Now that Halloween is behind us, it's time to look forward to the upcoming festive holidays. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, two weeks from today in fact. It may look a bit different this year due to the Coronavirus but it's still the same old Thanksgiving holiday or is it?

by Jess Catcher, Writer for Little Things

Every year, families gather together to enjoy a huge feast of savory dishes and sweet treats to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, over time, the traditional holiday has begun to look much different than it did back in the day. I don’t mean the original meal between the Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621, but the classic customs from our parents and grandparents that somehow stopped being passed down somewhere along the way. Thinking back on my own childhood turkey days spent at my grandma’s house, I can’t help but feel like it’s a darn shame that so many of the simple things listed below just aren’t done as often anymore. After all, the shindig is about so much more than just what’s on your plate — it’s about acknowledging the blessings we’ve received over the months since we last gathered around the table together.

1. Retelling The Original Thanksgiving Story

We learn the basics in school, but families used to enjoy brushing up on all the fun facts about our ancestors’ first time sitting together at the table for their big fall harvest meal. Sharing Thanksgiving trivia with the rest of the brood was almost like a fun game!

For example, did you know they didn’t even have turkey on the menu that day? Instead, they dined on items like venison, duck, and even fresh oysters.

2. Adding A Festive Centerpiece To The Table

I can’t remember the last time I saw a beautiful centerpiece that wasn’t at a wedding reception, but you’d always see one on the Thanksgiving table way back when. You can have a blast crafting your own with your kids and grandkids chipping in!

3. Breaking Out The Good China

I’ll admit it: My family always uses paper plates for our feast in order to cut back on the dishes stacking up in the sink, but everyone used to reach for the fancy dinnerware, maybe even dressing up for the occasion with a nice tie or dress.

4. Using Quaint Place Cards

Even if it’s just a small gathering, this personal touch used to go a long way with helping guests feel extra special at the annual meal.

5. Playing Your Own Football Game

Instead of watching the same players face off on TV, families would spend the time waiting for their turkey by heading outside and working up an appetite with some friendly competition.

6. Splitting The Wishbone

Sure, it’s a silly superstition, but that’s what makes it so fun! As you can see in the retro snapshot above, it was especially delightful to the youngsters getting their first chance to make a wish.

7. Sharing What You're Thankful For

I know we’re all anxious to chow down on the delicious food, but don’t you remember when we all used to take a moment to look back on what we’re most grateful for since the previous Thanksgiving? I think this small gesture may have even made the food taste a little better.

8. Walking Off The Feast

Tons of us today are more tempted to slump down in a comfy chair and snooze for a bit. But not too long ago, families would spend more quality time together taking a walk and enjoying the fresh air while aiding their digestion.

9. Staying All Night (In Spite Of Sales)

In recent years, Black Friday has creeped into Turkey Day’s territory, not only forcing employees to leave their own meals early, but inspiring deal-seeking shoppers to ditch the dinner table before dessert is even served.

Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Everyone!

Pumpkins play an integral part of celebrating fall holidays. Artfully carved jack-o’-lanterns decorate our doorsteps, while whole pumpkins add a festive air to tabletops and other spots around our homes. Once Halloween has passed and Thanksgiving gives way to winter holidays, pumpkins often end up in the trash. But, instead of throwing them out, consider a number of ways you can reuse them. Here's how to give new life — even if only for a little while — to carved and whole pumpkins both indoors and outside.

By Noelle Johnson, Houzz Contributor, Horticulturist, freelance writer and Certified Arborist 

Carved jack-o’-lanterns as well as whole pumpkins can be used out in the garden and around the house once Halloween is over.

 

1. Decorate Outdoor Containers

Add distinctive seasonal flair to your containers by adding whole, uncarved pumpkins. Their vibrant skin will enliven outdoor spaces with color, whether used by themselves or nestled within flowering annuals and perennials.

 

2. Make a Bird Feeder

Cut your pumpkin in half, and fill with birdseed. Add some twigs for the birds to perch on and you’ll soon have feathered friends flocking for a snack. If there are still pumpkin seeds left, the birds will enjoy them too.

Smaller pumpkins also can be used as bird feeders. Clean out their insides, making a hole for the birds on the side. Fill the pumpkin with birdseed, and hang it from a nearby tree where you can observe.

 

3. Turn It Into a Planter

Create a natural container using your pumpkin. Be sure to remove any seeds and stringy bits, fill with potting soil and add a favorite succulent or flowering plant. Use your planter to decorate a tabletop or porch for a few days before planting the pumpkin in the ground — along with the plant inside — where the pumpkin will naturally disintegrate, enriching the soil.

 

4. Display in the Garden

Pumpkins’ distinct color and shape add a decorative autumn element to the landscape — especially when used in high-profile areas near a driveway or front entry. These should naturally disintegrate into the soil, if you want them to, but it’s best if they are best placed in an out-of-the-way spot for this. You could always dig a shallow hole to rest the pumpkin in.

 

5. Add To the Compost Pile

Not surprisingly, pumpkins are a great source of nutrients for compost. Cut up pumpkins into smaller sections to allow them to break down more quickly. Come spring, the pumpkin compost will add new life to your garden.

 

6. Feed the Deer

Those who grow pumpkins know that deer love to eat pumpkins. Provide them with a special fall treat by cutting your pumpkin into smaller pieces and scattering in an area, away from your garden, where they will enjoy eating them. Other furry visitors will also enjoy snacking on any leftovers.

 

 

7. Transform Into Candle Holders

All you need is a mini pumpkin and a tea light candle. Make a hole at the top of the pumpkin, slightly larger than the candle, and clean out the insides. The hole should be just deep enough for the candle to reach the top of the pumpkin. Insert the candle into the pumpkin, and light for festive decoration or a dinner for two.

  

8. Use as Serving Dishes

The shape of pumpkins make them a fun choice for a unique serving dish for the fall table. Smaller pumpkins make a good vessel for dips. 

9. Make Puree

Finally, no list of what to do with pumpkins is complete without talking about using them for delicious desserts like pumpkin pie and bread. Although pureed pumpkin is available in a can, it is easy to make your own, which you can use right away or freeze for later use.Don’t have a compost bin? Simply cut up your pumpkin and bury it where nearby plants will enjoy the phosphorus and other nutrients it will add to the soil.

 

After the leaves fall, it's time to rake them up or collect them with a lawnmower attachment then dispose of them, right? No! Instead of removing them entirely from your lawn, use these tips on how they can actually benefit your lawn and your flower beds too. The money homeowners will spend next Spring on lawn and garden fertilizers, mulch and bagged compost... they might have saved if they’d simply used those leaves now.

 

Why Are Leaves Valuable to the Gardener? 

It’s simple. When incorporated into soil, fall leaves:

• Add nutrients, including phosphorous and potassium

• Increase the soil’s microbial life 

• Boost its water-holding capacity 

• Improve its structure, known as tilth 

Not to mention that leaves are free! It takes little effort on your part to get them working for you. Here are five ways to use them:

1. Mow Them Into the Lawn

Together, shredded leaves and grass clippings add carbon (leaves) and nitrogen (grass) to the soil, reducing your need to add store-bought fertilizers later.

Here’s how: Use a mulching mower. If there’s a bag, take it off and mow with the discharge chute facing toward the lawn, so the clippings blow on the grass instead of on the street or driveway. Set the mower height at about 3 inches. Make another pass if the leaves are still in big pieces. The shredded leaves should sit no more than ¾ inch deep on the grass. Over the winter they will break down into the soil and be gone by spring.

2. Add Them to Vegetable Beds

You can incorporate whole or chopped leaves into any cleared-out vegetable beds. They will mostly decompose over the winter, then in spring you can mix in whatever is left. If you don’t want to see leftover leaves in your beds, shred them first. 

Don’t have a shredder? A garbage can and a string trimmer will work. Use a 55-gallon garbage can. Fill it three-quarters of the way with leaves. Put the string trimmer in, turn it on and move it through the layers of leaves. Be sure to wear eye and ear protection.

3. Make Leaf Mold

Leaf mold is simply wet leaves that have decomposed into a rich, black, soil-like substance that makes a perfect mulch for plants. Pile the leaves in a spot where they’re out of the way and won’t blow away. Or make large (3- or 4-foot) circles of chicken wire, 3 feet high, and pile the leaves in them. Wet the leaves as you go so they’ll rot. Turning the pile a few times during the winter will accelerate the process.

4. Mix Leaves — Shredded or Not — Into a Compost Pile Now, Where They’ll Break Down Over Winter

Even better: Stockpile dried leaves, in garbage bags or piled in that out-of-the-way place, for summer. In warm weather there’s an abundance of succulent green material (nitrogen) for your compost pile. But to keep the composting process aerobically working, and not rotting, it needs lots of “browns” (carbon), in the form of dried material. 

5. Protect Outdoor Potted Plants

When the weather turns cold and potted plants (the hardy ones, not houseplants or tropicals, which must be brought indoors) go dormant, pick a sheltered place on the north, west or east side of your house. Cluster the pots together against the house, ideally beneath an overhang. Pile dried leaves over, under and between the entire grouping of pots.

If the area is windy, corral the pots with chicken wire so the leaves won’t blow away. Pile the leaves inches deep, covering the pot and as much of the plant as possible. Under this insulating blanket, both plants and pots should come through the winter just fine. With this method, even terra-cotta pots can stay outdoors, as long as water can’t get into them and freeze.

