Whether you’re enticed by the idea of saving money or you’re tired of a cluttered lifestyle, the tiny home movement has gained a significant and devoted following. So what exactly is the Tiny House Movement? For many, it’s born out of the desire to live as simply and economically as possible. The Tiny Life blog puts its best: “Simply put, it is a social movement where people are choosing to downsize the space they live in. The typical American home is around 2,600 square feet, whereas the typical small or tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet. Tiny houses come in all shapes, sizes, and forms, but they enable simpler living in a smaller, more efficient space.”
The McMansion is out and many people across the nation are moving towards a tinier, mobile lifestyle. Tiny living also has many perks for environmental lovers – the small space works well for those cautious about leaving a large environmental footprint, and you’ll save on utilities living in such a compact home. Tiny home residents and builders focus on making their homes as environmentally friendly as possible including solar panels, a rainwater catchment system, and one savvy and creative developer even recycled an air duct into a dry erase board. It’s clear that tiny homes have become a symbol of environmental consciousness and simple living.
Many tiny home proponents who are looking for something small and affordable to keep them out of a cluttered lifestyle have turned to the tiny condo movement. Small condos as small as 300 feet have become extremely popular among millennials and young professionals but have a wide range of features meant to appeal to everyone. For example, Ontario 17, a new condominium building in Washington D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood is priced as $275,000 and is only 380 sq. ft., which puts it at half the price of the neighborhood median. It’s obviously why these new homes would be popular in cities like D.C. and NYC but now Philly is jumping on the bandwagon and is also growing a tiny home movement. If you’re interested in learning more, these Philly adventurers have started their own meetup group. While the Philly movement is in its early stages, these tiny home pioneers might just be onto something incredibly big.
If you’re enamored by the tiny home and condo movements but just can’t see yourself settling into a 300 sq. ft. home, ease yourself into a less cluttered lifestyle by picking a unit that’s more middle of the road in terms of size. Perhaps something more like 700 sq. ft. – just enough space to feel comfortable which preserving a more economical lifestyle. Many smaller homes feature clever designed kitchens with hidden storage. Look for one with a balcony and get the bonus of the great outdoors.
The tiny home trend is all over modern pop culture. Check out this spoof from one of our favorite shows, Portlandia, where Carrie and Fred parody life inside a tiny house.
Whether you’ve decided to live small or in a large mansion (and if so, feel free to invite us over), feel free to get in touch with us – we’re ready to help you begin your home story! We buy houses in Alpharetta.
Buying a home is exciting and challenging. You’ll get to see different properties, each with its own features and personalities. But purchasing a home is also a huge financial commitment—you can’t just get carried away due to excitement at the cost of overlooking important details of the home, which could lead to bigger and more expensive problems down the road.
Whether it’s the location, the price, or other details that could be signs of potential red flags, it’s important to be vigilant when touring and looking at properties. It won’t be practical to spend for an inspection on every home you tour, so it’s essential to be aware of any warning signs as you’re house hunting.
Here are seven of the most common red flags to watch out for before you set your heart on any potential property and claim it as your dream home.
The listing includes only a few photos of the home’s interior. Pay attention to this major red flag while you’re checking the listing online. Are you seeing only a few photos of the inside of the home? Are certain rooms or areas of the house left out and there are more photos of the exterior and its surrounding area? Remember, every home seller’s goal is to present their home in its best light. And the best way to do it is by featuring enough high-quality photos so potential buyers will know the house is in good condition. So before deciding to tour the property, ask your realtor for more photos and see if photos of certain rooms were left out intentionally.
Many nearby homes are up for sale. Second is to pay attention to your neighborhood and the nearby properties. Having plenty of options during your house-hunt is great, but what if there are too many homes for sale in the same street? When you see a lot of other “For Sale” homes in the neighborhood, get curious and ask your real estate agent if it should be a concern or it’s just a coincidence. It could be a huge indication that there’s an issue with the location.
Take note and deep-dive into why these people are selling their homes. Are crime rates rising? Is it located near a busy and noisy highway? This is why it’s crucial to do some neighborhood sleuthing before buying a home. Local details such as crime statistics, school information, and other demographic data are easily accessible online and could be helpful when checking out your potential neighborhood.
The house is being sold at a bargain price. A home’s selling price is a major consideration for any buyer. When house-hunting, it’s essential to only look at homes that are within your price range or budget. But what if you see a home that is priced too low? Sounds a good bargain, huh?
Be wary if the listing price is way too low for its market value and seems too good to be true. It’s a common red flag that usually indicates a number of issues with the home. There could be an issue with the house or location, or there are major problems that will be expensive to repair. Make sure to ask your realtor about the listing price before you rush to make an offer and purchase a money pit that will give you headaches later on.
Odd odors inside and outside of the home Your sense of smell is one of the most potent tools you can use when checking out potential red flags during a house tour. Pay attention to any strange or offensive smell inside and outside of the home. Funky or unpleasant odors could be an indication of mold, a plumbing issue, water damage, HVAC issues, pests, or poor ventilation. If you’re doing a video-chat tour of the home, your realtor should be able to inform you about this.
If you’re touring the home yourself, also check if the seller is using too much air freshener, or every room has a scented candle lit on. Because while these are appealing scents, they could mean the seller is trying to mask or cover up any offending odor. Likewise, don’t forget to sniff out warning signs in areas like closets, cabinets, in the basement, and any other crawl spaces.
Cracks in the foundation When looking at your potential property, one of the most crucial things to keep an eye out for is any cracks in the foundation. A few hairline cracks are normal as the house settles on the foundation over the years. However, large bulges or cracks on the walls and floors are huge causes for concern. They can be a sign that the home has serious structural or foundation issues, and you may have to foot the bill for potential costly repairs and foundation work once you become the homeowner.
Poor drainage or any signs of water damage Another red flag to keep an eye out for is any sign of water problems and poor drainage. Is there any pooling water near the foundation or around the yard? This can be a sign the gutters are not functioning properly, which can lead to water and mold problems inside the home. Other signs of poor drainage can include overflowing gutters or downspouts, as well as water stains. Water stains on walls, ceilings, and in the basement are easy to check as they are yellowish or brownish in color.
Also, watch out for any leaky faucets and pipes as they could be an indication of a plumbing problem on the upper floor. If the property you’re considering is located in a flood zone, you might also want to check if the home has a history of flooding prior to purchasing.
Insect infestations and pest damage Because your home will be one of your biggest assets, you wouldn’t want to purchase a property with a pest problem. As you walk through the home, look for telltale signs of pest infestations. Check for dead bugs, piles of pest droppings, signs of bed bugs, mud tunnels built by termites, or any evidence of nesting by rodents. Make sure to recognize these signs because many pests, especially the wood-destroying ones, can cause damage to a home which can be very expensive to rectify. Paying for a separate pest inspection is also worth it rather than having to shell out a significant amount of money after you bought the home and found out about those unwelcome creatures. We buy houses in Alpharetta.
