The Future Of New Homes

Man has always looked to future as the pinnacle of progress. Since the industrial revolution, the rapid development of technology has pushed us closer to our goal. Transportation and housing have always peaked our interest when looking to the future of design. Many movies, books, and even television shows have been set in the distant future. Futuristic residential constructs have been depicted on the Earth, the moon, and even distant planets, but how realistic are their designs?

When comparing the energy efficient designs of new homes to the dwellings of the past, it's truly remarkable how far we have come. Even just forty years ago, asbestos was being used as a miracle mineral for insulating buildings. Now, we know the medical consequences of using asbestos and can use safer alternatives in the design of new homes. There have also been drastic improvements in the design of windows from double pane glass to radiant barrier windows. With the many developments made to improve energy efficiency in houses, the question is - what's next?

In the coming years, the design for new homes may change drastically. In urban areas, there is a major fight for space. With overcrowding in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sao Paolo, New York, and cities all over the world, there is a great need for efficient design. Architects have gone to the drawing board, developing possible solutions. The designs are all as stunning as they are effective. Of course, these designs are mostly hypothetical, but they could become a reality if populations continue to grow. The designs utilize space in creative ways, from stackable units, to interconnecting "terra" towers, to overhanging houses that occupy the unused space above roads. The possibilities are endless, and that's why it's so fascinating!

Perhaps it will become standard for houses to run on solar power. The roofs of suburbia would be lined with solar panels. Or, it's possible that residential areas could become self-sustaining ecosystems on the moon or Mars. Who knows? That's why we will continue to look to the future, taking residential development in strides. After all, indoor plumbing wasn't used in most homes until the 1800's. Look how far we've come! Now, new homes can have spa tubs, floating vanities, waterfall showers, and more. That's all just in the last 200 years.

Looking at our recent depictions of futuristic houses, it's safe to say that designs will be made sleeker and cleaner. Most futuristic designs show all-white rooms, with clean lines and hidden storage. The streamlined aesthetic allows for optimal use of space. On the other hand, there has been a major push for the eco-friendly materials, which has generated the market for recycled construction materials. From recycled glass windows to recycled composite countertops, newer buildings are going green.

How a Quick Property Sale is Better Than a Traditional Home Sale

Being able to get one's home sold off in a proper manner is an important thing to do. This is especially the case when it comes to having to deal with the risk of being repossessed. With this in mind it will be important for any property owner in the UK to consider how a quick property sale has a number of benefits that make it better than a traditional home sale.

The most important benefit comes from how a quick property sale will be one that is going to be faster in terms of its time. A typical sale can take place in about a week or so. This is much shorter than what is used for a traditional home sale. In a traditional sale the amount of time that is going to be required is open ended. It could take months or even at least a year for a person's property to be sold in a traditional manner.

The fees that come with selling a property should also be considered. A typical quick sale agency will not charge additional fees for one's services. The agency will be reimbursed for those fees when the agency sells the property that it has just bought.

A traditional sale process, on the other hand, will have to deal with a number of fees. These include such fees as general estate agent fees and legal fees. These are all fees that can easily cost at least a few thousand pounds. The value of these fees will go up according to the value of the property as well.

Also, since a property will be sold as quickly as possible there is no need for a person to have to deal with any more mortgage payments. With a traditional sale the mortgage that a person has on the property will still have to be paid until the home is actually sold off. This is going to be a great concern in the event that a person is one who cannot work to handle the property sale in a fast amount of time. When the home is sold in a quick process the need to handle these fees will be reduced.

A concern about a traditional type of home sale is that when a home is sold the person who is selling it will have to move out as soon as the property has been sold. This comes from how the buyer is expecting to move into the property immediately upon buying it. With a quick property sale there is no need to worry about this. The sale will work in that the seller will be able to move out of one's home a few months after the sale takes place. With this in mind the seller can have enough time to find a new place to live.

In addition to this the sale will be guaranteed in a quick property sale. A traditional home sale always poses the right of the buyer of the property pulling out of the sale before it can be made official. With a quick property sale this concern can be easily avoided. This is especially important for any home sale needs because of how the sale will not be one that is going to be pulled out of.

