As a realtor, email correspondence is a major aspect of your job. We spend about a quarter of our work hours reading and responding to emails. More people are observing professional emailing etiquette so they are less forgiving of others that don’t follow email etiquette at work. 

This is why it is important to know the unwritten rules of email correspondence. Read on for 10 email etiquette rules you should follow when communicating with your clients and colleagues. 

1. Make Proper Use of the Subject Line

People decide whether to read an email based on the subject line. Ensure that every email you send out has a subject line. The subject line should also be very clear and straight to the point.

Sample subject lines could be things like “Action points from the marketing workshop” or “Location change for company launch”. Sending out an email with a blank subject can make you look unprofessional. 

2. Use a Professional Email Address

Always use your company provided email for professional email correspondence. If you are self-employed and don’t have a professional email then get a professional one from Gmail or Outlook. If you own an Apple computer, you can also look for the best email app for mac. 

Your email address should only have your name and company name. For example, jane.smith@gmail.com. For business email etiquette you should stay away from immature sounding email addresses. 

3. Know When To CC and BCC

It can be a bit frustrating for leaders to be CC’d on emails that they have nothing to do with. Some employees like copying their manager or CEO on emails to show that they are working. This ends up cluttering the manager’s email inbox and distracts them from their actual work.

Copying other people on emails that don’t concern them is an email etiquette rule you don’t want to break. So only include relevant people in your emails. 

4. Know When To Use “Reply All”

In general, it is professional to include everyone on an email chain in any response you make. The email creator had their reason for including all the emails contained in the message. So responding to only a select few may appear rude.

Additionally, you may lose some input from relevant people if you reply to only a select few. But if you want to clarify something that only involves one person it is acceptable to only respond to them. Other people in the email chain may get annoyed by a message that has nothing to do with them.

It also isn’t proper email etiquette to criticize others over email. Most things on the internet aren’t truly confidential. Hitting the reply-all button and proceeding to badmouth someone could be career suicide if that person is copied on the email.

5. Have a Professional Signature

All outgoing emails should have a professional signature with your name, contact details, and logo. Sometimes people may want to call you or send you a package and the first place they will check for your contacts is your email signature. It can be frustrating trying to find a professional contact’s phone number if they don’t have it on their signature.

6. Be Professional

Our culture is becoming more relaxed and you can see this in our writing. Many of us interact on first-name basis with our bosses and clients and rarely use salutations like “sir” or “miss”. But we still need to keep our email correspondence professional. 

For example, we should use a proper greeting like “hello”, “good afternoon” or “dear” when starting an email. We should also end emails with parting words such as “best regards”, “sincerely”, etc.

We should avoid using colloquial words like “yo” or “hey guys” in a professional setting (unless this is the dynamic of your relationship). Also, try not to use nicknames in an email and stick to the recipient’s first or last names. 

7. Stick to Classic Fonts and Punctuation

Another email etiquette rule is to stick to classic fonts such as ‘Times New Roman’ and ‘Arial’. You should also use font size 12 or 14 and the color black. Writing in newer fonts, larger or smaller sizes and different colors may make your email harder to read. 

Another email fail that some people still commit is writing emails in all caps. This makes you seem like you are shouting and it may anger some of your recipients.

The same goes for using exclamation points. They emphasize a point so only use them when necessary or you will come across as a control freak.

8. Leave Out Tasteless Humor and Sarcasm 

Tacky humor and sarcasm are best-conveyed face-to-face when the other person can read your facial expressions. It is very easy to misunderstand someone trying to be humorous or sarcastic via email. On top of this unless you know someone you may end up offending them. 

Some things we find funny may not be funny to other people. For professional emails, it is best to be direct and get straight to the point. 

9. Understand Cultural Contexts

When sending out emails to international clients and colleagues consider their cultural context. For example, someone from India may be very formal and prefer to address their seniors as “Sir” and “Madam”.

Americans are more informal and can address each other by their first names. Once you understand the culture of your recipient you can tailor your email communications to their preference. 

10. Check for Grammatical Errors

We’ve all experienced the embarrassment of sending out an incomplete or unedited email. To prevent this always proofread your writing to check for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Make sure the tone is also as it should be. Once you are happy with the email message you can type the email address it is going to. Double-check that it is the correct recipient on the address box, then send it out. 

You can also use modern plug-ins and software like Grammarly.

