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Tips for Pricing Your Rental

Investing in real estate is a great way to grow your wealth, but you have to make many decisions that can impact your finances. For example, not only do you have to buy property to rent, but you also have to deal with maintenance costs, contracts and leases, and figuring out how much to charge for rent. 

Pricing your rental correctly the first time can help you save money on marketing and prevent your property from staying vacant for too long. However, many landlords often price their rentals incorrectly, which can deter would-be renters from even applying. There are many things to consider before you set the price of rent. Here are tips for how to price your rental to help you reach more prospective tenants and fill your vacancy. 

Look at Comparable Properties

Whether you’re a landlord for a house or an apartment complex, you need to know how much similar properties in the area charge for rent to help you stay competitive. Focus only on rentals similar to yours. For example, there’s no reason for your rent to be equal to the rent of a house that offers more square footage. Instead, look for properties that are as similar as possible and in the same neighborhood. Features to consider include the number of beds and baths, types of homes, new construction, and rental upgrades. 

You can find comparables online or work with a realtor who can help you understand the different price points in the area if you’re unfamiliar with a certain city or neighborhood. Of course, you can also use sites that help people find rental properties like Zillow.

Amenities

Renters are willing to pay more for better amenities. Therefore, you shouldn’t price all of your units the same even if they have the same number of bedrooms unless they are exactly the same. Ultimately, the rent price should depend on the desirability of the unit. For example, someone in an apartment complex will be willing to pay more for a unit on the end because there are fewer neighbors and more windows. Therefore, even though their unit is exactly the same as the one in the middle of the building, they have different features they’re willing to pay for. 

You can typically charge more for a property based on its views. For example, properties with good views instead of a parking lot are typically worth more in the eyes of renters. Additionally, updated appliances, more space, and higher floors are more desirable, allowing you to charge more.

Profit

You invested in real estate to make a profit and grow your wealth. So while you must remain competitive, you should also make a return on your investment. Of course, you can’t expect to become cashflow positive quickly in real estate since it’s a long-term investment strategy. Of course, first, you’ll need to pay off the mortgage and deal with monthly bills associated with the business. 

However, eventually, if you price your units correctly, you can start making a profit. Remember that some landlords don’t start making a profit until they’ve had their properties for years or decide to sell them. Your goal should be to price the unit to at least cover your expenses. If you’re losing money on the property, you may have over-invested. 

Market Demand

While the prices on comparable properties will help you price your property correctly, you should also look at the market demand. If there’s more demand, you can increase your rent, but if there’s less demand, a higher price could leave you with a vacancy for longer. Ultimately, when the economy is bad, demand for rentals might increase because people are leaving their homes. However, a bad economy can also mean demand for cheaper apartments because people are downsizing. 

When there’s greater demand for a property or unit, you can charge higher for rent. However, you should reevaluate the demand every few months because it can shift dramatically throughout the year, especially depending on the economy. 

Pets

Allowing pets can help you stand out from the competition and help you get more tenants quickly because not all apartments or rentals allow pets. You can charge a non-refundable pet deposit fee and monthly pet rent when you allow pets. Many apartments don’t allow pets because they can damage carpets and walls. 

However, by charging a non-refundable pet deposit, you’ll ensure your unit is covered in case a pet destroyed something. Additionally, people are willing to pay more for an apartment that allows pets because they want to bring their dogs and cats to a new home. 

Increasing Rent 

The cost of rent increases every year, but prices fluctuate frequently. If you’re going to raise the rent, you should determine how much so that you won’t price yourself out of the market. Renters already living in rentals expect their rent to increase every time they sign a new year-long lease. 

However, you can keep your current tenants happy by reducing the amount you raise the rent. For example, a new tenant that just signed a lease should pay more than someone who has lived in the apartment for years because it’s easier and more affordable to keep existing tenants than find new ones. 

Location

We’ve already touched on amenities like beautiful views, but if your rental is in a great location, like Tampa, Florida, with grocery stores and entertainment nearby, your property will likely be worth more than one that requires someone to travel a greater distance. So even though you might not have the most scenic views and your renters may have to look at parking lots or streets, if you have a good location that can help tenants easily get where they need to go, you can typically charge more. 

Final Thoughts

The best thing you can do as a landlord is not price yourself out of the market. Even if your rental offers higher-end amenities and features, you might still be unable to charge as much as you want based on other factors like the economy and location. If you’re unsure how to price your rental, consider working with a local real estate agent who can help you understand all the different factors to consider while helping you compare your rental to the competition. 

Julia Olivas

Julia Olivas graduated from San Francisco State University with her B.A. in Communication Studies. She is a freelance writer where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing and content creation. Outside of writing, she loves cooking, reading, making art, and her pup Ruby. 

Is Real Estate Investment Worth It

Most people dream of owning their own homes to forget about rising rent costs, start a family, or simply have more space. However, what many people don’t consider is that real estate is a valuable investment. Real estate is a great way to gain financial freedom; frankly, it always has been. Unfortunately, there are very few guarantees when investing, but overall, it’s a safer investment option than high-risk stocks. 

Experts agree that real estate investing is worth it. So whether you’re looking to build wealth or just want to make a return on your investment, here are just ways you can start investing in real estate. 

Homeownership

Homeownership isn’t just a way to get more space or a backyard for children and pets– it’s actually a real estate investment even though it might not feel like it. Real estate is the only type of investment you can use while you get a return on your investment, allowing you to live in the home with your family while building equity. 

