Protect your belongings while your home is on the market

Let’s get this out of the way upfront: Not everyone that shows up at an open house or requests a viewing of your home is honest.

Sure, most folks are, but some may be tempted to steal anything that catches their eye. And some of them may just act on the urge.

One of the most important steps in readying your home for the market is to protect your valuables and your information from the strangers that will be passing through.

Here’s a checklist of the most commonly “lifted” items.

Artwork

While valuable artwork isn’t exactly easy to pocket, thieves have been known to look at MLS listing pictures of luxury homes online. They aren’t in the market for a luxury home, but they do want to see what’s inside.

Before the photographer comes to the home to snap the pictures, take down anything that may catch the eye of a bad guy.

Prescription drugs

It’s not difficult to slip a bottle of pills into a pocket or purse. Plus, since most people keep their prescriptions in the bathroom, the perp has all the privacy he or she needs to rifle through the medicine cabinet.

Remove all prescription medications from the home. Keep them in your car, lock them in a safe or ask a friend to hold on to them for you.

Weapons

Most gun owners are responsible and keep their firearms under lock and key. If you don’t have a gun safe, take the weapon out of the home. The same holds true for other weapons

Technology

Laptops, iPads, smart phones, smart speakers, smart watches and earbuds are quite popular with thieves. Again, take them out of the home or lock them up.

Any tech items that are too large to remove from the home, such as a desktop computer, should be password protected and turned off.

Cash and Jewelry

Every thief’s favorite find is jewelry. In fact, the experts at The AA Home Insurance claim that jewelry is the most commonly stolen item from homes.

They are especially fond of diamonds, pearls and gold but will take anything they can pawn. Almost $1.4 billion worth of jewelry and precious metals was stolen in 2016,” according to Cannon Safe Company’s Angela Avila-McDonald, quoting FBI statistics.

Keeping cash and jewelry in a secure safe is the ideal way to foil a thief while your home is on the market.

Sensitive documents

Lock up bills, letters and anything else that may have identity information, such as social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank account numbers, dates of birth, Wi-Fi or computer passwords.

The following documents should be locked away or removed from the home:

  • Bank statements
  • Blank or cancelled checks
  • Mortgage statements
  • Passports
  • Social Security cards and records
  • Credit card information

Anything that can help someone steal your identity should be considered sensitive.

Car keys, house keys and garage door openers

Easy to pocket, keys and remotes allow the perp to come back at another time and gain access to your home and/or car. Don’t leave spare keys, etc. sitting in a drawer.

Pets

If your pets will remain in the home, keep them kenneled. Consider investing in a lock for the kennel, especially if you have a dog breed that is popular, rare or expensive.

Thankfully, most open houses and showings go off without a hitch. In fact, thefts are rare. But it’s always better to be proactive, especially with strangers coming into your home.

3 Important questions every homebuyer should ask, but few do

In that moment when you fall in love with a home, it’s almost impossible to let logic rule. Emotions run rampant, resulting in cosmetic aspects winning over financial aspects. We see it all the time in our real estate practice.

And, we sympathize. Especially when you’re tiring of looking at home after home; when you finally find “the one,” it’s hard not to get excited. But, it’s dangerous.

Far too often we see buyers neglect getting the valuable answers to questions that may seem routine but aren’t.

How old is the . . .?

If in doubt about the age of any of the home’s components and the home inspector isn’t able to help you figure it out, let me know; I’m happy to ask the homeowner for you.

This is especially important for appliances, such as the water heater (which has a life expectancy of 8 to 20 years, according to Lowe’s), the roof (the average life span of a roof from 20 to 50 years, depending on material) and the gas furnace, which gives up the ghost after about within 15 to 20 years.

It’s important to know how much life is left in the home’s components so you aren’t face with a large financial outlay when you least expect it.

What are the average monthly utility bills?

Americans pay, on average, $117.65 a month for electricity. Naturally, this varies depending on geography and other factors.

