Articles | Kristin Graziano Group

8 Things That Suddenly Change When You Become a Homeowner

November 30, 2020 By admin

Home ownership is a big part of the American Dream. It’s also a rite of passage, and millions of people go into their careers and family lives picturing the day when they can finally own a place of their own. When that day comes, it can be quite an experience. Signing the paperwork and getting the keys to your new place is one of the most exciting feelings in the world.

But it’s what comes after that can feel a bit strange. When you become a homeowner, you not only get to see your name on a deed, you also get to experience some of the things that only other owners get to experience.

Here are eight things that suddenly change when you become a homeowner:

1. You start having conversations about being a homeowner with other homeowners

“Yeah, we redid the kitchen first, but the bathrooms weren’t too bad. I’d like to add a deck but the nursery needs some attention next.”

2. All of a sudden you have to buy all the things every homeowner is required to have

You spend so much time at Home Depot buying tools and lawn equipment, people begin to think you work there…

3. You quickly learn how handy you are (or are not)

How’s the saying go? Is it “measure once, cut twice”, or “measure twice, cut once”?

4. You start to notice every little flaw around the house

I swear they said it was “smudge proof”…

5. You want to buy nice furniture, instead of cheaper, disposable stuff

Bye bye Ikea.

6. You begin to take special note of what’s happening in your neighborhood

Is that a “for sale” sign being put on the Jones’ lawn?!

7. You identify a favorite room

A place you could spend all day in if you could…

8. You’re proud to tell people that you just bought your own place

“Yes, I actually just bought a place. It’s near the park. No, on the far side, next to the baseball field. I really love the neighborhood so far.”

No matter how many of these things sound familiar, there’s no denying that becoming a homeowner changes things—and usually for the better!

Buying A Home? Make Sure You Understand What Home Insurance Does—And Doesn’t—Cover

November 30, 2020 By admin

Getting homeowners insurance when you purchase a house is a non-negotiable. But while standard home insurance policies provide a high level of coverage and protection, they don’t cover everything—and in order to protect your home (and your investment), it’s important to understand what potential issues might fall outside your home insurance umbrella.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the surprising things home insurance doesn’t cover, including:

Floods. While home insurance typically covers water issues like burst pipes, if your home is flooded due to a hurricane or excessive rain, most standard home insurance policies won’t cover the damage. In order to get coverage, you’ll need to purchase additional flood insurance.
Earthquakes. Similar to floods, most standard home insurance policies don’t cover earthquakes—so if you want coverage, you’ll need to buy a separate earthquake insurance policy.
Renovation damage. If you’re doing major renovations on your home—like gutting the interior or replacing the roof—most home insurance policies won’t cover the damage. If you want to protect yourself in the case of damage caused by the contractor, you’ll need to purchase a renovation policy.

The Takeaway:

So, what does this mean for you? If you’re thinking about buying a home, it’s important to understand the limits of your home insurance policy—and that you purchase additional coverage when necessary to protect your home.

Painting Your Home This Winter? Here’s What You Need To Know

November 29, 2020 By admin

This winter selling season is gearing up to be one of the most active in recent years; inventory is low, demand is high, and homes are selling quickly and profitably in markets across the country.

But even though the current market is favorable to sellers, you still want to do everything you can to make your home as appealing as possible to buyers. And when it comes to improving your home before listing, there are few projects that make as big of an impact—for as low of a price tag—as painting.

A fresh coat of paint can completely change the look and feel of your house—and make it a much more attractive property to potential buyers. But if you’re going to paint your house in the colder months, there are a few things you need to know.

A recent article from realtor.com outlined the key things homeowners should know when painting their homes in the winter, including:

Paint dries faster in the winter. Many people think that the summer heat makes interior paint dry faster. But if you live in an area with humid summers, the opposite is actually true. There’s less humidity in the winter—and the less humid the air, the quicker your paint will dry.
Crank up the thermostat while you’re painting. The cold air outside can cause a drop in temperature in the interior of your home—and even if your thermostat reads 65, the temperature of your walls may actually be much colder. In order to paint interior walls, the temperature needs to be above 60 degrees—so make sure to crank your thermostat well above 60 to ensure your walls are warm enough to paint.
Use speciality paint. If you’re going to be painting your home’s exterior during the winter, make sure to use paint and primer that’s specifically formulated for colder temperatures.

Buying a Home? These Are The Things You’ll Want To Avoid Saying To The Sellers

November 25, 2020 By admin

When you’re buying a home, you want to make sure that you don’t do anything that could put the sale in jeopardy—and that includes saying the wrong thing.

A video from realtor.com outlined the three things buyers should never say to the seller or seller’s agent when purchasing a home, including:

“This is my dream home!” The more visibly interested in and excited by a home you are, the less negotiating power you have—so even if you’re head over heels for a house, play it cool during the buying process.
“That couch is hideous!” An easy way to get on a seller’s bad side—and potentially cause your home purchase to go south? Insulting their style or home decor.
“You’ll never get that price!” Agents and sellers set a specific selling price for a reason. Even if you think the price is outrageous, keep it to yourself; otherwise, you run the risk of looking like an amateur buyer who doesn’t understand the market or home values—which, again, can hurt you during the sale and negotiating process.

The Takeaway:

Bottom line? Anything you say to the seller or seller’s agent can either help or hurt your chances of successfully negotiating and purchasing your home—so choose your words wisely and avoid saying anything that could negatively impact the sale.

Contactless Payment 101

November 12, 2020 By admin

In this day and age it’s all about staying safe while on the go. Here are a few ways to keep safe:

NFC Tech

“Near-field communication” is the tech that allows for payment exchange between objects and card readers, so you can pay with your smartphone or smartwatch, or by hovering your card over the reader — no swipe or chip insert required.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Payment

Try these apps for splitting grocery runs, utility costs, takeout or any other time when you need to pay back a friend or neighbor without exchanging cash face-to-face.

Check out the full article here.

Reign in Your Holiday Spending

November 2, 2020 By admin

Our weekly insight is about holiday spending and organizing your gift giving. Getting organized is a great way to avoid over spending.

• Make a list! • Designate a Price Limit • Set a Deadline • Write Gift Ideas

Get the full hack on gift giving and organization in our guide now and let the holiday season begin!