5 Easy Ways to Add Value to Your Rental Property

Rental properties are excellent investments because they provide a steady monthly income. If a tenant moves out, the landlord can find another to take their place. Rental property is better than other investments with higher risk and less income potential.

They are also excellent investment properties because they provide stability in the market. In times of economic downturns, many people will still need to live somewhere, so rents won’t decrease as much as other investments might.

Investing in rental properties is a lucrative and growing industry. With the rise of millennials and the increase in population, more people are looking for rental properties.

If you’re managing a rental property, then there are a few things that you can do to make your rental property increase in value.

Swap out the kitchen and bathroom hardware

The kitchen and bathroom hardware are some of the essential features of a home. They are some of the most functional parts of your home that you will need to use most often. Its importance in the house is why you must ensure high-quality and stylish hardware in both spaces.

Adding value to your rental property by swapping out kitchen and bathroom hardware can be a great way to attract more tenants or sell your property for more money.

It is necessary to have good-quality appliances in your rental property so that the tenants can cook efficiently. Kitchen hardware that you should improve upon in your kitchen would be the following:

  • Faucets
  • Stove
  • Oven
  • Microwave ovens
  • Dishwasher
  • Refrigerator

There are many different types of bathroom hardware that you can choose from, such as bathtubs, toilets, sinks, etc.

Maintain garden spaces

According to Planet Maids cleaning services NYC, it shouldn’t just be the inside of your property that you keep clean and well-maintained. It should also be the outside of your rental property.

Gardens can be a great addition to any home. They add beauty and value to your property. But they also require maintenance. If you are renting out your property, you need to maintain the garden space so that it does not become an eyesore for potential renters.

It would be best if you took care of the garden space to keep it looking beautiful and well-maintained. You should also ensure that the garden is safe for everyone using it – both adults and children.

If you are renting out your property, it is crucial to maintain the garden space so that it can add value to your property. You can add plants or flowers, providing color and making the property feel more like home.

Paint the walls

Painting the walls is one of the most cost-effective ways to add value to your rental property.

Paint is relatively cheap and easy to apply. You can easily repaint your property in one day, and it will last for years before it needs another coat. It is also a great way to change the look and feel of a space.

The painting will make your rental property more attractive and help you save money in other areas, such as heating and cooling. It will also help you save money on furniture, making any room look more inviting.

In conclusion, painting the walls is an easy way to add value to your rental property without breaking the bank.

Replace or repair the roof

Roofs are an essential part of any house. The roof protects the people inside from the elements and keeps the house dry. If your roof is in bad shape, it can be a hazard for your family and even result in water damage to your home.

In today’s economy, more families rent their homes instead of buying them. Most rental properties have roofs installed when they were first constructed and need to be repaired or replaced over time.

Roof replacement is often necessary when noticing wear and tear, such as curling, missing shingles, or cracked tiles. Repairing a roof is less expensive than replacing it, but it may only be worth repairing if it is not damaged.

Make your property a smart home.

Homeowners can save money by using smart home technologies. The most popular of these is the Nest thermostat, which you can control anywhere with a smartphone. Other smart home devices include:

  • Smart lights
  • Smart speakers
  • Smart locks
  • Home security cameras
  • Energy monitors
  • Garage door openers and more.

A smart home is the future of rental properties. It will help you to increase your property’s value and to make it more attractive to potential renters. They are not only valid for homeowners but also for renters who want a modern lifestyle.

Conclusion

When you’re planning on improving your rental property to add value to it, you should make sure to invest in these parts to get the best bang for your buck. It would be best if you considered supporting these things to improve not only your tenants’ experience while renting it out but also the overall value of your property.

Author: Jacky Xu

Real Estate Marketing: Writing a Blog Post in Under 20 Minutes

The real estate industry is a tough business to be in, especially when you’re constantly dealing with customers, creating content, marketing and working with sellers. It’s a trade where you need to wear a lot of hats at lots of different times.

However, since you’re working to such a busy schedule, why not save time by learning how to write effective, conversion-boosting blog posts that get traffic and engagement, all in less than 20 minutes? Sounds impossible?

Here’s our complete guide to help you do just that, complete with a timeframe on what minute out of the 20 you should be doing what;

Start with a Powerful Headline (1-3 minutes)

This is the most important part of any article or blog post since it’s going to be the part of the post that captures the attention of your audience and will make them click. If nobody clicks on your content, there’s no point in writing it.

Spend at least 2 minutes on your headlines, writing out multiple versions, also using your keyword research, to optimize your headline and provide the guidelines for the rest of your content.

Opening Paragraph (3-6 minutes)

So, you managed to get somebody to click on your blog post. However, if your opening paragraph isn’t strong, the reader isn’t going to stay, and you’ll have lost your chance to market your real estate to that customer.

Whatever you’re going to be talking about, address the problem, make it relatable to your reader, and then tell them a brief clue on how you’re going to fix or address your topic of concern.

Teasing some of the ideas you have on how to help the reader is also a great way to draw your reader into the actual content you’re writing about.

Break Down into Subheadings (6-9 minutes)

Now you get to get into the solid content of your blog post and what you and your reader has been waiting for. While there are lots of different approaches you could take when it comes to writing a blog post, the best thing to do is to break your ideas down into subheadings.

This is the easiest way to give your blog posts structure and to help you follow what you want to write about, rather than trying to think of the best way to approach your content or think about what you’re writing next, which is only going to waste time.

