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Everyone Deserves the Opportunity of Home

Exceptional Properties. Exceptional Clients.

In Dallas, as across the nation, the demand for homes with an additional rental property, or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), is on the rise. In fact, 34 percent of agents nationwide saw more requests for properties with ADUs in their markets, according to a recent survey from the real estate experts at HomeLight. In our South Central region, that number is a bit lower at 27 percent. ADUs aren&rsquo;t only for renters, however. They are also being added by homeowners for grandparents, adult children, guests, or to be used as home gyms or home offices. But what does having more ADUs for renters mean for neighborhoods, especially in Dallas?
ADUs are a hot topic for our city council and the rules for homeowners to follow to add this sought-after amenity are in flux. If you want to add an ADU to your property, you&rsquo;ll need to jump through some hoops, and this can be a compelling reason for buyers to look for a home that already has an ADU if this is really on your wish list for your next home. With ADUs as rentals on the rise, the question is, does this really add value to a home, and does this feature have any effect on the desirability of your neighborhood? Let&rsquo;s take a closer look at <a href="https://www.homelight.com/blog/real-estate-top-agent-insights-year-end-2021/">what real estate agents are saying</a> about ADUs.
Tiny house, extra income
If you are thinking that an ADU can be an extra income source, you are not alone. Nationally, agents from the HomeLight survey reported that 29 percent of homeowners are talking about ADUs for long-term renters, while 32 percent are interested in short-term rentals (such as a vacation rental). Moreover, our region had the highest concentration of agents who have seen an increase in ADUs as short-term rentals, at 61 percent.&nbsp;
Get your design on
Tiny houses are on-trend, and that means it&rsquo;s all about small homes with top amenities. Agents shared the top three design features that an ADU owner can add to improve resale value: durable flooring such as waterproof laminate (recommended by 55 percent of agents); french doors, skylights, or clerestory windows (53 percent); and granite and name-brand appliances (47 percent). Homes with ADUs with a focus on design are likely to be <a href="https://www.homelight.com/blog/how-to-sell-and-buy-house-at-same-time/">the most desirable amenities when selling a property</a> and for long-term renters.
Neighborhoods in flux
There are some compelling reasons to consider a long-term rental, instead of a short-term rental, which might seemingly bring in more income. While an ADU as a vacation rental can enable tourism in a neighborhood and bring in more than renting long-term, agents also shared that it could also devalue surrounding properties anywhere from 10 to 15 percent. Agents surveyed by HomeLight estimated that an owner-occupied property is worth up to 13 percent less in our region when surrounded by a high volume of short-term rentals &mdash; and that&rsquo;s definitely worth considering.
Owning a property with an ADU has perks. It&rsquo;s up to you to decide what you&rsquo;ll use it for and whether you&rsquo;ll want it to lead to a second income source. Talking to a real estate agent about the pros and cons can help you decide if a short-term or long-term rental is right for your ADU.&nbsp;
Feel free to call your <a href="../../about" title="Housed Real Estate Team Page">Housed Real Estate team</a> at 214.888.6864 with more questions. We are here to help!

In Dallas, as across the nation, the demand for homes with an additional rental property, or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), is on the rise. 

Short-Term Rentals Trend Upward, But At What Cost to Neighborhoods?

Following the nearly weeklong record-breaking Arctic blast of 2021, North Texas lawns are not exactly looking their best; but with warm weather peeking around the corner, now is the time to get lawns and outdoor living spaces spring and summer ready!&nbsp;Below are some suggestions on where to get started.
Lawn
While your drought resistant plants and landscaping may not have survived, the good news is that at least your grass is resilient. With a little assistance it can be back to its lush, green self in no time. You can help your lawn recover with a fertilizer treatment first thing in the spring. After aerating, give your grass a healthy snack to energize growth for the spring.
Patio + Outdoor Furniture
It&rsquo;s best to start with the foundation when it comes to patio preparation. Your patio surface has surely built-up dust and debris during the winter months, so start with a thorough sweep and a solid hose down. Next, tackle the furniture!
Plastic &ndash; spray with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe down with a sponge or damp cloth to keep plastic furniture looking good.
Wood &ndash; scrub with a soft brush and a mix of water and dishwasher detergent or oxygen bleach. Scrub in the direction of the wood grain. Remove challenging stains by lightly sanding (again, with the direction of the grain) and rinsing the surface.
Metal &ndash; use a sponge or brush to clean surfaces with mild dish soap and warm water. If rust is detected, use steel wool to remove oxidation and consider re-painting the furniture to prevent future problems.
Grill + Outdoor Kitchen
It&rsquo;s time to start firing up that BBQ grill again. Before planning your first gathering, be sure to clean the grill thoroughly. Wipe down the grill grates, scrape off any charred pieces, and check the propane/gas lines. All grill covers, sinks, and stainless appliances can be wiped down with stainless steel cleaner. Bar countertops can be brushed off with a hand broom and then wiped down with a wet rag.
Pool
Leave this one to the professionals! We strongly recommend that you have your pool equipment thoroughly inspected, especially considering the unprecedented temps we experienced. If you were lucky enough to have maintained power, you likely ran the pump 24 hours a day. If you lost power, then your pool likely froze over. In any case, you&rsquo;ll need a professional to assess any possible damage.
It&rsquo;s the Little Things
Small changes can make a big impact and instantly bring your outdoor space back to life! Consider some new decorative pillows, a few cozy throws, plush cushions, outdoor rug and a few potted plants. &nbsp;
If you&rsquo;d like some suggestions on preferred vendors, please reach out to us <a href="mailto:info@HousedRealEstate.com">info@HousedRealEstate.com</a>

