Long & Foster Suffolk / Smithfield

05/17/2023

Experience the latest in luxury living in the Spring / Summer 2023 Luxury Homes Magazine. Find your dream home with Long & Foster.

03/25/2023

How to Get Your Porch Ready for Spring: As rising temperatures and longer days draw us out from within our homes, your spring fever might quickly dissipate if the outside of your home is less than inviting. Now is the time to take action and get your front porch ready for lingering over morning cups of coffee or enjoying twilight drinks with friends. Here are a few simple suggestions from Simplify to help gussy things up without breaking the bank.

Paint a concrete floor. If you have a concrete porch, it may be looking worse for the wear thanks to harsh winter weather or years of neglect. Luckily, a gallon or two of paint will provide a quick transformation. Be sure to thoroughly clean the porch first and fill in any holes or cracks with plaster, then brush on at least two coats of paint. If you're feeling creative, you can tape off a pattern and apply a contrasting or complementary color for a striped or diamond effect. Or try using a stencil design as a border or to highlight key areas.

Tile over brick. While brick can be very attractive for a porch or stoop, it can give your home a dated feel if you've lived with it for some time. This can be transformed during a weekend DIY project by covering the brick with a more modern tile. You can go for a subway-tile shape, squares or a variety of sizes. Talk to your local home-improvement expert to find out which varieties are best suited for the climate in your area.

Build wooden planters. These can either be purchased inexpensively and custom painted to your desire, or built from scratch with some durable plywood. Be sure to add drainage holes and a liner if you plan on filling them with soil and plants, or simply use them to house plants that are already potted to save on wear and tear. Custom planters will help personalize your porch and tie in key design elements, such as the color of your front door or shutters, or decorative moldings on your home's facade.

Paint your railings. Nothing refreshes your porch more than painting the railings. Choose a crisp shade of white or have fun with a contrasting color. You can also go for a natural look by sanding and painting the railings. Whichever option you choose, be sure the coating you use is made for withstanding weather and chipping.

Of course, no front porch isn't complete without the right seating options, so whether you're opting for rocking chairs, a swing or a cozy settee, make sure they're cleaned and outfitted with comfy cushions and throw blankets. Add some twinkly lights and you're ready to spend long days and evenings relaxing on your porch.


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03/25/2023

Should You Buy a House Now…or Wait?: Making the decision to buy a home is most likely one of the biggest decisions you will make in your life. Since a home purchase is also one of the largest investments—if not the largest—most people will make in their lifetimes, moving forward warrants careful consideration.

Of course headlines about the housing market and the economy, and chatter from friends and coworkers can certainly complicate your decision-making process. A host of pundits and well-meaning loved ones may steer you toward trying to "time the market" —in other words, buy a home at the optimal time that will yield the best return on your investment.

The problem is, there really is no such magical point in time and waiting for it to arrive could cause you to miss out on the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood. That said, there are several circumstances that should cause you to press pause on your home-buying plans. Here are a few considerations to help you decide whether now is the right time for you:

Do you have enough for a down payment? Consider whether you comfortably have enough cash on hand for the right-sized down payment. While you may be able to piece together a large enough sum to get you in the door, what does that amount mean for your monthly mortgage payment? If your monthly payment is too high and will put you in a tight place financially, then it might be better to save until you can put down a larger down payment. Alternatively, you may want to consider a home in a lower price range.

Should you wait until interest rates come down? You may be aware of the fact that interest rates hit unprecedented lows during the height of the pandemic, as low as 2 - 3% in fact. While anything is possible, it's relatively safe to say that we won't see those rates again, barring another global event like the coronavirus. Sure, rates have risen since then, but keep in mind they are still historically low. In the 1980s for example, interest rates were as high as 18%! Waiting on better rates should not be a factor in moving forward.

Do you have job security? In addition to the down payment, the biggest financial factor to take into consideration when thinking about buying a home is your current and future income. Unlike renting, in addition to your monthly mortgage payment, homeownership comes with a variety of additional expenses, such as utilities, maintenance, lawn care and the unexpected scenarios like an appliance that breaks down or a tree branch that needs to be removed. Make sure you're comfortable with your source of income for the foreseeable future and are not planning a job change anytime soon.