“Try to keep your headers clear and concise, and make sure the wording you use makes the headers into actionable ideas that your readers can use. Look at this headline; if you were skimming it, you’d look for a headline that peaks your interest before diving into that content,” shares Jack Crompton, a marketing manager at UK Writings.

Write Your Content (9-15 minutes)

Now that all the prep work is done, you can go about writing your content. Of course, this is where you have true creative freedom and can really set about making your blog post your own. The best way to go about this is to write your content non-stop in one continuous go for as long as you can.

This is great for getting the content out quickly and means you have less time to think about what you’re doing and what you’re writing. It’s more a way of getting all your thoughts down on paper instead of having to stop, think, write and then repeat this process over and over again.

“You can write non-stop for three minutes, and you should be able to get between 300-500 words. You can then spend the remaining three minutes, or slightly longer if you’ve taken this approach, on editing your content to take out the bits you don’t like and making it perfect in terms of content,” says Miranda Smith, a blogger at Dissertation writing services reviews.

Editing & Perfecting Your Blog Post (15-20 minutes)

When you’ve written your content, all you need to do finally is to perfect your work. If you’ve taken the approach above, you may need a little longer than this just to organize your thoughts and to get the writing ironed out the content finalized.

If not and you’ve just written your own way, then you’ll probably only need to start this section about 17 or 18 minutes into the writing process. Simply take your time reading through your blog post and make any edits you need to make or altering and moving things around.

When you’re happy with the final piece, perhaps give it to someone else to read, so they can highlight anything they think they should change. Either way, once you’re happy with the final draft, simply go through your content to proofread, edit grammar, address typos and free your work from any mistakes.

You can do this using your own knowledge, or you can do it using online software, or a proofreading service.

Author bio:

Jenny is an email marketer and writer at Top essay writing services. She works alongside real estate companies and solo entrepreneurs to analyze and improve their marketing strategies, so they get the best results. She also helps writers and authors with their writing process and assists with proofreading and editing.

Your Guide to Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is just one way businesses can raise money for their products and services. This type of fundraising can be used for many industries, including real estate, using the same models. Instead of looking for investors or getting mortgage loans, consumers can pool their money online, allowing developers to raise money for projects and investors to make their investments work for them. 

Crowdfunding is easy for everyone, including investors, because you don’t need a large lump sum to begin investing. Instead, you can join a crowdfunding side and get various rewards depending on how much money you give. Together, investors can pool their money to purchase property or a share of the property and diversify their portfolios through real estate investments. 

What is Real Estate Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a method where businesses or individuals ask the public to contribute startup capital to fund new ventures, such as building a new community or a single property. Using online fundraising, investors can be pitched easily and decide how much they want to invest. Individuals who contribute to the pool of capital can provide financial backing for other real estate investments. These opportunities can include residential or commercial holdings for housing development, retail or office space, and partial ownership of these properties. 

Investors might choose real estate crowdfunding for many reasons, including:

  • To diversify their investment portfolio
  • Low capital requirement compared to other types of investment opportunities
  • Shared cost structure
  • Risk is split among stakeholders
  • Access to new investment opportunities
  • Doesn’t require owners to guarantee loans
  • No need to qualify for loans
  • Ability to hold commercial and residential real estate properties
  • Exposure to the real estate market without a large time investment

How Does It Work? 

Crowdfunding is easy for businesses and inventors, and it’s fairly popular among individuals that want to grow their wealth without investing too much money or time in real estate. But unfortunately, real estate often requires owners to qualify and obtain a mortgage loan, which means a huge down payment and monthly costs.

Crowdfunding requires none of these same upfront costs, allowing investors to pool their money on crowdfunding sites to make a profit. Most investors only need a few hundred dollars and don’t have to worry about mortgage loans or maintaining their properties. Crowdfunded investments differ from Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) because they’re privately held and don’t pay regular earnings in the form of dividends. Instead, investors make a one-time or ongoing profit based on their investments. 

Real estate providers can offer investors access to different real estate investments and markets that are unavailable to the public. They may even offer higher returns than REITs due to their higher degree of risk. 

Since crowdfunding projects can fall through at any moment, investors can easily lose everything they invested with no chance of getting it back. Therefore, investors need to do their research and only invest what they’re willing to lose. Real estate crowdfunding should never be used as a way to generate substantial wealth; instead, you should only use it to diversify your existing portfolio, which consists of stocks, bonds, and other assets. 

Real Estate Crowdfunding Pros and Cons

There are pros and cons to real estate crowdfunding for investors, so before committing to investing via crowdfunding, you should consider the various advantages and disadvantages. 

Pros of Real Estate Crowdfunding

Real estate crowdfunding pays larger dividends and allows property owners to diversify their investment portfolios. Through crowdfunding, you’ll have access to opportunities you won’t publicly, eliminating any concerns that many property owners encounter. Additionally, there’s minimal upfront or ongoing investment compared to other types of real estate investing. 

Cons of Real Estate Crowdfunding

Real estate crowdfunding typically requires you to sign up to use a specific platform, which may require fees. Additionally, unlike other investments like stocks, you can’t easily sell off your assets, and participants have to pay taxes on dividends. Crowdfunding also means that projects don’t have a long track record of success, so you don’t actually know whether or not to put your faith in a project or company. In addition, some platforms require you to become an accredited investor, which means you’ll need to pay more to participate. 

