If you’ve tried getting an appointment with professionals— contractors, HVAC repair companies, or doctors—then you know how backed up everyone’s schedules are. There may also be delays when hiring pros for spring maintenance and cleaning projects, so remind your clients to schedule appointments early, especially if they cannot climb ladders and do DIY projects. Houzz and the New York Times provide lists of spring cleaning to-dos. Here are 10: Pest inspection Repairing windows and screens Washing windows Chimney inspection Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms check Swapping out winter tools for

The 2023 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study shows the growing popularity of sustainable features. It’s valuable information to share with clients planning upgrades, given that 92% of homeowners incorporated such features during a kitchen renovation. Top kitchen sustainability picks include: LED bulbs (65%) Energy-efficient appliances (61%) Light dimmers (43%) Water-efficient fixtures (34%) Energy-efficient windows (27%). VOC-free paints, finishes, and coatings (21%) The most frequently cited reason for picking such options is their cost-effectiveness (74%). For clients wanting to boost home

There's good news for your clients who are weary of the cool greys and white that have been prevalent in homes in recent years. For those longing to introduce color, one takeaway from a Fixr.com study may be: "go for it." It notes the role that color plays in changing the mood of a room and says that incorporating colors that reflect homeowners' personalities is okay. Fixr.com asked sixty-two interior design industry experts about 2023 home color trends. Neutrals with pops of bold color are expected to be the most popular color combination for 2023, according to 58% of the respondents

Increasingly, homeowners and buyers are focused on the effects of climate change when making homebuying decisions, according to a recent Green Builder Media survey. For example, 55% of respondents said they’ve considered moving due to climate change, and just under 60% expressed concern about how climate change will affect the value of their homes and communities. The survey of 1,200 consumers across the United States – the majority of whom were Millennials – also identified healthy, connected, resilient, net zero (energy, water, and carbon), all-electric, and solar as important

Once your clients have decided to sell and move, it’s best for them and you that the home sells quickly. Your clients may be interested in an analysis by Knock (https://www.knock.com/blog/home-improvements-buyers-love/) about what makes homes sell faster. For example, homes in which homeowners have done upgrades sell 30% faster than those that don’t. Plus, a full-on renovation isn’t needed to make properties move. Painting, new carpet, a bathroom vanity upgrade, and a power wash all contribute to reducing days on market. Knock found that homes with modern renovation sold in an average of eight

Universal design features in the bathroom should be on the radar of everyone over age 50, even if they don’t need them today. After all, it’s easier to install such aging-in-place features – like grab bars and a built-in seat – when you’re renovating than to install them later and when you’re possibly doing it during a health crisis. When homeowners ask for advice about bathroom upgrades, point them to the 2021 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study (https://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/2021--US--Houzz--Bathroom--Trends--Study.pdf) to give them a sense of what’s trending. Homeowners are prioritizing the

The America at Home Study (https://americaathomestudy.com/) and the home that was built based on its findings give you a look at how the pandemic has changed people’s perceptions of home and what they want in their future homes. These include adaptable space, home offices, better technology, and energy efficiency. But beyond homeowners’ wish lists, the research also points to emerging opportunities for you as a REALTOR®. The data suggest that with so many deciding to speed up their pre-pandemic moving plans, there may be a new-home demand of 3.5 million. That’s potential business for you, and

Your clients who want to incorporate aging-in-place features to accommodate multiple generations under one roof may be interested in findings from the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey. So too will those who want to upgrade their homes for better functionality to respond to the ongoing pandemic. The quarterly AIA surveys provide a snapshot of residential trends that architects are seeing and measure whether a feature’s popularity rose or fell. Due to pandemic work-at-home situations, home offices, outdoor living spaces, and multi-function rooms, and flexible

Maybe your market includes clients for whom English is a second language, or you have the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, and the bulk of your sales comes from foreign buyers. If so, both audiences may appreciate being able to navigate the loan process in their native languages. The Mortgage Translations clearing house (https://bit.ly/3dGiBMZ), developed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac, provide loan documents in multiple languages: English Spanish Chinese Vietnamese Korean Tagalog The site includes the Uniform

During the Covid-19 lockdown, what would happen to the real estate market was an open question. Now that some cities and towns have opened up, the answer has gotten clearer. For example, the 2020 Market Recovery Survey, conducted by the National Association of REALTORS® in June, shows that markets are recovering and that both buyers and sellers are returning. The data can help you give clients a better picture of what’s happening, buyers’ and sellers’ timelines, and the home features that now are important. For example, 35% of NAR members polled reported that buyers had changed at least one