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While it’s important and wonderful to spend time outside in nature, sometimes we also just want to bring a little bit of nature back inside with us. Recently, houseplants seem to have exploded in popularity, with many first-timers trying their hand at indoor gardening over the last couple of years.  And, frankly, we aren’t surprised. Adding plants to your home can infuse a refreshing dose of style into any room.

The good news? There are tons of plant varieties that do well (and look beautiful) in indoor settings. The bad news? It can be hard to choose when so many options are available. Considering different factors – like how much light, humidity, warmth, and attention a plant may get in a particular room – can help narrow the field. Here are our choices for the best houseplants for different rooms.

Bedroom Plants

Like any room, it’s important to know the conditions your bedroom can offer a plant. Is there lots of light, or is it dark? Is it drafty? Is there enough space for plants to grow? But beyond that, you might also want to consider what the plant can offer you in return. For example, many plants have been proven to remove and filter toxins from the air. In theory, this might provide you with cleaner air to breathe while you’re sleeping.

Snake Plants

In addition to being adaptable to a multitude of conditions and very easy to grow, the snake plant is also on NASA’s top 10 list of air purifying plants. While it prefers bright indirect light, it can survive in almost any lighting, as long as it sees daylight for at least part of the day. It does best with regular, occasional watering, but is hearty enough that it can survive for quite a while even if you forget to hydrate it. Uniquely, the snake plant is able to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen around the clock, not just during the daytime like most other plants. Eleanor Harris (American, 1901-1942)

Philodendron

Another practically fool-proof plant, the philodendron is extremely low maintenance. There are several variations of the philodendron, and most of them are well-suited to indoor cultivation. The philodendron is known to absorb formaldehyde from the air, helping to purify the air in your bedroom. However, this plant is toxic when eaten, so it may be best to avoid putting it in small children’s bedrooms and keep it out of reach of pets.

English Ivy

This small, delicate ivy variety is a pretty addition to any bedroom. It thrives with moderate sunlight and regular watering but is otherwise relatively low maintenance. Another air filtration master, this plant absorbs harmful substances like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and xylene from the air. There’s even some evidence that it may be able to purify the air of mold and help improve environmental allergy symptoms.

Bathroom Plants

When choosing plants for the bathroom, it’s important to select varieties that thrive in humid environments. But you should also look for plants that can handle temperature swings. Plus, it can be easy to forget about watering bathroom plants, so the more resilient the plant, the better.

Boston Fern

While many ferns are well suited to the bathroom, we’re partial to the Boston Fern. It’s attractive, elegant fronds add a touch of class to any bathroom, and easily handle the wide variations in humidity common to a bathroom. In fact, you may be able to hang your Boston fern directly in the shower and allow it to be watered every time the shower is used!

Chinese Evergreen

Most Chinese evergreens would grow well in any bathroom, but our favorite is the uniquely colored Red Emerald Chinese Evergreen. This easy-to-grow variety can survive poor lighting and ventilation, which means it can grow even in a bathroom without windows, as long it gets regular exposure to an artificial light source. To control the size of the plant, choose its pot size wisely. A small pot will discourage extensive growth, while a larger one will allow it to get quite big.

Aloe Vera

The easy-to-grow succulent aloe vera can survive without frequent watering, making it an ideal plant for lesser used bathrooms, where it may occasionally be forgotten. (But don’t forget about it completely – it needs at least occasional watering to survive.) The lively green plant brightens up any space, and its medicinal values somehow seem well suited for a spot next to the medicine cabinet!

Kitchen Plants

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s often where people gather to connect, catch up, and break bread together. That means that any plant placed in the kitchen should add a feeling of warmth and welcome to the space.

Cast Iron Plant

Okay, we’ll be honest here. Part of the reason we chose this plant is because of the name. A cast iron plant just feels like it should live nearby your cast iron skillet! But beyond that, the cast iron plant is hearty and super low maintenance. It can handle extreme temperature fluctuations, making it an ideal choice to put near a stove or oven. Plus, its long, bold leaves make it a unique and attractive statement piece.