How To Start Crowdfunding Investing

If you want to start investing in real estate through crowdfunding, you’ll need to choose a platform to use. There are many different types of platforms, so it’s important to do your research to find the best opportunities. You can use multiple platforms or just one, but you should read their guidelines for investing and how the process works. A few sites you can use to find real estate crowdfunding opportunities include:

  • Fundrise
  • RealtyMogul
  • CrowdStreet
  • YieldStreet

Compare the sites’ services, fees, terms, and opportunities. You should also look outside the platforms for reviews, including the pros and cons of the different platforms available. Finally, before you begin investing, consider how much you can afford to lose. Since your investments aren’t guaranteed, you should never invest more than you’re willing to lose. 

When you’re ready to invest in a project, you’ll find these platforms are similar to other crowdfunding websites, so the process should be fairly straightforward. If you’re unsure how much to invest, consider talking to a financial advisor who can tell you what types of projects are good opportunities and how much money you should invest in them. Remember, the key is to diversify your portfolio, so these types of investments shouldn’t necessarily be used to grow your wealth. 

Final Thoughts

Real estate crowdfunding allows you to expand your portfolio and dip your toe into the exciting real estate market. It’s ideal for individuals who don’t have a lot of money to start since you won’t have to worry about getting a loan to buy a home from a bank. But, of course, there are many other ways to invest in real estate, so do your research on stocks and different ways you can use the real estate market to grow your wealth. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer who loves to share knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness, and financial tips. During her free time, she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

How to Shop For Luxury Apartments Like Southern Station Apartments

There are several ways to find luxury apartments for rent. A majority of people contact real estate agents to see what is available and they end up seeing only a small percentage of the options. The key is to tour many luxury apartments and avoid getting too tired while searching.

Visiting the apartments in person will help you narrow your options. You can also look online or in magazines to get a feel for what the options are like. But the best way to find luxury apartments is to get out there and see them for yourself!

Comparative shopping

The most effective way to rent a luxury apartment is to do some comparison shopping. This will enable you to choose an apartment that best fits your lifestyle, but not overextend your budget.

Luxury apartments are usually larger, but some are smaller. Be sure to measure the space you want to live in before you make a decision. You should also take the time to research the terms and conditions of each community, as well as the surrounding area.

Some of the features that you should look for when choosing a luxury apartment are 24-hour concierge service, state-of-the-art fitness centers, private rooftops with seating and a barbecue area, game rooms, and upgraded security, including onsite security guards.

Luxury apartments may also feature hardwood or tile floors and smart home technology, such as smart thermostats. Click the link: https://www.energystar.gov/products/smart_thermostats for more information about smart thermostats.  Luxury apartments also tend to be more expensive than average ones, but they are worth it if you get a premium location and the best amenities.

The price of a luxury apartment is a major factor in deciding whether to rent it. Luxury apartments are expensive, so be sure to factor in all of the costs and benefits of owning them. You should also consider the location and other factors, such as proximity to your workplace, schools, or the amenities offered.

You should compare luxury apartments with standard apartment communities to find the best one for your needs. Remember that some luxury apartments have numerous perks while others have few or no differences.

Tours

Tours are an excellent way to see the amenities of an apartment complex before you make your final decision. The tour will last anywhere from twenty minutes to two hours, depending on your schedule and the apartment complex.

During the tour, you should ask questions and learn about the community and unit, as well as its amenities. You should also dress to impress. Tour guides often have multiple renters who want to look at the same apartment unit.

Location

The best way to find luxury rentals is to compare the features of several communities before settling on one. To avoid being cheated out of a luxury apartment, you should research the community’s terms and conditions before making a final decision.

You can use a tool like Zumper to search for luxury rentals by zip code. While the process may seem time-consuming, it is definitely worth it. Luxury apartment communities come in all shapes and sizes.

Usually, most people contact real estate agents to see if there are any available luxury rentals. While that works out fine, it’s best to tour a lot of rentals in person to ensure you find the perfect one. Also, don’t get tired of looking, and don’t be afraid to haggle a bit. There’s no such thing as a perfect luxury apartment, so don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Some residents enjoy spending time outside of their unit, which is why some luxury apartment communities have a pool, game room, lounge, and movie theater. Even a small studio apartment may feel luxurious if it’s in a luxury complex.

Some luxury communities even have a movie theater or pool, so residents can stay in their units and enjoy the amenities. The amenities of these communities are certainly worth the extra price tag.

But if you don’t like spending time out of your apartment, you might not want to live in one.

Another factor to consider when looking for luxury rentals is location. Luxury apartment communities should be located near dining, entertainment, and medical services, making it easy for residents to commute to work and school. Click here: https://www.southernstation.com/ for a complex that offers many attractive amenities. Once you know what you are interested in, it is easier to find what you need.

Luxury apartment communities will usually have more square footage and amenities than standard apartment communities, so take the time to compare them. By comparing both types of properties, you will be able to identify the ones that meet your requirements. There are some that offer a lot of extra perks and amenities, while others offer only a few distinctions.

Author: Samantha Friend

Is it Better to Sell Your Home on Your Own or Through a Realtor?

Selling a house can seem like a difficult task. While the process of buying a house may have been made easier with the help of a realtor, you might decide to save some money on commission by trying to sell your home on your own. It’s a common thought among sellers because no one wants to give up tens of thousands of dollars to a realtor on the sale of their home. 

Before you make any hasty decisions, you should understand how a realtor can reduce the stress of selling a home by making the process a whole lot easier for you. In this article, we’ll discuss whether it’s best to sell your home yourself or through a realtor by discussing the pros and cons of each. By the end of the article, you’ll have a better understanding of your options to help you make the right decision based on your unique circumstances. 

