You’ve finally found the perfect home for your family. It’s time to make an offer, sign the papers, and book a moving truck, right? Not so fast. Your dream home can turn into an actual nightmare if the seller ends up hiding significant problems, like a pest infestation or cracks in the foundation. Here are four things sellers often don’t disclose when you fall in love with their house. 1. Leaks Sellers usually try to plug drips temporarily to attract offers. But honesty is always the best policy. Leaks are common, and they can easily be fixed. If the seller […]
6 Ways to Prepare Your Home for an Appraisal
Getting your property appraised can be a stressful experience. Your home will be judged and valued so you can move forward with the process of selling it, and that can lead to a lot of anxiety. However, the experience doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right tools, the appraisal process can set you on the path towards a new future in a new home. 1. Do your research. Just like anything else, research the appraiser’s market knowledge of the area. Your appraiser will ideally be a local who has been around long enough to see changes in the market. […]
5 Great Tips for Arranging Your Furniture
Empty rooms can be intimidating, but they can also be inspiring! While the ideal arrangement of your home will depend on the size and the layout of each room, there are certain guides that can point you in the right direction. 1. Find your focal point. If there’s a focal point in the room, like a large window or a fireplace, arrange your furniture around it to draw attention there. 2. Clear the clutter. Make sure the path into each room in your home is clear, and be mindful of how many items you’re placing in a room. Use only […]
4 Tips for New Home Sellers
Selling a home is quite different than buying one. And when you’re a physician with a demanding schedule, it’s extra important to be knowledgeable so the process can move along smoothly. Whether you’ve been living in your home for five years or fifty years, new sellers need to know some important things before they jump into the real estate world. 1. You need the right agent. Unless you’re selling the home yourself, you need a real estate agent. Agreements typically bind you to an agent for three to six months, so it’s important to choose the right one. 2. You […]
5 Ways Families Can Combat Moving Day Stress
Moving is one of the most stressful life events, next to divorce, job loss, and major illness. Sure, it’s exciting! But it also requires an extraordinary amount of planning and preparation. While it’s nearly impossible to complete a move without a hiccup or two, it’s entirely possible to relieve a good portion of moving day stress. Before moving day is upon you, read through these five tips to ensure your moving day goes as smoothly as possible. 1. Keep your kids and pets busy. You’ll be significantly less stressed if you don’t have your children and pets running around while […]
How to Determine Your New Home Must-Haves
Buying a home is filled with plenty of twists, turns, and unexpected bumps in the road. So, how do you navigate the journey? Once you decide that buying is a better option than renting, it’s important to establish your new home must-haves early on. These factors will help you stay on track as you search for a home to buy. Below are the three phases of the home purchase journey that will help you establish your search criteria. 1. Dreaming Searching through online listings on the web, buyers in this phase of the journey have a great opportunity to consider […]
5 Household Chores You Should Outsource To Reduce Stress
When you’re working long hours to complete your medical residency, it’s hard to keep up with basic chores and home maintenance. It’s time to consider outsourcing these tasks to reduce stress on your end and make life a little bit easier. Here are five household chores you can easily outsource. 1. FIXING APPLIANCES Did your oven stop working? Does the toilet hum for several minutes after flushing? If you’re handy, you can attempt to figure these issues out. However, if you break something, you might end up owing a lot more money than you would have in the beginning. Save […]
Selling Your Home While You’re in Your Residency Program
When you’re working long hours during your residency program, the last thing you want to do is prepare your home to sell. Between staging your home, having professional photos taken, holding open houses, scheduling showings, and more, selling your home is basically a second full-time job. If you want to sell your property quickly, here are three things to keep in mind. 1. Make sure your home has desirable features. Homes that sell quickly have many desirable features. In today’s market, buyers generally want move in-ready, turn-key homes. The more bells and whistles, the better. If your home doesn’t have […]
Buying a Home Solo: Pros and Cons
Whether you’re married or single, buying a home is one of the most stressful transactions you’ll ever make. Taking on the challenge as a single person, however, comes with additional pressures and concerns. When you add this to the stress of moving somewhere new for your residency, especially when you’re on your own, a massive amount of stress and anxiety can occur. If you’re thinking about buying a home solo as soon as you relocate for your residency program, read these single-buyer pros and cons to weigh your options. 1. Pro: You’re building equity. If you’ve ever felt sad about […]
Quality Rest: 6 Ways Medical Residents Can Detox Their Sleep Space
We spend a third of our lives asleep. But what if our bedroom is filled with harmful chemicals, pollutants, and radiation from electronic devices? Fortunately, it’s easy to transform your bedroom into a healthy, peaceful oasis. Here are six ways to detox your sleep space. 1. DEVICES Electronics are distracting. Before you close your eyes, you probably check your phone, watch TV, or get some work done on your laptop. These devices emit enough light to trick your brain into thinking it’s morning. So, purge your room of all electronics. If you’re not willing to get rid of your TV, […]