Following the record-breaking Arctic blast of 2021, North Texas lawns are not exactly looking their best; but with warm weather peeking around the corner, now is the time to get our lawns and outdoor living spaces ready for spring and summer!  

Prep Your Backyard for Spring and Summer

How to thaw frozen pipes
The best thing to do is call a trusted, licensed plumber to handle the situation. You may not know that your frozen pipe is already cracked, and it may burst if it's thawed. It can be dangerous to use electrical appliances to heat the pipe, as that can create a risk of electrocution.
Some suggested tips include shutting off your water supply in case it bursts and trying to thaw the pipe with a warm cloth or heating pad.
<h3>What to do if your pipe bursts</h3>
<ul>
<li>Shut off your water at the water main valve. It is important to know where your water main is so you can shut it off quickly before things flood.</li>
<li>Cut off electricity to the area of the home with water.</li>
<li>Call a licensed plumber. Try to research a 24-hour plumbing company in advance so you have one on hand. You may also want a water damage professional.</li>
<li>If there is damage, take photos immediately for insurance claims.</li>
<li>Dry the wet area with mops, towels, a wet/dry vacuum to soak up the water.</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;d like some suggestions on preferred vendors, please reach out to us <a href="mailto:info@HousedRealEstate.com">info@HousedRealEstate.com</a>
Courtesy WFAA&nbsp;

What to do when pipes freeze and when pipes burst

How to thaw pipes, what to do if pipes burst.

For you new homeowners out there, and possibly even your longtime homeowners, maintaining your home can feel overwhelming and like many people, you may feel completely unprepared or unqualified to handle such an endeavor. For example, did you know there are some important things to do to prepare your home for the winter? There are some simple tasks you can do to protect your home from unexpected and oftentimes, expensive damages. It&rsquo;s the worst feeling when you are caught off guard by a domestic disaster and your think to yourself &ldquo;why did no one tell me that this could happen?!&rdquo; Well, if you are someone who would prefer to prepare rather than repair your home, the following information is for you!
For those of you who have no idea where to start, <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/clean-and-organize/make-your-home-winter-ready">here</a> is a simple breakdown of what to do to prepare your home for the winter weather.
For those of you who have an older home and are concerned that you need a little more thorough of a checklist, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/10/01/use-this-checklist-prepare-your-home-winter/">here</a> is a list that may work for you.
If you are thinking to yourself, &ldquo;I have no time to do go through this list and take care of these things&rdquo; and you would prefer to hire someone to do if for you, call your favorite Housed Real Estate agent for an exceptional vendor referral.

Winter is Coming! How to Prepare Your Home.

