Home Ownership | Kristin Graziano Group

14 Housewarming Gifts People Actually Want

July 21, 2019 By admin

We’ve all experienced the stress and tension of moving, right? Even after you’ve done all the footwork to find the perfect place, you’ve still got to deal with utilities, packing, moving trucks, lukewarm fast food meals, lost and broken items…

Oh, and if you’ve moved more than 20 minutes away, even after you’ve unpacked, you’ve got to find a new grocery store, school, park, favorite restaurant, etc. etc. etc….

So yeah, we all know…

Moving is a seemingly endless stress buffet.

When someone you love is going through it, how can you help to alleviate that stress? Well, outside of paying for their movers (PS SO WORTH IT), you can give them one of these moving/housewarming gifts. Some are gifts of time, some are thoughtful treats, and some are available on Amazon so even if your friend is moving to a new town, you can send Prime to the rescue! Best of all, you don’t have to get cutesy or craftsy; you can send any of these goodies as-is.

Check ‘em out and you, too, can be the most thoughtful friend/family member ever when you send housewarming gifts people actually want…

1. FOOD

At the end of a long day of taking all their worldly possessions off of a truck, your friends are going to be HUNGRY. And this isn’t any run of the mill hunger; it’s more like an I-just-ran-a-marathon hunger. The really bad part of this is that they won’t have food in the house and will probably be too tired to hit the ol’ grocery store. Solve this problem by sending them dinner. If you’re in town, you can bring it by (but don’t stay a long time), and if you’re not, you can send DoorDash or UberEats to feed these hungry folks for you.

2. COFFEE

Ahh, the first morning in a new house. So calm, so quiet, so… WAIT, where the heck did we pack the Keurig? And what box are the K-pods in?! Doing a Starbucks run (or, again, sending a delivery driver to do it for you) will have your tired pals crying happy, caffeinated tears faster than you can say Cinnamon Dolce Latte.

3. WINE / BEER / COCKTAILS IN A CAN

When your friend is done bringing in boxes, they probably want to relax with a frosty adult beverage. Let them know you’re thinking of them with booze in a can. Canned bevvies are all the rage right now and so easy to enjoy. No need to locate the bottle opener, corkscrew, or bar accessories; they can just pop the top and sip away.

4. YOUR ELBOW GREASE

While this is the least fun option, it’s also probably the most appreciated. Whether it’s running to buy more boxes and tape, helping to load that absurdly heavy table, or sitting and chatting while you both unpack the kitchen, your friend will appreciate you for pitching in on their hardest days. Also, they’ll owe you one heck of a big favor.

5. CLEANING SUPPLIES

Running out of paper towels and Windex when you’ve got to clean out the fridge in the place you’re leaving is just about enough to make a person cry. Same thing when you get to the new place and it’s… less than spotless. Coming by with a box of essentials will elevate you to a godlike status… and if they don’t end up using them right now, you know they’ll get used in the future.

6. BATHROOM ESSENTIALS

Just like the paper towels, there are other paper products that you absolutely, positively HATE to run out of. Bring a package of TP — the GOOD stuff, not the kind that feels like tree bark… and some premium hand soap. Again, you know they’ll appreciate it mucho and it’s definitely not going to go to waste. (Err, no pun intended.)

7. A CLEANING SERVICE

If you owe your friend-on-the-move big time, or you’re just #ballerstatus, send them a cleaning service. Having someone do the work for you is a beautiful thing, and walking into a sparkling clean home when you’re still trying to get everything in your life back to normal brings such a sense of relief. It might not even be as expensive as you think. Depending on the size of the house and the location they’re in, you might be able to get this great gift for less than $100.

8. A CUTE DOORMAT

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There’s nothing like a fresh, new start at a fresh, new house, and nothing says, “Welcome!” quite like a fresh, new doormat. There are so many neat ones available on Amazon or at your local Target. No matter what their taste is, you’ll be able to find something that applies.

9. PLANTS

Houseplants lend a homey vibe no matter what the season. Bring over a few potted plants and know that you’re enriching your friend’s new home environment — both with a pretty plant AND with life-giving oxygen. Not sure if your friend is a plant-y person? Bring a succulent or two; they’re notoriously hard to kill.

10. A LIST OF FAVES

If your friend is moving into your area, save them a ton of time by bringing them a list of neighborhood favorites. Add things like restaurants, things to do, and local services they might need. Big ol’ bonus points if you have a trustworthy babysitting reference — that alone is worth its weight in gold.

