Guest post by Tina Martin
 
If you’re looking to start a home-based business, you need a home that can handle it. Odds are, an apartment or small house just isn’t going to cut it. Fortunately, you can turn to the Cowen Property Group for help finding the perfect house.
 
Now, when it comes to a home-based business, there’s a lot to consider before deciding on a property. You need enough room for your work, but you also need room to live - and, ideally, enough space for those to happen in different places. Work-life balance is a struggle for anyone, but it’s all the harder when it all happens under one roof. Here’s a look at a few of the things you should keep in mind when searching for your next home:
 
Before You Start
 
The first step in any property search should be to take a close look at your finances. Obviously, your financial situation affects what kind of home you’ll be able to buy, but it doesn’t define it. There are a lot of options for people with a relatively small down payment saved up, or a lackluster credit score. For example, if you have existing debt, that may make it harder to save for a downpayment or get a favorable loan. Look into financial relief and debt management answers to get your budget out of the red.
 
Once you have a sense for what you can afford, you should start taking a look at the local housing market. You’re not necessarily picking houses to look at just yet - instead, simply observe what’s selling at what price points. This helps you manage your expectations and set realistic goals for your property. Going in with a clear idea of what you want (and can afford) makes the process much, much less stressful.
 
What to Look For
 
As we mentioned earlier, home-based business owners have to prioritize work-life balance when picking their space. If you feel like you’re always “on” as a business owner, you’re almost certain to burn out. Once you’re at the point in your business where you’re factoring it into property investments, it’s extremely important to set yourself up for success and avoid this kind of burnout.
 
In that spirit, you should look for properties that offer an area you can turn into an office or workshop that won’t have to serve any other purpose. There’s some wiggle room here - a basement workshop might also be a laundry room, for example - but for the most part, you should keep your life and your work as physically separate as possible.
 
While Touring
 
Touring properties is one of the most exciting and confusing parts of buying a home. You’ll probably see several properties on any given tour day, and by the end of it all, they often blend together. That’s why it’s so important to take good notes and keep everything straight as you go. Bring along a notebook and a phone you can use to take pictures. This way you can remind yourself which features were in which property, and avoid moving forward on the wrong house.
 
You should also be mindful of what you say on a tour, especially if it’s an open-house type tour where the listing agent is present. Excitement or interest is, unfortunately, a disadvantage for homebuyers. If the sellers get word you’re really motivated, you’ll be in a bad spot when it comes to negotiations. Practice your poker face and stay neutral as you check properties out.
 
We hope these tips make buying a property for your home-based business less intimidating. You deserve a property that allows you to thrive both on and off the clock, and Cowen Property Group is happy to help you along.
 
Photo Credit: Pexels
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Guest post by Sophia Perry

When it comes to moving, one of the most stressful aspects is definitely packing household belongings. It is a process that consumes a lot of our time, energy, and, of course, money. Moreover, there are so many things that can go wrong when packing - boxes can tear apart, items inside can break, something can spill and ruin all the other things inside the moving truck, pieces of furniture can get damaged, etc. No wonder why most people get goose-bumps just by thinking about packing.
This is why many decide to hire a professional moving agency and be done with it. However, our budgets sometimes do not allow that, forcing us into a DIY packing project. Are you one of those people? Well, you are in the right place. Here are some packing tips for beginners whether you are a student, a parent, a business person, a senior, or simply a millennial on the move.

Make a Plan, and Make It Ahead of Time
If you, for example, plan to leave Tampa and settle down elsewhere, the first thing you must do is make a plan. Making a plan is of key importance for the entire moving process! Without one, your entire relocation can turn into chaos. Thus, save yourself the trouble and make a plan ahead of time. Start by organizing a family (or a roommate) meeting and discussing the details of the move. Try to split the chores – who will be decluttering, who will be packing what, etc. Plan as much as you can in advance as this will save you a lot of time later on. Of course, you do not have to stick to that plan rigorously, but use it as guidance or an organization system!

Declutter and Organize!
If you have ever moved before, you probably know how expensive relocation can be. If not, you are about to find out. But do not worry, there is a way to save money and not overwhelm your budget. How? By decluttering first!
Try to get rid of the items you do not need or use as much as you can. Talk about that on your family/roommate meeting. Make a list of the items you absolutely need in your new home and pack only them. Try to focus on the items that are of absolute importance to you. Those should be the items that are irreplaceable, valuable, and of course, necessary for your everyday life.
When it comes to all the other items, you can either consider donating them to a local charity, giving them to friends and family, selling them online or organizing a yard sale, or throwing them away if they are damaged and useless. Whatever you do, just remember – the more items you pack, the more expensive your relocation will be!

Gather Packing Supplies
Once you have decided what to bring with you and what to leave behind, it is time to think about packing. The first thing you need to do is gather all the packing supplies, of course. Many people try to cut corners on this one, and they start using old boxes they have in their basement or attic. Alternatively, they get those used boxes from stores and supermarkets, thinking that they will save a lot of money. However, at one point, they realize they had made a mistake and it is usually too late.
What happens with these old and used boxes is that they tear apart during the process of relocation - they are simply not meant to be used for that purpose. In the end, you are forced to buy new boxes and repack everything, or you find an unpleasant surprise once you open the moving truck. Thus, be smart and buy good quality packing materials. You will need:

• Cardboard boxes
• Plastic bins
• Plastic wrap
• Packing paper
• Packing peanuts
• Moving blankets (or use your old blankets and towels)
• Duct tape and scissors
• Permanent markers

When moving, do your homework! Just like you would look at all the pros and cons of renting and buying, look into the pros and cons of different kinds of moving materials!

Assemble a Helping Team
If you are relocating your entire household, including all those heavy pieces of furniture, it is absolutely necessary to assemble a helping team. Again the question - should you hire a professional moving agency or have a DIY kind of a move? As mentioned before, if your budget does not allow it, you do not have to hire movers for this step. What you can do is call your trusty, strong, and handy friends and ask them to help you out on the moving day.
Ask them to help you move those heavier pieces of furniture that cannot be disassembled onto the moving truck. This will not only save you money, time, and energy, but it will also save you from many moving injuries that tend to happen to people relocating for the first time. You want to avoid common issues like back and neck injuries, sprained and broken limbs, cuts, bruises, etc.
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Know How to Pack
Finally, it is time for packing. This must be done with care and caution. If not, well, get ready for a lot of topsy-turviness. It would be a good idea to do some research before you start packing, especially if you are packing for the first time. This will not be hard as we live in the age of the Internet. So, go online and look for some beginner's packing tips and tricks. Learn as much as possible.
What you need to do, after you have completed all the steps mentioned above, is to decide where you will start packing. We recommend going room by room as it is easiest and fastest. Then, start putting items inside the boxes. Wrap everything first in packing paper and then in plastic wrap. Also, make sure your boxes are not too heavy nor overfilled. Leave that extra space inside for packing peanuts. Lastly, seal everything with duct tape and label the box. When it comes to furniture, disassemble what you can, wrap the fragile parts, and carefully place them on a moving truck.
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