15 Overlooked but Important Ways to Get Your Home Ready to Sell

trulia.com

If you really want to make your home attention-grabbing, it’s time to up your game.

You may think you know the basics when it comes to getting your home ready to sell: remove any clutter or personal effects, fix what’s broken, and stage your rooms. But buyers are a fickle lot, and they can fall in — or out — of love with a home for any number of reasons, some so subtle that the buyers themselves aren’t fully aware of their logic.

If you really want to make your home attention-grabbing for all the right reasons, it’s time to up your game with these outside-the-box tricks:

1. Set the mood (lighting)

Swap out your bright white light bulbs for a soft and flattering wattage that invokes a cozy, yet welcoming feel and hides any tiny imperfections. Opt for bulbs that emit yellow-toned and red-toned hues.

2. Wash your windows

Have your windows professionally washed, or devote an afternoon to washing them yourself from both inside and out. Even on gray days, clean windows will let in more light and make your rooms sparkle — and buyers will definitely notice if it isn’t done.

3. Mind the details

Small details can make your home look dumpy without you even realizing it. Freshen up rooms with new switch plates and outlet covers if yours are grubby from fingerprints or yellowed from aging. Polish handles and hardware and use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove minor spots and scuffs on walls.

4. Make it welcoming

You’ve got the curb appeal, but what about “walking up to the door” appeal? Invest in a new doormat and take the time to scrub down your front door since it’s probably covered with dust, dirt, and oils. Better yet, repaint it and add some new house numbers and a new porch light.

5. Don’t forget your side yard

Turn that dead space into a selling point by creating a potting station or kitchen garden, or even set up breakfast nook with a café table and chairs.

6. Get creative with color

Paint two adjacent rooms the same color to give the appearance of an open floor plan. Paint your walls to match your drapery (or buy drapery to match the walls). Use the same colors and patterns in the master bedroom and bath to create an “ en suite” feel.

7. Update your own furniture

Empty rooms show poorly. “Stage” a spare bedroom with an air mattress and bed frame. Create a living room arrangement by throwing matching slipcovers over clashing chairs and sofas.

8. Brighten up trim

Walls aren’t the only things that need a fresh coat of paint. Dingy door and window frames will drag down the prettiest of rooms. Repainting wood-toned trim white will also make your space brighter.

9. Employ scents

The old tried and true: bake a fresh batch of cookies to create a homey feel (or fake it with a scented candle). Employ soothing, spa-like scents like vanilla and lavender in bathrooms and bedrooms.

10. Make your space look bigger

Hang floor-length curtains above your windows to give the illusion of higher ceilings. Lay down a striped rug to make your floor seem more expansive. Use a clear shower curtain to open up a small bathroom.

11. Fake a closet organization system

Make your storage look custom with DIY shelves, hangers, and bins. Organize clothes by type and color for added impact.

12. Dress up your laundry area

Whether it’s a separate room or a corner of your basement, make your laundry area look welcoming by adding a folding surface, bins, and baskets for storage, and a designer element like a fun rug or temporary wallpaper.

13. Tidy up the garage

Install overhead or wall shelves to store bikes and sporting equipment. Create a workshop area in one corner — show buyers it’s more than just a place to park cars.

14. Prepare for snoopers

Buyers will open your fridge, peek in your medicine cabinet, and check under your sinks. Make these areas so tidy Martha Stewart would be proud.

15. Don’t knock feng shui

Many of its teachings can help make your rooms more attractive: avoid having the backs of furniture facing entryways, close the toilet lid, and don’t place anchor pieces like beds or sofas against a window.

- See more at: http://www.trulia.com/blog/15-overlooked-important-ways-get-home-ready-sell/#sthash.BbZXaZDu.dpuf

5 Things to Know Before You Rent Out Your Home

trulia.com

If you’ve entertained thoughts about renting out your home, there may be a few questions you’ve already asked yourself, such as, “Is it worth hanging on to this property? How will I feel about strangers moving into my home? Will my tenants be responsible?”

Owning a rental property can require hard work, patience, and planning. On one hand, there’s the good to consider, like the potential to increase your income and build a steady cash flow. On the other hand, being a landlord may test your ability to deal with the unexpected, like emergency home repairs or unreliable renters.