Selling Without a Realtor

When you sell a house without a realtor, it’s called “for sale by owner” or FSBO. FSBO listings are marked as such to let potential buyers know they won’t be working with a realtor if they’re interested in selling the home. Of course, buyers still have the option to work with their realtor. However, selling a home without a realtor isn’t advised if you don’t know your buyer because there’s a long process and tons of paperwork involved. 

While the actual process of selling a home without a realtor is the same as selling with one, you’ll have to deal with a different listing because you won’t have access to the multiple listing service (MLS) realtors use. Instead, you can pay real estate companies to list your home on the MLS without representation or use free listing services. In addition, selling your home without a real estate agent means giving yourself more work, so it may not be worth it if you already have a full-time job and don’t want to take on additional responsibilities. 

Pros of FSBO

  • Sellers can save money on real estate agent commissions, but they’ll still have to pay a real estate agent when used by the buyer.
  • Sellers have more control because they don’t have to worry about a real estate agent’s opinions and can dictate their terms.
  • Homes can sell quickly because they’re typically sold directly to individuals the seller already knows.

Cons of FSBO

  • Sellers still pay a buyer’s real estate agent commission, and many buyers use agents because it comes at absolutely no cost to them.
  • Sellers easily over or underprice their homes because they don’t have real estate knowledge or knowledge about the current real estate market and competition.
  • Typically sell for less because overpricing can cause houses to linger for too long on the market while underpricing prices them well below the market.
  • Harder to generate buzz and find buyers because they don’t have the same resources as real estate agents
  • Poor negotiations can lead to underpricing and underselling the home because FSBO sellers don’t have the same types of negotiating power as realtors. Inexperienced sellers may also not verify buyers can pay for the home by checking mortgage pre-approvals.

After weighing the pros and cons of selling without a realtor, you may be curious to learn about the process. If you proceed with this route, you’ll need to avoid pricing your house incorrectly, which means conducting your own local market research and finding listings in your area with the same square footage and features as your home to see how much they sell for. 

You’ll also need to take care of your marketing and advertising, which may mean spending money on online and print advertising and marketing strategies like using social media to spread the word about your listing. 

Selling With a Realtor

When selling your house with a realtor, you can sit back and let them do all the hard work, including pricing your home, listing it, and advertising the listing. Once you get interested buyers, they’ll also negotiate to help you get the best price for your home. But, of course, this option also comes with many pros and cons. 

Pros of Selling With a Realtor

  • Realtors sell homes full-time, which means they have the expertise to handle every step of the process, including doing market research and pricing your home, staging it, and negotiating offers without the need for you to get involved. Selling a house is exhausting, and you already have a job, so there’s no need to take on extra work when you don’t have it. 
  • Agents have access to large networks to help you list your home. Of course, you can list your home yourself on some platforms like Zillow and Redfin, but you don’t have the same professional network as they do. Realtors know other realtors and will try to find buyers through their own networks, allowing you to get more offers. 
  • One of the most significant advantages of working with a realtor is saving time because they handle the entire process. Of course, you’ll get the final say in how much to price your home for and who you’ll sell it to, but realtors take care of the rest, including all the paperwork once you’ve found a buyer. 
  • Realtors negotiate every day they work, so they have the right skills to help you get the right price for your home. An experienced selling agent knows all the signs of low-quality buyers and can help you find the right buyer who is willing to pay more for your home. Additionally, before realtors make more money when they sell your home for more, they’re willing to work harder to get you as much as possible for your home. 

Cons of Selling With a Realtor

  • When you sell your home with a realtor, you’ll have to pay them a commission, which typically ranges from 3-5% of the sale price on the home. Many sellers don’t want to pay this because it can mean giving a realtor tens of thousands of dollars for selling their home, but when you consider how much time and stress they’ve saved you, it’s well worth it.
  • Realtors are human, so they may not always accurately price your home even with the help of all of their research. Of course, you may have a difference of opinion with a realtor who wants to sell your home for less than you believe it’s worth. You have the final say in the asking price, but it’s worth it to listen to your realtor because you may be making decisions based on emotions rather than data. 

When Should You Sell Without a Realtor?

You can sell your home without a realtor at any time, but it’s typically best to work with a realtor if you don’t have a buyer lined up. If you plan to sell to a friend or family member, you can forgo the realtor and their commission fee because the hard work of finding a buyer is done. Of course, depending on how much you know about the process, you might still want to work with a realtor to finalize the deal. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

Tips for Finding the Right Real Estate Agent For You

Buying a house is a long, complex process. First, you must understand the loan process, which can take months if you’re not in good financial health. Then, after you’re pre-approved for a mortgage, you can begin the house hunt, but while the process can be fun, it can also be daunting. While there are many homes for sale around the nation, finding the right home for you based on your needs can be difficult. That’s where a realtor comes in. You can put together a list of all the features you want in a home with your top priorities first, and a real estate agent will search their networks and database to find homes that would be a good fit based on your budget.

On the flip side, sellers often have difficulty selling their homes without a realtor because they don’t have the network or negotiation skills required for selling a house to buyers willing to pay more for the house they want. Of course, most buyers and sellers should work with a realtor, but buyers don’t have to pay for a realtor, so there’s ultimately no reason for buyers not to hire one to help them find their dream home. Unfortunately, there are many realtors in your city alone, and finding the right one can be tricky because you want them to work on finding you a home based on your priorities and budget. Here are a few tips to help you find the right real estate agent for you. 

