Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

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  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Treating Dirty Grout

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Dream Team member and interior design pro Jennifer Adams about the best way to treat dirty grout.

     

    Q: I am at my wits end with the dirty grout on my floor tile. Have tried commercial product cleaners and home remedies – vinegar, baking soda, etc. and nothing really works. I tried a re-coloring product that helped for a little while but now looks like back to square one. I think the grout was never sealed to begin with. I want to sell the property but also need to live with it right now. Help!

     

    -Ruth D.

    AskAPro_grout_12-30

     

    A: This is indeed a very frustrating problem, Ruth. I’ve dealt with it in so many ways, my favorite being not using white grout in the first place. But, even colored and gray grout gets dirty. Sealing is the best to help keep grout protected from damage and dirt. But, sealing needs to be re-done yearly or more often, depending on the amount of wear your tile gets.

     

    And, many harsh cleaners, especially acidic ones and bleach may deteriorate the grout further, allowing dirt and stains to get deep inside the grout. If you haven’t tried a non-acidic cleaner yet, try that — they sell them in the tile sections of major home improvement stores.

     

    If you’re happy with the result, let the grout dry thoroughly and re-seal. If you’re not satisfied, you may need to call in a tile contractor to professionally clean, or even re-grout your tile. Good luck and tell us how it goes!

     

    -Jennifer A.

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Dinner Table Dress-Up

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Dream Team member and Lifestyle expert Carolina Buia about finding the right placemats to dress up your dinner table!

    Q: I have been trying to find placemats for my table and cannot.  Are they still in fashion?  Where can I find them?

    -Kay C.

    placemats
    A: Where have you been looking?

    Placemats are still very much in fashion, especially with all the holiday entertaining. They can dress up a table or keep messes manageable. The latter ones are practical–as they are plastic and messes can be wiped up quickly. They are great for kids, and IKEA and Etsy have a wide selection. For adding pizazz to your dining, my favorite placemats include the modern Chilewich line. Their gilded ovals are one of my go-to table jewels. Also, check out the whimsical selections from ZGallerie, like these silvered corals. These stunning mats are an inexpensive and easy way to elevate your table setting. Yes, these beauties will always have a place at my dinner table.

    -Carolina B.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Choosing a Table Setting That Lasts Beyond The Holidays

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Dream Team member and interior design pro Jennifer Adams about creating a table setting that lasts beyond the holidays!

     

    Q: I have Noritake Platinum edged white dinnerware. What color placemats or tablecloth would be best to use with this china? I would like to be able to use the same setting for Christmas as well as afterward.

    -Sharon L.

     

    A: The beauty of classic dinnerware such as yours – and the challenge – is that it will go with really anything you want! For a stunning and timeless look perfect for any time of year, choose a charcoal gray tablecloth, in either a solid or subtle, low-contrast print. Other rich colors such as dark navy, deep burgundy or spicy pumpkin as well as neutral colors will mix things up a little for the seasons.

    For the holidays and dressy settings, think silver and sparkles! Silver mesh or fabrics woven with silver and white threads will play up the platinum edge and create a wintry feel. Accessorize with shiny or aged silver ornaments to finish the look!

    -Jennifer A.

  • Ways to Minimize Closing Costs

    Many homebuyers save up significant amounts of cash in order to make down payments on their new homes, only to be surprised by how much additional cash they need at closing. Closing costs can vary depending on several factors, so it can be difficult for homebuyers to determine exactly how much money they need to save up for this expense. Fortunately, there are several ways a prospective homebuyer can cut back on total expenses when closing on a home.

    Opt Out of Paying Mortgage Points

    Even though purchasing mortgage points can be a smart strategy for homebuyers, these points are often some of the most expensive additions to a homebuyer at the time of closing. When you purchase a mortgage point, it lowers the monthly interest rate you will pay on your loan. While this strategy can save you money over the lifetime of your mortgage, buying one point will cost one percent of your total loan, which could add up to several thousand extra dollars at closing. If you’re serious about keeping your costs down at the closing of your home purchase, it might be better to skip this option.

