SkyFive Properties Blog

In a shocking recent study, half of homeowners would give up sex if they could get more closet space. While this might seem like a pretty extreme way to get space for your old clothes, it’s clear that this is lacking for millions of people. With some clever finished basement ideas, you can ensure that you have the space you need when you need it.

Here are five smart ideas to consider for your finished basement.

1. A Quiet Library

One of the best things you can do for yourself and your family is to create a quiet place for everyone to relax in your home. If you can’t seem to find space on the upper levels of your home, then you should consider a finished basement as a great place for your library. In a quiet space where you can add carpeting and control the lighting, you’ll have the perfect library.

The only major concern for putting a library in a finished basement is the fact that you’ll be contending with humidity. Humid books grow mold and could end up ruining all your favorite novels. However, if you’re able to find a way to dehumidify your basement, you’ll be able to protect your books and your basement.

Finding a place to escape and find some quiet time is challenging without having space for it. Finishing your basement adds on extra space that ensures you get what you’re looking for without having to invest in any additions or a new home altogether.

2. A Place For Your College Grad

As more college grads are now living at home you can bet that if you’ve got college students in your family, they might need the help. Without the economic help of putting a roof over their head, your college grad might struggle to find footing. As they’re looking for a job, they won’t have to work for the basic subsistence of their living expenses.

While you might need to set limits now that your children or family members have grown to adulthood, it’s a good way to help provide for your kids. Even if you’re of limited means or don’t have a lot of funding to support your children, this is a gift better than cash. Having a roof over your head takes off some pressure, lets them take risks, and helps them to come up with a plan for their next move.

When you’re getting out into the job market, it can take several dedicated months to find the work you’re looking for. Even in lucrative industries with strong job markets, finding work takes a lot of focus and energy.

Let them focus on growth by offering a roof over their head.

3. A Trophy Room

If you’re a sports family or an accomplished athlete, you might run out of space dedicated to your accomplishments. Taking up space in the main rooms or in those most important arteries of your home could feel cluttered. While you want people to be able to see what you’ve done, you don’t need them in your front room.

The best alternative is to put everything in a room where you can see it, but it isn’t in the main space that you need day to day. A trophy room is a great investment for people who have a lot of trophies or medals that show off their accomplishments. If you and your family have devoted a lot of time and energy to becoming stars at a given sport, then you’re going to need a place for your awards.

Even if your trophies are only photos showing the cultural and political figures you’ve met, you need a place to display them.

4. Playroom for Kids

While having your kids play outside is an important and fast disappearing feature of American life, you need a safe space for all weather play. when you build a playroom for your kids, that room can grow as your kids do. It doesn’t always have to contain blocks and action figures.

As your kids grow, you can trade the action figures dolls for a ping pong table or their favorite crafting tools. If your kids get into painting or sculpture, you’ve already got a place for them to explore their interests with their friends.

While no two playrooms are going to look the same, they all share the common factor of contributing to the growth of your children. You’ll provide a safe place for your children to grow under circumstances where they’re protected.

5. Room For Visitors

One of the best things you can do for your friends and family is to have a place for them to stay when they visit. While it’s hard for you to always build an extra room or reserve space that’s only for them, you can mark off a section of your basement for them. A place that’s climate controlled, with good airflow, and quiet while they sleep ensures that they have a place to rest.

To make sure it’s quiet, take some time to learn more about soundproofing.

When your friends and family come to visit, life gets in the way of time you spend together. While they might want to see the sights in your city, you may have to work through that week. If that’s the case, you can ensure you see them at night or get to share breakfast together every day with them staying in your spare room.

Finished Basement Ideas Can Save Money

One of the reasons you could be saving money with the right finished basement ideas is by not shopping for a new home. When you get what you need from the home you have, you get to spend money on other things like vacations, anniversaries, or fun gadgets to help you relax.

To make the most of the other spaces around your home, check out our guide for tips.

