Month: May 2016

We all know the feeling. You look for your keys in your jacket pocket. Not there. You look in the two or three other places you usually leave them. That sinking feeling does overwhelm you before you start calling your family or close friends near Home looking for help. They don’t have any spare keys, nor do you have any other option. You have to call a locksmith.

Hiring the right locksmith

1. Prepare

That’s right. Finding the right locksmith is something you can prepare for by asking around your personal network or researching one online. I recommend doing this is if you are someone like my brother, who has lost seven sets of keys and thirteen bankcards (but hey who’s counting?). Find one in advance and make sure you add them to your phone contacts or keep their business card handy.

2. Go reputable and established

This is like finding the right mechanic. Well, maybe not that hard. Finding the right locksmith is a lot simpler when you go for a big brand name because they are likely to hurt more by negative feedback.

3. Go local

Of course, you should be going local! But what I mean by this is perhaps check with the company how long it would take for them to come out, and get a quoted price that you can put to the locksmith when he turns up.

The shorter the distance, the less leverage in play. When finding the right locksmith, it’s important to be smart, or in this case, be vigilant. This includes checking company logo, name and perhaps even noting down the vehicle registration number.

4. Confirm the price up front

Who would have thought that when finding a good locksmith, it would be important to check the price up front? Not only is this essential, but it also protects you from a solo, money-hungry locksmith turning up either as part of a company, or private, who might try negotiating, or shaking a few extra dollars out of you.

5. Check they are licensed and insured

If you don’t like being walked on or taken advantage of, then ensure that finding the right locksmith isn’t one of these experiences by asking to see for licenses and insurance coverage. Without it, don’t let the locksmith even bother starting.…

With the dynamics in the real estate industry, selling and buying properties can be a challenge. To a homeowner, making a sale can present its unique set of difficulties. As such, it is imperative to devise ways of dealing with these challenges and before making the deal. The vital step in the selling process is getting  an accurate house price estimate. Fortunately, several options can help the owner achieve this feat. Some of them will be explained here.

How to get Realistic House Quotes

Look Around

This direct and straightforward approach can help the homeowner get realistic home/property estimates. Only look at the properties available in your neighborhood. In this undertaking, you should concentrate on homes that are almost similar to yours. Moreover, you should also look at the number of homes for sale at that moment to have an idea of the competition available out there. This step helps the homeowner get an idea of how her home compares to others.

Use the Internet

This is a very helpful tool for a modern-day owner. As such, some websites help property/homeowners estimate the values of their homes online. Well, some of these sites can be accurate than others. But the bottom line is that most of them provide accurate estimates. These estimates are vital in the beginning stages of your selling process.

Real Estate Agents

For a better valuation, you might consider working with a real-estate agent. From their experience in dealing with properties, agents can give you fast and accurate estimates. Besides, the good news is that most agencies offer this service free of charge. Most of them will get to great depths to provide you with details justifying these estimates.

Professional Valuers

To get a detailed appraisal, you should contact a licensed home valuation company. However, unlike estate agents, valuers charge a fee for their services, but the estimates given are based on a standard valuation method. Lending companies, banks, and financiers rely on these estimates before financing the buyers. Either way, the client receiving this service should pay for this service.

Many people choose to follow at least one of two of these steps before selling their homes. A home valuation exercise is not only important when making sales; it is an invaluable step when marketing your house. The method chosen also depends on the selling stage. Valuation by a licensed expert is often needed in the latter stages of the sales exercise.…