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Marketing is continuously evolving. Like all businesses, the real estate industry must keep up with technological advances and consumer behavior. Traditional listings and having a website are no longer enough to compete. Instead, your marketing should evolve with the changing needs of consumers to embrace all channels and technology that finds potential buyers. Here are some interesting realities of real estate marketing in 2021. 

1. High Competition 

With so many realtors, finding buyers and sellers can be difficult without leveraging the right digital channels. Depending on whether the environment is a seller’s market or a buyer’s market, you can expect competition, which can affect your marketing campaigns. Seasonal competition can make reaching the right audience more difficult as more people are buying and selling their homes in the warmer months. 

2. Low Inventory

With fewer houses on the market in 2021, realtors will need to compete to help buyers find the right homes for them while selling homes on the market for more to make up their commissions. 

New agents will find it challenging to find sellers, while their lack of experience makes them less attractive to homeowners who want to profit from selling their homes. 

3. Time-consuming Processes

Buying a new home is a time-consuming process that requires proper planning. When marketing a real estate company, experts need to understand making a sale is time-consuming, so their marketing strategy should focus on the buyer’s journey. 

4. Unrealistic Buyer Expectations

Like selling, buying a home is time-consuming, and the people who buy homes usually don’t plan to become repeat buyers. Instead of trying to find ways for clients to continue buying homes from you (since many won’t), marketing teams should focus on how they can obtain new clients. Marketing should become a resource or tool for clients and potential clients so realtors can stay in front of their audience and prove they are a valuable source of information. 

When it comes to marketing a real estate business, you need to keep your clients’ expectations realistic through marketing efforts. You can do this by providing resources that outline how clients can figure out how much they can afford and their monthly costs on a particular home. 

5. Market Research

The real estate market is highly flexible. With valuable analytics, market research allows companies to survive fluctuations. Market research can help you understand the types of individuals interested in buying homes at a particular time, letting you know whether or not your marketing campaigns should target first-time homebuyers or other types of investors. 

A real estate marketing team should invest in real estate market research so they can prepare for dips and rises in the market. You can do market research in-house with a market researcher or work with a third-party advisor.

6. Targeting the Right Audience

A successful advertising campaign will tap and target the right audience. For example, realtors wouldn’t want to spend money on campaigns that don’t reach people interested in buying or selling their homes. 

By targeting the right audience, real estate professionals can grow their potential reach. 

7. Keeping Up With Trends

Real estate agencies deal with shifting trends and fluctuations. The best way to compete with others in the industry is to stay ahead of the current real estate trends. Trends such as the use of social media, apps, and more can help you beat your competition. 

Marketing Strategies for Real Estate Professionals 

Real estate marketing is challenging even for the most experienced marketers. Whether you have a marketing department in-house or are doing everything yourself, here are a few strategies real estate professionals can use to take their marketing to the next level:

Live Videos

Live video on social media is important for every industry. The most popular live streaming is Facebook Live, but it’s becoming increasingly more popular on Instagram, Twitter, and even LinkedIn. Live videos allow realtors to engage with their audience in real-time, which can result in more qualified leads and followers on social media channels. 

Real estate professionals can use live video on social media for:

• Video tours
• Q&As
• DIY tips
• News
• Webinars

Drones

Drones allow realtors to create better content to share and are ideal for covering luxury properties and estates. They can also show the house for sale and its property from above by creating aerial videos of the entire neighborhoods to attract homebuyers. 

Virtual Staging

Staging a home encourages buyers to picture themselves living in the home. The right staging can give the home a personality that appeals to the masses. Not to mention, empty homes don’t look good in photos, videos, or real life.

Instead, realtors can present homes that are perfectly furnished. Luckily, modern software makes it easy to virtually stage a home without renting furniture or hiring a staging company. 

Virtual Real Estate Agents

With more people from all industries working remotely, realtors are no exception. Virtual brokers are one of the newest disruptive real estate trends. Several services can save time and cut costs for both realtors and buyers. 

When individuals work with a virtual broker, they must research them and their reputation to know you’re working with a legit company. According to Shareable for Hires, you can run a professional license background check to make sure they are licensed to operate in your state. 

Microsites

One strategy many realtors can choose to market their listings is to build microsites for luxury homes. These websites can help generate leads and allow agents control over the types of content they want to share on their website and social media pages. This also helps them avoid sharing commissions. 

Final Thoughts

Real estate fluctuates more than most industries, which means marketing campaigns need to be planned ahead of time so they can explore what will happen when things change. For example, in a seller’s market, marketing campaigns should be geared toward obtaining clients looking to sell their homes rather than buyers who might not be able to afford to purchase a home. By understanding your target audience and staying up to date on current consumer behavior, you can develop marketing campaigns that succeed. 

Matt Casadona

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. He is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music. 

Moving into your first apartment is an exciting and wonderful time. You now have your own space that you can do whatever you want with. It’s completely up to you how you decorate it and what interior design to ideas to use. 

Decorating small spaces can be challenging at times, which is why it’s so important to know what you want each room to offer you. Once you have an idea for each open space in the apartment, you can then begin looking for apartment decor and furniture. Before you begin buying every piece of furniture or home decor item you see, do know a few helpful apartment decorating tips.

Because apartments don’t have as much space as many homes do, you need to know how to utilize the space you do have well. In this guide, you’ll discover several tips for decorating a small apartment while still making it a home. Continue reading below to get started!