Americans spend 93% of their time indoors, but with the proper setting, time spent outdoors can be very enjoyable. One of the things that makes a big difference in the function of your outdoor space is furniture.

Buying patio furniture that is comfortable and attractive is important. It can be frustrating when you are trying to figure out the best furniture to buy for your backyard. Continue reading this article to learn eight tips for buying patio furniture.

Must-Know Tips for Buying Patio Furniture

There are some things you need to know so that the patio furniture you buy meets your needs. The following tips will help you be a savvy buyer.

1. Think About the Weather

Where you live plays a role in the type of outdoor furniture you buy. If you’re up north, you may deal with a lot of snow. If you’re down south then you may deal with a lot of sun on your furniture all year.

Understanding the impact of weather on your furniture is important. You can buy your furniture with the environment in mind so that it stays nice throughout the year.

If you live in a hot and dry environment, wood is likely to splinter and crack. If you live in a windy area, aluminum furniture can be dangerous if it catches the wind.

People living in South Beach condos will experience different weather than people living in Portland, Maine. If you aren’t sure what type of furniture you need for the weather in your area you can speak to a professional after visiting https://www.patiosusa.com/manufacturers/woodard/ to learn more.

2. Measure Your Outside Area

Before buying any furniture, you need to see how big your outdoor area is. If you don’t measure the area where you want to put your furniture, you might end up getting furniture that’s too big to fit comfortably in the area you want it in.

3. Know Where the Furniture Will Go

Having an idea of where the furniture will go makes it easier for you to get a full vision of what you’re trying to create. You may even find it helpful to draw out the area where you want your furniture to go. If you aren’t sure, putting it on paper can give you a better idea of what you’re looking for.

4. What Materials Do You Like?

There are many different types of materials to choose from when you’re going through patio furniture. If there is a certain texture that you aren’t fond of, you don’t want it against your skin. Make sure you try sitting on different materials to see which ones are the most comfortable.

Even if you find furniture that is comfortable, you do need to make sure the material doesn’t irritate your skin. You also need to make sure the material will go well with the other elements of your patio.

5. Your Furniture Should Be Cozy and Comfortable

If your outdoor space is not cozy and comfortable, you aren’t likely to spend much time outside. The more appealing you make your outdoor space, the more likely it is that you will get your money’s worth out of it.

Figure out little extras that will make the space even more appealing. Think about accent pieces like pillows or little tables that you can use to add color. Having a little pop of color will add to the cozy element of your outdoor space.

6. Double With Storage and Seating

Some people may choose to buy separate storage, but others are smart about storage and buy furniture that doubles as storage. Instead of only having a seat or an ottoman, you can have a seat or an ottoman that can store things that can’t be out in the weather.

7. How Much Are You Willing to Spend?

Before you go shopping, you should have an idea of how much money you’re willing to spend. If you don’t map out your budget, you are likely to choose furniture that is out of your budget.

Knowing your budget will make it easier to look for what you can afford. If you find something you love, you don’t have to worry about looking at the price tag and walking away disappointed.

8. Does It Match Your Personal Style?

Your furniture isn’t only about function and comfort. Your patio furniture should also match your personal style. It is important that you feel at home when you’re in your outdoor space and when people come to visit, they can see your personality.

Your outdoor space is another place you can express yourself and enjoy your time in the fresh air.

9. Do You Care About the Brand Name?

If you don’t care about a specific brand name, you have more options when you go to buy furniture. If you have to have a specific brand name, you will likely have to pay more money and it will be difficult to find what you want.

If you’re willing to wait, you can often have the perfect product shipped to your home. Since you will use your product regularly, you want to make sure you get something that you love and that is high-quality.

Add Some Spice to Your Life

Now that you know more about buying patio furniture, you may decide that you want a new home with a new space for that furniture. There are many beautiful places to buy in Miami or you may consider building your own home. Look through our information on pre-construction to learn more about how we work.

