SkyFive Properties Blog

Everyone has their thing. Making money or choosing to invest is a difficult game. You have to make sure that you’re choosing the options that work out for you. And what might seem like a great investment to you, may not work out for another.

Because we all have different budgets and approaches to making money.Y et, if there’s one game that can work for a range of people, it’s property. Now, it’s safe to say that investing in property can be tough. It’s really not something that you should get into for a quick buck.

But, you can make money if you approach things in the right way. Whether you want to start by selling your house or you want to invest in a second property, let’s take a look at how you can get started.

Know How To Make Money

So first of all, you actually need to know how you’re going to be able to make money with property. Because unless you’re knowledgeable, you might think that you’re making money, but you’ll actually not be making all that much. So learn how to make money on your investments and what options you have to ensure there’s a good enough return on a project, before you put money into it.

Decide On A Budget

When you’ve worked out what you’re going to do, you then need to have a rough idea of how it will work. So decide on your initial budget and calculate how you’re going to make this work.

Choose Your First Move

Then, you just need to dive on in. So, ask yourself, what will it be? Do you want to save up to then invest the money in property? Or do you want to sell and look at where this company buys houses, along with others, to get your money to invest that way? Or maybe you want to start a portfolio by slowing buying more properties with mortgages? Make sure you know what move works for you, and start.

Be Profit Motivated

However, you do need to keep your eye on the prize. Do not let yourself get too caught up in it creating a gorgeous property unless it’s going to make you money. Focus on the profit, and you will find that this pays off for you.

Be In It For The Long Term

Now, if you know that you really want to make money from property, see it as a long term gain. Here, you’re going to want to buy property at a low price, and then wait until the market improves.

But you also need to ensure that you are aware of the fees that you’re paying for any mortgages you have too. Because you need the property to outweigh the total cost you are actually paying for it.

However, fi you’re buying in an up and coming neighborhood that is set to drastically increase in value over the course of ten or twenty years, this can really work for you.

If you and your family are thinking about moving home soon, then it’s crucial to carefully consider every step of the process because it can be quite an exhausting and long-winded experience. These are the important considerations for anyone who’s ready to move houses.

Buying and selling properties

The biggest aspect of moving house is selling one house and buying another. When it comes to buying your new home, you might be limited to a certain location based on your job role or school options for your children.

Still, you should do your research to make sure you’ve considered all potential options for properties. You might want to seek help from Make Homes to find a stylish new build at an affordable price. It’s important not to compromise on the quality of your new household if even if you’re limited by the restraints of a budget.

As for selling your existing home, your goal should be to increase its value as much as possible to make a larger profit from a potential buyer. Maybe you could start to clear out your home ready for the house move; this is practical, but it’ll make the space feel bigger, and that’s appealing to buyers. Simply repainting the walls could make a huge difference too.

The removal company

Getting professional help on moving day is important. Moving houses is a huge task. You’re not just packing enough belongings for a 2-week vacation; you’re packing up everything you own. Plus, you’ll be moving more sensitive and fragile goods than you would bring with you on vacation, so it’s important that your possessions are transported safely and securely.

Hiring an experienced removal company will ensure that everything you own is protected during the move. Of course, you should also make sure you declutter to reduce the number of things you bring with you. This is partly about starting fresh in a new home without excessive belongings, but it’s also about reducing your quote with the removal company. They charge based on the number of things they have to transport.

The necessities at your new home

Once you’ve bought a new property and arranged the sale of your old one, you should instantly start thinking about your new life in your new home. Whether you’re moving miles away or simply to the next town over, moving to a new house is a huge step.

You’re not just moving your belongings somewhere new; you’re moving your entire life somewhere new. You might have a new job sorted out for yourself, and a new school sorted out for your kids, but you need to think of all the logistics involved with this move.

You need to do your research with regards to local facilities and amenities. You need to learn about the neighborhood. You also need to get a conveyancing solicitor and sort out the mortgage for the house itself.