Be Ready

Knowing what you want in a home can make finding a realtor easier. Remember, while realtors want your business, they also want to find you a house fast to make money and move on to the next client. If you’re unsure what you want in a home, you can appear as a difficult client to experienced realtors, and many of the best agents will avoid you until you can tell them what you’re looking for in a home. 

Additionally, even though a realtor can help you understand the loan process, you should be preapproved for a mortgage before looking for a real estate agent because they need to ensure that you’re qualified for a loan. That being said, realtors can help you understand more about the mortgage loan process and different terms that can be confusing, such as underwriting, amortization, private mortgage insurance, and more. 

Ask for Recommendations

The easiest way to find a great realtor is by asking family and friends about their experiences selling and buying their homes. You can talk to multiple people to determine what stood out about their real estate agents. You can also look online at reviews of local agents to help you understand what other buyers or sellers thought about working with them.

Check Your Area

You always want to find a real estate agent in your area because they’ll know more about the local market. But, of course, you’ll also need to be assured of their experience in general, including whether or not they’re full-time. Of course, you can also find a realtor who works part-time, but you can assume you won’t be their highest priority because they might be working another job, which means they won’t be available to answer your questions at all times. 

You can learn more about someone’s experience by performing a background check or asking to see a list of their recent clients and calling those individuals up to learn about their experiences. You can also determine the types of properties they sell. For example, if you’re looking to buy a single-family home, you want a realtor with experience in buying or selling those types of properties to ensure they’ll give you the best information about your local market. 

Don’t Forget About Personality

Depending on the type of client you are, you might be spending a lot of time communicating with your realtor, either in person or on the phone. Therefore, you want to ensure that they have a personality that allows you to build a relationship with them. If you’re a seller, you’re going to be paying an agent a commission worth thousands of dollars, so you must ensure they’re someone you can trust and rely on. 

Since buying and selling a property can be stressful, you want to ensure you’re hiring someone who can help relieve some of your stress rather than add to it. When interviewing potential realtors, let them know what your expectations are to give them the opportunity to turn down your proposal in case they think they won’t be the right agent for you. 

Consider Communication

As we’ve mentioned, you’re going to communicate with your realtor a lot, whether you’re buying or selling. However, everyone has communication preferences. For example, depending on your real estate agent’s business or life, they might not be available on weekends. Meanwhile, you might have a nine-to-five job and won’t be able to answer the phone every time your realtor has news for you. Stating your communication preferences upfront can help both you and your realtor understand the best way to stay in touch. 

Ask About Other Obligations

Real estate agents have multiple clients at once, so you can’t expect to be their main priority at all times. However, you also don’t want to choose a realtor that takes on too many clients at once and can’t give any of them adequate attention. Talk to your realtor about the type of client you expect yourself to be. 

Most agents understand the stressful process of buying and selling a home and are willing to work with you to make it happen without adding stress. However, others will run from needy clients that call them every day. If you’re the type of client wanting to discuss where your realtor is in the process often, you may have to consider how many other clients they’re working with. 

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to find the right real estate agent for you is by interviewing at least three of them in person. While their experience is important, you want to find someone you get along with and trust to ensure a smooth process. Setting expectations at the beginning is key to ensuring you have a good relationship with whoever you choose. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

Advantages of Investing in Urbanized Land

When it comes to investing in land with a view to turning it into a business, the advantages offered by urbanized land, such as Overseas Prime II , over other types of lots are key to achieving business growth goals and obtaining the expected Return on Investment (ROI).

In recent years, investment in commercial real estate has multiplied, generating higher income due to the growth of cities and the demand for services, two aspects that open new areas of opportunity for business.

However, to increase the chances of having a profitable business, it is not enough to look at the development of the place and the market of opportunities; It is also essential to know what type of land to choose to make a profitable investment and avoid any type of risk.

Sky Marketing presents this article in which we will talk about urbanized land and the advantages they have over rustic and undeveloped land.

What Type of Land to Invest in?

Nowadays, thanks to the yields generated by the land, it is common to find a great diversity of land offered in the real estate market, and choosing the most convenient one depends on the objectives and expectations of each investor.

Investing is a decision that requires analysis and research to avoid risks and capital losses. There are many types of investments that you can make depending on your age, but real estate investment coincides at all stages of life.

The type of land you buy will depend on the business idea you have or —in any case— if it will be used for housing. In both cases, it is always advisable to invest in urbanized land that allows you to save money.

Now, being clear that the land must be urbanized, it only remains to verify when you make the purchase that it has the type of land use that you require, be it commercial, residential or industrial.

What is Urbanized Land?

To better understand the above, we will define what urbanized land is.

Within the real estate offer, it is common to find two types of landurbanized and those that, due to their growth projection, are options for long-term investment but that do not have services or any type of urbanization that facilitates commercial development.

Despite the fact that the latter has the advantage of being more accessible in price, they are not recommended land for establishing businesses because they are located in areas far from urban centers and have little or no infrastructure and development.

In addition to this, sometimes, it is ejido land that cannot even be sold since it does not belong to an individual but to the state. Therefore, carrying out a sale of this type would represent a risk for the investment.

On the contrary, urbanized land is private property and intended for short-term construction, so it has various characteristics, for example, good location, basic services such as electricity, drinking water, drainage, and documentation that supports its legality for providing legal certainty to the investor.

Uses and Characteristics of Urbanized Lots

In general, urbanized land is planned for residential purposes. However, there are real estate companies —such as Sky Marketing— that manage urbanized lots for commercial purposes.