Homeownership is one of the best investments you can make for financial security for the future. Not only are you saving money by not having to deal with rent prices that go up yearly, but you’re investing into your future. If you stay in the house for the rest of your life, you won’t have to worry about paying for expensive housing during retirement, and if you choose to sell your house before retirement, you’ll be able to increase your wealth. 

Developing wealth and equity is a long-term investment strategy, so your home will ultimately be an extension of your savings as you pay off your mortgage loan. Then, when you finally go to sell the house or pay it off, you’ll be in an even better financial position because you won’t have to pay the cost of housing.

Purchasing a house is the dream of many, and it’s an investment in real estate that doubles as an investment in yourself. Unfortunately, there are cons to being a homeowner, including high down payments. You should also be careful not to buy a house you might not be able to afford in the long run.

Rentals

When investing in real estate, you can invest in long-term or short-term rentals to start paying back the mortgage and earning money immediately. Of course, you could end up with horrible tenants, but if you properly background check them, you can set yourself up for success. If you can figure out a way to ensure your tenants can be trusted to properly take care of the rental, you can start making money quickly, even after all your operating expenses are paid. 

While you can’t expect much at first, it can help you pay for other bills, such as your home mortgage or any debts. Long-term rentals are also a good way to increase your retirement income. Ultimately, as tenants pay their rents and the mortgage is paid down, your passive income will slowly grow over time. Eventually, your mortgage will be completely paid off, so you’ll have a larger additional stream of money coming in on top of any other income you make. 

Of course, you can also choose short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs. Airbnb rentals can be a highly lucrative way to earn money. There are cons to short-term renting, though. Long-term rental tenants typically pay more of their own expenses and utilities, but short-term renters do not, which means you’ll be expected to pay all of the bills associated with the prosperity, such as utilities and trash collection. Additionally, you must market your property, which means keeping it in good condition before, after, and during a tenant’s stay. 

Flipping

If you watch television, you’ve probably already come across a reality show about house flippers that makes it look easy. There are many benefits to house flipping. You can generate money quickly if you can find ways to buy houses at a low price and sell them for much higher. Of course, flipping typically involves renovations, which can get expensive if you don’t hire the right company. Ensure you find a reputable contractor who you trust as they can get you the best field service contractors to help with your house flipping projects.

When flipping a house, there’s no guarantee you’ll make money. However, if you figure out a way to do everything right and get the house back on the market quickly, you can make tens of thousands of dollars a month. 

Trusts

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are companies that finance real estate; they trade on major stock exchanges, and investing in them can benefit investors. With trusts, you don’t own any property, so there are virtually no overhead costs or repairs involved. Instead, you can break into the real estate investment industry by becoming a REIT stockholder, which many people already do through their retirement plans. 

Is Real Estate Investing Worth It?

Real estate investing has many benefits, including having a regular income that can help you pay your bills and any other mortgage. Additionally, you can get tax benefits if you turn your investment into a business by becoming a landlord. 

Real estate investments are well worth it if you can afford them. You’ll need to put down a substantial amount of money for every type of real estate investment on this list. For example, if you plan to purchase a house to either rent it out, live in it, or flip it, you’ll need to save enough for a down payment. If you don’t have the money to start investing, there’s no reason to purchase a house you can’t afford, even if you can get a mortgage company to give you a loan. Remember, real estate investing is all about building wealth, not putting your financial future at risk. 

If you don’t already have a house, you may choose to live in your house and let it build equity while you use it. Of course, there are pros and cons to each type of real estate investment, but if you’re willing to do the math and put in the work, you can make a significant amount of money. 

Julia Olivas

Julia Olivas graduated from San Francisco State University with her B.A. in Communication Studies. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing and content creation. Outside of writing, she loves cooking, reading, making art, and her pup Ruby.

Mistakes to Avoid Making When Buying a Home

Buying a home is a complicated process. From pre-approval to shopping around and finalizing the deal, homebuyers have a lot to accomplish quickly if they want to snag the house they want off the market. Once you buy your first home, you’ll understand the buying process much easier. However, there are several common mistakes many first-time home buyers make. Here are the mistakes to avoid when buying a home.

Not Getting Pre-Approved

Mortgage pre-approvals are a huge first step when you want to buy a house, and they’re not something you should ever forget to do. Having your pre-approval in hand can improve the odds of your offer getting accepted because it tells sellers that you’ve been approved for a loan, ensuring a smoother selling process. 

Remember, the real estate market is incredibly competitive for buyers and sellers, so if you find a house you love, you’ll want to be able to compete with multiple offers by having your pre-approval in hand that states how much a bank or mortgage lender is willing to loan you for the house. 

Buying a House You Can’t Afford 

Mortgage lenders do their due diligence to ensure borrowers can afford a home. However, you shouldn’t let your mortgage lender predict how much you can truly afford. While they consider your income, debts, and credit history, they don’t have a full picture of your finances like you do. If something doesn’t feel right about buying a house that’s above your budget, don’t buy it. 

Buying a house is likely going to be the biggest purchase you’ll ever make, so there’s no reason to overspend if you know it will put you into financial hardship later in life. 

The good news is you don’t have to spend all of the money a lender is willing to loan you on the house. Instead, you can choose to find a more affordable house that requires a smaller loan, affording you the option of renovating the house or using the money you’ve saved on interior design.

