SkyFive Properties Blog

With living expenses rising every year and the national debt average getting higher all the time, many people are looking to downsize and adopt a simpler lifestyle. Condo living is a great alternative for anyone looking to save a bit of money while joining an active community.

Moving from a private home to a condo requires changes that can be a challenge for some people. Before you make a decision about purchasing a condo, it’s important that you know what to expect after you move in.

Some aspects of condo living are not that different from owning your own home. You will still have to find a good home insurance policy and enjoy all the perks that you are used to, but there are some aspects of condo life that may be very different than what you are used to.

Downsizing

Your new condo will likely have less living and storage space than your private home. Before you move you will have to go through the process of downsizing. Purging your belongings can be an emotional process. When you consider what to get rid of asking yourself a few questions to help you decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Does the item give you joy? Is the item useful? Can you live without the item?

Consider Your Privacy

Condo life puts you in very close proximity to your neighbors. Lots of neighbors. If you are someone who values their privacy, condo living might be a big adjustment for you. You may share a floor or a complex with dozens of neighbors in a condo setting which means that you will deal with many issues like noise, pets, and nosy neighbors.

Homeowners Association

Most condominium complexes are ruled by a Homeowners Association. In most ways, an HOA is designed to support and enrich the lives of tenants but, there are also many restrictions that may come as a surprise. In some communities, you have to ask permission from your HOA to make any changes to your condo and the rules can be very strict.

Condo Fees

Be prepared to pay some hefty fees on top of your mortgage or rent when you live in a condo. These condo fees are for the maintenance and management of the entire property. These extra fees can often increase your monthly payments by nearly double.

Maintenance Free

For seniors or anyone who struggles to keep up with general maintenance, the condo lifestyle may be a great option. Apart from small personal maintenance of your own belongings, there are no outdoor or indoor repairs to be done. Your condo board will assign the maintenance staff to take care of any problems.

When you are looking to change your home there are many things to consider. When you choose the condo life you can take advantage of a maintenance-free residence and enjoy being part of a close-knit community. You should know that you will be under the management of an HOA and expect to pay condo fees on top of your mortgage.

Home Preparation Tips To Help You Get A Buyer Quickly

As mortgage rates slide towards all-time lows and unemployment rates continue to plummet in the US, the demand for housing is growing, leading to a surge in both new and existing home sales. 2020 is expected to be a good year for the housing market, which means that if you want to sell your home, now might be the best time to do it. However, with the demand high, you can expect to face a lot of competition from other homeowners and property developers who are also looking to take advantage. To beat them, you will need to take the time to prepare your home properly so that it can wow potential buyers the moment they see it.

Clean your home

Even if your home is in a perfect state of repair and maintenance, any traces of bad odors, dirt and dust can leave a bad impression of the home for potential buyers, not to mention the negative effects on their health. If you want to impress buyers, make sure that every inch of the home is clean and smelling fresh. For the best results, this job is best left to a professional cleaning company with the right cleaning equipment and strategies to get all the dirt out. While cleaning the interior, don’t forget about the exterior. Commercial pressure washing will remove the dirt and grime on your home’s exterior to make it look almost as clean as the day you first got it.

Spruce up your curb appeal

First impressions are everything when you’re trying to sell a home. As such, curb appeal needs to be at the top of your list of things to improve. Luckily, you can improve many aspects of curb appeal cost-effectively. For example, cleaning up the landscaping outside, replacing small things like the mailbox, or planting flowers along the driveway are low-cost things you can do that will have a great impact on how potential buyers view your home from the road. If your curb appeal makes a good first impression, everyone – including prospective buyers – will want to take a look inside.

Make some improvements here and there

When selling an existing home, keep in mind that you are competing directly with new properties with lots of features that your home might not have. To make your home more attractive to buyers, you can make some improvements where possible depending on your budget. For example, if you can afford it, you can have your kitchen or bathrooms remodeled and fitted with the latest appliances and fixtures. You can also replace your garage door with a more modern one that will attract more eyes to your home.

Selling a home can be a long process if you’re not well-prepared. But by cleaning your home, working on your curb appeal, and making as many improvements as your budget allows you to, you’ll have your home sold in no time and at a great price.

If you are thinking about renting a house or apartment, there are many things you need to consider apart from the location and the neighborhood. You are going to be living in a whole new place, you should be satisfied with it in every aspect. If something problematic comes up after you move in, the inconvenience it will cause you will make it impossible for you to live there comfortably.

Typically the processing before the finalization of rental property involves documentation and property inspection. In this inspection, both landlord and the prospective tenant mutually draw out an inspection report that includes all the things that need to be taken care of. These things usually involve damaged areas that need to be repaired.

