10 Tips to Master the Art of Low-Ball Real Estate Offers

Buying a house is the single most expensive purchase most people will ever make, so it pays to know a few savvy negotiation tips before submitting an offer. An offer that’s more than 15% lower than the seller’s asking price is considered a low-ball offer—and if the seller accepts, the buyer stands to save thousands of dollars. If you’re in house-hunting mode, check out our tips on how to make a successful low-ball offer that both you and the seller can live with.

You’ll Never Believe What These 6 Amazing Homes Used to Be

Why demolish an aging edifice when you can transform it into a dreamy dwelling designed for modern living? That adaptive spirit spurred the crafty conversion of this collection of homes whose former lives may surprise you. Take a look at the lavish and livable rooms situated inside these unusual structures, and see if you can figure out their unconventional exteriors.

9 Little Things You Can Do to Help Sell Your House

Preparing to sell your house? You should have two separate to-do lists. In one, itemize the issues a good home inspector is likely to find. Those are matters you must address. In the second list, put down the minor improvements that are totally optional but can be extremely persuasive to a potential buyer. A buyer needs to be able to envision himself in your home, and there are dozens of modest upgrades you can make to help the buyer feel comfortable following in your footsteps. Once the major tasks have been accomplished, you can get down to home staging. Some of the simplest and easiest ideas are the best tips for selling your house. Repainting in house colors that sell, like neutrals, will broaden the appeal of your home. It’s worth hiring cleaning professionals to come in and get the dust out of every nook and cranny, and to wash carpets and upholstery. Make sure all your cabinets and closets have some unused space, to make them look bigger. From clearing clutter to replacing bathroom fixtures, find out which simple, affordable home staging tips you should move on before you put the place on the market.