Before you hand over the keys to your home, here’s what you can do to make the rental process go smoother.

1. Research your market. Research the market in the neighborhood of your rental home to choose a rent amount that matches the local rental rates while still helping you earn a profit. Consider the number of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. You might also take into consideration any new additions to the property and the age of the home. Don’t forget to factor in costs like pest control, lawn maintenance, and occasional home repairs.

2. Grace your home with curb appeal. Depending on where you live and the time of year, your home may have taken a beating from the sun, wind, rain, or snow.Without costing an arm and a leg, a power washer can work wonders on your home to give it a fresh look. Clean out the flower beds and trim shrubs and low-hanging tree branches. Giving your lawn a fresh trim, your panels a new coat of paint, or your shutters a good cleaning are all good components of curb appeal. The first impression of your home’s curb appeal can mean everything.

3. Check to see if your prospective tenant is financially responsible. A credit check can offer insights into your applicant’s payment history and gives you a good idea if they’ll likely be a good or bad credit risk. You may also want to consider hiring a reputable company that can perform a tenant screening check on your potential occupants to find out if they’ve damaged previous rental properties or have a criminal record. You can also ask for referrals of past residences since this information won’t be included in a credit report.

4. Plan for financial emergencies. Renting comes with its own set of unexpected emergencies. These emergencies can range from tenants suddenly vacating a property to calling you on a Sunday about a potential water heater replacement. These can be tough expenses to bear, and as a landlord, it will behoove you to keep aside funds for such situations.

5. Get appropriate insurance coverage. When renting your home to someone, there’s always the possibility that they, or one of their guests, might have an accident or damage your property. You could also experience a loss of rental income due to an unforeseen disaster. The proper insurance may cover these things along with legal fees if you end up taking your tenant to court.

For some, becoming a landlord is all about on-the-job training. It can be a challenge, but in the end renting out your extra space can help you reap financial benefits.


- See more at: http://www.trulia.com/blog/5-things-to-know-before-you-rent-out-your-home/#sthash.1iM6FG7R.dpuf

12 Hacks to Make Your For-Sale Home Look and Smell Pet-Free

trulia.com

Do you refer to your pet as one of your children, without irony? Me, too. This unconditional love is not a sentiment all who visit my home share, particularly if they stand up from my couch and discover their once-black pants are now covered in beautiful (and trendy!) tan-and-brown ombré doggie fur.

If you’re putting your home on the market, owning a dog or cat could deter buyers or reduce offer amounts. There’s no amount of money that could persuade me to banish my mutt while I entertain guests this holiday season — or put my home on the market and show it — so I’m happy to use these easy tricks and tips to help take care of pet odors, messes, and damage.

“I know you weren’t just planning on vacuuming during my nap.”

(Image via Sabrina Rojas Weiss)

1. Rubber Glove Treatment

Rub a damp rubber glove over furniture, and static electricity will help remove fur quite easily. (Tip via Real Simple)

2. Duct Tape Solves Everything

I could use about 15 lint rollers to pick up fur from my couch or car seats, or I could go heavy duty and wrap duct tape, sticky side up, around a paint roller for a stronger version of the same concept. (Tip via Family Handyman)

3. Squeegee Power

Sometimes vacuuming is no match for the fur buried deep down in the living room rug. Amazingly, a window squeegee can do the trick instead. (Tip via Lifehacker)

4. Better Bitter

To stop dogs and cats from chewing on furniture or — zzzzt! — power cords, you can purchase Bitter Apple spray, or make your own by mixing white wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar.

5. Stick ‘Em Up

This special double-stick tape will annoy cats enough to make them avoid using your furniture as a scratch pad. (We imagine regular double-stick tape would do the trick, too.)

6. Leave the Mud Outside

I’ve always kept Wet Wipes in my entryway, to wipe the dog’s paws when we come in from a muddy day. This Paw Plunger looks even more effective (and kinda fun to use).

7. Smell Check

Before you sell your home or have special guests over, you might want to invite over a close, exceptionally honest friend who can tell you if your home smells like wet dog or a very well-decorated litter box. You need the friend, because it won’t smell bad to you at all anymore.

“I just improved your priceless hand-woven rug. You’re welcome.”

