neighbors

Things to Do to Settle Into Your New Home

August 15, 2017 By Chris

You’ve signed the papers, received the keys, and unpacked your boxes. That house is now your home but you’re not done yet. To really settle into your new home you need to think outside the box.

Meet the Neighbors

We’ve talked about the importance of and the effects your neighbors can have. You’re going to live next to these strangers for quite a long time. Why not make the effort to get to know them? Established neighbors can give you the scoop on traffic and hidden gems in the area. Knowing your neighbors can also increase the safety of the neighborhood. You also may find a great friend or two who lives next door or across the street.

Explore the Neighborhood

During your house search, you probably researched the neighborhood but you’ll never learn the ins and outs unless you’re actually out there. Become a tourist and explore all the amenities that your new area has to offer. These things were desirable to you when you were looking to move, now is the time to take advantage of them.

settle-into-your-new-home

Try Something New

Change is good and exciting. Sure you may have a favorite restaurant near your former home but why not try something new closer to you? You may be pleasantly surprised and end up supporting a local business. Even if it’s a flop, you tried and have a story to tell. Your kids will love finding new parks and playgrounds to run around in and make new friends.

Give It Time

The boxes may be gone and everything may have a place but it still may not feel like home. That’s okay! Give your new home, both the house and the area, time to grow on you. You need to learn the quirks and nuances. Before you know it, it won’t be your “new home” anymore, just home.

Neighbors Can Affect Your Sale and What To Do About It

August 23, 2016 By Chris

In the past, we’ve talked about being a good neighbor and how it can benefit you but what if your neighbors don’t return the consideration? Worse, what if they’re the reason you’re moving? No matter how much you prep and stage your home, your neighbors can affect the sale of your home. Most neighborly offenses are annoying rather than illegal, so you’re left to your own devices for recourse.

Appearances Are Deceiving

You may have a meticulously manicured lawn but your neighbor may have embraced more of “natural” feel. If it’s not an untrimmed lawn, it could be a junked up yard or shabby looking exterior. Whatever the physical issue is, talk to your neighbor about your intentions to sell and offer to help resolve the issue. Maybe the home owner is elderly or impaired and these tasks are just too much for them to carry out. Not only is this tactic good for your karma, it can also help your appraisal values.

Neighbors Can Affect Your Sale and What You Can Do About Ita

The “Colorful” Personality

Every neighborhood is going to have an array of people and their accompanying personalities. However, sometimes that personality can be more “miserable” than “colorful”. A wise Buyer is going to talk with the neighbors, if they can, before they make an offer. As the Seller, you’ll want to avoid them talking with that grumpy neighbor who only focuses on the negatives. The best way around this is to suggest a neighbor who is more reasonable. If you have a nosy neighbor who insists on inserting themselves into every situation, try to schedule showings for when you know they won’t be home.

Zombies

No, not The Walking Dead kind rather foreclosed homes. These are still a huge issue in many communities. Zombie homes are usually houses that the owners have abandoned and the bank has yet to complete the foreclosure. In many municipalities, there are ordinances in place for the bank to maintain and secure the property if they have an open foreclosure action. If your local town doesn’t have similar rules in place, some calls to the mortgage company or their attorney can help get the issues addressed.

Whatever situation you find yourself facing, try to be diplomatic as possible. No one likes being criticized especially when it comes to their home. Being understanding to their situation and providing a few solutions that involve both of you can lead to a resolution faster than a demand to “fix it”.

Three Things You Should Do Before You Move

June 21, 2016 By Chris

Congratulations! You’ve found your next home and you’re just waiting for the closing date to arrive but what do you do in the meantime. In the past, we’ve talked you through the moving timeline and given you suggestions on what to do along the way. Today, we have three things you should do before you move that don’t necessarily fall along the timeline. Do one or all three before you sign the deed to the next owners and thank us later.

Keep, Sell, Donate

It sounds like a cheesy game show doesn’t it? As soon as you find that next house, or maybe even before, you should start doing an inventory of your belongings and decide which you will keep, which you will sell, and which you will donate. It can be difficult to part with things but if you haven’t used it in more than six months and it doesn’t hold significant sentimental value you should consider getting rid of it. Items like clothing that are still in good condition can be tedious to sell so consider donating it to a local charity; most will schedule a pickup right at your home and provide you with a receipt to use for a tax write-off at the end of the year. If you’re making a large move, consider donating your canned and boxed goods to a food pantry to save on your weight charges with the moving company. Larger items like exercise equipment, televisions, stereo systems, and larger children’s toys all have good resale value. You can find local resale groups on Facebook or list online, through your local newspaper, or host a yard sale. Not only will you not bring dust collecting junk to your new home but you can also make a few dollars to help off-set moving costs.

Say “Good-Bye” to the Neighbors

If you’ve developed any kind of relationship with your neighbors you should make an effort to say “good-bye” to them before the moving truck backs into your driveway. It can be as simple as a quick handshake and a “thanks for being a good neighbor” to a beers & barbecue in the backyard. If you’re good friends, take some pictures, give them your new address, and try to keep in touch. If you have kids, encourage them to do the same to help lessen any upset they may be experiencing from the move.