These are all great reasons as to why a quick property sale is beneficial for one's needs. This type of sale is one that is not going to involve a long amount of time and will work with fewer costs. In addition to this the entire process of the sale will be guaranteed.

Need A Quick Property Sale? - 5 Important Tips To Beat The Stress

Everyone who's selling his house would be happy to be able to make a quick property sale. Not only are you able to recoup investment, collect profit, and move on quickly, but you also avoid the stress that comes with a long sale process. This is especially true if you absolutely need to make that quick property sale because you are in dire need of cash.

Having to deal with financial problems can be one of the most daunting challenges anyone can ever face. Every time those bills come, you're just too afraid to open them and see those numbers growing exponentially. To have to think of ways to raise the kind of money you clearly don't have in your bank account day in and day out is just too stressful, and it can take a toll on anyone's health.

But while the problem itself is just too disheartening, and the sale process too nerve-racking, you can minimize the stress. Here's how:

1. While it is all too easy to imagine the worst case scenarios and let them take over you, you should just stay calm and avoid exaggerating the threat. Even if you're having difficulty making a quick property sale, it's more likely that you'll still be able to sell your house, sooner or later, than it's not. You just have to do everything to avoid the threats.
2. Reexamine if you've done everything and have exhausted all resources to be able to sell your house. Ask yourself if you've used all the skills you have, if you've asked for help from all the people who might be able to help you, and if you have had past successes that could inspire new ideas.
3. Even if it's really stressful (cause it really is!), don't let it get the better of you. While you should obviously work hard to clinch the sale, you should also make sure that you're eating right, getting enough rest, and have time to relax. Even if you do not have the means to be able to pay membership dues at your local sports club, you can still exercise at home or jog around the neighborhood park.
4. You do not have to keep it all to yourself, let it out. Talk to your family and friends. Tell them about your frustration and ask them for advice. If it becomes too much for them to bear as well, then you can always turn to community-based counseling services. It's hard to go through something like this alone, so you'll need all the support you can have.
5. Engage in relaxing activities. Not shopping of course, if that's your idea of relaxing. Do something that calms the mind, like meditation or yoga. Do progressive muscle relaxation exercises and slow, deep breathing. Or you can go to church and pray, especially if you are deeply religious.

It's only natural to get stressed when selling your house, especially when you're doing it to solve a financial problem. But as you can see, there are ways to beat the stress and not suffer a heart attack.

Tips for Successful Quick House Sales

According to the Quick House Sales Market Study conducted by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in 2013, quick house sales accounted for £500 million to £900 million of all properties sold in 2012. The study was carried out to determine whether or not this method works favourably with home sellers. The findings based on the report show that quick house sales can be beneficial to home owners who need a fast, guaranteed, and hassle-free way to sell their properties.

Before jumping into the bandwagon, consider these helpful tips for a successful quick sale of house.

1. Have your property assessed by an estate agent. To avoid getting a false valuation of your property and getting far more less than its market value, have your property assessed first by at least three different estate agents. This should give you a clear idea of how much your property is worth so you will know if property sale companies are offering you a fair amount for it.

2. Shop around for companies. Not all property sale companies are identical. Search for the right property sale company like you would an insurance company. You'd want one that's legitimate, trustworthy, efficient, and won't cost you more money than you're willing to lose. Don't settle for the first one you come across with. Have at least three on your list and compare what they're offering.

3. Check the company's background. If the company is a broker, or one that introduces you to a third party buyer, make sure that the company is registered with The Property Ombudsman or Ombudsman Services Property. If the company claims that it is under the regulation of an official body or has signed up to a code of practice, have it checked out.

4. Get an independent legal adviser. Property sale companies typically have their own legal adviser that they would recommend to you, but it's best that you get your own legal adviser-one whom you trust and know and has no connections with the company. The purpose of a legal adviser is to explain anything you're not sure about related to the transaction, whether it's legal terms or processes. He makes sure that you've read and understood the agreement.

5. Negotiate the price and the terms. Don't be shy to haggle. This is definitely a given in quick sale of house transactions. This is also where knowledge of your property's true market value comes into play. Ideally, you want to aim for that, but the final price would also depend on whether quick house buyers are willing to pay that price or haggle for a lower one. If you can't get your ideal price, psyche yourself to settle for the next best price instead.

