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If you are wondering how current national and global situations might be impacting your property’s value, your neighborhood, or the Real Estate market in general, we are happy to provide more specific information.
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.
A few small changes to your space can go a long way in putting your best (remote) foot forward
As people social distance and adhere to widespread stay-at-home orders, the vibrant dinner parties of 2019 seem a distant memory in today’s no-hug world. But don’t despair—you can still break through the ho-hum dinner routine with a virtual bash that works for both friends and family.
In most ways, prepping your home for a remote dinner party is easier than a traditional soiree: You don’t need to clean your whole house, cook a multi-course meal, or set a table for a crowd. Still, a few small changes to your space can go a long way in putting your best (virtual) foot forward, according to Curbed.
From optimizing your lighting to picking out glassware, here’s how to arrange your home for a winning virtual happy hour or feast.
When you’ve been stuck at home for weeks, a change of scenery can really help. Sure, you can easily use your dining room table, but what about your kitchen counter or even moving a coffee table or chest someplace new? Have a guest bedroom with a soothing patterned wallpaper that you’d like to showcase? Set up a table in there.
Wherever you pick, pay attention to your background—that’s what other virtual guests will be able to see. “I think the background rules are pretty close to the good Instagram photo rules: shallow depth of field, not more than three colors, keep it simple,” says Curbed’s architecture critic, Alexandra Lange.
Curbed editor-in-chief Kelsey Keith says to “consider one saturated color, a jungle of plants, or texture.” A virtual dinner party with friends is more fun than your everyday remote conference calls, so don’t be afraid to choose a bold, more cheerful spot (read: not your home office).
As you’re choosing your backdrop, don’t skimp on the lighting. Set things up so the light isn’t behind you—otherwise you’ll look dark and shadowy on screen. “If it’s just you in a room, natural light is non-negotiable,” says Keith, so try to position yourself to take advantage of windows. If that isn’t an option, position one lamp directly by your face for even, steady lighting that reduces shadows.
You can also think outside the box when it comes to lighting; an early-evening gathering could work well on a patio due to great sunset light, or you could dine in front of a cozy, crackling fireplace.
Whether you’re using a laptop, tablet, or even a phone, use a stand and place it so that the camera is higher, at eye level. This provides a more flattering video angle. It’s also crucial to enjoy your conversation hands-free; it just won’t work to try and hold your phone for an hour-long party. Don’t have a laptop or tablet stand around? Stacking a few boxes or heavy books will do the trick.
Another important point: Don’t get too close to the camera. The cameras on smartphones and webcams are wide-angle, so if you get too close it will look distorted.
A virtual dinner party is the perfect time to fancy things up a bit. Bust out your favorite tablecloths or any fun printed fabric to eat on, and think about adding special touches that fit with your personal style. (Note that if you’ve gone with a bold, colorful background, a neutral tablecloth might work best.) A beloved candle, family heirloom, or funky salt and pepper shakers will not only look cool, but can also spark conversation.
Don’t have anything on hand that fits the bill? Head outside and gather a few small flowers or sprigs of plants that are in bloom, then place them into a tiny bud vase or small glass cup. The vase will add a bit of pizazz and sophistication to your table without being so large that it becomes distracting on camera.
Finally, a pro tip: Set up everything before the party starts. A few moments away from the camera are to be expected, but it’s rude to disappear for 20 minutes to prepare things after the party has begun.
Zoom: Zoom is a popular corporate video conferencing solution that has gone mainstream while people are sheltering in place. It’s rated high for usability and streaming quality, but you’ll need to pay for a Pro account to host meetings that are longer than 40 minutes.
Skype: With the ability to host up to 50 people at a time and a four-hour time limit, Skype is a well-known platform with broad familiarity.
FaceTime: If you only have an iPhone or an iPad, FaceTime might be a good option. You can add up to 32 friends, although the video quality will depend on your cellular provider.
Google Hangouts: Use Google Hangouts to see 10 people on a call from your phone or computer.
Ask everyone to cook the same dish or a certain type of food. Or go with something more playful, like a Tiki-themed cocktail hour.
Activities can include online games using apps like House Party or Jackbox, a group movie-watching party with Netflix Party, or even karaoke contests using YouTube (just search any song and the word “karaoke”).
If you really want to go all out, now’s the time to use any treasured china or specialty plates you have stored away. Of course, everyday plates will work just fine.
What your virtual guests will actually see the most of are your glasses. Make a fun cocktail or mocktail (maybe it’s tied to your agreed-upon theme) and don’t skimp on the accoutrements—think slivers of limes, decadent bourbon cherries, and lemon twists.
Colorful or unique glassware will also stand out; at a recent Mexican-themed virtual dinner party hosted by a Curbed staffer, for example, all of the guests made margaritas and showcased them in a dazzling array of rainbow glasses.
Want to host a virtual dinner party but don’t have the time or energy to curate your space? Choose from one of these gorgeous Zoom backgrounds, which we’ve carefully curated to look sufficiently realistic.
Related Links:
5 Ways to Get Your Home’s Exterior Ready for Warmer Weather
Stay Home + Color!
We know it’s hard to keep yourself and/or the kiddos entertained for days on end while stuck at home…hang in there, we’re here for you!
1. Download West + Main Coloring Sheets
2. Print
3. Color
4. Post on Instagram or Facebook and tag @westandmainhomes
5. Email us your name + mailing address at hello@westandmainhomes
6. Enjoy a Surprise from West + Main Homes!
We can’t wait to see + share your colorful creations!!