Are you looking to hire the right painter for a project in your home?

You don’t want to just pick anyone. Every painter will have a different style and technique. This article will teach you how to hire professional painters for your project.

1) Check Their Portfolio

Most painters will probably have an online version of their portfolio that’s available for you to check out.

It’s important you look through their portfolio to see their abilities and personal style. If they don’t have any pieces that match what you’re looking for, ask them to provide some.

It is very important that you know that they can handle the job but viewing their previous work.

2) Ask For References

You shouldn’t rely only on their portfolio to make a hiring decision.

You also need to check references as you would for any employee. References will be able to tell you about the quality of the painter’s past work. They’ll also be able to tell you if the painter completed the work in a timely manner and if there were any issues with their performance or personality.

You can also check reviews on their website or on the internet to find out more about them. A lack of reviews might be a warning sign that the painter doesn’t have enough experience.

3) Ask for an Estimate

You want to find out if your painter will charge by the hour or by the project.

Ask them for an estimate before you commit to their services. Be sure to take them on a tour of the home and show them every room that needs painting.

The cost to hire a painter can vary widely. It’s important you establish a price range before you get too set on one painter or before you fall in love with their prior work.

4) Choose Colors Wisely

Even the best painters can make up for your poor choice in color.

Keep in mind how certain colors make people feel before choosing one for a room. Remember that dark colors tend to make a room look smaller, while lighter colors open a room up.

Yellow hues tend to evoke feelings of happiness. Blue tones invoke feelings of peace. Red tones can make you feel excited. Research color therapy before choosing colors for different bedrooms.

Feel free to ask your painter for their opinion, they are professionals after all.

Follow These Tips to Get the Best Professional Painters

Painting your home can be a great experience.

A fresh coat of paint adds new life to an older home. Be sure to think carefully about what painting you want inside your house. When you’re ready, research painters thoroughly to make sure you’re choosing the right one.

Adding a fresh coat of paint is great for getting your house ready to sell as well. Check out our article on other tips to make your home more presentable and ready to sell.

Every year, over 326 billion dollars is spent on home improvement…and that’s a lot of money. It’s clear that a lot of people spent a ton on home remodeling. If you don’t have big bucks in your budget for a bathroom makeover, but want to give your washroom a new look, check out these cheap bathroom decorating ideas.

Add an Accent

We all know that a pop of color can add a new dimension to a room, but for whatever reason, we don’t think to do this in our bathrooms. This is why we’re here to tell you that there is nothing cheaper and easier than adding an accent wall to your bathroom. There is no renovation required!

In other words, we’re suggesting picking one wall in your bathroom and painting it a bright color, say turquoise, blue, green, orange or red.

The color you pick will depend on the “theme” for your bathroom – e.g. tropical, spa-like, etc. – but an accent wall of any color will make your bathroom feel bigger and more eclectic.

Swap Out Your Towel Rack

We’re all familiar with the towel rack. It’s a staple of any bathroom. But they’re often ugly and unnecessarily take up wall space. So let’s not be beholden to these gaudy instruments anymore! There are other options out there!

Alternatively, you can either add towel hooks to the back of your door (what else would you use that space for?) or invest in a multi-functional ladder or another ground-based towel drying system.

Replace Your Bathmat and Shower Curtain

If you want to add some color or flair to your bathroom, but don’t feel like making the time investment that an accent wall requires, there is another way. You can replace your bathmat and/or shower curtain instead.

Your bathmat and shower curtain take up an inordinate amount square footage of decorating space, so your bathroom deserves better than your off-white, stain and mildewy offerings you have now.

There are so many possibilities. You can buy solid bright colored ones, tropical ones, or pattern prints!

Upgrade Your Accessories

Last, but not least, if you want to upgrade your bathroom’s look in small, but noticeable ways, then upgrading to designer bathroom accessories will do the trick.