As the days grow shorter, the weather becomes colder and snow is on its way, it's time to begin focusing on the indoor task that you may have been putting off.

 

1. Sweep and Inspect Chimneys and Fireplaces

Tzogia Kappatou/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus

A chimney should be cleaned and inspected yearly. A chimney sweep will help protect your home from accidental fires caused by creosote build-up. If you didn't give your interior fireplace surround a good cleaning at the end of last winter, do it now. Waiting another season will just add to the build-up of soot and make cleaning even more difficult.

Gas logs and fireplaces should also be inspected and cleaned so that they are safe and ready for use.

2. Change Smoke Detector Batteries

Jul Nichols/ E+/ Getty Images

A change of seasons also signals a time to change batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. This is one chore that can mean the difference in life and death and thousands of dollars in repair costs.

3. Clean or Replace HVAC Filters

firemanYU/ E+/ Getty Images

In addition to having an HVAC technician check your heating system, it is important to regularly change the filters in your heating and air conditioning system. Changing or cleaning filters will improve the air quality of your home and reduce the wear and tear on your furnace.

4. Clean and Reverse Ceiling Fans

powershot/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus

If the ceiling fans in your home have been running all summer, it's time to turn them off and clean the fan. Then, look for a small switch to reverse the blades so that the heated air will be redirected in a downward flow to keep you warmer during chilly days.

5. Deep Clean Throughout the House

gilaxia/ iStock/ Getty Images

If you've taken it easy during the summer and only gotten rid of the most visible grime, it's time to do a deeper cleaning including those places that you have been forgetting to clean including your cleaning tools. As you move through the rooms in your home, follow a checklist to make sure everything gets the attention it needs.

6. In the Bedroom

Oktay Ortakcioglu/ E+/ Getty Images

• Vacuum under the bed and all furniture.

• Wash or freshen heavier winter bedding.

• Vacuum and flip mattress.

• Clean carpets and rugs. 

7. Store Summer Clothes and Inspect Winter Wardrobes

I_rinka/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus

While you're cleaning the bedrooms, don't forget your closet and summer clothes. Empty each clothes closet and sort summer clothes before storing them away. Choose clothes that you want to store until next year to be laundered or dry cleaned. The rest should be sold, donated or discarded. 

While the closet is empty, check that no harmful pests that can ruin clothes are lurking by vacuuming it out well.

8. In the Bathroom

Remove Soap Scum in Bathroom. hesh photo / Getty Images

• Treat any mold or mildew in the shower stall.

• Clean out bathroom cabinets and properly discard out-of-date products.

• Wash shower curtains and bathmats.

• Clean all fixtures including switch plates and doorknobs.

• Replace toothbrushes.

9. In the Living Room

South_agency/ E+/ Getty Images

• Vacuum all upholstered furniture, including under the cushions.

• Clean all keyboards, remotes, and electronic devices.

• Dust baseboards, tops of furniture, and books.

• Clean walls and remove scuff marks.

• Clean wood floors, wool rugs, and carpet.

10. In the Kitchen

Jul Nicholes/ E+/ Getty Images

• Empty and clean the pantry. Make a list of holiday baking supplies that you will need.

• Clean the oven and vent hood.

• Clean the refrigerator and freezer and discard unusable items. Dust and clean the refrigerator coils.

• Inspect and clean small appliances.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there's no reason that virtual Halloween parties should be any less thrilling than in-person events.

All your party guests can get into the Halloween spirit by dressing up, decorating, and engaging in spooky themed fun together online. Just because circumstances have changed this year doesn’t mean we can’t all find a way to celebrate this haunting holiday!

1. Throw a Zoom Halloween Party

Thanks to the power of Zoom, you can now host your own Halloween party without having anyone set foot inside your home. Not only is a virtual Halloween party a great way to socialize and mingle with your friends, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to catch up with those you haven’t seen since quarantine guidelines went into effect.

How to Implement This Idea: You’ll want to post on social media about the idea, how to get an invite, and what they’ll need to participate. 

Below is some example language you can use:

"This Saturday, I will be hosting my very first digital Zoom Halloween Party! To attend, please share your email address by commenting below or sending a direct message to my inbox. I will send out a Zoom invite to join the party". 

The more people invited, the merrier the festivities. Just be prepared to have games going throughout the night to keep people engaged. Following are some ideas to arrange for your party.

2. Virtual Halloween Icebreaker Questions

Starting your party with icebreaker questions is a great way to warm up guests. By theming your questions toward Halloween, you can also help everyone get in the holiday spirit.

Here is a starter list of icebreakers:

• What is your earliest memory of Halloween?

• Which movie were you too scared to watch as a kid?

• What is the best horror movie of all time?

• Would you rather be a vampire or a ghost?

• Do you prefer chocolate or chips?

• What is the best candy in the world?

3. Pumpkin Carving Contest

This idea is great for bringing friends together during the Halloween season. It also requires very few items and is an event that pretty much every person loves to participate in.

Whether you and your guests come prepared with your very own spooky pumpkin creation before the Zoom call begins or carve them in real time, it's sure to be a hit. After everyone has shown off their monstrosities, a vote will be taken to select a winner. 

4. Create and Share Your Favorite Halloween Memes

Sharing Halloween memes is easy to do and fun for everyone. It allows you to show off your humor while also relating back to a holiday that is universally loved. If you’re going to choose only one social media activity out of this list, you should make memes.

How to Implement the Idea: Go to Imgflip.com to get started. They’ll ask you to choose a photo from their library or you can upload your own. From there, write in the copy using a font style, and poof, your new meme is ready to share. Go on your social media platforms and post the meme.

Does all this talk of memes have you feeling scared? Don’t fear! Click on this link to learn  how to create a viral meme that is sure to make your followers scream with delight.

5. Hold a Virtual Halloween Costume Contest

Hosting a costume contest is an extremely effective way of getting people into the Halloween spirit. It’s a fantastic opportunity for people to show off their costume design skills and their unique personalities. To set the tone of the holiday, invite your friends to join the video call in costume. 

How to Implement This Idea: Create a social post and send an email inviting people to join you on Zoom. Next, you’ll want to establish guidelines on how the contest will function. You’ll also want to establish yourself as the host of the contest and will need to lead the activity. Costume contests over Zoom can become hectic very fast. Keeping structure will prevent these issues.

Before the party, announce the categories, such as best coordinated costume, funniest costume, scariest costume, most creative costume, most detailed costume, and most timely costume. During the call, you can ask partygoers to cast votes for the top costume in each category via email, private chat etc. Once all votes are in, announce the winners and award prizes such as gift cards as an example.

Pro tip: Award extra points to anyone who dresses up a pet!

6. Halloween Zoom Backgrounds

Sure, you and your friends could go crazy covering the living room in artificial cobwebs or writing threatening messages in fake blood on the walls. Or, you could decorate for your Zoom Halloween party the easy way by changing your Zoom backgrounds to sinister or seasonal scenes.

Spooky Zoom background suggestions:

• Haunted house

• Graveyard

• Pumpkin patch

• Foggy forest

• Full moon

• Hotel hallway from “The Shining”

• Disembodied hands

• Zombie wasteland

You can even turn the activity into a competition and award a prize to the most amusing, creative, or interesting entry.

Here is a tutorial from Zoom on how to change your background.

7. Virtual Halloween Movie Marathon

Halloween is one of the holidays with the most TV and movie specials. Halloween moves aim  to make you scream, either with fear or with laughter.

To set the mood for your online Halloween party, you and your friends can stream creepy Halloween content on platforms like Zoom. By using a program like Metastream, you and your group can watch shows and movies simultaneously.

Scary Halloween movies:

• Friday the 13th

• Nightmare on Elm Street

• Halloween

• The Exorcist

• The Ring

• he Sixth Sense

• Insidious

• Cloverfield

• Poltergeist

Funny Halloween movies:

• Clue

• The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror specials

• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

• Hocus Pocus

• The Nightmare Before Christmas

• Young Frankenstein

• Ghostbusters

• Beetlejuice

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Watching Halloween specials together is a great way to find out which of your virtual friends are jumpy and which ones have wicked senses of humor. Not to mention, surviving scary movie viewings is always easier with company!

8. Digital Fortune Telling

The supernatural takes center stage in the month of October. During your virtual Halloween party, entertain your friends with the occult by way of digital fortune telling and online seances.

You can consult a virtual Ouija board on the Museum of Talking Boards website, or get a free online tarot card reading from Lotus Tarot. A site called Spirit Navigator offers upwards of fifty different free online fortune telling methods, so you and your friends can explore various options of reading your fates.

Or, if you and your friends would rather not tamper with the unknown, then you can craft custom fortunes for each other as a storytelling exercise.

9. Ghost Stories

Ghost stories are a classic form of Halloween entertainment. You can liven up your online Halloween party by asking partygoers to share spine-tingling scary stories.

For inspiration, check out CreepyPasta, which are scary stories shared on various websites. You can also read through this list of terrifying tales on HuffPost or head over to the super short scary stories section on Reddit for ideas on how to tell a bone chilling tale.

If your ghoul-friends (and boy friends) feel creepily creative, then each member can write an original frightening story to share. Or, if you and the gang would rather listen to a guide tell ghost stories, you can check out our guided tiny campfire event and enjoy s’mores while you shiver.

10. Creepy Cocktails

Adult Halloween parties have one distinct advantage over kid’s Halloween parties: boo-ze. Halloween-themed cocktails can add an element of eerie fun to your online soiree.