Do you have a cushion? Many people throw everything they can at a down payment, however, leaving yourself without a cushion is a dangerous way to enter into homeownership. Make sure you have at least a little something left over before moving forward on a home purchase.

Do you have an imminent life change approaching? While a life change such as having a child or getting married is often what motivates people into home-buying, some life changes should cause you to consider delaying your plans. For example, is there a career change in your near future that may warrant a relocation? Or are you expanding your family soon with more children or aging parents that may require more space? The bottom line is, if you're going to need to sell the home you buy in a relatively short period of time for whatever reason, you may want to wait. A home is one of the most reliable investments you can make, but it is a long-term investment that you may not see the benefit of if you sell too soon after buying.

Answering these questions can help you determine if now is the right time to buy a home, but talking to a local real estate professional will guide you even further.

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03/25/2023

The Time is Now: Spring-Cleaning Musts: If you'd like to be spending the temperate days of spring outdoors rather than inside burdened with spring cleaning, you need the right strategy. While for some, spring cleaning is a welcome chance to refresh and reset your home from top to bottom, for others, tackling just a few key areas is all that's needed to transition your home into the next season. Focus on the following tasks to get your home in tip-top shape for warmer weather.

The windows. You want to be able to clearly see spring unfolding outside your windows, and let in lots of that mild, fresh air, so start by cleaning your windows inside and out, along with window sills and casings. Remove all screens and scrub them down, and either wash and rehang or change out your window coverings.

The carpets. Spring is the perfect time to take care of annual carpet cleaning. Hire an outside service to do the job or rent the equipment and do it yourself. This will remove the dust and dirt that accumulated over the winter and refresh your floor coverings for a new season. This is also a good time to professionally clean any upholstery that needs it as well.

The air vents. Chances are you had lots of forced hot air flowing through your air vents over the course of the winter, leading to an accumulation of dust and particles. Thoroughly clean all the air vents in your home, not just for appearances' sake but for optimal air quality as well.

The kitchen appliances. While you probably keep your kitchen clean on a regular basis, the start of spring is the perfect time to clean out the insides of all your kitchen appliances, including the dishwasher, oven and fridge. This will ensure you're primed and ready for all that warm-weather entertaining.

The outdoors. Don't forget one of the most important aspects of spring cleaning: your yard. Rake up any lingering leaves, clean out your gutters and pick up sticks, trim any branches and bushes that need it and remove those early weeds that are popping up. Clean out your garden beds as well so that they're ready for new growth and planting.

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03/24/2023

What Home Sellers Might Have Done Differently: If you sold your home in the past couple of years, in a market with many challenges to navigate, you may be wishing you had done one or two things differently. It turns out you're not alone in those feelings.

According to a recent survey from Zillow conducted by the Harris Poll, a large share of those who sold a home for the first time over the past two years expressed regret over some of the decisions made in the process. Eighty-four percent of respondents indicated that they would've done something differently in terms of pricing, timing or the marketing of the home. Here are the top four regrets homesellers expressed in the survey. If you're putting your home on the market soon, be sure to discuss them with your real estate agent:

Pricing incorrectly. The most common thing recent first-time home sellers wish they had done differently is set a higher list price (39%). It's understandable, given those who sold during the pandemic's red hot housing market saw nearly every home command a sky-high price. But today's market is different. Pricing a home too high could lead to a slower sale or force the seller to drop their price. A well-priced listing is likely to go under contract sooner. Nearly 3 in 4 agents believe pricing is the most important thing sellers need to get right in a less frenzied housing market.

Ignoring online curb appeal. Nearly 9 in 10 recent first-time sellers think something could have helped them get a higher sale price than they received (87%). Almost 2 in 5 (39%) think better listing photos could have boosted their bottom line, while 1 in 4 recent first-time sellers (25%) think a virtual tour could have helped sell their home for more. Most prospective buyers shop for homes online, meaning sellers can't ignore online curb appeal. A great listing media package that includes professional high-resolution photography and drone photography helps showcase a home's best features. However, today's buyers expect an even more immersive experience. Listings that also include a 3D home virtual tour or an interactive floor plan get 69% more page views and 80% more saves on Zillow.