 (Image via Meredith Leigh Collins/Flickr)

8. Clean Those Rugs, and Clean Them Again

Like your mom always told you, baking soda does wonders for odors. Sprinkle it on any urine stains on rugs. You also can use a black light to find old stains you never knew about or thought you’d taken care of. (Tip via Care2 and Petslady)

9. Litter on the Bar-B

Add a sprinkle of activated charcoal to the litter box to absorb smells. (Tip via ehow)

10. Clean Ears = Happy Noses

If your dog is prone to stinky ears, clean them regularly with a solution of vinegar and alcohol. This will do wonders for the smell of the whole house, too. (Tip via ehow)

11. Trunk No-Show

The Internet is flooded with instructions on how to customize old trunks, new Ikea storage units, and built-in cabinets into excellent litter box and dog crate camouflage.

12. Play Date

When in doubt of your pets’ behavior or your visitors’/buyers’ preferences, consider asking a friend or neighbor to have the “kids” over to play for a little while. If you’re selling your home, make sure you also put away pet toys and pet photos. You shouldn’t lie to potential buyers about furry creatures living there, but you don’t want any unnecessary reminders around either. (Tip via About.com)


- See more at: http://www.trulia.com/blog/12-hacks-make-your-for-sale-home-look-smell-pet-free/#sthash.ntOfCEdX.dpuf

Tired of Renter’s Shame? 8 Things That Make Life on a Lease More Fun

trulia.com

Being tied to housing for a limited time certainly has its benefits.

You know the scene in Meet the Parents when Ben Stiller stops by his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s house and gets shamed for being a renter?“Are you a homeowner, Greg?” asks Owen Wilson’s character.“No, no, I rent,” Ben Stiller’s character answers.“Oh,” Wilson responds knowingly, giving Stiller the same pitying look you get when you show up stag at a wedding.

Even if we all whine about our landlords, being tied to one property for only 12 months certainly has its benefits. There can be a lot of pressure to defend your lifestyle as a long-term renter. But for all of the benefits to owning your own home, there are plenty of reasons to be thankful you’re a renter. There can be a lot of pressure to defend your lifestyle as a long-term renter. Here’s my personal list of why life is better on a lease.

1. If it’s broke, you don’t fix it: When Michael Ratty and his wife, Amy Deveau, were packing up to visit family on Christmas Eve, they received quite a shock when their garbage disposal exploded.“There was water all over our kitchen,” says Ratty, who lives in Boston’s South End. “We called the property manager and left. And we came home, and it was fixed and cleaned up. If we owned, we would have had to call a plumber and wait and then pay for it.”

2. Neighbors come and go: You know that crew of frat bros who live upstairs and drive you crazy at night, what with their hoard of Keystone Light cans and bad techno music? Well, when you’re a renter, there’s always the possibility that they’ll take the party elsewhere in a few months.

3. Lazy days: When you were a kid, did your dad holler at you first thing in the morning to help shovel the driveway? There’s no misery like waking up to shovel snow. When you own a home, you either have to bundle up and shovel it yourself, or drop a pretty penny to get someone else to do it. Renters enjoy snow days the way they were meant to be spent: wrapped up like a flannel burrito in bed.

4. Spontaneity happens: Sometimes the best part about home is the fact that you can leave it. When you own, taking a spontaneous road trip to Vegas is a little more complicated than just grabbing a backpack and your iPhone.

5. Payback takes time: If you’re in your 20s or 30s, you’re probably already rockin’ student loan debt. Not to mention that credit card you went a little wild with on spring break senior year. Know what a mortgage really is? Another big pile of debt you have to pay back over time.

6. Forget fun employment: We’ve all received a pink slip at least once in our careers. If you’re on the hook for a mortgage payment but there’s no way to pay the bills, you’re up the proverbial river without a paddle. Renters have more options, like subletting to a friend or even breaking the lease to move in with family.

7. Test-drive your neighborhood: Commitment-phobes, rejoice for rental living. If the idea of being with one person for the rest of your life gives you hives, then living in the same place probably does too. Renting allows you to try out different neighborhoods. It’s kind of like dating: find your match before you buy a home, have 2.5 kids, and adopt a golden retriever.