For inspiration, check out this list of frightening potions from HGTV. 

For inspiration, check out this list of creepy cocktails from Good Housekeeping, or this list of frightening potions from HGTV.

Some say Halloween is all about the candy, but personally, we're more partial to a glass of witch's brew. Pick your poison this Halloween with one of these scary-delicious cocktails or non-alcoholic drinks. For the adults, choose between rum, tequila, or vodka cocktails. Since you don't want your little goblins to miss out on the holiday fun, throw together a fizzy, fruity, or creamy mocktail for the kids at your Halloween Party. No need to be a pro bartender to take on these recipes, all of these Halloween drinks are extremely easy to make and best of all, even easier to drink. That's what makes 'em dangerously good, don't ya think?

Once you figure out which potion, brew, or punch you're going to make, finalize your party menu with these Halloween appetizer and Halloween party snack ideas. And hey, even though these sugar-filled drinks taste like a treat, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't cap off the eeriest night of the year with Halloween cupcakes, Halloween cookies, Halloween cakes, and other party-ready desserts.

I recommend sending your friends a list of ingredients or recipes ahead of time so that your guests come prepared. You can lead them through a Halloween-drink-making tutorial during the call.

List of virtual Halloween games:

Virtual Halloween party games are contests to entertain your online party guests. From murder mysteries to scavenger hunts, here is a list of ghoulish Halloween games you can play at your party. These activities are also called online Halloween games.

11. Zombie

Zombie is a game that promotes mindfulness. From time to time, each of us zones out and enters “zombie mode.” To play Zombie, ask your friends if they have done any of the  actions shown above without thinking.

Most of us have fallen victim to the mistakes on this list at least once or twice in our lives, so you may want to shorten the window to the last six months or so... that's your choice!

If the statement applies, then the player “got bitten” and must blackout their screen. The last player remaining wins the game.

12. Guess Whoooo?

Guess Whoooo? is a great game that invites players to determine the identity of people answering questions. To play virtually, a leader will ask the group a Halloween-themed question. All players will privately message the leader the answer. The leader will then share the responses, and players must match each reply to the correct participant. Players can either try to guess individually all at once, or can discuss answers together and narrow down the pairs one by one.

Here's a template you can use for your game.

Feel free to add your own spooky prompts, too!

Conclusion

Virtual Halloween parties should be spook-tacular. By using the tips on this list, you can engage your remote friends and ensure your online event is a wicked good success!

Photocredit: Getty

By Tara Mastroeni, Contributor, Forbes

If you're a homeowner or aiming to be one someday soon, you probably know that having home equity is a good thing. However, beyond that, many people start to lose track. That's why we've taken it upon ourselves to solve the mystery of home equity once and for all. Read on to learn what it is, how it works, and how you can use it to your advantage.

What is home equity?

Put simply, home equity is the percentage of your home that you own outright. While you're always considered to be the owner of your home, if you took out a mortgage to buy it, the fact is that your lender also has an interest in the property. Over time, as you pay down your mortgage, the lender's interest in your home shrinks and your home equity grows.

However, you can also grow your home equity in another way. You can do it by increasing the overall value of your home. This can happen by either living in an area with rising property values or by making substantial improvements to the property that will increase its resale value.

How to use your home equity

The good news is that, once you build it up, you can use your home equity to your advantage. When people talk about real estate being an asset, they mean that building home equity is a way to leverage wealth. Here are a few things that you can do with it.

Home equity loan

Home equity loans are often referred to as second mortgages because the two loans function very similarly. A home loan disburses the funds from the loan in one lump sum, much like what happened when you bought your home in the first place. From there, you'll be responsible for making regular, monthly payments to pay back the money you borrowed.

With a home equity loan, you're borrowing against the equity you've built up in your home so the amount that you're allowed to borrow may be limited by how much progress you've made in paying down your mortgage. Typically, lenders will insist that you maintain at least a 15%-20% ownership stake in your home at all times.

One benefit of borrowing against your home equity is that you can often do so at a much lower interest rate than credit cards or personal loans. That's why many people use this option to pay for big-ticket expenses like home remodels, paying off medical debt, or financing a child's college education.

Home equity line of credit

Home equity lines of credit are similar to home equity loans in that you're still borrowing against the equity in your home. However, the disbursement and fee structure couldn't be more different. With home equity lines of credit, the loan is divided into two distinct pay periods: the draw period and the repayment period.

During the draw period, your home equity line of credit acts a lot like a credit card. You can draw on the equity in your home whenever you see fit. During this time, you'll likely only have to make payments on the interest accrued by your purchases.

After a specified amount of time, you'll enter the repayment period. During the repayment period, you'll no longer be able to draw funds from your home equity. You'll also have to start making payments on both the principal and interest of what you've borrowed.

Cash-out refinance

Traditionally, with a refinance, you take out a new loan - usually one with better terms - to pay off and replace your old one. With a cash-out refinance, things work a little differently. In this case, you borrow more than what you owe and receive the difference in funds, which can be used as you see fit.

Here, the amount that you can borrow above what you currently owe is determined by how much equity you have in your home. Usually, you can borrow up to 85% or 90% of your home's value.

Move into something bigger

The most traditional way to use added home equity is to sell your house to buy something bigger. When you sell your home, you'll most likely use some of the proceeds from the sale to pay off the remainder of your mortgage. However, if there is any difference between the sale price on your home and the amount you still owe, it comes to you as profit. That profit can then be used to buy a bigger home and leverage your home equity even further.

How to figure out how much equity you have

Figuring out how much equity you've built up in your home is easy. All you need to know is what your home is worth and what you owe on your mortgage. You can find out exactly how much your home is worth by having an appraisal done or you can get an approximate figure by having a real estate agent prepare a comparative market analysis. Online valuation tools are also an option, but they may not always be accurate.

Once you have that information in hand, subtract the amount that you owe on your mortgage from the value of your home. The remainder is your home equity.

 

Feeling cramped at home? These tips can help open up a room without knocking down a wall.

• Accentuate the vertical. Draw the eye upward so a room looks more spacious. Add a bookshelf that reaches to the ceiling. Install vertical shiplap or wallpaper with vertical stripes. Hang a pendant light fixture.

• Consider “see-through” furniture. Choose chairs and sofas with visible legs instead of furniture with skirts that reach the floor. This allows you to see under and around pieces so they appear to float in the room rather than dominate it. Glass coffee tables are a good choice, too.

• Lighten up surroundings. We all know white walls reflect light and makes a room look bigger. But why stop there? HouseLogic recommends painting walls, ceilings, and trim the same shade of white to present a soaring, bright space.

• Go big with accents. Many people think small when designing a small room. Instead, add a couple of oversized accessories, like a big piece of art or a single large chair. A lot of little objects make a room appear cluttered while one or two big ones make it feel more spacious.

• Get away from the wall. Create a central layout instead of pushing a sofa up against the wall. When there’s a wall right next to a piece of furniture, your eyes are drawn to the wall, which can make the room seem more cramped.

• Simplify the color scheme. Use a monochromatic color scheme for walls, furniture, and accessories. When objects are a similar color, your eye doesn’t dwell on each one but rather sees them in a unified, uncomplicated form.

• Skip the curtains. Curtains block natural light and the view to the outdoors, making a room feel smaller and darker.

• Bring nature indoors. Add plants and use natural textures in furniture to tie indoor decor to the outdoor view that’s visible through the windows that aren’t blocked by curtains.

 

Sources: Denise Balassi, Spaces Of Distinction; Laura Britt, Britt Design Group; Melissa Grove, Laura U Interior Design; HouseLogic.com

 

Both buyers and sellers should be aware of the issues that can arise during a final home walk-through. The final walk-through typically takes place mere hours before the closing itself. It’s one last opportunity for the buyer, along with his or her agent, to inspect the home and make sure there aren’t any last-minute problems.

 

 

By Deanna Haas, Contributor for U.S. News and World Report

For homebuyers and sellers alike, the final walk-through can be one of the most significant steps in the real estate process. It may also be one of the most nerve-wracking.

Hopefully, your final walk-through will be smooth sailing. Every now and again, though, issues do arise – and they can go as far as to derail the entire home sale.

Here are the most common final walk-through discoveries that can potentially throw a wrench into the transaction:

• The home isn't empty.

• The house is a mess.

• The negotiated repairs haven't been completed. 

• Included personal property has gone missing.

• The lawn hasn't been cared for.

• The utilities have been shut off.

• The appliances aren't working.

• There's major damage to the walls or ceilings.

• The HVAC systems aren't working.

• The home was damaged in the moving process.

• Garage door openers don't work.

• Toilets don't flush properly.

• Garbage disposal and exhaust fans don't run right.

• Open and close window/doors to make sure they're in check.

 

The Home Isn’t Empty

Unless otherwise agreed upon, the sellers should be totally moved out of the house by the time of the final walk-through. Now, if they left behind a can of paint or a couple bags of trash, that’s probably not the end of the world. But if they left behind much more, the buyer may have to request they come by and clean up.

The House Is a Mess

The typical agreement is that the seller leave the property in broom-clean condition. This is a somewhat nebulous term, and it may mean different things to different people. The house doesn’t necessarily have to be spotless, but neither should it be a disaster area. Ideally, the house should appear move-in ready for the new homeowners.