So many of these things need to be sorted out weeks or even months before you move. Make sure you also set up an internet connection with a new provider at least two weeks before you move into your new house. It always takes some time to get these things set up, and you don’t want to be left without a WiFi connection for the first couple of weeks in your new home.

Sorting out the necessities at your new home before you move in will help to ensure that the moving day goes as smoothly as possible. You want to be able to relax into your new household as easily as possible.

Are you considering opening a hotel?

Starting a hotel from the ground up takes a considerable amount of effort. But, if you’re willing to do what it takes, then you can reap significant rewards.

The hotel industry has experienced almost a decade of strong growth. And, according to Deloitte’s 2019 US Travel and Hospitality Outlook Report, it’s expected to maintain momentum in the year ahead. Also, according to researchers, the immediate future of the industry is on track for continued growth and profitability.

So, if you’re interested in breaking into the hotel business, the time is ripe. Read on to find out the steps you’ll need to take to open a hotel!

What You Need to Know About Opening a Hotel

There’s a lot to consider when opening a hotel. It’s not a decision that you should take lightly. Although, many of the hotels that have opened in recent years are now thriving.

The income potential for hotel investors is huge. But, to get the best results from your efforts, you’ll need the right ingredients. And, you’ll need to know the precise steps you should take in order to gain success.

What Does It Take to Open a Hotel?

Prior to beginning your venture into the hotel industry, there are a few things you’ll need.

First, you should have a plan. A sustainable plan will need to include (at least) the following information:

• The type of hotel you would like to start
• How many rooms there will be
• How many guests the hotel will accommodate
• The location or anticipated location of your hotel
• An architectural blueprint of the hotel itself
• Capital resources (money!)
• A thorough strategy for funding, building and operating the hotel

Of course, there’s more that goes into developing a plan for a hotel, but these are the bare ingredients that your plan needs to have.

You’ll need to include details such as whether it will be a franchise, bed & breakfast, luxury resort, or another kind of hotel. And, you’ll need to decide how it will be staffed, whether there will be on-site dining, room service, and other details.

When deciding on a commercial property, you’ll need to perform research to find out where a hotel is likely to thrive. And, you’ll have to choose whether to build or use a structure that already exists. In addition, you’ll need to check on the zoning and business license requirements for your preferred locale.

Funding Your Hotel

Eight out of ten businesses fail. And the number one reason that businesses crash is that they run out of cash.

One of the biggest considerations when opening a hotel is the capital needed to fund it.

Funding a hotel isn’t cheap, after all.

You’ll need to employ professionals every step of the way, even during the planning phase. For example, you’ll need an architect to draw up the building plans. You might also need an accountant, a website developer, and other types of service providers.

Once you open the hotel, you’ll need enough money to maintain its operation until it begins to turn enough profit to sustain itself.

Depending on the size of the operation, you could possibly take out a loan to partially fund your hotel.

Often, there are investors that provide financial backing needed to start a hotel. If this is the case in your circumstances, you will need to identify potential investors. Then, you will have to present your plan to those individuals to secure a commitment from them.

You will need to do the same to receive funding from lenders. Be sure that you gather adequate information from lending sources prior to making any decisions. There is a wide range of terms and solutions available, and it’s essential that you choose the right one for your venture.

Beyond Planning

Beyond the planning phase, there is a long list of things that you will need to do to prepare for the opening day.

You’ll need to build or renovate your hotel. You’ll also need to furnish and decorate its’ interior.

You’ll also need to hire and train your hotel staff. You should also prepare a salary and benefits schedule. And, you’ll need to decide on a uniform policy for your employees as well.

Then, you’ll have to launch a marketing campaign, create a website, and purchase and install any necessary software systems (for reservations, billing, etc).

Finally, after completing these steps, you’ll be ready to open your hotel to the public.

Opening Day

You’ll want to make sure that you plan for the opening day, as well. You will want it to be extra special.

You might offer added attractions or activities on this day to attract a crowd. This might include a ribbon cutting, giveaways, food or promotional items. You may even announce your opening to the local media outlets.

Start Your Venture Today!

