Soak brushes in fabric softener to keep the bristles soft. Mix half a cup of fabric softener with a gallon of water, and swish the brush in the mixture for 10 seconds. Lay flat or hang the brush to dry. The softener will keep the bristles from developing a bend and will help distribute the paint more smoothly. Use plastic wrap to protect items from paint splashes. Putting plastic wrap around large items such as toilets and sinks will protect thei
This may be the biggest bargain ever for a home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two homes in Oakland, Calif., are being listed for a mere $1 each. But obviously, there's a catch.The homes, one of which was built in the 1800s and the other in the early 1900s, are on a site owned by a development company that plans to construct an apartment complex there so the houses would need to be moved to a new location. They will be razed if a buyer doesn't st
Baby boomers and millennials have different attitudes when it comes to marriage, children, and homeownership. Researchers with the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University compared adults who were 25 to 34 years old in the 1980s with those who are in that age group today. One difference they found is that millennials are getting married later in life. In 1980, two-thirds of 25- to 34-year-olds were marrie
When you're at a networking event, talk less about yourself and ask more questions of the people you meet. Your approach should be "what value can I bring" to others as opposed to "what can others do for me?" writes Jill Schiefelbein in her book Dynamic Communication. Asking questions will create a more lasting connection and likely lead to benefits for both parties.In the end, Schiefelbein notes, your goal is to get a second handshake during an
The average annual property tax in the U.S. was $3,296 in 2016, with an effective tax rate of 1.15 percent, according to a new report released by ATTOM Data Solutions. The report encompasses a 2016 property tax analysis of more than 84 million single-family homes.The effective tax rate, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, is the average annual property tax expressed as a percentage of the average estimated market value of homes in a geographic are
New homes are getting larger, but their lot sizes are getting smaller. The median size of a new home increased from 1,938 square feet in 1990 to 2,300 square feet in 2016, but lot sizes during this same period decreased from 8,250 square feet to 6,970 square feet. That amounts to about a 16 percent decrease.However, the trend hasn't been consistent: Between 2006 and 2011, home buyers were showing demand for larger homes and larger lots. As home
Rejection, patience and knowing when to ask for help all launched these successful agentsKey Takeaways Looking for your big break in real estate can come from a negative experience rather than a positive one. Bouncing back can be what makes you great.Stephen Shapiro started in apartment leasing when he arrived in L.A. from Philadelphia in the 1970s. Early on, he found a niche leasing property to celebrities including Al Pacino and Mick Jagger in
There are lots of tools that real estate agents can use for their marketing efforts. Marketing is a key element for any successful real estate business. An effective marketing campaign will not only help generate more leads but also showcase your personal brand in front of potential prospects.In this article, you will find a list of the five most effective tools that you can use as a real estate agent. Each of these tools has a very specific role
A decrease in refinancing activity—due to the uptick in mortgage rates since November 2016—has curtailed overall mortgage application activity in recent weeks. It’s again what was behind the 1.6 percent drop in total mortgage applications last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Wednesday.Applications for refinances dropped 4 percent last week and are now 33 percent below a year ago.Meanwhile, applications for home purchases are
How is your city’s noise pollution? The Department of Transportation has released a National Noise Map for you to find out. The heat map reveals the medium to loud sounds surrounding 97 percent of the population. The map focuses on airplane and road noise, with views from a national to county level.Areas that appear in blue to deep purple on the map are considered the noisiest, in which nearby residents are exposed to 80 to 95 decibels regular
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