&ldquo;Start with the End in mind&rdquo; &ndash; Stephen R. Covey
Whether you are tech savvy and regularly purchase all the latest gadgets or you&rsquo;re one of the many people still trying to get used to their smart phone and avoid technology as much as possible, it is important to understand the costs and benefits of adding smart features to your home.
Here&rsquo;s some advice for home-owners looking to trim their home with the latest technology.
#1 Where to start - small, inexpensive, user-friendly
With all the new technology to choose from, it can be overwhelming when deciding what gadgets to invest into. Therefore, like most new things in life, it&rsquo;s best to start SMALL, get comfortable with one technological addition in your home and then move on to the next investment. If you are looking for some ideas of INEXPENSIVE smart home gadgets, take a look at <a href="https://lightersideofrealestate.com/around-the-home/home-improvement/16-ways-to-make-your-dumb-home-smarter">16 Ways To Make Your Dumb Home Smarter Without Spending A Fortune</a>. If you are curious as to what is needed in order to have USER-FRIENDLY technology in your home, I recommend you read through <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/02/realestate/the-easy-way-to-create-a-smart-home.html">The Easy Way to Create a Smart Home</a> and learn some basic starting points for creating a smart home. For more ideas on where to start with smart home technology, take a look at <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/544974/7-diy-ways-make-your-home-smarter">7 DIY Ways to Make Your Home Smarter</a>.
#2 Products that pay-off - safety, money-saver, environmentally-friendly
Statics from the article <a href="https://realtybiznews.com/how-to-sell-a-smart-home-in-2019/98753691/">How to sell a Smart Home in 2019</a>&nbsp; show that tech features are likely to add value to your home when they increase the home-buyer&rsquo;s safety, save the home-buyer money and help the home-buyer take better care of the environment. Therefore, if you are adding smart home features with your home selling value in mind, you may want to take a look at <a href="https://www.upnest.com/1/post/7-smart-home-technology-upgrades-that-increase-the-value-of-your-home/">7 Smart Home Technology Upgrades That Increase the Value of Your Home</a> before you start shopping. Home selling is always a bit of a gamble and oftentimes one can&rsquo;t guarantee that what they put into their house is what they will get out of it. When it comes to adding smart features to your home, the same truth applies and this is why I recommend you read <a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/smarthome/smart-home-tech-good-investment-real-estate-alexa-nest-control4.html">Are Smart Homes Actually a Good Investment?</a> and learn from an expert what to expect when selling your smart home.
Lastly, if you are selling your smart home or looking to buy a smart home, it&rsquo;s important to give your choice Housed agent a call. They are well versed with the current market and are sure to represent you as a home technology investor.
&nbsp;

The costs and benefits of adding smart features to your home.

Integrating Smart Home Devices and Features 

Stepping into the buyer&rsquo;s shoes
Have you ever gone over to a friend&rsquo;s or coworker&rsquo;s house for the first time and as you walk around you learn a little (or a lot) more about that person? You probably see photos of their family hanging on their walls, maybe you meet a couple of their furry friends, you notice their design taste or you&rsquo;re aware of the clutter and piles of paper on their desk. You probably leave their home feeling that you know that person better than you had before.
One&rsquo;s home speaks quite a bit about who they are - their habits, values and lifestyle. One&rsquo;s home is incredibly personal because they choose how to use the space provided as well as everything that lives inside the house. Although a personalized home is completely normal, it&rsquo;s not always helpful to the homes selling process. Pictures of loved ones, clutter on the corner desk of an office and children&rsquo;s toys piled in a bucket in the living room can distract buyers from seeing the qualities and features of the house. This is where home staging comes in - the purpose of home staging is to help buyers visualize themselves living in your house. For more reasons on why home staging is beneficial, check out <a href="https://customhomestaginganddesign.com/top-6-reasons-to-stage-your-home/">Top 6 Reasons to Stage Your Home</a>.
The questions, the answers
If you are a home seller, you may be asking yourself &ldquo;should I stage my house?&rdquo; In this day n&rsquo; age, the answer to that question is usually always &ldquo;yes&rdquo;. Therefore, questions like &ldquo;How much staging does my home need? and &ldquo;Should I DIY or hire a home staging professional?&rdquo; are oftentimes questions sellers are really needing to answer for themselves.
To help answer these questions, here are a couple steps I recommend you take:
Seeking advice
There are many factors that contribute to whether or not you should hire a staging company or instead stage your home yourself. Since the method of home staging is unique to each person and their current circumstances, I recommend you give one of our expert Housed Real Estate agents a call to talk through the best option for your home staging.
Making a decision
Staging Company - You may be asking yourself, &ldquo;what do staging companies have to offer?&rdquo; To help answer those questions, I recommend you read through <a href="https://www.houzz.com/magazine/the-case-for-hiring-a-home-stager-when-youre-selling-stsetivw-vs~72932275">The Case for Hiring a Home Stager When You&rsquo;re Selling</a>. If you want to know how much it will cost to hire a staging company, I recommend you take a look at this article: <a href="https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/how-much-does-home-staging-cost/">How Much Does Home Staging Cost&mdash;and How Much Will You Gain?</a>
&nbsp;
DIY - Regardless of whether you hire a staging company or if you DIY, it is probably a good idea to go ahead and get started on <a href="https://fitsmallbusiness.com/home-staging/">Home Staging in 10 Steps &ndash; The Ultimate Guide</a> &ndash; most of these tips are essential to the process of home selling. If you are wanting a step by step guide to home staging, <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/the-ultimate-staging-guide-checklist">The Ultimate Staging Guide Checklist</a> may be beneficial to you. <a href="https://www.houselogic.com/sell/preparing-your-home-to-sell/home-staging-checklist/">81 Staging Tips That Help Buyers Fall in Love</a> breaks down home staging room by room, this article is great for anyone looking for tips for specific spaces in your home.
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;

If you are a home seller, you may be asking yourself “should I stage my house?”  The answer to that question is typically “yes”.  Therefore, questions like “How much staging does my home need? and “Should I DIY or hire a home staging professional?”  
To help answer these home staging questions, here are a couple steps we recommend you take. 