8. It’s the journey, not the destination: You will discover certain things as you travel down the road of renting. How much space do you need to be happy? How many people are you willing to share your space with? What kind of environment is right for you? The truth is, it’s easier to discover those things about yourself before you’re locked into homeownership.

- See more at: http://www.trulia.com/blog/tired-renters-shame-8-things-make-life-lease-fun/#sthash.zNF4FOlR.dpuf

6 THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH ONE CAN OF PAINT

realtytimes.com

Written by Jaymi Naciri

Sunday, 17 August 2014 3:14 pm

We always talk about how easy (and cheap) it is to paint your space and make it all look and feel new again. We talk about it because it's the truth. One can of paint is all you need to transform a room, a piece of furniture, a ceiling, or even a space that has no earthly reason to be grand and glam…but you do it anyway. So here, as a testament to the power of the paint, are 6 things you can do with one can.

Paint on, friends.

1. Cover it in fuchsia

Yes, you've been told - warned even - to keep it neutral. Don't do anything that could cause alarm if you have to sell. But hey, it's your house. And the nature of paint is that what goes on now can always be covered over. 

2. Go for bold pattern

Forget stripes. Go next level with your paint and create a plaid room. Yes, plaid.

You can create a unique space with one can of paint, or, bring in a few more and go full metal Burberry.

3. Break the mold

Or, more, appropriately, create the molding. If you have a room that could use a good dose of architectural interest but you're lacking the cash (or the skills) to install crown molding, paint it on instead. You can up the elegance of a room by faking the molding, and it's easier than you think. Check out a tutorial on creating faux crown molding here.

4. Renew something

Look around the room you're in. Chances are you breezed past at least one thing that makes your face crinkle up into a big pout. If you don't want to replace that old sideboard or dresser or wooden chair, slap a coat of paint on it. Same with the old mirror you bought at the garage sale and that's been sitting in your garage. And even the old rusty metal accessories you've tired of. Learn how here.

5. Make it dreamy

Any reason why that ceiling has to be white? No, no there's not. But don't just paint it any old color. Go for the gold. The metallic gold. Not you've got a space that sets an elegant tone and gives you something to look up to.

6. Pretty up a utility space

Your laundry room isn't the place you typically want to find yourself, but you just might if it looks like this.

Consejos para ampliar tu espacio

Fotografías: Cortesía Behr

31 de Julio del 2014 | Editorial Metroscubicos

Los departamentos pequeños se vuelven más populares, particularmente entre personas jóvenes solteras o que se acaben de mudar con su pareja o algún amigo. El reto en este tipo de hogares radica en lograr que ni las paredes ni los muebles produzcan una sensación de claustrofobia.

En este caso, la pintura juega un rol fundamental, jugar con el color para darle profundidad a un espacio sin necesidad de tirar un muro o gastar mucho dinero es la clave. Los expertos de la marca de pinturas Behr comparten algunos consejos que puedes aplicar en las paredes, techos y rincones de tu casa para que ese espacio de ciertos se amplíe más allá de tu imaginación: 

Reduce el desorden. El primer paso para que las habitaciones se vean más grandes de lo que parecen es maximizar el espacio que tienes. Para esto es necesario eliminar todos los objetos que estorban como muebles viejos, la silla que solo usas para colgar ropa, bolsas o cajas en la entrada, o ese par de canastas arriba de una mesa en donde acumulas papeles.

Guarda las cosas en su lugar, limpia el desorden. Puedes incluso usar muebles que tienen una doble función, como por ejemplo las bases de las camas que integran cajones. Si quieres que tu espacio luzca más grande definitivamente será necesario deshacerse de cosas del pasado, deja entrar nuevas ideas, identificarás que pequeños cambios como esta primera recomendación logran  un gran avance en la transformación de tu espacio.

Aprovecha la luz natural. La iluminación es un factor clave para nutrir un espacio, y mientras más natural mejor. Las ventanas de gran tamaño ayudan en bastante medida a que el espacio tenga una expansión realmente natural. Evita las cortinas voluminosas y con diseños muy cargados, o utiliza persianas en colores neutros para aportar calidez y un efecto liviano a tu hogar.

Claridad en ideas y colores. La elección de color es parte fundamental para que el espacio recobre vida. Para crear ese efecto de amplitud que queremos, será necesario elegir la tendencia de tonalidades claras. Los colores pasteles como el azul pálido, amarillo, durazno y menta son ideales para ampliar un espacio.