As a buyer, you may get a range of monthly prices from different sellers. This is because there are ways of mitigating high utility bills. Some homes are constructed more efficiently, others have lowers bills because the homeowners made upgrades and then there are those that seem to bleed electricity because of cheap construction techniques.

Water, electricity, gas, sewage, garbage and electric bills can take a major bite out of your housing budget each month, so get the answers to this important question before you agree to purchase the home.

Buying a condo?

If it’s a condo that’s snagged your heart, there are a number of very important questions to ask. Chief among them is ascertaining the amount of condo maintenance fees you’ll be responsible for each month.

But, that’s just the beginning. How healthy is the community’s reserve fund? What percentage of the units are tenant occupied?

Reading the rules and regulations will answer many other miscellaneous questions, such as whether or not pets, and how many, are allowed in the community, whether you will be allowed to run your business out of your home, noise rules and more.

The HOA meeting minutes are full of useful information as well. One of the first things to look for are complaints from homeowners – look even more carefully to see if these complaints are voiced repeatedly, over the course of several meetings. If so, it may be an indication of an unresponsive board of directors.

Feel free to ask all the real estate-related questions you have – we’re happy to answer them all.

3 Germ-ridden items in the home that few people ever clean

COVID-19 has made most of us hyper-aware of viruses. We have, in fact, received a crash-course on virology, learning how long the critters live on certain surfaces, how they enter and leave our bodies and, most importantly, how to kill them.

A virus is but one of the many germs we interact with on a daily basis. Germs are everywhere–in the air, water, soil and even in food. These include viruses, but also bacteria, fungi and other gross stuff that can infect us.

These critters get into our homes through a number of different routes:

  • Open doors
  • Open windows
  • On our clothing and skin
  • Sneezes, coughs, breathing and speaking

Most researchers of germs in the home agree that the dirtiest room is the kitchen and the dirtiest object in it is the dish sponge.

And, no, the toilet isn’t the most germ-ridden feature of your bathroom, your toothbrush holder is.

Some other items in our homes, however, seem so innocent that we rarely, if ever, clean them. These areas are worthy of extra attention when cleaning.

How did they figure this one out?

The folks at tapwarehouse.com conducted a British study to learn which items in the home collect a lot of germs.

“… we swabbed 30 items in total from three different households. This included a selection from the kitchen, bathroom as well as electronic, family and dog items,” according to Tom Drake, on the company’s website.

They swabbed items from:

  • Retired household with dog
  • Young couple household
  • Family household

The swabs were then left alone for five days so the “icky stuff” could multiply. Finally, they were given to Amanda Jones, PhD, Associate Professor and microbial researcher at Northumbria University for analysis.

Surprisingly germ ridden stuff in the average home

Got a laptop or desktop computer? If so, you may never look at it the same way when you learn what Dr. Jones did.

The keyboard is dirtier than your bathroom

Most contain a veritable cocktail of nasty germs, such as “… staphylococci [aka “staph”], streptococci and some airborne bacteria such as micrococci,” Dr. Jones tells Drake.

The most common staph infection is to the skin but it can also cause infection of the bloodstream, leading to sepsis, bone infections, an infection of the heart, food poisoning, pneumonia and more, according to the experts at medlineplus.gov.

Strep infections include “… pharyngitis, pneumonia, wound and skin infections, sepsis, and endocarditis,” notes Larry M. Bush, MD, FACP, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University at merckmanuals.com.

Which household had the germiest computer? “…the younger couple that were working from home,” according to Drake.

Do yourself a favor and disinfect your keyboard at least once a week. If a number of people are using the keyboard, consider cleaning it more often.

Use a solution that contains at 70% alcohol to wipe it down thoroughly. And, no, a higher percentage of alcohol isn’t better. In fact, they evaporate too quickly to sanitize.

Overall, “Disinfectants don’t harm your keyboard,” notes the experts at webmd.com.

Where’s the clicker?

Be honest: Have you ever cleaned your tv remote? Think of how many family members touch the device on a daily basis.

Which is why this particular study nominated it as the second dirtiest electronic item. Most common germs found on it include staph and strep.

