3 Amenities Renters Love

Amenities make renting a home comfortable and enjoyable.

Any property can offer the basics, but it’s the extra details that make all the difference. Most tenants plan on touring several properties before making a decision. Therefore, rental units with unique features will be the properties that make the strongest impression. Once as potential renters find a property that meets their needs, they’ll look for above-and-beyond features to make a final decision. Providing one-of-a-kind amenities is a key way to attract serious tenants with an eye for quality.

1.     In-Unit Laundry Appliances

Renters love any amenities that make their lives a little easier. After a long week, spending an afternoon at the laundromat is the last thing anybody wants to do. It’s time-consuming, and people want to spend their days off doing what they love. In-unit washers and dryers let tenants finish their chores while going about their day. Including these in your property will definitely earn you some brownie points. With that being said, on-site laundry facilities are still preferable when compared to laundromats. If you can’t provide in-unit laundry appliances, this is the next best option.

2.     Outdoor Features

Tenants don’t want to be forced to travel far to enjoy the outdoors. More than anything, they love amenities that give them the freedom to roam. During the summer months, people don’t want to be cooped up in their apartments blasting the AC, they want to be by the pool where they can cool off and spend time with loved ones. They want to be able to get some fresh air and enjoy outdoor activities. It’s a fact: amenities like pools, hot tubs, ponds, and tennis courts are always a hit. If you allow pets in your facility, renters will also love parks and outdoor, dog-friendly spaces.

3.     Upgraded Kitchens

Standard kitchens always tend to look similar. They often include small, outdated refrigerators, ‘80s-style countertops, and humming appliances. In order to stand out from the crowd, you’ll want to focus on this area. Renters know a property is well-maintained if the kitchen has been upgraded. To wow potential tenants, consider installing stainless steel appliances, high-quality cabinets and granite or marble countertops. If financial restraints bar you from making these changes, think about smaller upgrades that are at least up-to-date. The best thing you can do is provide functioning equipment and a pleasing atmosphere for your renters. We spend a lot of time in our kitchens. Whether we’re cooking up meals with our family members or having late-night conversations over coffee, kitchens are comforting places. They should feel welcoming and pleasant.

Read more here.

Related Links

• The housing market is still savagely unhealthy

• Will the middle class survive a nationwide housing shortage?

• How is a Home Warranty Different from Homeowners Insurance?

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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The housing market is still savagely unhealthy

But there is a glimmer of hope as we look at the rest of the year.

The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales for March came in as a miss of estimate at 5.77 million. However, the real story of 2022 is that the savagely unhealthy housing market continues as inventory is still lower than last year, sending home prices growth into double digits again. However, hope for a balanced market is real this year because, with higher rates, we should see more days on the market coming up and growth in the inventory data.

The 5.77 million sales print on Wednesday is in line with my 2022 forecast sales range between 5.74 million and 6.16 million. Last year I discussed sales levels coming back down to 5.84 million, and I am looking for more of the same in 2022, at the 5.74 million level. Like last year, I was anticipating a few prints under 5.84 million. We only got one, and the same with this year under 5.74 million. 

However, unlike the previous year, we have a material change in the U.S. housing market; the 10-year is above 1.94%, something that didn’t happen in 2020 or 2021. This means higher mortgage rates, so we need to talk about the housing market in a rising-rate environment without going into housing crash mode like the professional grifters do for clicks.

From NAR: Total existing-home sales dipped 2.7% from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.77 million in March.

Housing demand has been stable for the past few years; we have never had a credit boom in demand since 2002-2005. So, we never had a credit bust as we saw from 2005 to 2008. However, post-2010, we have had times when housing demand has gotten softer with higher mortgage rates.

In 2013-2014, rates rose, and you see the lower trend in sales back then. Demographics and employment levels were much different at that time, so it isn’t the best comp to use compared to 2020-2024, which has the most significant housing demographic (ages 28-34) running at 32.5 million.

In 2018 when mortgage rates rose, we saw existing home sales trend lower from 5.72 million to 4.98 million in January 2019. Even though total existing-home sales didn’t do much in 2018 and 2019, we see how higher rates impacted the demand curve. The housing data we got yesterday with housing starts are backward-looking. The same should be thought about today and going out in the future.

How does application data look? Due to COVID-19, I needed to make severe adjustments because the year-over-year data has been out of whack. This data line has been negative since June of 2021. With proper adjustments, you can tell what is going on.