1. Purchase Double-Purpose Furniture

One of the first things to consider when furniture shopping for your apartment is double-purpose furniture. Look for furniture items that serve more than one purpose in your home. Double-purpose furniture will help you save space and will add to your amount of storage. 

For example, a coffee table that opens up as storage is a great place to store remotes, blankets, coasters, board games, and other knick-knacks. A bed frame with drawers attached will also increase your storage options. There are many different types of multi-purpose furniture items to choose from. 

Always look into these options first so your home can be functional and clutter-free. Be sure to work with these realtors to help you find an apartment that provides the right amount of space and storage needed for you to live comfortably 

2. Bring It to Life With Plants

Plants can make a room seem larger than it is by bringing the outdoors inside. Live plants give your apartment a splash of green while improving your indoor air quality. Be sure to find plants that can also aid you when needed. 

For example, the aloe plant is ideal for minor scrapes, cuts, and burns. You can easily cut off one of the aloe leaves and use it when needed. If you don’t have a green thumb, don’t panic. 

Many plants require little maintenance, such as the aloe plant, other succulents, the snake plant, and more! Low-maintenance plants are always a great choice and will look amazing in your new place. 

3. Create a Welcoming Entryway 

What’s the first thing you want to see each time you come home? The answer most likely isn’t clutter and chaos. Take the time to create a clean clutter-free, and welcoming entryway. 

If you have a small entryway, start by hanging a mirror nearby. Mirrors help make an area appear larger than it is. Then, hang a few hooks for coats and bags. 

You can also place a small, narrow bin on the floor for your umbrellas. Include a small bench for sitting on while taking shoes on and off if possible. If the bench opens or has drawers under it, then this is ideal for shoe storage. 

Adding these items will help keep your belongings organized but will also create that warm and welcoming feel you expect from a homey environment. 

4. Personalize With Artwork and Photos

Your first apartment is the first home you have where you can make all of the decisions. Your first apartment is a space to make your own. Personalize it by adding artwork you love looking at every day. 

Make the space even more personal by adding family photos or photos with friends. You can hang these photos on the walls, in the hallway, or have them resting on a side table. The same is true for your artwork pieces. 

Do whatever is necessary to make the apartment feel like your private oasis. 

5. Take a Chance on Removeable Wallpaper

When you think of wallpaper, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Hopefully not a hideous mustard-colored design straight from the 1920s that’s a nightmare to remove. Today, wallpaper has come a long way.

There’s now no need to worry about the difficulties of removing the wallpaper once applied. You now have the option to use removable wallpaper. It’s easy to remove and a great option for apartments, since painting the walls will require you to paint them back to white when moving out. 

There are many great patterns and designs to choose from in removable wallpaper. You can even decide to use it on an accent wall only. When you’re ready for a new design, simply pull it off and replace it with a new one. 

When it’s time to move out, you won’t have to worry about spending time repainting walls. 

Decorating Your First Apartment Has Never Been More Enjoyable

Moving into your first apartment is an occasion to celebrate! This marks the beginning of a new, independent chapter for you. You now have an entire apartment to call your own and decorate how you’d like. 

To get the most out of your apartment space, be sure to use all of the helpful tips and advice listed above. Use multi-purpose furniture to save space and add storage, incorporate live plants into the design to add some touches of nature, make your entryway a warm and welcoming place, and personalize the apartment to truly make it your own. 

For more helpful topics similar to this one and to find property available near you, visit here on a daily basis. 

Author: Steffy Alen

Technology continues to be the major initiator for change in all business areas, and the real estate market is no exception. The need for change intensified in the wake of the pandemic, which has profoundly shifted the way many real estate firms operate.

Today, the investors in real estate are continuously focusing on the intersection between people and their built environments. Below are different ways how technology will change the role of real estate post-pandemic.

Greater operational efficiencies

With the growth of the ecommerce industry, there is a continued rise in the demand for warehouses in different states. Many business people are looking forward to having shops online and storing their goods in warehouses where they can pick them for delivery. On the other hand, the consumers are expecting faster delivery and the logistics industry needs to streamline its operations more effectively to ensure that they provide flexible solutions.

Real estate firms are working hard to ensure collaborations with the customers to the employees, and the brand partnerships are made easy. Different innovations in commercial real estate are increasingly taking shape after being optimized for better performance. Real estate firms are looking forward to adopting multifunctional space in their buildings.

As many companies have adopted remote working methodology, real estate developers must ensure that the interior spaces include aesthetic yet highly functional for the work environment.

Community for residential rentals

The pandemic has left millions of people isolated and lonely, which means a looming mental healthcare crisis in communities. It is expected that the community will gain more importance in residential rental space than other business-related aspects. A lot of technology will be invested in designing community-based apartments to cater to house shortages.

In the construction of the new houses, proximity to work and home will highly be considered in future. Or places with a highly developed network will be considered for setting the residential rentals. There were cases where people are offering essential services were locked from entering into the other states as they lived far away from the company’s premises.

Today, people are valuing their quality of life and time more than any other aspect of life. Having residential real estate close to offices, especially in a walkable community, is more appealing as it minimizes the cost of traveling and other related expenses.

Conversion of the unused spaces

The pandemic has greatly led to decreased demand for offices as most companies switched to working from home. So, there was no need to pay for an office that was not beneficial to the company.