Use alcohol wipes or a microfiber cloth moistened with alcohol to wipe it down every day.

The retired household with a dog had the dirtiest tv remote but the household with a family was very close behind.

This one is really gross

“… the bathroom tap is often the first thing people touch after they go to the toilet,” Drake said. He also notes that it’s the germiest part of the average household bathroom. Dr. Jones adds that the nasties found on bathroom taps include e. coli “… and other fecal types of bacteria.”

Drake adds that we are literally washing our hands “… with poo … .”

Since that’s the last thing we want to do, we are committed to cleaning our taps far more often and leaving disinfecting wipes near them. This way, we can wipe them down after each use.

While Drake cautions against using bleach or other corrosive disinfectants, others recommend using Lysol, Microban 24 Sanitizing Spray, Comet Cleaner with Bleach and even alcohol. See the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website for a list of disinfectants.

Overall, the study found that homes with dogs and kids are germier.

No surprise there.

Confused about your home’s value?

Your neighbor Joe just listed his home at $435,000. It’s quite similar to yours so, naturally, you assume your home is worth the same amount.

Do you know what the list price of a home is known as in the real estate world?

“Fantasyland”

Even though his real estate agent most likely provided him with her most educated guess, based on research (remember, we’re assuming here), the seller has the final word on how much to list the home for. Therefore, the list price of any home represents what the seller is hoping to get for the home.

Whatever amount Joe decides to take for the home, it becomes a comparable that will be used in determining your home’s market value.

Confused?

Just remember that a home’s value is based on what a willing buyer will pay for it and a lender will lend on. And, we only have that information when the home sells.

No two homes are identical

Let’s imagine that Joe’s home sold for the full list price of $435,000, which isn’t at all far-fetched in the current real estate market.

Both yours and Joe’s house were built by the same builder and you both chose the same model. Therefore, your home is worth the same amount that Joe’s is, right?

Nope. You have faithfully maintained your home throughout the years you’ve lived in it.

Joe? Not so much.

Your neighbor did, however, add some improvements to his home, such as the addition of another bathroom. He also chose his lot strategically, for the value it would add to the home.

Then, there’s your home’s amazing landscaping, which Joe’s house is sorely lacking.

Your home may be worth that $435,000 that Joe got for his home. Then again, it may not. With the addition of the bathroom to Joe’s place came more square footage—a value adding feature, according to appraisers.

What else adds value to a home in the eyes of appraisers?

The general condition of the home. Since you’ve maintained your home better than Joe has, it’s a plus $ to the appraiser.

  • Amenities, upgrades, additions and other home improvements.
  • Location of the home.
  • Age of the home.
  • Square footage
  • Floor plan
  • Current market conditions and trends
  • Neighborhood characteristics (according to fanniemae.com).

An appraiser for a lender considering a loan for an FHA borrower has a number of other items on her checklist, such as those on this list at sacramentoappraisalblog.com.

If your buyer is obtaining a loan backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.), the appraiser must not only determine reasonable market value, but also ensure that the home meets V.A. Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs).

These requirements include ensuring that the home is:

  • Sanitary
  • Safe
  • Structurally sound

In the end

Regardless of how much you think your home is worth and how much the buyer is willing to pay, it is the appraiser who has the last word.

This doesn’t mean you are powerless, however. You have the right to point out improvements or anything else that you and your agent think might raise the home’s value over that of your neighbors.

The buyer has a right to challenge a low appraisal.

“There is nothing sacred about appraisals,” according to the late Robert Bruss, real estate attorney and syndicated columnist.

“They often are wrong, especially if the appraiser is not very experienced or familiar with the neighborhood.”

Feeling SAD? Maximize the light in your home

Depending upon your outlook, you may enjoy gloomy winter days or you may want to hibernate until spring.

Even that may not be enough to stave off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or, in plain English, the winter blues. A subclass of depression, bouts can be mild or severe.

Thankfully, tricking your interior clock is all it takes to rid yourself of the blah feeling. Even if you don’t suffer from SAD, winter’s darkness has a way of creeping into the home, making it feel a bit dreary.