2022 is looking to be the first actual negative year-over-year purchase application year since 2014. However, the decline is mild so far.
—Week to week: -3%
—Year over year: -14%
—4 week moving average YoY: -9.75%

The week-to-week action has produced two mild positive and two mild negative prints for four weeks. I believe the COVID-19 comps ran out by mid-February this year. So the year-over-year data is good to go. We are between what we saw in 2018 — with a mild response to higher rates — and 2014, where the reaction was much more severe. When it moves, this data line moves up and down 20%-30%. So the four-week moving average, while a noticeable weakness, isn’t anything too big yet. 

Keep reading on Housing Wire.

Related Links

• Here’s What Being “House Poor” Means — And How You Can Avoid It

• Will the middle class survive a nationwide housing shortage?

• How is a Home Warranty Different from Homeowners Insurance?

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Is it time to turn my sprinklers back on?

Colorado has been socked by dry, spring weather, but is it time to run the sprinklers?

Hot, dry and windy weather has settled over Colorado in April.

The month of April is the windiest month of the year along Colorado's Front Range, but this year has been a little more extreme than usual. Wednesday will be the 16th consecutive day with a Red Flag Warning in Colorado.

As the grass begins to turn green across the state, many are wondering when is the best time to turn on a sprinkler system.

Denver Water recommends waiting until after the last freeze, typically around May 5, to turn on your sprinkler system, however other Front Range garden experts say now is the right time to turn sprinklers on.

According to Denver Water, Colorado will likely have at least one more night of temperatures below 30 degrees which can damage pipes above or below ground leading to costly repairs and wasted water.

However, other experts said that Colorado is unlikely to see a cold-enough freeze that would damage ground pipes that are under six inches of dirt. These experts believe that for sprinkler systems that are turned on, only the above-ground back flow preventer box needs to be covered on a night with below-freezing temperatures.

All agree that when the grass begins to turn green, it is time for watering.

Denver Water recommends those who choose to wait to turn on their system bring out the garden hose and hand-water grass, trees and perennials now.

Whenever you decide to turn on the sprinkler system this spring, here's how to get started:

Step 1: Irrigation Box

The first step is to locate your irrigation box. It's usually out in the front of your house.

Open it up and look for the drain valve. Turn it off by turning the valve to the right. Cover box back up.

Step 2: Back flow preventer

Now, go to your back flow preventer to keep your water from your sprinkler system from going back into the drinking water inside your house.

Look for your ports. It's the area where the sprinkler company blows out excess water in the fall.

You will need a flat blade screwdriver. Turn a quarter of a turn so they are against the pipe, which means they are closed. Make sure they are not parallel to the pipe.

Now open your ball valves. Turn the handles to the left so they are parallel to the pipe.

Step 3: Style ball valve

Locate your style ball valve. It is usually in your basement.

Tighten your port before you turn your water back on or you will have water gushing into your basement.

Open your water valve by turning it right so it is parallel to the pipe.

Step 4: Sprinkler system controller

This is usually located in your garage.

Each system is different so find directions or go online to find an owners manual to set your sprinkler system. 

If you don't feel comfortable turning it back on yourself, be sure to contact a professional.

For more like this, visit 9news.

Related Links

• Here’s What Being “House Poor” Means — And How You Can Avoid It

• Will the middle class survive a nationwide housing shortage?

• Neat and Clean: How to Organize Your Home - Korean Style

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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Meet the Maker: Shelby Jonse of Wander and Graze

Meet Shelby + Wander and Graze

We create vibrant and inviting charcuterie boards and grazing tables for delivery in and around Denver, Colorado.

Our grazing tables and boards are a unique event catering options. They’re perfect for networking events, conferences, happy hours, showers, weddings, and more. Charcuterie boards can be vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly.

Learn more about Shelby below!

How did you arrive where you are today?

I have always enjoyed cooking and creating. I love that W+G gives me the ability to do both of those things at once. And I am able to create opportunities for communities to connect over beautiful food.

How did your business come to exist?

In 2018 I decided to go back to school full time. I had been a retail store manager for over 10 years at the same company, and I was ready for a change. I started Wander and Graze as a fun and creative "side hustle" that quickly grew into a full-time job. And I love it!

What was the best day at work you've had in the past three months?

I would have to say opening up our storefront in the West Highlands Neighborhood in Denver. We opened at the beginning of February, and it has been a game-changer for our team to be working out of our own space. We are also very excited to be offering regular charcuterie workshops in our shop.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I am a small business owner and a foster mom, so I don't have much free time, but when I am not working or chasing a toddler around, I enjoy gardening, pottery, and grabbing a happy hour cocktail with friends.

Get in touch with Shelby

Instagram: @wanderandgraze

Facebook: Wander and Graze

Website: www.wanderandgraze.com

If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!

