Before the coronavirus hit the United States, about 5 percent of the workforce worked from home each day on a permanent basis. Some 46 percent noted that they worked from home part of the time but had to be physically in their office for meetings and other obligations at least for a portion of the week.
Now that Covid-19 has changed the way Americans work, more than half of the country reports that they are working from home, notes a study by The Brookings Institute.
Furthermore, more and more companies are discovering that it really is okay if their employees work from the comfort of their own abode. Most aren’t goofing off, as some higher-ups suspected they would, and – in general – things are happening as they should.
It seems that everything is about DIY these days. Fix your own car. Remodel your own kitchen. Organize your own vacation.
You get the picture.
But how about buying or selling a home? Myriad television shows will tell you that it’s okay to do it on your own. So will a plethora of websites that are devoted to helping FSBOs (For Sale By Owner) negotiate the process and that strive to encourage buyers to believe they’ll get a better deal if they skip over the “hiring an agent” part of the process.
Indeed, it sounds tempting when they describe it. Sellers can avoid commission, and buyers will likely have a better chance at negotiating without the middle man…or woman. Right?
Maybe not.
And then there are those mobile apps that can lead you to
If you’re a realtor – whether you’ve been one for decades or are just getting your career started – you’re no doubt viewing the reopening of the country and the restart of business with some excitement and a good deal of trepidation. More than ever, more people are out of work, more than half the country is working from home, and the stock market has seen its worst days in recent history. That all combines to mean lots of worry for real estate brokers and agents.
Though it may soon change, right now, agents in most states can’t show houses. The sales offices for new construction are closed. And with the risk of contracting Covid-19, there won’t be any on-site appraisals happening or inspections completed. Everything is pretty much at a standstill.
Buying a home is a scary proposition. Indeed, it is! Unless you’re buying a brand new home or having it built to your specifications, you’re never sure what you’re getting and – of course – what you see isn’t necessarily what you get. There are plenty of problems that aren’t necessarily visible to the eye, so you either take a leap of faith and hope for the best, or you schedule a home inspection.
If you’re working with a realtor, perhaps you’ve already discussed the pros (and maybe the cons) of purchasing a home inspection. Generally, realtors agree that in many cases, such inspections are a wise idea and, in some cases, an absolute must.
Below we’ve provided our readers with some important facts about the process to help you decide what’s best
You’ve done your research. You found a realtor you love. It seems like the right time for you and your family to make a move. So, you’ve signed that listing contract, and the sign has gone up in the front yard. It’s time to sell!
But wait! What’s that in your next-door neighbor’s yard this morning? Is that a For Sale sign? Can’t be! How dare they! They can’t sell their house at the same time you’re selling yours. It’s just not fair! Can they do that?
Of course, they can! There are certainly no hard and steadfast rules about two homes beside or near each other going up for sale at the same time. As a matter of fact, it may be all your fault! Perhaps your sale sign prompted your neighbor to take the action they’ve been contemplating, and so they
Did you know there are more than 2 million active real estate agents in the United States? It sounds like a large number, right? But statistics show that nearly 65 percent of Americans own their home and might be selling it at any time in the near future and/or buying a new one, so that means there’s plenty of business to go around!
So, if you’re thinking of becoming a real estate agent, there’s room for you in the market. However, it’s important to recognize that becoming an agent isn’t like taking on a regular 9-5 job. It’s basically an opportunity to own your own business, which means that you’ll likely be working way past 5 pm, and probably on weekends, too!
A career in real estate is for those who are ambitious, eager to learn, and intent
If you’ve been looking forward to spring house-hunting season all year, you’re probably gravely disappointed right now, especially if you’ve got all your proverbial ducks in a row, like a pre-approved mortgage and a substantial downpayment that you’ve been saving for years.
So here you sit. Quarantined by the coronavirus outbreak and uncertain how the rest of this year is going to play out, you figure that your big home buy of 2020 is not going to happen. It’s sad, but that’s the reality of things these days, right?
Well, not necessarily! Real estate experts say that now could potentially be the time to buy if you’re careful and have a confident agent guiding you along the way.
Our world has changed a lot during these last several weeks. Our freedom is severely restricted. Our schools and stores are closed. And, in many places, we’re told not to venture outside after a certain time of day.
So, if you’re one of the thousands of people who placed their house on the market before the surge of the coronavirus began, chances are your first thought is to cancel your listing and proceed with life in your current home. If you have the opportunity to do that, go ahead.
Unfortunately, however, not everyone can put the brakes on their home sale. There are homeowners out there who must sell now or within the next few weeks or months – for some reason or another – and those individuals must continue to try to sell their property.
Real estate agents throughout the world are no doubt in panic mode. After all, how do you sell homes when everyone is stuck inside? And if you can’t work with buyers and sellers, how are you going to produce a paycheck? Will you be able to pay your mortgage? Buy groceries? Send your kids to college?
You’ve probably been thinking all those things and worse. It’s natural, of course, to have thoughts like this at this scary time. No one knows how the coronavirus pandemic will play out, and when things will be back to normal. And the chances are that just about everyone else in a commission-based business or who’s been furloughed or laid-off is going through the same vicious cycle of horrible thoughts.
So you’re getting ready to move. It’s an exciting time, especially if you’ve purchased a new home and can’t wait to start your new life in your new space.
But the whole moving part isn’t very exciting…and it can become quite a stressful chore when you’re not organized.
We’ve all been there. Who hasn’t had a friend who’s asked you to help him/her move, and when you arrive at their house or apartment, they have nothing packed and are frantically searching for boxes, bags, and more helping hands to assist in getting the move accomplished? It’s frustrating for everyone involved!
But you don’t have to be that person – or that family – if you create a good moving-related checklist and stick to it until the big day arrives. So, we’ve provided some