Ignoring Location

Location is important in real estate for several reasons. First, homeowners should choose a location based on their needs and preferences. For example, you probably don’t want your commute to work to take longer than an hour, so you’ll need to shop for houses within a particular radius to ensure you’re not spending too much on gas or taking too much time away from your other priorities. 

Additionally, you should consider access to important places, such as schools, grocery stores, and maybe even shopping malls. If convenience is important and you don’t drive, you will also need to look into access to public transportation. On the other hand, if you own your own vehicle, you may want to look for a house with a garage or covered carport to prevent the need for auto detailing due to tree sap and bird droppings. 

Not Considering Other Costs

While the purchase of the home is the highest cost of homeownership, other costs are associated not only with the sale of the home but the maintenance of it as well. When moving to a new home, you might have to deal with additional expenses immediately to ensure your home is in proper working order. Common costs associated with home ownership include:

Using All Your Money for the Down Payment

It can be tempting to use your entire savings for the downpayment of a home to spend less money over the life of a loan. However, you should always ensure you have enough savings left over to cover your living expenses for at least three to six months. Not spending your entire savings may mean putting less money down on the house, but it ensures you can afford to live in the house and pay your bills in the immediate future and beyond. 

Not Working with a Real Estate Agent

Anyone can buy a house without help. However, working with a real estate agent can be a life-saver for a first-time home buyer. When buyers work with agents, they don’t have to pay anything since the commission on the sale of a house is split between the buyer’s and seller’s agents. Ultimately, there’s no reason not to work with an agent. Real estate agents can help guide you through the entire process, including helping you find the home of your dreams and negotiating purchase price on your behalf. They’ll even handle all of the paperwork for you, making buying a home less stressful for everyone. 

Waiting for Your Dream House

In a competitive real estate market, you have to move quickly to get the house that you want. If you’re not realistic about what you can afford based on your loan amount, you won’t ever find a quality house. No home is going to check every single one of your boxes, so it’s best to understand what your priorities are when shopping for a home. Waiting too long in hopes of finding your perfect home can result in a great house being sold before you even have the chance to put in an offer.

Moving Too Fast

While you don’t want to move too slowly in the homebuying process, you should also never rush your decisions. Buying your first home is exciting, but that doesn’t mean you should rush to purchase the first house you see. Instead, take time to find the property that’s right for you, and don’t settle for something just because it’s available and within your budget. 

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are many mistakes to be made when buying a house. Luckily, working with a real estate agent can help you through the entire process, and it’s free for buyers. Hopefully, knowing these common mistakes can help prevent you from buying a home that’s out of your budget or spending too much on the down payment. Remember, never make decisions based on impulse; instead, do your research and find the best house for you and your family that’s within budget. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

7 Ways Renters Can Spruce Up Their Home

There are always rules when you’re a renter, including rules for getting approved to be a tenant in the first place. You’re expected to follow strict rules when renting from the credit check to the lease agreement and what you can do in the home. 

As a renter, it might feel like you have limited options for making your rental feel like home. However, renting doesn’t mean there aren’t any options for decorating. If you talk to your landlord, you can find out what types of cosmetic changes are acceptable and which are not. For example, some landlords will not allow you to paint your walls, while others will allow paint as long as you paint it back before you move out. Even if your landlord is strict about how you can decorate your home, there are still tons of things you can do to make it homier. Here are a few ways renters can spruce up their homes. 

1. Paint (If Allowed)

As we’ve mentioned, some landlords will not allow you to paint. However, many landlords understand that their renters will want to paint their walls to make their homes more unique. So if your landlord allows paint, you might just have to deal with painting it back to a white color before you move out. Painting your room is an affordable way to refreshen a space and you can have fun doing it!

If you’re unsure of your lease agreement’s stance on painting, you can always review it or call your landlord to understand the types of cosmetic changes you can make in your home. The good news is that there are options even when you can’t paint your walls. For example, you can use wall decals to make any boring white wall sparkle with personality. You can also invest in peel-and-stick wallpaper that will allow you to completely transform any and every room in your home. Then, when you’re done with the wallpaper, all you have to do is peel it off, and there will be no damage done to the walls. 

2. Spruce Up the Yard

If you’re renting a house or condo and have a yard all to yourself, you can make your rental feel more like home by sprucing up your yard. If you’re allowed, you can start a backyard garden. However, once again, check your lease agreement to understand what changes you can make to the yard. If you want to discuss different options with your landlord, feel free to do so. 

When trying to convince your landlord to let you change the yard in some way, always point out how it can improve the yard, such as adding flowers to the front of the house can add curb appeal. Landlords are more likely to say yes when you can show them how your changes can improve their bottom lines or increase the home’s value. 

3. Upgrade Hardware

Renters can easily upgrade kitchen and bathroom hardware and switch it back when they move out. Replace doorknobs, cabinet pulls, dresser knobs and anything else that you can to add a splash of your personality to any room. Upgrading hardware is affordable and can change the feel of any room. Be careful when changing hardware, though. You’ll need to ask your landlord permission to drill new holes. You can also choose not to replace any hardware with something that would require additional holes. 

4. Window Treatments

Most rentals come with standard, boring blinds that typically break if you try to clean them. However, you can upgrade your rental by changing out your window treatments and replacing boring blinds with curtains. 

Many landlords allow you to add curtains to your home, but be careful about color. Some lease agreements may state that your window treatments must be a certain color or have a certain color, such as white, pointing outward. Luckily, many curtains come with one color for the apartment and white facing outside of the apartment, so you can find a color you love to help spruce up your decor. 