Many hotels and office buildings have been empty for more than a year in many states, and if nothing is done, these properties may never recover. There are plans underway to convert some of the now-empty spaces into apartment buildings to reduce house shortages and properly use their property.

In the conversion process in the development world, top-to-bottom makeovers might take some years depending on the government regulations and the amount of capital needed for the conversion processes.

It’s because most of the real estate firms made huge losses during the pandemic and the owners of the houses have to think twice about the reinvention process. In addition, space and safety might also complicate some of the conversion procedures.

Environmentally-friendly construction

With many people staying at home and rarely having time to travel to the other states, the cost of utility bills is not limited to energy consumption raised drastically. Many people complained of the rising cost of the electricity bills in different states as they had to use more often than they had done it before. It’s now expected that the new houses will fit with quality energy-efficient appliances. 

Integration of smart grid appliances like refrigerators in the houses is expected to rise as it’s becoming a new standard in the high-end developments. The appliances are designed to use the least possible energy, and it’s advantageous to both the owner and the environment.

In addition, there is a high probability that the future real estate buildings will be constructed mainly with green insulation and bridgeable materials to reduce the construction industry’s carbon footprint.

Automation for managing repetitive tasks

There are a lot of repetitive tasks that have to be done in real estate management. As many people were shifting their properties to other affordable states, it became key for the landlords, realtors and property management to keep signing the same documents more often than before. With this type of data, it becomes very difficult for you to store it and make insightful decisions when planning how to better the real estate.

Also, the process is time-consuming and very inefficient. It’s expected that the real estate firms will invest in tech solutions designed to help handle repetitive tasks more efficiently without risking the lives of their clients. The available variety of software options out the tee for the real estate include; appointment software, marketing management and the real estate portfolio.

Smart home technology

Residential real estate is expected to change for the better thanks to the smart home technologies that are being introduced. Different apartments are now being built with inbuilt security systems, televisions, thermostats, and speaker systems. As the pandemic ravaged different states, people were busy looking for better homes where they could stay with minimal disruptions.

With the advanced technology, it is expected that more smart home applications will be integrated when building houses to ensure that the clients have comfortable lives during their stay at the apartments.

Cloud Integration

Cloud technology has grown recently to becoming one of the most significant advancements in the field of technology. Today, the application of cloud services has been spread globally, with people opting to use it for different purposes. Real estate firms can, in the future, implement the landing and closing of their property and store all the information on the cloud.

Cloud integration will help to ensure that the real estate firms’ data won’t get into unauthorized hands or any illegal access. With cloud integration, real estate managers can carry out their activities without traveling to the place where the apartments are located. It’s expected that there will be more remote closings and an increase in electronic document signing. Cloud technology will make it easier for real estate developers to carry out their activities with ease.

Conclusion

The advancing technology is set to affect the role of real estate in the post-pandemic in the above ways. How the real estate firms respond to the challenges they faced during the pandemic will determine how efficient they will be in managing future real estate properties. 

Author Bio:

Charlie Svensson is a fast, engaging freelance writer who works for AssignmentHolic, which is regarding as one of the best essay and dissertation services. His job is to provide writing and research assignment help to students. He’s interested in topics like education, university life, education technology, internet marketing and personal growth. He has excellent skills to write amazing content and woo his audience.

Image by David Mark on Pixabay 

Were you aware that being a real estate agent is one of the best careers?

Many people aspire to become real estate agents because the job comes with a plethora of benefits. Not only can you earn a lot of money, but you’ll also have more time to do other things.

Before you can become one, you must pass a real estate exam that ensures you know how to complete tasks and serve clients. To help you with real estate exam prep, we’ll cover all the main info you should know.

Here are 7 tips and tricks to help you pass your real estate license exam!

1. Search for Practice Exams

When it comes to passing a real estate agent exam, one of the best things you can do is search online for practice exams. Many people do this in school for other kinds of tests, so you won’t have a problem finding sites that offer them for upcoming real estate agents.

When taking a real estate practice exam, you’ll get a better idea of what to expect from the real thing. This will not only help you prepare your answers, but it’ll ensure you can go in with a clear mind.

2. Take Care of the Easiest Questions

Whenever you start a real estate exam, glance over it and look for questions that you’re certain you know the answers to. Take care of these questions first so you can spend more time focusing on the harder questions.

While many people choose to save the easiest questions for last, doing them first lets you have more “weight” if you don’t finish the exam. For example, if you only manage to complete 5 hard questions but haven’t done 20 easy questions, you’ll fail the exam.

3. Study Effectively

Another thing you should do is ensure you’re studying effectively. Determining what’s effective for you will vary depending on what you like. Some people prefer to study in silence whereas others listen to music. Find a method that makes you comfortable and able to focus on the material.

One thing you can do is separate yourself from your phone to avoid looking at it. Consider placing it in another room so you don’t subconsciously think about it. You should also ensure it’s silenced to prevent getting interrupted.

When studying, avoid trying to learn a plethora of material at once. Instead, take things one at a time so you’re able to process and retain the information. You’ll then have an easier time referencing it when taking the real estate exam.

4. Research the Market

Taking a real estate course often involves learning about the basics of real estate. However, you can take things further and research your local market. This is especially beneficial to anyone that wants to become an agent in NY and other large cities.

Your real estate exam may include info about your local housing market, so it won’t hurt to research the latest trends. This will also help you create realistic expectations when you pass the exam and become a licensed real estate agent.

