Selling your house in East Boise? Well, get ready! The market is hot and if you are priced right, you may end up with multiple offers. The difficulty may be knowing which offer to accept! Serious buyers may want to offer earnest money. But what if the buyer takes a powder, or his financials fall through? Can the seller get fairly compensated for the time her property was off the market? Here’s what you need to know about it.

Know how much earnest money is enough:

The amount of an earnest money deposit can vary wildly.

“I’ve had buyers offer vastly different amounts, depending on how badly they want the house,” said Dawn Templeton, with Templeton Real Estate Group in Boise, Idaho. This makes determining the actual figure of an earnest money deposit that works for both buyer and seller a negotiation within the overall negotiation of the sale. While buyers will generally want to part with as little as possible to limit their potential loss, a seller needs to ensure the deposit reflects the buyer’s commitment to close on the property.

Earnest money is typically between 1% and 2% of the purchase price, but it can go as high as 10%. Since this money will serve as monetary damage if the buyer breaches the contract and fails to close, the seller must also carefully consider what amount would adequately compensate for the lost time in selling the home. Be reasonable—too high a figure could scare away potential buyers.

Cash the earnest money deposit:

Often an earnest money deposit is a check held by a seller’s Realtor in good faith, but it’s not cashed.

“One way sellers can protect themselves from buyers pulling out of a contract is to require that their agent actually cashes the check,” says Brian Davis, co-founder at SparkRental.com.

Granted, this cash will remain in escrow until the deal either closes or falls apart. If the latter happens, this move will prevent the buyer from cleaning out the account the check is written from.

Know your contingencies:

Contract contingenciesprovide myriad ways for a buyer to legally back out of a sale. A seller needs to scrutinize and minimize every buyer “back door” and close any that they can, says Davis. That means if a buyer simply gets cold feet, he can’t use a contingency as a way to worm out of a contract. If you’re selling in a hot market, you might even ask the buyer to waive certain contingencies. Typical contingencies include the following:

• Funding: A buyer gets his earnest money deposit back if his mortgage falls through.
• Condition: If undisclosed problems with the property are discovered by a home inspection, the buyer can generally back out with no penalty.
• Title search: A buyer can usually void a contract if a title search comes back with a lien or issues with the ownership of a property. Sellers can do a title search before listing to clear up any red flags.
• Appraisal: When a property doesn’t appraise for the sale price, a buyer can walk away. Work with your Realtor to price your home appropriately.

Remember, if the contingencies in a sales contract are fulfilled and the buyer still doesn’t close, the seller is entitled to keep the buyer’s earnest money.

Keep an eye on contingency time frames:

Contingencies must be met by the buyer and the seller within specific time frames. If one party fails to complete the required action within that time frame, that party has defaulted, according to the contract. For instance, a buyer might have 17 days to complete an inspection. If the buyer fails to do so, the seller may be able to keep the earnest money. (Just keep in mind that this cuts both ways—so the seller should pay special attention to the time limits, too.)

A seller can also add a “time is of the essence” clause into the purchase agreement. This means the closing date for the sale is binding. If the buyer can’t close for any reason, the contract is breached and the seller can keep the earnest money deposit.

Source: http://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/earnest-money-d…

Margaret Heidenry is a writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Her work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, and Boston Magazine.

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Design tastes are very subjective, so a good rule of thumb is decorate to make yourself happy — to your heart’s content — that is unless you plan on selling any time soon. Then, you will want to decorate to follow trends.

A well-designed décor or staged home has been proven to sell faster and for more. Buyers are often ‘taken’ by a home when its décor is on trend as this allows the buyers to see the house at its best potential. Sometimes these trends can be regional — what may be hot for the New York City market may not be so hot in Boise, Idaho. Which makes our next rule of thumb an important one to follow — if selling your home, be sure to hire realtors who have expertise with your market as they will know what buyers are looking for and can properly advise you on how to prep.

With all of this in mind, here are the 10 interior design trends that Jamie Wiebe from realtor.com says are over for 2017!

Over the past few years we saw a profusion of design trends invade our homes like swarms of cicadas. A few of them (the design trends, not the insects) haven proven to be keepers; others quickly wore out their welcome, inspiring boredom, embarrassment, or even outright anger in no time flat.

The guilty parties? Well, just to name a few, shiplap continued its onslaught into our homes and away from its original habitat of the shed; the industrial look still hasn’t returned to the factories where it belongs; and barn doors belong in … well, barns.

Although in isolation many of these trends aren’t as off-putting as others we’ve seen through the years (we’re looking at you, avocado-colored appliances!), we’ve just seen way too much of them. And our stable of decor and design experts agrees: These 10 looks are on their way out, so say sayonara in 2017.