Use These Email Correspondence Tips

Appropriate email correspondence is a big part of our professional lives and can make or break our business image. Use these rules to ensure that your emails portray you as the professional realtor you are.

For more real estate business tips, read the rest of our blog. 

Roughly one in every 200 homes will end up in foreclosure at some point during ownership. 

Compared to one in an average of 50 homes in 2010, the numbers are looking up. But still, foreclosed homes can be a great investment. The low price of a foreclosed home combined with a little elbow grease and some creativity can create a beautiful home that will attract the right buyer.

If you’re interested in buying foreclosed, but ask yourself how to buy foreclosed homes, this guide is for you. Check out our five easy steps to buying foreclosed homes.

How to Buy Foreclosed Homes: Start With a Budget

Yes, it’s true that you can sometimes buy foreclosed homes for low prices, but if you own a home, have kids, or pay bills, you want to make sure you’re developing a budget to invest in buying foreclosed homes.

Make a realistic budget for yourself, considering all the commitments you already have in place. Talk with people at your bank to figure out what kind of home loan you can take out to buy a foreclosed home. 

Make sure you leave consideration for any repairs you may have to do on a foreclosed home. A home loan will help you pay for the foreclosed home, but if you spend too much money on the purchase, you won’t have anything left for any repairs.

Get Preapproved for a Mortgage 

It’s not a bad idea to get approved for a mortgage.

Whether it’s with your own bank or another lending company, knowing how much you can spend will help you weed out the houses you shouldn’t bother looking at. 

Hire a Real Estate Agent

Unless you’re a real estate agent yourself, you won’t regret hiring one.

Real estate agents are trained to sell houses, and will help you navigate the process of buying a foreclosed home.

On the other hand, if you’re asking yourself, ‘how do I sell my house fast?’ a real estate agent can be a great asset during this stressful time.

Get an Inspection

You’ll never regret getting a home inspection before making a purchasing decision.

Home inspections can help identify problems within a home before you sign on the dotted line. Identifying problems before you own a home can help you make a better decision, and also allow you to examine your budget.

Make a Competitive Offer

Being competitive in your offer is a surefire way to get noticed.

If you’re interested in buying a foreclosed home, consult with your realtor about reasonable but competitive price points. It may take an attempt or two, but being competitive can help you land that foreclosed home.

Foreclosed Homes Can Be a Great Investment

Whether you’re buying for yourself or to flip, foreclosed homes can be a wonderful chance to own a home. 

If you’re asking yourself how to buy foreclosed homes, keep our five tips in mind: stick to your budget, have an expert at your back, get preapproved, get a home inspection, and be competitive. 

Finding your dream home is sometimes a difficult task but worth the effort. It’s not common to stumble across the perfect home that meets all of your needs and lands right inside your price budget. In most situations, finding your forever home means a bit of compromise. 

This might mean choosing a home with a smaller backyard than desired or something similar. One thing that you can’t compromise on, however, is your budget. Did you find the home of your dreams but need a lower mortgage rate? 

Continue reading below for tips on how to negotiate mortgage rate and get the home you’ve been looking for!

Come in With a Solid Credit Score

If you want a lower mortgage rate from your bank, then you need to have a great credit score. The better your credit score, the lower your rate will be. Having a good credit score signals to lenders that you’re a low-risk borrower. 

Lenders won’t have to worry as much about your paying your loan back and will offer you a better rate because of it. Before you begin house shopping, focus on bringing your credit score up first. 

Pay off any debt you might have and wait until your score rises to visit a lender.

Compare Rates With Different Banks 

Your bank might not have the lowest mortgage rate. It’s a good idea to shop around with different lenders and compare rates. If you find a bank or lender that offers a lower rate, then consider borrowing from there instead.

You can also ask your bank to match rates or lower their rate. The worst that will come from this is that your bank says, “no.” Another tip is to start with credit unions. 

Credit unions tend to offer lower rates than traditional banks. 

Save a Larger Down Payment  

If you have time to spare, then use it to your advantage. Don’t jump into a situation if you don’t have to. Use what time you have to start saving for a large down payment. 

The larger your down payment is, the lower your rate will be. If you’re qualified, you can put down as little as 3% of the loan, which will help you in the present. If you can save, however, and put down 20% of the loan or more, then you’ll save in the long run because your interest rate will be lower. 

