Home renovations have been surging during the pandemic, and homeowners aren’t shying away from major redos either. More than half—55%—of more than 2,000 U.S. homeowners recently surveyed reported making substantial improvements to their homes that they believe will boost their home’s value, according to a July survey commissioned by Selective Insurance and conducted by The …
Category: Real Estate Tips
Feb 17
Furniture Rental Service Feather Wins iOi Pitch Battle
Feather, a technology startup providing a sustainable furniture rental solution for home staging projects, emerged Wednesday as the winner of the third annual Pitch Battle at the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2021 Innovation, Opportunity & Investment Summit in Dallas. Twelve startups bringing innovative solutions to the commercial and residential real estate marketplaces competed in the …
Feb 14
Tiny Homes Offer Big Insurance Savings
Downsizing can help owners cut costs, particularly homeowners’ insurance. Downsizing from a full-sized home to a tiny home—often 400 square feet or less—could save homeowners 52% a year on the cost of insurance alone, according to a new study from ValuePenguin. Even in the most expensive states to insure a tiny home—like Oklahoma—homeowners could save …
Feb 13
3D Printed Homes Are Gaining Consumer Interest
The laser-fast building style is winning over buyers with promises of greater affordability, energy efficiency, and resistance to natural disasters. Press print for a home. More consumers are warming up to that idea. Sixty-six percent of more than 3,000 consumers—and 75% of millennials, in particular—say they’d consider living in a 3D printed home, according to …
Feb 12
Do Fences Boost Curb Appeal?
Another sign of the pandemic’s influence on home renovations is the increased construction of fences. Here are seven factors homeowners should consider before installation. Key Takeaways: Whether to keep newly adopted dogs safe or to increase privacy while making greater use of the backyard, the home renovation frenzy spurred by the pandemic has led many …
Feb 07
Owners Turn to Appliance Upgrades to Boost Home Value
Three out of four homeowners would rather fix or replace appliances than accept a lower offer when selling their home, according to a new survey of about 1,000 consumers from Cinch Home Services, a home warranty company. They believe upgrading the appliances can add more value to their home, too. On average, homeowners believe upgrading …
Feb 06
Survey: Americans Want Distance From Neighbors
Americans want more social distance from their neighbors. A new Pew Research Center study finds a shift in home preferences since the pandemic with more consumers saying they want a larger home, even if it means local amenities are further away. That marks a shift from 2019 when more Americans were desiring smaller houses that …
Feb 05
Home Flipping on the Rise, Even as Profit Margins Drop
The home flippers are returning to the market, even as their profit margins have dipped to a 10-year low. About 4.9% of all home sales in the second quarter were from home flipping—defined as a single-family home or condo transaction that was bought and sold within 12 months. The home flipping rate is up from …
Feb 04
Ultra-White Paint Could Cool Homes Better Than Air Conditioning
Scientists at Purdue University have created the whitest paint in the world, and their research, published in April, shows that the ultra-white color could drastically reduce or even eventually eliminate the need for air conditioning. The stark white paint works by reflecting 98.1% of sunlight away from the building. It also emits infrared heat, which …
Feb 03
Agent Stages Abandoned Property With ‘Creepy Dolls’
Tony Bertucci with NOLA Living Realty decided to stage his abandoned home listing in Metairie, La., using stand-up porcelain dolls. The dolls appear in photos that show a home with moldy, torn-up kitchen cabinets and ripped-up floors and walls. “I did it just to get the house some attention because the house was so hideous …
Jan 31
Modular Homes Building Splendor Into Prefabs
When you hear “prefab,” you may think double-wide mobile home. It’s a misconception the industry has long been trying to clear up. Prefab, a type of construction method, can be found at the luxury home level. More prefab options are stretching into the high-end market, combining quicker construction timelines with ultra-luxury touches. Prefab homes are …