We’re talking about getting new soap dispensers, hand towel racks, trash cans, candle holders, tissue boxes, and every other small item you can think of.

It’s amazing what a difference replacing your store-bought Dawn dispenser with a custom-made, aesthetically pleasing soap dispenser can do for your bathroom.

These Bathroom Decorating Ideas Not Helping?

These bathroom decorating ideas should spruce up most home bathrooms, but sometimes it’s just like putting lipstick on a pig. If your home’s bathroom is too-far-gone, then these budget decoration tips won’t do much.

If you’re dissatisfied with your home, it may be time to move. If you’re curious about luxury residences in South Florida, be sure to check out our listings for homes and condos.

Moving is a big step to make, even if you’re not going far. However, if you’re planning on packing and uprooting your entire life in order to move it to a completely new area, that’s something that requires handling a little differently.

Of course, there is a lot to consider when moving houses anyway, but if you’re looking to start a life in a new town or city, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you’re in a situation where you’re wanting to relocate but you’re not altogether sure where to go, here are some of the things you should really consider.

Research the Sizes of Cities and Towns

The first thing to do when you’re considering moving to a new location is doing your research about the size of the cities and towns that you’re considering moving to.  Creating a moving checklist is something that will be well worth your time. This should include all of the tasks that you must accomplish in order for the move to take place, along with, the market research that you will need to consider.

The housing market will depend on this factor a fair amount, and even though there are companies out there like readysteadysell.co.uk who buy and sell quickly, it’s important to know the size and ultimately the population of the area you’re moving into.

Likewise, it’s important to think about your lifestyle in relation to these towns and cities. Say for example if you’re recently retired, and your reason for moving location is because you’re wanting to downsize and live in a quiet and more rural town that you do at current, it wouldn’t make sense to look at large city centers like Leeds and Manchester.

On the other hand, if you’re a student and you want to explore as many different places and experiences, as you can in your time away at university, moving to a major city, might be just what the doctor ordered. It’s all about personal preference, so do your research and decide realistically.

Take the Infrastructure into Consideration

Another important thing to consider is the infrastructure of the local area you’re potentially moving to, whether that be schools, hospitals or available transport options.

For example, for families with children, it goes without saying that the importance of living near a school is a priority. Sometimes, however, simply living near a school isn’t enough. If you have a specific school in mind, then you could possibly look to move into that local school catchment area. This could be the difference between your child going to a school of choice, or not.

If you don’t drive but need to go out to work, then this is another important thing to consider. As much as the countryside is desirable for a lot of people, if you don’t drive and it isn’t on a bus route, living rurally can make this near impossible. Considering all of these things is so important because it’ll determine whether a place really is suitable for you and your lifestyle. Sometimes being realistic has to trump desirability.

The Weather and Climate

The weather and climate are also an important thing to consider when moving locations, because who says you have to stay in the same country?

If you’re looking at emigrating to somewhere hot in Europe like Spain, or you fancy somewhere on the colder side, the weather and the climate will inevitably have a big say on where you choose to go.

So many people leave countries like Britain when they retire, seeking a leisurely existence in the sun after a lifetime of unreliable weather and drizzly summers – and who can blame them? Even if you choose to stay in the same country, depending on where cities are in the North or South direction, temperatures can rocket and plummet quite dramatically – even when the distance isn’t too far. Consider what’s comfortable and ideal for you to live in, and take it from there.

The Cost of Living

Last but absolutely not least, you’ll have to consider the cost of living before you make the decision to move.

This is because it’ll affect literally everything about your lifestyle. A lot of people just look at housing prices and forget to look at the little bits in between, but it’s crucial that you consider everything.

From grocery shopping and school fees to utility bills, where you move could have an enormous impact on the kind of life you can have in relation to your financial situation. The wisest thing to do is research this in the early days, and rule out anywhere you couldn’t afford. Then look realistically at where is left over, and make a consecutive decision from there.