Have an Inspection Done

Before purchasing your new home, be sure to have an inspection done. An inspection might uncover some aspects of the home that’ll help lower the price of it.

Some major things to inspect on a home are the foundation (cracks or other issues with it), the roof (standard roof pitch vs a flat roof), the electrical system (issues with wiring), and more. 

If issues with any of these aspects of the house or other large problems come up during an inspection, then you can use them when negotiating mortgage rate. Ask the seller to lower the cost due to inspection finds.

Negotiate Mortgage Rate Using These Tips!

If you find the home you’ve been looking for, but you need a lower mortgage rate, then don’t give up hope yet. Use these tips listed above to help you negotiate mortgage rate and buy the home of your dreams!

For more topics as helpful as this one, be sure to visit us daily! 

So, your business has officially outgrown your current office space. That means you have to start planning your move, and more specifically, what kind of office building you want to move into.

While there are a lot of building types out there, none are better than steel buildings. The benefits of steel buildings are numerous, and once you’re up to speed, you’ll know exactly where to take your business next!

In this article, we’ll breakdown the 3 biggest benefits of steel buildings. We’ll tell you why they’re great for anyone looking for an office space for their business, including a few reasons you might not have thought of before.

Now then, let’s get started!

1. Metal Buildings Are Easy to Assemble

If you’re building your facility from the ground up, you’re most likely hoping to have it completed as fast as possible. If you’re working on a strict timeline, metal buildings are absolutely the best route to go.

Metal buildings are easy to assemble and can be finished in time to meet even the shortest of timelines. That means you can get your office building built, and even move in, faster than you could if you went with another type of building.

2. They’re Durable and Easy to Maintain

Although metal buildings can’t be built in a hurry, that doesn’t mean they aren’t well made. In fact, metal buildings are extremely durable and should last you as long as any other structural building would, as long as you maintain it properly.

Speaking of maintenance, metal buildings are very easy to maintain. This means you can keep your building looking as good as new for years to come without breaking the bank.

3. Metal Buildings Are Cost-Efficient

Because metal buildings are easy to assemble, and the materials are affordable, they’re very cost-effective. Meaning if you’re building on a budget, metal buildings are going to give you the biggest bang for your buck.

Again, the steel for buildings isn’t as expensive as other building materials. With this extra breathing room in your budget, you can invest in the interior of your building.

You can also build a bigger building with more square footage, helping you future-proof your business.

The 3 Biggest Benefits of Steel Buildings

Well, there you have it! Those are the 3 biggest benefits of steel buildings! So, if your business is in need of new office space, consider investing in a brand new steel building today!

Remember, building a steel building yourself gives you a ton of great benefits. You’ll be able to customize your office and build a larger building for a fair price. Also, they’re quick and easy to assemble, so you can get moved in fastly.

Whether you build your building yourself or purchase a used one, you’ll be getting a building that is easy to maintain. They’re super durable, too, so you won’t have to worry about your building deteriorating.

Looking for more construction tips and tricks? Check out our blog!

Don’t let John Travolta’s 10 million dollar mansion fool you. Ocala, Florida isn’t a glamorous retreat for the rich and famous.

Ocala is one of the most affordable places to live in central Florida. If you’re considering a move to this growing city, take a look at this overview of the Ocala real estate market.

The Ocala Real Estate Market

Ocala, Florida is about 45 minutes south of Gainesville on the I-75 corridor. Most residents of nearby cities wouldn’t think twice about the small city when passing through on the way to Disney World or Palm Beach County.

But once you get to know the charming city, you’ll find a great investment opportunity. Think beyond horse farms.  

In Ocala, you can buy single-family homes in top school districts for almost $100,000 less than the national average. 

Where to Buy in Ocala

Ocala is filled with great submarkets that include live, work, play communities. While most communities aren’t walkable, there are many neighborhood options near I-75 where you can shop and live within a few minutes’ drive.

If you want the best school options, consider homes near Madison Street, a top-rated elementary school in the heart of Ocala. The feeder schools aren’t top rated but it’s a great magnet program for advanced students.

Belleview and Dunnellon are neighborhoods just outside the Ocala city limits that provide solid schooling options for elementary, middle and high school students. Retirees should opt for smaller, close-knit communities like Marion Oaks where you’ll find affordable housing, a community center, and grocery stores.