If you need to install a rod to hang your curtains, you can purchase curtain rod brackets that require no drilling or hang your curtain rods with Command™ hooks that won’t damage your walls. 

5. Peel-and-Stick Flooring

We’ve already discussed peel-and-stick wallpaper, but you can also change up the appearance of your kitchen and bathroom floors with peel-and-stick flooring for any room that doesn’t have carpet. By changing the way your floor looks, you can make your bathroom and kitchen look more high-end without spending thousands of dollars on replacing the floors or asking for your landlord’s permission. When you’re done with the flooring, all you have to do is peel it off and replace it with something new to change how your kitchen or bathroom looks. 

6. Add Your Own Photos

You can get any photo on your phone enlarged and printed on a canvas to help add your personal touch to any rental. Whether you want to showcase how cute your pet is or put a large framed picture of your family in your hallway, you can make your home more personal to you even though you don’t own it. When putting your own photos on the walls, be careful not to drill any holes. Instead, you can use Command™ Strips attached to any photo frame and stick your favorite images on your wall. Don’t have any good photos to use? You can create your own art and get it printed!

7. Use Mirrors

Many rentals are smaller than we want them to be, but you can make your space feel bigger by adding mirrors. Mirrors are a cost-effective way to make any room feel larger. When deciding where to put your mirror, look for places that can bounce natural light off of them and reflect the outdoors. Depending on your preferences, you can use any shape of mirror you want, or you can choose a variety of different mirrors for one space. 

Final Thoughts

Being a renter means having fewer options when it comes to decorating your home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add your own style to your apartment or rental house. There are many ways to transform a space, including the use of color, designs, and wall art to make your rental feel like your home.

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

9 Renter-Friendly Improvements on a Budget

When you move to an apartment, you might feel like there’s no way to make your new home feel like it’s truly yours. With so many rules in your lease about what you can and can’t do to the aesthetics of the home, it can seem like you’re left with almost no options to decorate your home. Luckily, there are a few renter-friendly improvements you can make that are affordable and allow you to be a good tenant. Here are cheap renter-friendly improvements you can make on a budget. 

1. Clean

When you first move in, the home is already clean. However, as you start living there, eventually, dust and dirt will begin to accumulate. Of course, your landlord and previous tenant may not have done the best job of cleaning, so you still might want to clean the floors and walls before you move in heavy furniture. Whenever you choose to clean, a deep clean can make your home feel brighter and fresher to help you come up with the best design plans despite your limited space. 

2. Paint

Giving your rental a fresh coat of paint can make a dramatic difference because it makes your rental unique. You can choose to paint one wall or all the walls in your home to brighten it up or give it more personality. Of course, always check your lease agreement before painting. There might be a clause stating that you cannot make any cosmetic changes, including painting, to the home without written consent from your landlord. With some rentals, your lease will state that you can paint as long as you paint your home back before moving out to ensure the next tenant has a blank canvas. 

If you’re not allowed to paint at all, there are still ways to dress up your walls. For example, you can use peel-and-stick wallpaper to create a feature wall in your home. There are many design and color options for peel-and-stick wallpaper that can transform any room of your home, and it’s less messy and labor-intensive than painting. 

3. Consider Furniture

If your home came furnished, you could save money on furniture by investing in a slipcover that can help keep the sofa clean while also allowing you to add a pop of color to your living room. Of course, many rentals don’t come furnished, so you can also add a slipcover to your old sofa if you don’t have enough money to buy a new one. 

If you have the budget, you can go shopping as soon as you’ve decided on the design plan for your home. A new sofa can bring life and a little bit of your personality to a boring living room, and there are tons of options to choose from to help you make your rental feel like home. 

4. Upgrade Your Bed

Did you know? Your mattress should be replaced every seven to ten years, depending on the type of mattress it is. If you haven’t replaced your mattress in a while, moving to a new home is the perfect time to get a larger bed to find a mattress that can help you sleep comfortably every night. After you’ve picked out your new mattress, look for sheets, throw blankets, and a duvet that can help add color to your bedroom. 

Upgrading your old sheets can help you feel more comfortable, and depending on the types of sheets you get, you can make your bedroom feel like you’re staying at a luxury hotel. 

5. Get Rugs

Not every rental will have beautiful hardwood flooring, so you can get a rug to put on top of ugly carpet or stained flooring to help brighten the place up while covering up any eyesores. You can put a rug around your bed and couch to complete the spaces and give yourself and your guests a comfy place to put their feet when standing up. 

6. Curtains

Rentals typically come with cheap blinds that don’t keep the sun out and may even break. You can spruce up your apartment on a budget by hanging your own curtains to add a pop of color to your walls, especially if you can’t paint. If you live somewhere that gets hot in the summer, you can get blackout curtains to help keep the sun out so your rental can stay cool, helping you to save money on your electricity bills.

7. Replace the Shower Head

Rentals typically come with the cheapest, least effective showerheads. Replacing the showerhead is easy, and anyone can do it, allowing you to get the water pressure you need to relax after a long day or before work. The best part about upgrading your showerhead is that it’s completely reversible. When you move out, you can put the old shower head back on and take yours with you to your next home. 

8. Grow a Garden

If you’re renting an apartment, you likely don’t have a yard where you can grow your own garden. However, you can start a balcony garden by researching what types of plants you can grow based on where the sun hits your home. Then, depending on what you have available, you can use a mix of hanging plants and potted plants to make your balcony feel more like an oasis. A garden can also give you a great view from the inside if your balcony faces a parking lot or street. 