So, let’s do something about it. Just a few tricks and your biological rhythm will think you’re sitting on a sunny tropical beach.

Start with the windows

Windows are our homes’ eyes on the world. Maximizing the natural light through those windows is one of the best ways to chase away winter’s dreariness.

First, remove all the window screens. You’d be surprised how much more natural light will flow through those windows when it isn’t impeded by something that’s meant to be used only when windows are open.

Replace them in spring when fresh air becomes more important than natural light.

Heavy drapery is a smart move in winter, acting as insulation against drafty windows. Consider the addition of sheer liners behind them. During those days when you’re at home, throw back the thick curtains and the liners will provide privacy while allowing light to enter the room.

Reflect natural light

Now that you have an increase in natural light streaming through your windows, use it productively by adding reflective accessories in the rooms that require additional light.

Mirrors are ideal for this purpose but you can also use metals, crystal and mirrored accessories to throw light into dark corners.

Finally, consider light-colored slipcovers for your furniture or toss some light-colored pillows onto the sofa and add an attractive complementary-colored afghan. 

Consider repainting

“Current research suggests that there is a link between color sensitivity and mood disorders,” according to Teresa M. Kutchma, in the Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato (Vol. 3, Article 3).

It should come as no surprise that white is “the most reflective color,” states Chris Deziel at sciencing.com.

“When you look around a room, as long as the walls feel bright, the room feels bright,” interior lighting designer Nathanael Washam tells Laura Shinn at seattletimes.com.

“For your brain, the walls are what determines the feeling of brightness.”

And that’s what we need in the dead of winter: to trick our brains into a feeling of brightness.

Painting the interior walls a crisp white is a no-brainer. If you just can’t stomach the sterility that white lends to an entire house, however, choose another light color. The closer you can get to white, the better, but light blue is a brilliant mood lifter, for instance.

Avoid dark shades of blue and the overuse of the color yellow.

Add artificial light sources

This, too, may seem like a no-brainer, but have you considered adding a few new sources of light? Table lamps placed near a reflective surface will ramp up the cheer, and under-cabinet or shelf lighting will cast a warm glow to the area around bookcases and kitchen cabinets.

Fill those new light fixtures with full spectrum light bulbs. These bulbs produce a spectrum of light that is very much like the light spectrum of sunlight. Learn more about them at healthlighting.com.

If all else fails, consider purchasing a light therapy lamp, which “… gives off bright light that mimics natural outdoor light,” according to the experts at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Avoid eye and skin damage by choosing a lamp that emits as little UV light as possible.

The CDC also provides the following “3 key elements for effectiveness:”

  • Plan your daily light therapy sessions so that they occur shortly after you wake up.
  • Use a 10,000-lux light box placed at a distance of about 16 to 24 inches from your face.
  • Each daily session should last 20 to 30 minutes. If your light box has a light with less lumens, check the instructions that come with it to determine how long your sessions should last.

If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, talk to your health care provider about the treatment options that are best for you.

What to expect from the 2021 housing market

Good riddance 2020!

As we ease into what will hopefully be a far better year for all of us, we notice that questions about what to expect from the 2021 housing market are increasing.

As in everything else we’ve experienced of late, there’s no simple answer to what the “new normal” real estate market will look like.

We like to get an overview of both the national and local economies before offering up our best guestimate. We also enjoy reading the various predictions doled out by economists near the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

In a nutshell, there are three forces currently at work in the real estate market:

  • Strong demand for homes
  • Not enough homes for sale
  • Low interest rates

Will these remain in 2021? Let’s take a look at what the experts say.

Demand for homes

Demand is driven by affordability. If interest rates remain low in the new year, strong demand from home buyers will most likely continue.

The unknown in the equation is whether and by how much home prices will rise in response to the strong demand.

“Realtor.com®’s 2021 housing forecast predicts record-high prices will continue rising in 2021,” notes Clare Trapasso. This may just knock first-time home buyers and others on a budget out of the market.

