How to Choose the Right Flooring for Your Finished Basement
If you’re planning to finish your basement, you will want to cover up the concrete floor with a material that is more attractive and comfortable. Here are some important things to know and some flooring materials to consider.
You May Need to Repair the Floor and Install a Subfloor
Before you or a contractor can install new flooring, the concrete floor may need to be fixed. Any gaps, sections that have shifted, water damage and areas that are rough or uneven will need to be addressed.
Although many flooring materials can be installed directly on top of concrete, that may not be a good idea for a finished basement, since it can cause the floor to be cold. Installing a subfloor can provide a layer of insulation to keep the floor warm.
Should You Buy a House That Is For Sale by Owner?
Some homeowners decide to sell a house themselves, rather than getting help from a real estate agent. Buying a house that is listed as “for sale by owner” (FSBO) may have pros and cons.
What Is a “For Sale by Owner” Listing?
If a house is listed as “for sale by owner,” that means the homeowner is selling it without assistance from a real estate agent. Owners of FSBO properties generally want to avoid paying a real estate agent’s commission.
Pricing for FSBO Listings
When a seller works with an agent, the agent looks at the recent sales of comparable homes to set an asking price. A person who is not working with an agent will not have access to the same detailed data that agents do.
Everything You Need to Know About Construction Loans
Do you want to build your own home? Are you wondering how construction loans work? When it comes to real estate and mortgages, there isn t a one-size-fits-all choice. It all comes down to circumstances, and in this case, if you re constructing your own home, you re going to need a particular type of loan: a construction mortgage loan.
Here, we ll discuss what construction loans are and how they work, along with some of the types of loans that may be available to you, depending on what you need the funds for:
What Is a Construction Loan?
HEALTHY HOME TOURING CHECKLIST
Cold and flu season is here, and with that and the ongoing pandemic, it’s more important than ever to stay safe when shopping for a new home. At Long & Foster, the health and wellbeing of our clients is our top priority, and that’s why we recommend several best practices to help keep our home buyers feeling comfortable, safe, and protected.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Sit back and relax. Minimize unnecessary in-person touring by leveraging video conference, email, and phone calls to narrow down home searches with photos and virtual tours.
Communication is key. Inform your agent if you’ve had any symptoms of Covid-19 (or been exposed to anyone with symptoms) within the last 14 days, or if you’ve been diagnosed with Covid-19, so we can arrange to shop-from-home until you’re in the clear.
4 Items You May Want to Insure Before Moving
Even when everything goes according to plan, moving is pretty much guaranteed to be a stressful process. If something gets lost or damaged, however, it’s only going to get worse. That’s why it’s important to make sure that certain luxury items are insured before they’re packed and transported to your new home.
While homeowners insurance will usually cover you in the event of a break-in or natural disaster, such as a fire or hurricane, you could still be liable for anything that happens while moving. Moving companies, on the other hand, can be held liable to replace or fix a damaged item if you purchase full-value protection, though you’re not guaranteed to receive full compensation because you’re usually only covered up to a certain amount. For items of extraordinary value, which are defined as being worth more than $100 per pound, it can be a good idea to purchase separate insurance to cover you while moving. Here are a few