1. Faux Mid-Century Modern

Photo by Blake Civiello Architecture

After basking for many years in the limelight as retro cool, nostalgic Mid-Century Modern design might be on the verge of seeming, ironically enough, downright outdated. For a while, the vintage decor trend was so ubiquitous it seemed almost standard—but designers say customers are already tiring of the look. “Mad Men” has been off the air for two years already. It’s time to move on, folks.

“We will look back at 2016, asking, ‘What were we thinking when we went Mid-Century Modern crazy?’” says designer David Schneider of Schneider Kennedy Design.

Blame the endless knockoffs of classic midcentury furniture designs, which dilute the appeal of the sleek ’60s style. Suddenly, everyone was sporting a retro credenza, making yours seem way less special.

But if you’re blessed with any original pieces, don’t unload them just yet. “Mid-Century Modern is always going to be appreciated,” Schneider says.

2. Shiplap

Photo by W Dylan Gilliam

Sorry, Joanna Gaines: After four shiplap-crazy seasons, the trend has to go. If you’ve ever wondered what 2016’s version of tacky wood paneling would be, look no further than this trend that seems to have overtaken TV design shows.

Slapped on every wall—regardless of the home’s style—shiplap has long passed “quirky and quaint” and set down anchor at “overused.” “The shiplap craze is going to die down and fizzle out soon,” predicts Liz Toombs, the owner and founder of interior design firm Polka Dots & Rosebuds. Decorating an actual farmhouse? Sure, go ahead: Shiplap is historically accurate and still attractive, if used in moderation. But it makes no sense in a Colonial or Tudor—and it’s a pain to tear out.

3. Barn door sliders

Photo by Cornerstone Architects

There was a good reason for the barn door madness: Not every hallway has space for a swinging door, and if you were trying to stuff a laundry room into a tight spot, barn doors were an easy solution. (Plus, they’re cuter than a pocket door.) But you guessed it: What was once cute and clever is now tacky and outdated.

Of course, barn doors have been on their way out for a few years. Like the chevron pattern trend (the worst, amirite?), barn doors just won’t die. If you love the look, follow your dreams. But keep in mind their impending downward spiral if you’re considering selling any time soon. Most buyers will see only another eyesore that needs replacing.

4. White-on-white kitchens

Photo by Stoneham Kitchens

The kitchen is the messiest room in the house (assuming you don’t open the door to your teenager’s bedroom. Don’t do it.). So why did the all-white craze catch on there? White countertops, white cabinetry, white floors—you might feel like buying stock in home cleaning products at the mere thought of the potential messes.

“It’s just too much,” says Sara Chiarilli, a designer at Artful Conceptions. “This trend started to go in 2016, but you will find it completely gone in 2017.”White’s not entirely going the way of the dinosaurs. But homeowners will see “more depth and tones coming into kitchens,” Chiarilli says. Think darker cabinets, backsplashes with “pop and wow,” and contrasting floors.

5. Copper

Photo by Bloomingdale’s

Copper has been DIYers’ favorite metal for some time now. If you check Pinterest, you’ll find tutorials for copper blanket ladders (a dying trend we’ll happily discuss another time), towel rails, and plant stands. But copper just isn’t as timeless as other metals, and our experts predict you’ll be seeing less of it in 2017.

There’s nothing wrong with continuing to experiment with the metal (although we wouldn’t recommend your running out and buying copper fixtures for your kitchen). Just remember that any trend is best used in moderation. So if you go copper-loco, don’t be surprised if you feel like ripping it all out in a few short months.

6. Gray

Photo by General Assembly

Neutral, toned-down gray seemed like the season’s hottest color, slathered on every wall from New York to California. But designers are predicting 2017 to be a year of color, making last year’s staple seem old and bland. “It’s been overdone,” says Tanya Campbell of Viridis Design Studio. “Diversity in the palette will strike a contrast. We may even see a transition from gray color palettes to warmer mochas and taupes.”

7. Monochromatic designs

Photo by Alice Burnham Inc.

Scandinavian style brought us chic, monochromatic color palettes that evoked the stark, contemporary minimalism of our friends near the North Pole. But living rooms with off-white walls, floors in another off-white, and neutral furniture could go the way of the shag carpet in 2017. And it’s not just whites and neutrals that are to blame. Even rich hues can lose their luster if they’re plastered uniformly across every surface. “It was bold and calming at the time, but now it’s boring and overly coordinated,” Campbell says.

8. Glam looks

Photo by Donna Dotan Photography

Monochromatic themes arrived hand in hand with this 2016 décor obsession: glam. Bold whites, bright silvers, and deep blacks took over our kitchens and bathrooms. But next year’s color explosion means this luxe look might be no more. “We’re going to leave the glam era behind. That slick, stark, severe minimalism will be replaced with warmer elements,” says interior designer Bea Pila. “At the end of the day, we’re seeking a deeper comfort level in our personal spaces. That perfect-showroom feel we were once into doesn’t make this possible.”

