Category: Contractors

Rise of remote work leads to surge in demand for suburban homes

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed the way we work, with a notable shift towards remote work. As companies continue to adapt to this new reality, a growing number of people are leaving big cities in search of more spacious and affordable homes in the suburbs. This trend has been dubbed the “great suburban migration,” and it’s not hard to see why.

With remote work becoming more commonplace, people no longer need to live close to their offices. Instead, they are prioritizing spacious homes with more outdoor areas, better access to nature and a quieter, less congested environment. This shift has led to a surge in demand for suburban homes as more people seek to swap the hustle and bustle of big cities for a slower pace of life.

One of the biggest drivers of this trend is the affordability of suburban homes. Compared to urban properties, suburban homes tend to be larger, more spacious and less expensive. This makes them a more attractive option for people who are looking to save money, especially as remote work means paying a premium to live in the city is no longer necessary.

Another factor contributing to the popularity of suburban homes is the desire for more outdoor space. With many people spending more time at home due to social distancing measures, the importance of having a backyard, a garden, or even just a balcony has become increasingly apparent. This has led to a growing appreciation for the benefits of suburban living, where access to nature and green spaces is often more abundant than in urban areas.

In addition to their affordability and outdoor space, suburban homes offer a more peaceful and quiet environment, which is appealing for people who are looking for a break from the noise and chaos of city life. With fewer people around, suburban neighborhoods tend to be quieter and safer, making them ideal for families with children or anyone looking for a more relaxed pace of life.

Overall, the rise of remote work has had a profound impact on the housing market, with demand for suburban homes continuing to grow. While it remains to be seen how long this trend will last, it’s clear that for many people, the appeal of the suburbs is stronger than ever. Whether they’re looking for a bigger home, more outdoor space, or a quieter environment, suburban living has much to offer in the post-pandemic world.…

Real Estate Companies Supporting Environmental Conservation

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

In recent years, real estate companies have been increasingly conscious of their environmental impact and have been adopting green building practices to support environmental conservation. These practices include using recycled or environmentally sustainable materials, implementing energy-efficient systems, and adding greenery to properties.

Here are some examples of real estate companies supporting environmental conservation through green building practices:

1. Kilroy Realty Corporation

Kilroy Realty Corporation is a real estate company that has been recognized for its commitment to sustainability. Its properties have achieved some of the highest certifications in the industry, such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum and WELL Building Standard. Moreover, Kilroy Realty Corporation is one of the few companies that has made the 100% renewable energy pledge.

2. The Durst Organization

The Durst Organization is a leading real estate company that has demonstrated its environmental commitment through several measures. For example, its headquarters in New York City is a LEED Platinum-certified building that uses sustainable materials, generates its own energy, and has a green roof. Furthermore, one of the company’s buildings, 1 Bryant Park, is considered as one of the most environmentally friendly skyscrapers in the world.

3. Hines

Hines is a global real estate developer that has implemented green building practices across its properties. It has developed several LEED-certified buildings and promoted conservation measures such as water-efficient systems, low-emitting materials, and energy-efficient lighting. In addition, Hines has planted over a million trees worldwide, contributing to carbon sequestration and the overall preservation of natural habitats.

4. Boston Properties

Boston Properties is a real estate investment trust that has incorporated green building practices into its portfolio. Its buildings have implemented energy-efficient systems such as solar panels, energy recovery systems, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) controls. Boston Properties aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 and has joined the RE100 initiative, committing to obtaining 100% renewable energy for its properties.

5. CBRE

CBRE is a real estate services and investment firm that has embraced sustainability in its operations. It has developed several green buildings globally and has promoted sustainability among its clients. Moreover, CBRE has established a sustainability advisory board that provides insights and strategies to support its environmental goals.

In conclusion, real estate companies are recognizing the importance of environmental conservation and are taking action by adopting green building practices. These practices not only benefit the environment but also provide economic and social benefits such as reduced energy costs, healthier indoor environments, and increased property values. Real estate companies’ commitment to sustainability is a positive step in the right direction towards a more eco-friendly future.…

Top 10 Real Estate Companies to Watch Out for in 2021

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

2021 is shaping up to be a big year for the real estate industry. With the economy slowly recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is renewed interest in buying and selling properties. That said, the market remains competitive, and it’s crucial to choose the right real estate firm to work with.

