Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Beyond REALTORS® are Your Trusted Lifestyle Experts
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Beyond affiliated REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®. Meaning they abide by a strict Code of Ethics and actively contribute to making a positive impact in the real estate industry. When you're buying a home, these are the characteristics you can expexct from working with our REALTORS®. Your Expert Navigator Buying a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. Our REALTORS® know what's required in your market, helping you avoid delays and costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved in a real estate transaction; you want to work with a professional who can speak the language fluently. Your Unbiased Advisor Our REALTORS® will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. They are also lifestyle experts, providing insights into local amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more. Whether you need to know about the best schools, parks, or community events, your agent has you covered. Your Negotiation Champion There are many factors up for discussion in any real estate transaction—from price to repairs to possession date. Your REALTOR® who’s representing you will look at the transaction from your perspective, helping you negotiate a purchase agreement that meets your needs and allows you to do due diligence before you’re bound to the purchase. Ready to find your perfect home with a BHGRE affiliated REALTOR®? Find your agent here Your Emotional Anchor A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most buyers, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you when emotions threaten to sink an otherwise sound transaction. As lifestyle experts, our REALTORS® understand the emotional and financial significance of your purchase and provide the support you need. Your Ethical Advocate When you're interviewing agents, know that our agents are all members of the National Association of REALTORS®. Every member must adhere to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism, serving the interests of clients, and protecting the public. This ensures you receive fair and ethical treatment throughout your home buying process. Your Comprehensive Search Partner You want access to the full range of opportunities. Using a cooperative system called the multiple listing service, your REALTOR® can help you evaluate all active listings that meet your criteria, alert you to listings soon to come on the market, and provide data on recent sales. Your agent can also save you time by helping you winnow away properties that are still appearing on public sites but are no longer on the market. Your Local Lifestyle Expert A BHGRE affiliated REALTOR® is not just a real estate agent but a lifestyle expert who can offer you a wealth of information about local amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more. They are your go-to resource for understanding the community and making an informed decision about where to live. By choosing a BHGRE affiliated REALTOR®, you’re not just getting a real estate agent; you’re gaining a lifestyle expert dedicated to helping you find a home that fits your needs and aspirations. Find your agent here and start your journey today!
What You Should Know Before Putting In a Plunge Pool
Swimming pools add beauty and luxury to a home, but not every property is designed to accommodate a sprawling pool. Plunge pools, as an alternative, have become popular with homeowners who want the sparkling and refreshing benefits of a pool but lack the space for a traditional one.Have you considered putting a pool in your yard? Maybe a plunge pool is the right choice for you. Part of the beauty of these unique swimming pools is that they’re fairly adaptable to any space. You can create a square, rectangular, or circular plunge pool to fit almost anywhere—a small yard, patio, or deck. But, although plunge pools are generally easier and cheaper to construct than a standard pool, there’s much to know about them before you build.So let’s dive into what you need to know before putting in a plunge pool—what it costs, the benefits, and how much maintenance is involved. First, though, let’s clarify what a plunge pool is and how it differs from a regular swimming pool. After you’ve read what you need to know about plunge pools, you may be ready to break ground or decide that one of these pools is not the luxury you thought it was. What Is a Plunge Pool? A plunge pool—sometimes called a dipping pool—is a shallow and compact pool designed for light swimming but mostly for cooling off and relaxing. You may have seen a plunge pool at a spa or resort; many luxury villas have private plunge pools in every accommodation.Plunge pools are becoming popular in residential settings. They can be more space-appropriate and affordable than traditional swimming pools, and they often require less time to construct.Plunge pools come in various sizes, shapes, and depths, which are easy to customize if you find the right pool builder. You can even personalize a plunge pool with the finishes you like, such as black rock for the pool’s bottom or imported title around the edge. How Does a Plunge Pool Work? Since a plunge pool is essentially a smaller version of a standard pool, you use it in many of the same ways: cooling off, swimming (light), and splashing around. Plunge pools can sit above or in the ground, and they’re constructed of materials similar to a regular pool, such as concrete, vinyl, or fiberglass.A plunge pool will have a filtration system like a large pool—a pump pulls water through a skimmer and drain, then through a filter and back to the pool via return water jets. You’ll find chlorine and salt-water versions of plunge pools, just like bigger pools. What are the Benefits of Plunge Pools? Plunge pools offer many benefits in terms of design, use, cost, and time. Here are some of the reasons why plunge pools are popular with homeowners. Require Less Space A plunge pool is only slightly larger than a hot tub—typically no more than 20 feet long and eight feet wide, and less than five feet deep with a flat bottom. Many homeowners who don’t have the space for a large swimming pool can easily fit a plunge pool into a small backyard. Cheaper to Install Plunge pools take less materials and labor to install than a regular pool since they’re generally less than half the size. You may be able to find a builder who’ll construct a plunge pool for as little as half the price of a traditional pool. Highly customized plunge pools can set you back a bit of money, however. Cheaper to Maintain Ongoing maintenance is cheaper for a plunge pool. You’ll use less water, chemicals, and energy to run the pool’s pump or the heater during cold months. And, since plunge pools don’t