Other retirement communities in the area include On Top of the World and Trilogy at Ocala Preserve. Both options are moderately affordable but Trilogy offers luxury housing options if you’re looking to splurge on living accommodations. 

One downside to moving to Ocala is the condo inventory. Most available homes are single-family residences with very few condominium buildings.

If you’re looking for tall high rise condominiums, there aren’t any in the Ocala area. Most homes in the affordable price range are single story.

Local Economy 

Job growth in Ocala is steady. With retail and hospitality construction constantly going, there are opportunities to find part-time employment everywhere.

This is a great opportunity for retirees who want to supplement their income. Ocala’s Economic Development office includes funding opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs as of 2018.

These funds are expected to keep the job market expanding year after year.

Choosing Your Next Home

So now that you’ve decided Ocala is the right market for you, how do you decide on a price point for your next home? The first step is to decide what you want to accomplish as a homebuyer.

Perhaps you want to downsize your current home or move into the retirement property of your dreams. The pace of your lifestyle is important when choosing a community in Ocala. 

Neighborhoods like Belleview and Dunnellon are perfect for families while young professionals will enjoy the bars and walkability of downtown. If you’re downsizing but still want access to events and activities, choose a subdivision with a lively community center to keep you busy.

Ask your realtor for a list of amenities for each subdivision so you can compare lifestyle activities. Not every subdivision requires HOA fees to get access to its amenities.

For example, Marion Oaks has a community center, playground and basketball courts that are available to all residents without a monthly or annual HOA fee. If you’re trying to save money, ask your realtor to help you find out more about communities that don’t charge you a fee to use neighborhood facilities.

Should You Buy in Ocala?

The Ocala real estate market has a lot to offer buyers looking for a quiet city with access to everything. Ocala is about an hour from Daytona Beach and 45 minutes from Crystal River Beach. 

If you want a Disney World excursion, the trek to Orlando is just over an hour. Ocala gives you access that few other cities in the state offer.

You won’t get the cheapest prices in the state in Ocala, but the market is competitive for the amenities and location of the city. It’s a great time to buy since the economy is steady and home values continue to increase every year.

For investors, Ocala is a prime place to buy a rental property. Florida is a hot spot for people looking to escape the cold Northern weather for a warm climate.

Ocala attracts renters from across the Northeast looking to start over and find work in the growing job market. You’ll find the best deals on the outskirts of town near good school districts.

The further you head out of the city, the cheaper the real estate prices get. Aim for housing that’s within 20 minutes of downtown if you’re an investor.

Being near major highways like 200 or 44 also increases your chances of attracting renters who need easy access into town. Aim for properties that don’t come with a pool as the humidity makes upkeep much more tedious when the property is vacant. 

Preparing Yourself for Homeownership 

The Ocala real estate market offers everything you need to make your housing goals a reality including access to top beaches and attractions.

When it’s time to take a road trip, I-75 will take you from the tip of Florida up through Ohio.  Ask your realtor for referrals to mortgage brokers to help you get preapproved before you begin your house hunt.

This will help you narrow down the communities where you want to invest and take immediate advantage of any good deals you find. For more information and real estate tips, check our blog for updates. 

Traveling the world is one of the greatest parts of life. For many people, the excitement of discovering and exploring new destinations is a thrill that’s hard to beat.

Every year, more and more travelers discover the beauty and mystery of Asia. And few Asian destinations offer as much to tourists than Kuala Lumpur.

This article takes a look at 5 of the most fun things to do in Kuala Lumpur for travelers seeking new adventures. Keep reading to uncover amazing places to visit in Kuala Lumpur that you definitely don’t want to miss out on.

1. Climb the Menara Kuala Lumpur TV Tower

It’s no secret that Kuala Lumpur is a gorgeous city with tons of things to see, and you can see it even better from the top of the Menara KL Tower.

The KL Tower Observation Deck provides the chance to view the skyline from a glass Skybridge that will absolutely take your breath away. 

The primary purpose of the tower is for communications, but the upper floor was designed to enable visitors to pay for the chance to look out across many miles of beautiful surrounding landscapes. This is definitely an experience that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

2. Visit the Petronas Twin Towers

Here’s another way to see the city from a bird’s-eye view.

The Petronas Towers are truly an example of some of the most extraordinary architecture and engineering found anywhere in the world. These twin towers each have 88 floors, which made them the tallest buildings in the world from 1988 to 2004. 