To help you navigate the crowded space, we’ve compiled a list of the top ten real estate companies to watch out for in 2021:

1. Keller Williams Realty: The world’s largest real estate franchise by agent count, Keller Williams Realty is known for its commitment to technology and innovation. They offer industry-leading training and support to their agents, giving them the tools they need to succeed.

2. Century 21: With over 13,500 offices worldwide, Century 21 is one of the most recognizable brands in real estate. They provide agents with extensive marketing and digital tools to help them attract and retain clients.

3. Coldwell Banker: Coldwell Banker has a well-established reputation for delivering exceptional service to clients. They have a long history of innovation and are known for their focus on luxury properties.

4. Sotheby’s International Realty: As the real estate arm of the prestigious auction house, Sotheby’s International Realty is a leader in the luxury property market. Their agents have access to a global network of clients and unrivaled marketing tools.

5. RE/MAX: RE/MAX is one of the largest real estate franchises in the world, with over 130,000 agents in more than 110 countries. They are known for their focus on technology and training, helping agents stay ahead of the competition.

6. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate: With a focus on lifestyle branding, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate offers agents unique marketing tools and resources to help them connect with clients. They are committed to sustainability and green living.

7. Redfin: Redfin is a technology-driven real estate brokerage that leverages data and analytics to provide a seamless buying and selling experience for clients. Their agents are salaried employees, which means they have no financial incentive to push clients towards a particular property.

8. Compass: Compass is a high-tech brokerage with a focus on luxury properties. Their agents have access to advanced analytics and marketing tools, as well as an expansive network of potential clients.

9. Corcoran: Corcoran is a luxury real estate brokerage with a strong presence in New York City and the Hamptons. They are known for their innovative marketing strategies and excellent client service.

10. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices: As part of Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway company, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a trusted name in the real estate industry. They offer agents extensive training and support to help them achieve their goals.

In conclusion, these are just some of the real estate companies that are expected to make a significant impact in 2021. Whatever your needs, be sure to choose a firm that aligns with your goals and has a proven track record of success.…

Need Assistance In Roof Repair? Read This Article!

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

If you are thinking about the best options for roofing, it can seem a little overwhelming. Besides thoroughly inspecting your roof beforehand, you must consider whether you want to do it on your own or hire a contractor. Read this article for some tips on how to make the best decision.

If you’re looking into hiring a roofer, the first question you should ask is how long the company has been in business. Someone might sound great on paper, but if they’re new to the game, they may still be ironing out kinks in their business practices. You don’t want to be the one they test things out on.

When it comes to maintaining your roof, make sure that you keep your gutters clean. Clear them of any fallen leaves, twigs and other debris so that water can flow freely from your roof. If you don’t adequately clean out your gutters regularly you may become prone to flooding problems.

Never, under any circumstances paint your roof as a way to give it a new look. Doing so may void any warranty you have which could end up costing you quite a bit of money if something unfortunate were to happen. If your roof is showing signs of age, a good cleaning may be all you need.

If you have a leak and are going on your roof to search for it, bring a hose with you. You can spray the hose in order to find out where the leak is coming from. However, do not do this in the winter, as the water from the hose could cause ice.

When working on the roof yourself, make sure that the weather conditions are clear for your own safety. Hose off the shingles so you can have a clean workplace without a mess of leaves or other debris. You can also use the hose to find a leak in your roof.

To avoid a common scam roofing companies engage in, don’t pay anything to your contractor until the supplies have been delivered. Some firms will ask for a down payment up front to cover their supplies, but you should pay them only once you have the supplies in hand so you get what you pay for.

Carefully check the written estimate that you are given by a professional roofer. Make sure to document when your project starts, the estimation of when it’s to be completed, and what payments are made. Avoid paying in full up front. Make sure the warranty is clear and that you understand what voids it.

Do not choose the first roofer you find in the phone book or online. By choosing the first roofer you read about, you may end up spending more money that you need to. Call numerous roofers and go with the most reliable one at the best price you can find.

Besides thinking about your budget and the different materials you can purchase for your roof, there are other factors you must consider. How long you plan on staying in the home, the longevity of the material and how fire resistant it is matters, too. Remember the tips in this article so you can make the best decision.…

How To Sell Your Home For A Profit

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

In this uncertain economy today, everyone wants to maximize profit and save money, including sellers in the real estate market. If you’re one of them and you would like to learn how to make your house more valuable and sell it more easily, then you’re at the right place. This article contains simple yet brilliant tips to instantly boost your house value, and help you to sell like a seasoned expert.