Bad timing. One-quarter of recent first-time sellers (25%) wish they had listed their home at a different time. While the best time to sell will always depend on a homeowner's personal circumstances, if the owner has flexibility, the second half of April is the optimal time to list a home for sale nationwide, Zillow research shows. Timing the sale of a home with the purchase of a new one is one of the biggest stressors sellers experience. More than one-third of recent first-time sellers wish they had known how long — or how quickly (36%) — it would take to sell their home.

Skimping on repairs. If you're gearing up to sell your home, you should probably plan on rolling up your sleeves (or hiring the right professional) to tackle necessary improvements and repairs. More than one-quarter of recent first-time sellers (25%) think they could have gotten a higher sale price if they had invested in more home improvements and repairs. Roughly two-thirds of recent first-time sellers (66%) took on at least two home improvement projects to prepare their home for sale. Nearly 8 in 10 recent first-time sellers (78%) believe the projects they completed helped their home sell. Talk to your agents about which repairs or improvements are most critical to your home's sale, both in terms of timing and price point.

Keep in mind that selling your home involves negotiation and compromise—there are no decisions you can make that will lead to the perfect picture you have in your mind. A local, professional agent will help guide you on making the best possible decisions for your individual needs and goals.

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03/24/2023

3 Outdoor Improvements That Could Increase Your Home's Value: Deciding to put your home on the market usually triggers a flurry of activity related to doing whatever you can to get the best possible offer from interested buyers. From updating kitchen appliances to painting all of your walls white, there are many tried and true improvements for increasing your home's value. But the process shouldn't stop at the front door.

As we head into the peak home-buying months, it's critical to make sure the outer environs of your home are taken into consideration as well. According to outdoor design experts, there are several projects you should focus on to not only boost curb appeal, but boost your home's value. Consider the following ideas to help increase your listing price.

Build a deck or patio. An inviting outdoor gathering spot is not just an attractive nice-to-have feature—it also adds important square footage to your home's footprint. Whether you opt for a warm wooden or composite deck or a slate patio, make sure this outdoor area jibes with the rest of your home's design, so that it feels like more of an extension rather than an add-on. Make your deck or patio screams relaxation with the addition of cushioned, all-weather lounge chairs and couches, maybe even a hammock or rocking chair. Add elements that create privacy, as well, such as a trellis or mature plantings.

Add a stand-out plant. You don't have to have a green thumb and intricate, bountiful gardens to add value to your yard. The addition of one or two strategically placed large plants or trees can instantly enhance the value of your landscape—both aesthetically and financially. Whether you're considering a flowering tree, a blooming hydrangea or rhododendron, or tall, beachy grasses, talk to a landscape professional about the best option for your yard and climate.

Create a rock pathway. You can take care of problem areas easily and inexpensively by covering them with an orderly and attractive layer of rocks or mulch. Use these carefree coverings to create an inviting pathway where the grass doesn't grow well, as a border against fences where it's hard to keep grass neat and trim, and in garden beds where weeds are an endless problem. Opt for rocks if you're in a dry climate as mulch requires moisture.

These are just some of the ways you can revamp your outdoor space in order to improve the value of your home. Your real estate agent will be able to make additional suggestions that are particularly important in your area.

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03/10/2023

02/25/2023

How to Level-Up Your Kids' Snacks: When your child is hungry, it's tempting to reach for the quickest possible snack to satiate them. But since children's diets can be sketchy at best, snack time is a great chance to pack in some powerful nutrition. With the right planning to make sure you have kid-friendly snacks and ingredients on hand, healthy snacking is just a few steps away. Try some of the following ideas:

Be mindful of ingredients. While pre-packaged snacks can be a godsend for busy parents and kids, make sure you take some time to review the ingredients. Look for vitamins, calcium, whole grains and real fruit, and avoid products that are packed with artificial flavors, preservatives, colors and high-fructose corn syrup.

Opt for choices that appeal to kids. Show your kids that healthy snacks can also be delicious. Introduce them to fruit and cottage cheese, trail mix packed with nuts and dried fruit, or colorful smoothies with ingredients like orange juice, bananas and berries—you can even sneak in a few spinach leaves that they'll never notice once blended.

Pack in the protein. To make sure your kids are staying full between meals and getting the nutrients they need, stock up on snacks that are high in protein, such as yogurt, cheese, lunch meat or peanut butter, provided allergies aren't an issue.