Home Staging - Help Buyers Fall in Love With Your Home

Whether you&rsquo;re an empty pocketed, young whippersnapper, an empty nesting, well-lived retiree or someone living in between those significant stages of adulthood &ndash; you&rsquo;re likely to benefit from learning about home downsizing. Downsizing is a very practical decision that impacts very personal aspects of one&rsquo;s life. Therefore, it is good to be aware of what downsizing will mean for you &ndash; since the decision to downsize depends on your individual lifestyle and needs.
If you are new to the concept of downsizing and want to gain a general understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, check out this article <a href="https://www.thebalance.com/home-downsizing-1798313">Home Downsizing: Trading Down in Home Size</a>. If you&rsquo;re knowledgeable about downsizing and want deeper insight on the subject, you may find the article <a href="https://www.transtarmoving.com/downsizing-your-home-pros-cons/">Downsizing Your Home: 10 Pros and 10 Cons to Consider Before Moving</a> beneficial.
For those of you who are wondering, &ldquo;Is the trouble of downsizing really worth it for me?&rdquo; &ndash; check out the article, <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/3-money-smart-reasons-to-downsize">Downsizing Your Home: 3 Money Benefits</a>, which breaks down and shines light on the financial benefits of downsizing. On a more personal note, it may also be helpful to ask yourself these questions found in the article <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/should-i-downsize-my-home-">Should I Downsize My Home?</a> as you are considering if the undertaking of downsizing is right for you.
Step 1: Your Goals
Perspective, prioritize, plan
Before making a substantial life decision, like downsizing, it is always a good idea to get back to the good ole&rsquo; drawing board and gain some fresh perspective on your circumstances, prioritize your time and finances and plan how to implement your endeavors &ndash; i.e. revisiting and revising your goals is a great place to start before getting into the nitty gritty of downsizing. For a solid refresher and to gain some inspiration on goal setting, take a look a look at these articles for how to make <a href="https://www.mindtools.com/page6.html">S.M.A.R.T. personal goals</a> as well as how to establish <a href="https://www.goodfinancialcents.com/long-term-goals-examples">Long Term financial goals</a>.
Step 2: Your Home
Where you&rsquo;ve been, where you&rsquo;re at, where you&rsquo;re going
So you&rsquo;ve looked over the benefits as well as the downsides of downsizing, you&rsquo;ve set some personal and financial goals for yourself and you&rsquo;ve decided downsizing is the right decision for you. Here&rsquo;s what I recommend you do next:
<div style="padding-left: 40px;">A. Call your choice Housed Real Estate agent and let them know that you are in the early stages of selling your home and looking to downsize. Take advantage of their wisdom of the market and let them be your advocate through this process!</div>
<div style="padding-left: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="padding-left: 40px;">B. Now that your agent is doing the heavy lifting of home selling, it&rsquo;s a good idea to take a look at <a href="https://littlehouselovelyhome.com/downsizing-tips/">8 Downsizing Tips You Need to Know Before Going Smaller</a> so that you are prepared for when it&rsquo;s time for the actual shopping of your new downsized home. The article <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/what-buyers-should-look-for-when-downsizing">What Buyers Should Look for When Downsizing</a> has some great pointers to consider as well before venturing out with your agent on the purchase of a new home.</div>
<div style="padding-left: 40px;"> C. Your exceptional agent has helped you sell your home and you&rsquo;re on the lookout for or you&rsquo;ve already found your downsized home &ndash; now it&rsquo;s time for decluttering, packing and moving!</div>
 Step 3: Your Things
What you have, what you need, what you need to let go of
Decluttering
Having a decluttered home simplifies your life, relieves you of the weight of unneeded stuff and makes room for more of <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/a25846191/what-is-the-konmari-method/">what brings you joy</a>. Sifting through your prized possessions and probably mostly, your unused or unnecessary possessions and deciding what to give away and what to take with you to your new home, is a significant aspect of downsizing that shouldn&rsquo;t be avoided or underestimated. If you are in need of some help on how to declutter your things before packing up the boxes and moving, take a look at this article to find <a href="https://www.becomingminimalist.com/creative-ways-to-declutter/">Creative Ways to Declutter</a>.
Packing and Moving
Packing and Moving can be daunting but it doesn&rsquo;t have to be if you are well planned for the tasks at hand. Here is checklist that consists of pretty much everything involved in moving that one could think of: <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/moving-checklist">Moving Checklist</a>.
&nbsp;