The real estate market is booming again much to the delight or real estate agents and referral agents alike! After years of decline, in 2017 it bounced back with an 11.4% increase and has shown no signs of slowing down since.

Have you been wanting to buy a property but need someone to help you find a good real estate agent? If you answered yes, then you need to employ the services of a referral agent.

Wondering what a referral agent is and if you really need one?

You are not alone. Many people know who a real estate agent is but many don’t know about real estate referral agents.

Here is a closer look.

Why Would Someone Need a Real Estate Referral Agent?

A real estate referral agent refers a buyer to a real estate agent, but that’s not all they do, you will learn more about their role as you read on.

Once they refer a buyer, they get a commission. For a real estate agent, its good for business because they have a partner to feed them clients on a consistent basis.

If you are a buyer looking to find a good real estate agent, so you can purchase the perfect home, then a referral agent will help you locate the best one.

If you want to purchase property in areas that you are not acquainted with you may need a referral agent. For example, you may want to buy a second home.

This second home may be in a ski resort town or in an area where there are a lot of beach houses. You may even want to buy this home in another part of the country.

In situations like these, since you may have never bought these types of homes before you will want to find a good real estate agent to help you. The best way for you to do this is to find a good referral agent who will recommend you to a real estate agent.

Even if the home you want to purchase is not a second home, if you have not previously purchased a home you would not have a connection with a real estate agent. In this situation, you would need a referral agent.

The final instance in which you may end up with a referral agent is in a case where a family member who is a real estate agent refers you to another agent due to conflict of interest. In this case, your family member becomes a referral agent.

The Breakdown on How Referral Agents Get Paid

Let’s look at an example to see how referral agents get paid.

If someone wants to sell their house and they pay a listing agent $9000 to put the house on the market. That listing agent may want to keep $5000 for themselves and offer $4000 of the listing fee to the real estate agent who brings you in as a buyer.

The real estate agent may decide to pay the referral agent 25 percent of the $4000 for referring you to them. Which works out to $1000 dollar for the referral agent. So, in this case, the referral agent will make $1000 dollars.

Otherwise, referral agents earn money directly from their clients.

Questions You Should Ask Your Referral Agent About Your Real Estate Agent

Even though you will be paying your referral agent to find you a good real estate agent, this doesn’t mean that you should not have a hand in quality control. What this means is that you will need to make your referral agent aware of the qualities you are looking for so that they can find you the best match.

Since you may have never chosen a real estate agent before, here is a guide as to what you need to look for before you accept the agent your referrer recommends.

Familiarity with the Area

You should let your referral agent know that you want a real estate agent with a great deal of familiarity with the area you want to live in. Preferably, you will want someone with experience as well.

It’s not that you can’t hire someone who has just launched out on their own. However, even if the real estate agent has just launched out, they should have at least worked alongside more experienced agents for some time.

Reviews and Recommendations

Let your referral agent know that you are interested in seeing the reviews and recommendations of the real estate agent that you hire.

This is very important, it is not that you shouldn’t trust your real estate referrer’s judgment, it is just always better to apply due diligence. Read through the recommendations and reviews then make a decision.

Ask Your Referral Agent for an Interview

Remember, that your real estate agent will be helping you to make one of the most important decisions of your life. The last thing you want is to end up with someone who is just interested in getting a rapid sale and doesn’t have your best interests at heart.

Often this can be avoided by setting up an interview with the real estate agent. Make sure that you not only approve of their qualifications but their personality as well, since it is very likely that you are going to be spending a lot of time with this person.

Final Thoughts

If you are ready to hire a real estate referral agent to help you find a good real estate agent, you have made a wise choice. Referral agents usually do their best to find you a good agent because their reputation depends on the quality of the leads they provide.

However, while this is true, it is never a good idea to just accept any real estate agent, they send you. You should make them aware of your needs in a real estate agent and perform due diligence when they send you someone. This will ensure that you get the best service possible.

If you would like more real estate tips, please visit our blog.