If you’re serious about opening a hotel, there’s no better time than the present to get started building your dream. Even if you haven’t figured out all of the details just yet, you may find that once you start, the rest of the plan will fall into place.

Opening a hotel can be a challenge. But when you take the right steps and put forth the effort, you’ll find that all of your hard work will be worth it in the long run.

Why not get started on your dream today?

Contact us now to find the perfect place to start your own hotel!

In the United States, about 40 to 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce.

If you’re going through a divorce, the emotional pain can be unbearable and the future might look bleak and uncertain. On top of this, you’ve to negotiate with your soon-to-be ex-spouse and agree on a range of issues, from alimony to child custody and property division.

In this article, our focus on property division. Keep reading for more information on preparing for a divorce sale of your home.

Marital Property Division Laws in Your State

Property division laws vary from state to state, but they generally fall under either of these categories:

• Equitable distribution
• Community property.

In an equitable distribution state, property acquired during the course of a marriage is split fairly and equitably – not equally. Although there is no specific formula for calculating equity, the court will consider your monetary and non-monetary contribution towards the purchase of the property among other factors.

In a community property state, you and your spouse have joint and equal ownership of all assets acquired during the marriage. In a divorce, the property is split equally.

As such, the first step to selling a house during divorce is to understand how property division laws in your state will affect your share of the proceeds. This knowledge can help you to better prepare a stronger case.

For instance, if you live in an equitable distributions property state, you’ll start gathering all the information you need to convince the court that you deserve the amount you’re seeking.

The Consequences of Selling the Home

Obviously, the fact that you’re looking to sell your matrimonial home means neither of you wants to keep it. Or even if you’d love to keep it, you’re not able to buy out your partner.

Before selling the home, it’s important to know the associated consequences/costs and establish how they will affect your interests.

For example, if you and your partner purchased the property through a mortgage, the proceeds from the sale will first go into paying off the mortgage. The same goes for any other debt secured against the property.

You might also spend money on home inspection, appraisal, and staging. And depending on the nature of the sale, you could have a capital gains tax bill to clear.

Cumulatively, these costs can really take a substantial bite from your gains or drive you into a loss.

It’s advisable to take some time to evaluate whether selling the home makes economic sense for both of you. Sure, it’s understandable that you might want to split up quickly and move on. However, money is equally important, and it’s vital to sell the home at the best possible price.

Try to reach out to your partner and see if you can agree on how to get the best value for the property. Perhaps you might want to do some repairs and repaint the walls to make the home more attractive to buyers.

Finding a Real Estate Agent

When you’re going through a divorce, the last thing you want is to deal with strangers.

This is why you and your spouse might need to hire a real estate agent to take care of the sale, even though such a move will add to your selling costs.

The challenge most divorcing couples face when using this option is agreeing on a real estate agent. This mostly happens when both parties have different interests. Maybe you want the sale to happen quickly at whatever cost, while your spouse has no rush.

Either way, sooner or later you’ll need to settle on an agent.

To make things easier, you could each elect a close friend or relative and task them with finding a real estate agent for you. Or if you have divorce lawyers, they can help you find a mutually agreeable agent.

Another option is to work with the same agent who helped you buy the house – if they’re still in business. Since you already have an existing professional relationship, it shouldn’t be too difficult to trust them with your differing interests. They can even help you iron out your differences as far as selling the home is concerned.

Selling to a Cash Home Buyer

If you cannot agree on a real estate agent or need to sell in a hurry, find a cash home buyer.

A cash buyer will snap up your home as is. You won’t have to worry about making any repairs or a potential deal falling through because the buyer cannot secure financing. This post by Ashley Buys Houses gives a lowdown on how selling your house for cash works during a divorce.

Bear in mind selling to a cash buyer has its downsides. For instance, you will certainly get lowballed.

Dividing Your Cash

Once the home is sold, it’s time to divide the cash. But how the division works will depend on your specific circumstances.

If you’ve already agreed on how to share the proceeds, the division is pretty straightforward. You pay off the debts and share the net gains according to your agreement.