Whether you’re an empty pocketed, young whippersnapper, an empty nesting, well-lived retiree or someone living in between those significant stages of adulthood – you’re likely to benefit from learning about home downsizing. Downsizing is a very practical decision that impacts very personal aspects of one’s life. Therefore, it is good to be aware of what downsizing will mean for you – since the decision to downsize depends on your individual lifestyle and needs. 

If you are new to the concept of downsizing and want to gain a general understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, check out this article Home Downsizing: Trading Down in Home Size. If you’re knowledgeable about downsizing and want deeper insight on the subject, you may find the article Downsizing Your Home: 10 Pros and 10 Cons to Consider Before Moving beneficial. 


Downsizing: What does it mean for you?

The Dallas-Fort Worth area is now the top market for commercial investment properties in the U.S. As DFW becomes a hub for startups and home to an ever-diversifying employment base, the population is expected to grow at double the rate of the overall U.S. population. That means the market for house-flipping is heating up as well, and more and more people will dive headfirst into flipping a home to get their share of those profits.
It may be tempting to think about house-flipping the way they show it on TV - a good investment for a quick profit. And while that can be true if you&rsquo;re experienced and financially shrewd, jumping into an investment property for the first time might leave you feeling in over your head. The reality is that successful house-flippers rely on a team of experts to help them get the most bang for their investment bucks, and one of the most versatile and valuable players on that team is a real-estate agent. &nbsp;An experienced realtor will help you through every step of the process to avoid the pitfalls of house-flipping. They&rsquo;ll help you with everything from picking the right home to flip, to remodeling, pricing, and selling it.&nbsp;
Before you even consider getting into a house-flip, you need to determine whether the market conditions in your area are right for it. In fact, in most areas of the country, the average flip amounts to a minimal profit or even a loss for the investor. A realtor knows the local market and its dynamics intimately, and will be able to tell you if you&rsquo;re beating a dead horse before you even start the race. That said, by nature, investing in real estate is risky and speculative. It depends on constantly-shifting market conditions, and factors like mortgage rates, fluctuating inventory supply, and the seasonal swings of home sale prices can change the outlook of your profits during the course of your flip.
Say that the market conditions are favorable in your area at the moment, and you want to make the plunge. A realtor will help you select the right investment property - one that is in good enough condition to leave some breathing room in your budget and can be attractively remodeled to appeal to buyers in your area. Choosing the right investment property is the most crucial step in the process; getting any of the initial numbers wrong can severely damage your profit margin down the line. Your realtor will help you create a budget that includes not just the price of the as-is property and its remodeling projects, but hidden costs such as taxes, utilities, building permits, and other fees.
You&rsquo;ve chosen the perfect investment property, and now it&rsquo;s time to make repairs and remodel. Should you slap a fresh coat of paint on all the walls? Replace the old plumbing? Remodel the whole kitchen? A realtor will know which remodeling projects would be most worth your time, money, and effort for the house to sell quickly and for more money. Your realtor will also have connections to reliable contractors and bargain retailers for flooring, fixtures, etc. When you&rsquo;re flipping a house, the bottom line is always return on investment. The name-brand kitchen faucet might not add to the value of the home if you can find something just as attractive at a lower price.
Finally, once your investment property has been remodeled, the realtor&rsquo;s role switches again to marketing expert. Your real-estate agent will help you time your sale correctly and determine a listing price to match the current market conditions. It might be worth waiting to sell if the market dives off a cliff during your renovations. Your realtor might even advise you to rent out the home for a year or two rather than selling right away.
With so much time, effort, and money at stake, it&rsquo;s worth consulting a knowledgeable realtor experienced in house-flipping during every step of the process. We here at Housed are ready to assist you with your investment projects so you can stay on track, make the best decisions, and ultimately get the most out of your sale.&nbsp;

The reality is that successful house-flippers rely on a team of experts to help them get the most bang for their investment bucks, and one of the most versatile and valuable players on that team is a real-estate agent. 

