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The Best Home Improvement Projects To Do This Spring

April 7, 2020/in Uncategorized /by Shauna Morris

Spending the extra time inside means that you can get some much-needed home improvement projects taken care of. If Reno’s spring weather has you excited to roll up your sleeves and make changes, check out some of our recommendations on renovations to tackle in the coming weeks.

Stain Your Deck

We know that Reno’s summers are the perfect time to spend afternoons in your backyard, and a nice deck can be the right destination for BBQs and outdoor picnics. Staining your deck can restore it back to its original shine, so all you have to do is choose to change the color or just accentuate the wood grain!

Build a Fire Pit

Spring and fall evenings can get a little chilly, but if you still want to enjoy the beautiful sounds of nature and breathe in the Reno air, you’ll want a cozy place to sit. You can hire someone to build a fire pit for you, or you can make it a DIY project. As a bonus, it’ll make any backyard campout complete with s’mores.

Upgrade Your Garden

If you’re really looking to brighten up your backyard and make it a place that your family spends their days, a garden is the perfect project to take on. You can even create a butterfly garden that will have your family chasing the flying beauties during long afternoons.

Add a New Railing To Your Porch

Porches are another place that many families will be spending their days enjoying the sun. Give it an update by putting in a new railing. You can even go a step further and get new porch furniture for another vibrant season.

Anytime you have questions about how to improve your home, how to increase the resale value of your home, and how the Reno real estate market is changing, give the David Morris Group a call at (775) 828-3292.

Best Movies to Binge-Watch on Netflix

March 27, 2020/in Uncategorized /by Shauna Morris

The endless scrolling through the list of movies available on Netflix can make it hard to choose which movie to put on next. While we’re all being advised to stay inside our Reno homes, now is the perfect time to work your way through some of the great movies available on Netflix. Below are some of our recommendations for comedies, family-friendly, and feel-good movies to watch.

Best Comedies:

Step Brothers – Brennan’s mother and Dale’s father have gotten married and moved in with one another, forcing the two grown boys to live together and share a room.
Wine Country – Six friends come together to celebrate a 50th birthday in Napa Valley. The trip will either bring them closer together or end their decades-long friendship.
Hitch – Step into a dating coach’s life as he helps a client find love while stumbling his way through it as well.
The Other Guys – Watch as two desk-bound NYPD detectives try to show their comrades they have what it takes to take on large cases and be in the field.

Best Family Watch-Together Movies:

The Edge of Seventeen – This movie is all about the ups and downs of being a teenager. Listen to Nadine’s story and how she deals with living in her older brother’s shadow.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – Lara Jean’s love letters find their way to each of the boys she’s loved, and now she has to deal with the aftermath.
Space Jam – An alien comes to Earth to steal the Looney Tunes, but in order to save themselves, they challenge the aliens to a basketball game and request the help of Michael Jordan.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation – The beloved monster family boards a summer cruise for a little relaxation, but they may run into trouble and love along the way.

Feel-Good Movies:

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark – There’s no adventure that’s quite like Indiana Jones and his archeological searches. He may be an underdog, but never underestimate his quick wit and quicker whip.
Hook – This Robin Williams classic brings a unique twist to the beloved Peter Pan story. Watch as Peter Pan returns to Neverland to save his family.
Set it Up – Two underappreciated workers set up their bosses with one another in order to give them the free time they’ve been craving. Will it work, or will it all backfire in the end?
National Treasure – Join Nicholas Cage and the rest of his treasure hunters as they steal the Declaration of Independence and search for answers left behind by the founding fathers.

We hope you’ve found some new movies to watch, and if you have any questions about how the current times have affected Reno and the Reno real estate market, contact David Morris Group at (775) 828-3292. We’re always here for you and happy to help in any way we can.

Activities to Do at Home and Close to Home

March 24, 2020/in Reno Events and Activities /by Shauna Morris

Social distancing has been making headlines for days, and while we all may have to stay six feet from one another, there are still so many things you can do at home and around Reno! Take a look at some of our favorite ways to pass the time that will keep you a safe distance from one another.

Hit the hiking and biking trails.

The trails throughout the city offer some of the best views around, and the fresh air does everyone good when you’ve been cooped up for a few days. We recommend checking out the Wilber D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park.

Take a virtual tour of famous museums.

If you love art, architecture, and culture but find it hard to travel to see all of the world’s most notable pieces of art, you can do it all from the comfort of your own couch. From the British Museum in London to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, these virtual tours are ready for you to explore.

Take an online workout class.

Since many gyms are closed nationwide, it’s important to still find a way to get your heart rate up and get in some active minutes. Your gym could be offering some great virtual classes for you to join in on, and there are even some YouTube tutorials on home workouts to try.

