49 Great Ideas for Storage When Living With Kids

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Top Things Home Sellers Try to Hide

Whether you’re a seasoned house hunter or a first-time buyer, the process of purchasing a home has plenty of pitfalls. And while you may assume that sellers are being upfront, it’s not uncommon for them to gloss over some of their home’s shortcomings.

“All homeowners sign a disclosure document about their property so buyers know what they’re getting into; however, it can be very tempting for some to tell white lies or conveniently forget facts,” says Wendy Flynn, owner of Wendy Flynn Realty in College Station, TX. “In fact, a very large number of real estate lawsuits stem from owners misrepresenting their property.”

So, just to be on the safe side, here are some common cover-ups and how you can crack them.

Water damage

Water stains aren’t just ugly; they’re also signs of leaks, and a breeding ground for mold. And they’re fairly easy for homeowners to hide with strategic decoration or staging, according to Frank Baldassarre, owner of Ace Home Inspections on Staten Island, NY.

“Many sellers try to conceal water intrusion in the basement, for example, with a pile of cardboard boxes or suitcases,” he says. You could always ask the homeowner to move the furniture a few inches and shine a pocket flashlight around. If the home has obvious red flags (an odd odor or visible wall cracks), it’s not unreasonable to request removing a large picture frame to take a peek at what’s behind it.

Another popular tactic for concealing water damage: a coat of fresh paint.

“Always ask the homeowner when they last painted,” says Baldassarre. “If it was a year ago, they’re probably not trying to hide water stains.”

A contaminated backyard

If you’re looking at an older home—specifically, if it was built before 1975—odds are it used to run on oil. Back then, homeowners typically had large oil tanks installed in the basement or underground in the backyard to conserve space and maintain the home’s aesthetic.

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“The problem is that oil can contaminate soil, and because it’s incredibly costly to remove, some people try to hide evidence of the tank,” says Baldassarre. “Recently, I arrived to a home inspection early and caught the homeowner sawing off the top of the fill pipe.”

So while walking through a home’s backyard, look for a small fill pipe sticking up from the ground (sometimes covered by patches of grass), a dead giveaway that an oil tank is on the premises. Or double-check by asking the seller if the home was heated with oil in the past.

A shaky foundation

If the paint job in a home looks a little uneven around the door frames or windows, take a closer to look to see if it’s concealing any jagged cracks in the wall, advises Flynn. Those zigzags can signify foundation problems, a costly and potentially dangerous situation for potential buyers.

A weak foundation can prevent cabinets and doors from closing, cause supporting beams to snap from stress, or even result in a poor home appraisal, which can affect your loan and the home’s resale value.

Another clue that the house has a weak foundation: “if you feel as though you’re suddenly walking up or down—even slightly—as you move through the home,” says Flynn.

Problem neighbors

Barking dogs, rocker teens, and blaring horns are all factors that can turn off potential buyers. That’s why some owners try to downplay these situations with well-timed open houses and neighborly negotiations.

“Homeowners have an obligation to disclose what are called ‘neighborhood nuisances,’ but if they don’t, buyers have to rely on their word,” says Carrie Benuska, a Realtor® at John Aaroe Group in Pasadena, CA. “I know people who have asked their neighbors to keep noisy dogs inside during showings or only open their homes during strategic times of the day.”

Even well-intentioned owners may not be candid if they’ve become accustomed to their environment. One workaround, suggests Benuska, is for buyers to take a stroll around the neighborhood at different times of the day to get a more authentic feel for the area. And don’t hesitate to make small talk with the locals, who can offer a more objective view of their surroundings.

Weird temperature changes

Anyone who’s lived in a home with a freezing bathroom or unusually warm bedroom knows that a temperature imbalance can result in avoiding a room altogether. That’s why tapping into your senses is key when viewing your potential new home.

“If you walk into a room and there’s a subtle shift in the atmosphere—maybe the air feels dry or damp—ask the owner what the room feels like throughout the seasons,” says Benuska. “The culprit is usually poor insulation, sometimes as a result of the owner adding a second room or floor to the home.” Oftentimes, an owner isn’t trying to outright conceal extension work. However, if the construction was done without a permit—“more common than you’d imagine,” says Benuska—you aren’t required to pay for the extra square footage.

5 New Great Business Books to Read

5 Great Business Books You've Never Heard Of   Many people love to read business and inspiration books from popular lists. There are also shelves packed full of other books that are less well-known but still offer great insights and tips for success. Here are five books to check out: "The Introverted Leader" by Jennifer B. Kahnweiler Ph.D. We seem to live in a world of extroverts. But according to the author, who interviewed more than 100 introverted professionals, many high-profile leaders (including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) aren't extroverts. This book teaches how to implement Kahnweiler's 4-Ps (preparation, presence, push and practice) to develop skills for bending an extroverted business culture to an introverted temperament, transforming "quiet strength" into great leadership. "Pour Your Heart Into It" by Howard Schultz. Rapid growth, brand development, marketing savvy ... and coffee. The CEO of Starbucks gives his two shots on turning a small coffee shop in Seattle into a multi-billion dollar brand. If you've ever wanted to understand how to turn your passion into a profitable venture, Schultz's inspiring insights on everything from marketing to customer service will be a treasure trove. "Lead With a Story" by Paul Smith. Procter & Gamble's marketing strategies are legendary in the advertising world. This former P&G executive, turned keynote speaker and corporate trainer, demonstrates how to craft an outstanding story for yourself, your product, volunteer work, place of worship, or business. Powerful stories can motivate people, shape behavior and contribute to the success of your organization or project. "Lincoln on Leadership" by Donald T. Phillips. Lincoln is one of the most revered and admired U.S. presidents of all time. This book delves into his timeless leadership techniques and the particular strategies that made him a reckoning force. The book also shares how you can apply them today in business and life. "You Only Have to Be Right Once" by Randall Lane and the staff of Forbes. Many of the legends of modern business started either with nothing, or with a different business idea that would eventually make them or their companies household names. Forbes editor Randall Lane explains how these leaders achieved their quick wins—and how you can capture some of their magic. Source: Blinkist