There’s a bridge linking the two buildings between the 41st and 42nd floors. This double-decker Sky Bridge features a glass platform where you can stop to look around before heading up to the Observation Deck on the 88th floor.

Keep in mind that tickets for the towers are limited to 1,000 per day, so be sure to get there early for the chance to go all the way to the top.

3. Take a Food Tour

You don’t have to be a genius to know that Asia is home to some of the finest food on the planet. That’s why you should take advantage of the amazing food tours offered in Kuala Lumpur.

The average food tour lasts between 3 to 4 hours and gives you the chance to sample some of the best Malaysian food located throughout the city.

4. Take a Boat Ride on the Selangor River

Here is a peaceful and scenic way to explore the countryside surrounding the city. This is an especially memorable experience in the evening when you can see the air over the water is lit up by fireflies.

5. Walk the Hanging Bridges of Eco Park

Echo Park is located in Bukit Nanas Forest and was created to preserve the forest in the center of Kuala Lumpur.

The entire park is linked by walking bridges suspended among the trees. This is the perfect way to experience nature up close.

A Guide to Great Things to Do In Kuala Lumpur

When you’re ready to plan a trip to Asia, don’t forget to include Kuala Lumpur as part of your itinerary. This guide to things to do in Kuala Lumpur will help you get started.

Keep scrolling to learn more about some of the most amazing real estate in the world.

If your company has grown exponentially, then you might be considering finding a new place to conduct business.

But with so many options out there, it’s hard to find the building options that are most feasible for your company’s budget? Have you ever considered making your own building?

If so, building a metal building would be well worth the investment and give you a sturdy headquarters for many years to come.

But how big does it need to be? Here’s an in-depth guide of metal building sizes and how they correlate to the needs you and your company have. Consider all of these options for the building you’re looking for.

1. What Will Be Its Purpose?

There are many different reasons why you would be interested in building a new place of business.

Maybe your company needs a new warehouse to store all of its inventory. Perhaps you need to move into a new location that’s much larger for your company’s manufacturing processes.

Whatever the case might be, the “needs” of your new place of business will dictate what size of metal building you’ll create.

For example, if you need a metal building for an auto repair shop, then your metal building could be around 40 x 80 feet. It wouldn’t require much land to build and would create an ideal working size.

However, if you simply need something to store vehicles or large equipment, then you could build one that’s only 30 x 40 and save a significant amount of money.

Think about the uses you’ll have for this new building. After that, look into options for sheet metal on the building size that you need.

2. Create Your Budget

Now that you’ve determined all the uses that you’ll have for your new metal building, it’s time to turn your attention to your company’s budget for this project.

Luckily for your accountants, creating a metal building is one of the most cost-efficient ways of construction.

They have a simplistic building system that allows you to build as long of a building as you need while keeping the costs to a minimum.

That said, you’ll also want to factor in things such as installation for the metal building with your overall project cost.

Better yet, once it’s built, your metal or steel building will likely last up to 40 years. If you want, you can occupy the same building for over 3 decades. Talk about cost-efficiency!

3. Consider the Necessary Height

One factor that people don’t often consider is the height that they’ll need for their building.

Metal or not, you need to consider the necessary height in your building to maximize the space that you’re given.

For example, if you’re building a storage warehouse, you’ll want the building to be as tall as possible. That way, it can provide double the amount of storage given the amount of land you have to build on.

Remember that metal and steel buildings’ height is measured from the ground to the top of its eave, not the highest point of the ceiling.

Generally speaking, a building size of around 40 feet will help you maximize the building’s usage for storage, production, etc. But, the less height your building requires, the more you’ll save on construction!

4. Factor in the Length

One of the biggest advantages of building a metal building is that there are virtually no limitations on building length.

However long you need your building to be, the structure of a metal building system will allow you to do so. In fact, the only things holding you back will be your lot size and the budget you have for this project.

This is where the intended use of your building comes into play. It will help you consider the proper length to fill every need.

More importantly, you don’t just need to be thinking about how the building works for your company’s current format, but for its future as well.

For example, say you’re building a barn for you to fit your agriculture equipment inside of. Currently, your equipment might only need a 20 x 40 building to fit everything comfortably inside it.

However, if your farm continues to grow as you hope, then 5 to 10 years down the line, your equipment will double. Therefore, it’s more advantageous to build a 40 x 80 now with the expectation for growth.

