Cathy Conway

In life, there are certain things you can control and certain things you have no power over. The same goes for real estate! Maybe your home has been on the market longer than you expected, or you’ve put 5 offers in and still haven’t had one accepted. You might start to feel discouraged and might wonder if there’s anything else you can do. The truth? You simply can’t control some aspects of the real estate industry. Wether it be interest rates, inventory levels, or market cond...itions, some things you just can’t change. You aren’t able to control how many offers you get on your home (or how good the offers are), which homes are on the market, or if your offer will get accepted. What can you control? As a buyer, you can control: - Your credit score - How strong of an offer you submit - Your flexibility with your wants and needs list - How many homes you tour - Your debt - Your down payment amount As a seller, you can control: - The listing price - Your flexibility with showings - Your home preparation - Advertisment - Your home condition The #1 thing you CAN control in real estate? Who you work with. The choice of your real estate agent impacts your real estate experience in either a positive or negative way. You need someone you can count on, an agent you can trust and who has your best interest at ALL times. If you are looking for a real estate agent, send me a DM! I’d love to chat more with you to see if we’d be a good fit to work together!

While purchasing a piece of property is a very personal experience since every single person has their own preferences and priorities, there are still some best practices you should follow as you go into your home-buying journey: Do’s: Create a home budget Use a real estate agent... Create a wants vs. needs list Don’ts: Look at homes way out of budget Search Zillow for your dream home Forget your list at an open house Do you have more to add? Leave ‘em in the comments!

Read more for these advantages here: https://www.cathyconway.com//advantages-of-selling-a-home-

Make life easier and more efficient by turning your home into a smart home! These days, there’s a smart version of every home device you could think of. Here are 4 devices you NEED to boost your homes IQ level 1. The Ring Doorbell... A video doorbell allows you to see who is at your front door when you aren’t home (or when you don’t want to get off the couch, lol!). With both live and video footage, video doorbells can also serve as the first line of defense against property theft, home invasion, and porch pirates. 2. The Ring Smart Lighting System These battery operated, weather-resistant, motion censored lights will discourage people from getting near your property at night. Outdoor security lights are necessary for keeping your home safe and secure! 3. The Google Nest Thermostat Control the temperature of your home from your phone with a smart thermostat! The Google Nest will also alert you if something is wrong, such as low temperatures that can cause frozen pipes. You can also connect the Google Nest Thermostat to your smoke detectors and CO alarms! 4. The Shark Ion R85 This robot vacuum drives around your home in search of pet hair, dust, dirt, and debris, while avoiding obstacles and furniture. Say goodbye to vacuuming, save time, and pick-up the Shark Ion R85 at your local Walmart or Bed Bath & Beyond! You can even connect it to your Google Assistant! What’s a smart home device you love? Comment below!

Got a case of the winter blues? I know the perfect remedy to cheer you up! Don’t let seasonal depression get the best of you here are a few of my January home essentials to beat the winter blues and create a cozy, safe haven you’ll never want to leave! - Fuzzy slippers are essential for the wintertime. Treat yourself to a new pair of fuzzy slippers (check out UGGS, SKIMS, or Amazon) to keep your feet feeling nice and arm! - The barefoot dreams blanket is a necessity in my h...ouse. With lots of colors to choose from, this blanket is the perfect way to make your living room feel cozy! - An essential oil diffuser is a fun way to change up the scent in your home and gives your space a fresh feel. My favorite one is by Vitruvi - it’s sleek, stylish, and functional! - If you don’t have a temperature control smart mug, you must get one! Perfect for a warm drink on a chilly day, the Ember Mug keeps your coffee or tea at the perfect temperature for hours! - Reading a book by the fireplace seems like the perfect way to spend a rainy or snowy day. If you’re looking for a new read, pick-up Atomic Habits by James Clear! What’s on your January essentials list? Comment below!

Happy Monday everyone! After a nice and relaxing weekend, I’m ready to crush my goals and work my off this week! If you need some Monday morning inspiration, I’ve got you covered. At the beginning of each week, I like to set myself up for success by preparing my to-do list, journaling my thoughts and feelings, reading inspiring quotes, getting outside, doing a morning meditation and doing some breathing exercises. If you’re feeling a little down today, turn on your favorite... song, pour a cup of coffee, and have a Monday morning dance party! I promise, it’s the perfect remedy to bust those Monday blues! What’s one thing you do to set yourself up for a successful week? Comment below!