In this article, we will go through all the possible conditions that would require your attention for a rental inspection report while you go about inspecting the rental unit.

Damaged Walls and Floors

If the rental property that you are inspecting was rented before as well, it would probably have some scuffs and scratches on the floors and walls which is normal. But, you should be mindful of prominent damage to walls and floors that are obvious enough to mar the overall look.

These damages could include big holes on the wall, prominently scuffed floor, and broken tiles. It is advisable to take pictures of the damages while you are inspecting to have concrete evidence.

Improper functioning of the thermostat

Many rental units come with an inbuilt thermostat so you do not have to spend on buying one when you move in. You should first look if the rental property has a thermostat installed. And then you should see if the place has a smart thermostat or not. Smart thermostats make it easier for you to control the temperature settings remotely, from your internet-connected devices.

After taking care of what type of thermostat is installed in the rental unit, you should then check the functioning of the system. Many systems start malfunctioning after some time of use, so if the place was rented before, it is best to check its working before you finalize things with the landlord.

Flawed or damaged plumbing

It is quite important to check the plumbing system of the property that includes checking the faucets of the bathroom, valves, and pipes. Make sure to examine every tap by turning them on to see the pressure of the water. Check the flushing system of the bathroom and make sure all the faucets are unbroken and working fine.

Not enough lighting and ventilation

Windows are the primary source of letting in natural light and ventilation. If they are not constructed correctly, you can end up in a place that would be suffocating and dark. Make sure the windows are positioned such that they allow enough sunlight and proper ventilation.
If you are currently looking for Houses for Rent, then visit FirstKey Homes to find one of the best rental properties in the US.

When most realtors start out in the industry, they sell homes that barely break into the triple digits. If they work hard enough though, they eventually reach a point where people reach out to them. Most of the time, they end up selling luxury real estate to people who request them, specifically.

Selling luxury real estate is a lot like selling regular real estate, except there’s a lot more work to it. When selling a home, clients are already invested in buying a home. They already have an idea of what they want and rely on you to turn their fantasies for the future into a reality.

Luxury real estate follows the same formula, except people rarely know what they want out of it. Not only is it your job to turn fantasy into reality, but also to create a vision for what people would want out of their house. For some people, that’s the easy part.

Others find it hard to convince people that a house will fulfill dreams they don’t even realize they have. They need help successfully selling luxury houses. For tips on how to do it, keep reading below!

Selling Luxury Real Estate is About Selling Ideas

The first part about selling luxury real estate is to step away from the house and think about what the house represents. For most people, a house is a home that provides shelter and security. It’s where they can settle down and raise a family so that they can build a future for their children.

For people who buy luxury real estate, a house represents something else. It may represent profit, where they can store money and let it grow over time. Other people may be more concerned about the location, and reach out to local realtors like Bruce Champion Real Estate in areas they want to live.

Before you can sell a house, you need to sell your client an idea of what the house represents. Once you have that in place, it’s easier to close a deal.

Show People What Their Lives Could be Like

The best way to sell ideas is to show people illustrations of it. You can use new technologies like virtual reality or 3D modeling to give people something tangible to envision their futures with. You can guide them as they discover what they want out of their new house.

That means you can guide them towards buying your real estate.

Price Matters Less in Luxury than Regular Real Estate

The best part about selling luxury real estate is that price is less of a decisive factor. Most of the time, people who are looking to buy luxury real estate have a lot of flexibility when it comes to their budgets. That means you can show them almost anything, and you may make a sale.

Without the limitations of a strict budget, you have a lot more scope in finding something that they’ll love.

Real Estate is the Same, Whether it’s Luxurious or Not

Whether it’s a cliffside, modern suite or an average suburban home, real estate is real estate. Selling luxury real estate is not so different from selling regular real estate. It’s still about assuring people that they’re making the right purchase and validating their vision for their futures.

There’s just more work to it when it comes to pitching them their dream. To help you with trying to close a deal on luxury real estate, we’re here. Keep reading our website for more advice and tips on how to sell real estate better.

Most plumbing leaks have a source you can find without much trouble. Leaks usually come from plumbing fixtures or water heaters. There’s a different, more mysterious type of leak plaguing homes—maybe even yours!

Also called concrete slab leaks, these leaks occur underneath the foundation of your home.

Because of their location, most homeowners won’t know they have this type of leak. Read today’s post and learn the tell-tale signs and how you can detect and fix a slab leak.

Signs You Have a Leak

Common leaks show up as puddles on the floor (in extreme cases, rivers) and you can easily trace their origins. A slab leak won’t show up as a visible puddle.

