Date Archives: September 2019

Buying a home is the American dream that many families hold. We all know it's never cheap to purchase a home, and may take a couple years to save for an appropriate downpayment. But, how much should you save for a downpayment on a home? Typically, it is suggested you save 5% of your maximum budget. Meaning, if your budget for purchasing a home is $180,000, you should save $9,000 for a down payment. With the right tips and tricks, you will be able to save up for a down payment in no time. Try these tips on saving money for a down payment, turning your dream of purchasing a home into a reality! 

Develop a Savings Plan

Taking time to create a savings plan will help you stay organized on spending habits, along with developing a timeline. If you are looking to move in two years, calculate how much you need to save each month to have a 5% down payment you're seeking. In order to make a savings plan, you will need to carefully comb through your weekly and monthly spending to figure out the amount you are able to save in a certain timeframe. Some things to include when making your monthly budget include:

• Gas expenses
• Grocery shopping 
• Rent/monthly housing payment
• Car Payments/insurance 
• Utility bills
• Emergency funds 
• Miscellaneous expenses 

Avoid Mindless Spending

Along with making a savings plan, make a note to avoid mindless spending. Once you start to manage your spending habits, you will quickly notice the amount you spend without even realizing it. Doing so could easily save you a couple hundred dollars a month. 

Take Your Time

Buying a new home is exciting, and it can be hard to not rush the process. Perhaps you are ready for this next step in life. However, it's important to remember not to get ahead of yourself. Take your time with the homebuying process, and be sure to not bite off more than you can chew. When you are ready to start the home buying process, contact the expert real estate agents at Choice Properties! Whether you are a first time homebuyer or experienced in the process, our team is eager to assist. 

Choice Properties understands your needs and desires when it comes to the home search. We are here to help you define what you want, seek the best property and move forward feeling educated and able to make good decisions throughout the process. You can trust us to help you navigate it with the best real estate agents working for you. Call us to get started on your dream home search today.

For those who spend Saturday mornings with a cup of coffee and HGTV, home staging may seem like a piece of cake. However, when selling your home this may be the most important factor in the selling process. Staging your home for potential buyers allows them to view themselves and their family within the space, increasing the chance of them making an offer. It's important to be careful and make the right moves when staging a home to avoid missing out on a sale. Of course, when working with a Choice Properties real estate agent, we will assure all home staging needs will be addressed properly. The next time you're binge watching a home show, ask yourself, are they making these home staging mistakes?

Not Taking the Potential Buyers into Consideration

The first thing one should do when staging a home is take a minute to consider the audience. Who is most likely to show interest and purchase the home listing? Will they be a young family? An older, retired couple? Answering these questions will help the design process go as needed, according to the demographic. 

Overdesigning the Space

Contrary to belief, there is a such thing as over designing the space. In these scenarios, less is more. Staging a home to sell is about creating a space that the buyers can imagine themselves in for years to come. Take this moment to remove a majority of personal items from your home, although it may feel emotional. Easy ways to make the home inviting without overdoing it is to paint an accent wall, update window blinds, and minimal accent pillows and rugs. 

Personalising the Home Staging

Staging a home is without a doubt the best way to draw in potential buyers, intriguing them to make an offer. But, be careful about personalizing the home and scaring interested families away. Refrain from having your style and personality shine through on the home staging, as everyone has a different taste. For example, avoid repainting the kitchen any bright colors, or leaving small knick knacks lying around. Although these are important to you, it may feel loud and cluttered to others. 

Choice Properties understands your needs and desires when it comes to the home search. We are here to help you define what you want, seek the best property and move forward feeling educated and able to make good decisions throughout the process. You can trust us to help you navigate it with the best real estate agents working for you. 

Call us to get started on your dream home search today.