However, if the sale is court-supervised, the money will grow to an escrow company, which will settle your debts and other costs on your behalf and then divide what remains as per the court’s directions.

Divorce Sale: Put the Past Behind You

Although couples get married hoping to enjoy a lifetime together, sometimes – almost often, in fact – things just don’t work out.

If your worst fears have comes to pass and you’re now going through a divorce, selling your home is a way to put the past behind and also get money to help you move on.

With these divorce sale tips, you’re in a good position to prepare your home for the market and sell it without any troubles.

All the best and feel free to explore our blog for more property tips and insights.

In a shocking recent study, half of homeowners would give up sex if they could get more closet space. While this might seem like a pretty extreme way to get space for your old clothes, it’s clear that this is lacking for millions of people. With some clever finished basement ideas, you can ensure that you have the space you need when you need it.

Here are five smart ideas to consider for your finished basement.

1. A Quiet Library

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your family is to create a quiet place for everyone to relax in your home. If you can’t seem to find space on the upper levels of your home, then you should consider a finished basement as a great place for your library. In a quiet space where you can add carpeting and control the lighting, you’ll have the perfect library.

The only major concern for putting a library in a finished basement is the fact that you’ll be contending with humidity. Humid books grow mold and could end up ruining all your favorite novels. However, if you’re able to find a way to dehumidify your basement, you’ll be able to protect your books and your basement.

Finding a place to escape and find some quiet time is challenging without having space for it. Finishing your basement adds on extra space that ensures you get what you’re looking for without having to invest in any additions or a new home altogether.

2. A Place For Your College Grad

As more college grads are now living at home you can bet that if you’ve got college students in your family, they might need the help. Without the economic help of putting a roof over their head, your college grad might struggle to find footing. As they’re looking for a job, they won’t have to work for the basic subsistence of their living expenses.

While you might need to set limits now that your children or family members have grown to adulthood, it’s a good way to help provide for your kids. Even if you’re of limited means or don’t have a lot of funding to support your children, this is a gift better than cash. Having a roof over your head takes off some pressure, lets them take risks, and helps them to come up with a plan for their next move.

When you’re getting out into the job market, it can take several dedicated months to find the work you’re looking for. Even in lucrative industries with strong job markets, finding work takes a lot of focus and energy.

Let them focus on growth by offering a roof over their head.

3. A Trophy Room

If you’re a sports family or an accomplished athlete, you might run out of space dedicated to your accomplishments. Taking up space in the main rooms or in those most important arteries of your home could feel cluttered. While you want people to be able to see what you’ve done, you don’t need them in your front room.

The best alternative is to put everything in a room where you can see it, but it isn’t in the main space that you need day to day. A trophy room is a great investment for people who have a lot of trophies or medals that show off their accomplishments. If you and your family have devoted a lot of time and energy to becoming stars at a given sport, then you’re going to need a place for your awards.

Even if your trophies are only photos showing the cultural and political figures you’ve met, you need a place to display them.

4. Playroom for Kids

While having your kids play outside is an important and fast disappearing feature of American life, you need a safe space for all weather play. when you build a playroom for your kids, that room can grow as your kids do. It doesn’t always have to contain blocks and action figures.

As your kids grow, you can trade the action figures dolls for a ping pong table or their favorite crafting tools. If your kids get into painting or sculpture, you’ve already got a place for them to explore their interests with their friends.

While no two playrooms are going to look the same, they all share the common factor of contributing to the growth of your children. You’ll provide a safe place for your children to grow under circumstances where they’re protected.

5. Room For Visitors

One of the best things you can do for your friends and family is to have a place for them to stay when they visit. While it’s hard for you to always build an extra room or reserve space that’s only for them, you can mark off a section of your basement for them. A place that’s climate controlled, with good airflow, and quiet while they sleep ensures that they have a place to rest.

To make sure it’s quiet, take some time to learn more about soundproofing.