Si todos te gustan y te es difícil elegir un par que se acomode mejor a tu espacio, puedes adquirir muestras para realizar una aplicación en tu pared y distinguir cómo se ven los colores y cuales combinan mejor con tus muebles y accesorios.

Reflejos estratégicos. Los espejos tienen la característica de abrir visualmente los espacios. Apóyate en las herramientas que ya tienes en casa, si tienes un espejo alargado, su posición vertical favorece hacia la amplitud al combinarlo con colores claros.  Para el caso de una estancia es recomendable utilizar un espejo grande que vaya del piso al techo, ya que además de aumentar el tamaño del espacio, recrea el reflejo de luz, dando más claridad.

Aplicar color en el techo. Ponemos tanta atención en integrar colores a las paredes, que olvidamos que existe un elemento que a veces pasa desapercibido: el techo. El color en esta parte de las habitaciones añade profundidad e incluso puede ser perfecto para un color acento. Un techo en tonos claros o blanco, en contraste con una pared obscura se contrae y el ojo percibe la habitación más pequeña. Una buena regla a recordar es que los colores fríos como el azul, verde y morado, y los obscuros como el marrón, negro o gris retroceden nuestro campo de visión y producen un efecto de lejanía; en cambio los colores cálidos como el rojo, naranja y amarillo y los claros tienden a parecer que están más cerca.

La pintura es un gran aliado para la decoración interior. Complementar los colores de las paredes con accesorios como espejos grandes, limpieza en casa y luz natural resulta en un hogar cómodo y acogedor.

Comparte ésta liga: http://www.metroscubicos.com/shrt/0dBYFA

Protege tu azotea aún en temporada de lluvias

30 de Julio del 2014 | Editorial Metroscubicos

Si las lluvias te tomaron por sorpresa y las goteras en casa aparecen, aún estás a tiempo de solucionarlo aplicando en losas y techos de concreto o lámina un impermeabilizante acrílico de secado rápido, el cual, en un lapso no mayor a seis horas, te permite impermeabilizar en temporada de humedad y lluvia.

Así, puedes aprovechar algunas horas de la mañana para que en la tarde, el problema de las goteras haya desaparecido.

Durabilidad y fácil aplicación

El impermeabilizante acrílico de secado rápido es una buena opción si:

• Ya comenzaron las lluvias y tienes problemas de humedad y goteras.
• Cuentas con techo de lámina y requieres impermeabilizarlo.
• Requieres una aplicación muy fácil y rápida ya que el sistema completo está listo en poco tiempo.

¿Cómo aplico el impermeabilizante?

• Antes de empezar, verifica que la superficie esté totalmente libre de polvo, grasas o residuos de materiales anteriormente aplicados.
• Utiliza un sellador acrílico como para cubrir cuarteaduras. Cuando haya secado, aplica la primera capa de impermeabilizante.
• Una vez transcurrido el tiempo de secado; aplica, en sentido contrario a la capa anterior, la segunda mano.
• Después de aplicarlo basta con esperar medio día para que veas los resultados.

Comparte ésta liga: http://www.metroscubicos.com/shrt/0dBYFQ

Home Sellers: Tips To Make Small Rooms Appear Larger

myrtlebeachcondostore.com

Buyers want spacious homes. That’s why as a home seller, it’s important to make sure you show off every square foot of your home so that potential home buyers can visualize enough room for all of their belongings.  So if you are selling a home that is “spaciously challenged” there are things you can do to accent positives and make every space look bigger so that you can sell your home faster.

De-clutter any smaller areas in order for them to appear bigger. If your home is on the market, put aside items you can place into boxes and store until you move and  keep only the items you will need while the home is in the process of selling.

Keep compact rooms simple by using smaller-scale furniture over large, chunky options. Get rid of the love seat and just keep the sofa, use storage bins to tuck small items under the sofa, and consider using multi-function storage furniture to keep rooms spacious.

Stick to solids and use texture in fabrics to add interest. Big prints, bold plaids, and large floral patterns can be too busy for a small space.

Use cool shades of  colors for the walls to expand the space visually. While darker paint colors can make a room seem cozy, they often give the illusion of less space.

