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| Submitting Creative Bids During the Spring Market Frenzy |
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It's that time of year again. The spring market is in full swing and crowds of buyers are fighting over their dream house—or at least the closest thing to it, considering this year's nationwide inventory shortage isn't leaving many options. So, what does that mean? For the most part, higher prices, more competition and a whole lot of bids.
Listings in good condition tend to get multiple offers this time of year, and buyers are putting forth their strongest submissions—cash offers, over-asking, fast closings, no contingencies, etc. But creativity is the name of the game in this year's competitive market. Buyers are inspired to win over the seller's emotional side. Here are the latest home-buying trends for beating out the competition in a swarming spring market:
Love Letters
While they've been around for a while, they're getting a lot more popular, being used by buyers as a last-ditch effort to win via the seller's emotional attachment to the home. Most letters talk about favorite design choices the seller incorporated, plans to raise the family and proclamations that the home is "the one" after a long and tough home search.
Letters usually tell the seller that the buyer is serious and willing to take care of the home. But some sellers may only focus on the numbers and terms. It's a toss-up, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Buyer-Crafted Videos
These are a little newer, emerging after YouTube's digital push into vlogging, or video blogging. While they can come off as cheesy, they are a little more personal than handwritten letters, because sellers will feel like the potential buyer is talking directly to them.
According to REALTOR® Magazine, a couple recently won a bid on their dream home by making a music video to "Our House," which just so happened to be the song the sellers sang to each other when they first lit the fireplace in their home. The connection instantly won the sellers over, beating out another offer that was $20,000 over the buyers' submission. |
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| Gutters: What Material Is Best? |
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 If you're putting gutters on your home for the first time, or replacing your existing gutters, you may be surprised by just how many options there are. While there may be numerous options to choose from, it’s important to understand the various costs associated with this type of project before making a decision. In fact, experts estimate that the cost to install gutters and related components like downspouts can vary widely, with installation rates ranging from a minimum of $3 to more than $17 per linear foot.
And while gutters protect the sides of the house from mud, preventing erosion, reducing water damage to the foundation, and keeping visitors from getting wet—guttering can demand more maintenance and cleaning, distract from the profile or design of a home, and be a big expense when constructing or remodeling.
The four top gutter material options are aluminum, vinyl, copper and stainless steel.
So, what’s the best choice for you? Consider these facts:
- Over time, copper develops a special lining that protects from rust and other potentially harmful elements including algae and fungi growth, so blockages, with their related cleaning and maintenance expenses, will be significantly reduced.
- Aluminum gutters need to be maintained to avoid corrosion and dents, so cleaning them and caulking them regularly is important. And since aluminum expands and contracts with the temperature, they’re prone to cracks, which need to be repaired in order to avoid leaks.
- When it comes to affordability, vinyl tops the list because it’s lightweight and easy to install. Additional benefits include the fact that its color won’t fade, chip or crack over time. Vinyl can get brittle and snap in cold extremes, so it may not be the best option for homes in cold climates.
- Steel ranks second when it comes to affordability, however, it’s important to note that it can rust in certain climates. Not only is it sturdy, but it can also hold a lot of weight, so sagging is less common.
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