Tips - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

A Big Nuisance Entering More Homes This Fall - Spiders

More spiders will likely be building their webs inside homes this fall. The arachnids from gardens and backyards often creep inside when the weather turns colder. But they also may already be there and just more willing to show themselves in the fall to homeowners.Homeowner Nicole Photianos in Georgia’s Paulding County told WSB-TV 2 that when she moved into her new home she found dozens of venomous brown recluse spiders all over the house. Even

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Property Managers Cut Down on Late Rents with ACH

A data-driven analysis of 13,000 property managers and 135,529 tenants by Rentec Direct, property management software company, found that scheduled automatic monthly payments is the most effective way to prevent late fees and save renters money.Of the 10,450 renters who have ACH currently enabled, 3,480 renters with ACH enabled and scheduled monthly rent payments were charged a late fee in 2017 (33%), while 4,932 renters with ACH enabled but did

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6 Types of Mortgage Fraud Are Becoming More Prevalent

Mortgage fraud climbed 12.4 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2018, and about one out of every 109 mortgage applications has been found to contain false or misleading information, according to real estate data firm CoreLogic. “Because home prices are rising and demand is strong, most mortgage fraud in this type of market is motivated by bona fide borrowers trying to qualify for a mortgage,” says Bridget Berg, CoreLogic’s prin

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How to Understand Home Staging Pricing and Proposals: Do’s and Don’ts

Some home sellers are looking for a good, reliable home stager that can magically transform their listings into the price point their hoping to achieve.  The trouble and confusion sometimes come when the real estate professional asks a few home stagers to “bid” or present a proposal on their vacant home.BEFORE AFTERPhoto credit: HSR Certified Helen Bartlett of Refined Interior Staging Solutions in Kansas CityThe vacant staging proposal

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Property Managers Not Ready to Fight Rental Fraud

Rental fraud is growing, costing landlords thousands, a new survey from Forrester Consulting and TransUnion finds. The majority of property management companies recently surveyed say they’ve been affected by rental fraud, but they lack the resources to combat it.“Working closely with property management companies for the last few decades, it was apparent to us that the prevalence of fraud was rising in the rental industry,” says Mike Doher

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Lots Near Power Lines Lose Nearly Half Their Value

Lots located next to power lines tend to sell for a whopping 45 percent less than similar lots further away from high-voltage transmission lines, according to a new study in the Journal of Real Estate Research. Lots that are non-adjacent to power lines but are located within 1,000 feet of them often sell at a discount of 18 percent, researchers Chris Mothorpe and David Wyman, the authors of the study, found.The study focused on the value of vaca

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4 Financial Lessons Boomers Can Teach Millennials

Despite being strapped with student loan debt, millennials are surpassing older generations when it comes to money management habits like saving and budgeting, a recent Bank of America survey shows.According to the Better Money Habits Millennial Report published earlier this year, 63 percent of millennials (ages 23 to 37) are saving. Fifty-seven percent say they have a savings goal, as compared to the 42 percent of Gen Xers and 42 percent of

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An Artificial Lawn Isn’t Maintenance-Free

Artificial grass, which comes in multiple textures, finishes, and colors, can give homeowners a low-maintenance alternative to natural lawns. But it has pros and cons.Artificial grass doesn’t need watering and remains green all year, which is a big selling point for homeowners. It works well in most climates, particularly dry climates, but it’s not totally maintenance-free. For example, you’ll need to rinse an artificial lawn to clear it o

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Prep Before Disaster Strikes

Storm readiness is an essential part of homeownership. Summer storms and floods can damage property and endanger lives. Here are a few tips from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing small engine, utility vehicle (UTV), and outdoor power equipment manufacturers and suppliers, to help them be as prepared as possible before a damaging storm, flood, or hurricane. The necessary equipment. Owne

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Breaking Down Home Maintenance - Cost and Timeline

The cost to maintain a home is something financial experts recommend budgeting for early on, in preparation for choosing which house to buy. On average, homeowners spend 1 percent of their overall home cost in maintenance every year, according to a new study by Porch.com.The upkeep costs can vary based on style, age, type, and even location of the home. The average cost to maintaining a home each year is about $16,000, according to Porch.com’

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