Archive for September, 2009
Renter’s Insurance
If you’re a renter you can’t assume that your landlord’s insurance will cover your property if the place is robbed, flooded or burned. In fact you can pretty much count that situation out. So to protect yourself and your property you’ll need a renter?s insurance policy.
Renter’s insurance should really be required for all renters as its really quite inexpensive, most likely provides you with the only coverage you’ll have for your valuables, and damage to a shared property may be caused by someone else so it is a good way to hedge your bets.
Basic renter’s insurance covers any loss or damage to your personal property, family liability protection in the case of legal disputes, guest medical protection for anyone injured at your home, and additional living expenses if you’re forced out of your home due to a catastrophe.
Check with your insurance agent to see what sort of coverage they recommend for you and remember you can up the bill a bit by getting replacement coverage which will cover the full purchase price of your lost items and you could add high value item coverage for items not typically covered under insurance, like expensive jewelry or work valuables.
What to do about Poor Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is very important. This is true no matter if you are selling your home, or plan on living there for many more years to come. When somebody pulls up in front of your home you want them to be blown away in a good way.
If your home has poor curb appeal you can change this by following the steps below:
1. What don’t you like? If you are having a hard time pinpointing the problem, get in your car and pull up in front of your home as if you are a visitor. What do you like? What don’t you like? This should lead you to the problems you are facing.
2. Find a solution. It is one thing to find the problem, but from there you need to immediately get started on the answer. For instance, laying sod may be all you need to take your yard from dirty mess to golf course appeal. Some people find that taking things away, such as too many accessories, can really make their home look better on the outside.
3. Hire a professional. Once you know what the problem is you need to decide if you can handle it on your own. If not, don’t be afraid to hire a professional. This costs money, but in the long run it will get you the desired result in a short period of time.
No matter how good the inside of your home looks, poor curb appeal can drag down its value.
photo credit:?patriotweb
Why Hire a Realtor
If you?re thinking about buying property, whether a primary residence, vacation property, or a multifamily investment you may be debating the pros and cons of hiring a realtor. You definitely do not need a realtor to complete a property sales transaction but you may find one beneficial for the following reasons.
Experience
Good real estate agents have years of experience and have run across more situations than you have and will instantly either know how to handle the situation or be able to find the right references to explain things in detail.
Local Knowledge
Not only do realtors know about the local market’s prices but they know which neighborhoods are good and which are having issues, they know what features are popular locally and of high interest to buyers and what features are considered a deficit.
Price Information
Your realtor will not set your price or your offer for your but they do know a lot about the area and what home values are and a good real estate agent will be able to guide you in setting fair prices.
Networks
Real estate professionals tend to network with each other frequently so your agent will know about the entire market, not just homes their company handles. They’ll also know where to find contractors who are experienced and have a good reputation.
Paperwork
Buying a home, especially the closing, is a paperwork laden procedure that leaves many people feeling overwhelmed. Real estate agents routinely handle the paperwork and will be able to translate and guide you through the entire process.
Basically a professional real estate agent can be a great benefit to those thinking about purchasing property, especially first time home buyers, because their experience and knowledge will lighten your stress load and make the entire process go more smoothly.