The Negotiated Repairs Haven’t Been Completed

When buyer and seller negotiate on repairs or renovations, it’s expected that they all be finished by the time of the final walk-through. If the seller needs a little additional time due to unforeseen circumstances, this should be communicated to the buyer well in advance of the closing.

Included Personal Property Has Gone Missing

Did the seller take items they said they would leave for you? Light fixtures? Window treatments? A piece of furniture you wanted to buy along with the house? That’s definitely something that can stall the closing or lead to some tumult.

The Lawn Hasn’t Been Cared For

Generally speaking, real estate contracts stipulate that the seller will keep the lawn areas maintained until the date of closing. That doesn’t mean everything has to be perfectly manicured, but if the grass is five feet tall, or has died during the escrow period, that’s a problem.

The Utilities Have Been Shut Off

Typically, your real estate contract will stipulate that the utilities have to be on through the final walk-through. If you don’t have power or running water during the walk-through, that could technically be a breach of contract.

The Appliances Aren’t Working

For homebuyers, it’s important to use the final walk-through as an opportunity to test all the appliances included in the sale, confirming they work as intended. If something doesn’t work, you can ask the seller for a repair allowance.

There’s Major Damage to the Walls

Did the seller remove a wall-mounted TV, a piece of artwork, or some kind of home automation technology? And if so, did it leave behind damage to the wall? This could be a big issue.

The HVAC Systems Aren’t Working

Buyers should test out both the heating and cooling capabilities of the home. See that they work satisfactorily. If not, that’s something for which you’ll likely want to negotiate repair costs or a price adjustment.

The Home Was Damaged in the Moving Process

If the sellers did any kind of damage to the home while they moved out, that’s something for you to take stock of. In some cases, it may be worthwhile for you to request a repair allowance.

These are some of the main items you’ll want to look out for if you’re a buyer going through your final walk-through. And if you’re in the process of selling a house, let these serve as words of caution. Make sure to avoid these common hurdles to the home closing.

 

 

Connect with home sellers to make them feel good about letting you purchase their home. A personal letter to a home seller allows you to provide better context to the offer price and conditions, and also allows you to make a personal connection by sharing everything you love about the home. 

Getty Images

By Tania Isacoff Friedland, Contributor to U.S. News & World Report

First impressions are everything. Whether you’re buying a home, an apartment or some other type of property, presenting your initial offer in a positive light paves the way for a productive and smooth negotiation process. 

Typically, formal offers are sent by the buyer’s broker to the seller’s broker in writing via email. In some cases, a buyer will also write a personal note to the seller to send along with it.

In this case, the buyer’s broker will often include a short profile about the buyers and express their love for the property, but brief enough so the buyers' personal letter remains impactful and is not redundant. If the buyer is not working with a real estate broker and does not have representation, the offer would come directly from the buyer.

So, if you truly love a home or want to acquire an investment property, how do you write the perfect offer letter that combines your personal touch with a formal offer? 

Keep it simple, and focus on three things: State your intentions, show that you have the financial means to make the purchase and make a personal appeal to the seller.

Here's how to write your letter to the seller:

• Start with the details.

• Paint a picture.

• Romance the seller.

• Go the extra mile.

Start With the Details

At the beginning of your offer letter, express your appreciation for having the opportunity to visit the property, and state your terms upfront. Note the example below is intended for an offer on a private residence – an offer for a different type of property should be modified accordingly:

“Thank you for allowing me to visit [INSERT ADDRESS]. I love [INSERT ADDRESS] and I’m eager to make it my new home. I’m pleased to present my offer of [INSERT OFFER PRICE].” 

Next, include information about how you plan to pay for the purchase (all cash or financing), your requests for contingencies (financing contingency and inspection contingency, for example), your desired closing time frame and any other special conditions. If you’re financing the purchase, a preapproval letter from your bank should be provided along with the offer letter. 

It is important to make it clear that you’re a serious buyer and you're prepared to sign a contract upon completion of the due diligence process. You should also be in touch with a real estate attorney to help with the transaction.

If you’re making an offer that’s substantially lower than the seller’s asking price, you might consider including your reasoning for the low offer. To help build your case, consider contextualizing current market conditions and recent sales of comparable properties in the same neighborhood or building to put things into perspective. If the property is older or in need of repairs and renovations, outlining what specific updates need to be done and the approximate renovation costs can also help justify your offer.

Paint a Picture

Presenting yourself as a human being, rather than a simple dollar amount, is key to establishing a successful negotiation position. Provide the seller with a brief personal background and tell them about your spouse or family, if applicable.

Include career details, such as your current job and a description of your professional industry, as well as a quick summary of your career path leading up to your current position. This could also include where you grew up and which schools you’ve attended. You can even tell them about any pets you have.

Now, you’re a person with a story – you’ve painted a picture about who you are, which is harder for a seller to ignore. The seller will think of you as a human being, not just another buyer who offered a certain price for the property. 

Romance the Seller

Once you’ve shared a bit about who you are, shift your focus to romancing the seller when it comes to his or her home. Flatter the seller by highlighting all the things you love about the house, and explaining why it is the place you want to call home. Be enthusiastic, but don’t go overboard. 

While a real estate negotiation is a business transaction, if the sellers identify with you on a personal level, they can develop an affinity towards you – particularly in a competitive bidding situation – which may mean that they offer some flexibility during a negotiation. The sellers can feel pleased that they are passing their home on to someone who will love and appreciate it as much as they have.

Go the Extra Mile

In a competitive bidding situation, buyers can send flowers or cookies to the seller, along with a handwritten note. A small gesture like this indicates your thoughtfulness and authentic love for the property. Just be sure to keep it simple and tasteful, as you never want a seller to feel uncomfortable by being overly aggressive.

In the end, the important thing to remember is that you want to make sure your offer letter clearly states your intent to purchase a home, that you are in a sound financial position to make the purchase and that you’re providing a personal appeal to the sellers so they know their home will be in caring and responsible hands.

 

 

As the coronavirus hangs on into the fall season, having outdoor space is proving more valuable than ever. But now that cooler weather is on the way, stretching out the life of your porch, backyard, or balcony is the next smart step.

By Jennifer Kelly Geddes

To warm up your outside rooms, try these 9 ideas to retrofit your yard or patio for the cooler fall season.

1. Fire pit

If you don't have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit already, now would be a great time to add this to your outdoor living space! Choose the best option for your space based on your budget and the square footage in your yard. 

2. Heat lamps

  

Photo by Christian Rice Architects, Inc.

Make like a European sidewalk cafe and set up standing propane or electric heat lamps. Or consider installing an infrared heating device in your porch ceiling. These are a step up from traditional gas options and much sleeker and safer—and streamlined models can be inserted so that they heat a person directly, not the elements around them.

Consider a patio heat lamp that takes just a screwdriver to assemble, has a no-tip base, and heats up in mere seconds.

For maximum coziness, you can even find heated furniture.

There are outdoor selections that can be plugged in to keep you warm as you stargaze from your backyard.

3. Plush cushions and blankets

Photo by Eden Clark of VEDA Design Group

No one wants to sit on cold, wrought-iron or plastic deck chairs when the weather turns chilly, so be sure seat cushions and outdoor pillows are thick enough for the season. And a basket full of warm throws is another cozy touch if your guests (due to COVID-19) don't bring their own with them.

4. Privacy screen

Blocking the wind in cooler weather is easy enough with the addition of a wooden wall or screen. Or consider latticework, a cheaper pick that can also surround or partly enclose a patio or one side of a balcony.

5. Curtained pergola

Photo by Baker Patios

A pergola or gazebo is another upgrade that can take your outdoor space from summer to fall, especially if you add curtains that can be drawn when the temperatures dip.

6. Small cooktop

While a full outdoor kitchen may not be in the budget, setting up a grill or small cooktop may be doable. Also, there are free-standing countertop and sink combos available for under $500.

You might also redo an outdoor bar cart to signal fall and cooler temps (think mugs for tea, a jar of cinnamon sticks for warm cider, and brown spirits for Manhattans and hot toddies).

7. All-weather rugs

To keep your feet toasty, add a layer underfoot to warm an outdoor space. All-weather rugs can stand up to the elements, particularly those made from polypropylene. Just keep in mind that carpet with a thick pile won't work on a deck or patio.

The Moroccan pattern on this all-weather rug is the exact pop of color you need on a typical all-brown patio or deck. Be sure to use a nonslip rug pad underneath to prevent shifting, and rotate this carpet so any color loss over time is evenly distributed.

8. Extra lighting

Candles and outdoor lamps won't add warmth per se, but the ambiance they offer is enough to keep the chill away. You can't really overdo outdoor lighting, so go a little nuts with twinkling lights wrapped around pillars, glowing lanterns that act as side tables, Mason jars with tea lights suspended from above, and Tiki torches placed strategically in the yard.

For vintage flair on your deck, perhaps use Edison bulbs. And the setup's a breeze since each light has an individual hook attached so you can quickly hang the lights with nails or hooks.

9. Small shed

Photo by Equity Northwest Real Estate Meridian

Want to splurge on a real structure? Studio sheds have become all the rage of late, and they're very versatile. Warm up in a she shed for some me time or use it as an office, homework space, crafting spot, or meditation area.

 

 

Here's what you need to know to get from start to finish in the home buying process. From when to begin your search to how to secure financing to the right way to make an offer, buying a house requires carefully navigating a number of steps. 

