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Category: Tips

    This Checklist Is the Key to Taking Care of Your Home (Without the Stress)

    By Joy Riley | February 1, 2022

    Keep your home clean and organized all year by tackling bite-sized tasks. Here’s an easy way to get on top of your home maintenance checklist: Take it one small chunk at a time! Little steps add up to big results. And if you dedicate some time to home maintenance — two hours a week, an... Read More

    Increase Your Home’s “Screen Appeal”

    By Joy Riley | January 31, 2022

    If you were counting on crowded open houses (or any open houses, for that matter) to sell your home, you’ve probably been rethinking your strategy. With many people staying home, online for-sale listings have taken on more importance than ever, and it all starts with increasing your home’s screen appeal.   Stage your space The first step in... Read More

    Buying a Home? Plan for These Hidden Costs

    By Joy Riley | January 25, 2022

    Get those rainy day funds in order — you’re going to need them. You’re excited because you just found the perfect home. The neighborhood is great, the house is charming and the price is right. But the asking price is just the beginning. Be prepared for additional — and often unexpected — home-buying costs that... Read More

    2022 Real Estate Market Predictions

    By Joy Riley | January 14, 2022

    Are you curious about the state of the real estate market? As we head into the new year, Westcott Properties wants to ensure that you’re up-to-date on what’s occurring in the real estate space. Whether you are a buyer, seller, or investor, this resource from CoStar regarding this year’s real estate market predictions is a... Read More

    A 3-Step Downsizing Plan

    By Joy Riley | January 10, 2022

    When it’s time to move to a smaller home, these tips will help you save the memories while minimizing clutter in your new place. Moving into a new house is often bittersweet. You are excited for the change, but sad to leave a home so full of memories. Downsizing can be even harder — a... Read More

    9 Easy-to-Ambitious DIY Projects to Improve Your Home

    By Joy Riley | January 5, 2022

    Like many homeowners, you may have eyed a home improvement project in the past only to come up short on time or inspiration. Don’t feel bad. Nearly half (43%) of all homeowners say their biggest challenge around home improvement decisions is finding DIY time, which also may explain why the same percentage of people say... Read More

    Furnace, Boiler or Heat Pump? Time for Heating Systems 101

    By Joy Riley | December 7, 2021

    If your current heating system yields cold hands and frozen toes — it might be time to upgrade. Heating your home accounts for an inordinate portion of your utility bill, so it pays to choose the most efficient heating system possible. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should upgrade to a different type of system, however.... Read More

    8 Tips for Achieving Maximum Coziness

    By Joy Riley | November 18, 2021

    Gray skies don’t have to mean a drab indoor life. As winter plods along, you may wish you could just hibernate until spring — and that may be more true than ever this year. But there is, indeed, joy to be found in the quieter months of the year. While the trend may have come... Read More

    50 Real Estate Terms Every Home Buyer Should Know

    By Joy Riley | November 10, 2021

    You don’t need a real estate license to find your dream home, but it does help to become familiar with real estate jargon you might encounter during the process. When searching for a home or applying for a mortgage, you may hear your real estate agent or lender use any of the terms or acronyms... Read More

    5 Things to Do Before And After Closing

    By Joy Riley | November 8, 2021

    Your journey doesn’t end on closing day. Here are some next steps to consider before you actually move in. You’ve been house shopping for months or even years. You’ve endured a series of offers, property disclosures, inspections, and reports. Finally, after so much excitement, stress, and anxiety, the house hunt has come to an end.... Read More