When your friends and family come to visit, life gets in the way of time you spend together. While they might want to see the sights in your city, you may have to work through that week. If that’s the case, you can ensure you see them at night or get to share breakfast together every day with them staying in your spare room.

Finished Basement Ideas Can Save Money

One of the reasons you could be saving money with the right finished basement ideas is by not shopping for a new home. When you get what you need from the home you have, you get to spend money on other things like vacations, anniversaries, or fun gadgets to help you relax.

To make the most of the other spaces around your home, check out our guide for tips.

Americans spend 93% of their time indoors, but with the proper setting, time spent outdoors can be very enjoyable. One of the things that makes a big difference in the function of your outdoor space is furniture.

Buying patio furniture that is comfortable and attractive is important. It can be frustrating when you are trying to figure out the best furniture to buy for your backyard. Continue reading this article to learn eight tips for buying patio furniture.

Must-Know Tips for Buying Patio Furniture

There are some things you need to know so that the patio furniture you buy meets your needs. The following tips will help you be a savvy buyer.

1. Think About the Weather

Where you live plays a role in the type of outdoor furniture you buy. If you’re up north, you may deal with a lot of snow. If you’re down south then you may deal with a lot of sun on your furniture all year.

Understanding the impact of weather on your furniture is important. You can buy your furniture with the environment in mind so that it stays nice throughout the year.

If you live in a hot and dry environment, wood is likely to splinter and crack. If you live in a windy area, aluminum furniture can be dangerous if it catches the wind.

People living in South Beach condos will experience different weather than people living in Portland, Maine. If you aren’t sure what type of furniture you need for the weather in your area you can speak to a professional after visiting https://www.patiosusa.com/manufacturers/woodard/ to learn more.

2. Measure Your Outside Area

Before buying any furniture, you need to see how big your outdoor area is. If you don’t measure the area where you want to put your furniture, you might end up getting furniture that’s too big to fit comfortably in the area you want it in.

3. Know Where the Furniture Will Go

Having an idea of where the furniture will go makes it easier for you to get a full vision of what you’re trying to create. You may even find it helpful to draw out the area where you want your furniture to go. If you aren’t sure, putting it on paper can give you a better idea of what you’re looking for.

4. What Materials Do You Like?

There are many different types of materials to choose from when you’re going through patio furniture. If there is a certain texture that you aren’t fond of, you don’t want it against your skin. Make sure you try sitting on different materials to see which ones are the most comfortable.

Even if you find furniture that is comfortable, you do need to make sure the material doesn’t irritate your skin. You also need to make sure the material will go well with the other elements of your patio.

5. Your Furniture Should Be Cozy and Comfortable

If your outdoor space is not cozy and comfortable, you aren’t likely to spend much time outside. The more appealing you make your outdoor space, the more likely it is that you will get your money’s worth out of it.

Figure out little extras that will make the space even more appealing. Think about accent pieces like pillows or little tables that you can use to add color. Having a little pop of color will add to the cozy element of your outdoor space.

6. Double With Storage and Seating

Some people may choose to buy separate storage, but others are smart about storage and buy furniture that doubles as storage. Instead of only having a seat or an ottoman, you can have a seat or an ottoman that can store things that can’t be out in the weather.

7. How Much Are You Willing to Spend?

Before you go shopping, you should have an idea of how much money you’re willing to spend. If you don’t map out your budget, you are likely to choose furniture that is out of your budget.

Knowing your budget will make it easier to look for what you can afford. If you find something you love, you don’t have to worry about looking at the price tag and walking away disappointed.

8. Does It Match Your Personal Style?

Your furniture isn’t only about function and comfort. Your patio furniture should also match your personal style. It is important that you feel at home when you’re in your outdoor space and when people come to visit, they can see your personality.

Your outdoor space is another place you can express yourself and enjoy your time in the fresh air.

9. Do You Care About the Brand Name?

If you don’t care about a specific brand name, you have more options when you go to buy furniture. If you have to have a specific brand name, you will likely have to pay more money and it will be difficult to find what you want.