Basil

Herbs! In the kitchen! We know this may sound like a no-brainer, but our very favorite thing to grow in the kitchen is herbs. There’s something special about being able to pick fresh herbs that you’ve grown yourself, inside your own home, and adding them to your food. We especially like basil because it’s fairly easy to grow. As long as you can provide the plant with lots of light and keep the soil moist, this plant can thrive. Plus, it’s super versatile and can be used in tons of different types of recipes!

Pothos

There are tons of varieties of pothos plants ranging from common to rare, but they all add a stylish accent to any room they’re in.  We especially like them for the kitchen because of their ability to cascade and add drama to the environment. The vines of the pothos tend to overflow and hang down from whatever pot they’re planted in. In kitchens, this can be really visually pleasing when the pothos is placed on an open shelf or atop a cabinet and allowed to grow and drape downward. Plus, they’re super easy to care for. (Starting to sense a theme here?)

Office Plants

Now more than ever, many of us regularly work from home. Because of the sharp increase in remote and hybrid work environments, we’re spending more time in our home offices. And many of them might need some sprucing up. Here are a few plants to infuse some life into your workspace.

Anthurium

Many home offices can tend to be on the small side, or function as a multi-use space. With space at a premium, we want plants that pack a lot of visual punch into a small place. That’s why we chose the anthurium as one of our office plant picks. The relatively compact plant, with its dark green leaves, is known for its striking, shiny, vibrant, heart-shaped blooms. Depending on the variety you choose, the flowers can be a variety of colors, but we’re partial to the bright red hues of the red success anthurium.

Peace Lily

No matter the industry or position, most jobs can become chaotic, stressful, and anxiety-inducing from time to time. For that, we wanted to introduce a calming presence into the workspace. True to its name, the stark white flowers of the peace lily can add an air of tranquility and calm to any room. Plus, they’re almost impossible to kill!

Money Tree

While we’re sad to report that this plant does not, in fact, produce money, we do think it’s an excellent addition to any office. Depending on your space constraints, these can be purchased as small, desktop plants, or as potted indoor trees. Their signature braided trunk adds some texture and depth to the environment, and the wide spread of leaves can be eye-catching. Thought by some cultures to bring good luck, this is a great plant to keep in your office to remind you why you work as hard as you do – it’s all about the money (tree), honey.

Houseplants are a wonderful way to bring some of the great outdoors into your home. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your office, kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom, we hope you’ve found some new houseplants to add to your home.

Happy gardening! For more information about plants and home improvements, please call us at 949-929-5727.

Sources: https://www.greenthumb.com/, https://shoppenelopepots.com/

There are more homebuyers than homes to buy right now. That means a lot of home sellers find themselves in the fortunate position of having multiple offers to sift through, with many offering more than listing price. Welcome to a hot seller’s market! While having a bunch of buyers throwing money and promises at you is a wonderful problem to have, you still need to know how to choose a single offer. (Hint: It’s not always the highest one.)

The strongest offer for one seller might be the highest offer price, for another it could be the slowest closing window. If the seller wants to avoid making repairs, maybe it’s the offer without an inspection contingency.  

Here’s how to choose from multiple offers on your house and pave the way for a smooth sale.

Let your agent be your expert guide

Bidding wars aren’t as easy to navigate as you might think. While this may be your first time dealing with multiple offers, an experienced real estate agent is an old hand at this.  Tap into their wisdom for strategies on getting the strongest offer for your house and closing the deal on time.

Make sure the buyer can actually pay what they’re offering

The buyer offering the most money for your house always moves to the front of the pack, of course. But your agent can help you determine if the buyer has the bank to make good on the offer — and if it’s really the strongest offer in terms of securing the cash to close.

Your agent can help you manage these important factors:

• Make sure the buyer is pre-approved for a mortgage
  Most of the time, a buyer will need a mortgage to buy a house. If that’s the case with the offers you’re considering, check to see if the buyer is pre-approved for a home loan. A pre-approved buyer has had their finances evaluated by a lender who determined they could qualify for a mortgage. An offer from a buyer with a pre-approval letter is stronger than an offer from a buyer without one.
  
• Evaluate the amount of the down payment
  Consider how much cash the buyer plans to put down on the house. Down payments of 20% or more of the home value tend to be the least risky for lenders to finance, which means it’s less likely your sale will fall through on the account of a loan not working out for the buyer. Thus, larger down payments typically indicate that a buyer is more financially prepared and serious about their home purchase.
  