Use tall furniture and built-ins to draw the eye upward.

Remove area rugs to create the illusion of more floor space. 

Allow natural light to flow freely inside the room as much as possible to open up the interior and make it look larger.

Add visual space to the area with mirrors. Place a mirror near a window to reflect the outdoors, find a focal point and angle your mirrors towards it, or place large mirrors facing each other to create the illusion of more space.

Ideas para diseñar una casa de playa

08 de Julio del 2014 | Editorial Metroscubicos

Una casa de descanso debe ser un oasis de paz para ti y tu familia. Lograr el ambiente perfecto tiene mucho que ver con el diseño que elijas, por ello te damos las mejores opciones para seleccionar entre los materiales, muebles y colores que están en boga. Vamos por partes:

• Colores

Los colores neutrales como el blanco, arena o vainilla siempre serán una buena idea, ya que además de ser tendencia, son elegantes y tienen la ventaja de aportar extraluminosidad y la sensación de tener un espacio más amplio.

• Pisos

Si tu casa está en la playa, lo ideal es tener un piso atractivo pero resistente. La piedra y la cerámica son buenas opciones ya que su limpieza es sencilla y, por lo tanto, es más fácil combatir los daños ocasionados por el agua salada y la arena.

Los colores fríos, como la gama de azules o verdes, son excelentes para pisos cercanos al mar, pues no solo remiten la frescura del océano que te rodea, sino que también combinan muy bien con la gama de colores que te sugerimos arriba.

De igual forma, es muy importante colocar pisos antideslizantes en el borde y la periferia de tu alberca para evitar accidentes, sobre todo, en presencia de niños y adultos mayores.

• Cortinas

Las cortinas en color blanco o beige y telas muy ligeras son las más recomendables ya que además de ser frescas, permiten la entrada de luz natural por más tiempo. Los estores también están de moda, son modernos y permiten regular la cantidad de luz. Los puedes encontrar en diferentes materiales, tejidos prácticos y lavables.

• Accesorios

Para lograr un ambiente marino, decora tu habitación con accesorios azul y blanco. También puedes poner en la sala  cojines o plaids ligeros y de tonos claros para crear volumen.

Para tus muebles exteriores procura elegir los textiles más resistentes como la loneta de algodón, si la eliges en tonos claros, no se decolorará aun con el sol más intenso y la puedes limpiar con espuma seca. La alternativa es el poliéster que también es muy resistente al calor y se lava con un paño húmedo.

• Muebles

Este verano los muebles de fibras vegetales llegaron con todo gracias a que son frescos, decorativos y resistentes. Estos son los que debes tener en tu radar:

Ratán: estas piezas tienen una estructura de madera, caña o hierro que se reviste con la fibra tejida a mano.

Mimbre: se usa para fabricar cestas y sillones.

Bambú: con él se crean piezas exóticas con un toque oriental.

Abacá: su color y textura natural va del tostado al café oscuro.

Jacinto de agua: se emplea comúnmente para elaborar artesanías y también muebles.

Prueba las siguientes combinaciones: teca con ratán, hierro con mosaico y aluminio con fibras sintéticas.

De igual forma tienes el clásico:

Hierro: es fresco, funcional y resistente. Para limpiar estos muebles usa un trapo humedecido con alcohol, ya que el agua con detergente favorece su oxidación. Agrega cojines de loneta, yute o algodón.

Con estas ideas ya puedes imaginar tu proyecto, pon manos a la obra para tener todo listo para las próximas vacaciones.

Comparte ésta liga: http://www.metroscubicos.com/shrt/0dBSyQ

When Choosing Your Condo, Don’t Forget to Check the HOA Fees!

topmexicorealstate.com

by THOMASLLOYD 

AUGUST 26, 2013

Now, it’s pretty much a given that some time before you sign the deed and take possession of your new condo in Mexico, you’ll find out how much HOA (home owner association) fees for monthly maintenance and use of common areas are.

However, my advice is this: check these fees sooner rather than later.

The last thing you want to do is spend a few weeks working out a deal, only to find out that the fees are much higher than you thought.

Let’s consider a few points pertaining to HOA/maintenance feels for condos in Mexico.