Whether to build a house or commercial premises, it is required to have basic services on the ground; Among the main ones are:

  • Electric power
  • Drinking water
  • Sewer system
  • Paving
  • Street lighting
  • Sidewalks and ridges

Another important feature is that they are located near the urban sprawl, which will make the land increase in value and you will obtain a profit in the medium term.

In addition to a privileged location, you avoid additional expenses and the time it would take you to do the paperwork and the necessary improvements to develop on your own.

How to Choose a Plot of Urbanized Land?

The first thing is to have a clear idea of ​​what use you will give the land before making the investment.

Many people know the advantages of investing in land as a form of retirement savings since they are operations with a medium risk factor and that guarantee medium-term profitability.

However, although buying an investment lot is the best option for retirement, you must establish a business plan. For it to be a successful investment, you must determine for what purpose you want to acquire the land.

Briefly, these are the steps you must follow to buy developed land:

  • Determine the use that the land will have, either to build a home or build a business premises
  • Contact a real estate company —such as Sky Marketing— to receive advice. Remember to check the reputation of the company and that its lots are delivered urbanized.
  • Find the ideal location for your project. If you want to start a business and build commercial premises, make sure it is in an area with a high influx of people
  • Make a budget and consider the initial investment, as well as the expenses of the procedure and maintenance

Currently, it can be easy to invest in real estate. You can even buy land online; however, before deciding on a real estate agent, you should investigate and compare before proceeding.

This is due to the fact that among the wide range of investment lots on the market, not all of those offered have urbanization.

Most of the cheapest investment lots are located away from residential areas, usually on the outskirts of the city in police stations or municipalities. The problem they present is that they do not yet have services and it is not known exactly when the city council will carry out the urbanization work.

For this reason, you should opt for companies whose land already has market studies that guarantee the profitability of the property and guarantee the increase in capital gains in the medium or long term.

Advantages of Investing in Urbanized Lots

Investing in urbanized land offers the freedom to build and, at the same time, belong to an area that will provide endless benefits, compared to what it would be to do it in a rural or ejido area, far from the latent growth of urban sprawl and with the legal risks what this implies.

Many real estate agencies use low-quality materials to carry out the construction of their projects, so it is safer to buy the land and build it yourself in order to ensure that everything is done according to your needs.

And not only that, they are usually larger tracts of land, as opposed to buying homes or prefabs on limited land.

Being located in areas of accelerated growth, urbanized land is a safe and profitable investment in the future for commercial projects. Due to their location and planning, they are the ideal opportunity for commercial developments, such as small business premises and convenience stores.

In addition, they expand the options of use and are an alternative to obtaining income from the investment even without having been built since their location and characteristics allow them to be leased to franchises or other service providers.

Another of its advantages is the added value that it will obtain year after year. As the demand for purchase rises and the city continues to expand in population and services, the cost per square meter of urbanized land will increase exponentially, reflecting in a higher return on investment.

The price is also an advantage because you can buy pre-sale urbanized investment land saving a considerable amount, as opposed to buying it at market price.

There are real estate agencies that offer financing plans to acquire in a period of 24 to 36 months without interest, which results in savings and a higher profit margin in the future.

What to Take into Account when Acquiring an Urbanized Land?

In addition to location, price and space, there are other factors that you must take into account when buying your land:

  • Preferably choose a plot with a regular shape to make the most of the available space
  • Visit the land to verify the accessibility and the state of the surrounding areas, and corroborate the potential it has for housing or business
  • If you buy from an individual, hire the services of a real estate advisor and a notary public to verify that the land is regularized and has no debts
  • If you’re not going to build right away, find out what you need to do to keep the land in shape and prevent invaders from coming
  • Secure your purchase by deeding the land before a notary public and for it to be registered in the Public Registry of Property

Invest in Urbanized Land, your Best Option

Due to its rapid growth, today, the supply of urbanized land in Pakistan has been on the rise to respond to the expansion that the cities have registered and promote commercial development in emerging areas.

Now that you know the advantages of buying urbanized land in cities in Pakistan, all that remains is to find the ideal real estate company.

At Sky Marketing, we have projects of urbanized lots for commercial use developed in areas of Pakistan, which increase the chances of obtaining high returns thanks to their strategic location and delivery characteristics that facilitate short-term construction.

If you want to know more about these projects and the characteristics of our commercial land, contact us so that a specialized advisor can help you answer any questions you may have about expanding your business in a place where you can maximize your return on investment.

Author: M. Rubayet

8 Tips for Long-term Grain Storage

It’s important to consider a variety of aspects while keeping grain harvests for lengthy periods of time. If you make a mistake, the quality will suffer, perhaps resulting in large financial losses. 

Temperature control and moisture reduction are two major issues in farm grain storage.

Grains like wheat, barley, and oats, when kept correctly, may last for several years, giving farmers the time they need to wait for better prices. Many things may go wrong, from biological deterioration to insect damage; thus, meticulous planning and preparation are necessary both before and after harvest.

When planning your long-term grain storage, keep these 8 tips in mind.

Bins Need to Be Cleaned and Prepared

To avoid mold and mildew, it’s critical to thoroughly clean storage containers before putting grains away for the long haul. The use of safe fumigation and pesticide treatments is required for any insects found in aeration ducts, beneath perforated flooring, or in the grain bins themselves. If you do not have sufficient containers, you can search from property listing business sites near you and lease or buy one.