By Devon Thorsby, Editor, Real Estate at U.S. News & World Report

Whether it’s your first home or your fifth, the home buying process can be daunting. Not only does the housing market change from season to season, but the process of searching for a house, making an offer and working toward closing evolves over time.

For any homebuyer, you first need to account for your current financial situation, needs in a new home and what features and amenities you hope to have at your fingertips. Before you start touring houses, study your local real estate market to get a better grasp of what’s available and within your budget.

With home prices rising across the U.S. and many markets reporting few homes available for sale compared to the number of buyers, it can be easy to get discouraged. It may take a little extra time to wait for the right house, or it may take some work to improve your credit and save for a higher-priced house, but either way, buying your next home is possible. 

The biggest determining factor in your ability to buy a home, of course, is your ability to pay for it. While some people can liquidate assets and pay for a house in cash, most opt for mortgage programs through a bank, credit union or other type of lender to leverage the total cost of the property.

The first steps to buying a house always revolve around the financial side of the deal – how much you can afford and how you plan to pay for it.

Getting a mortgage

Financing through a mortgage is the most common, and often the most attainable, way to buy a house or condo. 

To avoid being shocked if a bank turns you down for a loan or approves a far lower maximum price than expected, it’s important to know how your credit history and current financial status measure up. The interest rate or amount you pay upfront to the lender (points) is all connected to how attractive a borrower you appear on paper: “How much you can afford also ties into what your future cash flow looks like, and that then ties into rates and points.”

It’s free to receive your credit report once a year through annualcreditreport.com, where you can access reports from the three major credit bureaus, which will provide you with all the information a lender will see about your financial history.

Also take a look at your current financial situation, including the amount of money you have in savings, gross income, recurring expenses and how much you’re able to put toward savings on a regular basis. From this, you should be able to determine how much you can comfortably spend on monthly mortgage payments.

Next, it’s time to shop around for lender and mortgage program options. The most common type of mortgage is a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, which typically comes with a slightly higher interest rate in exchange for the guarantee that the payment amount won’t change for the life of the loan. 

The interest rate is typically the most-discussed aspect of a mortgage, as it can differ from lender to lender and program to program. The interest rate offered to you based on your financial situation can be completely different from what’s in a mortgage rate table.

“That’s why the interest rates advertised online are worthless,” he says. “If the lender doesn’t know essential information such as your credit score, your debt-to-income ratio or the size of your down payment, it’s impossible to provide you with an accurate rate quote.”

Buying a home with no money down

If you’re lacking the savings needed for a down payment, you may not be out of the running to buy a home just yet. Active members of the military and veterans can apply for a VA loan through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which requires a small additional monthly cost in lieu of a down payment, but otherwise requires zero percent down.

There are plenty of other low down payment options – as low as 2 or 3 percent – available to first-time homebuyers, buyers with nontraditional credit histories or those who have recovered their credit over time, among other situations, with additional regular fees. Keep in mind, however, that the less you put down, the more you’ll be required to pay each month.

Buying a house with bad credit

A blemish or two on your credit report can be a problem when it comes to getting approved for some mortgage programs. But fortunately there are options aimed at homebuyers who don’t have a perfect credit history. For example, if you're a borrower with a credit score of at least 580, you may be considered for an FHA loan through the Federal Housing Administration.

Bad credit doesn’t have to keep you from homeownership. Lenders are more likely to look past a low credit score if you’re planning to make a high down payment or have solid proof of a high income that will be consistent for a long time, for example.

Buying a house with cash. If you’ve got the funds to skip financing altogether and pay for your house with cash, you should have a faster transaction, as you won’t have to wait for a loan to be underwritten, the property to be appraised and the lender to formally approval the mortgage.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t have to get your financials in order ahead of time. “The way a cash buyer can be prepared is to be willing and able to show proof of funds, whether it’s stock they’re going to liquidate or cash that’s already in the bank,” says Gannon Forrester, an associate broker with Warburg Realty in New York City.

Additional costs of buying a home

The costs don’t stop at the agreed-upon purchase price and interest to the lender when applicable. Homebuyers should prepared for other costs leading up to and at closing, plus they should have some cash remaining in savings afterward for unexpected repairs to the house. 

Costs include:

• Inspection

• Property appraisal

• Attorney’s fees, points paid to lender and other fees required at closing

• Property taxes

• Rainy day fund for repairs

 

Best Time to Buy a Home

Home sellers and buyers alike favor spring as the ideal time for homes on the market. If you’re looking for the widest variety of home options, this is often the best time to start your search. Early fall also often sees a surge in buyers and sellers looking to strike a deal before the weather turns cold.

However, there are also benefits to shopping for a home in the off-season, when there are fewer buyers to compete with. You’ll have fewer houses to choose from, but you may be less likely to find yourself in a multiple-offer situation, which can make it easier to get a seller to take a serious look at your offer. 

Either way, if you live in a market currently low on housing inventory, don’t expect a sizable price difference from season to season. Sellers can wait a few extra days or weeks if a lowball offer doesn’t appeal to them, so keep your offer realistic for what you think a home is worth.

The absolute best time to start shopping for a house, however, is when you’re ready, both financially and personally. If you have children, for example, closing on a house during the summer months is ideal because you don’t have to worry about packing up while kids are doing homework or making a rough adjustment due to midyear school transfers.

The most important rule of thumb is to wait to start house hunting until you’re actually in a position to make an offer. “If you do that beforehand … you’ll end up finding the house of your dreams, you won’t be ready, and someone else will buy it,” says Amin Dabit, director of advisory service for Personal Capital, an online financial advisory and wealth management company.

Where to Start House Hunting

Once you know your budget and how you intend to fund your purchase, you can start looking for the right house to buy. You can begin your search online by searching consumer-facing listing sites like Zillow, Trulia or Redfin, which can help you get a feel for which neighborhoods and houses fall inside your budget.

You’ll also want to interview several real estate agents before you start working with one. It’s important to trust your agent to advocate for you in the deal, so you shouldn’t feel you have to withhold details about the reason you're moving or what’s included in the right home for you. Ask about the agent or Realtor’s schedule and experience and who you’ll be working with most often, and see if the answers meet your expectations as a client.

Be ready to answer questions from your real estate agent about how many bedrooms you need, your preferred neighborhoods – whether that’s based on public schools, access to public transportation or proximity to shops and restaurants – and anything else that’s nonnegotiable for you in a home purchase.

Especially in markets where housing inventory is low, your agent may have to discuss compromising on your vision of your dream home to help ensure that you have enough properties to tour in your price range. Zeibert notes many homebuyers are becoming more willing to sacrifice some square footage or a bedroom for the chance to live in the neighborhood they want: “The house is not the end-all, be-all. While super important, it is the neighborhood and the lifestyle that they are trying to purchase by going out and buying that house.”

How to Win Over a Seller

When you do find that right home in the right neighborhood, it’s time to put in an offer. And in a popular neighborhood, you may have to work fast. It’s important to start the house hunting process with your financial information on hand so you and your agent can put together a formal offer quickly.

Included in that financial information is a preapproval letter from your lender that notes the company’s willingness to work with you to purchase the home. A prequalification letter is also an option, though preapproval tells the seller that the lender has already done a deep dive into your finances and hasn’t found any surprises.

“A preapproval letter will give the buyer an edge when they put an offer in on a house, showing the seller they’re serious and have a good chance of obtaining a mortgage,” Simmons says.

Writing a personal letter to accompany the offer can also provide some additional insight to sway the seller, since people like to hear their house is going to someone planning to make memories in it. Especially if the seller has lived in the house for a long time, sharing your plans to raise a family in the house could make him feel comfortable selling the house to someone looking to make similar memories.

However, Forrester says it’s not always necessary and can occasionally backfire by leaving room for discrimination – intentional or not – and muddling an offer when a seller is focused on the financial details. There are also scenarios when a personal letter won’t have much of an impact. “Sometimes personal things can sway someone, but a lot of times in New York it’s a financial thing,” Forrester says.

Appealing to the seller is important, but don’t get caught up in the heat of a bidding war or negotiations – any agreed-upon price shouldn’t leave you skimping on meals for the next three years or otherwise make it difficult for you going forward. Forrester says buyers can have trouble making the connection between the purchase price in negotiations and actually paying the money when it’s time to close the deal: “They don’t realize they actually have to come up with the cash or be happy signing that down payment check.”

Closing on Your New House

It may take a few tries with different houses or it may require a little back-and-forth negotiation, but eventually the right seller will accept your offer. Now under contract, you feel like you’re in a whirlwind of activity working toward the day you close on the property.

You’ll need to schedule an inspection on the house, which helps to find any code violations or maintenance issues that you should be aware of. The inspection is key to catching any existing problems the seller may not know about or hasn't yet disclosed, and it's often a required step by the lender. Depending on the results of the report, you may need to renegotiate with the seller about needed repairs, a change in price due to the needed fixes or if you’re now questioning the purchase entirely.

Meanwhile, your lender will be working through the formal loan application process, which includes an appraisal on the property to ensure the lender feels comfortable with the sale price. If the appraisal comes up short, you may have to negotiate again with the seller to see if you can lower the price, or you may have to come up with the difference in cash to follow through with the deal.

Combined with fees for your real estate attorney and title insurance that are a part of the process on closing day, you should expect to pay an additional 2 percent to 5 percent of the purchase price.