9. Add Shelving

Shelving is a great way to save space without having to put your belongings in storage. If you don’t want to hang shelves and potentially cause holes or damage to the walls, you can get standing shelves for your bedroom and living room, giving you a place for all your books and trinkets. 

Final Thoughts

Even though you can’t do any major renovations on a rental, you can still find affordable ways to make it feel like a home. Before you start redesigning your apartment, consider the current layout. If you don’t have a layout of the apartment, you can ask your landlord for a printout to help you draw out places to put furniture and make the floorplan open and breezy while saving space. 

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music. 

6 Ways to Add Space to Your Home that Won’t Break the Bank

Nobody wants to live in a cramped and congested environment, so making your home as spacious as possible is important. While some can afford a large home or apartment, not everyone can. It’s possible to create more storage in existing areas of your home if you take a look around.

It’s common for people to want to get the most out of their homes. With a limited budget and time, it may seem impossible to transform your space completely. But with these six simple tweaks, you can go a long way.

1. Consider Storing Things on Your Stairwell

With a staircase in your home, you can use it to store items. It’s possible to make good use of the under-stairs space by storing old items there or by designing your own storage solutions. This is an excellent option if you decide to repurpose silo house buildings and give them a new lease on life.

Here are a few ideas for maximizing the utility of the area beneath your stairwell:

Construct A Wine Rack

Install a wine rack under your stairwell if you don’t have the space for one. There is a lot of potential in using an empty staircase to showcase booze.

Create a Stairwell Room

It’s possible to adapt a large staircase into a study or office. You’ll prefer a sedate setting when you want to concentrate on anything, like reading or working.

Make a Cabinet

Adding some drawers, storage racks, and other compartments will help you make the most of your available storage space. You may discover amazing ideas on building your built-in drawers on the internet, or you can purchase one at a home furnishings store. If you have alternate tread stairs, you’ll want to make the space more functional by customizing it to your preferences.

2. Make the Most of Your Bedroom’s Available Space

You may not have a lot of space in your bedroom, but there are a number of creative and easy methods you may arrange your belongings. For small homes, this is the case. You make sure to maximize every square inch of space so that you don’t waste any of it.

Use the Extra Closet Space You Have

There may still be unused spots in your cabinets. You may need to reorganize your clothing and other possessions to free up some space.

Utilize The Space Under Your Mattress

Making use of the space under your bed is an excellent method to maximize the space in your room. By burying your belongings beneath the bed, you may clear up space in your cupboards and drawers. As an option, you may buy storage boxes that are designed to fit, have drawers under your bed, or get a bed that can be partitioned. With this idea, it’s time to move into your small home or silo structure and enjoy the new space you created.

3. Maximize the bathroom’s storage capacity.

In most cases, only one person at a time uses a restroom. Hence it’s usually sparsely stocked. No matter whether your bathroom is large or small, the following suggestions will help you make the most of your available space:

Add Mirrors to the Room

Adding mirrors to your bathroom will provide the illusion of more space and lighten the atmosphere. Excessively large mirrors should be avoided. It’s enough to have a medicine cabinet and a mirror on the sink to get by.

Unclutter the Floor

Towels and toiletries may also be hidden in clever ways. To free up space, you might place it beneath the vanity. The appearance of a larger bathroom may be created by increasing the amount of floor space.

Add Hooks for Mounting

You may hang your towels on mounting hooks installed behind the bathroom door when not in use. It would be ideal since it is concealed while the door is open.

4. Take Advantage of the Corners

If you’re tight on room, make use of the corners of your home. With built-in shelving or a desk in an awkward corner, you’ll be able to utilize the space you already have better. For those who don’t need storage space, consider a comfortable seating area in a corner. Your house will seem more practical and roomier due to using this previously underutilized area. If you want to live in a space-saving home, you need to make the most of every square inch.

5. Make Use of The Rooms That Aren’t Frequently Used for Storage

You can store stuff in your basement or attic if you have one. You may utilize this shelf unit to keep groceries that don’t fit in your kitchen cupboards. It’s also where you keep your old goods and furnishings.

To ensure that you can easily locate an item when you need it, be sure to arrange and identify your belongings carefully. Getting rid of stuff you no longer need might also assist.

Clear the Way to the Front Door

The personality of a family is reflected in their front door. Overcrowding the entryway can make the place seem claustrophobic. When entering, everyone in your party should be able to walk about freely.

When your house is cluttered, it will seem out of date. Furthermore, it will accumulate dirt, making your whole house seem much older than it is.

You may make the most of this space by setting up a waiting area where you can sit and store your children’s backpacks before they go to school.

6. Be Consistent 

Even while this isn’t a space-saving trick, it will give the impression that your room is much more significant. You must stick to one color palette in a small room or house. If you maintain a unified aesthetic across the area, it will seem to be much bigger than it really is. You may use whatever hue you choose, as long as it’s not too dark and stays neutral or quiet.

You don’t want to make a room seem smaller and more confined by painting it in a dark tone. Certain home renovation ideas may not be a good fit if you have a limited area. For example, your desire for a smaller house may be hampered if the current fashion is for dark woods and gloomy colors.

Conclusion

If you use these easy suggestions, you may get a better sense of how much space you really have. The stairs are a great location to start, since they provide various storage options.

The attic or basement might be used for storage if you have the space. Colors on the walls, kinds of shelving, and even the placement of mirrors may all be utilized to make a room seem more significant. If you don’t have the time to create your own organizations, you may utilize these tricks or purchase pre-made ones.