Support our local businesses.

Easter, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day are all around the corner. With the extra time you have, why not do a little online browsing of some of our local shops to pick out some gifts for your loved ones? Bumblebee Blooms has some beautiful floral bouquets for Easter and Mother’s Day that you can purchase and schedule for delivery now. Micah Bank has a wonderful selection of jewelry for you to peruse. For the outdoorsy dad, Lakeshore Paddleboard Co. has a board to suit everyone.

Check out a few podcasts and audiobooks.

If you’re planning on working from home, but you’re used to the hubbub of an office and the chatter of your other coworkers, put on a podcast or an audiobook to get some background noise and learn something new along the way too.

There are so many activities to do while you’re at home or keep you close to home, so be sure to stay active and continue to help the Reno community where you can. If there’s anything we can do for you, or if you have any questions about the current real estate market, give us a call at (775) 828-3292.

David Morris Group - The Reality of Real Estate_ Finding Beauty in Your Home - Best Reno Real Estate Team - DMG - Reno Homes

The Reality of Real Estate: How to Find the Beauty in Your Current Home Instead of Selling

March 20, 2020/in Reality of Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

It’s easy to get caught up in the wow factors you see while viewing a property, but when you’ve closed on the deal, unpacked your items, and lived in the house for a few years, you’ll notice things that don’t quite work for your family or items that you have begun to hate about your home. When you find yourself focusing on the things that you’d like to change, we have some tips to help you find the beauty and fall in love with your space once again.

1. Add a feel-good factor.

If you have a favorite color that lifts your mood, a piece of artwork that you’ve always adored and would like to see hanging, or photos that always bring a smile to your face, then make them the focus of an area of your home you feel needs a little extra love. A bright focus wall in your living room, a gorgeous painting in the dining room, and a photo collage wall in your bedroom will draw the eye and immediately be the new talking point of the room.

2. Make donations.

You may be surprised how getting rid of unnecessary objects, clothes, and books can make you and your home feel lighter. It clears up space and can give you new ideas for how to use the space. Gather up the items that don’t add joy to the house and donate them to a local organization.

3. Tackle one project that could add a little wow factor.

There are all kinds of DIY projects for every budget and skill level. From making a chalkboard table to dressing up your house number sign, we recommend you get your hands dirty and try one of those projects that you’ve loved seeing on your favorite HGTV shows.

4. Look at the space in a new way.

Sometimes how the furniture is arranged can impact how you look at each room, so try to rearrange where you place things in order to give your home a new look and feel.

5. Draw attention to your home’s best features.

No matter how many things you don’t like, there are three more features you do like that can be highlighted to draw your attention. If you love the natural light that your windows bring in, add curtains or shades that will draw the eye when you have the sunlight streaming in. If you love the French doors, add a little pop of color to the doors themselves or the wall they’re located on to draw people’s eyes to them.

In this day and age, negative news makes more headlines than the positive, and it can skew how we look at the world and how we look at our own homes, but we guarantee there are always more things to love. Try these tips to help you find the beauty in your home before reaching out to the David Morris Group at (775) 828-3292 to help you sell your home and find a new one.

The Reality of Real Estate: How to Love Your Home’s Imperfections

March 12, 2020/in Reality of Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

It’s likely that when you purchase a home, you’ll notice things that you’d like to change. From the interior and exterior paint to the layout and function of your home, there’s bound to be some projects that you’d like to tackle to make your home customized to your style and needs. We’re here to help you realize that those imperfections are worth loving and that each home is unique.

Look for the positives in your home

It can be easy to focus on the negatives of your home, but there are surely many reasons why you decided to purchase your home – focus on them! Even some of the items that you may not love about your home may have some positive attributes that you appreciate.

If the carpet in your living room may not have been your first choice, but if it’s soft and feels wonderful to squish your toes into after a long day at work, focus on that. If the countertops in your kitchen aren’t your usual style but are easy to clean, focus on that. If you wish your fireplace had a more distinct fireplace, but your favorite memories involve sitting by the fire in the winter with your family, focus on that.

Don’t compare your home

When you visit your friends and family, it’s easy to feel envy creeping up at aspects of their home that you’d like to see in yours. Remember that everyone has a home to-do list on items that they’d like to change, so don’t let your home feel inferior to someone else’s.

Ignore the doubters and negative Nancies

We all have those people in our lives that we love unconditionally, but have the habit of pointing out flaws and giving constructive feedback that we haven’t asked for. The worst is when they point out things that we had yet to notice and after they leave, feeling the overwhelming need to start working on projects. Take a deep breath, and remind yourself of why you decided to purchase your home in the first place. Thank them for their tips and steer the conversation in a new direction.