• Make sure an all-cash offer is legit
  If you get the holy grail of home bids, the all-cash offer, your agent can help you find out if the buyer really has the cash available to complete the deal.
  
• Document whether the buyer has enough cash to cover a low appraisal
  If you’ve received an offer over the listing price of your house, your agent can help you ensure the buyer has the cash to complete the deal if the house doesn’t appraise for the amount they offered.
  Here’s what happens when you accept an offer over the asking price: The buyer’s lender will likely require a home appraisal. If the appraised value of the home is less than the buyer’s offer price, then the buyer must make up the difference in cash at closing. If the buyer does not have the cash, the sale could fall through.
  So when you are considering multiple offers for a house, your agent can determine whether a bidder has enough cash in savings to cover a low appraisal.

Review all the contingencies

When buyers craft an offer, they usually include some conditions that must be met before they officially buy your home. If these conditions are not met, the buyer has a chance to back out of the deal. These contingencies may include getting approved for a mortgage, having the home pass an inspection or making sure the home appraises for a certain amount.

Review these contingencies with your agent and make sure you are okay with all buyer asks. As a seller, look for contracts with fewer contingencies to increase the odds of closing.

Consider the lender

You and your agent should also consider the lender that pre-approved the buyer. If the mortgage company or bank is known in the area and has a reputation for approving buyers that acquire financing, they’re a better bet than a buyer working with a lender with little or poor reputation.

It’s a good idea to research lenders if you and your agent are not familiar with them.

Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate

If you have gotten many offers, you’re in a great position to negotiate. Sure, you can take the offer with the highest price and call the house sold. But your agent may be able to leverage a better offer for you. 

Here’s how you do that: Once your agent presents you with all the offers you’ve gotten from buyers, you can go back to the strongest bidder and make a counteroffer. Your agent can advise you on terms that make the most sense for you to request, with the promise that if the buyer accepts, the house is theirs. The terms of the sale you might consider include:

• Negotiate closing timeline
  You might want more time in your house so you can look for another one to buy. If that’s the case, you can arrange a rent-back situation that lets you continue to live in the house a month or two after the close.
  
• Negotiate sale price
  You may get buyers who add an escalation clause to their offer that automatically outbids other buyers. This is a strong tactic to get some of the highest bidders to add a few thousand dollars to beat the competing offers.
  In a super hot seller’s market, your agent may lead a bidding war for your house. They’ll ask all the people hungry for your house to submit their “best and final offer” by a deadline and let the strongest offer win. Your agent will know if this is a good idea for your market, and whether it’s a good idea to accept backup offers for your house in this scenario.
  
• Negotiate closing costs
  You may get buyers to sweeten the deal by paying closing costs or waiving contingencies like the appraisal.
  Getting multiple offers when you sell your home is thrilling, a real estate adventure story you’ll tell forever. But let an agent give your story a happy ending by using experience and knowledge of the local market to help you get the strongest offer possible for your home.

The Verso Homes Team loves working with Sellers to select the BEST offer in this hot seller’s market. Are you ready to move on to your next chapter?  Send us a message, and let’s get started.

Here are a few more tips I’ve put together for home sellers:

Does the For Sale Sign in Your Neighbor’s Yard Make You Feel Like You Live in a FISHBOWL?

Why should I sell my house when I retire?

Preparing to Sell Your Home

Home Staging By Verso Homes

Top Investment Property Upgrades to Increase Rent and Equity

Email: [email protected]

Call / Text: 949.929.5727

Article Source Zillow

Larry Waldron
(949) 215-2323
[email protected]
[email protected]

GIFT BASKETS

If you’ve ever been in a bidding war with other buyers interested in the same house, you know how important a cover letter is. It can easily be the deciding factor in who the seller chooses to sell their house to. Since they are so important, I wanted to give you the best buyer cover letter tips on how you can make yours appealing and stand out against the rest!

Make the letter personal and build a connection

It is important to let the seller know why this home, in particular, is perfect for you. It is always a good idea to write about how you will enjoy their home. If you have a family with kids you could write about being able to picture your children playing in the grass in the backyard.