When it comes to getting rid of your belongings, a strategy is vital. To prevent becoming sidetracked and quitting up in the midst of a job, focus on one area at a time in your house. Whenever you’re debating whether or not to retain anything, try it out first and see whether it makes you happy. It’s okay if it doesn’t, just say thank you for the experience and go on.

Author: Bob Kappas

4 Easy Ways to Save on Your Utility Bill Next Month

Did you know that the United States has increased solar energy use by 22 percent? Undoubtedly, people across the country are looking for ways to reduce their utility bill since the price of traditional energy sources like electricity or gas has skyrocketed in the past years. And one effective way of reducing that cost is by having a home with energy efficiency.

Would you like to reduce your monthly utility bill payment? If so, we invite you to continue reading since we’ll give you some practical home energy efficiency tips.

1. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

One of the best ways to lower utility payments is to wash your clothes in cold water rather than hot. As you can imagine, the amount of energy it takes to heat an hour-long wash can amount to several dollars per minute. Moreover, most homeowners recommend using cold water since certain stains can set into fabrics when washed in hot water.

You can also purchase an energy efficient home washer machine that better manages energy consumption. But, the newer models are quite expensive, so don’t expect to find a cheap one!

2. Use Solar Panels

As mentioned in the introduction, many homeowners in the United States have switched to solar energy since it saves them money in the long run. Additionally, solar install cost has dramatically lowered, especially since governments grant tax refunds to homeowners that choose solar energy. On top of that, energy efficient homes with solar panels are worth a lot more, which means you can sell your house for more than it’s worth.

3. Start Using Smart Power Strips

Most people don’t know that power strips continue to use energy even if there’s nothing plugged into it. And while that extra bit of energy that the power strip consumes may seem insignificant, it’ll add up at the end of the year. The good news is that there are plenty of smart power strips that are made for energy efficient homeowners.

These power strips automatically shut off while nothing is plugged into them.

4. Put Your Devices to Sleep

Another way to reduce energy bill payments is to set your devices to sleep mode while not in use. For example, you can put your computer or gaming console to sleep mode if you’re not going to use it for several hours. Moreover, TVs are also known to waste energy, so try to unplug these devices while you sleep.

Reduce Your Utility Bill Payment With These Simple Steps

As you can see, there are several ways you can reduce your utility bill payment. But, of course, it takes time to transform a home into an energy-efficient one, so don’t feel dishearten if you don’t see any results. And don’t forget to bookmark this post so that you can refer to it in the future!

Did you find these tips helpful in having an energy efficient home? If so, our blog features plenty of other home-related articles that you may find helpful, so be sure to check them out! 

Author: Steffy Alen

Are you also looking for a cheap house for sale to reduce costs of living? Then have a look at www.propertyunder50k.com

Ways to Make Your Home Modernized on a Budget

If you’re like most people, you spend a lot of time in your home, especially during the colder months. Unfortunately, not everyone has an eye for design, so our houses don’t always keep up with the times. If you’ve ever watched a show about house flipping or browsed local listings, then you might have noticed your house looks a little outdated. While it’s common to believe that renovations and home improvement will be expensive, you can modernize your house on a budget. Here’s how. 

Check Your Exterior

Front doors that are chipped or peeling can make your home look old. Consider repainting your door a modern color or getting a new one altogether. You should also look at your windows and opt for hardwood or steel frames. If that’s not in your budget, you can repaint your windows with a modern shade, such as a soft gray or blue. 

You should also pressure wash the outside of your home to get rid of dirt and stains that can make for bad curb appeal. Pressure washing your house can give it a facelift and make it look brand new. 

Modernize Your Kitchen

If you don’t have the budget to renovate your entire house, consider just redoing the kitchen. The good news is you don’t have to start knocking down walls to make your kitchen look new. Instead, repaint your cabinets and replace the hardware and handles to make the heart of the home feel clean and fresh. 

Refacing your cabinets can also make your kitchen look more modern without replacing or adding new cabinetry. 

Focus on the Bathroom

Other than the kitchen, homebuyers will be looking at your master bathroom when determining whether or not to buy your home. Unfortunately, too many homeowners leave the bathroom for last when making improvements. Without a full renovation, you might feel like there’s not much you can change. Luckily, there are many ways you can modernize your bathroom without breaking the bank. 

The first thing you should do is deep clean your bathroom, especially the grout and tiles. Also, remove limescale and hard water stains from the tub, sink, and toilet. Next, you’ll need to replace accessories, including towels and shower curtains. 

Once your bathroom is completely clean, take a look at the walls. You might find they’re stained or the wallpaper is dated. If that’s the case, consider taking down your wallpaper and painting your bathroom walls a more modern color. Modern bathrooms are typically white with white or light-colored tile. Consider painting your cabinets a light gray and adding new handles. 

Get Rid of Clutter

Clutter can make your home feel outdated. Not only that, but it also gathers dust, which will make your entire home look much older than it is. Modern home design is all about minimizing clutter. 

If you’re not sure what to do to declutter your home, consider starting with the living room furnishings. Big, fluffy sofas might be comfortable, but they take up a lot of space in your home and don’t provide you with the modern, minimalistic feel. If possible, consider taking out the furniture you don’t use to give your living room the appearance of space. 