Neat and Clean: How to Organize Your Home - Korean Style

The popularity of Korean culture growing by the day in the United States.

K-culture is sweeping the nation from music and food to fashion and television shows. If you want to be part of the trend, you can adopt the concept of Korean simplicity, organization, and minimalism into your home. By creating an atmosphere that’s full of peace and harmony, you will design a neat, organized space you’ll love. With a few deep cleaning and organizing tips, it’s easy to get your home organized — Korean style.

Introducing K-culture Elements into Your Home

Here are some of the basics for introducing the concept of K-culture into your home.

• Simplicity/Minimalist: Keep décor and furniture as simple and minimalist as possible. Avoid gaudy patterns or colors that are too bold and dramatic. You want your home to be beautiful and functional at once without excess “stuff” that can make it feel cluttered.

• Less is more: Avoid overdoing it when you decorate your home. Instead, adopt the “less is more” policy to ensure that every room is clean, neat, and tidy.

• Keep an organized home and spaces: Every room in your home should have a purpose and be well-organized. Use storage containers (jars, bins, boxes, etc.) and labels to keep items neatly sorted and easy to find.

• Clean home:  A clean home is a happy home, so do your best to ensure that your floors, windows, and furniture are clean and free of dust and debris as often as possible.

• Keep it organized and cute: Use cute organizational items to store your stuff. Whether it’s fabric bins in a fun pattern or colorful jars in your pantry, the key is to make sure that your home isn’t just organized but that it’s also visually appealing.

• Versatile and multifunctional furniture: Choose furniture that serves more than one purpose. For example, a storage bench or ottoman can also double as storage for throw blankets or shoes. Look for organizational tools like decorative boxes you can use to keep things hidden from view while adding a touch of style to your space.

How to Declutter Your Home and Simplify Your Life in Korean Style

You can use some basic principles to organize and declutter your home and simplify your life in Korean style, so keep these tips in mind.

• Think about the purpose of every room: The concept that every room serves a purpose should apply to every space in your home. Whether it’s the living room, a home office, or the bedroom, use this as a guide to help you organize and decorate.

• Identify messy spaces at home: If you notice that there are things strewn all over your home, then you have a chaotic space. Whether it’s piles of clothing or medicine bottles on your vanity, identify cluttered areas so that you can organize them. If you or your family members don’t know where things go, or you can’t find where items are located, then it’s time to get organized.

• Take time to organize your space: You can organize your home by incorporating it into your routine, even with a busy schedule. Take 15 minutes each day to put things away and keep your home organized. Don’t try to do everything at once. Instead, pick one room, one area, or even just a corner of your home, focus on that task and then move on to the next one tomorrow.

• Having too much stuff: If you have too many things and you don’t even know their purpose, then it’s time to declutter and get rid of the stuff you no longer need.

• Use tools to help you stay organized: Try using colored post-it notes to organize tasks. Organize the notes in order of priority and use them to label things you’re decluttering. Color code and categorize the items you plan to store, donate, or give away, so it’s easier to declutter. You can also keep a journal or use a notepad to track what you organize. Make a note of where essential items are stored, such as medication and important papers. Use a timer to track how much time you spend organizing any particular space or on any specific day. Once each area is complete, you can label it as a “neat spot,” and as you progress, your home will eventually be an ultimately “clean spot.”

Things to keep in mind: Remember that there’s no such thing as a perfectly organized home, especially if you have a busy lifestyle. You should organize and declutter part of your life and remember that your lifestyle will evolve, so your cleaning methods should also evolve to suit you. Consistency is the key to good organization, so stay on-task and make it part of your routine. You can also keep updated on new organizational tools, styles, and skills to make the process more manageable over time.

Room by Room Tips to Reorganize Your Home in Korean Style

Here are some ideas and tips on how to organize your home in Korean Style, room by room.

Kitchen, Pantry, and Cabinets

• Have your cabinet doors open on the sides for easier access. You can also use clear or opaque glass on the doors, so it’s easy to see everything you have at a glance.

• Add rails along your backsplash to hold onto cooking utensils and cutlery. You can use magnets, rails, S-hooks, and flexible shelving to make good use of wall space.

• Install a power outlet under your cabinets so you can use small appliances on the counters, then put them away when you’re done.

• Create a small coffee station that you can move around as needed. This will allow you to enjoy tea and coffee outside your kitchen, perfect for entertaining.

• Store your dishes away in drawers so that they’re not cluttering your kitchen countertops. Use pot lid organizers and slide-out shelves in cabinets so you can organize cookware and find what you need.