Bin sprays and grain protectants, for example, may help lower the likelihood of insect-related problems. Insects are more prone to difficulties during summer, which is particularly crucial.

Store the Best Grain Possible

The grain you’re keeping should be of the highest possible quality. Long-term storage will further exacerbate the spoilage of grain that has been damaged by moisture or insects. It’s not a good idea to keep this year’s grain alongside the previous year’s.

You’ll also want to have tough, mature grains on hand. Grains exposed to cold, for example, may be immature and less likely to survive a prolonged storage period.

Proper Drying Times and Moisture Levels

There are distinct moisture content requirements for each variety of grain. When storing grains for more than a few months, they should be dried to a lower moisture content than typical. For example, wheat should be dried to a lower moisture content than soybeans.

This lower moisture level is necessary because it takes moisture to develop mold and moisture issues in grain. As a result, grains stored through the summer months require this lower moisture level, and grains stored for multiple years (and summers) require an even lower moisture level. Maintaining the storage bins themselves is a necessary task. Storage of grains requires a clean, dry environment free of insects, mold, and fungus.

Corn, for example, should be dried to a moisture content of 15% or below before being kept for any length of time. Corn must be stored at a moisture content of 13% if it is to be held until the following harvest in July or later when temperatures rise. However, if it is to be kept for a year or more, the moisture percentage must be 14 percent or lower.

Having a fully functioning and accurate agricultural grain and seed moisture meter is essential because of these exact moisture parameters. Having a dependable moisture meter may make all the difference in grain storage when dealing with significant moisture level variations of just a degree or two. As a result, grain rotting leads to a loss of profit, and too much moisture causes grain deterioration. A moisture meter is essential since even a one percent difference in moisture content may significantly influence how well grain stores.

Temperature Is a Critical Factor

Keeping your grain at a consistent temperature is critical to the long-term viability of your storage facility. How important is it? A reliable thermometer may keep tabs on the grain’s temperature. The vitality of your grain will be maintained by storing it at or below freezing temperature throughout the cold months of the year. In the spring and summer, the grain may be gradually warmed. Grain should be stored at a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. However, opinions differ on the ideal range.

Do you know why it matters so much? Grain must be kept at a suitable temperature to prevent it from providing the ideal conditions for mold to thrive. The grain must be kept dry and at a low moisture level, but it must also be kept cool enough to prevent mold development while still being heated enough to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.

Constant Monitoring

The quality, temperature, and moisture of your grain should be checked at least once a week during the summer and once every few weeks during the winter. First, check your moisture meter to see whether there is any odor. If there is, then capture a sample. For this quantity of testing, there are rapid moisture testers that are both touch and non-contact. Some analyzers can test in storage hoppers without the need for samples.

Be aware of the stench, condensation on the ceiling, and excessive pressure caused by the aeration fans. Insects may also be a sign of moisture or deterioration, so watch out for them.

Watch Out for Insects

Insects are another incentive to keep an eye on grain throughout the summer.

In warmer weather, you may go from just a few insects to a full-blown infestation in as little as two to three weeks. Taking remedial action is impossible if you don’t check in weekly or biweekly. You might end up responding to significant issues.

Insect traps are also recommended. Keep grain till the end of summer and use bug traps to detect if any pests are present. The grain must be treated if there are.”

Enhance Airflow

Get into the practice of coring your grains on a regular basis to aerate them. Remember that air travels in the direction of least resistance. Therefore fines tend to congregate near the center. Air will seep in from the exterior, causing the core to deteriorate. Grain bins are designed to aid aeration. Consider getting one rather than storing grains in a warehouse. Used grain bins may be purchased for as little as $9,000, which is a considerable price difference from what is presently available on the market.

Don’t Add New Grain to Old

You can’t go wrong with fresh-picked grain. In no way does storage increase the quality of a product. Storage problems might arise if the fresh grain is mixed with older grain that isn’t yet stable. That’s why you should never combine them. Prior to cleaning and prepping the bins, combine all the old grain to create a way for the new crop. If you don’t have enough space, you may rent or purchase one from local listing properties for sale or lease.

Conclusion

In the grain market, weather patterns and unpredictable trade agreements determine prices. Anyone who wants to succeed as a grain farmer must have a strategy. To get the most out of your harvest, you need to invest in long-term grain storage. Doing so will help you maximize your grain’s marketability, which might extend throughout summer and perhaps longer.

A farmer’s most precious asset is his or her stock of stored grains. It’s a loss of earnings if they are damaged. As a result, until they are sold, they must be protected in order to maintain their quality.

Author: Bob Kappas

Real Estate Video Marketing: 7 Useful Tips

Visuals are an important part of selling any item, product, or thing. The real estate industry relies on images and videos to market to potential clients and home buyers. With appealing visuals that entirely display what a home has to offer, more people will be interested in homes and other housing options. Video marketing isn’t always easy, and can require both immense time and effort. If your company is struggling with real estate video marketing, here are 7 useful trips to guide you through the process.

1. Accessibility

Making your videos as accessible to your client market as possible is an effective strategy. Most people browse online when looking for things, this includes searching for houses. Ensure that your website and other platforms you post your videos on are mobile friendly. This will increase the likelihood of high interest and viewership.

2. Quality Videos

There is no point investing time and money into low quality videos. You should hire a professional videographer who can successfully capture homes and properties. Having quality videos will not only add to the credibility of your company, but impress individuals in the property market. Humans are drawn to beauty, perfection, and appealing sights. Creating quality videos will set you up for success, and help your real estate company and agents receive more responses.