5. Learn About the Requirements

The requirements to become a real estate agent vary depending on where you live. Some places may require nothing more than passing an exam whereas others require extensive courses. Because of this, it’s best to research your local requirements to find out whether you need to do something else after the exam.

Having peace of mind will make it much easier to concentrate on your exam, so try to get this info long before you take it. You’ll also know whether to study about something else before taking the initial real estate license exam. 

6. Don’t Aim to Be Perfect

Many students find themselves struggling with exams because they try to get a perfect score. However, getting a perfect score requires knowing everything that’ll be on the exam, which is much harder than know enough to pass.

When you pass a real estate agent exam, you can become a licensed agent. Getting a perfect score doesn’t provide you with any other benefits, so don’t stress yourself out if you’re having a hard time understanding a concept.

Learn as much as you can while using effective studying practices. From there, you shouldn’t have a problem getting a passing score.

7. Seek Guidance

The last thing you can do is seek guidance if you still aren’t feeling confident. When doing this, you can look for other licensed real estate agents to have them help you with different concepts. Depending on where you’re taking your course, they may offer on-site tutors that can also help.

Seeking guidance doesn’t have to be a last-minute thing. You can get assistance as you’re going through a course and studying for the exam. If help is still needed, you can ask for more assistance when the exam is coming up to help you refresh your mind.

Start Using These Real Estate Exam Prep Tips

After reading this article, you now know what some of the main strategies are that people use for real estate exam prep. With this information, you shouldn’t have a problem getting a solid understanding of your real estate materials to pass the exam.

Consider starting with practice exams before doing anything else. As you go through several, note the things that you don’t understand so you can spend more time studying them. Everything else will fall into place as you follow these tips.

To learn more about real estate agent exam advice, check out our other articles!

Author: Steffy Alen

As we welcome the Autumn season, it’s time to get down to work and start those home renovation projects that you have been thinking about for the last few months. While home renovations can be time-consuming, expensive, and tiring, they will pay off in the long run. So, what home renovations have you been thinking of engaging in this season? Autumn is the best season for home renovations and maintenance because the cold and gloomy season is on its way. In this post, we are going to discuss the five renovations that you can do this season without spending a lot of money on time. Let’s get started!

1.      Clean the roof gutters and pipes

Since the leaves will start falling, there is no valid excuse that will prevent you from cleaning the gutters. Gutters need to be cleaned at least twice a year. This is especially true if you have trees around your house. Cleaning the gutters and pipes can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Leaves prevent water from flowing through the gutters and pipes. And stagnant water can lead to the rotting of pipes severely. Before cleaning your gutters, you need to walk around your house especially during or after a rainy day to check for blockages and leaks. Doing this will help you get an idea of the cost that you’ll incur.

To clean your gutters and pipes, all you have to do is set up a wheelbarrow below and climb up a ladder with a garden trawl to remove the muck and grime. Use a trowel to push and scope the leaves away from the downpipe. You should also consider raking your roof so that the next downpour doesn’t carry the debris into your cleaned gutters. Ensure that your ladder is steady because a fall can lead to serious injuries.

After scoping all the dirt, flush the gutters with clean water and see how water flows through the downpipe. If there is no free flow, get back to the ground and use a twisted wire to pull the debris down. If your house is surrounded by trees, you should consider investing in a stainless steel mesh to guard your gutters.

2.      Fix or replace and paint your fence

Have you ever argued with your neighbors because of the shared fences? The Victoria Fence Act of 1968 clearly states that neighbors are equally responsible for the construction and maintenance of fences. If you want to replace the existing fence and your neighbor is unwilling to incur these costs, you shall do it at your own cost as long as the existing fence is good enough.

If the existing fence is not good enough, meaning it’s incomplete, broken, or doesn’t provide the boundary or security that a fence should, then you and your neighbor should replace it at a joint cost. You need to communicate with your neighbor about any plans that you have regarding the fence to avoid conflicts. If the fence needs to be fixed or replaced, you should discuss:

• The amount both of you plan on spending
• The materials to be used e.g. wire, stone, wood, plants, or brick
• The new height
• Date of removal of old fence and construction of the new fence
• Who gets which side of the fence

3.      Repaint or render your home’s exterior

If your home’s exterior looks old and tired, the easiest and quickest way to modernize and change the looks of your property is by rendering it. Rendering involves filling the gaps between bricks to give your home a textured or smooth finish. You can also consider attaching stucco to your home’s exterior to improve its looks.

Bagging is another DIY technique that you should consider using. Bagging won’t give your home a uniform look. However, it might end up suiting the design of your home. If you are thinking of selling your home in the future, you should spend more time renovating the exterior of your house since it gives buyers the first impression of your house.

4.      Remodel the interior of your home

Do you have that wall in your home that creates a funny separation in the living area? Or do you want an open plan kitchen-dining area instead of three separate rooms? Eliminating the wall can make your house more spacious. However, there are some crucial steps that you need to take before doing away with the walls.

First, initiate contact with the local council to obtain your home’s plan if you don’t have them. The builder has to look at these documents to determine whether the wall has electrics. After lodging the necessary permits, the council will need to approve them before you start the construction process. Depending on the type of wall, there might be some expertise needed to remove it. And in most cases, it will need to be lifted. These steps might sound complicated, however, don’t let them put you off. This process will not only improve the function of your home but also its value.