She goes on to say that the forecasters say that price growth will slow because the tight inventory of homes for sale will ease. “…the double-digit price hikes seen this year aren’t expected to carry over into the new year,” she concludes.

Not enough homes for sale

Every month, the gap between the number of homes sold and the number of new listings widens. Unless more homeowners decide to sell, the experts at Homesnap, a real estate tech company, expect the available housing inventory to remain low.

For example, when compared to 2019, 2020 saw a 0.22% increase in new listings, “…while total sales increased 19.29%.” (housingwire.com)

It may sound trite, but now truly is the best time to sell your home.

Low interest rates

Will mortgage interest rates remain low? There isn’t a lot of agreement from the experts.

“Rates are going to stay low. Demand is going to stay high. And President-elect Joe Biden will offer a tax credit for first-time home buyers,” according to Jeff Lazerson, contributing columnist at the East Bay Times.

Trapasso, citing the realtor.com forecast, claims that “… mortgage rates will begin slowly going up toward the last half of 2021.” She goes on to say that although the hike is predicted to be small, it “… has the potential to price out some buyers or force others to purchase cheaper abodes in less desirable locations.”

Mark Fleming, at housingwire.com, notes that “… consensus forecasts estimate the 30-year, fixed mortgage rate will likely be 3% – with forecasts ranging from 2.8% to 3.3%.”

Getting ready to sell

As you can see, and as is typical, there is not a broad agreement on what we can expect from the real estate market in 2021.

Even if you’re merely considering selling your home, start getting it ready for the market. Do some basic repairs, start de-cluttering and storing items that you don’t routinely use. Consider painting the interior.

We’re happy to give you some tips on where to start, at no cost or obligation to use our services. Feel free to reach out to us. We’re happy to help.

9 House-hunting steps for the first-timer

Like any process, buying a home involves a series of steps. When the steps are taken in a logical order, the process moves quicker and it’s less confusing.

Take these steps out of order and you may run into trouble. It’s a bit like algebra: follow the PEMDAS formula and you’ll get the right answer. Mess with the formula and who knows what you’ll come up with?

1. Find out how much you can afford to spend on a home

It astounds me how many folks start looking at houses before they know how much they can spend on a home.

This involves more than the amount the lender has pre-approved. Find a mortgage payment that fits your budget and use that as a ceiling on price when you’re shopping for a home.

Finding a lender to help you determine how much you can afford every month getting you pre-approved for a mortgage is the first and most important step in the process.

2. Decide which features you want vs need

Once you’ve seen a lender and know for certain how much you can afford to spend on a home, it’s a good idea to make a list of items that you just can’t live without.

Add to the list the features that you can live without but it sure would be nice to have them. And, naturally, which features would be an absolute deal-breaker.

This list is important to share with your real estate agent and to keep with you when you house hunt.

3. Find a real estate agent

House hunting is just so much easier with a good real estate agent in your corner.

Not only does it save you time you would otherwise spend poring over websites full of listings, we typically know of homes that will be coming available long before the general public does.

Best of all, our services are free to you. Please add us to your list of agents to interview.

4. Look into neighborhoods

Before you look at even one home, decide on several neighborhoods in which you’d like to shop.

If you need help choosing, we’re happy to help. Home prices in each neighborhood, for instance, will help us whittle down the list.

If commute is a concern, choose neighborhoods close to public transportation or near highways.

Think about amenities you want in a neighborhood, such as parks, recreational facilities, walkability and proximity to schools.

Give us a copy of your “wants” list and we’ll help you determine which neighborhoods you can afford to live in and which meet your needs and desires.

5. Consider the buddy system

It’s always good to have two sets of eyes when shopping for the biggest purchase of your life.

If you’re married you have an automatic “buddy” to accompany you on home viewings. If you are single, find a buddy who is willing to house hunt with you.

Give your shopping buddy a copy of your wants and needs list so he or she can help keep you from becoming starry-eyed over a house that doesn’t fit your criteria.

Which brings us to step 6.