The home buying process may be done once closing is completed, but your expenses certainly haven’t stopped. Make sure that even after the down payment and closing costs, you still have close to six months of expenses. It’s something that is very important because there is a lot of unexpected cost that pops up when you first move into a home.

If you’ve decided to buy a home this fall, good luck to you. Your challenge will be not just finding a home you like, but also beating out all the other homebuyers who like it and want to make an offer on it, too.

By Teresa Mears, Contributor, U.S. News & Report

The number of homes for sale is low, particularly in the price ranges desired by first-time homebuyers. 

That means if you want to end up with a nice home, you need to be strategic. Expecting to find the home of your dreams by nonchalantly walking into a few open houses or perusing some online listings is not realistic in this seller’s market.

Here are nine tips to help you get the house you want.

Get your finances in order first. Before you intend to start looking, you should get copies of your credit reports to make sure you’re in a financial position to buy. Shop for mortgage financing before you start looking at houses and get a preapproval letter or proof of funds to show the seller.

Move quickly once you find the house you want. That often means making a decision to purchase new homes within hours of them being listed and writing up an offer immediately if you like the house.

Don’t make snap judgments based on listing photos. A house that doesn’t look appealing in photos could still be a great house. Homes being sold by an estate or homes with tenants inside often yield particularly poor photos. Plus, photos fail to convey the feeling of a home or the floor plan. Unfortunately, sometimes pictures don’t tell the true story, you have to be willing to look past them.

Be realistic about the inspection and repairs. The more competitive the market, the less likely a seller will be to make repairs, though some sellers may lower the price if the inspection reveals expensive defects. The purpose of the inspection isn’t to get the seller to repair every small problem but to find out for sure that the house is what you thought it was. 

Start with your best offer. A competitive market is not the right environment to negotiate a bargain. You may get only one chance to make an offer, and your offer may be one of several the seller will choose from. You need to come in with your highest and best. Remember that the offer includes not only the price, but also your financing package and other terms such as the closing date and contingencies.

Write a personal letter to the sellers. Some sellers are interested only in how much money their home sale will yield, but others love their home want it to go to a new family that will love it just as much. If you really like a house, include a personal letter and a family photo with your offer.

Make a big earnest money deposit. The expected size of the earnest money deposit, and the rules about when you get it back, vary by locality. But sellers often see a larger deposit as a sign that you’re serious about the deal.

Make a backup offer. Many prospective buyers don’t want to make an offer on a house that has a pending contract. But deals fall apart over inspections, financing and other terms. If you found the perfect house, you can make a backup offer that will put you in first place if the initial buyer walks away.

Consider waiving or shortening contingencies. Most offers are made contingent on the buyer getting a mortgage, the appraisal being equal to the purchase price and the buyer approving the inspection. Waiving any one of those contingencies can be risky, but may be the right move in some circumstances.

This year has been a rollercoaster for every industry. With global economies expecting to shrink significantly throughout the end of the year, it's the best time to take stock of what real estate can expect as the year closes. What can we expect for the latter half of 2020?

 

By Expert Panel® Forbes Councils Member

The unpredictability of this year is forcing real estate professionals to reassess the future of the industry.

Expert Panel asked 15 entrepreneurs from Forbes Real Estate Council their opinions on the current state of the market and what they expect to see in the closing half of this year. Here's what they said. (Forbes Real Estate Council is an invitation-only, fee-based organization for senior-level executives in the real estate industry).

     

1. Demand For Housing Will Remain Robust

I expect demand for housing to remain robust as millennials and baby boomers power through to keep the economy moving. Many homeowners will fall behind on their mortgages, creating distressed property sales. As developers assemble and develop new homes, old architecture and decaying mechanical systems in 1960s, 70s and 80s homes will be replaced by a new home revolution. - Gary Lanham, Gary Lanham Group

2. Home Sales Will Get Closer To 2019 Levels

Existing home sales will return closer to levels seen in the second half of 2019. White-hot summer activity due to pent-up demand will work its way through the system and pandemic-inflicted economic challenges will come home to roost. - Craig Cheatham, The Realty Alliance

3. Refinance Demand Will Continue

We'll likely see the flood of new refinance demand continue while ongoing Covid-19 fears will force mortgage originators to shift most of their process to being fully digital. This means that getting and closing on a mortgage will finally start to become more of an instant experience for consumers, mirroring other industries like groceries, prepared meals, transportation and even medical care. - Max Simkoff, States Title

4. Substantial Increase In Foreclosures

There will be a substantial increase in foreclosures, short sales and bank-owned properties. This will happen toward the end of the year and the beginning of next year as banks start foreclosing on delinquent mortgages. - Lex Levinrad, The Distressed Real Estate Institute

5. Remote Work Will Affect Home-Buying Decisions

The ability to work remotely will weigh heavily in home-buying decisions over the next six months. Remote work expands a lot of buyers’ geographic options and influences the features buyers are looking for. Unsurprisingly, home offices are becoming more important, but our research shows that people are also looking for a quiet location, an updated kitchen, a large backyard and an open floor plan. - David Doctorow, Move, Inc.

6. Mass Adoption Of Tech To Limit Human Interaction

Covid-19 is speeding up the mass adoption of technology in order to limit human interaction. We’ll see the real estate space increasingly implement tools like keyless entry systems, voice-activated appliances, etc. to minimize anything face-to-face or anything that requires physical touch. This also includes using automated messaging solutions to send emails noting amenities in-property, check-in instructions and more. - Vered Schwarz, Guesty

7. Virtual Tours With Human Guidance

Virtual tours are here to stay. Although there’s clearly a shift in consumer behavior toward a more digital homebuying experience, the human element remains a critical piece. The vast majority of buyers, especially those in higher price ranges, want to see a home in person—with the guidance of a skilled agent—before they put in an offer. - Adam Contos, RE/MAX Holdings, Inc.

8. Capital Reallocation Between Real Estate Classes

We expect capital reallocation between real estate classes and a surge of capital deployment for multifamily and industrial assets. These classes have shown their resilience and weathered the storm of Covid-19 well, and should attract capital previously designated for retail and office. Couple this with the low-interest rate environment and we’ll see a wave of deal activity the second half of this year. - Carlos Vaz, CONTI Organization

9. More Preferred Equity Fund Offerings

I see more preferred equity fund offerings. Investors are more risk-averse in this environment and are interested in higher fixed income with lower risk. Multifamily apartment operators are seeing new tighter lending restrictions with Covid-19 limiting their ability to finance deals. More funds are coming out of raising capital from investors to fill the gap by providing the funding for preferred equity. - David Thompson, Thompson Investing

10. Class B Multifamily Properties Will Remain Solid

Class B multifamily properties will remain solid with stable cap rates as occupancy and around 95% of rent collections nationwide remained high during Covid-19. Class C properties and workforce housing naturally has more exposure to Covid-19 implications as many tenants work in the service industry. Hence, I expect Class C prices to slightly drop, especially those with delinquency issues. - Ellie Perlman, Blue Lake Capital LLC

11. More Opportunity To Acquire At A Discount

The end of 2020 will likely see certain sellers willing to accept a lower price for their assets. While some owners will hold on and weather the storm, others will no longer want nor have the flexibility to wait and will decide to liquidate their holdings. This means investors on the buy side will have an opportunity to acquire assets at a discount from their current price. - Todd Sulzinger, Blue Elm Investments

12. Commercial Real Estate May See A Slowdown

While residential sales remain strong in many markets, mainly due to the still-pent-up demand for inventory, commercial real estate may see a slowdown. With more and more companies allowing or even insisting employees work remotely, a rise in commercial vacancy rates is a distinct possibility. - David Bolinger, The McDevitt Agency

13. Warehousing Market Will Continue To Grow

The industrial warehousing markets will continue to see growing demand as warehouse users look for distribution and last-mile delivery locations near major population centers. In many areas, office markets will be in a holding pattern due to changing Covid-19 guidelines and mandates of local and state governmental officials. - Josh Gopan, Simone Development Companies

14. Growing Interest In Suburban Or Rural Living

Right now, homeowners are adapting to a new lifestyle and realizing what doesn't work in their current home. The global shift toward remote work—and lack of commute—may cause homebuyers to reconsider suburban and even rural living. They’ll also desire more square footage and outdoor space, which is more readily available and affordable in suburban and rural areas. - Jennifer Anderson, Anderson Coastal Group

15. More Interest In Properties With Fitness Amenities

With people spending most of their time at home, the value of on-site dining, fitness and leisure options in multifamily properties has never been greater. As leases expire during the second half of the year and renters seek new apartments in which to live, work and stay entertained, people will be drawn to properties with amenities and easy access to outdoor activities like parks and beaches. - Salvador Garcia, MAS Development Group

 

Small improvements can make a big impression on potential buyers.

Sep 15 2020

Courtesy of Zillow

Not surprisingly, a recent Zillow survey¹ found that most people — 81% — reported spending more time at home this year compared to the same time last year. Some of us might be feeling a little stir-crazy, but others are taking the opportunity to tackle home improvement projects. You may decide to change up your space for your personal enjoyment or comfort, but if you’re a homeowner looking to sell, it’s worth considering which projects will not only look good but offer the best return for your time and effort.

Zillow partnered with Thumbtack to determine the average costs of a few common improvements sellers make before listing their home for sale. By better understanding the costs, you can decide whether it’s worthwhile to DIY or call in a pro. 