5.      Upgrade the kitchen or bathroom

Nothing is more attractive in a house than a clean bathroom and a modern kitchen. While these are some of the cheapest areas to renovate, they can also be quite expensive depending on the amount of work or resources that are needed. If the walls need to be moved, piping needs to be changed or appliances need to be updated, you should expect to spend more than ten thousand dollars.

However, if you are just upgrading accessories, taps, towel rails, or kitchen mixers, you shouldn’t expect to spend much especially if you are shopping at the right place. This doesn’t mean that you should sacrifice quality to save costs. You should consider buying items at online stores that offer discounts.

Bonus tip: Clean and reseal the deck

As the rays of the sun hit your deck, it will start fading. Once the grain gets washed out, your deck will look tired and worn. You should dedicate a few minutes every day to giving your deck tender care. Before you start the re-staining process, you need to clean your deck thoroughly. One of the best ways to clean your deck is by using Napisan. It contains active ingredients that are used to clean wood. Once your deck has been scrubbed, you should consider using a wood brightener which is usually in form of a spray. There’s no better way to apply a stain than using a good paintbrush.

Conclusion

These are some of the cheapest home renovations that you should consider doing in autumn. What are you going to start doing today to transform the looks of your house?

Author Bio:

Charlie Svensson is fast, engaging freelance writer at Paperwritingpro, superiorpapers.com and cv writing service. Skilled in content writing and blogging. The favorite topics of his posts are education, social media, marketing, SEO, motivation blogging and self-growth. Excellent adaptability of skills to reach diverse audiences.

Image by PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay 

The government implements COVID-19 containment measures that shuttered offices and businesses and affected the demand for commercial real estate. The pandemic also blurred the industry outlook companies implemented work-from-home initiatives. A recent IMF analysis discovered that these trends could cause a disruption in the market and possibly threaten financial stability.

The Relationship to Financial Stability

The commercial real estate sector can potentially affect broader financial stability because price movements reflect the expansive macro-financial picture. Moreover, it depends heavily on debt funding. Loans comprise a considerable portion of banks’ lending portfolios, and in some cases, nonbank financial intermediaries also play a role. 

An adverse shock to commercial real estate can decrease its prices and affect the credit quality of borrowers and the balance sheets of lenders. Falling prices have their risk of price misalignments. Commercial real estate prices can deviate from economic fundamentals can magnify the dangers of future growth. For example, a drop of 50 basis points in the capitalization rate can increase the downside risks to GDP growth by 1.4% in the short term and 2.5% in the medium term.

The Damage Caused by COVID-19

Increased price misalignments are an evident effect of the pandemic, and it comes from the sharp drop in operating revenues and overall demand. However, they can diminish as the economy starts gaining momentum. The possible structural changes in the market will prove to be challenging to the sector. For instance, an increase of 5% in the vacancy rates can result in a 15% drop in fair values after five years.

The Role of Policymakers in Offsetting Financial Stability Risks

Nonfinancial firms get help in accessing credit through low rates to help in the commercial real estate recovery. However, the uncomplicated financial conditions entice risk-taking and add to the pricing misalignments. Policymakers can use their macro-prudential policy toolkit to restrict the debt service coverage and loan-to-value ratios to address the vulnerabilities.

Moreover, policymakers can broaden the reach of this policy by covering nonbanking financial institutions. Lastly, ensuring the strength of the banking sector and performing stress testing can help decision-makers setting aside adequate capital for commercial real estate exposures.

Ten Ways Innovation Will Affect the Commercial Real Estate Post-Pandemic

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on everyone, and one of its most affected industries is commercial real estate. As businesses shut down and others work remotely, only a few stores remain open. New ventures are hard to come by, and demand for purchase or lease of commercial buildings is low. However, as many people know, these effects are only temporary.

With the world slowly returning to normal, employees return to work, and stores begin to open. Commercial real estate is abuzz, and with this development, innovation is now awash with possibilities. Here are ten ways how the industry will respond to the global pandemic effects:

1.    Heightened Demand for Multifunctional Spaces

The pandemic increased the number of people working from home. As companies become open to employees doing virtual work, developers must include aesthetic and functional pockets in interior spaces conducive to work. Privacy, advanced digital capabilities, and adaptability of rooms for recreational use during non-working hours will determine the new home office.

2.    Increased Need for Sustainable Buildings

Buildings add about 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions; therefore, real estate leaders must spend on healthier materials and energy-saving designs. As governments implement stricter regulations about sustainability, properties that do not focus on it will lose value because no one will occupy them. They become uninsurable and obsolete too.

3.    Changing Definitions for Real Estate

The merging of residential and commercial real estate will force the industry to create a more specific definition of commercial. The merging of working, playing, and living spaces, together with the ways to own and invest, will require inventive and iterative meanings to account for the changing operations of economic progress and the future of living.

4.    Focusing on Nearness to Home and Work

 Community development requires the building of more spaces for living, playing, and working. More and more people value their time and quality of life. Proximity to play and work areas are now more appealing to reduce expenses and travel time.

5.    Transforming Unused Office Spaces

Because of the considerable decrease in office space demand because of the digital economy and work-from-home initiatives, underutilized commercial spaces will become condominiums.

6.    Soaring Real Estate Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will reduce operating expenses at the corporate and property levels. The commercial broker and appraiser will have a reduced rule over time because of the automation of most activities.

