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Yes. Buying a Home Can Be Stressful.

Yes. Buying a home can be stressful.

Hiring a professional to buy or sell a home is a good way to assist you in dealing with some of the stress points during a real estate transaction. Often times, buyers and sellers are unaware of all the possibilities that may come into play when purchasing a home or selling one. Your realtor is a trusted resource that will help you remain calm.

Here a just a few to consider:

 

  • Sometimes you will have to write many offers in our competitive market before you will secure a contract.

  • Sometimes home inspections do not go well and negotiating repairs can be stressful.

 

 

  • Sometimes closing gets delayed or there is an issue getting your keys once closing has occurred.

  • Often sellers may accidentally leave items at the home that are unexpected or leave the home less clean than anticipated. This can cause extra work to be needed before you may want to move in.

 

  • If you do not understand the home buying process well or your lender and/or real estate agent are not communicating consistently, it can leave you feeling out of the loop and anxious.

  • Feel free to constantly communicate with your agent and lender if it helps you feel at ease during the process. They really are such a valuable asset in so many ways.

 

The Best Utah Blogs & Podcasts

Tuning into a local podcast and/or browsing a local blog, is a great way to not only get familiar with all things Salt Lake City, but to also get a virtual introduction to people you may never meet, places you didn’t know existed and maybe even connect you to a new topic you hadn’t thought of. These sources of information are typically free and a great resource for both Utah transplants and natives.

Podcasts Worth a Listen

 

I am Salt Lake– The husband and wife duo, Chris and Krissie Holifield host this local podcast covering topics from local restaurant owners to recovering drug addicts and drug dealers.

 

Slcdunk– For all the Utah Jazz fans out there and sports enthusiasts, SLCdunk talks news, gossip and trade rumors.

 

The New Utah Podcast– Created by four people that talk about the history of Utah, some of its unique qualities and the states undyeable beauty.

Blogs Worth Reading and /or subscribing to

 

Gastronomic Salt Lake City– For the latest food news happening around the state, subscribe to the oldest online food magazine in Utah, run by a former Salt Lake Tribune critic.  From menu watches to restaurant openings and closings, this site will keep you in the foodie loop.

 

Salt Lake Chamber– The Salt Lake Chamber is your source for time sensitive business news and interesting stories of both their members and the community. Stay in the loop with policy updates and important city announcements as well.

 

Building Salt Lake- Taylor Anderson and Luke Garrott, cover the urban development news across the Wasatch Front, and with the current pace Utah is growing, we suspect it is a full-time job.

 

Tips for Moving with Pets

Moving can be a stressful situation for humans, imagine how stressful it can be on your four-legged family member. Things changing in the house are unexpected, therefore taking a few extra steps to ensure your pets move is a smooth transition is worth every minute.

1. Keep your pet away from the actual moving

First and foremost- keep your pet away from the actual moving. Leaving with a family member or even a trusted kennel will keep them from getting stressed by all the sudden movements. If relocating them is not an option, keep them a quiet place in the house or in your yard if possible. Be sure to check on them regularly and try and keep their feeding schedule the same. 

 

2. Pack their things

Pack an easy overnight bag for your pet- having their favorite toy, food, and whatever else their creature comforts maybe will make it easier, and quicker to access so they are comfortable while you unpack. 

3. Take them to the new place

Take them to the new place in your own car. This familiarity will help the transition and help them to feel safe. 

 

 4. Keep an extra close eye

Keep an extra close eye on your pet in the new place. You don’t want your pet to get out and get lost in a new neighborhood. Give them a few days to adjust before you let them roam. 

5. Fish Tip

Moving with fish? Fish can get very stressed by the disruption. It is best to transport them (short distances) in bags filled with tank water. 

 

 6. Bird Tip

If you have birds, keeping them in their cage during the entire transition is best. 

 7. Contact Information

Don’t forget to update their contact information! From tags to chips, get that address updated! 