Instead, you might notice water seeping up from underneath the surface of a floor. Since the leak can occur in either the hot or cold water pipes, make note of the temperature on the floor. If you don’t have radiant heat and the floor feels hot, it’s a sign the leak is in the hot water pipe.

You may also hear running water underneath your flooring—another sign you can’t ignore. A musty or moldy odor may also point to a leak. Finally, if you have no other solid clues, an unexplained spike in your water bill should cause you to do some investigating.

Leak Detection 101

The sound of running water or the smell of mold isn’t solid proof you have a leak. Add water seeping, along with a higher than usual water bill and it’s time to ask for help with slab leak detection.

Plumbers make the best detectives when it comes to any kind of leak. They’re skilled at figuring out the layout of your pipes. That along with the clues you provide, helps them narrow down the location of the leak.

Your plumber also uses a range of detection tools including:

• Acoustic Ground Microphones
• Pressure Sensors
• Infrared Cameras
• Video Pipe Inspection Tools

Locating the leak is the first step, but the plumber also needs to know the type and size of the leak. They’ll put the details together to come up with a repair method that causes the minimum damage to your home.

How Plumbers Fix Slab Leaks

You’ve called your plumber in to find the leak, now, you’ll need them to fix it!

Plumbers use several methods to repair a slab leak. The location and the type of leak you have both determine which technique your plumber chooses. Cutting into the foundation to fix the leaking pipe is a common method if you live in a modern home or you have newer pipes.

In older homes, plumbers often prefer to re-pipe the entire plumbing line. In some cases, they decide to fix the pipe from the inside using a technique called pipe lining.

Need More Information on Home Repair?

Anytime you experience a plumbing issue or home repair problem, you want help as soon as possible. We hope this post helped you understand detecting and fixing slab leaks.

For more help with plumbing issues or home improvement projects, continue reading our blog. You’ll find articles on a range of topics helpful to homeowners who want to know more about the inner workings of their homes.

One sure way to get all the money you want is through investing, investing in real estate. Now, this might be a new niche to you.  Something you do not want to do is throw yourself into this, headfirst. Take your time, go to classes, document as much as you can before you get into real estate investing. This requires time, but any great investment does. This article can be your head start in real estate.

How much can you invest?

Investing is all about money and you already know that. What we want to tell you is to be cautious and very calculated. The first step of going in real estate is pausing for a while and doing some money math. See where you stand.

If you are at a survival stage and find yourself a bit struggling with money, do your best to get a raise. It will give you a great financial boost. If you are already saving, that’s good, but try reducing some costs to save even more. Wow! You are already growing? Find ways of investing to grow even more.

Location is the most important

Apart from knowing the business and how much you can invest, you should get to know your location. The best advice would be to invest in a place near you, maybe your neighbor. You already know the prices around there and it is easier to deal with a business closer to you.

If there is no option in the proximity, try going to the suburbs. There, places are cheaper, meaning you have more options to invest in. This Forbes article will greatly help you prioritize and work on your steps when entering the world of real estate: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2020/01/15/get-started-in-multifamily-real-estate-investment-in-2020/#1342e2211e4b.

Pick your strategy

As in any other business, you need to establish a strategy from the very beginning. Investing in real estate is easy when you know what you want to do. One of the things you could be doing is becoming a landlord. That’s great if you have renovation skills and the patience and communication skills required for dealing with a tenant.

Real investment groups are another way to go. This usually works if you have some finances put aside and want to keep yourself out of the hassle as much as possible. You can get some more insight into other ways of investing in real estate in this article. Getting your strategy ready is of utmost importance for the well-being of your business.

Time management is paramount

Time management is a skill you must master if you want to get into real estate. In the beginning, you might be doing this in your spare time. That means that you will be busy with your fulltime job and trying to make room for some real estate magic. For this to work, you have to set and maintain a strict schedule. For example, you could be working on your strategy in the mornings or evenings and devote Saturdays to it as well. You make your schedule, but remember to be consistent and stick to it.

You need the best team

It will not be easy to do this on your own, so when thinking about real estate investing, you should team up with somebody. At first, think about somebody who would love to help you accomplish your dream. If you tell this to your life partner or best friend, they will jump right into it. Also, think about people you know who might help you with anything you need. They will be more than happy to help.

Once you reach a certain level in real estate, you will need to create a team of professionals, who can help you make the right choices. Make sure you surround yourself with people who love what they are doing, so you get the best pieces of advice. This real estate investing takes time, but is worth every second.

Although it might seem intimidating at the beginning, real estate is a great way of making money. Give it time, read as much as you can on the subject and you will succeed. Trust your instincts and start investing right away!