Give them some information about yourself

Sellers want to know about the people that will be living in their home. They also want to feel a connection with the people buying it. Writing about the job you have and your family is a great way for them to get to know you!

Point out your favorite features in the home

It’s always nice to compliment the seller by talking about your favorite things about their home. For example, you could mention how much you love their spacious and bright kitchen if you and your family love to cook. If there is a pool in the backyard you could talk about how you and your family love to spend summers outside together cooling off in the water.

Give thanks

Thanking the seller for giving you an opportunity to make an offer is very important! The end of the cover letter is a great place for you to show that you appreciate the chance to make an offer on their home. You can also add that you can’t wait to hear back from them!

A well-written cover letter can persuade a seller to allow you to buy their home. Hopefully, these tips can help you write a thoughtful cover letter to secure your dream house!

Here are two examples of cover letters:

Here are a few more tips I’ve put together for home buyers:

How to Evaluate a Neighborhood

Home Buying Checklist

5 Tips for Buying a Home

Here are some tips on how to evaluate a neighborhood well!

1. Drive Around

• Does it look like a place you’d like to live?
• Is it near places you’d like to go?
• Is it too near places you’d like to avoid?
• What will it be like at commuting times?
• What is it like at night?

2. Quality of Schools

• What is average school performance?
• Average test scores?
• College bound percentages?
• Spending per student?
• State rankings?
• Financial position?

3. Education/ Income Profile

• Average household income in the area?
• Education level of most people in the neighborhood?
• Types of occupations other owners have nearby?
• Are there families with kids or people who are retired?

4. Cultural Amenities

• Proximity to museums, galleries, universities, seasonal entertainment, theaters, etc.
• Even if you don’t frequent them, they set the tone for the area.

5. Property Values

• Steady or increasing values generally mean that your investment is sound.
• It is almost always best to buy the smallest, least expensive home in the best neighborhood you can afford.

6. Future Growth

• If you are not planning on staying in your new home for a number of years, an abundance of new construction could affect resale.
• The existence of higher-end properties could increase the value of yours.

I hope these steps for how to evaluate a neighborhood were useful!

Here are some more helpful moving tips:

Dealing With Financing

Look Who’s Buying

Great Tips for Relocation

Home Buying Checklist

5 Tips for Buying a Home

Always seek the assistance of a real estate professional for your neighborhood evaluation! 

Thinking about making a move? Contact Natalie today, 949.929.5727.

Looking to buy a home? Here are 5 tips for buying a home that will make the process as smooth as possible.

Get your finances in order.

Start by getting a full picture of your credit. Obtain copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you find. Next, find a suitable lender and get pre-approved for a loan. This will put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house.

Find a house you can afford.

As with engagement rings, there’s a general rule of thumb when it comes to buying a home: two-and-a-half times your annual salary. There are also a number of tools and calculators online that can help you understand how your income, debt, and expenses affect what you can afford. Don’t forget, too, that there are lots of considerations beyond the sticker price, including property taxes, energy costs, etc.

Hire a professional.

While the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings and resources, many aspects of the buying process require a level of expertise you can’t pick up from surfing the web. That’s why you’re better off using a professional agent than going it alone. If possible, recruit an exclusive buyer agent, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

Do your homework.

Before making a bid, do some research to determine the state of the market at large. Is it more favorable for sellers or buyers? Next, look at sales trends of similar homes in the area or neighborhood. Look at prices for the last few months. Come up with an asking price that’s competitive, but also realistic. Otherwise, you may end up ticking off your seller.

Think long term.

Obviously, you shouldn’t buy unless you’re sure you’ll be staying put for at least a few years. Moreover, you should buy in a neighborhood with good schools. Whether you have children or not, this will have an impact on your new home’s resale value down the line. When it comes to the house itself, you should hire your own home inspector, who can point out potential problems that could require costly repairs in the future.

I have been telling all of my clients about these 5 tips for buying a home and think that they’re great to keep in mind!

Here are several blogs that are also helpful when buying or selling a home:

How to Evaluate a Neighborhood

Dealing With Financing

10 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home

Home Buying Checklist

The Best Buyer Cover Letter Tips

Always seek the assistance of a real estate professional for buying a home!

Thinking about making a move?  Contact Natalie today, 949.929.5727.