If you’re willing to wait, you can often have the perfect product shipped to your home. Since you will use your product regularly, you want to make sure you get something that you love and that is high-quality.

Add Some Spice to Your Life

Now that you know more about buying patio furniture, you may decide that you want a new home with a new space for that furniture. There are many beautiful places to buy in Miami or you may consider building your own home. Look through our information on pre-construction to learn more about how we work.

Are you looking to hire the right painter for a project in your home?

You don’t want to just pick anyone. Every painter will have a different style and technique. This article will teach you how to hire professional painters for your project.

1) Check Their Portfolio

Most painters will probably have an online version of their portfolio that’s available for you to check out.

It’s important you look through their portfolio to see their abilities and personal style. If they don’t have any pieces that match what you’re looking for, ask them to provide some.

It is very important that you know that they can handle the job but viewing their previous work.

2) Ask For References

You shouldn’t rely only on their portfolio to make a hiring decision.

You also need to check references as you would for any employee. References will be able to tell you about the quality of the painter’s past work. They’ll also be able to tell you if the painter completed the work in a timely manner and if there were any issues with their performance or personality.

You can also check reviews on their website or on the internet to find out more about them. A lack of reviews might be a warning sign that the painter doesn’t have enough experience.

3) Ask for an Estimate

You want to find out if your painter will charge by the hour or by the project.

Ask them for an estimate before you commit to their services. Be sure to take them on a tour of the home and show them every room that needs painting.

The cost to hire a painter can vary widely. It’s important you establish a price range before you get too set on one painter or before you fall in love with their prior work.

4) Choose Colors Wisely

Even the best painters can make up for your poor choice in color.

Keep in mind how certain colors make people feel before choosing one for a room. Remember that dark colors tend to make a room look smaller, while lighter colors open a room up.

Yellow hues tend to evoke feelings of happiness. Blue tones invoke feelings of peace. Red tones can make you feel excited. Research color therapy before choosing colors for different bedrooms.

Feel free to ask your painter for their opinion, they are professionals after all.

Follow These Tips to Get the Best Professional Painters

Painting your home can be a great experience.

A fresh coat of paint adds new life to an older home. Be sure to think carefully about what painting you want inside your house. When you’re ready, research painters thoroughly to make sure you’re choosing the right one.

Adding a fresh coat of paint is great for getting your house ready to sell as well. Check out our article on other tips to make your home more presentable and ready to sell.

Every year, over 326 billion dollars is spent on home improvement…and that’s a lot of money. It’s clear that a lot of people spent a ton on home remodeling. If you don’t have big bucks in your budget for a bathroom makeover, but want to give your washroom a new look, check out these cheap bathroom decorating ideas.

Add an Accent

We all know that a pop of color can add a new dimension to a room, but for whatever reason, we don’t think to do this in our bathrooms. This is why we’re here to tell you that there is nothing cheaper and easier than adding an accent wall to your bathroom. There is no renovation required!

In other words, we’re suggesting picking one wall in your bathroom and painting it a bright color, say turquoise, blue, green, orange or red.

The color you pick will depend on the “theme” for your bathroom – e.g. tropical, spa-like, etc. – but an accent wall of any color will make your bathroom feel bigger and more eclectic.

Swap Out Your Towel Rack

We’re all familiar with the towel rack. It’s a staple of any bathroom. But they’re often ugly and unnecessarily take up wall space. So let’s not be beholden to these gaudy instruments anymore! There are other options out there!

Alternatively, you can either add towel hooks to the back of your door (what else would you use that space for?) or invest in a multi-functional ladder or another ground-based towel drying system.

Replace Your Bathmat and Shower Curtain

If you want to add some color or flair to your bathroom, but don’t feel like making the time investment that an accent wall requires, there is another way. You can replace your bathmat and/or shower curtain instead.

Your bathmat and shower curtain take up an inordinate amount square footage of decorating space, so your bathroom deserves better than your off-white, stain and mildewy offerings you have now.

There are so many possibilities. You can buy solid bright colored ones, tropical ones, or pattern prints!