Are house alarms worth it? Americans spend over $20 billion on home security every year. Despite the amount of money spent on house alarms and home security, if you watch the news, it seems like property crimes keep increasing.

It makes you wonder if buying an alarm for your home is worth the costs. Keep reading as we demystify the ROI of house alarms and discover if it’s worth the investment or not.

The ROI of House Alarms

If you want to know what the ROI is on a house alarm, you have to define what a return looks like. In this analysis, we’re going to examine the return on investment in term of property value and whether or not you’re safer.

Safety & Security

A home is seen as a sanctuary. A place to feel safe and secure. Yet, most Americans don’t feel that way about where they live. About two-thirds of Americans don’t feel safe at home.

That could be for a number of reasons. It could be that they live in an area with a high crime rate. It could also be the influence of watching the news. Regular watchers of news feel unhappier and more fearful about the world than those who don’t.

If you’re part of the group of Americans who don’t feel safe at home, would a home alarm system bring peace of mind? If it does, then how much would that be worth to you? Can you really measure peace of mind?

That’s something you need to ask yourself before you purchase a home alarm system.

Another way to measure the ROI of house alarms is through crime statistics. In 2017, property crimes across the U.S. were down.

That could be due to a number of factors, including more people investing in home alarms. A study by Rutgers University found that home alarms have a direct cause in the drop of neighborhood crimes.

Combine that with a better economy. When the economy is up, crime usually goes down. Put the two together and you have a decline in crime.

Resale Value

One other way to measure the ROI of house alarms is to look at home resale statistics. If you’re planning on selling your home any time soon, you’re going to want to have a look at the resale value.

Home buyers do look at overall improvements to the home when they’re evaluating properties to purchase. An easy to use home security system can increase the value of your home.

If you add a home security system to other improvements, you could make the property sell more quickly.

How to Shop for House Alarms

Are you convinced that house alarms can bring a return on investment? Let’s start shopping.

There are countless options available. Where do you even start?

Start with your needs. Do you just want an alarm that goes off when there’s an intruder? Do you want a connected system that has cameras connected so you can see what’s happening? You can also get an alarm that notifies the authorities when it’s activated.

If you travel often, you may opt for the second or third option.

You also have to keep your budget in mind. There are usually installation costs and monthly costs for connected services.

If you have an alarm that notifies the authorities, you don’t want to trip up your alarm accidentally. Your local authorities may charge you for having to come to your site for a false alarm.

Once you have your choice narrowed down, you can start looking online. You can look at a site like Zions Security Alarms, which has a vast array of home security options to choose from.

Smart Alarms for Your Home

You’re probably familiar with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. These home assistants can schedule important reminders, turn on your lights and find things to watch on TV all on command.

Home security systems are becoming more and more integrated with these smart home systems. Some of these systems have apps so you have full control as to what’s going on in your home.

For example, if you catch someone breaking into your home, you could activate a camera and speak directly to those breaking into your home.

Hiring a Security Installation Company

You may be tempted to install the home alarm yourself. You could do that if the system you’re going to install is a wireless system.

For anything hardwired, you need a professional installer. You also want to be sure that you choose a reputable security installation company to work with. Most companies are legit and perform great work.

Like almost any other industry, you have to be wary of scammers. You want to make sure that the company you choose is licensed and insured.

Be on the lookout for free installation with your home security package. You could save money on the installation costs.

You can do your research online for customer reviews and to get a sense as to whether or not the company operates with integrity.

Calling the home security company’s customer service line will also give you an idea as to how they operate. If the service is friendly and responsive, you can count on that being the case when you really need assistance with your system.

House Alarms Have an ROI

Buying a house alarm isn’t an easy decision. Only a small percentage of homes have house alarms, yet everyone wants to feel safe inside their own home.

The big question for many homeowners is whether or not investing in home security is worth it. When you take into consideration the impact home alarms have on your peace of mind, neighborhood crimes, and the resale value of your home, it’s a no brainer.