7.    Rising Demand for Technology Solutions

Legal tech will automate and centralize case management because of the volume of transactions. The industry can use AI to predict foreclosure timelines for more efficiency.

8.    Modernizing Housing Developments

Because of work-from-home initiatives due to COVID-19, housing design will experience the most significant innovations. Owners and developers will rethink their house layouts. Much of the time spent in the residence will be in the at-home office.

9.    Integrating Data with Relational Information

Access to real estate knowledge, data, and information will improve due to technology. Real estate professionals control the integration of this access with appropriate relationships and experience, but they must always focus on relationships.

10. Increasing Number of Portals for Commercial Real Estate

More property portals will pop up because they have to reach more clients across markets. Companies will cooperate to serve the needs of prospects and owners.

Final Thoughts

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on all industries, but the commercial real estate sector is one of the most heavily affected areas. This large sector can cause financial stability risks that policymakers can reduce by using their macro-prudential policy toolkit. 

Aside from the damages, the pandemic is also a way to implement many innovative ways to help the commercial real estate sector:

• Increased demand for multifunctional areas
• Heightened requirement for sustainable structures
• Evolving definitions for commercial real estate
• Concentrating on proximity to work and home
• Revamping unused office spaces
• Increasing real estate automation
• Spiraling demand for technology
• Improving housing developments
• Merging data with relational information
• A growing number of portals for commercial real estate

These ten predictions for innovation can help the commercial real estate sector to get up on its feet again post-pandemic. The eagerness and willingness of everyone involved can make these forecasts become a reality soon.

About the Author

Charlie Svensson is a fast-rising and charming freelance writer for writing services australia. He uses his excellent skills in blogging and content writing while actively providing proofreading services UK. Charlie loves to write about social media, SEO, self-growth, education, marketing, and motivation blogging. As an assignment help writer, he can quickly adapt his skills to engage his diverse audiences.

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Building your own house from scratch lets you design every part of it as per your needs. Personalization goes beyond the furniture you decide to buy for the house; you can find an experienced contractor, provide inputs throughout the building process, avoid harmful chemicals, and cut costs exactly where necessary.

It’s certainly not as easy as buying a ready house, but with the right contractor by your side, you can build your own house with little to no help at all. Here’s how.

Take time to choose your contractor

An experienced contractor who understands your vision and needs is the only help you need in your house building process. You can apply for an owner-builder permit (if your state allows it) and do it all yourself. However, it’s advised that you hire a contractor to oversee the entire building process. Through them, you can find reliable sources for different materials needed to build your house.

Here in the UK, assuming you have planning consent in place, there will be specific building regulations to adhere to. It will be a case of working with a professional contractor that understands the rules of the game,” comments James Durr of quick house sale company Property Solvers.

A contractor will provide their inputs to help you avoid any mistakes in your build and finally create a shell for you to continue with. If you work effectively with a contractor that understands your vision for the house, you’ll make the entire process a lot easier for yourself while reducing the chances of future structural damages to your house.

Plan your house investment

Buying an existing house gives you the full sum needed to buy it. Building a house yourself requires planning investments, as you will have to evaluate your expenses on house materials as well as the interior decor work once the house is built. Sit with your contractor and calculate the amount you’d need to complete the entire project.

During this calculation, look for ways to reduce your costs by opting for cheaper alternatives. Don’t try to save at the cost of your house’s structural integrity or safety. It’s better to spend on your house while building it rather than repairing it after every month or two. 

Set your foundation and house shell

Your contractor will have the biggest role to play in this. Building a secure foundation for your house along with a shell resembling your vision is a tedious but crucial task. Your entire project will be based on this phase, so it’s important to give it its due time. This process will require you a permit, but your contractor will be responsible for acquiring the permits required throughout your building process.

You should dig your ground and pour concrete with spaces left vacant for the basement (if you choose to have one). Raise vertical foundations along with the entire shell of the house and you will be ready for the next phase of the build. Once the foundation is laid down, an inspector will check the structural integrity for any flaws. Once you get the approval, you will be able to continue with framing and the rest of the build.

Framing, Electrical and Plumbing Connections

Framing will involve building the shell or exoskeleton of the house. Once the shell is made, exterior attachments such as boards, walls, doors and floors would be set in place. This will have to be interrupted in its rough stages as the next task would involve planning and implementing plumbing and electrical connections. 

Take your time to plan this thoroughly and have sufficient connections throughout your house. Your contractor will help in ensuring each section of your house is included, and the electrical and plumbing systems can function without any obstructions in the future. 

Making a thorough plan can save you a lot of hassle in the future and save money spent on repairs and maintenance. Again, inspectors will check each system and the frame structure, after which you can continue building. 

House completion and inspections

The rest of the process can be summed up as it would include finer details such as flooring, tiles, interior decor, furniture, and other house additions. If you ever feel the need for help, talk to your contractor, who can help you with whatever help you may need by connecting you to reliable workers. 

Throughout your house building process, you will have to undergo inspections to ensure the house would maintain its structure in the future. Moreover, the safety of the house would also be thoroughly checked. Apart from the inspectors, you must go around the house to see if you missed anything important. 

Finances

Managing your finances during the project will be one of the hardest challenges. Finding the right priced materials without compromising on quality takes time and a lot of searches. You could take a construction loan to help you finance the project. 