If you are trying to sell your home, remove all personal items from display. This means to take down family photos, calendars, etc. A buyer needs to be able to envision their own belongings in the space. Having a photo of your baby on display makes it harder for them to do this.

A professional loft conversion is a popular home improvement that could increase the value of your house by up to 20 percent. You can convert an attic into storage space, a bathroom, bedroom or office. Typically over 30 percent of a property’s space is located in the attic, so by carrying out a conversion, home owners can gain a lot more living space without having to go through the stressful and costly process of relocating.

If you have to move out before you actually sell your home, it is better to throw in a few items to make the home look a little comfortable instead of leaving it completely empty. This will also help draw the attention to these items instead of letting minor imperfections glare at the potential buyer.

Keep in mind that the offer process is not personal. A low ball offer on your home is not an affront to you. Just as you are trying to get the most money out of your home, the buyers are trying to get the best deal. Do not reject a buyer from making a follow up offer if the initial bid is too low.

Landlords should always screen their tenants. Check your tenant’s credit, ask for references, and do a criminal background check. This will help you to know the people who are living in your properties, and give you an idea of their level of trustworthiness. Forgoing the background check might save a little time, but in the long run it can cost you more than the time savings is worth.

To help you buy or sell real estate, you have to find an agent that knows the market very well. If not, they may suggest that you sell at a lower price than you should.

When you advertise real estate through the world wide web, it is vital that you stay on top of the latest tools and techniques of the internet. If you do not understand the ever-changing structure of the internet, then your website will fall behind and you will lose thousands of customers in the long run.

The real estate market may be confusing and frustrating. It usually takes a long time to find a buyer, and even when you find one, the price at which they are willing to buy might be too low. But if you follow these tips, then you will be on your way to increasing your home’s value, finding buyers, and finishing the deal faster and easier than you could have imagined.…

Need Home Improvement Advice? Follow These Directions

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

A lot of times people will assume that home improvement is too difficult for them to tackle. However, if you have an open mind, you can accomplish your goals. In the following article, you will be provided with information to help you with your home improvements.

Keep tabs on how much you spend on your home improvements. It is really easy to nickel and dime yourself with small details and not realize how much you have totaled. A simple spreadsheet or budgeting tool will help you keep track of all this information. It will be much easier at tax time too, to be able to get all of the deductions you deserve.

Utilizing drywall mud to texture walls can add some visual interest and hide many imperfections. It is not hard to do. Simply apply the mud with a trowel and utilize a stiff brush, sponge or a crumpled bag to add texture to the surface.

Consider installing a water filtration system in your kitchen. Think of the money you spend on bottled water; that money can go back into your pocket with the installation of a quality filtration system. They are a relatively inexpensive improvement to make and will add a great selling point to your home when you sell.

If you have hardwood floors and pets, you know that it is almost inevitable that a urinating accident will or already has taken place. There is a simple solution to saving your hardwood floor. Find the stain on your flooring and take a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Sit next to the stain and start pouring peroxide on the stain slowly. Make sure to exercise caution, because too much peroxide can damage your floors and have a negative effect. If used in the right doses, the peroxide will lighten the appearance of the stain.

Buying new appliances can actually save you money in the long run. Now a days, companies have invested a lot of money in appliances that conserve energy. If you buy a new fridge that uses less electricity, during the life of the refrigerator, you will actually be saving money.

When hiring someone to perform home improvement work on your residence, do not pay cash. Always pay by either check or credit card; you will have a documented trail showing that your contractor has been paid. If you pay cash, it could become your word against his word, and you won’t have any proof that you followed through with payment.

Sealing air leaks is an inexpensive way to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Unsealed cracks and openings are one of the leading causes of heat loss in the average home. Common problem areas include around doors and windows, around pipes, wires and ducts that lead outdoors and around recessed light fixtures. Use caulk to seal small cracks and expanding spray foam for larger gaps and openings.

