Homeowners who have more eclectic or colorful tastes can put their items in storage and rent neutral furnishings until the home sells.

Staging can improve the chances that a house sells quickly. Staging helps potential buyers see themselves in the space without distractions from the previous owners’ decorating or belongings.

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