Upgrade Your Accessories

Last, but not least, if you want to upgrade your bathroom’s look in small, but noticeable ways, then upgrading to designer bathroom accessories will do the trick.

We’re talking about getting new soap dispensers, hand towel racks, trash cans, candle holders, tissue boxes, and every other small item you can think of.

It’s amazing what a difference replacing your store-bought Dawn dispenser with a custom-made, aesthetically pleasing soap dispenser can do for your bathroom.

These Bathroom Decorating Ideas Not Helping?

These bathroom decorating ideas should spruce up most home bathrooms, but sometimes it’s just like putting lipstick on a pig. If your home’s bathroom is too-far-gone, then these budget decoration tips won’t do much.

If you’re dissatisfied with your home, it may be time to move. If you’re curious about luxury residences in South Florida, be sure to check out our listings for homes and condos.

Moving is a big step to make, even if you’re not going far. However, if you’re planning on packing and uprooting your entire life in order to move it to a completely new area, that’s something that requires handling a little differently.

Of course, there is a lot to consider when moving houses anyway, but if you’re looking to start a life in a new town or city, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you’re in a situation where you’re wanting to relocate but you’re not altogether sure where to go, here are some of the things you should really consider.

Research the Sizes of Cities and Towns

The first thing to do when you’re considering moving to a new location is doing your research about the size of the cities and towns that you’re considering moving to.  Creating a moving checklist is something that will be well worth your time. This should include all of the tasks that you must accomplish in order for the move to take place, along with, the market research that you will need to consider.

The housing market will depend on this factor a fair amount, and even though there are companies out there like readysteadysell.co.uk who buy and sell quickly, it’s important to know the size and ultimately the population of the area you’re moving into.

Likewise, it’s important to think about your lifestyle in relation to these towns and cities. Say for example if you’re recently retired, and your reason for moving location is because you’re wanting to downsize and live in a quiet and more rural town that you do at current, it wouldn’t make sense to look at large city centers like Leeds and Manchester.

On the other hand, if you’re a student and you want to explore as many different places and experiences, as you can in your time away at university, moving to a major city, might be just what the doctor ordered. It’s all about personal preference, so do your research and decide realistically.

Take the Infrastructure into Consideration

Another important thing to consider is the infrastructure of the local area you’re potentially moving to, whether that be schools, hospitals or available transport options.

For example, for families with children, it goes without saying that the importance of living near a school is a priority. Sometimes, however, simply living near a school isn’t enough. If you have a specific school in mind, then you could possibly look to move into that local school catchment area. This could be the difference between your child going to a school of choice, or not.

If you don’t drive but need to go out to work, then this is another important thing to consider. As much as the countryside is desirable for a lot of people, if you don’t drive and it isn’t on a bus route, living rurally can make this near impossible. Considering all of these things is so important because it’ll determine whether a place really is suitable for you and your lifestyle. Sometimes being realistic has to trump desirability.

The Weather and Climate

The weather and climate are also an important thing to consider when moving locations, because who says you have to stay in the same country?

If you’re looking at emigrating to somewhere hot in Europe like Spain, or you fancy somewhere on the colder side, the weather and the climate will inevitably have a big say on where you choose to go.

So many people leave countries like Britain when they retire, seeking a leisurely existence in the sun after a lifetime of unreliable weather and drizzly summers – and who can blame them? Even if you choose to stay in the same country, depending on where cities are in the North or South direction, temperatures can rocket and plummet quite dramatically – even when the distance isn’t too far. Consider what’s comfortable and ideal for you to live in, and take it from there.

The Cost of Living

Last but absolutely not least, you’ll have to consider the cost of living before you make the decision to move.

This is because it’ll affect literally everything about your lifestyle. A lot of people just look at housing prices and forget to look at the little bits in between, but it’s crucial that you consider everything.

From grocery shopping and school fees to utility bills, where you move could have an enormous impact on the kind of life you can have in relation to your financial situation. The wisest thing to do is research this in the early days, and rule out anywhere you couldn’t afford. Then look realistically at where is left over, and make a consecutive decision from there.