Home alarm systems are definitely worth it. Are you getting ready to buy or sell properties in South Florida? Start gathering market intelligence now with these most recent sales.

If you’re looking to sell your property quickly, there’s a few things that’ll make that more likely. It’s obvious to anyone who’s been through the process that selling a home can be difficult and stressful sometimes. That’s just the way it often is, but that doesn’t mean a quick sale is impossible. You just need to create the conditions for that fast sale to take place. Read on now to find out more.

A Presentable Exterior

First of all, you should think about how the home looks from the outside. When a potential buyer arrives at the property, you want them to be blown away. That won’t be the case if the exterior looks messy and poorly maintained. So make it as presentable as it can be and you’ll make it much more likely that someone will want to buy what you’re selling.

Sell in Spring

The time of the year in which you choose to start the process of selling your home will dictate how fast is sells. If you have the opportunity to plan things ahead and decide when you want to sell your home, it’s best to choose spring. It’s the time of year when there are fewer disruptions, meaning people choose to buy homes and move house at this time of the year.

Dynamic Photographs of the Property

Photographs make a huge difference when it comes to selling your home. If you don’t have a dynamic and appealing set of photos to present to potential buyers when they’re browsing the options, you’re really going to miss out. Make the most of real estate drone photography so that buyers can get a good view of what you’re selling when they’re looking online. That’s how most people will encounter your home for the first time, so make those first impressions count.

Keep Interiors Tidy and Neutral

No one will want to buy your property from you if it looks really messy, so the first thing you can do before you start letting buyers look around it is tidy things up and get everything organised. You should also try to make the interiors as neutral and plain as they can be. This is important because it makes it easier for potential buyers to project their own design preferences onto it.

A Realistic Price

Finally, you need to make sure that the asking price you set for the home is realistic. If people look at the price and immediately feel that it’s too high for what’s on offer, they’ll quickly turn away. If you want to sell fast, you can’t afford to hold out for a higher than market value price. You have to keep prices low and reasonable to tempt people in.

Selling your property fast is something that sometimes has to happen. Maybe you just want to get rid of it and move onto your new place rapidly. If that’s the case, the ideas above should definitely be considered because they all make a rapid sale more likely than it would otherwise be

Have you ever sat down and dreamed of how great it would be to run your own business? If you have, you’re hardly alone. In the internet age that we all currently inhabit, more and more people turning to entrepreneurship than ever before.

They have good reasons, too. Starting your own business opens the door to possibilities you might never before have imagined. It shows you a plausible vision of the future, where you’re making a great living while answering to no boss other than yourself.

What’s more, even if your first startup attempt, or two, or ten, fail, the experience of running your own business will teach you a lot of valuable skills.

So, if you’re going to start your own business, what’s the first step to take? Well, one of the first steps — unless your business is solely web-based — is to acquire some property. Buying the right commercial property can be a matter of make-or-break importance.

The location of your property is also a key factor. Some areas are more profitable and offer more benefits than others. For instance, if your business requires a lot of space, looking for an industrial property queens based could be an excellent place to start growing your business.

Here are some things to look out for when searching for commercial property.

Right kind of space, for your operations

Not all businesses require the same amount of space or the same basic building layout. If you’re running a car showroom, you’ll need to search for a very different kind of property than if you’re planning to set up a luxury watch retail chain.

Then again, if you intend to run a business of financial analysts, you primarily need to obtain a building that has office space for a team to work effectively and harmoniously in. Likewise, if you are a plumber, you’d want to find sufficient space with parking for large vehicles.

There’s not much point in searching for properties that fall outside of the parameters of what your business needs. Failing to accurately specify your particular property requirements is tantamount to sabotaging yourself.

A relatively safe and accessible neighborhood

It’s not very good for morale if your business gets burgled, or your employees get mugged or spat on, on their way to work. And it certainly doesn’t attract the customers in vast droves, if you’ve based your business in the roughest part of town.

