| How to See How Much a House Sold For Posted: 04 Mar 2018 04:00 PM PST Whether you're house shopping or just enjoy looking at homes, checking out properties in your area can be a fun activity. Sometimes you want to see how much a property that interests you has sold for, which is easy to accomplish. You can see how much a house sold for by finding the price online or by finding the price in person. EditFinding the Price Online - Choose a realty website to search for sold properties. Most of the websites that list properties for sale also list properties that have sold. These sites pull information from everywhere homes are listed, such as multiple listing services (MLS) reports and databases compiled by Realtors and brokers. Simply visit the site and click on the icon to search sold properties rather than those for sale.
- For example, a few common sites include:
- Most homes are listed on real estate websites such as Reator.com, Zillow.com, Redfin.com, and Trulia.com. Your area may even have its own version of these sites, which can be an excellent resource.
- Input a neighborhood, zip code, or specific address to search. You can use a neighborhood or zip code to search homes if you just want to get an idea about how much properties in the area are selling for. If you already have an idea of which property you want to check, you can search for just that home.[1]
- For example, if you are selling your home and want to know how much you can expect to get, you might want to search out your neighborhood.
- Alternatively, you might want to look for an individual property if you know a home on the street just sold.
- Check the results of your search for the sold prices. If you entered a neighborhood or zip code, then you will get a list of all of the properties that sold in that area. You can scroll through the list and look for properties that interest you, such as a home on the street where you live or on a street near where you hope to purchase a home. Click on the homes that interest you for more information.[2]
- If you searched for an address, then you can look directly at that listing.
- Recent sales may not have the sales price available.
- Search the address of the home in a search engine. You may be able to find the sales price by simply searching for an address. In most cases, searching for the address will return links to real estate websites in the area.
- You may also see links to government records, if they are public in your area.
- Use alternative methods in areas where sales prices aren't public. Your area may have laws that prevent the disclosure of information like a home's selling price, which means it cannot be publicly displayed online. However, you can still find out this information by visiting a governmental office or asking the real estate agent you're working with.[3]
- In these cases, there should be an estimate included on the sold listing.
EditFinding the Price in Person - Write down the address you want to search for. When you go to a government office, you can't get a long list of every property in a zip code. Instead, you can ask them to provide you with real estate and property records that will include the selling price. Depending on your area, you may be able to search this information yourself in the records, or you may have to ask a clerk for assistance.
- Visit your county clerk's office to search records. A county clerk's office maintains all records related to real estate for the area it serves. This includes information related to sales price. Tell them the address you are looking for and let them know you need the sales price.[4]
- Say, "I need to check property records to see the selling price for the home at 123 Courtyard Street."
- In some areas, you may need to visit the Land Registry Office.[5]
- Be aware that some of this information may be considered private, so you will need to discuss with the staff what the laws in your area allow you to access.
- Pay any required fees to view or receive copies of the records. Checking a database for just the sales price may not cost you, but there can be fees assessed when you consult a government office. This is especially true if the office prints anything out for you.[6]
- Copy fees may be as little as $1 for a single non-certified copy, but ask about cost before you obligate yourself to pay for anything.[7]
- Call a real estate agent for more information about the selling price. A real estate agent may be able to provide inside information on the sale of a property, especially if it is used as a comparable listing to another home on the market. They may be able to share information not readily available to the public, including the final sales price.[8]
- If you're already working with an agent, they will be able to tell you how much homes in your area sold for, as these will be used as "comps" or comparables for your sale.
- Contact the owner if the home was listed as "for sale by owner." Sometimes sellers will decide to sell a home themselves. Since only licensed realtors and brokers can use MLS listing sites, these sales prices will not appear online. If you spot a home that's for sale by owner, you will likely have to contact that owner to get the sold price.
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| How to Break Up with Someone As Painlessly As Possible Posted: 04 Mar 2018 08:00 AM PST Breaking up can be incredibly hard, but there are several things you can do to make the process a little less painful for you and your significant other. Prepare for the breakup by choosing a quiet, private space and take some time to reflect before you meet up. Think about your reasons for breaking up, as well as what you've learned from the relationship. After the breakup, make sure you take good care of yourself and give each other space to move on and heal. EditPreparing for the Breakup - Set up a time to meet with the other person. Ask them if they have an evening free sometime soon to talk, and pick a date to meet up face to face. It may feel awkward, like there's never a good time, but try to do it as soon as possible. This will help you avoid drawing things out and hurting the other person even more.[1]
- Be respectful about timing as well. As much as you can, try to avoid holidays, birthdays, anniversaries of a loved one's death, or important career events.