3. Video Marketing Platforms

We are in the age of digital marketing innovation and dominance. Relying on your website alone will not be an effective strategy for increasing media outreach. Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook are all free social media platforms. They all have some form of video posting and marketing options. On these platforms you can get monetization through ads when you receive enough viewership in different ways. Millions of people are active on these sights daily. It is now a popular option for home buyers to search up properties on social media sites. Utilize these platforms so you can adhere to social media users, and expand your video and visual accessibility.

4. Hire a Social Media Marketer

If nobody in your company is capable of video marketing on their own, try hiring a social media marketer. With the help of a social media marketer, your videos can perform better. You’ll always have someone to respond to comments, regularly post, and keep the video aspects of your company up to date.

5. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

When people are searching for their ideal or dream home, they will be likely to use specific wording. SEO or search engine optimization is the utilization of keywords to get more views and reception. Keywords help those searching on the internet to find exactly what they are looking for. For example, somebody may be looking for a one story house with a backyard in the suburbs. Include these keywords in the description of your videos, tags, and text headlines. All of your word usage should include all details and specific of properties so buyers looking for similar options can find your listings.

6. Standout

Sharing the same approaches as competitors will be detrimental to your real estate company. Your videos should have something new and reshing that makes your brand distinct and memorable. Standing out is important in sales related industries. You can incorporate charismatic personalities in your videos advertising what each property has to offer. Other ways you can try to stand out include: unique values, creative visuals and innovative selling points. People tend to get disinterested if content does not intrigue or entertain them. Genuineness and authenticity are also two factors that help companies standout. As long as you are not copying, or too similar to other real estate brands, your company should be easily recognizable.

7. Video Length

Real estate video marketing is bait which can influence clients to seek out a tour of homes in person. These videos shouldn’t be too long because it can cause people to doubt that your homes are not suitable options for them. Your videos should be short 1-5 minute clips that showcase the highlights of properties. This will catch the attention of buyers, and get them pumped to go on a tour.

These 7 real estate marketing tips will help your company reach more clients and reception. Videos are a great way to market your business to individuals ready to purchase a home or property.

Writer Eula Skiles writes for both Case study writing service and Assignment writer. Eula writes on topics like digital marketing and business. She is interested in guiding others in marketing and branding needs. She also writes for Gum Essays blog.

5 Decorating Mistakes That Makes Your Home Looks Like a Mess

It is easy to overdo the act of decorating your home. You can get too excited when you decorate your home and still not like the finished product.

If you are decorating your first investment property, you may feel overwhelmed with everything you need to consider. What should be the color of the wall, the type of fixtures to use even up to the smallest detail of whether to hang wall art or not you have to consider.

And that is normal to feel.

If decorating your home still leaves you perplexed to this day, read on below to alert you of some oversights that you can avoid.

Depending on open storage too much

Strategically planning where to place these repositories, or even how to put it should be done. You have to plan this well, whether to have free-standing shelves or cleverly spaced-out floating ones.

Whichever way you want to place it, the critical thing to note is not to overcrowd it. Avoid filling in up to the tiniest gaps. Be creative; use scented candles as a book stopper. Add plants on one corner for some pop of colors. Look for dainty vases that can stand on their own or house some freshly picked flowers.

Too many colors

Another mistake that some people commonly make when decorating houses is choosing too many colors. It can make a space look cluttered even without any clutter around. It can also be more of a form of destruction than your focus source.

The best way to overcome it is by creating a mood board and incorporating the 60-30-10 rule. It is a known interior design technique where 60% will be your primary color. You can use this color in large free spaces, like the wall. Next, you can apply the 30% color accent chairs and curtains while the 10% would constitute your furnishings such as cushions and lamps.

And then translate that mood board into reality once you are happy with it.

Exposed cords

Remember your open storage? Never display gaming consoles there. Because chances are you will see tangled wires all the time, and it is best if you stash them away.

The first thing to do is find where your electrical outlets are. Try to place your big appliances near it, so wires do not have to be exposed that much. If it is inevitable to use extension cords, invest in wire organizers to conceal the mess.

At MaidSailors – Cleaning Services Austin, they believe that organizing stuff has to go hand-in-hand with the owner’s personality and individual concerns. Remember that it is never wrong to ask for help and let the professionals do it for you.

Too many decorations

When decorating your home, always live by the saying “less is more.”

Do not feel like you have to constantly fill in even the tiniest space or gap in your home with decor. It will make a room look cluttered, and it will also be challenging to clean a house with so many loose displays.

The key is to find accessories that you can also use for something else. For example, use a bowl of fruits as your table centerpiece rather than an empty vase. Get those small and dainty dishes to catch little things such as keys or a pair of earrings. And then the rest make sure to stow them away.

Pushing your furniture against the wall

One interior designer who is based in Santa Cruz, California says that she often sees her clients incorporate massive pieces of furniture and then place them against a wall. It is true that this strategy could sometimes maximize the space. However, most of the time, it does otherwise and makes the space look “much too cramped” according to her.

Depending on how big or small your given space was, start by getting the important ones such as a couch and a coffee table for your living area. Place them toward the center and then work on your way out. See if a floor lamp can still be added or would it be better to just add another side table instead.

In Summary

Although people can easily make decorating mistakes, individuals can also efficiently avoid most of these oversights. And the first step to it is awareness. So, by now, you should probably feel more confident to start decorating your house more intently.

Author: Jacky Xu