Blogs

What's the Best Way to Determine Your Home's Value?

Many homeowners believe that they have the strongest insight into the value of their home; after all, only they understand all of the blood, sweat, and tears (and money) that have been put into countless maintenance and improvement projects over the years! Other people are certain that computer-generated automated valuation models (AVMs), with their access to millions of data points from the overall market, comparable properties, and buyer tendencies, can give estimates that no human can match. So which side is actually better at valuing a home, the owner or the AVM? As it turns out, there isn't really much of a difference between the two options, partially because neither is very good at the job!

Three Keys to a Well-Designed Living Room

Whether you're staging your home to sell or just want to maximize its potential, every homeowner can benefit from smart design when it comes to arranging their furniture. Perhaps in no room is this more important than the living room, where you and your guests are most likely to spend the majority of your time. Because a home's living room is generally a blank canvas, there are nearly limitless options for how you can place the furniture within it. Luckily, you can achieve a space with plenty of form and function by following just three simple rules!

Preparation Is Key for First-Time Home Buyers

We know that buying your first home can be very intimidating and even a bit scary. If you hope to buy a home within the next year, there are things you should be doing right now to prepare yourself for the process. In order to make the best decision for your future, it's extremely important that you are equipped with all the knowledge needed to achieve your goals. Tackling each challenge one at a time may get you there faster than you think!

Watch out for These Home Inspection Red Flags

Between the searching, financing, and moving, buying a home is stressful. Once you've found the perfect home, no one can blame you for wanting the process to be completed as quickly as possible. However, there's one very important thing standing in your way: the home inspection. You might be tempted to gloss over the report, but it can contain extremely valuable information about the home's potential for future expensive repairs. Keep reading to learn about a few of the most important items to pay attention to in the home inspection report.

Poughkeepsie Plans to Fight Blight with Grant

Thanks to $800,000 in federal grants, the City of Poughkeepsie is currently planning a number of community improvements for next year. According to city administrator Marc Nelson, the money will be put toward sidewalk repair, maintenance of critical infrastructure, and the demolition of dilapidated buildings within the city. Removal of old and damaged structures will free up property for possible redevelopment, which is always welcome news in a time when competition for real estate is so high!

'Tis the Season for Fall Festivals

If you love fall, then you'd probably like to celebrate it before it's gone. Luckily, there are a huge number of fall festivals taking place throughout the season in the Hudson Valley! In fact, just this upcoming weekend alone, there are at least three options to choose from (and there are sure to be at least a couple more). Keep reading to learn where you can go this weekend to enjoy all the classic fall activities, including pumpkin-picking, hay rides, and everything in between!