(RE/MAX Blog)- Is the call of the great outdoors getting louder? A cabin in the mountains, on the lake or in the serene middle-of-nowhere can be a great place to escape to. Before you start shopping, here are a few things to consider:

1. Can you afford it?
You may have found a great cabin at a great price. Don't forget, however, to calculate annual property taxes and maintenance costs. Insurance for second homes can run higher than for primary residences. Financing may be more expensive for a second home as well. Get quotes, do your research and do the math to see if you can heed the cabin's call without creating so much financial stress that you won't be able to relax when you're there.

2. How often will you use it?
Look at your number of days off each year, then think about how many you want to spend at your cabin. Would you miss the beach? Regret not traveling abroad? Be sure you'll enjoy the area, and not just the cabin itself, through most of the year.

3. Will disaster strike?
Forest fires are tough beasts to tame, and mountain cabins are often directly in their path. Although no one can predict when a fire will spark, you can find out if your desired area is prone to droughts or other conditions favorable for an out of control conflagration. Look into insurance coverage for different disasters, and add it to the monthly cabin costs.

4. Could you rent out your cabin?
In some instances, you can rent out a vacation home for up to 14 days a year without paying taxes on the income. The money could help offset the cabin's maintenance or mortgage payment. Make sure you research the tax benefits (if any) of your own unique situation.

Want to buy a cabin? Start your search today with RE/MAX Realty Group and RE/MAX Realty Group. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- The ancient Chinese art of feng shui uses design principles to create harmonious spaces that encourage health, wealth and happiness. According to the practice, colors encourage energy to flow freely throughout a structure, and each color is thought of as an expression of one of the five feng shui elements: fire, earth, metal water and wood.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when designing your home using general feng shui color principles.

1. Wake up a space with yellow
Yellow energizes spaces and is great for brightening rooms and adding a welcoming feeling. Yellows can be an excellent choice for kitchens, living rooms, hallways and offices.

2. Hues that work for you
If it's a calm sanctuary for a restful night's sleep, feng shui rules suggest water-element colors of calming blues to create tranquility. If you'd like your bedroom to be more passionate than peaceful, fire element colors like red can help crank up the heat.

3. A blank canvas for the kitchen
In feng shui, white is one of the preferred shades for a kitchen because it encourages purity and freshness. Plus, it creates the perfect palette for the rich colors of food.

4. Better than a lullaby
Shades of green in a child's room help make calm, serene spaces for sleeping. Plus, wood-element shades of green also encourage growth and learning.

5. Mind your reds
While red is the Chinese color of luck and happiness, too much of the fiery color can throw things off balance, bringing aggression and overstimulation.

6. Shades for success
Wood-element colors like greens and browns promote creativity, and water elements like blues and blacks promote wealth. Combining shades of each can change the energy of your home workspace.

7. Look outside your walls
According to feng shui principles, adding accent pieces and furniture in elemental shades also can help change the energy of a space. You don't need to go big (or commit) with an entire wall.

Color can help bring balance to your home, but it works best when you're living in a place that suits your needs. Looking for harmony in a new zip code? Let us help you in the search for your new home.

(RE/MAX Blog)- The sudden victory of Theresa May, Britain's new prime minister, meant former Prime Minister David Cameron had to vacate 10 Downing Street in about 48 hours. Needless to say, Cameron did not pack his own dishes. Professional movers arrived with a reported 330 boxes, 30 rolls of tape and three rolls of bubble wrap. Hopefully when you move, you'll have more lead time – and just as much help. But in case you don't, here are a few tips to help maximize what time you do have.

1. Gather your tools
Pick a place to be your packing station so you don't waste time constantly wandering the house, hunting for your Sharpie or the right-sized box. Stock it with plenty of tape, boxes of various sizes, bubble wrap, newspapers and markers.

2. Stick to a strategy
Pack vital things together, in specially marked boxes. This includes what you'll want on your first day, like sheets, pet food, electronics chargers, toiletries and a change of clothes. Then pack one room at a time and label boxes by room. It's helpful to color code rooms, whether with markers or strips of duct tape.

3. Use plenty of trash bags
To avoid confusion, buy them in two colors, one for packing and one for throwing things away. Don't be afraid to pack clothing and linens in the big plastic bags. You can squish them in between boxes to save space.

4. Fill your drawers
If you're using professional movers (and not friends with sensitive backs), pack your dresser drawers full. Otherwise, you're wasting space.

5. Watch your weight
Fill big boxes with lightweight items and small boxes with the heavy stuff. It'll help prevent the boxes from breaking down.

6. Don't get hung up on clothes
Wardrobe boxes make it easy to simply transfer your clothes on hangers rather than bothering with unhanging and folding.

7. If you've got the bucks…
Use professional packers. You can hire them to pack your whole home, just a room or a group of time-consuming items, like your extensive collection of fragile ceramic clowns.

Start your home search today.

(RE/MAX Blog)- The holidays are coming – is your home ready for overnight guests? Follow these suggestions to create the perfect guest room for friends and family.

1. Offer reading material

A pile of recent magazines or a shelf of assorted books offers guests a way to wind down before bed.

2. Add flowers

A simple flower arrangement adds class and color to any room.

3. Provide seating

Make sure there's somewhere cozy for guests to sit if they need some alone time during holiday chaos.