Regardless of what type of business you’re creating, you should be aware that it’s worth paying extra to base your business in at least a relatively safe neighborhood.

Accessibility is a big issue, too. If your business is in an area with weak or nonexistent public transport links and has little or no parking, then nothing very good is likely to come from the project.

Likely long-term viability

Some buildings and areas exist in a state of limbo, due to zoning disputes and suspended infrastructure development plans. It would certainly be a bad idea for you to purchase a property that might fall foul of local officials in a couple of years.

It would be an equally bad idea to invest in buying property in an area which was about to undergo a large-scale overhaul which would, in turn, fatally change its character.

Do your due diligence when hunting for commercial property, and find answers to questions about the likely long-term viability of the building.

Home renovations can be extremely useful. If you have purchased a home and your needs and requirements have changed over time, you can avoid the stressful experience of having to move from the property you’re currently living in by renovating the property. If your family expands, you can add extra rooms or have a loft conversion. Alternatively, you could create an extension. If your career allows you to work from home, you could add an office space into your property or have a studio built down the end of your garden.

If your taste in interior design changes, you could have walls removed to create a more open plan living space, or you could have skylights and sliding doors fitted to increase natural light within your property. However, if this is the first time that you’re choosing a property, you shouldn’t have renovations at the forefront of your mind. You shouldn’t have to compromise and take on a property that doesn’t tick all of the boxes that you ask of in your dream home. So, here are a few steps that you can take to ensure that the property you take on is already in nigh on perfect condition when you are given the keys to your new home!

Know What You’re Looking For

Before you start searching for a home, make sure that you know what you’re looking for! Otherwise, how are you meant to find something perfect? Take the time to sit down and make notes of the exact features that you want your home to provide you with. First, make a list of absolute essentials. These could include:

• The area you want to live in
• The number of rooms you want the property to have
• Parking
• Whether you want a garden or not
• Whether you want a detached property, semi-detached property, or terraced house

Next, create a list of things that you are more flexible on, but would prefer. These could include:

• The size of the kitchen
• The size of rooms
• En suites
• Conservatories
• A garage

Contact an Estate Agent

Once you know what you’re looking for, contact an estate agent specializing in the area that you are looking for a property in. Make sure to use a reliable agent with good recommendations and reviews such as Triangle House Hunter. Give them the list of desirable features that you are looking for in a property. They are also likely to request more practical and financial information. This will include your budget. You can determine a reasonable budget by considering your income.

Figure out exactly how much you can afford to fork out for a deposit and how much you can afford to pay in monthly mortgage payments. Once your estate agent knows what you’re looking for and how much you’re prepared to pay for it, they will scour the market to find something that meets all of your needs. Don’t expect an agent to find the perfect property straight away. A few are likely to pop up that tick some of your boxes but not all of your boxes.

Don’t take on a property that isn’t everything that you hoped it would be. If you’re considering doing this and are then going to renovate the property to suit your needs, why not save yourself the hassle and add the money you’d be prepared to pay for renovations to your initial budget. The extra cash could help to find a property that suits your needs right off the bat.

View Potential Properties

As potential properties spring up, make sure to view them. Embrace the opportunity to visit the space you could potentially end up living in. Don’t feel pressured or rushed during this process. Many people are unfamiliar with attending viewings and feel that they can’t spend much time in the property.

But don’t simply follow the estate agent around. Sure, have an initial look around with them where they can provide you with all of the information that you need. But then go around again. Take your time. Look at different aspects of the different rooms. Imagine how you would decorate the space. Consider your belongings in the space. Imagine yourself coming in after a long day of work. Don’t settle for any space where you feel that you have to make major changes for it to feel liveable.

Sure, finding your perfect home might feel like a long and drawn out process. But there are certain situations where patience is a virtue. This is one of them! Only settle for the best!