    Obtain a Mortgage at the End of the Month

    Not many people realize that they can save some upfront cash when they’re closing on a home if they obtain their mortgage at the end of the month versus the beginning of the month. Just to give you an illustration, when your loan is approved, the prorated mortgage payment for the current month will be added to your closing costs. This means that if you close on your house at the beginning of the month, you’ll have almost a full month’s mortgage payment that’s due at the time of closing. If you close at the end of the month, however, your prorated payment will be much lower. Keep in mind, however, that you are not paying any less for your mortgage overall, but it does lower your initial costs.

    Negotiate with the Seller

    One of the best ways to lower your costs is by simply asking the seller to pay the closing costs. This can be especially effective in a buyer’s market or in a situation in which a seller is in a hurry to close the deal. The best way to successfully take advantage of this strategy is to work closely with your real estate agent, who will be able to better assess your individual situation and determine which costs you should ask the seller to handle.

    Closing on a home can mean that new homeowners have to put up a significant amount of cash. Fortunately, there are ways to close on your home and still walk away with money in your pocket at the end of the process. Talk with your real estate agent and your mortgage lender to find out if one or all of these strategies could work for you.

  • Highlights from Casa Latina Home Expo

    Over the last year we’ve had the pleasure to work with Marlene Pratt of Casa Latina Today and VmeTV to distribute high quality educational videos on homeownership and décor tips that cater to the modern Latino community. It was through this wonderful partnership that we became involved in sponsoring Casa Latina Home Expo, the first bilingual Hispanic home expo in the tri-state area, last Saturday November 15th in Manhattan, New York. Now let’s take a look back at some highlights from the event.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Potted Plants

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! We’ll talk to Dream Team member and outdoor design expert Carson Arthur about potted trees and the right time to plant.

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    Q: Is it now the right time to plant no matter I have to use pots? Can we plant all kind of trees or little plants too? Thanks in advance for your comments.

    -Cony E.

    A: Plants in pots are a tricky subject because each climate is very different. Most times, the answer is yes. This time of year is great for planting. That said, with temperature and light levels both dropping, extra care must be taken to ensure that your plants get what they need. Keep an eye on them and if leaves are yellowing then you may need to make some location changes that are warmer and sunnier.

    -Carson A.

  • Making an Offer on a House in a Seller’s Market

    Making an offer on a house can be one of the most stressful aspects of the home buying process. Even if you think you’re making a strong real estate purchase offer, another buyer can still end up outbidding you, especially if you’re trying to buy a home in a seller’s market.

    A seller’s market describes an area where there are more people looking to buy homes than there are people who are selling their homes. In this type of environment, sellers are more likely to receive multiple bids, increasing the level of competition between buyers for a particular home. Fortunately, there are several strategies potential homebuyers can implement to boost their bargaining power when they’re making an offer on a house.

    Pay With Cash

    Not many homebuyers have enough cash to completely pay for their homes without the help of a mortgage loan. However, if you have enough cash to pay for a house outright, you’re likely to be one of the few – if not only – all cash bidders who are trying to purchase that particular house, which makes you a more attractive candidate for many homeowners.

    Cash offers are more appealing than financed offers because a financed offer has the potential to fall through during the mortgage approval process. When a buyer comes to the table with cash, there are fewer stumbling blocks that could slow down or derail the closing process. Because there’s less risk involved, some sellers may even accept a cash offer that’s lower than competing financed offers.

    Get Pre-Approved

    If you aren’t able to pay cash for your home, getting pre-approved for your mortgage is another way to make your real estate purchase offer more appealing to home sellers. Being pre-approved for a mortgage means that a loan officer has reviewed your credit, income level and other qualifying information and has certified that you will be approved for specified loan amount.

    Having a pre-approval letter shows sellers that if they accept your bid, there’s a stronger chance that your final loan application will be go through without any issues. Sellers usually have more confidence in pre-approved offers, giving you an edge over potential buyers who haven’t gone through the pre-approval process.

    Make a Fair Bid

    Many homebuyers are understandably interested in securing the best purchasing price for their new home. However, placing a lowball bid may not be the best strategy in a seller’s market. In a market that’s likely to bring multiple bidders to the table, you’ll have a higher chance of success if you place a bid that matches the asking price or exceeds the asking price. Your real estate agent can give you even more expert guidance on what the best bidding level is for your desired property.