Whatever route you take, a few well-chosen updates could improve your home’s appeal and value. Zillow data finds homeowners who make at least one improvement are more likely to sell their home above their list price than those who don’t make any improvements: 23% vs. 17%, respectively.² With sale prices climbing and homes selling at their fastest pace in more than two years, this may be a good time for would-be sellers to start prepping their homes for listing.  

“There are small things anyone can do to present their home in a better light,” said Sue Cohn Darmon, a Zillow Premier Agent in Connecticut with William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. “First impressions go a long way, especially since buyers are now spending more time searching online for homes. Listing photos are going to look better if the home appears well-maintained. If the small things are taken care of, the assumption is that the bigger things that aren’t visible have been taken care of too.”

Here are five DIY projects recommended by agents that could help increase your home’s value.

Upgrade your lights

Good lighting can bring out the best in your home. Updating old fixtures and adding dimmer switches are fairly simple upgrades. You could also consider replacing your fixtures with smart lights controlled by an app, which can help you save on your energy bill and sell your home faster. Zillow research finds homes mentioning smart lights in their listing description sold seven days faster than expected.

Here’s a DIY guide to changing a light fixture, or if you want a professional installer to do the job, Thumbtack finds the average cost is $380.

Replace your faucets

Whether your look is modern or traditional, a new faucet can enhance the style of your bathroom or kitchen. Make it a touchless faucet for added appeal, as COVID-era buyers increasingly look for smart features that will keep their homes germ-free.

With attention to detail and a tolerance for tight spaces, you can handle this job yourself, but if you’d rather leave the under-sink contortions to a pro, Thumbtack finds, on average, you can expect to pay $205 to replace bathroom fixtures.

Landscape smartly

A desire for more outdoor space is the top reason people say they would consider moving as a result of social distancing recommendations, according to a Harris Poll survey conducted for Zillow.³ There’s no better time to spruce up your yard and create the functional, beautiful outdoor space buyers want.

If you don’t like getting your hands dirty (literally), expect to pay $2,600 on average, according to Thumbtack, for a professional landscaping business to clean up your yard, which typically covers mowing, pruning, weeding, planting new flowers or shrubs, and adding new soil, mulch or bark dust. Zillow research found homes mentioning landscaping in their listing description can sell for 2.7 percent more than expected, so depending on the value of your home, it could be a worthwhile investment.

Add a fire pit

Now that you have a nicely landscaped yard, go one step further and install a fire pit to create a family-friendly backyard hangout. Listings mentioning a fire pit can sell for 2.8 percent more than similar homes, according to Zillow research. Interestingly, that sale premium is higher than homes mentioning an outdoor fireplace or a chimenea. An added bonus: This is a DIY the whole family can help with. 

Paint your front door (and more)

A freshly painted front door can boost your curb appeal, and if you’re thinking about selling, you may be surprised by the winning color when it comes to ROI: Homes with black front doors can sell for up to $6,000 more than similar homes, according to Zillow research.

If it’s in your budget, consider painting the whole exterior (probably not black, though!) to create a great first impression. In a survey of Zillow Premier Agents, 77% recommended sellers paint their home.4 Thumbtack finds the average cost of exterior painting is $2,535.

 

1. Zillow Group Population Science Survey on Time Spent at Home, conducted 7/16/2020 – 7/21/2020
2. Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019
3. This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Zillow from May 4-6, 2020 among 2,065 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact press@zillow.com.
4. Zillow Group partnered with independent market research and data analytics firm YouGov® to conduct a nationally representative, online quantitative survey that gathered information from 1000 sellers that sold a home in the past 6 months and 500 residential real estate agents. For more information visit zillow.com/report

 

You have the necessary appliances like a refrigerator, stove, or microwave, and now you’re wondering what you can do to make your house more energy efficient. Here are some great pieces of technology that can make your house eco-friendly and even save you a few hundred dollars each year. Let’s take a look at a few of them!

By Jeremy Atkins, Rocket Homes Real Estate LLC

 

1. Smart Power Outlets

There are two main types of power outlets out there. One is a “connected” outlet and the other is an energy saving outlet. Connected outlets sync to your Wi-Fi network allowing you to control the power output to appliances remotely. Leave a fan on while at work? No need to let it run all day – just hop on your phone and turn it off. These are usually in the $25-$60 range depending on the unit.

Energy saving outlets go a step further by turning the outlet off completely. Kind of like flipping a switch on a circuit breaker. This saves you from the dreaded “vampire power” which is when a plugged-in device uses electricity, even when it’s turned off. These are a great way to keep your energy usage down and even save upwards of a $150-$400 per year. Energy saving outlets, like these, can be found for around $6-$25.

Energy saving outlets, like these, can be found for around $6-25.

2. Smart Thermostats

For someone like me who loves tech, smart thermostats are amazing. They connect to your Wi-Fi network and your furnace. Over the course of a week or two, they learn your schedule and heat up or cool your house down automatically right before you get home. They also adjust for when you leave. This is another boon for us forgetful folks. I can hear Ron Popeil now “Set it…and forget it!”

Most smart thermostats can be controlled remotely and allow for scheduling via an app or on the device. They’re easy to use and will help you save an average of $145 a year. The main players in this market are Ecobee, Nest, and Honeywell and they range from $170-$250.

3. LED & Smart Lights

Not as rare or expensive as they used to be, LED lights are a pretty amazing way to reduce your carbon footprint. A basic, 60-watt equivalent LED light bulb will use 10-15% of the energy needed of an incandescent bulb. They even give off less heat, which will help with your air conditioning bill in the summer too. You can find them for as little as $3 and they go up from there.

This wouldn’t be a “tech” article if I just talked about regular old LED lights. Good thing there are smart lights! I bought some Philips Hue lights a few months ago and they are awesome. I have them set to turn on at sunset because my wife is usually home then. Today, she has a meeting and isn’t home yet so I just went into to the app on my phone and turned them off. I even have them programmed to turn off at 8 am every morning just in case my wife or I forget to turn them off. Some versions can even allow you to adjust the color and sync them to music! Unfortunately, these can be pretty expensive at around $50 per bulb but could save you around $2-$4 per year.

4. Dual-Flush Toilet

Traditional toilets use more water than we usually need when we flush. That’s where dual-flush toilets come in. These unique thrones have a light flush option which, depending on the toilet/kit, uses a half-gallon less water per flush than a full-flush version. If you need more…ahem…flushing power, use the full flush mode and it’s business as usual. There are multiple manufacturers that sell toilets with this capability and you can even find kits online to convert your regular toilet to a dual flush. With these upgrades, you can save around $200 per year in water savings depending on the size of your household.

I’m always on the lookout for ways to help me save money and green tech has certainly helped. I’m thrilled to have made some of these energy efficient upgrades and I can’t wait to add more. Whether it’s a simple replacement LED light, new smart thermostat, or a dual flush toilet, you too can make your home more energy efficient and even save some cash.

 

Jeremy Atkins: Writer, Rocket Homes

With climate risks rising, an increasing number of homeowners are trying to do their part to improve the environment by investing in green and sustainable products and systems. Following are the top eco-friendly features most homeowners want in their homes.

Content sponsor Quicken Loans for REALTOR Magazine reveals the energy-saving products most in demand right now.

 

By Rachel Burris

What Are Eco Homes?

Eco homes are designed to promote greener lifestyles by minimizing the greenhouse gases they emit into the atmosphere. These homes reduce their environmental impact by including sustainable materials and technologies that reduce homeowners' energy and water needs.

Each of the following eco-friendly home features helps limit the waste produced by households. 

• Energy Star-rated appliances. Homes with high-efficiency appliances are in demand because they offer enhanced performance with reduced energy usage. Not only do Energy Star-rated appliances lower homeowners’ carbon footprint, but they also look good and reduce utility costs.

              

• Programmable thermostats. Homes with older HVAC systems are wasteful and costly because they pump hot and cold air throughout the home without regard to when and where it’s needed. Conversely, programmable thermostats provide homeowners with increased control over their climates.

           

• Radiant floor heating. With heat directly transferring from the ground to the individuals standing on it, radiant heating uses much less energy than traditional heating methods. Commonly found in luxury bathrooms, radiant heating requires electric coils or water tubing to be installed under the floors. It’s pricey to install, but this technology ultimately contributes to lower energy expenses.

           

• Solar panels. Instead of relying on the utility company to provide electricity, homeowners' are interested in generating clean energy themselves. Now that capturing the sun’s power is far more affordable, everyone's looking to deck their homes out with solar panels.

             

• Recycled materials. Building and finishing homes with recycled materials is a trend that’s on the rise. Producing new materials depletes many natural resources, so reusing them eliminates waste and diminishes the environmental impact. Reclaimed materials, like barn wood and recycled quartz, also are more affordable and can furnish homes with striking textures.

             

• Geothermal systems. “Geothermal systems use the ground’s relatively cool temperature to cool a home in the summer and relatively warmer temperature to heat homes in the winter,” says Chris Fisher, manager of solar product development and marketing at CertainTeed. “They’re eco-friendly because they can displace heating loads, which currently rely on the burning of fossil fuels to produce heat.” While this method is more efficient than traditional HVAC systems, it’s also more expensive to install. Since it regulates temperatures by transferring heat from the earth into your home, installation requires extensive drilling.

The Benefits Of Eco Homes

With their environmental and financial advantages, it’s no wonder everyone's seeking eco homes. The benefit of homes with eco-friendly features are they're highly coveted, so they’re likely to sell faster and possess a higher resale value in the future.