There are many home improvement jobs that you can tackle yourself. When you are undertaking home repairs, make sure that you don’t discount any possibilities for improvements. This article provides a good start for almost any home improvement project. By following these tips, your home will be updated in no time!…

Buying Commercial Property Is Not Always A Good Idea

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

Given current conditions in the commercial real estate market, getting into it can be trickier than ever. A little research ahead of time can go a long way towards protecting buyers and sellers from the risks involved. This article presents a few tips that should be of interest to anyone entering the commercial real estate field.

Short sale auctions may seem to be quite alluring, but prepare yourself to lose out on the house by being over bid at the last minute. There are many people who have lost out on a home at the very last minute for slightly more money than what they had bid.

An important tip to remember with rental real estate is to get the entire contract and terms in writing. This is important because this is your property and if anything goes wrong during the duration of rental, you want as much on paper to back you up as possible.

Take into consideration the local unemployment levels, average income, and job market before investing in real estate. Having a house located near a hospital, business sector, university or other school will greatly increase your home’s value, and provide you with a better chance for quickly selling it.

When considering purchasing rental real estate, keep in mind that if you invest in rentals near a local university your tenants will most likely be students. If this is appealing to you remember to write leases which include specific rules about parties and additional roommates. Also be aware that your tenants may not be long term, and vacancies in rental units will rise during the summer.

If your future rental property or apartment complex allows you to host a yard sale or garage sale, ask them if you’re allowed to post your signs within the complex such as light poles or tree stumps. Some property managements do not allow the display of any sort of advertisements publicly.

Try to make appointments to see a few of the properties that you are interested in on the same day in a very close time range. This is a good idea because you will be able to make a good comparison of all of the properties while everything you saw is still fresh in your mind.

When you are trying to consider which property to buy and you are having a hard time narrowing things down the best thing you can do is make a checklist. Review each property and the one that has the most check marks should be the one that you buy.

When choosing a broker, ask about their experience specifically in the commercial real estate market. Make sure that the agent has the proper expertise with the type of real estate purchase or sale you are looking for. Make sure you find an exclusive agreement that works for you and your broker.

Learning more about commercial real estate is a valuable use of the time of both buyers and sellers. Hopefully this article provided a few points worthy of consideration. The better informed people that are entering the commercial market are more likely to find the best deals in buying and selling.…

Roofing Tips That Can Save You A Hassle

Posted on by Louise B. Delia

If you desire to know more about the process and your options for putting a new roof on your home, then you’ve found the right article. The tips presented here are designed to help you plan out your roof and choose the right contractor as things get going. Keep reading to find out more about what you need to know.

In order to ensure that your roof stays in good condition, make sure that you trim the trees in the surrounding areas. This will prevent any branches from scuffing the surface of your roof which could eventually lead to more serious problems. This also helps prevent any fungus or mold grow on your roof.

When a storm blows through your area, beware of roofers who knock on your door. They often follow a storm and offer their services to everyone on the block, then they put up a cheap, inadequate roof while taking all the money your insurer will offer on your claim, ripping you off.

Make sure to do your research when looking for a roofing contractor. Don’t just think that you should hire the first person that you find or one that’s the cheapest. Instead, you should research all the roofers that are in the area. Look for online reviews and talk with friends and colleagues about any recommendations they could give.

Only ever hire a roofer who has a license and is fully insured for the job. If anything happens while they are working, be it a worker who falls off the roof and is injured or a worker who falls through your roof and destroys your valuables, you’ll be pleased you held out for the right company!

Ask your friends for advice regarding your roof. Many people maintain their homes by themselves, and are happy to help a friend to learn how to do the same. Even if you do not find someone that is handy, you may at least get a good recommendation on a contractor that can help you out.

Measure twice, cut once. If you will be doing your own roofing job, you want to make sure your measurements are correct. This will save you both time and money. You can assure your measurements are accurate by taking the extra time it takes to measure two, or even three times.

Sometimes it can be hard to determine if you just need your roof fixed or if it needs to be replaced. This decision is usually made when you have a leak, storm damage or your roof is at least 15 years old. Have your roof inspected by your insurer and trust in their diagnosis.

It is not easy to find a good roofer. If you think you have a possibility, ask that person to give you at least three references that you can contact. Speaking with former customers will give you an idea of what type of professionalism and work you can expect from your roofer.

You have read advice that will help you get started putting a new roof on your home. Keep that advice with you as you make your plans. You want to be happy with the complete project, knowing that your home, your biggest investment, is properly sheltered and protecting your family.…