Make it fun. Kids will gravitate to healthy snacks when there's an element of fun involved. Make a face with bananas and raisins on a nut-butter covered slice of whole-grain bread or get fancy by arranging fruit or cheese chunks on a wooden skewer. Better yet, get your child involved in prepping their meals and snacks—once they're vested in the process, they'll be sure to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Be a role model. Kids learn best from your example, so make sure you also make healthy choices when it comes to snacking. If you suffer through your veggies, chances are they will too! Take the opportunity to show them that the best snacks are nutritious and delicious.

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02/25/2023

Cruising? Make Sure You're Protected: If you're a travel buff, you may know that it's officially "wave season." A moniker that refers to the time of the year—usually January through March—where cruise lines offer great discounts and incentives, wave season is prime time for booking a cruise.

But no matter how great of a deal you may get, a cruise becomes an extremely expensive proposition when a problem arises. Prone to snafus surrounding missed connections, bad weather and on-board medical issues, a cruise vacation warrants the right type of insurance to protect you in case of these or any number of issues.

According to the pros at TravelInsurance.com, when searching for travel insurance, it's critical to look into cruise-specific insurance. While cruise insurance and your standard travel insurance policies may seem similar, they differ in several key ways. Cruise travel insurance policies often offer more customized and comprehensive coverage options designed to cover events and situations that are specific to cruises. This coverage may include missed port departures, cabin confinement due to illness, and trip cancellations due to inclement weather or other reasons.

While the exact type of insurance offered can vary depending on the cruise line and the insurance company you use, here are some ways travel insurance can protect cruise ship vacationers:



* Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: This coverage offers reimbursement for non-refundable expenses if you must cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered reason, such as illness or a death in the family.

* Medical and dental insurance: This coverage can provide reimbursement for emergency medical and dental expenses incurred during your trip.

* Baggage and personal effects insurance: This coverage can provide reimbursement for lost, damaged or stolen baggage and personal items during your trip.

* Emergency evacuation and repatriation insurance: This coverage can cover the cost of medical transportation if you need to be evacuated due to an emergency or medical situation.

Whether it's your first or your tenth cruise, travel insurance can help you focus on the fun and enjoyment of your vacation, rather than what might go wrong.

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02/25/2023

5 Early-Bird Spring Cleaning Projects: While spring is still officially several weeks away, now is a great time to get a jump on cleaning projects to prepare your home for the warmer months ahead…especially if you're putting your home on the market in the coming months.

Tackling these larger, more cumbersome cleaning projects now will help you focus on lighter, more enjoyable spring cleaning projects down the road…and get you out of the house and enjoying the fresh air!

Clean the drapes and curtains. While your winter window coverings are still up, get your spring curtains cleaned and ready to go, whether that means simply popping them in the washing machine or taking them to the cleaners.

Get outdoor cushions ready. As soon as the first nice day arrives, you'll want to take advantage of it by heading out to your deck or porch. With that in mind, take care of cleaning or washing your outdoor furniture cushions now. Then tuck them away in a closet so they're ready as soon as the weather's ready.

Prep the grill. If you haven't been using your outdoor grill throughout the winter, take some time now to get it ready for warmer weather. Investigate to see if it needs any repairs or new parts, then take the necessary time to thoroughly clean the grill racks and other components. This will help you avoid the disappointment of an unusable grill when that first nice day for outdoor dining arrives.

Wash the windows. If the threat of a big winter storm has passed in your area, then go ahead and tackle one of the most time- and labor-intensive chores, cleaning the windows. A cloudy day is the optimal time to tackle windows and use a streak-free solution, either store bought or a homemade recipe, such as equal parts white vinegar and hot water.

Start tackling the yard. You'll be way ahead of the game for planting season if you take some time for yard clean-up now. Get rid of twigs and branches littering the lawn and garden beds, and rake away any remaining leaves. You may even have some weeds starting to come up—do away with them now while they're still small and manageable. While you're outside, take the opportunity to clean out your gutters as well.

Taking the above steps now will make spring cleaning less time-consuming and overwhelming by the time nicer days come around, giving you and your family more time to enjoy the change of seasons.


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02/25/2023

Buyers Gain Bargaining Power, But Still Cautious: As the economy slowly shows signs of improvement, there is some particularly good news for prospective homebuyers.