A beautiful kitchen is the main selling point of a home. There’s nothing better than gathering around the kitchen island with friends and family, enjoying great food, wonderful company, and lots of laughter. The kitchen is the heart of every home! Of all home renovations, a kitchen remodel has one of the highest returns on investment (75%-100%!). A well designed, updated kitchen can boost the value of your home, providing you use high quality, durable materials. If you’re loo...king to do a kitchen remodel in 2022, you’re probably wondering how much it will cost to do the entire renovation. The average kitchen remodel price is between $15,000-$50,000, but the overall cost depends on the appliances you choose, how custom you want everything to be, the size, quality of materials, area you live in, etc! You will also need to factor in how much it will cost to have everything installed, built, shipped, etc (if necessary). Swipe for a list of project estimates that I’ve put together to get an idea on how much you’ll need to spend (approximately!) on a kitchen remodel!

Looking to buy a house in 2022? Here are a few things you should do before house-hunting! 1. Know your credit score! Talk with a mortgage lender and get pre-qualified before starting the house hunting process. This will help you to know your budget and figure out how much you can qualify for! 2. Make a budget! Know how much you can afford to spend each month on a mortgage, along with how much money you are comfortable with putting down on a home. It’s important to do this bef...ore you have a mortgage payment! 3. Be sure to find a real estate agent you trust! You want someone who is experienced, knowledgable, and reliable. A good realtor makes the world of a difference when buying a home! 4. Make a list of needs and wants for your future home. Needs = features you MUST have (non-negotiable items), and wants = features you would like, but aren’t necessary (negotiable items). If you get overwhelmed after seeing too many homes, you can refer back to your list and remember what is most important to you! 5. Drive around different areas and figure out where you would like to live! Look into neighborhood safety, traffic, commute times, accessibility, amenities, etc. Choosing a set location/specific neighborhoods will narrow down the list of properties to see and helps your realtor to know which homes to show you! Ready for homeownership but still looking a real estate agent? Send me a DM and let’s connect I’d love to chat more with you!

If one of your goals for this year is to give more this year, look no further than this post. There’s no better way to give to your #realestateagent than to share a referral! Here are some benefits of sharing a referral:... 1. Connects friends and family with a trusted agent 2. Helps friends grow their real estate knowledge 3. Supports an agent that helped you find your home 4. Creates connections 5. Score brownie points when they find their dream home If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, please feel free to contact me. I would love to walk you through the process.

Feeling like your house is just a little too big for your season of life? Here are a few signs it’s time to downsize: 1. You’re retiring... One of the most common reasons people downsize is due to retirement. As you move towards retirement, you may not need as much space and will be able to save more money by purchasing a smaller home 2. You don’t want to deal with maintenance Home maintenance can be expensive, time consuming, and an overall hassle. If you’re looking to free up more time for hobbies + spend less time and money working on your home, it may be time to downsize. 3. You have empty, unused rooms Bigger isn’t always better! If you have an empty room or two just collecting dust, it may be time to rethink your home size and consider purchasing a smaller house. 4. You’re in the midst of a lifestyle change If you’re looking to travel, you won’t be spending as much time at home, so it may make sense to downsize. 5. You’re getting older It’s important to think about the future! You might be young and spry now, but as you age, you may want to live in a smaller, one story home with less maintenance required and less yard to take care of. 6. Financial troubles A smaller home = a cheaper monthly mortgage payment, cheaper utility bills, and less maintenance costs! If you are looking to save more money, pay off your credit cards, or stop living paycheck to paycheck, it may be smart to move into a smaller home that you can comfortably afford. Ready to downsize? Send me a DM and let’s chat - I’d love to help you find the perfect home for you in this stage of life!

Read more here: https://www.cathyconway.com/b/61387/winterize-a-vacant-home

Let’s brush up on your real estate knowledge! Here are some acronyms and abbreviations you should know if you’re looking to purchase or sell a home. Avoid the confusion by getting familiar with the industry lingo! Save this post for later by clicking the bookmark icon above - you’ll be a pro in no time!

Want to give your bathroom a makeover without breaking the bank? Here are 5 ways to update your bathroom on a budget! 1. Switch out your builder grade mirror for a framed mirror. This instantly gives your bathroom a more luxury feel, and you can find great, inexpensive ones at places like Target, Home Goods, or TJMAXX! 2. Paint your cabinets! Tired of the wood stain on your bathroom cabinets? Take off the doors and drawers, clean and prime your cabinets, and paint them yourse...lf! This is the perfect weekend project and it will completely transform your bathroom! 3. Give your old faucets a new look! Update your bathroom by adding a new faucet to your sinks and a new shower head + handle to your shower/bath! 4. Add lighting! There’s no such thing as too much light in a bathroom. Add wall sconces to the sides of the mirror and a fun new light fixture to brighten up your bathroom! 5. Accessorize! Purchase a new shower curtain, bathroom rugs, and hand towels to switch up the style of your bathroom. You can also add a scented candle, room freshener spray, and a cool plant to the counter to complete the look! Have other DIY bathroom tips & tricks? Share them below!

New year, new address! That’s how the saying goes, right? Who’s getting ready to buy a home this year? If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, please feel free to contact me. I would love to walk you through the process.