 

Rachel Burris is a writer for Quicken Loans’ Publishing House, covering topics of interest to present and future homeowners, as well as industry insiders.

 

Buying a home is a big step for both your family and your financial wellbeing. As you pay off your mortgage, you begin to build equity in your home. Equity is the difference between the market value of your home and how much you still owe. If that number is positive, you’ve built equity, which can come in handy if you ever need to take out a loan or as a profit when you decide to sell your home. Here are some ways you can build equity in your home faster.

By Christopher Kelly, RE/MAX Bayside

Pay More

You have a certain amount that you’re required to pay on your mortgage each month, but you don’t have to stop at the minimum. A large portion of mortgage payments covers interest and insurance. Upping your payment to pay down your principal loan amount will speed up your payment schedule. Even an extra $50 a month can have a big impact.

Upgrade

The amount of equity you have in your home depends on what your home is worth, so making upgrades that increase the value of your home is another way to increase your equity. One of the most lucrative upgrades you can make is replacing old garage doors. Just be sure to do your research when upgrading your home to see which renovations offer the greatest return on investment.

Restructure Your Mortgage

If you initially signed up for a 30 year mortgage, but are now at a point where you want to pay your loan off faster, you may benefit from switching to a 15-year plan. You’ll pay more each month, but you’ll pay less interest over time and could pay off your mortgage years ahead of schedule.

A sprawling backyard can be a great place to spend quality time with your family, or quietly relax alone away from the distractions of gadgets in the house like TV’s blaring and radios. Spending time outside can do wonders and you get to enjoy the natural scenery outside.

 

By Kevin Piol, Gardeners' Guide

Some homeowners rarely use their yards because it can feel too open, especially for neighborhoods with large multistorey houses. Fences can be expensive to construct and to maintain especially when it is getting old. The cost of repairing fences regularly can be costly, that’s why most homes opt for planting trees to save money while also getting one of its benefits.

How Trees Help Protect Your Privacy

Planting trees in your yard provides many benefits to your house. Trees also greatly improve the look and feel as well as the atmosphere of the surroundings. They can also help to block off the noise and replace them with a natural sound of rustling leaves. It can also help to regulate the temperature of your house by blocking the searing heat of the sun during hot summer or act as windbreakers to protect your house from strong winds.

Most importantly, trees are great for the environment and can help to stabilize the soil. The trees can also prevent soil erosion as well as provide nesting grounds for birds and other animals. Apart from the long list of benefits that trees provide to your house, it can also help to improve the privacy of your property by covering your yard with their branches and leaves. Trees also provide shade and make your yard beautiful and cozy.

Things to Consider When Planting Privacy Trees

Planting trees may be as straight forward as digging a hole in the ground. To avoid inadvertently damaging your own house, you need to consider several factors like how big a tree can grow, and how the seasons can affect the tree.

The Amount of Privacy You Need

Trees grow differently and when they fully mature, it will have a different height and width so it is important to know in advance the degree of privacy you need to find the perfect tree that fits your requirement. You also need to consider your privacy screen height relative to your house to avoid crowding your backyard.

The Size of Your Yard

Another important consideration before choosing a type of tree is the size of your yard. Trees need space to grow and if there is not enough space, their growth could be skewed and they won’t be able to screen your house properly. You also need to consider how the tree’s roots can affect parts of your property like pavement.

The Amount of Time You Have for Maintenance

Trees and shrubs may be easier to maintain compared to fences, but they still require love and care to grow properly and to fully mature. Trees require trimming so they won’t grow the wrong way and shrubs need pruning to keep them neat and orderly appearance.

Below is a list of the best trees for privacy that you can plant with minimal care and maintenance. These trees also minimize the disruption of your existing landscape. They are very popular in suburban homes and even in the middle of bustling cities.

Green Giant Thuja (Arborvitae)

source: flickr.com/photos/lorenkerns/7230624714

This type of tree is perfect for medium-sized yards. It can also be used to substitute or complement existing fence lines. This type of tree can grow relatively fast compared to other privacy trees. This tree can grow up to 30 or 40 feet.

 

Emerald Green Thuja (Arborvitae)

source: plantingtree.com

The second candidate of our best trees for privacy is the Emerald Green Thuja. This tree is a slightly smaller variant of the popular Green Giant Thuja and is perfect for small yards. They grow at a modest rate of 6 to 9 inches per year which makes them easy to maintain and trim. The Emerald Green Thuja can reach a height of 12 to 14 feet perfect for blocking off street noise and to make them as your fence.

 

Leyland Cypress

source: revolutionary gardens.com

Another one is the Leyland Cypress. This tree is perfect to substitute traditional fences or complement existing fence lines. The Leyland Cypress acts as a perfect wall to block street noise and prevent neighbors from invading the privacy of your yard. This tree can grow 3 to 5 feet a year and reach a height of 40 to 60 feet.

 

Wax Myrtle

source: pinterest.com/pin/323062973251694329

The Wax Myrtle is the best option for homeowners who have small yards yet want a hedge as a fence line. This tree has very dense foliage and can definitely act as a fence to protect your home’s privacy. It can grow up to 6-12 feet and grows at a rate of 12 to 18 inches a year which makes it easy to prune and to maintain.

 

Eastern Red Cedar

source: mysanantonio.com

The Eastern Red Cedar is a great choice for homeowners who wants a tree that provides a full-coverage of privacy because of its thick and wide foliage. This tree is a coniferous evergreen that can grow from 16 to 66 feet with a growth rate of 1 to 2 feet a year.

Conclusion

Planting Privacy Trees is an eco-friendly solution for protecting your home’s privacy and property. 

Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United States.

It goes without saying: This Labor Day is unlike any other that we’ve experienced in our lifetimes.

Even though parades are postponed, and large gatherings are not realistic options this year, the importance of this day cannot be emphasized enough.

By Billy Dycus, Guest columnist the Tennessean

For nearly 130 years, Americans have celebrated the many victories and contributions that working families and the labor movement have achieved while taking time to reflect on what still needs to be done. 

This Labor Day is especially resonant. 

2020 has already given us a considerable amount of time to do both of those things. Since March, workers in Tennessee and across the country have been tested like never before.

From the heroes of the United States Postal Service making sure our mail is safely delivered, to grocery store clerks working overtime to ensure we have food to put on our tables, millions of America’s working people have stepped up, risking our lives and livelihoods, to continuously go to work since the onset of COVID-19.

On this Labor Day, we are especially grateful for the countless essential workers who have kept our economy moving throughout the course of the pandemic.

No words or actions will ever be enough to thank you for everything that you’ve done, but please know that your sacrifices have not gone unnoticed or appreciated, especially by those of us in the labor movement.

 

Billy Dycus is the president of the Tennessee AFL-CIO, which represents over 60,000 working people statewide.

 

Churchill Downs' first spectator-less race.

COURTESY OF COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE

Every year since 1946, the first Saturday of May has been dedicated to a beloved horse racing tradition known as The Kentucky Derby. And while the official Run for the Roses was unfortunately rescheduled from its original May date due to the coronavirus, the "first Saturday" tradition will live on this weekend on September 5. This Saturday, fans will be able to tune in to NBC to watch the 146th Kentucky Derby race, which will be held without any spectators at the historic Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. If you're used to participating in a little traditional gambling fun, you can even visit KentuckyDerby.com to place virtual bets on the horses you think will run away with this year's top prize. For additional how-to-watch info, head to the Derby's home page.

In the meantime, there's no better way to prep for an epic at-home celebration than with delicious food and drink recipes! From traditional thumbprint cookies and bourbon cocktails to cute craft and decorating ideas (did someone say vintage trophies?), Here are some ways to celebrate one of the most exciting days in horse racing—no matter where you're watching from. Alright, y'all, we're off to the races!

 

1 Bake Up Derby-Inspired Thumbprint Cookies

Featuring bourbon, homemade caramel, melted chocolate, and toasted walnuts, these butter cookies take inspiration from a famed Kentucky pie.

Get the recipe.

2 Serve a Classic Benedictine Spread

Invented by Louisville caterer and tea room-owner Jennie Carter Benedict, this cream cheese-cucumber dip is a century-old Kentucky classic.

Get the recipe.

3 Place Your Bets

This year, 13 horses will participate in the virtual race. For easy betting, give each guest four of their own color of washi tape–covered clothespins. Let them pick favorites by clipping the pins to the tails of paper prize ribbons. Set a per-bet amount (say, $2), and place cash in a trophy; distribute winnings accordingly. Or, this year, bet on who does household chores, like unloading the dishwasher or folding socks!

Get the Template

4 Fill a Trophy with Fresh-Picked Flowers

Pull out your collection of vintage trophies and fill them with blooms cut from your yard.

5 Set Up a Photo Booth

Smile and say “Eddie Arcaro” (one of the winningest jockeys) with a turf-backed photo booth stocked with props like paper prize ribbons, trophies, riding crops, and hats.

6 Whip Up Bourbon Cocktails

Dust off the punch bowl and stir up a Derby cocktail with bourbon, club soda, orange curacao, sweet vermouth, lime juice, and orange bitters. 

Get the recipe.

7 Dress Up Your Drinks

Trace a bow-tie pattern on craft paper; assemble. Cut a strip from color-coordinated paper, and wrap around glass; tape in place. Tape bow to strip, and let the “tie one on” jokes commence.

GET THE TEMPLATE

8 Make a Horseshoe Wreath

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