According to the most recent Realtor.com®, Monthly Housing Trends Report, the U.S. housing market offered homebuyers greater bargaining power in January, as mortgage rates fell to their lowest level in months, inventory rose and the growth in the typical asking price continued to slow.

The annual decline in new listings also moderated to single digits in January. New listings are an important indicator of home-selling interest, and a sustained improvement would suggest more sellers are returning to the market in the coming months—good news for buyers who have been struggling with a lack of inventory for sale.

Despite the good news for buyers, the report indicates that still-high home prices and financing costs are continuing to deter would-be homebuyers. Prospective buyers need the guidance of a professional real estate agent to help them locate homes for sale within their budget and to guide them through alternatives that can make home financing more affordable.

Realtor.com® also released its Q4 Cross-Market Demand Report, highlighting regional variations in home-buying activity sparking buyers to move to more affordable areas. According to the report, across the top 100 metros in Q4 2022, 55.5% of listing views on Realtor.com® went to properties located outside of the shoppers' metro area, compared to 55.0% during the previous quarter and 53.4% in the same time last year. Regionally, shoppers in the West (63.0%) and Northeast (57.0%) were mostly likely to search out-of-market last quarter.

Nationally, the number of active listings in January continued to climb higher, suggesting that less competition and more time to make home buying decisions weren't enough to spur buyer demand in the face of high mortgage rates and home prices. Pending listings, or homes under contract with a buyer, continued to drop, as did the number of newly listed homes. This month's decline in new listings is the smallest since last July, and the South saw an increase in new listings, which means more, fresh for-sale options for homebuyers.

In January, the U.S. median listing price remained unchanged from December. Growth in the typical asking price (+8.1% year over year) also remained little changed from last month. As the number of homes for sale continues to rise, sellers were more than twice as likely as last year to reduce the asking price for their home. Homes also spent more time on market than last year, with homes in western metros spending 12 days more on the market compared to pre-pandemic times, but in all other regions homes are still selling more quickly than 2017–2019, on average.

As they say, however, all real estate is local. Be sure to consult a local real estate expert to explain how national trends are affecting your particular market, and how you can best fulfill your dream of homeownership as the housing market gradually returns to balance.

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02/24/2023

How to Keep the Neighbors Happy During a Renovation: With spring just around the corner, many homeowners will take advantage of the warmer weather to launch a remodeling project. While it's exciting to finally move forward on a big project that will improve the look, functionality and, hopefully, value of your home, a renovation means that you'll be living with a fair amount of disruption for weeks or possibly months to come. Unfortunately, so will your neighbors.

Even the most supportive of neighbors can become disgruntled by the mess and noise that usually accompanies a renovation project. To be a good community member and avoid stress—and potentially conflicts that escalate to a legal level—abide by these tips for keeping your neighbors happy during construction.

Give them advance warning. Understanding the size and scope of your renovation project in advance will give neighbors time to prepare. Be sure to let them know when construction is due to begin and how long it will last. Be upfront about any equipment or utility vehicles that may be parked in and around the street and cause an inconvenience. Ask them if they have any special concerns you need to be aware of, such as the safety of small children or a roaming pet. Try to come up with solutions together in advance.

Get a permit. Obtaining a permit for the project in advance will protect you legally and give you and your neighbors peace of mind that any construction happening is by the book.

Talk to your contractor. Express your concerns about neighbors—especially those with special concerns or get easily riled—to your contractor. Let them know that being considerate of your neighbors is priority one and find out what they can do to minimize impact.

Schedule respectfully. One of the biggest complaints neighbors have about a project is the amount of noise it generates. Let your contractor know that early morning and evening hours are off limits, as well as Sundays, and let your neighbors know the hours and days when construction will be taking place.

Communicate triggering issues. If there's a day during construction where the street may be blocked or a particularly noisy piece of equipment will be used, let your neighbors know ahead of time. Staving off problems is all about advanced communication.

Show appreciation. When your project is all done, show your appreciation with a note or small gift. Better yet, invite the neighbors over to christen your new pool, deck, gourmet kitchen or addition. Keep in mind, the improvement you made to your home most likely boosted the value of theirs as well, so there is plenty for all to celebrate.

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