If you own or manage a multi-family dwelling such as townhomes or apartments, you probably treat internet access like electricity, water or any other utility. To renters living in the units, however, internet service is their lifeblood. The wireless connection allows users to watch movies, work from home, play games, listen to music and shop on the internet. While electricity and water are integral to modern life, loss of Internet service is a true pain point.

Better Wireless Capability for Dorm, Apartments and Senior Living Facilities

You can provide luxury housing to students, military families, seniors or professional residents. However, if the connectivity doesn’t meet their needs, your tenants are unlikely to renew their leases. Along with being their landlord comes the responsibility of maintaining a safe, secure environment and network service that’s up to par with modern standards. In reality, this translates into hundreds or thousands of smart devices competing for bandwidth. Is your wireless network up to the challenge of supporting major gaming services and high-bandwidth videos all day every day?

The following sections break out how to provide better wireless functionality for smart devices and appliances to outperform the guy down the street.

Provide Unlimited Wireless Access for Free

Unlimited network access rolled into the rent is a great selling point for residents. It’s a big factor when people are trying to figure out whether to stay where they are or move to another apartment with better amenities, such as more reliable connectivity. But it only works out if your Wi-Fi is secure and reliable.

Starry can deliver high-performance wireless connectivity across thousands of users. This is true even in mixed spaces that include indoor-outdoor areas. When you need a reliable signal that permeates concrete and brick buildings, meets high demand and delivers there-when-they-need-it connectivity, Starry technology is the way to go.

Adopt Technology that Delivers Performance through Surge Periods

Every day, nearly every person in every unit connects multiple devices to the community’s wireless network. In return for paying their rent on time, residents expect to stream on their laptops, enjoy system systems and use smart appliances. Working with the right provider helps you exceed that expectation.

Starry wireless solutions enable great performance during surge periods with a high demand for simultaneous usage. You need a system with powerful access points and technology that adapts for interference from other wireless users and devices.

Onboard Devices Securely

Residents expect to connect their devices quickly and painlessly without constantly providing credentials. At the same time, they want a secure connection that protects their sensitive data. Both these requirements can be met with the right network setting in your complex or building.

Starry‘s certificate-based connectivity allows simple and seamless Wi-Fi access—for the property management team and everyone in the building. With the right tools in place, residents won’t dread the onboarding process because they can pick up and use their devices immediately without worrying about leaky signals that hackers can use to invade their privacy.  Move to a brand that protects endpoint connections with wireless encryption.

Price and Speed Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Predictably, price and speed are renters’ top priorities when it comes to internet service. Replacing an out-of-date network that makes it nearly impossible to work, even with a hotspot, with a high-quality, affordable internet option such as Starry takes you from zero to hero in the eyes of your tenants.

When you set up Starry in your building, you will see the return on your investment in renewal contracts and higher occupancy as prospective tenants choose your ready-to-go wireless community over your competitors.

General contractors charge 10% to 20% of your total construction project cost, but the rate can increase up to 25% depending on the size of the project, according to Home Advisor. It is worth noting that general commercial contractors charge a higher fee depending on factors like equipment, insurance, permit, and labor. When hiring a commercial contractor, price is not the only factor you’ll be looking at.

Experience, reputation, reliability, and certification are key aspects to consider. After all, you want a professional who understands every aspect of the many faces of commercial-purpose rentals.

Know What Commercial Contractors Do

As the name suggests, these professionals specialize in the construction of commercial buildings. Depending on the needs of your project, a contractor will supervise all phases of a commercial construction project, including permitting, design, building code adherence, zoning regulations, and supply purchases. A contractor will also help you break down the cost of the project and hire the right professionals needed to complete the work. When you understand the roles and responsibilities of commercial contractors, selecting the best is easy.

Consider Levels of Compatibility

When interviewing a contractor, it is essential to remember that you will be spending a lot of time working together on the project. Therefore, select a service provider who creates good relationships with clients and subcontractors. To get an idea of how you will be working with a contractor, ask them questions about their background, values, mission, company culture, project timelines, and payment expectations. The ideal constructor understands the importance of communicating effectively with potential clients. You should leave the interview with the confidence they can complete the project on set deadlines and within your budget.

Ask for Recent References

Any reputable contractor will give names of business owners and companies they have worked with in the past to prove their credibility in the industry. So ask for references and pay attention to whether the contractor completed work on set timelines and budget. Inquire if they possess excellent communication skills and offer consistent supervision on site. This way, you will be able to determine if the prospect is a good fit for your building project. You might also consider reading customer feedback from online business review sites to increase your chances of hiring the best.