The real estate market is booming again much to the delight or real estate agents and referral agents alike! After years of decline, in 2017 it bounced back with an 11.4% increase and has shown no signs of slowing down since.

Have you been wanting to buy a property but need someone to help you find a good real estate agent? If you answered yes, then you need to employ the services of a referral agent.

Wondering what a referral agent is and if you really need one?

You are not alone. Many people know who a real estate agent is but many don’t know about real estate referral agents.

Here is a closer look.

Why Would Someone Need a Real Estate Referral Agent?

A real estate referral agent refers a buyer to a real estate agent, but that’s not all they do, you will learn more about their role as you read on.

Once they refer a buyer, they get a commission. For a real estate agent, its good for business because they have a partner to feed them clients on a consistent basis.

If you are a buyer looking to find a good real estate agent, so you can purchase the perfect home, then a referral agent will help you locate the best one.

If you want to purchase property in areas that you are not acquainted with you may need a referral agent. For example, you may want to buy a second home.

This second home may be in a ski resort town or in an area where there are a lot of beach houses. You may even want to buy this home in another part of the country.

In situations like these, since you may have never bought these types of homes before you will want to find a good real estate agent to help you. The best way for you to do this is to find a good referral agent who will recommend you to a real estate agent.

Even if the home you want to purchase is not a second home, if you have not previously purchased a home you would not have a connection with a real estate agent. In this situation, you would need a referral agent.

The final instance in which you may end up with a referral agent is in a case where a family member who is a real estate agent refers you to another agent due to conflict of interest. In this case, your family member becomes a referral agent.

The Breakdown on How Referral Agents Get Paid

Let’s look at an example to see how referral agents get paid.

If someone wants to sell their house and they pay a listing agent $9000 to put the house on the market. That listing agent may want to keep $5000 for themselves and offer $4000 of the listing fee to the real estate agent who brings you in as a buyer.

The real estate agent may decide to pay the referral agent 25 percent of the $4000 for referring you to them. Which works out to $1000 dollar for the referral agent. So, in this case, the referral agent will make $1000 dollars.

Otherwise, referral agents earn money directly from their clients.

Questions You Should Ask Your Referral Agent About Your Real Estate Agent

Even though you will be paying your referral agent to find you a good real estate agent, this doesn’t mean that you should not have a hand in quality control. What this means is that you will need to make your referral agent aware of the qualities you are looking for so that they can find you the best match.

Since you may have never chosen a real estate agent before, here is a guide as to what you need to look for before you accept the agent your referrer recommends.

Familiarity with the Area

You should let your referral agent know that you want a real estate agent with a great deal of familiarity with the area you want to live in. Preferably, you will want someone with experience as well.

It’s not that you can’t hire someone who has just launched out on their own. However, even if the real estate agent has just launched out, they should have at least worked alongside more experienced agents for some time.

Reviews and Recommendations

Let your referral agent know that you are interested in seeing the reviews and recommendations of the real estate agent that you hire.

This is very important, it is not that you shouldn’t trust your real estate referrer’s judgment, it is just always better to apply due diligence. Read through the recommendations and reviews then make a decision.

Ask Your Referral Agent for an Interview

Remember, that your real estate agent will be helping you to make one of the most important decisions of your life. The last thing you want is to end up with someone who is just interested in getting a rapid sale and doesn’t have your best interests at heart.

Often this can be avoided by setting up an interview with the real estate agent. Make sure that you not only approve of their qualifications but their personality as well, since it is very likely that you are going to be spending a lot of time with this person.

Final Thoughts

If you are ready to hire a real estate referral agent to help you find a good real estate agent, you have made a wise choice. Referral agents usually do their best to find you a good agent because their reputation depends on the quality of the leads they provide.

However, while this is true, it is never a good idea to just accept any real estate agent, they send you. You should make them aware of your needs in a real estate agent and perform due diligence when they send you someone. This will ensure that you get the best service possible.

If you would like more real estate tips, please visit our blog.