circulate as much water through the filtration system as a large pool, they experience less wear and tear on parts. Easier to Care For Plunge pools require less chemicals than larger pools, so you won’t spend as much time monitoring chemical levels. Also, you won’t have to set aside as much time cleaning leaves, debris, and insects from the water. Better for Certain Situations If you want a pool for physical therapy, a plunge pool may work wonderfully for you. They offer a great hydrotherapy experience since you can change the small amount of water from warm to cold and back to warm again fairly easily. Plunge pools can be great for families with kids since the water is shallower than a regular pool (however you should never leave a child alone in any pool, even if they can see above the water when standing on the bottom or if they can swim). What Are the Drawbacks of Plunge Pools While installing a plunge pool has many benefits, there are some drawbacks. You may find that plunge pools:don’t have the same visual impact as a traditional poolfit fewer people than you prefer (especially if you like to entertain)aren’t great if you’re an avid swimmer (you can do meaningful laps in a plunge pool)add too much to your property’s energy and maintenance costsGenerally, a well-maintained plunge pool can add enjoyment and value to a home (properties with saltwater plunge pools tend to sell 1.5% faster than homes without a pool). You can build a plunge pool sustainably with eco-friendly materials and LED lights, cutting down on energy usage when compared to a traditional or non-sustainable plunge pool. Homeowners can pay for a plunge pool in many ways: cash purchase, vendor finance, or personal or home-equity loan.Are you looking to sell or buy a new home? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® walk you through the process.The post What You Should Know Before Putting In a Plunge Pool appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
Pet-Friendly Features That Help Homes Sell Faster
Pets play an important role in many home purchases today. Since pets are beloved members of families, their needs priority among homebuyers. Studies show that many people shopping for a home make decisions based on what will benefit their pets. As such, homeowners are smart to incorporate pet-friendly features into properties they want to sell.Approximately 66% of United States households own or plan to own a pet. This is a significant portion of the real estate market that home sellers shouldn’t ignore. Adding pet-friendly features and upgrades could be a game changer in the number of days a home sits on the market. Since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that nearly half of homebuyers move to create a better life for their pet, homeowners looking to sell should consider catering to dog and cat lovers.There are many home features you can add that would thrill a pet-loving buyer. You don’t have to go all out with a custom dog grooming station or a floor-to-ceiling cat climbing wall (although some pet owners would probably go crazy for these upgrades). Thoughtful and creative upgrades like dog runs and cozy kitty corners might be all that’s necessary to attract animal lovers.Considering your budget, your agent’s knowledge of the market, and your love for animals, think about adding one or more of the following pet-friendly features to your home. And remember, you can build these upgrades in a way that would probably even delight buyers without pets.Pet-Proof FloorsCarpeting and pets don’t mix, so if remodeling your carpeted floors is in your budget, choose flooring made with animal-friendly materials. Tile, ceramic, laminate, or bamboo floors are all good options; they’re durable and easy to clean. Pass on the hardwood, though, which damages quickly (if you love the look of hardwood, choose a treated hardwood variety).Fenced YardFenced yards are a must for dog owners, so give future pups living in your home a safe place to play and owners some peace of mind. Privacy fences are perfect for preventing furry friends from escaping a yard and they offer the benefit of keeping prying eyes out. But, you can go with a slatted fence if you prefer, as long as the slats aren’t wide enough to let a little dog slip through. When putting a fence around your yard, build the highest one your municipality will allow.Step-In ShowerTaking dogs to the groomer can be expensive, so help a future homeowner save money with a step-in dog shower or cleaning station. Step-in showers and basic cleaning stations offer dog owners a convenient way to bathe their pups when coming in from the outdoors. They’re especially helpful when built in a mudroom or right outside an entry or back door, on a patio or deck. Step-in showers and cleaning stations are a step up from bathtubs, which can be difficult to lean over when bathing a dog. If you’re thinking about adding this upgrade to your home, ensure you include a handheld shower head.Screened PorchIf you don’t have a cat, you may not know that catios are all the rage. These specially built screened cat patios are the perfect place for felines to enjoy the excitement of the outdoors without getting hurt. The best catios include climbing structures and plenty of spots for kitties to soak up the sunshine. But, catios aren’t attractive to someone without a cat. So, entice pet owners and buyers without animals by creating a screened four seasons porch that works as a safe space for cats. When you’re constructing the porch, ensure the screening material isn’t susceptible to rips and tears from little kitty claws.Dog RunFenced dog runs sectioned off from a main yard are a nice upgrade for a pet-friendly home. These spaces are ideal for keeping dogs safe from wild animals and confined to one place for easy viewing. Dog runs limit messes to a specific area; a perk for the homeowner. Consider putting fake grass or turf in the dog run for easy cleanup, and to prevent dogs from eating poisonous plants when playing. Also, think about adding a raised feeding station and watering faucet.Cat CornerIf you have unused space under a staircase, turn it into a cat corner. Kitties love areas where they can hide and sleep undisturbed, and cat-loving homeowners enjoy finding places where they can tuck a litter box away. So, make it easy on your future home buyer by creating an area that does double duty. Make a hole in the wall, insert a door with a smaller cat door, and outfit the inside of the nook with various shelves, landings, and kitty-friendly features.Are you looking to sell or buy a new home? Let Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate® walk you through the process.The post Pet-Friendly Features That Help Homes Sell Faster appeared first on Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life.
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