6. Plan to leave your emotions in the car

Buying a home can be an emotional process. After all, you’re spending a lot of money on it.

In the end, however, it’s a business transaction and if you approach it as such, the process will be much easier.

Remember as well that cosmetic issues are easy to fix. Don’t let them keep you from buying a home that is otherwise perfect for you.

7. Take notes

Note the address of each home you viewed that you were even slightly interested in and their good and bad features.

This will help jog your memory when you sit down later to weigh the pros and cons of each.

8. Do or don’t “sleep on it” before you decide on a home

While sleeping on a major decision is always a good idea, in a fast-moving real estate market you simply do not have that luxury.

In multiple offer situations, by the time you wake up from sleeping on the decision the home will be under contract with another buyer.

9. Don’t spend money

Many first-time homebuyers are so excited when their offer is accepted and the closing date is approaching that they decide to splurge on items for the home.

That’s a huge mistake

Lenders perform what is called a “soft pull” of your credit report shortly before closing. They do this to ensure that your financial picture is the same as when they agreed to lend you the money.

If you purchase big-ticket items on credit (such as new furniture or appliances), your debt-to-income ratio will change and you may find out, days before closing, that you no longer qualify for the mortgage.

Don’t switch jobs, don’t buy any expensive items on credit and pay your bills on time. Save the splurge for after closing.

I’m happy to answer any questions you have about the home buying process Feel free to contact me.

5 ways to pay less for appliances

Have you priced new appliances recently? First, they’re all over the map, with some dealers offering far less or more than others for the same models.

And, yes, prices have most likely increased substantially since you bought that range back in 1998. Much of this has to do with demand. The pandemic brought on a rash of folks performing home improvements and appliance sales skyrocketed.

“Some retailers are reporting a two month wait for certain brands of refrigerators or dryers,”

according to Leslie Brinkley at ABC7news.com.

If you’re in the market for a new appliance or two, take the time to strategize the purchase. In the end, it’s the preparation that will save you money.

Know your needs

While the bells and whistles that smart-home appliance offer are cool, do you really need them? If you’re on a budget, keep in mind that these features provide “… no basic performance benefit,” according to Andrea Waroch at clark.com.

Check out what’s on offer to get an idea of the features you truly need, such as a timer on a range or microwave.

Make a list of the features you need and stick to it if you hope to save money on appliances.

Consider used appliances

A friend recently purchased a brand new, never used Whirlpool range. She found it posted on her local NextDoor.com neighborhood by a couple who bought a new home and wanted stainless steel appliances (this range is black).

Our friend checked the home improvement stores and found the same model priced at almost double what her neighbors were asking. Yes, she snatched it up immediately.

If you haven’t joined your neighborhood on Nextdoor.com, you should consider doing so. Not only will you be kept up to date on the happenings in your area, but get to know your neighbors as well. The for-sale section is full of lovely merchandise at low prices.

You’ll also find used appliances for sale online at:

Don’t neglect the local brick-and-mortar stores that specialize in used appliances.

Buying used means that you’ll have to find a way to transport the appliance to your home and a way to dispose of the old one. Then, there is the cost of installation. If you can’t do it yourself you may need to hire someone to do it for you.

Tack these charges onto the price of the appliance when comparing the price to the cost of new appliances. Although, quite often, the big home improvement stores charge a delivery and take-away fee as well as for installation.

Scratch and dent

If you don’t mind a cosmetic defect or two, many retailers offer what are known as “out-of-box,” “scratch-and-dent” and “customer return” appliances at reduced prices. How much reduced?

According to Waroch,

you may save “… anywhere from 10 to over 50 percent on the retail price of appliances.”

Shop for these appliances online at American Freight (formerly Sears Outlet) and Best Buy Outlet. You might also check local dealers and the big home improvement stores.

Negotiate for a discount

“According to Consumer Reports, only 33 percent of surveyed shoppers negotiated on large appliance deals,” according to Waroch.

Of those who did try to haggle, 75% of them got an average of $100 off the price of the appliance.