- Although it can be tempting to break up with someone over the phone and avoid the pain or discomfort of doing it in person, try to avoid this method as much as possible. Meeting with someone in person shows them that you respect and care for them, gives the relationship some closure, and can help you avoid miscommunications. Try to think about how you would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.
- Choose a quiet, private space where you can talk. If the relationship is still new and you've only been going out for a few weeks, you could choose somewhere calm and low-key, like a coffee shop. If you're ending a long-term relationship, you'll want to pick somewhere more private, such as your home or a neutral space.[2]
- Avoid loud, crowded spaces, such as parties or bars.
- Some good neutral spaces include parks and restaurants.
- Choose an open, public place if you're worried about your safety. You can also ask a friend to come along and hang out nearby in case you need help.
- Take time to reflect on your relationship and plan out what you'll say. Think about why you want to break up and how you can express that to the other person. Consider what you've learned from this relationship, whether about yourself, your likes and dislikes, or how relationships work.
- Reflection is the best way to process your emotions and prepare for the breakup itself, rather than jumping right in without giving it any thought and talking in circles.
- For example, you may want to break up because your partner easily becomes clingy and jealous. Maybe you've lost the spark and don't feel attracted to them anymore, or maybe your ideas about money, family, or religion are incompatible.
EditEnding the Relationship - Make the breakup clear instead of just ghosting the person. Although avoiding them and just letting the relationship fade may seem tempting, this method can be even more painful and confusing for your partner. Take the time to sit down and tell the person that you want to break up. It may feel more awkward or painful in the moment, but clearly ending things will be much better in the long run.
- If you find yourself ignoring your partner's calls or pulling away from them physically, think about why you feel that way. Instead of acting distant, you may need to have a serious conversation about ending the relationship.
- Give concrete and logical reasons for why you want to break up. Be firm and clear with your significant other when you lay out why the relationship isn't working. This may seem a little harsh, but if you do it with compassion, logic can actually help the other person deal with the breakup more smoothly.[3]
- For example, you could say, "I love spending time with you, but ultimately, I want to get married someday. I know you don't believe in marriage, so I think it's best if we end things now."[4]
- If you don't have a very concrete reason, try to center your reasons around the relationship, rather than them as a person. For example, you could say "We seem to have very different goals now" or "Our values just don't match up."
- Let them know what you've appreciated about the relationship. At this point, your significant other is probably feeling discouraged and upset. Try to remember and share the positive experiences you've had. Tell them something that you're grateful for about your time together, such as the experiences you've both had or something you've learned about yourself.[5]
- You could say "I'm so glad I met you. Because of you, I've learned how to open up to others" or "I'm so grateful for our time together, and I'll never forget it."
- If you haven't been dating for very long, you could mention one of their character traits that you appreciate. For example, you could say, "Your sense of positivity has shown me that I really value that quality in others."
- Express your emotions in a rational way. Make sure that you say what you need to say in order to avoid carrying it around as emotional baggage. If your emotions turn negative and tempers start to get out of hand, take a few deep breaths and rein it back in.
- Use "I" language to explain your feelings without placing blame. When you try to explain why you want to break up, it's easy for the other person to feel attacked or blamed for the problems in the relationship. Using "I" language can help reduce this feeling by naming specific issues and how those issues made you feel, rather than just calling out the other person.[6]
- For example, instead of saying "You never came with me to any family dinners," try changing it to "I felt lonely and frustrated when I had to go to family dinners alone."
- Be gentle but firm if they try to convince you to stay together. Rather than let the conversation turn into an argument that goes on and on, just tell them, "I'm sorry, but this is the decision I need to make." If they don't respect your decision and continue to push you, then tell them politely that your decision is final, and then leave.[7]
EditStaying Strong - Don't feel guilty about breaking up. Breaking off a relationship when it's not working isn't something you should feel guilty about—in fact, it's a form of self-care. You're also showing the other person compassion. Odds are, they're aware of the same issues that you are but they just can't bring themselves to do it.[8]
- Don't contact your ex for a few months after you break up. Give your ex at least a few months to process the breakup before reaching out. This means getting them off of your mind by cutting off communication through social media, texting, calling, or face-to-face interactions. Time apart from each other is necessary and, in the long run, beneficial for both you and your ex.[9]
- This may also mean deleting their number from your phone, unfollowing and unfriending them, and deleting photos of the two of you.
