Category Archives: Tips

Like many of us, you probably spend hours a day in traffic commuting to work. You have scoped out all of the alternatives like carpools, subways, and trains, but they all seem to take more time or cost more money than simply driving. Gas prices have been volatile and every time the prices start to spike, you find yourself wondering if it would be better to move closer to work and cut your commute. Here are some suggestions to help you know if moving makes sense for you.

Calculate Costs

To start, calculate the cost of your commute. The amount you spend each month on fuel will give you a quick idea of potential savings – But remember, there are more hidden costs to pay attention to. Don’t forget to include car payments, insurance, maintenance, and registration. At the very least your insurance company could cut down your monthly payments for driving less and at best you could move to a metropolitan area where you could get rid of the car all together. This may sound crazy, but there are many large cities in the US where it is a hassle to own your own car and better to just rent one on the rare event you need to travel long distances.

Beyond your transportation costs other major expenses can be evaluated in one of two ways. You can move to a comparable neighborhood with similar food, housing, and entertainment costs, giving you an extra boost to your savings; or, you can use the money you save to upgrade to a nicer home or neighborhood. Often times people find that they can get the home of their dreams closer to work because of the money they save by cutting their commute.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

All the amenities you have to weigh bring us to the next consideration, quality of life. You have to ask yourself if the amount of time and money you are saving is going to add to your overall quality of life. If you find yourself moving to a downtown area that lacks the open space, safe communities, and award-winning school districts that your family needs, then the money you save may improve your balance sheets, but not improve your lifestyle. On the other hand, if a bustling downtown full of exotic restaurants, art galleries, and live music is your idea of the perfect neighborhood, then you will definitely be making the most of the money and time you will be saving by moving closer to work.

The choice is going to be unique to every homeowner. Weigh the possibilities and make an evaluation based on the amount of time and money you can potentially save versus the comforts and amenities you gain or lose. This will give you a clear picture of whether or not moving is the right choice for you. It can be as simple as making a list with pros on one side and cons on the other. Once all the options are considered, often times the choice becomes obvious.

Are You Ready to Sell Your Home?

If it sounds like moving closer to work to eliminate your commute is the right choice for you, then it is time to sell. You will need to get the most out of your home to ensure that your next house is the one that is right for you. This means painting, landscaping, remodeling, and upgrading. Plus, putting the home on the market means dealing with realtors and sometimes hiring stagers to get the job done.

If all this sounds like it’s not worth the effort, what if we told you that there is a better way to sell your home…You can sell to an all cash buyer! We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we buy homes in all conditions for all cash. This means that there is no need to spend time on expensive prep work like inspections, repairs, and renovations. We purchase homes in as-is condition, even if they have been damaged in a disaster such as a fire, flood, or storm. This can save you time and money when it comes to getting your home ready to sell, especially when you consider the percentage that your realtor will take once the home is sold. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation appraisal. We will give you an offer they day we visit the home, and if you like what you see we can close the deal in as little as five days! We can even help you move into your new home so you can get rid of your commute ASAP!

Everyone hears little sayings about remodeling their home like, “remodeling a bathroom always pays for itself in the end,” or “new kitchen appliances will get you double their value on the final sale price of your home.” All of this causes a lot of ambiguity when it comes to whether or not remodeling is a sure bet for adding value to your home. The truth is, there are situations where remodels can actually hurt your homes resale price. So, let’s dive into the ultimate question as to when and how to remodel your home to get the most out of your investment.

For the most part you can safely remodel your home as needed or as wanted during the time you live at the address with little negative impact to the value of the property. Common additions like extra rooms and bathrooms do add to the overall value of homes for the majority of the residential areas in the United States. Luxury upgrades like tiles, counter-tops, and floors are also a welcome addition to the homes overall value.

Tip #1

However, remodels do not always go according to plan. When a remodel goes wrong nine times out of ten it has something to do with the contractor. Take the time to get this fundamental choice right and the rest of your remodel should go smoothly. Luckily, we live in the information age so checking a potential contractor or vendors qualifications has never been easier. Scour the internet for ratings and reviews to protect yourself from scams and untrustworthy contractors looking to make a quick buck. They could also be working without a license so be sure to double check their credentials before deciding.

Tip #2

Remember to get multiple bids for whatever project you are undertaking and beware of too good to be true bargains – it can be a warning sign that they will take your deposit, start some work, and then completely disappear without completing the job. A good rule of thumb is to take the middle bid with the longest history and best reviews to get the best quality and value out of your project.

Tip #3

Another way to keep your remodel running smoothly is to dangle a carrot to keep your contractors and vendors motivated. Contractors are notorious for following the money; therefore, it’s a good idea not pay them everything up front because they may drag their feet to finish. Pay them the minimum deposit and save the rest until the job is complete to keep them interested and invested in your remodel. You can also try to include some type of service agreement with a completion date that deducts money from the contract for every day the project is late.