4. Make wi-fi connection easy

Leave a piece of paper with your internet server's name and password on the dresser so guests can easily access your wireless connection.

5. Did they forget something?

Fill a basket with sample-sized containers of essentials, like toothpaste, mouthwash and shampoo.

6. Add a luggage stand

Put out a folding luggage stand where guests can prop their suitcases to avoid having to squat all the way down to the floor every time they need something.

7. Make the closet functional

Be sure to stock the closet with empty hangers for guest's clothes.

8. Add charm with decorations

Create a welcoming, calm space for guests. Err on the side of generic. Remember, not everyone wants to sleep surrounded by Star Wars-themed decorations or your horror movie poster collection.

9. A picture perfect welcome

Place a framed photo of you and your guest on the nightstand.

Is your "guest room" your living room sofa? Maybe it's time to look for a larger space. Start the search for your new home with RE/MAX Realty Group/100 today.

(RE/MAX Blog)- According to the National Association of Realtors, 42 percent of homebuyers start their home search online, and 92 percent use the Web during the home search process. While the Internet can be a good place to start looking, there are things real estate agents know about the process of buying and selling a home that can't be found in any Web browser.

Here are a few.

1. How to price a home

When setting a listing price, agents consider scores of factors, from local and national market trends and neighborhood development activity to the latest buyer preferences for kitchen appliances and landscaping. Every home is unique, and an agent with a track record of success knows how to price it attractively in the market.

The Internet isn't always much help when it comes to comparison shopping, either. Many of the same factors that help an agent set an appropriate listing price aren't available in an algorithm, so online estimators aren't always accurate – and could be costly if you purchase without consulting a real, live professional.

2. Marketing offline

While online marketing can certainly be valuable, agents have networks of contacts and years of experience to round out their marketing plans.

And, for buyers, agents often can tap into their network to learn about great properties before they hit the real estate websites or even the MLS.

3. Key points in the process

If you find a home you love online, the website won't be there to guide you through a mortgage application, find a home inspector or advise you what to do if an inspection reveals issues.

4. How to negotiate

Having an experienced, professional negotiator drive your transaction can be vital to reaching a fair price for the property you're buying or selling. A website can give you an estimate of how much a property should cost, but it can't evaluate whether that's a great price or not.

(RE/MAX Blog)- Halloween decorations can be a fantastic way to express your creativity, but don't forget common sense. A few reminders to keep the peace with neighbors:

1. Decorations can be scary for kids

Remember, on Halloween night and during the weeks leading up to the fun, young children will see your decorations. Skip the carnivorous bunny rabbits and too-realistic skeletons.

2. Be mindful with volume (and song selection)

Be respectful if you play scary music on Halloween night or use display motion-activated decorations with soundtracks. Trick-or-treaters in the next county do not need to hear “Monster Mash" on repeat. And your neighbors certainly don't want to hear it past midnight, at the latest.

3. Check the HOA policy on Halloween decorations

Before you invest in constructing the best zombie apocalypse your neighborhood has ever witnessed, make sure your HOA doesn't have any restrictions around decorations, lights or sound effects.
 

4. Choose family-friendly themes

Have fun but don't offend the neighbors. Avoid things like fake tombstones with real politicians' names or decorations featuring religious icons.

5. The witching hour ends at midnight

Please try to take down Halloween decorations shortly after the holiday. Don't despair, it will soon be time for winter holidays.

Start your search today for a home with a porch that's perfect for trick-or-treaters. 

(RE/MAX Blog)- Is the cost of furniture causing to you to debate if a kitchen table is a “want” or a “need”? Don’t worry! There are plenty of options for you to furnish your nest without breaking the bank. Here are some good places to start:

1. Check with Craig
Craigslist.org: the 24-hour garage sale where you never need to worry about parking! Not just for used items, many furniture warehouses use the site to move merchandise. Search by style, like “modern” or “shabby chic,” or by brand, such as “IKEA” or “Pottery Barn.” Don’t forget to compare prices on the original sale site to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

2. Give fleas a chance
If you’re patient (and lucky) you can find all sorts of treasures at flea market. Many feature vendors who focus on refurbished pieces, providing a unique way to go green.

3. Antique stores
Just because an item is an antique doesn’t mean it’s not functional. Many stores pride themselves on refurbishing old appliances and vintage pieces for everyday use, so you’re not buying a sofa that’s too fancy to actually sit on. You’ll also discover that the term “antique” is used loosely. A vintage looking chair from 2005 may be hidden among furniture from the 1970s.

4. Estate sales
You can score amazing deals when an owner needs to clear out an entire house. Arrive early and don’t hesitate to haggle.

5. Help clear the floor
Have a favorite furniture or home décor store that’s a bit over your budget? Ask if they ever sell floor models for a reduced price.

6. Online options
Wayfair.com and Overstock.com offer free shipping on purchases over $50. Both have a wide assortment of styles and price ranges on everything from headboards for your kid to cushion beds for your dog.

Wherever you shop, try to avoid the temptation to buy poor quality furniture that may end up costing you more in the long run. That sofa on super-closeout-clearance? It may seem like a steal, but if the material wears out quickly and the style isn’t timeless, you may find yourself on the market for another couch sooner than you would like.