However, it’s advised that you make a budget excluding the loan amount and formulate a plan around it. This will help you stay well below your total sum (savings+loans) and make your expenses a lot more thought-out. Include your contractor’s fee in this budget as well. Contractors take a substantial amount at the end of the project and require financial planning as well.

While building your house, find ways to install equipment that saves you money in the future. This includes electrical equipment like solar panels and energy-efficient radiators, along with high-quality pipes and systems that require very little maintenance. Opting for such methods can help you regain any excess money you may have put into your house. 

Conclusion

Building a house from scratch is a long process, but it comes with the benefit of greater space for personalization. By following all the steps and tips mentioned above, you’ll be able to stay on top of your house plan and financial expenses. Keep in mind that your house will remain an asset for many years to come. By investing in good materials, you’d save yourself a lot of money that would otherwise be spent on maintenance in the future. Work alongside a trustworthy contractor, and you’ll be able to build the house you dreamt of.

Author Bio:

Leon Collier is a freelance blogger and academic writer from the UK working with essay writer service and UK dissertations. He likes to explore a subject deeply and cover areas that are usually left untouched by other writers. This quality makes him an outstanding writer. His hobbies are reading books and playing board games with his friends. Get in touch with him on Twitter @LeonCollier12.

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Your next home project is going to improve your home, whether it’s small or large. Maybe you plan to update only one thing, like the flooring in your kitchen, or maybe you plan to do a large-scale renovation of the entire kitchen. Unfortunately, renovating any part of your home isn’t easy or cheap. However, it can increase your home’s value if you plan to move. 

To effectively plan your next home project, you need a budget, and to start a budget, you need a plan of action. Here’s how you can create a smart budget and make the right decisions when it comes to home projects. 

Find Out How Much the Project Cost

Everything you do to your home costs money– from painting its exterior to doing a full renovation. All home projects will come at different price points depending on what the project is and the types of help you’ll need. For example, installing a new bathroom counter will be cheaper than renovating the entire bathroom. If you do choose more renovations, you can expect to pay thousands of dollars. 

Many factors go into the cost of a home project, including:

• Size of the project
• Room size
• Type of work needed
• Cost of materials
• Cost of labor 

The easiest way to create a budget is to write down all of the projects you want then price them out. You can do this by getting bids for each project and rank your projects according to your priorities. Next, you’ll need to budget out the projects you choose as a top priority. 

How Much Should You Spend?

We can’t tell you how much to spend on a renovation or home project, but spending too much won’t add as much value to your home as you think because people will be paying for your home based on ones of similar size, the number of bedrooms, and the number of bathrooms in your area. If you turn your house into a multimillion-dollar house in a neighborhood where homes cost a fourth of that, you may not be able to sell your house for the asking price too easily. 

As a general rule, try not to spend half of what your home is currently worth for small renovations like one or two rooms. Instead, look at your monthly budget and decide what you can afford and how much value it can bring to your home. 

How to Create a Home Project Budget

To start your project, you can use these steps to create a budget:

1. Prioritize

Remember that list we mentioned earlier? Get that out and begin writing down all of the projects you want to be done on your home. Make sure to list the ones that affect your living situation first. For example, if you have dangerous electrical wiring, you should make that your top priority before changing out the flooring because it can affect your safety. 

You should also take care of any home maintenance first, such as plumbing issues, or fixing things around the house so you can fully enjoy the results of your home project. There’s no use in renovating a bathroom when the toilet doesn’t work properly. 

If you don’t have any rooms with major issues but want to make some changes, write down the changes you want to make that can add value to your home. If you plan on living in your home for the rest of your life, you may choose to go with renovation projects you want instead of ones a potential homebuyer would want. 

2. Outline Estimates

Now it’s time to do a little math. Once you’ve decided which home project will be your top priority, you’ll need to break down the cost of every little thing that goes into it. This part will take a lot of your time because you’ll need to do research. 

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get exact costs until you talk with the contractors you’ll be working with for your home project. However, you can search online to get ballpark estimates so you know what to expect in terms of estimates and budgeting. 

When it comes to spending money on maintenance projects, you can use the same 1% rule that landlords use. According to SmartMove, “Many professional property managers use what they call the 1% rule: One percent of the total property value should be set aside to address rental maintenance expenses.” 

Therefore, if your house is worth $300,000, then you should set aside $3,000 for maintenance costs before moving onto your next home project. 

In your budget breakdown, make a chart of the name of the cost, what percentage of the budget it takes up, and what the estimate will be. Then, you can total it up and get a final number for your overall budget. 

Taking this step and doing research gives you a better idea of how much each part of the project will cost. It can also help you figure out ways to cut costs in some areas so you can spend more in others. For example, if you need a certain countertop for your kitchen, you may be able to find cheaper flooring with the right research. 

3. Collect Bids

Now that you have realistic prices in mind, it’s time to talk to a contractor. You can ask around or search online for these professionals. Try to find at least three contractors in your area with good reviews and request project bids and timelines. This allows you to compare pricing. 

Beware of the lowest bid because you might end up paying for a contractor that doesn’t get the project done on time or becomes unprofessional midway through the project. If you receive a bid that is thousands of dollars lower than the estimated budget you put together, then this might be a red flag. However, if your estimate is only a few hundred dollars off the bid and it’s a large project, you may have simply miscalculated. Remember, the estimate you put together is not the exact cost you can expect to pay. 

