While it seems simple enough to purchase an alarm system and call it a day, there are countless other ways to increase the security of your home. Luckily, burglars and other criminals tend to follow similar trends, making it easier to be proactive when it comes to protecting your home and loved ones. The following are some helpful ways to do so.
Often, burglars will cut exterior wires in order to sufficiently distract or disarm whoever is inside.
First, ensure you are in the habit of consistently using all locks in your home. This includes window locks on second floors. Burglars will usually try and find an open window or back door before eventually attempting to kick in the front door. Breaking windows or picking locks are too time-consuming and noisy. Make your door less vulnerable to human strength by installing a heavy-duty deadbolt lock, and make sure back and side doors have multiple locks. Ensure all windows have functioning locks and perhaps look into investing in pin locks as well.
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Having an appraisal come in low can be upsetting to both the buyer and seller. Considering the impact a low appraisal can have on the home buying and selling process, it's important to educate yourself on what factors typically lead to a low appraisal.
Your home may have an incredibly finished basement, but the appraiser will still have to calculate the value of the basement differently than the square footage above ground. This is, in fact, one of the more common reasons why an appraisal comes in low. Valuing a basement can often be far more subjective, especially when there are extravagant features such as a home theater, custom bar, or a personal gym. While a nice finished basement can substantially upgrade the square footage and features of a home, the value of the basement space will still only be worth a fraction of what similar space upstairs would be.
Every day there are thousands of properties that have price reductions, and it only means one thing: the home was not priced appropriately. The seller was overzealous, or perhaps the agent promised the moon in hopes to make a sale. In states where dual agency exists, a buyer will occasionally go directly to the listing agent. They don’t have a buyer’s agent in their corner guiding them, and they end up significantly overpaying for the property. When purchasing a home, it always makes sense to have a buyer’s agent representing your best interests. Don’t be conned by dual agency.
The home appraisal can be a nerve-wracking process for many sellers. While most appraisals don't ruin a sale (fortunately!), there are still some persistent myths that far too many sellers believe. Remember: the more you know, the less likely it is that you'll be surprised!
Wrong — they are very different! As stated in our last blog post, a home inspection is intended to identify issues with the home that everyone should be aware of before money is exchanged, while an appraisal aims to determine the market value of the home. While an appraiser may flag problems that they notice during the appraisal, it is in everyone's best interest to hire an inspector in addition to the appraisal.
This is often the hardest pill for most homeowners to swallow. You may have the biggest, most beautiful home in your area, but that does not guarantee that the appraisal price will reflect how exceptional your home is. In fact, standing out too much can even do more harm than good. Homes are priced based on their area. More specifically, homes are priced based on their neighborhood. The appraiser will consider the size and amenities of other homes in your neighborhood to determine the price of your home. If everyone else has 2,000 square feet of space and laminate countertops, but you have 4,000 square feet and granite countertops, yours will likely be priced somewhat higher, but not nearly enough to get your money back if you have over-improved. As always, talk to an experienced appraiser before making any major changes to your home. When it comes time to sell, you'll be glad you did.
2. Ask Questions Raising questions is an indication that a person has read the document, which prevents any uncertainty about the contract. It’s best to be extremely transparent about the terms of the clause. This understanding, in turn, promotes positivity within the marriage.
3. Have Your Valuables Appraised As stated, a prenup is most commonly designed to protect the spouse with greater assets from losing an unfair part of wealth in the event of a divorce. Therefore, disclosing real estate and any other valuable items when meeting with your attorney will assist in preserving what’s actually yours.
4. Read The Contract Carefully We’re sure you’ve heard that a person should never sign a document without properly reading it over. One may end up agreeing to things they dislike, or even fail to realize what they could potentially be giving up.