 

Things to do in Downtown Salt Lake

Founded in 1847 by the Mormon pioneers, and still the home of the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and one of only two major urban areas in the Great Basin, Salt Lake City has lots to see and do. The downtown area has been up and coming for several years now and continues to grow up. But don’t take my word for it, check some of these places out.

Things to do:

The Gallivan Center
See what is happening at the Gallivan Center in downtown Salt Lake. From concerts to food events, and the yearly Craft Lake City DIY event, there is always something happening at the Gallivan. And check out ice skating all winter long at the ice rink starting in November. And every Thursday for all the businesses in the area, there are a collection of food trucks where you can swing by for lunch.

Salt Lake Film Society
If you don’t want to be outside, why not catch a film at the Broadway Center Cinema. As part of the Salt Lake Film Society, the Broadway features some of the best independent films all year, and during the Sundance Film Festival, you can catch many of the Sundance films there as well.

Farmers Market
Just down the road from the cinema, at Pioneer Park during the summer and at the Rio Grande Depot during the winter, check out the downtown farmers market.
Every Saturday from June to October, swing by Pioneer Park in the AM for fresh produce, local meat, eggs, and other locally made sauces, spreads, baked goods, and culinary accouterments. The market moves indoors to the Rio Grande Depot from November to April where you can still find great local products.  

 

Where to Shop:
 
Boozetique
Also on Broadway is Boozetique, a great little shop for all your cocktail needs. From glassware, corkscrews, and shakers to bitters, simple syrups and more, you will find all your drinking needs. 

Golden Braid Books
Down the street and around the corner a little ways, you will find Golden Braid Books, a little oasis in the busy city. Offerings include gifts and books for feeding the mind, spirit, and soul.  Find items to fix your feng shui or find that best seller you have been looking forward to reading all year.
When you’re shopped out and need a bite to eat, there are fantastic restaurants within a few minutes walk.

 

 

Where to Eat: 

HSL Restaurant
You’ve been out all day shopping or playing, or working for that matter, and you need to unwind a little. You’ll want a reservation for this one, but Chef and owner and James Beard award winner Briar Handly is doing some fantastic things here. Get the cauliflower; you will not be disappointed.

Under Current Bar
After dinner, head around the corner to Under Current, an upscale neighborhood bar. They can make all the classic cocktails you might want and have a bar-tending staff that can create just about whatever you are in the mood for. If you still need a bite after dinner, they make some killer fries.

Beer Bar
And speaking of fries, head on over to Beer Bar where you can find all things beer, of course, and grab some excellent Belgian style frites. With German-style beer hall tables, and a menu that consists of sausages and fries, what’s not to love. But if beer is not your thing, step through the door to the adjoining Bar X and grab yourself another cocktail.

Broom Clean and Free of Debris

What exactly does “Broom Clean and Free of Debris” mean when selling a home? For starters, this does not mean the home has been professionally cleaned by any means. Also, when sellers take down art and or photos off the walls, there are often nail holes left behind and the seller is not obligated to spackle them.

 

In addition, once furniture is removed, there can be spots on the carpet and other surprises that the buyer should anticipate potentially dealing with as there is no way to see everything when a home is occupied and there is furniture in the way.

 

Often times when a seller moves out and the home is vacant, many things that were not visible in photographs when furntiure ext. where still in the house, are now visible when empty. This can include stain on carpets, holes in walls and perhaps even issues with other types of flooring, like laminate floors with stains or damage.

 

Be prepared to either hire a professional service to clean the house to your satisfication or factor in the time to do it yourself. Expecting that it will already been done, is an unrealistic expectation and one that cathces a lot of buyers off guard.

 

“People’s perception of broom clean is very different, so buyers should plan on hiring a housecleaner so the home is clean to their liking,” Monique Higginson said. “Often sellers will leave paint or other items at the home, but those should be removed by the seller unless the buyer gives them permission to leave the items.”