Why Working with a Real Estate Agent is a MUST When House-Flipping

by Lyne Stephens, Realtor&reg;, SRES, SFR, Housed Real Estate + Relocation | Keller Williams Realty
A new <a href="http://sfullerinstitute.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/SFI_Upcoming_Housing_Market_0718.pdf">study</a> from George Mason University reports that older Americans own most homes nationwide, with Baby Boomers (people born between 1948 - 1965) owning two out of every five homes. As America&rsquo;s Baby Boomer and Silent Generations continue to age (as we all must), their children and grandchildren will eventually face the challenge of selling their homes. Sadly, the most common reason this responsibility is thrust on someone is because a parent or elderly relative has died, leaving the house empty or inhabited by a widowed spouse who doesn&rsquo;t want to live alone.
There are, of course, other reasons that older Americans want to sell their homes. Perhaps they want to downsize to help mitigate the financial and physical cost of home maintenance, or move to an assisted living facility. Many elderly Americans fear that potential buyers and others involved in the home sale process will try to take advantage of them in their old age, and so enlist the help of a loved one to ensure they&rsquo;re treated fairly. &nbsp;
Below, we discuss seven steps to get you through the process of selling the home of a 55+ person in your life.
Choose a Point Person
Choose a financially-astute and trustworthy person in your family to take the lead on the home sale process; if your loved one has died, this person will most likely be the executor of the will. The point person will work with the realtor and other professionals to close the sale.
Consult a Realtor
Consulting a realtor, such as our agents here at Housed, is always the first step in any home sale process. A good real estate agent knows the local market intimately, and will be able to help you determine an asking price - the most crucial step in selling any home. They can also establish a &ldquo;sell by&rdquo; date so the home doesn&rsquo;t just sit forever on the market. They will also assist you in staging the home, arranging open houses, marketing the home online and elsewhere, and creating curb appeal for potential buyers.
Relocate First
Avoid the double stress of moving and selling a home by doing the former in advance. While it means double the living expenses until the home is sold, it may be worth it to keep the home presentable and staged for a quicker sale. Not only will it give you peace of mind that your loved one has a place to live, it will also save them last-minute trouble to get out of the house for showings and the anxiety of strangers coming through the house.
Clean Out the Home
Homes that are well lived-in tend to acquire clutter. Unfortunately, nostalgia doesn&rsquo;t always show well, and it&rsquo;s a good idea to clear it out to make the home more appealing to buyers. Pack up the things your elderly relative wants to keep, or the things their heirs are entitled to if your loved one is deceased. You can use a local junk hauling service to take away furniture and anything else you need to throw away.
Make Repairs &amp; Improvements
Homes require ongoing maintenance that can be challenging for older Americans to handle. Make sure that critical points of the home, such as the exterior paint, the roof, the plumbing, HVAC systems, etc. are well-maintained and up-to-date. You&rsquo;ll want to make repairs, especially if they&rsquo;ve gone unaddressed for some time. You may also consider replacing outdated design elements, such as remodeling the kitchen or putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls. Ask your realtor which improvements would be best to add value to the home. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Complete the Paperwork
Everyone hates red tape, but it&rsquo;s important to have the proper paperwork in order, especially if your elderly relative has died. For example, you&rsquo;ll need to submit the death certificate to the title company before an insurance company can issue a policy to the new homeowners. Your loved one&rsquo;s lenders (as well as any buyers) will also want to know that no one else can claim ownership of the home. You want to ensure that the title can pass to the new owner smoothly.
Accept an Offer
If you&rsquo;re lucky enough to receive <a href="../juggling-multiple-offers-on-your-home">multiple offers on your home</a>, the best deal might not be the highest price point. As we&rsquo;ve discussed on the Housed blog<a href="../juggling-multiple-offers-on-your-home">&nbsp;before</a>, the best offer is the one that&rsquo;s the most likely to go through, with the buyer&rsquo;s finances in order and free of contingencies.
An older loved one&rsquo;s home is often full of memories, and saying goodbye to a place is often nearly as hard as saying goodbye to a person. Our trusted professionals here at Housed can ease the burden of the selling process through an emotional time to help make it a bit less painful for you and your family.

Generations continue to age (as we all must), their children and grandchildren will eventually face the challenge of selling their homes. Sadly, the most common reason this responsibility is thrust on someone is because a parent or elderly relative has died, leaving the house empty or inhabited by a widowed spouse who doesn’t want to live alone.