“If the sales associate or manager is unable to lower the price, he or she may offer complimentary delivery and installation or free haul away, which is a tremendous savings. Ultimately, you never know unless you ask!” Waroch concludes.

Steer clear of extended warranties

That is the advice offered by the experts at Consumer Reports and it’s one of the easiest ways to save money on appliances.

Just say “no thanks”

Warranties are big money makers for retailers. In fact, sales of these warranties have become “a $40 billion business,” according to Consumer Reports.

“The chance that your refrigerator or dishwasher actually needs a repair during the extended warranty period is pretty low,” HomeAdvisor.com’s Dan DiClerico tells Consumer Reports.

Appliances typically come with a manufacturer’s warranty, which is usually offers sufficient protection.

 

Kitchen trends for 2021

Planning a kitchen renovation? According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, you aren’t alone. Home renovation and remodeling spending is expected to increase through the first quarter of 2021, at least.

Most DIY remodelers say they will concentrate the renovation dollars on the kitchen and bathroom, with 83 percent of them claiming high hopes that their kitchen remodel will increase the home’s value.

Here are some of the kitchen projects that they’ll be undertaking and the trends you need to pay attention to if you hope to sell your home in 2021 or beyond.

Kitchen cabinetry

If you’re going to remodel your kitchen with an eye to selling the home in the future, skip the raised panel or Shaker panel cabinets and opt for a smooth-front cabinet design.

In fact, minimalism is so in-demand right now, you might also want to consider forgoing handles all together, in favor of touch-release type of cabinets.

Ceiling-to-floor cabinets are expected to trend in 2021 as well. “… it’s becoming extremely popular to totally eschew the open shelving or no-uppers trend of years past in favor of wall-to-wall cabinetry,” according to the pros at HGTV.

Finally, while the stark white cabinet colors of last year are still popular, the trend is toward warmer colors, such as “…wine reds, deep greens and rich browns,” according to HGTV’s decorators.

Walnut cabinetry, for instance, is gaining in popularity, according to the folks at homesandgarden.com. “It’s rich, dark color, fine grain and natural warmth are prized by makers for its feeling of instant luxury.”

Countertops

While kitchens with granite and quartz countertops were among the most Instagrammable in 2020, many designers are touting marble for 2021.

“If there’s one thing that’s storming the style charts and shaking up interiors, it’s the return of marble,” according to design pros at homesandgardens.com. Specifically, “… strongly veined marble, the busier the better for unmissable luxury and next-level style.”

Quartz took a huge leap forward in popularity last year and the experts at residentialproductsonline.com see a more specific surge in 2021: “… light-colored quartz will become the ‘it’ material.”

Kitchen flooring

Wood flooring and wood-look flooring in the kitchen has reigned supreme for the past decade and most designers agree it will trend even more in the new year.

The beauty of today’s technology allows for the look of hardwood in a waterproof, durable flooring, so necessary in a busy kitchen.

For a lighter, airier feel in the kitchen, designers with flooringinc.com predict homeowners will turn to blonde-colored wood or wood-look flooring.

Kate Tyndall, with internationalsurfaceevent.com, agrees. “Lighter stains rule, and shiny finishes are out.”

Kitchen wall colors

The big paint companies will soon be out with their Color of the Year, but kitchen remodelers don’t seem to care. They have their own preferences, which include gray, white and off-white, brown and beige.

We’ve put together a sampling of some of the year’s most popular shades of these colors for kitchens.

Shades of gray to consider:

Gorgeous white:

Longing for a brown kitchen?

Shades of beige for your kitchen walls:

Kitchen lighting

When you shop for lighting for your 2021 kitchen makeover, keep an eye out for two styles:

According to a survey by Houzz, homeowners “… are showing interest in swing-arm and other sconce fixtures, which can add some adornment while providing needed task lighting around a sink or range.”

Pendant lights came in second on the list of Tap Warehouse’s Instagram kitchen trends in 2020. Especially if you have a kitchen island, consider adding drama, texture and color in the form of pendant lighting.