    Make an Offer with Fewer/No Contingencies

    Almost every real estate purchase offer will include certain contingencies. Contingencies give you the option of nullifying the real estate contract under certain conditions, such as if the new house is appraised at a lower value than the purchase price. Some contingencies are fairly standard – such as specifying that the house has a satisfactory inspection report. However, additional contingencies may make a seller think twice about choosing your bid if he has other competing bids that don’t include as many contingencies. Carefully consider what contingencies are important to you, and only include the ones you think are absolutely necessary.

    Making an offer on a house is a strategic process and your approach is even more important when you’re operating in a seller’s market. Talk to your Better Homes and Gardens real estate agent about which strategies will give you the very best chance at closing on the house of your dreams.

  • How to Search Homes for Sale

    Searching for a new home can be an exciting endeavor and a great place to start is online. The online real estate search engine, provided by Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate come with special features that are designed to help you select properties with the specifications you require and homes for sale that fall within your budget.  As you go through listings, imagine yourself settling into any one of the homes for sale listed in the site’s comprehensive database and find the home that is a perfect fit for you.
     
    Preparing to Search Homes for Sale Online
    Write a checklist of your requirements before you search for homes through an online website. Decide on the minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms acceptable for your needs. Although prices are negotiable, you should still have an idea of the price range for your property search. A list of must-haves may also be helpful. Examples could include a pool, large backyard, finished basement or two-car garage.

    Knowing the Terminology for Your Real Estate Search
    If you’ve never conducted a search for properties online before, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the terms and abbreviations used often in real estate ads.  For instance, here are some common abbreviations that you may come across: bedroom (BR), bathroom (BA), kitchen (KIT), dining room (DR) and living room (LR). Financing terms like “short sale” may also be found in real estate listings online, so it would be good to know that a “short sale” occurs in lieu of foreclosure and means the sale price will fall short of the liens owed against the property.

    Narrowing Down Your Real Estate Search Results
    On the landing page of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate’s website, you’ll see a toolbar used to search available homes nationwide. You can first search for apartments and houses by putting in the zip code, neighborhood or town name in the search field of the online real estate listing site. If your initial search for homes is in an area where a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate office is located, you will be taken directly to that local website.  That website will not only contain listings that you searched for but also relevant local information to your home finding needs.  You can do this by specifying the number of beds and bathrooms you require; additionally, enter a price range, the property type and the desired amount of square footage for your new home.

    You are also able to search for homes using the MLS listing number. Real estate agents assign each property with a unique identifying number in order to easily advertise homes for sale on various media platforms. The ID number not only helps you quickly locate a particular property, but will also help you find out the name of the agent who is listing the home for sale.

    When you search homes for sale through Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, you’ll be able to view more than simply the basic details about the property. Enhanced features include information about neighborhood housing trends, school district data and price comparisons of nearby properties. Photographs and maps are also attached to each entry to help you determine your level of interest in the property. Once you have selected houses you’re interested in, you may work with your Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agent to set up a walk-through or attend an open house.

     

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Cash Sale

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today we are talking to Karlton Utter, Director of Learning at Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, about the process of a cash sale.

    suburban_home

    Q: Just sold my house, cash sale no conditions. Deal closes Nov13 2014. Packing my stuff up leaving Nov 7th takes a week to drive to Edmonton Alberta. How do I get my equity from my house? Does it automatically go to bank for deposit?

    -Ashlee B.

    A: Great question. Typically the  money would be released by your attorney upon closing; however, you should contact your attorney to confirm this and for information on how it will be paid to you, as the bank or your attorney may have specific policies in place.

    -Karlton U.

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: What’s the best finger food to serve?

    Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today’s pro is Carolina Buia, Dream Team member and Lifestyle pro. She will share with us some of her favorite finger foods to serve at a party!

    Q: Finger food – what’s the best thing to serve?

    -Betty M.

    A: Here are some of my favorite finger foods, ordered from “super easy” to “a little more work”.

    prosciutto_breadsticks
    Thin, rosemary Italian breadsticks wrapped in prosciutto (prep 15 min ahead), you can also roll them in black sesame seeds.