3 Side Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads

 

3 Side Jobs for Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads

 

Being a stay-at-home parent has lots of perks. Unfortunately, a paycheck isn't one of them. In this short video, you'll learn about three ways you can earn a little "extra something" to help supplement your family's budget, including:

Online survey opportunities: Completing surveys may not sound "legit" ... until you get paid. Harris Poll Online, SurveyClub, GlobalTestMarket and Swagbucks are on-the-level companies that award points for merchandise, gift cards or cash in exchange for your opinions.

Tutor students: A few hours each week could help you and a local student both succeed. If you have an academic specialty, locate students online or through your children's school. Or check out online tutoring companies like Tutor.com.

Online mock juries: Attorneys have discovered an innovative way to get feedback on cases before they go to trial. Some rules and regulations apply, but it can be a quick way to earn some cash.

 

Let’s Get Crystal Clear On How Real Estate Agents Are Paid

By James Wise  |  Read Bio

So you’re thinking about buying or selling a house? Odds are good that the first thing you did was contact a real estate agent to help you out. According to the 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers published by the National Association of Realtors, 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker.

So how exactly do real estate agents get paid?

SHORT ANSWER:

Real estate agents work for real estate brokerages, and they earn money via commissions when they assist buyers and sellers buy or sell homes.

Now let’s dispel a false assumption right off the bat…

REAL ESTATE MYTH – Agents must be rolling in the cheddar. Word on the street is that some of them make 6% or even 7% commission on every house they sell! Not exactly… Most agents are not living the lavish lifestyle you may assume they are. The income is much more modest than you might expect. Real estate agents have a median income of $40,990 with the top performers making more.

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What Does a REALTOR® Do To Earn Their Commission?

By Andrew Fortune  |  Read Bio

REALTORS® are known for helping people buy and sell real estate, but much of what a REALTOR® actually does to earn their commission happens behind the scenes.

A good REALTOR® will make your real estate transaction flow smoothly through each step of the process, leaving the impression that their job is fairly simple. The fact is – that couldn’t be further from the truth. Anyone who has ever lived with a REALTOR® knows how difficult their job is. If you’ve never spent much one-on-one time with a REALTOR®, you may not understand how different their job is from the average everyday job.

For this reason, I created a simple infographic covering a few of the day-to-day items that REALTORS® are responsible for. A day in the life of a good REALTOR® 



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The Housing Market is Heating Up

Prices Heat Up on Housing and More   Spring is officially here, and the weather isn't the only thing heating up. Consumers are paying more for most goods, the Labor Department reported in March. The core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures consumer inflation excluding volatile food and energy, increased 0.3 percent after a similar gain in January. From February 2015 to 2016, core CPI rose 2.3 percent, the largest gain since May 2012. Clothing prices donned the largest increase since 2009. But rising rent and medical costs continued to bolster this measure. Higher auto prices and other factors also contributed. That being noted, low prices at the gas pump put the brakes on consumer inflation overall, causing a 0.2 percent decline in February when food and energy prices are factored in. In fact, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the average family is likely saving $1,000 a year on fuel. Housing Starts Surge In housing news, February Housing Starts were a whopping 30.9 percent above February 2015, meaning more people were breaking ground on new homes. This could be a good sign for many areas that are struggling with limited inventory. Meanwhile, February Existing Home Sales fell 7.1 percent from January, although sales were up 2.2 percent from February 2015. Conversely, February New Home Sales rose 2 percent from January, but year-over-year sales are down 6.1 percent from February 2015. Home prices, including distressed sales, continued to rise this past year, up 6.9 percent from January 2015 to January 2016, according to CoreLogic, a leading provider of property information and analytics. Looking ahead, CoreLogic forecasted a 5.5 percent increase from January 2016 to January 2017. A Look Ahead The Fed continues to monitor the housing market, inflation, jobs, wages and more for signs that economic recovery after the Great Recession is strong and sustaining. Following the March Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the Fed noted that "economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace despite the global economic and financial developments of recent months." If economic reports here at home continue to be strong, home loan rates could begin to creep up. Why? Strong economic news often causes money to flow out of Bonds and into Stocks, as investors try to take advantage of gains. This can cause Mortgage Bonds and home loan rates (which are tied to Mortgage Bonds) to worsen. However, if economic data is weaker than expected, investors could move their money back into the safety of the Bond market, helping Mortgage Bonds and home loan rates improve. Many factors impact the markets, but whichever way they move, I'll let you know about it.  You Magazine