Buy Owner Blog

With a keen editor’s eye, Becky Brogan helps perfect Buy Owner’s marketing materials, both on the blog and on the main Web site. She joined the Buy Owner team just a month after its creation, and her feature articles range from fact-filled pieces on what it means to rent-to-own to creative home-improvement ideas like her series on creating more space in your layout. Coming from a publishing background, Becky adds valuable research and communication skills to the Buy Owner Blog.
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The Basics of Window Treatments
By Becky
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas on 17 October 2009
Stats: 205 views and No Comments

Because they can be such a costly purchase, deciding on window treatments can be overwhelming. You want to be sure to choose something with staying power. [...]

Decorating with Cool and Warm Colors
By Becky
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas on 12 September 2009
Stats: 401 views and No Comments

When decorating your home, it’s important to consider the paint palette you want to use, as this can have a dramatic effect on the feel of a room. [...]

Updates to Seller Disclosure Form and Radon Disclosure Law
By Becky
Posted in Market News, Tips and Ideas on 27 August 2009
Stats: 252 views and No Comments

On August 12, 2009, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn confirmed changes made to the Seller Disclosure Form and to the Radon Disclosure Law. [...]

Organizing Your Pantry
By Becky
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas on 21 August 2009
Stats: 279 views and No Comments

By keeping your pantry neat and organized, you will improve the appearance and functionality of your kitchen while maximizing the storage space in your home. [...]

Tying Your Home’s Decor Together
By Becky
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas on 7 August 2009
Stats: 220 views and No Comments

One of the keys to obtaining an open, flowing floor plan and a sense of unity in your home is to create a cohesive design. [...]

Selling a House That Needs Work
By Becky
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 22 June 2009
Stats: 367 views and No Comments

We’ve talked a lot about preparing your house for a sale, covering everything from how to Increase Your Home’s Value to the Top 10 Home Staging Tips. But what if your house needs a lot of work? How do you decide whether it’s worth it to fix it up or if you should just put your property on the market as is?

• First of all, you should have a thorough inspection of your home to find out what really needs to be fixed. Figure out how much you could get for your home as is, and then figure out how much you could get after fixing it up. Comparing the before and after price will help you decide if it’s worth it to make the repairs.

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Buying vs. Renting a Home
By Becky
Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas on 27 May 2009
Stats: 415 views and No Comments

A common dilemma new homeowners deal with is whether to buy or rent their new homes. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Renting doesn’t give you the freedoms that come with buying a home, while buying involves a greater commitment than renting does. But the truth is, if you can afford to, you should almost always buy, as the benefits of buying a home outweigh the benefits of renting a home.

Why Buy

• Perhaps the biggest benefit of owning your own home is just that. You own your own home!
• You’ll have the freedom to decorate it however you would like and do with it whatever you wish.

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Selling for the Season: Spring
By Becky
Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas on 30 March 2009
Stats: 276 views and No Comments

According to statistics, spring is the busiest season for home sales. It makes sense that spring is considered the best time to sell your home: the grass is green, the flowers are in bloom. All the elements have aligned to accentuate your property’s beauty and make it as appealing as possible. But even though spring may be known as a prime selling season, you can still use all the help you can get when trying to sell your home. Here are three tips for selling your home in the spring:

Clean
When you think of spring, probably one of the first things that comes to mind is spring cleaning.
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Top 10 Moving Tips
By Becky
Posted in Buying Tips, Tips and Ideas on 24 February 2009
Stats: 483 views and No Comments

After you’ve found and purchased the right home for you, it’s time to move in. Are you ready? Although an estimated 42 million people move each year, this transitioning process still ranks as one of the most stressful life events we go through. The often-tedious process of organizing, packing, transporting, unpacking, reorganizing and moving into a new residence can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.

Here are 10 tricks to making the moving process as stress-free and as painless as possible:

1. The first step is to plan ahead. Make a list of everything you will need to do, from calling the movers to packing an overnight bag. Making a detailed list will spare you a lot of stress later on.

2. Declutter and hold a garage sale to get rid of anything you don’t need or want anymore. The less stuff you have to worry about taking with you, the easier the move will be.

3. Make sure you have plenty of supplies on hand. Of course you’ll need tons of boxes. You may also need bubble wrap, packing tape, scissors, markers, rags/paper towels and cleaning supplies.

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Top 10 Ways to Make a Room More Spacious
By Becky
Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas on 13 February 2009
Stats: 574 views and No Comments

Even if your home feels small, you can create the illusion of space simple by working with what you’ve got. Here’s how!