Tip #4

Next have an open mind and listen to the advice of the experts. Unless the remodel is an absolute must have or you are an industry professional, the expertise of the builder’s, architects, and designers that you are working with will ensure that the finished product is something that they will be proud to add to their portfolio. An indoor slide from the upstairs hallway to the downstairs living room may sound really cool, but in the end, it’s going to alienate a huge portion of potential buyers when it comes time to sell the house.

Tip #5

When considering most remodels while you are currently living in the home, it is important to remember that time is not on your side. Depending on the type of remodel, you can experience disruptions to your life or lose access to entire parts of your house for months on end. Plus, there is no guarantee that your remodeling project will run on time and on budget. Some remodels, like upgrading your homes only bathroom, can make your house unlivable. All of this inevitably means the clock is ticking when it comes to the level of inconvenience relocating can bring or the damage it can do to your budget. Anything from the availability of supplies, like lumber, to the weather can determine how smoothly your remodel goes.

Skip the Remodel…

If you are ready to move and you are wondering if it is worth it to remodel your home for a better resale value, the answer may surprise you. You can skip the cost and hassle of remodeling and still get a great deal through an all cash buyer. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we can give you a highly competitive quote for your home because we buy homes in as-is condition. We even buy damaged homes; so, when you consider skipping all the time and money that goes into prepping your home for sale, our offers are right on par with the local market. Contact us today for your free appraisal and receive a quote the very same day we visit! If you are happy with our offer we can close in as little as five days to help you settle the question once and for all, to NOT remodel.

It’s every homeowner’s worst nightmare: A fire, flood, or storm has left your home damaged and it’s made your house difficult or impossible to live in. Your head is probably swirling with millions of questions after a disaster strikes. So, what do you do now? Here are some suggestions on how to deal with a damaged home and get back to your normal life.

First things first, don’t panic. Take care of any critical emergencies before anything else. These can include accounting for all the homes occupants, turning off the water or gas, calling the fire department, or leaving the home if it is not safe to be there.

After the emergency has passed it is time to take a breath and assess the situation. Just remember that safety is always priority number one. DO NOT re-enter your home if it is not safe to do so. Get a general idea of what happened and what is damaged so you can better communicate what happened to insurance and disaster relief companies. Since you are likely to be the first person on the scene, take lots of pictures to help document the extent of the damage and improve your chances of getting your full claim. DO NOT begin cleaning up. This is a common mistake that homeowners make; the insurance company needs detailed and documented proof of the disaster itself, so cleaning up without properly documenting the evidence can hurt your claim and, in some cases, get it denied.

Homeowners typically call their insurance company first when a disaster strikes. Although it is important to contact your insurance company in a timely manner, you may want to contact a local damage or disaster company first. There are a few reasons for this. First, due to the high deductibles with insurance companies, there is a chance you will decide not to use your insurance. You won’t be able to make this assessment unless a professional can evaluate the extent of the damage and give you a recommendation.

Another reason to contact a disaster relief company before insurance is to choose the most reputable company at your disposal. To keep down the cost of repairs, your insurance company may pressure you into using their recommended disaster relief company. However, you have the right to research and choose the disaster relief company that you think is best.

Lastly, good disaster relief companies handle everything for you. Once they have completed the initial assessment and helped you decide if using insurance is the best option, they will take care of the rest.

Now it’s time to contact your insurance company. If you wait too long your claim could be denied. When dealing with insurance, the first question on any homeowner’s mind is, “Am I covered?” Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this because insurance policies can vary widely. Your coverage is completely dependent on the details of your policy.

It is common for your insurance to reimburse you if the home is unlivable. A functioning bathroom can be a determining factor for weather or not your home is considered livable. If your home has only suffered partial damage, to the kitchen for example, then you will only be reimbursed for eating out as opposed to all of your food and lodging.

The last thing homeowners worry about is how much of the damage will be covered. Remember, if you are 100% covered, you will not be 100% reimbursed. Even with the best-case scenarios, any damaged or destroyed items inside the house will have more sentimental than monetary value due to depreciation. So, anticipate using some of your claim money to restore items you lost in the disaster.

Now that the insurance claim is settled, it’s time to decide to repair, rebuild, or upgrade.

You may have done so well during the evaluation of the damage that you got the maximum amount of insurance money possible. The silver lining is that recovering from a disaster can be the perfect time to invest in the extra upgrades you’ve had your eye on. Adding upgrades and features while the home is already torn apart can add tremendous value when the repairs are finished while simultaneously saving you money on the improvements.

Depending on the extent of the damage, it can take years to get your home back to a livable state. Consider what you are willing to tolerate; for minor damage you could coordinate repairs while you are on vacation or have time off to minimize the intrusion of workmen and construction noise. If it’s bad it might be a good idea to consider moving.

If moving sounds good, but you don’t want to lose money on the sale due to the damage, consider selling to an all cash buyer. We are Gulf State Homebuyers and we buy homes in all conditions, including your damaged home. We will make you a competitive offer for the house in as-is condition, saving you the time and money on repairs, especially if you plan on moving anyway. Contact us today for your free, no obligation appraisal. If you like our offer we can close in as little as 5 days and help you skip the headache of repairs and restoration. We can even help you move into your new home so you can get your life back to normal in no time.