Three Things You Should Do Before You Move

Take Nostalgia With You

Are you one of those families that has tick marks on the door frame for each kid through the years? It can be difficult to part with a solid piece of memorabilia. But maybe you don’t have to. If you’re handy enough, remove the the piece of molding with the tick marks and take it with you. Obviously be sure to replace it with a matching, painted piece before you move out. If you have a favorite tree or rose bush, consider taking a few small cuttings and transplanting them to your new home. If that’s not an option, taking a picture will always help preserve the memories.

4 Tips For Being a Good Neighbor

April 12, 2016 By Chris

You’ve spent a lot of time, not to mention money, on finding the perfect house for you in your ideal neighborhood. You’re going to spend a large amount of time in the same area with the same people, namely your neighbors. Getting along with your neighbors can either make or break your living experience. We have four simple tips to make you a good neighbor.

Be Friendly.

Whether you’re the new face in the neighborhood or just saw a moving van pull up across the street, take a few minutes out of your day and say “hello” and introduce yourself. It doesn’t take much effort and it can go a long way to make a good impression on your new neighbor and set the foundation for an amicable relationship. Some neighbors will open up and you may end up developing a friendship, others may value their privacy. Read the situation and go from there.

Be Considerate.

Many neighbor related disputes arise because of inconsiderate behavior. Think before you act. Avoid allowing your dog to bark unchecked early in the morning or late at night. Same goes for doing lawn maintenance or construction. If you’re having a party, make an effort to leave some free parking spaces for your neighbors. If your property shares an amenity such as a fence or tree, talk with your neighbor about maintenance or replacing these things.

4 Tips For Being a Good Neighbor

Address Issues Head On.

If you’re on the receiving end of inconsiderate behavior, don’t immediately jump to complaining to the HOA or filing a grievance with the police. Approach the offending neighbor one-on-one don’t gang up on one person, even if it is a neighborhood-wide offense, and simply ask them to rectify the issue. While it may seem obvious to you, some people aren’t bothered by loud noises early in the morning or mind having to clean up after someone else’s dog.

Take Pride in the Neighborhood.

Everyone in the neighborhood has the right to enjoy a clean and safe place. If the garbage pickup isn’t until Monday, don’t set your garbage out on the front curb until Sunday evening. Make sure that your pets are secured at all times, either on a lease or behind a locked gate. Also make sure your pool is gated and locked to prevent curious kids from taking an unsupervised dip. Taking pride in your neighborhood also means keeping the exterior of your property tidy. Manicured lawns, clean flower beds, and exteriors in good condition will help maintain home values throughout the neighborhood, something that benefits everyone.

What tips do you have for being a good neighbor?

Welcome the New Neighbors

October 7, 2014 By Chris

It’s easy to spot a new addition to your neighborhood, the moving truck in the driveway and the flurry of people in and out with boxes are a dead giveaway. You want to start things off on the right foot but it can be awkward to find the new owners and steal a few minutes with them to introduce yourself. So how and when should you introduce yourself to your new neighbors?

When to say “Hi!”

Any time within the first week of moving in is the best time to ring the door bell and say “hello.” Some buyers may have taken the initiative to talk to the existing owners in the neighborhood before purchasing their home so you may have had a few words with your new neighbors; even if this is the case you should still make the effort to welcome them “officially” to the neighborhood. Moving day itself is always hectic and a bit chaotic but if you see the new owners with a little bit of down time you can make your introductions quickly and let them get back to their work. If you stop by a day or two after the move, be mindful of the dinner hour or if they have small children, early afternoon which is prime nap time, before ringing the doorbell. Don’t try to shy away from the introduction by leaving a note when you know they’re not home unless you’ve tried without success to meet them face-to-face.

Make it short and sweet.

While you want to be welcoming and friendly to your new neighbor, you don’t want to burden them with the pressure to entertain you or take up their time while they’re still trying to settle their new home. Make your visit brief enough to welcome them to the neighborhood, let them know where you live, and any helpful information about the neighborhood (trash pick up day, best pizza place that delivers). Avoid talking badly about anyone in the neighborhood, unless you want to be labeled as the “gossipy” neighbor.

Don’t come empty handed.

We’ve all moved at least once in our lives and there was always that one thing we needed or wanted that would have made life a lot easier. Think about that one thing and bring it with you when you introduce yourself. Maybe it’s a few kitchen staples, cleaning products, or something particular to your area; when all else fails a perfectly good plate of cookies will always be welcomed.

It benefits you to be friendly.

While you don’t have to be friends with every one of your neighbors it definitely benefits everyone to know each other’s names. There’s safety and security in numbers and it’s always comforting to know your neighbors will keep an eye on your home while you’re away. It’s also reassuring to know the parents of the children your kids may play with daily. And who knows, maybe you’ll hit things off with your new neighbor and gain a friend.

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