If your family has recently purchased a home and relocated to a new area, congratulations on starting a new adventure! Although it may feel scary and new at first, this refreshing path will guide you to the next chapter in life. Children may feel worried about starting the school year in a new environment, with new teachers and friends. Practice these tips on helping your child adjust to a new school after moving to ensure the school year goes smoothly. 

Start the Conversation Early

It's important to give your child enough time to process the change. This can be done by having an open and honest conversation about the move and starting a new school. Take this time to learn their fears and concerns, offering reassurance along the way. Now is the time to get them excited about the new start, reminding them of all the fun information they will learn at school and the friends they'll make along the way. Although this conversation might not take their fears away, it lets them know that you are here for them during this transition. 

Create a Routine

Before school officially starts, familiarize your child with the school routine to get them prepared. Show them what school mornings will look like, where the bus stop is, and show them the route to get to school. This allows them to become familiar with the idea and not fear the unknown. 

Visit the School Prior to the First Day

Most schools in Logan County offer orientation days, where parents and children have the opportunity to visit the classroom to meet other students and their teacher. Use this time to walk around the school, showing your child where their classroom is and getting them familiar with the area. Although the first few days of school may still feel overwhelming for them, this will let them know what to expect.

Sign Up for Extracurricular Activities 

Encouraging kids to get involved is a great way for them to make friendships and feel like they are a part of something great. This could be a sports team, music class, or after school club. Your child may need the extra push to get through their shyness and hesitation, which is normal! When they are out of their comfort zone is when friends and memories will be made. 

Choice Properties offers you a chance to find the home of your dreams. We work with your budget and ideas in mind to support your ultimate vision. Call us if you are ready to check out the available inventory or to speak with a reputable agent who can assist you with your home buying needs.

Buying a new home is an exciting time in life! Whether you are a first time homebuyer or experienced in the homebuying process, it is a huge accomplishment. However, the downpayment and monthly mortgage isn't the only costs that come with owning a home. Homeowners insurance may often be overlooked by first time homebuyers, as it's not a popular topic of discussion. When financing through a bank, homeowners insurance is typically required. Although it's required, it's most certainly worth the cost. Navigating through various homeowners insurance policies may feel confusing. Here is what to look out for when searching for the best homeowners insurance, ensuring you're paying the best price for the best coverage. 

1. Coverage

Coverage is the most important factor when searching for the right homeowners insurance. Most offer an array of coverage policies which are broken down by the amount protection they offer. This means how much the insurance company will replace your valuables after a natural disaster or a loss. The three main types of coverage policies include:

• Cash Value Replacement Coverage: This option will replace the cash value of the items lost, while taking into account the depreciation of your personal items.

• Full Replacement Coverage: Full replacement coverage will reimburse you the complete cost of your items, at today's cost. Meaning there is no depreciation. 

• Guaranteed Replacement Cost Coverage: If your home is a total loss, this coverage will completely reimburse the actual cost with no coverage limits, in today's dollar amount.

2. Additional Coverage Plans

There are an array of coverage plans that you can add to your existing policy, for even more protection. Many opt for this if they live in an area where natural disasters are known to occur. This may include:

• Flood Insurance: Those who live in areas prone to flooding are encouraged to purchase an add-on of flood insurance onto their policy. This will ensure your items are covered following an event of a flood or severe storm surges.

•  Earthquake Insurance: This plan will protect your values and items in an event of an earthquake. Those residing in California are more inclined to include this policy onto their plan. 

3. Get Three Quotes Before Making a Decision

Just as you browse and shop for your new home, you will want to do the same for homeowners insurance. Take this time to consider what you need within a policy, in terms of the coverage needed and where you reside. For example, those buying a home in Ohio most likely do not need earthquake insurance. By shopping around and learning pricing and options available, you will be able to make the best decision.

Choice Properties offers you a chance to find the home of your dreams. We work with your budget and ideas in mind to support your ultimate vision. Call us if you are ready to check out the available inventory or to speak with a reputable agent who can assist you with your home buying needs.