11. POOL FLOATS

Did they get a new pool along with the new digs? Pool owners LOVE getting goodies for swim time. Ride on floats, beverage floats, remote-controlled boats — it’s all good! Also, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll secure an invite to go swimming when summer hits.

No pool? No problem. Get them something to help them enjoy their new garden or patio… whatever form of the great outdoors they have. After all, no matter how nice the house is inside, sometimes it’s nice to hang out outside, too!

12. KITCHEN TOWELS

When you’ve got a sparkly new kitchen, putting your dingy old towels on the counter is kind of a downer. Gift your pal some spiffy, clean kitchen towels and they’ll think of you every time they walk into the kitchen.

13. A SUBSCRIPTION CRATE

From candy to coffee, dog treats to dinners, there’s a subscription crate for just about anything your friend is into. If they’ve moved away, let them know you’re thinking of them on the regular with a monthly crate. It might not get there on moving day, but it will relieve some stress and make them feel loved all the same!

14. NOTHING PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE

This should go without saying, but sometimes well-meaning people think that just about any time is a good time for “advice.” Moving time is NOT the time to gift a Dave Ramsey book (even if the house is on the pricey side), nor is it a time to ask why they have so darn much stuff and then offer a trip to Goodwill. Your friends are already under enough stress, so no matter how much you “wonder if you ought to say something,” the answer is NO — or at least, not right now.

Nearly ¼ Of Homeowners Purchase Property With Less Than 5% Down

July 3, 2019 By admin

Woman accountant or bank worker uses calculator in the office to calculate house loan credit bureaucracy.

A lot of potential home buyers think that in order to successfully buy property they need to save up a sizeable down payment of 20% of the purchase price—and that until they have that down payment in the bank they can’t transition to homeownership.

But the “20% down payment myth” just isn’t true. Thanks to a variety of lending options, there are plenty of buyers out there purchasing property with far less than 20% down.

According to recent research from Zillow, 24.2% of buyers put down 5% or less when purchasing their homes. That’s nearly one in four buyers on the market!

The Takeaway

According to this data, it’s not only possible to purchase a home with a down payment of 5% or less, it’s also extremely common. So if you’ve been putting off buying a home until you have a 20% down payment in the bank, it might be time to rethink your strategy—and finally make your dream of homeownership a reality in 2019.

Top 6 Things To Do To Prep For Arizona Monsoon Season

June 26, 2019 By admin

Better safe then sorry when it comes to being prepared in our Arizona monsoon season which started June 13 and will go until Sept 15. Here are some ways you can protect your home and your sanity.

Install gutters

Some areas of a house that can typically use gutter are: under the scuppers that drain water off a flat roof. You’ll want gutters to pick up the water and drain it down off the roof away from the house.

Check your roof

Foam roofs should be checked for any signs of damage. If you’ve had leaks in the recent past, get the damage repaired or maybe even replace your roof. Areas around pipes, vents and other penetrations in your roof should be sealed. Simply cleaning your roof (especially a flat roof) can help when the winds pick up and the rain piles on.

Power outages

Stock your home with flashlights, candles and matches that are easy to find in an emergency. Keep the phone number of your power company handy so you can check on the status of your neighborhood’s power.

Electrical panel

Label the different sections of your panel so that you can easily see where the circuit breakers are for each room or area of your house. That way, you can turn power back on more easily if a breaker trips during a storm.

Prune and thin trees near your house
You don’t want branches sweeping over the roof that can damage tiles or shingles during a storm. You don’t want limbs breaking off and hitting the house or your car.

Improve the drainage in your yard
Add drains to your driveways, sidewalks and patios. Divert the water to areas away from your house and away from your neighbor’s house.

Renovating To Add To Your Home’s Resale Value

June 2, 2019 By admin

When you renovate your home, you want to get the most bang for your buck. Not only do you want to make your home a better place for you and your family to live, but you also want your renovations to add to your home’s resale value.

But what, exactly, are the features that will help your home sell faster?

According to recent data from Realtor.com (which analyzed more than 1 million single-family listings), the top three renovations that will help you sell your home quickly and at a prime price point? A chef’s or gourmet kitchen, a theater room, and a home gym. These renovation projects were named the “most profitable home features for sellers banking on quick sales.”