Tips on Selling the Home of a 55+ Person in Your Life

If you&rsquo;ve turned on the radio, opened a web browser, or driven past billboards in any major city, chances are you&rsquo;ve encountered advertisements for companies such as Opendoor, Offerpad, Redfin Now and Zillow Offers. All of them are examples of &ldquo;iBuyers&rdquo; - companies who will buy your home sight unseen purportedly in the name of convenience to the seller. Selling to an iBuyer means that you can skip most of the time-consuming elements of the traditional home-sale process - listing, showing, marketing, etc. - and receive an offer on your home within days or even minutes based on a proprietary valuation model.
Taking advantage of this new real-estate trend may be right for you as a seller if you need to sell quickly. Maybe you&rsquo;re relocating and just don&rsquo;t have the time to put into selling your home through a realtor. Maybe the uncertainty of having your home languishing on the market causes anxiety. Whatever the case, this new convenience isn&rsquo;t cheap, and you&rsquo;ll have to weigh how much a &ldquo;quick and easy&rdquo; process matters to you against the actual value of your home.
A seller considering an iBuyer should first know with whom they&rsquo;re making the transaction. On the other side of the screen is an investor, sometimes another individual but usually a company, and those investors are counting on making a profit. In exchange for fast and furious instant liquidity, iBuyers will charge a full commission with a built-in 5% - 10% fair value discount on the price of your home. Assuming the value of your home remains the same as when you purchased it, you&rsquo;re already losing money - especially if, like most people, you purchased your home with a mortgage.
Let&rsquo;s say you purchased your home for $400,000 with 20% down ($80,000), and an iBuyer offers you $380,000 for it. Not only will you have automatically lost $20,000 on the value of your home, you&rsquo;ll also pay an additional $22,800 (6%) commission. With a combined loss of $42,800, that&rsquo;s over half of the equity you put into your home. Is the convenience worth the price? You&rsquo;ll have to decide that for yourself, but according to Zillow, 90% of potential sellers reject instant offers from their iBuying platform and opt for a traditional realtor instead.
Until the overall cost of instant &ldquo;iOffers&rdquo; decreases, working with an experienced sales agent with intimate knowledge of the local market continues to be in the best interest of the seller. Selling on the open market using our proven system results in higher average home sale prices and lower transaction costs. The process is not instant and, of course, nothing in life is guaranteed, but we here at Housed don&rsquo;t just care about our bottom line at the expense of consumers - we want sellers to walk away with the highest price possible, too.
&nbsp;
About Stephen Crawford, Realtor
<img src="https://quicklistings.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/articles/101014/ibuyer-beware-why-you-still-need-a-real-estate-agent-3-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" />
Stephen is a Dallas area native; growing up in Richardson and graduating from the University of North Texas. Stephen has an extensive background in kinesiology, sports training, and rehabilitation along with a lengthy history of competitive sports including football, wrestling, and a multitude of endurance and ultra-endurance events. Stephen puts these endurance skills and abilities to use daily as a Realtor and advocate for his real estate clients. He takes great pride in the long lasting relationships he builds with clients and he never wavers in his relentless pursuit of helping them achieve their goals; guiding them through home buying and home selling processes and keeping their best interests at the forefront of all transactions and interactions. Stephen is a devoted father to two beautiful daughters and is impassioned by being engaged civically and serving others in his community. In his free time he enjoys being active in many Dallas area charitable organizations, most notably Bonton Farms, an organization devoted to providing locally grown food at affordable prices in impoverished Dallas communities. 
For more information about the selling or buying a home in the Dallas Metroplex, contact Stephen Crawford with Housed Real Estate + Relocation at 972.896.8496 or SCrawford@HousedRealEstate.com.

If you’ve turned on the radio, opened a web browser, or driven past billboards in any major city, chances are you’ve encountered advertisements for companies such as Opendoor, Offerpad, Redfin Now and Zillow Offers. All of them are examples of “iBuyers” - companies who will buy your home sight unseen purportedly in the name of convenience to the seller. But until the overall cost of instant “iOffers” decreases, working with an experienced sales agent with intimate knowledge of the local market continues to be in the best interest of the seller.