9. Carrara marble

Photo by Dig for Victory Limited

What’s an all-white kitchen without America’s favorite stone (by way of Italy), Carrara marble? The look is initially stunning, sure, but the high-maintenance material is turning off some homeowners. Marble stains. A lot. Instead, consumers are turning to easy-to-clean countertops such as quartz and soapstone. And it’s not just the rigorous standard of care that’s turning Carrara from a must-have to a must-not. Those distinctive gray veins are becoming a little too distinctive. Omnipresent materials never stay trendy for long, and this one’s ready for the dustbin of history.

10. Heavy industrial themes

Photo by From the Hip Photo

Industrial décor spent 2016 in its death throes. Industrial brought us pipe shelving, bare wood, and rickety metal tables. Like your life-of-the-party uncle at Thanksgiving, industrial decor was a fun distraction. Until it’s suddenly not.

Chiarilli doesn’t think industrial will entirely leave the stage in 2017—expect a few more years of the warehouse look. But the style will be “softened quite a bit with silkier and softer fabrics mixed with polished finishes and stone,” she says.

Templeton Real Estate Group are experts in the East Boise market. We know what buyers are looking for! Call us today for your free and confidential consultation: 208.473.2203 or via online: http://www.dawntempleton.com/contact/. We would love to help you with your buying and/or selling needs.

Looking for a new home in Boise? Concerned about maintaining a healthy lifestyle for you and your loved ones? Here are a few factors that will help you choose the right neighborhood for your search.

Parks and Recreation

It’s no secret that being healthy is about staying active. That’s a lot easier when you can take advantage of local parks for outdoor activities and organized recreation opportunities like sports leagues and fitness classes. Living near open space and forested areas will also help you protect your family from air pollution as a result of traffic congestion.

Local Ordinances and Neighborhood Associations

Some towns and cities like Boise and Eagle do more than others to protect the local environment and promote the health of their citizens, with ordinances about noise pollution and zoning.While some neighborhood associations exist largely to enforce arbitrary standards about the superficial appearance of homes, others have more substantive standards about sustainable landscaping and other environmental factors.

Walkability and Bikeability

Whether you’re eight or eighty years old, walking and biking are great ways to stay healthy in Idaho. Residents of walkable neighborhoods tend to weigh up to 10 pounds less than those in less walkable neighborhoods. Walk Score offers a neighborhood’s walkability and bikeability score using the proximity of shops and services as well as features like sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks.

Water Quality and Other Concerns

Unless you’re willing to spend hundreds of dollars every year on filtration systems, you’ll want to make sure the neighborhood you choose in Boise has a high quality public water supply and is free of other chemical and industrial contaminants. The Environmental Protection Agency’s website aggregates data on water quality, air quality, known and threatened releases of hazardous substances, and former industrial sites (or “brownfields”), allowing you to search by zip code.

As the Boise real estate landscape changes over the years, buyers, sellers, and homeowners have started doing more with less house. Here are a few simple tips for getting the most out of your humble abode:

Use walls and ceilings.

Optimize your floor space by getting as many things as possible off of it. Hang your bicycle from the wall or ceiling. Install shelves for books and other items over doorways and, if possible, in walls themselves. Use the space above your kitchen cabinets for unused appliances, empty boxes, and china sets. Take advantage of corners, which are underused and provide a lot of storage space if used properly. If the storage space you gain this way is still not enough, you could also rent a self storage unit in Boise and deposit there the items you’re not using on daily basis, such as seasonal clothing, sports equipment, holiday decorations, baby stuff, and so on.

Brighten things up.

The more light you let into a room, the more spacious it will appear. If you have access to natural light, take advantage of it with sheer window curtains. If not, be sure each room is well-lit with lamps, chandeliers, and sconces. When it comes to paint, darker shades tend to impose on space. Instead, opt for lighter, softer shades, using bright colors sparingly as accents.

Use multi-function furniture.

Instead of that big wooden coffee table and bold, angular couch, opt instead for chests, sleeper sofas, ottomans and benches with interior storage space, etc. Use collapsible, or nested end-tables that can be folded or tucked away when necessary. Stick with vertical bookcases and push larger furniture pieces against the wall to avoid breaking up open space.

Take advantage of the outdoors.

Keep your lawn trimmed and your flowerbeds neat to avoid feeling crowded out by overgrown landscaping. Expand patios and hardscapes or install a grill to extend your kitchen and dining areas. Relieve the congestion in your garage with a tool shed or sheltered area for recreation equipment.

Not sure how to get even more out of your small Boise living space? It may be time to consider upgrading to a larger home. Before you consider selling, check out our Quick Tips for Staging Your Boise Home for information on how to enhance your home’s aesthetics. This may not increase functionality but could help to raise your level of comfort and satisfaction!

Reach out to your Boise realty specialist for more tips, tricks, and real estate advice.