6. Put everything down into writing. Do not settle for merely verbal agreements because you've got nothing to back you up in case something goes wrong. You need to document every detail you've agreed upon during the entire quick sale of house process.

7. Don't commit right away. You cannot be rushed or pressured into a decision you do not want even if there's a queue of quick house buyers knocking on your door. Don't sign or agree to anything until you receive a final offer in writing and all the checks and surveys are done.

Find Property to Rent - 15 Ways for Tenants to Spot a Fake Landlord!

Recent news reports of unscrupulous people taking over someone's home and renting it out to either one or more tenants means that if you are a homeowner, a landlord or a tenant, you need to take precautions to avoid being scammed!

If you are a prospective tenant hunting for a property, then it's vital to follow our top 15 ways to spot a fake landlord BEFORE you hand over any money!

To avoid having to ask these questions altogether, only rent from an ARLA or NALS registered letting agent that is also ideally a member of The Property Ombudsman Scheme. They are responsible for agents that have joined their organisations to abide by strict codes of conduct and this means that they are more likely to ensure a property is let legally, including ensuring the landlord owns the property and has, if required, the lender's permission to rent it.

Avoid a Fake Landlord BEFORE you view a property:-

1. Check where the advert is from. If it's from sites where landlord's can advertise for free, or for less than 50, find out how the website vets the properties and landlords. If they do NO vetting be very cautious!

2. Ask for the landlord's full name and address and ideally a land line phone number. Be suspicious if they don't give these details and only give an email address/mobile.

3. Ask if the landlord is a member of any accreditation schemes eg NLA, RLA and/or a local authority scheme, check they are members.

4. Confirm your appointment with them ideally on the land line number.

5. For a small fee (around 4) check on-line at Land Registry that the landlord does own the property. Download the Title Register details which says who owns the property.

How to SPOT a Fake Landlord when viewing a property:-

6. Ask the landlord if you can see the Energy Performance Certificate. This is a document that tells you how much your utility bills will be (very important!) and is a legal requirement for most rental properties (except properties that aren't let on a 'self contained basis', such as licensed HMOs and renting a room).

7. When looking around the home ask what's happened to the previous tenants and if you can have a reference from them.

8. Ask to see the existing gas and any electrical safety certificates. If the previous tenants have just moved out, then the certificates should still be in date, or if they are just out of date, confirm with the gas/electricity company that they did the work for your landlord.

9. Ask the landlord how much deposit they take, how it will be paid (eg cash/cheque/BACs) and which Tenancy Deposit Scheme it will be held in. It should be held in one of three schemes: My Deposits (custodial and safest scheme); Tenancy Dispute Service or My Deposits.

(These are insurance schemes, so if your landlord/agent goes bust, runs off with the money as long as you have evidence it was paid to them you can get your money back.)

Check on-line that they are a member of the scheme they say they are!

10. Ask for a copy of the contract that you will need to sign on move in day, so you can get it checked beforehand.

If the landlord can't supply all or any of the paperwork mentioned above - DO NOT RENT FROM THEM!

Avoid a Fake Landlord on Check in Day:-

1. Never hand over any cash or wire the money until you have received the keys.

2. Unless you are letting through a high street letting agent that is a member of NALS or ARLA (and the Property Ombudsman), don't hand over your deposit unless you have actually gained access to the property.

3. Make sure the landlord has done a full inventory. This is a document that lists all the things that are in the property and describes the quality of the decor. For example it might say 'stain on the living room carpet, near the fireplace' and ideally this statement would be backed up by a photograph. If there is no inventory, be very wary of renting the property without doing one yourself and taking lots of photos. If you don't when it comes to asking for your deposit back, there might be a dispute as the landlord might take money off for a new carpet in the living room because of a stain that was there before you moved in!

4. If there is no contract to sign and this contract has no mention of a tenancy deposit scheme where your deposit will be protected, do not sign! Check it with a specialist lettings legal company first.

5. Check that the gas and electrical safety certificates are real and up to date.

However much you 'fall in love' with a property, or however desperate you are to rent one, don't cut the corners described above. If you do try to rent too quickly, you might miss that the place is freezing cold, despite having all the radiators on, a fake landlord might put you under pressure to secure the property via a deposit.