iBuyer Beware: Why You Still Need a Real Estate Agent

Hi, my name is Andrea Miller, and I love my job!
Forbes recently published an article stating that real estate agents are some of the happiest in their careers. Realtors scored very highly on several job happiness indicators, from work environment to growth opportunities to the relationships with bosses and co-workers. That article rang true for me, so I decided to list all the reasons why being a realtor is such a satisfying career.
I&rsquo;m part of the story.
<ul>
<li>I&rsquo;m intimately involved in the most important purchase in a person&rsquo;s life: a home. I get to know them and their stories, and I become part of it for a short period of time. I love seeing the smiles on my clients&rsquo; faces when they buy the house of their dreams. I get to witness perfect endings and new beginnings every day!</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
No two days are ever the same.
<ul>
<li>I love not being able to predict what challenges I&rsquo;ll have to face in my workday. Each client has distinctly different needs and demands. There are always new problems to solve, new people to meet, new properties to market and sell. Like any job, there&rsquo;s a regular to-do list to complete, but I don&rsquo;t feel like a gear in a machine, performing the same task every day.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
I can use my career as creative outlet.
<ul>
<li>I learn something new every day, and there&rsquo;s always an opportunity to be creative and think outside the box. From choosing exactly the right photos of each home to writing listing verbiage to solving the mysteries of what each buyer wants, every situation is unique, and so there&rsquo;s never a one-size-fits-all solution; what worked with one client or property won&rsquo;t work with another.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Honestly, I just really love where I work.
<ul>
<li>While there are routine tasks as well as laws and regulations to follow, I have a lot of control over the work I do on a daily basis in an environment where I&rsquo;m free to be me. Also, I enjoy the comradery, support and genuine FUN that comes from working with a team of talented, top-producing agents, as well as a team of marketing and operational professionals. This allows me to provide the most attentive care to both my listing and buying clients. Sure, there can be a little bit of healthy competition, but there&rsquo;s enough success to go around, and we genuinely support each other.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
You can make a decent living with great job security.
<ul>
<li>Being in real estate means that you&rsquo;re in business for yourself. That comes with its own set of challenges - getting started, navigating the ups and downs of the market, the grueling days during peak season. But, if you can withstand that, you can ultimately make a good living without worrying about keeping your job during less prosperous times.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m genuinely interested in houses.
<ul>
<li>I&rsquo;m very fortunate that I&rsquo;m genuinely interested in the work I do. Much like the people I work with, no two homes are alike. They all come with their own stories and quirks. I love learning about them all and matching them with the right buyer.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Most people go to their jobs every day and put in long hours and hard work, but not everyone is lucky enough to put all that time and energy into a career they love. Working in real estate full-time definitely comes with its difficult days, but for me, the challenge is worth the reward.
About Andrea Miller
<img src="https://quicklistings.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/articles/100112/why-i-love-my-job-as-a-realtor-1-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="262" height="288" />
Andrea Miller received her marketing degree from Texas Tech University. After graduating, she returned home to North Texas where she spent 13 years as a top performer in international communications sales and management. Now, as a REALTOR&reg;, Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist&trade; (CLHMS), Andrea is an integral part of the Housed Real Estate + Relocation team. She is committed daily to pursuing her career as a full-time real estate agent, selling over $9 million in residential + commercial real estate in 2017.
If you&rsquo;re interested in pursuing a career in Real Estate, we&rsquo;re always looking for talented people! Contact Housed Real Estate today at <a href="mailto:Info@HousedRealEstate.com">info@HousedRealEstate.com</a>.

Real estate agents are some of the happiest in their careers. Read why Andrea Miller of Housed Real Estate + Relocation in Dallas loves her job!

Why I Love My Job as a Realtor

Why I Love My Job As a Realtor

Fall isn&rsquo;t just for pumpkin spice anymore - it&rsquo;s also a great time to buy a home! Sure, it&rsquo;s not what we think of as the &ldquo;traditional&rdquo; homebuying season, but the slowdown in the market creates an excellent atmosphere for buyers. First of all, you&rsquo;ll have less competition. Families have settled in for the school year, and with a sizable percentage of the housing market not shopping, that gives other buyers, such as millennials and baby boomers, a chance to step in and make an offer. Most homes don&rsquo;t show as well once the landscaping fades and the home&rsquo;s flaws are more apparent. For a buyer, that means being able to assess the property more accurately before making an offer.
Additionally, sellers are in the mood to make deals. Those who put homes on the market in the spring are anxious to get rid of any leftover inventory, and ambitious sellers will want to close by December 31 to get that tax benefit. With home prices and mortgage rates on the rise with no signs of turning around, the financial benefits extend to the home buyer, too. Buying sooner rather than later could lead to lower housing costs and substantial savings. Whether you&rsquo;re buying a home or paying rent - you&rsquo;re ultimately paying a mortgage, either yours or your landlord&rsquo;s. Buying a home this season just might be the right thing for you. So make your housing cost work for you, cuddle up in your favorite sweater while you look for listings with incentives to close by the end of the year, and fall into your new home this season! Call 214.888.6864 and let the Housed team help you make this the best fall yet.

Fall isn’t just for pumpkin spice anymore - it’s also a great time to buy a home! Sure, it’s not what we think of as the “traditional” homebuying season, but the slowdown in the market creates an excellent atmosphere for buyers.

Fall into a New Home with Housed Real Estate

Fall into a New Home

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