- If you're worried about seeming cruel or cold, let the person know that this is something you'll need following the breakup.
- Take care of yourself and let yourself heal. Even if you're the one initiating the breakup, it'll probably be painful for you, too. Remember to give yourself time to grieve and adjust to the change. Focus on self-care activities and doing things that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, being in nature, exercising, taking bubble baths, and reading.[10]
- Don't turn to alcohol or drugs to make yourself feel better. In the end, these things can actually make the healing process more difficult.
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| How to Decorate a Sofa with Pillows Posted: 04 Mar 2018 12:00 AM PST Adding throw pillows to your sofa is an easy and inexpensive way to breathe new life to your living room or bedroom. It can, however, be overwhelming with all the choices out there. Here are a few tips to consider to help you find your way and have fun creating a new look with the simple addition of pillows. EditPicking Out Your Pillows - Choose pillows with complimentary colors for a bold and vibrant look. Pick two colors, opposite of one another on the color wheel, that are already present in your room and stick to them when choosing pillows. Remember that you can choose different shades of your complimentary colors. [1]
- Orange and blue is the most common complimentary color pairing.
- Red and green are opposites on the color wheel.
- Yellow and purple is the boldest combination of complimentary colors.
- Choose neutral, earthy tones in your pillows to tone a room down. Neutrals have a calming effect and leave an impression of sophistication. They can accentuate an already neutral room or bring balance to a brightly colored sofa or room. Choose either warm neutrals or cool neutrals, rather than combining the two.[2]
- Warm neutrals are in the brown family with undertones of red, orange, and yellow.
- Cool neutrals are in the grey family with undertones of blue and green.
- Select pillows in shades of one color for a playful but modern look. Look around the room for a color that you'd like to draw attention to and buy pillows in varying shades of that color. Take a picture or sample of the color with you when you go shopping.[3]
- Your favorite painting features a large tree. Choose pillows in shades of green to draw your guests' eyes to that same painting.
- The rug under the coffee table has a deep color of plum that you've always wanted to bring out. Choose pillows in shades of that same plum to give your rug its due.
- Pick pillows in all solid colors if you want to draw attention to your sofa. Choose bold complimentary colors to enhance the center piece effect. Solid colors are also a good choice if there is already a lot of patterns and prints in the room.
- Combine large prints, small prints, and solids to create a sense of depth. Generally speaking, the larger prints should be on the outside of the sofa, with the smaller prints and solids closer to the middle.
- Large prints have bolder designs and less repetition.
- Small prints have small to tiny designs and have more repetition.
- Choose one special pillow as a focal point. Find a pillow with an ornate design you like, or a word, letter, or image and place this pillow in the middle of the sofa, with several complimentary pillows on each side, for a personalized look.
- Choose pillows in a variety of shapes and fabric types to create an eclectic look. Consider shapes other than square and fabrics with a tactile appeal. These variations will add texture to your arrangement. Have fun and mix it up.[4]
- Velvet is classic and regal in bold primary colors, and can soften a look in pastels.
- Cottons and linens are crisp and modern.
- Faux fur gives the room a cozy den-like feel.
- Oblong, rectangular, and circular pillows can add whimsy to your look.
- Look for pillows with partial feather or down inserts. The look of your pillows is not their only contribution. Ideally, they are supportive and comfortable as well. Avoid all-foam inserts as they provide very little support.[5]
EditArranging Your New Pillows - Scale pillows to your furniture. If you have a large, overstuffed couch, choose large pillows. If you have a small, antique couch, choose smaller pillows.
- Determine the number of pillows you want. Four to six pillows on a sofa is typical. Don't overdo it. Remember, you want your couch to remain usable for you and your guests.[6]
- Use an even number of pillows for a traditional look, one, two or three on each side.
- If you are after a more eclectic look, choose an odd number of pillows and have different amounts on each side of the couch.
- Place the largest pillows on the outside of the sofa. Arrange the rest of the pillows in descending order of size. If you want to highlight one pillow, place it in the middle of the sofa and bracket with two complimentary pillows on each side.
- Keep the pillows in a symmetrical arrangement for a traditional look. Typically, pillows are bought in pairs. Each pillow in the pair occupies the same placement on the sofa as its mate, but on the opposite side.[7]
- Choose asymmetrical placement for a fun, bohemian look. Throw tradition out the window and place pillows however they please your eye. Play around with a different number of pillows on each side of the sofa. Place pairs in differing spots or don't use pairs at all!
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