Those three features were deemed the most profitable. But they weren’t the only renovations that helped homes fly off the market. Also included on the list of features that will help your home sell faster include a three-car garage (#4), solar panels (#5), a home office (#9), and an in-ground pool (#10).

The Takeaway

If you’re thinking about renovating and adding features to your home, you’re going to want to think about your return on investment and choose a renovation that’s going to help your home sell quickly and profitably. Call us and we can do an initial walk through with you and talk through the areas you are considering.

5 Expert Tips For Protecting Your Home While Away on Summer Vacation

May 31, 2019 By admin

Summer is one of the most popular times of the year for vacations (thanks to the kids extended time off from school). But unfortunately, that also means it’s a prime time of year for home invasions and burglaries.

A big part of the uptick in crime during the summer might have to do with the increase in empty homes thanks to summer vacations. But as long as you take the steps to protect your home, you can avoid coming home to an unfortunate situation.

Here are five ways to protect your home while you’re off enjoying your summer vacation:

1. Install An Alarm System

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Obviously, the best way to protect your home from potential burglars is by installing an alarm system. Just the threat of an alarm system (like a sign in your yard or a sticker on a window) can be enough to deter potential burglars.

When you install an alarm system, the company equips all potential entry ways with alarms. If someone tries to enter the home while the alarm is enabled, the alarm will ring until someone disables it with a code. If the alarm isn’t disabled, the alarm company will immediately notify both you and the authorities and send police to investigate the break-in. Some alarm companies also install cameras at the entrances which you can connect to your phone, giving you the ability to check in on your property while you’re away on vacation. Check in with local alarm companies and get estimates; companies will often offer incentives like discounted rates or free installation in order to get your business.

2. Pay Someone To Mow The Lawn

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If you’re going to be traveling for an extended period of time, make sure you hire someone to mow the lawn. An overgrown lawn is a visible indicator that no one’s in the home and can attract unwanted attention.

Have someone mow the lawn on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. And as an added bonus, since someone is taking care of maintenance, you don’t have to worry about coming home to a nightmare of lawn to deal with after your vacation! If you hire someone you know and trust, you might also ask the person taking care of your lawn to do a quick walk-through of the home and make sure everything is in working order. If you have a maintenance issue inside the home while you’re gone, the person can bring it to your attention before it gets out of hand.

3. Don’t Forget About The Mail

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Before you leave for your vacation, put a hold on your mail with the USPS. An overflowing mailbox isn’t ideal for a number of reasons; first off, it’s a sure sign that your family is away. And on top of that, an overflowing mailbox increases the chance that something might fall out and get lost in the shuffle.

Protect your home (and your mail!) and put a hold on delivery until you return from your vacation.

4. Set Timers

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Nothing says “empty house” like a home that stays dark for 12 days straight. Setting timers on your electronics, including lights and televisions, can give the illusion that people are occupying the home even when you’re miles away enjoying your vacation.

You can pick up timers at any hardware store (or on Amazon), plug them into your electronics, and program them to turn on and off at specified times.

5. Be Cautious on Social Media

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When you’re on vacation, you want to share all your fun photos and status updates of the fun time you and your family are enjoying. But it’s important to be cautious on social media.

Publicly posting you’re on vacation on social media can let the wrong person know that you’re not currently occupying your home.

Make sure that your social media accounts are set to “private” before sharing any of your vacation updates; that way, the only people who see your updates are people you know and trust and you avoid broadcasting to the world your home is unoccupied.

You deserve a vacation. Just make sure you follow these tips to protect your home while you’re off enjoying your time off.

HomeBuyers Finding Homes Faster This Year

May 18, 2019 By admin

The path to homeownership can be a long one—particularly in 2018 when low inventory and high competition made it increasingly difficult for potential home buyers to successfully find and purchase homes. But according to recent data, it looks like 2019 is shaping up to be a little easier.

According to recent data from Redfin, in early 2019 the time it took the average homebuyer to move from their first home tour to closing on their new property was 73 days—three full days shorter than the same time in 2018 when it took 76 days (and down from a peak of 84 days in winter 2016). Homeowners are also having to tour fewer properties to find their home—an average of 10 in 2019 compared to 11 in 2018.

:: The Takeaway :: It looks like in 2019 it’s easier and faster to purchase property. So if you’ve been thinking about buying a new home, now is a great time to make a move. Give us a call.