Moving from a small town or suburb to a large city can be an intimidating proposition. Here ares some great tips for relocation to make your move as painless as possible.

Research before you move.

It’s important to understand the culture you’re joining. Do research online and find out about school systems, neighborhoods, parking, weather, public transportation, and laws that are native to that area. If you can, visit a city before moving and connect with someone who’s lived there before.

Have a plan.

There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where you’ll stay while you look for a home.

Don’t Move Without Preparation

Never sign a lease on an apartment that you haven’t seen. If you can’t get there, find a friend or an employer to check for you. Have a job waiting for you, or if that’s not possible, know what you’ll do for money in the first few weeks of living there. Try to line up things like driver’s licenses, car insurance, renter’s insurance, and parking passes ahead of time as well.

Get involved.

Meeting people in a big city can be daunting. Don’t expect the neighbors to knock your door down with a casserole when you arrive: city life is often too noisy and hectic. Take the initiative. If there are things you liked to do in your town, find ways to do those things in the city. Try new things. Volunteer. Big cities offer so many opportunities to engage other people, so find what you like.

Mind your wallet.

City life is expensive. Everything costs more: food, insurance, clothes, rent. There are also a lot more ways to get ripped off, whether legally or criminally. Be careful how you spend, and know where your money is going.

I hope these great tips for relocation were helpful!

Here are some extra tips for moving!

5 Tips for Buying a Home

Dealing With Financing

How to Evaluate a Neighborhood

10 Best Kept Secrets for Buying a Home

Home Buying Checklist

Always seek the assistance of a real estate professional when you are considering relocation!

Thinking about making a move?  Contact Natalie today, 949.929.5727.

Here’s a home buying checklist that is helpful to those in the process of purchasing a new home!

1. Check your credit reports to find out your status.

To start, your credit report affects a lender’s willingness to give you a loan, and if there’s a mistake that negatively impacts you, you can try to correct it. Get your free annual credit report online @www.annualcreditreport.com. You can also request your report by phone or mail. Call toll free: 1-877-322-8228.

2. Get an idea of how much you can borrow.

Lenders can help with this, or use one of the mortgage calculators on the Web (such as onbloomberg.com).

3. Shop for a Mortgage Lender.

Thirdly, ask your Realtor for recommendations if you need a good lender. Consult two to three lenders to find the best rates and terms, so you can find the lender that is the best fit for you. Also, ask for a good-faith estimate of closing costs.

4. Get preapproved for a loan.

Most importantly, don’t waste time looking at houses you can’t afford. Moreover, a preapproval letter will demonstrate your viability as a buyer, and you’ll save time once you’re ready to make an offer.

5. Find a Real Estate Agent.

To find an agent, ask friends and family, interview several candidates (make sure they’re licensed and have access to Multiple Listing Service). Because you need to decide who you’re most comfortable with, and also take a look at contact references.

6. Research potential neighborhoods.

Next, investigate issues like crime rate, schools, local services, proximity to museums or other institutions that are important to you, commuting distance, ethnic diversity, and property taxes. Ask your Realtor for neighborhood information as well, because they might be more knowledgeable on the area.

7. Make a list of features you want in a house.

After that, making a list of features you want in a house can help you prioritize what you are looking for most. For example, a large kitchen or dining room may be what you want more compared to grass in the front in the backyard.

8. Go house hunting.

I always recommend my clients to look at several houses so that they can see what their preferences are in their dream home. In addition, looking at the options available in the area, they are able to find the one that suits them best.

9. Tour homes with your Realtor and visit open houses.

Above all, touring houses is one of the best ways to see what houses are available in the area you are interested in. Your realtor’s professional eye can also spot out details in houses that you may not notice.

10. Make an offer.

11. Get an inspection.

12. Ask your Realtor for recommendations if needed.

13. Start organizing for your move!

In conclusion, I hope this home buying checklist will help in the next move you make!

Here are some more home buying tips that will be useful!

Dealing With Financing

5 Tips for Buying a Home

Look Who’s Buying

How to Evaluate a Neighborhood

The Best Buyer Cover Letter Tips

Always seek the assistance of a real estate professional when you are buying a home!

Thinking about making a move?  Contact Natalie today, 949.929.5727.