Remember, this metal building is a longterm investment. Therefore, you have to consider how your company’s long term strategy comes into play.

5. Do You Need a Particular Width?

Lastly, the width of your building needs to be put through an immense amount of consideration.

There might be a situation where you don’t necessarily need as much length, but it’s necessary in order to achieve the proper width.

For instance, going back to the barn example that was used in the last point. You might determine you only need a 30 x 60 building to fit your equipment both now and in the future.

However, most heavy-duty farming tractors are around 24 feet long and up to 16 feet wide. So, in that instance, a building that’s only 30 feet wide wouldn’t be ideal.

It might be worth building a 40 x 80 to ensure all of your equipment fits perfectly inside of it.

Consider These Factors in Your Metal Building Sizes

Now that you’ve seen all the determining factors of metal building sizes, it’s time to find your ideal fit.

Be sure to comb through all of your options and make sure you find a successful building size for your company’s bright future.

Be sure to browse our website for more articles on construction, as well as many other helpful topics!

Thinking about avoiding commission fees and selling your own home? We’re here to tell you that it’s possible! 

Selling a house takes a lot of work and you’ll need to be ready if you’re up for the task to sell without a realtor. We’ve put together a step-by-step guide below to get you started.     

What Do Listing Agents Do? 

A listing agent is a professional who represents the seller of a home and guides you through the entire selling process. They list homes for sale on the regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS), market your home, hold open houses, negotiate with buyers, and oversee the home inspection process and closing procedures. 

If your home sells, listing agents receive a commission of 5% to 6% of the price of your home (split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent). 

How Do I Sell Without a Realtor?

Having a listing agent is not necessary to sell your own home. In the real estate business, this is known as FSBO or For Sale By Owner. According to the National Association of Realtors, FSBOs accounted for 7% of homes sold in the U.S. in 2017.  

Here are the basic steps to sell your property without realtor help:

Step 1: Prepare Your Home 

You can’t take pictures for marketing or have an open house if your home is a mess. Make sure to clean your home and remove things you don’t want potential buyers seeing.

Rent a storage space to prepare to sell your home. Try to organize your home as much as possible and put the clutter and things you don’t need into a storage unit. You can make it easier by renting a portable unit to bring to your new home.  

Step 2: Price 

There are a few things that can help you get an accurate market value price for your home: 

• Use a site like Zillow that can give an estimated valuation of your property.
• Hire an appraiser for an accurate estimate of your property’s value.
• Compare your home to others that have sold in the neighborhood. 

Step 3: List Your House on MLS

The Multiple Listing Service is a database that provides data about properties for sale. You can list your house on the MLS by paying a flat fee of a few hundred dollars. 

Step 4: Market  

When you market your home, emphasize its selling features. You’ll want to go into detail about specific features (dimensions, bed/bath, granite countertops, renovations, etc.). 

Take photographs of your home to accompany your list of basic and valuable features. Create a website, make ads, and put up signs to show that your home is for sale.   

Step 5: Open House

Advertise an open house by posting it online and with signs in your neighborhood. Make sure your home is spotless before showing it off. 

Step 6: Negotiate   

If someone is interested in buying, an offer will be made. You can negotiate back and forth until both parties are happy with the offer and a contract is signed. 

Step 7: Make Sure Your Contract Complies With All Laws

You might want a real estate attorney to look at the contract and review all documents related to the sale. You want everything to comply with local laws. 

Should I Sell My Own Home? 

If you are on the fence about doing it yourself or decided you want to try to sell without a realtor, research as much as possible and be fully informed about the entire process. Information never hurts! 

If you want to read more about the real estate business, check out our blog. 

We may think that the first step to suing an insurance company is calling a  lawyer, but before doing that, it’s important to understand what’s involved with this process.

Suing insurance companies is no small endeavor and it is not something to take lightly. It can be very expensive and take up a significant amount of time and resources. Not everyone can afford costly lawyer fees.

Let’s take a look at what to expect when suing an insurance company and the steps involved. 

Reasons for Suing an Insurance Company 

There are various reasons why we may want to sue our insurance company. We may feel they treated us unfairly, especially during our time of need.

They may have denied a claim for no good reason, or delayed funds for excessive periods of time, putting us in a greater financial hardship. 