Never DIY Home Projects

Unless you’re a contractor yourself, you should never try to take on a large DIY project yourself to cut costs. While you may think you’re saving yourself tens of thousands of dollars, you could actually be costing yourself more when you realize you made a mistake and need to hire a professional to fix those errors. 

Matt Casadona

Matt Casadona has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt is passionate about marketing and business strategy and enjoys San Diego life, traveling, and music. 

Real estate is one of the most lucrative markets in the world. Everyone wants to own a property. However, it is highly competitive. The competition is understandable as businesses are vying to hold the most value in the market. You could describe the real estate market as a shark tank. You have to be innovative and fit if you want to survive in the real estate market. When looked at it from a competitive perspective, you can’t help but feel like small real estate businesses will not survive. However, things aren’t strictly black and white. No company can claim to control the real estate market.

The real estate market is vast. Because of this, your real estate business, no matter how small, can make a significant impact in the market. You only have to be resourceful and think outside the box. The fact is you don’t have the marketing budget of larger real estate firms, but what you have will work. You can’t be bullish like these big firms, but you can be precise and smarter than them. Contrary to what the big companies want you to think, you can upstage them.

We are pretty confident in you achieving success. Your small real estate business is in the era of the explosion of the internet. The internet is a great disruptor and a leveler. Skeptical? Okay, but a report made by the NAR (National Association of Realtors), over 50% of home buyers found their home online. So, as a small business, you can take advantage of the internet to improve the chances of your marketing strategies. In addition, you don’t need to feel pressured to compete. The market is a large one. Pressuring yourself to compete causes you to make a hasty real estate strategy. So, in this list, we will analyze crucial real estate marketing strategies that will help you compete favorably as a small business.

Study the Market and Have a Target Base

Even if you were a big business with a massive budget, you could waste money by marketing to the wrong audience. Your ROI wouldn’t reflect your marketing expenses. So, the first thing you do as a real estate business is to research. You have to study the market. Studying the market would allow you to identify the various audience and niches. When you can successfully identify a place, you can decide to target them. So, instead of imprecise marketing, you get a personalized form of marketing that targets an audience.

As a small business, personalization is key to your success. Big businesses have their pedigree to speak for them, but they tend to disconnect with the audience more. As a small business, you can build a personal relationship with your audience to relate to you and do business with you.

You can’t go wrong when you research. Apart from finding a niche, you would be able to predict a market when you study it. For instance, you can learn about the various risks, the market direction, etc. This knowledge would let you create your short and long-term marketing strategy. Also, it would determine your approach to your real estate marketing.

Budget

Here comes the money talk. As a small business, the money talks are vital to you. You can’t afford to spend lavishly. You have to be more intelligent, hence, your budget. Create an extensive budget and stick religiously to it. Things are now in your favor, even if you have a minimal marketing budget. You can use the alternative form of marketing that the internet provides, rather than the more expensive traditional marketing.

Create Awareness for your Brand: Internet Version.

Like big real marketing businesses, you need people to be aware of your brand. You need people to know you, and one of the ways you can achieve this is through the internet. You can use the internet in several ways. You can use;

• Social Media
• Websites and Blog
• Email Marketing

Social Media

Social Media is crucial when it comes to a small business like yours. Remember, earlier. We mentioned something about your audience relating to you. You can achieve this through social media. What you want to do here is to create social media accounts across all platforms. There are about 4.5 billion social media users worldwide, and creating accounts across the various social media can let people be familiar with your real estate business.

Although, it is not just about opening accounts across all platforms. It is about using those platforms correctly. For instance, you have to curate content for your accounts. Contents give you the link to interacting with your audience. You can create contests across your social media accounts to the reader the most interactive members of your audience. In addition, you can use social media influencers. These influencers have a significant following on social media, and through them, you can connect to an even larger audience. Furthermore, you can use social media ads. Depending on the social media platform, you can tweak these ads to focus on a particular section of social media users that fit your niche

Websites and Blog

A website allows your audience to connect fully with your brand. Websites are hallmarks of professionalism, and through your website, you can tell your audience about yourself. Also, your blog should be part of your website. A blog allows you to create unique content. There are word limits on social media platforms that could prevent you from expressing yourself fully.

Email Marketing

Email marketing is a legend among marketing, and you can make it work for you. You can acquire mails in any form and send personalized emails to your audience. You can use email marketing to announce discounts, events, etc.

Create Brand Awareness: Physical Marketing Version

Although you have a smaller budget, this doesn’t stop you from hitting the streets and meeting people physically. We aren’t talking about the old door-to-door salesman marketing strategy of old, but we admit it’s something close to it. This involves meeting people, sharing fliers, using stickers, pasting papers on buses, benches, etc.

Building a Strong Customer Care

Customer care is one way to keep an audience and get them to talk about you. It is the best PR you can do for yourself. A successful business is built on its ability to address issues raised by customers. Addressing customers has to be done quickly to retain them. You don’t have an excuse for not attending to customers on time. Through the internet, your social media platforms would be barraged by questions from customers. You have to be quick in responding to these customers.

A prompt response would make a customer speak favorably of your business and promote you to other people for free.

Author Bio:

Charlie Svensson is an engaging freelance writer in content writing and blogging. She has written for a credible essay writing service and a dissertation service. He is also skilled at custom essay writing.  He loves writing on education, social media, marketing, SEO, motivation blogging, and self-growth. Excellent adaptability of skills to reach diverse audiences.

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