Paint Your Walls

If you painted your walls based on your preferences many years ago, then it’s time to repaint your entire home. While bright colors may have been trendy once upon a time, the modern look includes lighter, calming hues, such as grays, blues, and whites. You can also find modern wallpaper to add a feature wall to your living room. 

Remember, dark shades make a room feel smaller, but bright whites can make a room feel unwelcoming. You can choose from many neutral and soft tones to add warmth to your home while giving you the appearance of more space. 

Add a Home Office

Modern homes have home offices because more and more people are working from home. If your house doesn’t have a workspace, consider adding a minimalistic workspace you can fit anywhere in your home. By turning a spare bedroom into a home office, you show modern buyers there is a space for them to work without worrying about distractions. Don’t worry, though; you can still list your home to include the bedroom you’ve turned into an office. 

If your house doesn’t have room to spare, you can still set up a work-from-home workspace to show homebuyers they can still work from home if they purchase the house. Make sure the workspace doesn’t add clutter to the room, though. If possible, put the workspace in a corner with natural light. 

Upgrade the Lighting

Lighting can transform the feel of any room; it can make a room feel cold or outdated, or it can make a room feel cozy and relaxing. There are many different types of lighting available, including modern lamps or antiques that can make your house feel cozy even with a minimalistic interior design. 

Swap Out Your Bedding

Most bedrooms don’t require a renovation to modernize them. Instead, it’s how you design the room. Since your bed is the main piece of furniture in your room, it will often attract the most attention. 

Updating your bedding and pillows allows you to modernize the room without doing anything else, except for maybe adding a coat of paint. 

Depending on your style, you can choose from light quilts to big fluffy comforters that can add texture to even the most boring bedrooms. 

Modernizing Your Home

The most important thing when it comes to the design of your home should be whether or not you’re happy and comfortable in it. If you want to paint your walls red, feel free to go ahead. However, if you’re planning on selling your house soon, consider repainting and staging your house in a modern way that can attract new homeowners. 

Remember, your house may not be what everyone is looking for. Take feedback from buyers so you can learn what you can change in your home to make it more attractive. 

Matt Casadona

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music.

Is Now The Time To Sell Your Home?

You may choose to sell your home for several reasons, from wanting to downsize to moving somewhere new for an adventure. No matter the reasons you’re thinking about selling, you must ask yourself if now is the right time for you. In this article, we’ll discuss several factors to consider to determine if now is the right time to sell your home. 

The Right Time to Sell Your Home

Deciding on the right time to sell your home isn’t easy. Homeowners have big decisions to make and many things to consider before they decide to list their homes. Many people have a gut feeling when it’s time to sell their homes, but here are other factors that might mean you’re ready. 

You Have a Plan 

Selling your house requires a plan, including where you’ll live after your house is sold. Many homeowners choose to start looking for homes where they want to live as soon as their house goes on the market, while others become renters after their homes are sold so they can continue to look for the right house for them. 

Having a plan means you’ll be prepared for anything, including lowering your asking price and the challenges that come with simultaneously buying and selling.

The House is in Good Shape

Before you can sell a house, you’ll need to ensure it’s in good enough condition to compete with the other homes on the market. If you’ve taken care of your home or recently fixed up your home, then now might be a good time to sell. However, if your home isn’t ready, there are minor projects you can take on, such as painting or easy lawn care, to ensure you ask for a fair price. 

It’s a Seller’s Market

As a homeowner, you know it’s best to sell during a seller’s market and purchase a house during a buyer’s market. When it’s a seller’s market, there are more buyers than sellers, which means buyers have to compete for the homes they want. Ultimately, if your house is the only one available for miles, you can expect buyers to engage in bidding wars, which means you could receive an offer for more than the asking price. 

Do your research if you believe the market has demonstrated that now is a good time to sell your home. Check to see what other similar houses in the area are selling for and how fast they’re selling to determine if now is the right time for you. 

You’re Financially Ready

If you’ve paid down your mortgage, then you have equity, but it’s also important to consider other areas of your financial health. For example, suppose you’re not in significant debt and you’re planning to purchase a home that’s less expensive than your current home. In that case, you’ll be putting yourself in a good financial situation to help you continue to save for retirement or use that money for other things. 

Before you decide to sell your house, make sure you can purchase another one and weigh your options. For example, you might be able to use the money you get from selling your home to buy another one. However, there might be time between those situations where you don’t own a house, which means you might have to rent a home until you officially buy another. 

You should also plan to put a down payment on your next home before yours has sold. While it can be beneficial to rely on the sale of your home for money to buy a new one, you can’t always predict how fast your home will sell. In most cases, it’s best to save up for a down payment and keep your financial and job situations healthy so you can qualify to buy a home with the money you have instead of relying on the money you will have once your current house sells. 

You’re Bored

Everyone needs a change of scenery now and again. If you’ve lived in the same house for years, it might be time for you to get out and experience a city or at least a new neighborhood. Change can be motivating and allow you to get a fresh start. There are several reasons why someone would want a change, including outgrowing their current home. 

You Got a New Job

If you’ve recently received a job offer for a great opportunity that’s farther away from your home, then it might be time to sell your house. Many people choose to move closer to their jobs to shorten the commute. Not only that, but a new job can be a great excuse to get out of your current home and move somewhere that has greater opportunities for everyone in the family, including a better school system for children. 

No Longer Emotionally Attached

Many people feel attached to their homes because it’s where they’ve lived for many years and built memories. However, many parents sell their homes after their children have grown up and moved away because they no longer feel as emotionally attached to the home. Once the house becomes empty, it can make people feel sad because they’re alone in a big, empty home that still contains a lot of stuff from their children. 