They are low – HOA fees in Mexico tend to be very low, simply because costs of materials and labor for maintenance are low.  In Canada a friend of mine recently was going to by a condo in Ontario as an investment.  He found the perfect property, only to find out that the monthly fee was $800 dollars!! That was more than his mortgage payment.  In Mexico, average would be around $150/200 USD, depending on the size of the common area, amenities provided, etc.

It could make a difference in choice – It’s a tough choice between condo A and B; you slightly prefer A, but it costs $10,000 more.  But as it turns out, the HOA fees in B are $150 more per month.  You can probably comfortably fork out that extra now for the savings in the HOA fees, especially since you prefer the property anyway.

Make sure you know what they include – This is a big factor.  Maybe a higher monthly fee includes a gym, sports facilities and discounts at the spa.  Or, on the other hand, maybe you’ll never use those things. Be sure to evaluate both possible savings a higher HOA fee could offer, and the likelihood that you’ll actually need those services.

In the end, HOA and maintenance costs will be one of the areas where you save considerably in Mexico.  At the same time, as anywhere else, it’s a factor you want to consider carefully.

3 Reasons to Buy Houses That Aren’t Selling

realtor.com
Jun 11, 2014 

  

By: Patricia-Anne Tom

When a house has been sitting on the market for a while, it can leave potential buyers with a bad impression. Home shoppers worry there are hidden deficiencies in the house causing others to shy away. But to buy houses that aren’t selling could be your best bargain.

Here are three primary reasons to buy houses that aren’t selling.

Sellers May Accept Lower Offers

The main reason why a house doesn’t sell is because of the inflated asking price. Potential buyers skip over overpriced homes in favor of more competitively-priced homes. They don’t even think of making an offer on homes listed above their budget.

Buyers assume the sellers aren’t willing to accept a much lower offer. Yet this might not be the case. Sellers may not even be aware their asking price is over current market value. If the house has already been on the market for an extended period, the owner might be willing to consider reducing the asking price.

You have nothing to lose by making a lower offer and trying to buy houses that aren’t selling. Offer the seller a price based on what you think is fair market value. You may be surprised when the seller accepts your offer.

Minor Fixes Can Turn a Beast Into a Beauty

Properties can remain on the market for insignificant reasons. It could be the exterior of the house deters prospective homebuyers. Unmowed lawns, cracking paint and useless junk in a house may be unappealing. Remember, minor and superficial renovations can quickly bring a home up to livable standards, so you can buy houses that aren’t selling.

Because the house has been on the market for a lengthy period, you may be able to purchase it for a bargain and invest some of the money you’ve saved on the necessary repairs. Once you’ve mowed the lawn, painted the walls and removed the rubbish, the house can sparkle and shine.

Location, Location, Location

Sometimes potential buyers pass on homes for sale because of their inferior location. It’s possible the value of the location may be irrelevant to you. For instance, the quality of the schools in specific districts may raise or lower the value of neighborhood homes, even if the homes are just a few blocks apart. Someone without school-aged children can buy a cheaper home in the non-prime neighborhood, even if the school district is a prime factor for other buyers.

Instead of being scared by non-selling homes other potential buyers have rejected, look out for them. A smart home shopper doesn’t worry about the amount of time a house has been for sale; he or she will instead think about why the house could be the right choice for them—to buy houses that aren’t selling.

These three reasons can truly help you find a bargain out there in the market, and you’ll be happy you took the road less traveled on the way to your new home.

Updated from an earlier version by Dini Harris.

Soluciones acústicas para tu casa u oficina

Ana Lucía Altamirano

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Silent wall

Panel Ginkgo

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10 de Junio del 2014 | Editorial Metroscubicos

De acuerdo con la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Semarnat, los límites máximos permisibles de emisión de ruido son: para las zonas residenciales entre 50 y 55 decibeles y para áreas industriales o comerciales 68 decibeles. Estas disposiciones y las cada vez más frecuentes áreas multifuncionales, obligan a considerar en la arquitectura de interiores soluciones acústicas adecuadas. Estas son algunas de estas herramientas:

El techo, un aliado

El elemento clave para aislar del ruido las oficinas centrales de Siemens en la capital mexicana fue un simple plafón. Este material fue el que utilizaron en el corporativo Dos Patios, en el bullicioso barrio de Polanco, para lograr que en una superficie de 17,000m2, dividido en tres y medio niveles el sonido no proliferara. Al no existir mamparas de división dentro de este concepto minimalista, requerían de soluciones arquitectónicamente amigables con el concepto.