Last week, we published a guide for Listing + Selling your Property during COVID. Today, we would like to take a moment to talk to people who are in the process of buying or thinking of buying a home during COVID.
Before we begin, we want to repeat: the best advice for right now comes from our Public Health and local government officials: Stay Home.
But it isn’t that simple when it comes Real Estate and shelter.
You’ve already sold your current home but haven’t bought your next one
You’re a tenant and gave notice (or were given notice) to vacate before COVID-19 began
Personal circumstances like divorce
If you just WANT to buy right now, we strongly recommend you Pause, Watch and Wait. While we don’t know what the future holds and it’s impossible to predict what will happen to the market and prices, it’s just not worth putting yourself and others at risk, health-wise or financial-wise. We think you should Pause, Watch and Wait if:
You’re looking for a deal and hoping Sellers are desperate (they aren’t)
You’ve got time on your hands and like house hunting (this isn’t a hobby for your Realtor)
You think you’re invincible and immune to the virus (you’re not)
If you find yourself in a position where you NEED to buy right now, know that REALTORS across the United States are working hard to figure out how to make it happen – but it’s not business as usual for anyone. Given how fast things change these days, we’ll be updating our blog as things evolve.
In an environment where banks are deferring mortgage payments and mass layoffs are already occurring, obtaining financing is fraught with complications and uncertainty:
Interest Rates: Interest rates have been fluctuating, affecting how much Buyers can borrow.
Approvals: With most people working from home, everything is taking longer, including getting pre-approved for a mortgage.
Financing Lenders have the right to confirm employment and other financial details right up until the closing date (we have always advised Buyers to NOT make any financial changes between a purchase and their closing for this reason). In the current environment, almost anything could happen in between, and if you buy a house and lose your job, there’s no guarantee the lender will follow through in providing you with a mortgage. Our ability to predict is almost zero, increasing risk exponentially.
Appraisals: Appraisals are another financing concern. Banks depend on appraisers to go into homes to estimate and confirm value. Appraisers might be being told NOT to enter homes physically, limiting the appraisal process to photos, information supplied by agents and MLS listings, computer models and literally “looking in the window.” The impact of this on mortgages and closings, as well as timelines, is still unknown.
Earnest Money: The traditional deposit procedure—bringing a personal check from your bank to a title company—is suddenly complicated, as most offices are closed/limited, with reduced staff working remotely. Of course, digital options are available (wire transfers being most common), but there can be other complications, such as having to extend the standard 72-hour window within which you must supply the Earnest Money Deposit.
PRO TIP: It’s important to remember that while your mortgage broker works for you, they also have a duty to inform the bank of any information they are aware of that could impact the mortgage contract…in other words, as soon as they are aware that (for example) you’ve lost your job, they must tell the lender.
PRO TIP #2: Some banks continue to insist that mortgage documents be signed in person, on paper, with your lawyer. Considering we are not supposed to be leaving our homes much less meeting to sign documents, a smart Buyer should keep this in mind when choosing a lender. Ask your mortgage rep if they will accept electronic signatures before you commit.
I’m sure it comes as no surprise, but listings and sales are down right now - and rightly so. Brokerages like ours are advising our agents to only leave their homes as necessary, and to schedule only those showing appointments that are likely to help a Buyer who NEEDS to buy right now find a home and secure a Contract.
With the shutdown of all nonessential services and the strict guidelines surrounding social and physical distancing, seeing a home that’s listed for sale has changed significantly:
Most Sellers don’t want to let anyone into their homes right now.
Agents abiding by the Stay-at-Home orders and guidelines provided by the National Association of Realtors guidelines are only rarely meeting clients in person. This means that, except in unusual circumstances, most of your Real Estate search will, by necessity, be done online, using photos, floor plans and virtual tours.
Video walkthroughs are also being experimented with, where either the Seller (if they are still in their home), or the agent (for vacant homes) tours potential Buyers through the home.
Condominium buildings are increasingly restricting visitors to residents, which means that it may not be possible to see a condo that’s for sale until this is all over. We expect this trend to continue to expand.
Open houses are no longer allowed during COVID.
Offers present their own unique challenges, as Buyers may NOT have had the opportunity to actually tour a property in person. Legal wording is being developed to allow for situations where buyers are buying homes “sight-unseen,” with provisions to deal with eventual discrepancies when those Buyers eventually have the opportunity to visit the home. This is far from ideal, of course, and while this helps mitigate risk, it does not in any way eliminate it.
Typical offer conditions designed to protect Buyers, such as home inspections, title review, and financing all present challenges in an environment where inspectors, in the interests of public health and safety, are not (or should not be) working. Condominium management and boards might also be closed and may not be reachable, meaning HOA documents —an essential part of a condo purchase—may be unavailable.
The home buying process during COVID-19 is not for the faint of heart. At the present time, we do not recommend buying a home unless you need NEED to buy. For the vast majority of Buyers, we feel it’s just not worth the risk.
But soon….we hope very soon….things will start to return to normal and we’ll all be able to buy homes again. In the meantime, stay home and stay safe.
Want to talk through the obstacles, options + opportunities? We’re here for you.
We know it’s hard to keep yourself and/or the kiddos entertained for days on end while stuck at home…hang in there, we’re here for you!
1. Download West + Main Coloring Sheets
2. Print
3. Color
4. Post on Instagram or Facebook and tag @westandmainhomes
5. Email us your name + mailing address at hello@westandmainhomes
6. Enjoy a Surprise from West + Main Homes!
We can’t wait to see + share your colorful creations!!