No longer feeling emotionally attached to your home gives you the freedom to easily sell your home because you won’t base your decisions on emotions. It also allows you to find a new home to build new memories. Downsizing to a smaller home doesn’t mean you’re letting go of any memories you made in your home. Instead, consider putting old items you want to keep into storage containers until you find space for them in a new home. 

You’ve Outgrown It

Many people outgrow their homes, especially if they bought their current house as a starter home. However, as your family grows and you adopt a few pets, your home can start to feel small. After all, growing families need more space. 

Final Thoughts

Any number of factors on this list might mean that now is a great time to sell your home. However, just because one or more of these factors applies to your current situation doesn’t mean now is the right time for you to sell. 

There are many things to consider, including your financial situation and emotional attachment to the home. Before you decide to sell your home, weigh the pros and cons of selling your home now. If you’re still unsure whether now is the right time, continue to do your research until you feel confident in your decision. 

Marné Amoguis

Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.

Renter-Friendly Design Tips for Your Dream Home

Living in an apartment or another type of rental comes with conveniences and inconveniences. While you have on-call maintenance that can come to fix your appliances whenever they break and many amenities are included in the cost of rent, you can’t always design your apartment like you want to. 

It can be difficult to make a rental feel like your home when you can’t make too many changes to it. However, there are plenty of ways you can make your apartment or rented home feel like it’s yours without risking your deposit. 

Add Your Own Built-Ins

Some luxury apartments come with built-in shelves you can use for anything from books to trinkets. However, most apartments don’t. If you have bookshelves you put in storage because you thought your space would be too small, it’s time to find moving companies that can help you get them inside your apartment. These bookshelves can also be used to separate rooms for more defined spaces. 

When looking for the right bookshelves, make sure you find tall ones that will almost reach the ceiling. Also, they shouldn’t be able to be easily knocked down. While you won’t be able to nail your bookshelves to the walls to ensure they won’t fall you can use command strips on your walls to give your bookshelves a little more strength. 

Change Your Wall Color

Most apartments come with plain, white walls. While you might want to keep some of those walls the way they are, most people want to add a pop of color or design to their walls to make their rental feel like home. Some landlords allow you to paint as long as you paint the walls back when you move out. Other landlords don’t let you paint at all, and you can risk breaking your lease if they find out you’ve made any change to your walls. 

Instead of risking your relationship with your landlord or having to paint your walls again when you move out, consider getting peel and stick wallpaper. You can find the wallpaper in a variety of colors and designs so you can make any wall a feature wall. The best part about peel-and-stick wallpaper is that it easily comes off and doesn’t damage the paint. 

Update Light Fixtures

You won’t be able to do any construction to your rental, such as adding lights to the ceiling, but you can bring your light fixtures to make your lighting unique. Make sure you purchase lamps that match your style so you can make your place feel more like home. 

Luckily, many rentals don’t come with many light fixtures. You may find one in the dining area, kitchen, and bathroom, but you can do whatever you want with the living room and bedroom.

Get Curtains

Some landlords won’t allow you to take down your blinds because they want their property to look at a certain way from the outside. However, they may allow you to put up curtains as long as the side facing outside is white. The good news is you can find curtains that have a design or color on one side and are white on the other. While your home may not look like yours from the outside, it will as soon as you step inside. 

Add Mirrors

Use one large mirror to make any small space feel larger. Mirrors work best in living rooms, but they can be added just about anywhere to give your home more dimension. 

Purchase a New Mattress and Linens

While you may be renting your home, it doesn’t mean you cannot find ways to make it feel like your personal space. By purchasing a new mattress that molds best to your body, you can feel more relaxed and comfortable in your space. Take it a step further by replacing old, boring comforters and linens with those that match your unique design aesthetic. 

Get New Furniture

Your furniture is one thing you have absolute control over when you’re a renter, so make sure you get furniture that matches and is comfortable. If you can’t add any paint to your walls, you can still put color throughout your home by getting sofas with a pop of color or blankets and throw pillows that make your space feel like yours. 

Learn How to Camouflage 

Your apartment may come with eyesores that can be quite annoying, such as small cracks in the paint or ugly light switches. You can learn to camouflage these ugly aspects of your home. For example, you can touch up any paint that’s cracked or peeling by telling your landlord about it and asking what color the paint should be. Many landlords will be happy to tell you since it means one less crack in the paint to fix when you finally move out. 

An ugly light switch can be decorated with peel and stick wall decals, while ugly tile and carpet can be covered up with beautiful rugs.

Add Art

If you don’t have any wall decals, but you do want to hang some art, check your lease. Most landlords won’t allow you to put holes in the walls, but some might, depending on the number of holes. You can also use command strips to hang your art, which won’t peel off the paint and can hold different weights, depending on which strips you buy. 

If, for some reason, you absolutely must put a hole in your wall, make sure you fill that hole when you move out so you won’t be charged for any “repairs.”

Divide Spaces

Many rentals are just one open space, making decorating difficult. However, you can divide the space by grouping your furniture well. For example, if you have a large living room but no dining room, you can put one sofa between the two spaces to give you a more defined living area. Then, you can add a small dining table to break up the spaces even more. 

Your rental space comes with a few sets of rules, so make sure you never make any design decisions that can impact whether or not you get your deposit back. Luckily, most of the ways you design your apartment depends on your creativity. 

Marné Amoguis

Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.