Hunter Douglas tiene dentro de su catálogo de productos el Techstyle, un tipo de plafón para cielos suspendidos que provee aislamiento acústico, durabilidad y limpieza a través del diseño de núcleo de nido de abeja junto con la estructura de tejido no tejido absorbe tanto altas como bajas frecuencias.

www.hunterdouglas.com.mx

Extractor de ruido

Otro elemento novedoso en este corporativo fue el uso de White Noise de SAAD Acústica. "En el plano interno de nuestro proceso de convivencia se cumplieron al 100% las expectativas. Tenemos espacios abiertos en donde conviven sin problema de ruido más de 100 personas", afirma Edgar Runnenbaum, director de real estate de Siemens encargado del proyecto.

Se trata de un aparato definido como una bocina que produce un sonido en el rango de 45 a -3 decibeles que genera un ambiente neutral y funciona como una barrera virtual y sonora.

www.saadacustica.com

Suelo de goma

La marca italiana de pisos de goma, Artigo, cuenta con diversas soluciones acústicas con base en materiales de goma y caucho, de alta durabilidad, resistencia al fuego y diseños vanguardistas. Por ejemplo, el suelo Kayar, diseñado por Sottsass  Associati reduce el sonido hasta 20 decibeles y su costo por metro cuadrado varía entre 44 y 114 dólares. Este material ha sido utilizado en espacios como la Biblioteca pública de Labin, Croacia.

"Las soluciones acústicas forman parte de una mejora general, además son consideradas en las certificaciones ambientales", explica Paolo Berti, gerente del área de exportaciones de Artigo.

Otra opción de esta marca es el pavimento Granito Elastic y Zeus, de 4mm de espesor que han sido utilizados en Kuben, un centro de formación en Oslo debido a su alta capacidad de reducción del ruido, durabilidad y diseño de vanguardia.

www.artigo.com

Paredes con diseño

Los paneles acústicos Ginkgo, producidos por el fabricante de mobiliario sueco Bla Station, están hechos con base en una lámina de distintos plásticos y fieltro de lana que ‘absorben’ el ruido, pero con el extra de tener formas diversas que lo convierten en un generador de paisajes interiores. Es una solución para espacios donde los muros interiores son de materiales delgados donde el ruido rebota en las paredes. La comercialización se realiza a través de la página de blastation con un costo de 80 dólares por pieza y se han utilizado en proyectos residenciales e incluso bibliotecas.

www.blastation.com

Suelo de goma Artigo

Divisiones inteligentes

Silent Wall es un sistema modular de paneles prefabricados sólidos, rellenos con placas de aislamiento, revestidos con chapa de acero perforado o tapizados en tela, que permite la división de espacios en oficinas de planta abierta.

Este concepto fue diseñado por el fotógrafo y diseñador israelí Arik Levy para la empresa Vitra que ha desarrollado diversos productos para oficinas.

Silent Wall está disponible en dos alturas: 1.60m y 2.20m. Este sistema te ayuda a dividir habitaciones, separar áreas de trabajo, crear zonas y pasillos.

www.vitra.com

A las tecnologías mencionadas se añade el uso de ventanas con cristal acústicos. Son vidrios dobles, de 6mm cada uno y entre ellos se forma una cama de aire que permite un aislamiento efectivo.

Sin duda cada vez más veremos este tipo de soluciones que ayudan a resolver problemas de convivencia en espacios abiertos, reducidos y con alto número de ocupantes.

Problemas acústicos	Soluciones
Ruidos de impacto en espacios públicos y residenciales	Suelos de goma.
Convivencia del personal en espacios abiertos (sin divisiones)	Plafones para cielos suspendidos Techstyle
Ruidos exteriores	Ventanas de doble vidrio. Utilización de Plaka de Comex en muros.
Ruidos provenientes de salas aledañas	Utilización de White Noise como barrera sonora.
Muros hechos con materiales ligeros que no absorben el ruido,	Revestimiento con paneles como Ginkgo
División de áreas que conviven en un mismo espacio	Utilización de paneles Silent Wall.

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