Look at Previous Building Experience

Experience shows the contractor’s ability to work on a set timeline and budget. Many construction project managers agree that learning how to manage projects more effectively takes time. With this in mind, search for a contractor with good knowledge and skills to construct different buildings. Look at their portfolio to ensure they have worked on various projects and delivered quality services.

Choosing a commercial contractor is not a straightforward process. However, by following the right tactics, you can hire the best in terms of experience, credibility, and affordability. Also, ensure that your contractor utilizes only quality materials and follows building codes per state regulations.

If you’re thinking of moving to the countryside and you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have come to the right place. Whether you’re looking to move in a couple of months or you need to move as soon as you can, you must be as prepared as you can be. From setting a budget to moving your belongings from A to B, the more you organize in advance the better. With that in mind, here are 4 things to consider if you’re looking to move to the countryside:

What Is Your Budget?

One of the first things you need to consider is your overall budget for your move. One of the hardest things to do when moving house is to keep track of all of the associated costs, so setting a budget will give you the chance you need to think about how much you’re going to spend and what you’re going to be spending it on. The best thing to do, of course, is to create a spreadsheet that details the cost of each individual aspect of your move. This means thinking about paying your deposit, thinking about hiring a moving van and thinking about the money that will be lost due to not being able to work. For tips and tricks when it comes to setting a budget for an upcoming move, you can visit this site here.

What Area Do You Want To Live In?

Another important thing to consider is the area you want to live in. When it comes to the countryside there are lots of incredible options so if you’re not looking at each place in great detail, chances are you’ll miss a hidden gem. If it helps, you may want to spend some time researching each of your shortlisted areas in detail.

Where Will You Find Your Dream House?

Once you know the area you’re going to be living in, you need to think about how you’re going to find your dream home. Whether you’re looking for something small and cosy or you want something that is suitable for your whole family, you need to ensure you’re working with a reputable estate agent to find the perfect place. From buying lake properties to buying something in the hills, they’ll be able to offer as much help as they can.

How Will You Move All Of Your Belongings There?

Another important aspect of your move is how you’re going to be moving all of your belongings to your new home. Whether you’re hiring a van or contacting a removal team, you need to ensure you’re choosing the option that is right for you. Although hiring a removal van is often more expensive, it can help prevent a lot of the stresses associated with moving house. For a guide to hiring a removal team, you can visit this site here.

Do you need helpful ideas to improve your front yard curb appeal? If you want to boost the look of your home, there are effective ideas you can use to get successful results. You don’t have to worry about spending too much money on exterior home improvements through this easy guide.

Homeowners should know that curb appeal on a budget is possible. You have the option to give your home the perfect upgrade for the lowest cost. By enhancing the look of your home, it is much easier for you to put it on the market.

Major home improvement also makes your home more appealing and enticing to interested buyers.

Here is a guide that you can follow to give your house a beautiful, unique look!

1. Upgrade your Lawn for Curb Appeal on a Budget

Are you satisfied with the look of your landscape? Lawns are visually appealing when they have a unique design. Spend time improving the look of your lawn by removing the leaves, trimming shrubs, pulling weeds, and adding fresh greenery.

You can also add more drama to your landscape by installing a few trees to make it come alive.

2. Fix your Walkway

If your pavement is cracked or rundown, you should have it fixed by a professional. This is an important project that requires the attention of an experienced service provider. Make an appointment with this driveway paving company to enhance the appearance of your walkway.

The work performed on your walkway makes it more functional and it will also look brand new.

3. Don’t Forget to Paint your House

Make your house look amazing with a new paint color. House painting does not have to be an expensive project. Doing the work yourself helps you to save money.

Painting a house is not an easy project, but it is worth the effort. The inside and outside of your house should have a beautiful, interesting color. Choose a color that gives your home attention.

Based on your personal taste, you can use a suitable color that creates a beautiful transformation. You can enhance your house in less time for an affordable price.

4. Add Elegance to the Front Door

If you have an aged home, your front door could be in need of an upgrade. Spend time to identify problematic areas. Paint could be falling off the front door, it could be hard to open and close, and you could also need to have your door replaced.

Just make sure that you tackle each job one step at a time. Focus on each project to give your door a nice, finished look.

5. Fix your Outdoor Lights

Replace damaged light fixtures outside your home. This is an affordable way to give your entryway a fresh makeover. Remove dirt and debris from your outdoor lights to make them look cleaner and brighter.

Ready to Start your Home Improvement Project?

Need more information for curb appeal on a budget?

Choose the home improvement project that helps you to meet your goals. Take a look at our site for more home remodeling tips.