Organizing the Fridge in Korean Style

• Clear out your refrigerator and discard any old or expired foods. Wipe down shelving and clean out bins before putting them back inside.

• Organize your food in clear containers with a tight-sealing lid. Not only will this keep your food fresh, but it also makes it easier to see, so you don’t waste it.

• Clean, cut, and prep meat and vegetables before putting them in the fridge.

• Stack all bottles and cans and keep them together in one section of the fridge, separated by type.

• Use fridge organizer boxes with a handle so you can find and pull out what you need quickly.

• A rotating condiment tray makes it easy to access spices, sauces, and more.

Bedroom

• Your bedroom is for resting and sleeping, so avoid having a TV in the room. Don’t work in the bedroom, making sleep more difficult.

• Keep plenty of clean sheets and pillowcases on hand and change them frequently (once per week is best).

• Keep your windows clean and open them on warm days to let fresh air in.

• Dust your windowpanes, window frames, and furniture often.

• If you have pets, give them a specially designated sleeping space and keep it clean.

• Declutter and clean your closet every season change. If you didn’t wear something during that season, it’s time to declutter and give it away.

• Use an armoire or storage bench for extra clothing and shoes if you don’t have much room in your closet.

• Install a pair of wall sconces for more lighting. This will free up space on your nightstands instead of having table lamps.

• Look for a headboard with a built-in bookcase to give you more storage.

Bathroom

• Use an adjustable shower caddy to keep shampoo, body wash, conditioner, and other toiletries organized.

• Use an organization caddy on your vanity to keep cosmetics and toiletries neat.

• Make sure you track the expiration date of medications and check your medicine cabinet often to keep it clean. Be sure to safely store all drugs out of the reach of children and use kid-proof caps.

• If you have room, add a vanity stand to your bathroom to store items off the counters and keep them in a separate area.

• Use an appliance holder under your cabinets to store hair tools like hairdryers, straighteners, and curling irons.

• Keep towels in a linen closet and only have towels out that you plan to use.

• Wash bath rugs and math mats weekly, and ensure your shower curtain is clean. Use a shower curtain liner to protect your floors.

• Dust light fixtures every week to keep them clean and dust-free.

Laundry Room

• Hide your washer and dryer behind a set of bifold doors. If you have a small space, this will help to make your home look clean and tidy.

• Use shelving units above your appliances to give you storage for detergent and other household items.

• Add hooks onto the side of cabinets, so you have extra storage. This will also save space in the room as a whole.

• Put detergent and dryer sheets in containers and label them so they look more attractive and they’re easy to find.

Social Spaces (Dining Room, Living Room, Home Office)

Organize bookshelves and arrange your books by the most important topics to you so you can easily access them. Limit the space you use for certain books and prioritize your favorites. Sign your initials and date each book once you finish it. This will help you find the books you’ve already read and identify the authors and subjects you like most.

• Use a large basket or a storage ottoman to put extra throw blankets and pillows away.

• Place a hall tree in your entryway, so you have a place to hang coats, hats, and bags.

• Place side tables next to sofas and chairs, so there’s a place to put the remote control, beverages, and magazines. You can also use a magazine rack to keep reading material organized.

• After visitors, clean your space immediately to prevent bugs and messes. Doing this also makes it easier to keep your home clean, as it can be more challenging to do it the next day.

• Add a locking file cabinet to your home office to keep paperwork secure and in order. A printer stand is also helpful and can keep reams of paper in one location.

Outdoor Spaces

• Mow your lawn, trim trees, and weed your garden regularly to keep it clean and tidy.

• Make sure that your patio space is organized by putting toys and accessories away. Rinse your patio or deck with a garden hose every so often to keep it clean.

• Install shelving and use storage bins to organize your shed, garage, or storage unit — separate tools, gardening items, and sporting goods so you can find what you need.

• Always keep pet areas clean to prevent accidental injury and diseases. Put dog food in airtight containers to prevent bugs.

• Only buy patio furniture that you know you will use and keep it to a minimum so you can enjoy the outdoors to its fullest potential without feeling cluttered or overwhelmed.

There are no specific rules for creating a perfectly organized space. The best way to organize your home in Korean style is to create a space that reflects who you are and what you love the most. Your home is your sanctuary, so use these tips to help you stay organized while you express your passions and showcase the interests and preferences that mean the most to you. 

Originally Posted in Porch.com

Related Links

• Here’s What Being “House Poor” Means — And How You Can Avoid It

• Will the middle class survive a nationwide housing shortage?

• How is a Home Warranty Different from Homeowners Insurance?

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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