Some insurance companies may not negotiate claims at all, or completely neglect to discuss important information regarding the claim. They may take longer than is acceptable to relay this information, making matters worse. 

Hire a public adjuster to help with these types of situations. They help with filing claims and disputes and often 

Public adjusters know everything that company adjusters do but work on behalf of the policyholder. They’ll explore the ins and out of the policy coverage.

Since they’re familiar with what the insurance company is looking for, they can address specific issues within the claim and provide thorough documentation to support the claim. 

The desired result is for the insurance company to positively respond to the claim and payout a reasonable amount. In addition, public adjusters help to speed the process along so a claim is paid out much faster.

After suffering a financial loss, speedy access to funds is crucial, and policy adjusters aid in speeding up the process, especially for property damage claims. 

We’ve examined how public adjusters can help settle a claim with an insurance company. Now let’s take a look at what to expect when hiring an attorney. 

What’s Involved When Suing an Insurance Company?

We’d begin by hiring a lawyer for representation.

Our lawyer and the insurance company’s lawyer would look for relevant information during a period of time called discovery. 

Lawyers will gather information and depose witnesses. There will be miscellaneous fees associated with this costly process, which can add up. The attorney’s responsibility is to provide information as it arises. 

Attorneys work to settle the lawsuit out of court. However, if a settlement can’t be reached, things may advance and go to trial.

This can be stressful as the policyholder suing the insurance company will often have to testify during the trial. There’s no guarantee that at the end of this lengthy, expensive process a court will rule in favor of the policyholder.

It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of suing an insurance company and deciding if hiring a lawyer is what’s best.

The Bottomline

Getting an insurance company to cover a claim can be a tricky process. It’s essential to keep proper documentation and understand the policy’s coverage. 

Consider every option before suing an insurance company. Remember that public adjusters know everything that the insurance company’s adjusters do, but are hired to work for the policyholder to expedite swift, fair compensation.

Check out our website and explore our other informative articles for all your property needs. 

Are you interested in buying a lake house? Not sure how to approach this process, or what you need to know before you get started? We’re here to help!

In this article, we’re breaking down the basics of buying a lake house. So you can conduct your search in the smartest and most efficient way possible.

What You Should Know Before  Buying a Lake House

Buying a lake house is a little bit different than buying your standard house. Here are some of the things you should know before you plan to purchase any lake house property.

How You Use Your Lake House Matters

Before you purchase a lake house, you need to know how you plan to use the property. That’s because the way you intend to own and use your home will impact factors like mortgage rates.

There are three different options for owning and using your property:

• Primary residence
• Investment property
• Second home

If you plan for this home to be your primary residence, you’ll most likely get  the lowest mortgage rates. If you plan to use the house as your second home, mortgage rates will be similar. But if you plan to rent out the home, you won’t be able to get a loan.

And if you plan to use your home as an investment property, you’ll deal with higher interest rates as well as a higher down payment. So, before you purchase and finance a lake house, determine what your use will be so you can know what to expect.

Are you just starting your home search? View these lakefront homes to see what’s available.

Consider All of the Costs Involved

Buying a lake house is about more than just the mortgage. There are a ton of other costs you should consider. 

Waterfront properties tend to be more expensive than other property types, and if you’re purchasing it as a second home, you’ll have to put down a larger minimum down payment.

Additionally, you’ll have to pay for additional forms of insurance like flood and insurance. You’ll also want to set some money aside for maintenance work, as well as fun lake house activities like water skis, jet skis, and kayaks.

Use an Expert Real Estate Agent

Because purchasing a lake house is so different from purchasing a standard home, you’ll want to hire an experienced real estate agent. That’s because they’ll know what to expect and what to look out for during the buying process. 

They’ll be sure to ask questions about things like utility bills, internet connection. This will help you make sure you’re getting exactly what you want.

Get The Lake House Inspected

Getting a home inspection is vital when purchasing a waterfront property. That’s because water can do a ton of unseen damage to your home, and result in issues like water intrusion and mold. 

So, before closing on any lake house, make sure it’s fully inspected. If there’s a septic tank, have that checked out. That way if there are any issues you can have them addressed before you move in.

Ready for Your Lake House?

Owning a lake house is wonderful, but buying a lake house can be a challenging process. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can shop for a lake house in the smartest way possible, and find your dream home in no time.

Did you find this article helpful? Need additional advice? Check out our website for even more insights!