Make a to-do list and consistently check off improvement tasks

If there are serious home improvement projects you’d like to tackle in order to make you fall in love with your home a little more, make a list of them, and make a gameplan of when and how you will take care of them. You don’t need to overwhelm yourself by doing it all at one time.

If you need a team that will give you the advice other agents won’t, reach out to the David Morris Group. We’re happy to help you find a home you love to call home, so give us a shout at (775) 828-3292 anytime.

The Reality of Real Estate – Ditch These Unrealistic Dreams

February 28, 2020/in Reality of Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

We’ve all been sucked into the HGTV vortex a time or two. You sit down to watch an episode of Property Brothers while eating your leftovers only to look up four episodes and four hours later to realize that it’s past your bedtime and that you now want to take a sledgehammer to a wall in your living room to open up the space. It’s hard not to fall under the spell of these home improvement shows, but it can also be hard to push these unrealistic home goals out of your head when it comes time to buy a home. We’re here to tell you that when you decide to enter the real estate market, you have to ditch these unrealistic dreams.

1. Pinterest Homes Live Only on Pinterest

Just like HGTV, Pinterest and Instagram can have you making a home want list a mile long and giving you expectations that will never be met. If you’re looking for a designer home, you’ll have to pay the designer price tag that comes along with it. It’s much easier to find a home that meets everything you need, has some of the items you want, and leaves you with a budget that you can save to add those designed features you’re looking for in your forever home.

2. Your Home Won’t Need Any Repairs

We can almost guarantee that when you get the home inspection report on a home you like, there will be items that need to be repaired and even some unforeseen maintenance that needs to be made within a year or two of moving in.

3. Remodeling is as Easy as it Looks in the TV Shows

HGTV shows major transformations that are packaged into 30 or 60-minute timeslots, but the reality is that remodels can take months for just one room in your home. They can also come with heavy price tags when you factor in the cost of labor and if you choose pricier materials.

We may have popped your reality TV fantasy bubble, but trust us, it’ll help you see the larger picture and focus on what’s important when searching for your home. We want to make sure you don’t get caught up in the glitz and glam, like so many others do. The David Morris Group is here to help offer the real-world advice you’ll need to navigate the Reno real estate market and find the right home for you. Never hesitate to reach out to us at (775) 828-3292.

The Reality of Real Estate – You Have to Compromise

February 7, 2020/in Reality of Real Estate /by Shauna Morris

Just like in friendships and relationships, the key to coming out of the home buying experience on top is to compromise. We’re not saying that you should compromise on everything, but holding out for a home that meets your budget, is in your ideal neighborhood, and has all of the bells and whistles you’d dreamt of is about as likely as hitting the lottery. It does happen, but not often enough to make it the rule.

So that leads to the question, what should you compromise on and what are factors that will heavily weigh in on deciding that a property isn’t right for you? We’ve been around long enough to know what compromises will help you find a home that you’ll spend many happy years growing and thriving in. Take a look at our list of where to begin making compromises:

1. Items that need to be repaired in a home

Unless you’re buying a home that’s been recently built, there’s likely to be items that need to be repaired. You’ll need some leniency when it comes to plumbing and electrical repairs. Your REALTOR® will be able to help you understand the severity of the repairs, but we warn you that if you’re looking at an older home with a roof that’s getting closer to the end of its life or items that aren’t up to the current code, it’s not reasonable to request the seller make those repairs before purchasing the home.

2. Pricing

Staying rigid on the price you’re willing to pay when you enter negotiations with a seller can have a huge hindrance on the process. If you’re not willing to work with the seller and come to a compromise, it’s likely to make them less willing to work with you. In a competitive market where the seller is receiving multiple offers, you want to be flexible. Keep your budget at the top of your mind and make sure your REALTOR® knows the real number you cannot exceed, but don’t put yourself in a situation that has the seller feeling boxed in and walking away from the transaction.

3. Look at the bigger picture

As you’re going through the process, focusing on your ultimate goal is crucial to your long-term happiness. It’s easy to get caught up in the nuances of negotiations but if the pesky details won’t matter in the long run, then don’t spend extra energy worrying about them. If things aren’t running quite how you expected, take a deep breath, remind yourself of what is important, and talk with your team about how you can compromise to make a deal both you and the seller can agree on.

The “dream home” may be a myth, but the “dream team” isn’t. If you’re looking to work with real estate professionals who will give you the real answers, insights, and advice about what it takes to buy or sell a home in Reno’s current market, the David Morris Group is who you should rely on. Never hesitate to give us a call at (775) 828-3292.

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