Kitchen Appliances

While stainless steel appliances remain popular, matte-finishes are gaining. This is no doubt due to both stainless’ high maintenance requirements and the attractiveness of the matte finish.

Graphite gray from Viking (see it here), Slate from GE (it’s smudge-proof!) and black stainless steel finishes all made headway in 2020 and experts predict they will gain in popularity.

Finding the right real estate agent

Like the girl and her three bears in the 19th-century fairy tale, some real estate agents are too hot or too big, some too cold or too small, but there is one who is “just right” for you.

Your job, if you hope to be successful in your home purchase or sale, is to find that agent.

Now, determining the right “fit” with a real estate agent is highly subjective. What works for you may not work for your next-door neighbor.

Sure, asking friends, family and colleagues for a referral to an agent they’ve worked with successfully is still a good idea, but, again, their agent may not be the one for you.

Which is why you should interview more than one real estate agent

A California Association of Realtors Home Buyer’s Survey finds that 64 percent of homebuyers didn’t search for real estate agent rankings.

Shocking, isn’t it?

When you consider that big chunk of money you are about to invest or earn, wouldn’t it be wise to learn about others’ experiences with the agent you’re considering?

The truth is, too many real estate consumers spend more time reading amazon.com reviews for portable chargers for their smartphones than they do checking real estate agent reviews.

Of course one shouldn’t rely solely on online reviews. Too many agents game the system and too many of those review sites are happy to award five stars as long as the agent pays them what they’re asking.

Checking reviews is just one of the tasks involved in finding the right real estate agent.

Querying folks you know, performing a Google or Bing search of the agent’s name and reading agent reviews online are all important steps.

What is critical, however, is that you give yourself a “pool” of agents to narrow down until you’ve found the perfect fit. This means interviewing more than one real estate agent to help you buy a home.

Pre-interview

Before you call even one agent, get clear on the type of person you want to work with. Think about personality, experience and professionalism because they all matter when you’ll be working so closely with a person to represent you during this life-altering purchase or sale.

The agent’s personality may not seem important, but consider that you’ll be spending a lot of time, possibly in the same car, with the agent.

Have you ever been forced into the same room with someone who you couldn’t wait to get away from? For whatever reason – a dour Dave or chatty Caroline, for instance – even a few minutes spent with them are far too many.

Once you’re clear on a good personality fit for your needs, consider if you want a solo agent or one who has a team. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Ask yourself how much time is too long to wait for the agent to return your emails, texts and phone calls.

Speaking of which, what is your preferred method of contact? There is a sad chart, published by a Realtor association, that illustrates the preferred versus actual contact method of homebuyers.

Agents actually did well using email to contact the nearly-half of buyers who prefer that method.

Only 17 percent of buyers surveyed wanted their agent to contact them by telephone, yet 53 percent of agents chose this method to keep in touch with the client – completely disregarding their clients’ wishes.

The statistics are nearly as bad for the 30 percent of clients who chose to be contacted by text message – only 6 percent of agents indulged them.

Responding quickly to your communications is an asset for an agent, but so is using your preferred method of contact. Consider asking agents during the interview process how they typically communicate with their home-buying clients.

The interview

Choosing which agents to interview is a snap when you have a list of questions to ask during your agent interviews.

Then, test each agent.

For instance, determine how long you are willing to wait for a call-back (or email or text) from an agent. Consider this scenario: It’s a fiery real estate market where homes in your price range are being snatched up just about as soon as they hit the market.

You see your dream home online and call your agent to get an appointment to view the home. Time is of the essence.

How long are you willing to wait for a response?

So long that you lose the home? Think in terms of minutes, not hours.

Call, text or email each agent you are considering hiring.  How quickly does she or he respond? If an agent takes a long time to respond when courting you, imagine how much worse it will be once you are already committed.

Your real estate agent will be at the helm of the purchase or sale of a huge investment. Keep your vetting standards high, strategically sift the wheat from the chaff and you’ll find the perfect one.

We hope to be among those you interview. Feel free to reach out to us.