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A score higher than 50 indicates that more firms reported an increase in their business expectations than reported a decrease.
Construction Firms
Construction Firms
1. Business activity outlook increased. The Expected Business Activity Indicator, related to project inquiries and new committed projects, increased by 10 points, to 62, for the fourth quarter of 2024, from 52 for the third quarter of 2024. This means more construction firms anticipate quarter-over-quarter growth than anticipate a decline.
Expectations for project inquiries increased by 7 points, to 59 (from 52 for Q3), and expectations for new committed projects increased by 12 points, to 64 (from 52 for Q3).
Both build-only and design-build firms are more optimistic for Q4 than they were for the previous quarter. The expected activity indicator for build-only firms increased 9 points, to 62 (from 53 for Q3), and for design-build firms it increased 10 points, to 61 (from 51 for Q3).
The indicator is based on survey questions about whether businesses expect the number of project inquiries and new projects to increase, decrease or remain unchanged in the coming three months compared with the previous three months.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
3. Comfortable Furniture
This is an obvious one but it’s worth emphasizing: Comfortable furniture is a must-have in a living room. That means using more soft fabrics, deep cushions and rounded edges rather than solid, hard-backed pieces and sharp corners. “I always tell my clients that the most important living room feature is comfort,” says designer Lindsey Machado of Designed With Grace & Joy. “We will always make any space look beautiful, so it’s more important to me that they’re also happy with the way it feels. That not only includes actual materials — think plush rugs, soft pillows and throw blankets, a nice-feeling sofa — but also ambiance.”
Designer Krista McGrath of McGrath Interiors tells homeowners to get the best-quality seating they can afford. “They will spend hours sitting on their furniture,” McGrath says, “so it should be very comfortable and hold up well.”
Designer Sabrina Lowe agrees. “The sofa is the one item in the living room that clients should put resources toward,” she says. “Most people who invest in a good couch have it for decades.”
Shop for sofas and sectionals
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
High drama. Julie Cavanaugh, founder and principal designer at Design Matters — which operates across five studio showrooms in Northern California; Jackson, Wyoming; and Park City, Utah — will often use a statement backsplash to dial up the drama. “The owner of this smaller ranch-style house in San Jose loves high style and lots of glam,” Cavanaugh says. “For this backsplash, we combined glass tile in multiple sizes and elaborate natural stone. We did a riff on the idea of ‘soldier’ tile, which is a single row of vertical tile at the countertop and a second tile or material above it.
“As this project required us to amp up the glam, we turned the soldier tile horizontally to allow for a few more inches of the beautiful plume-styled stonework to take center stage,” she says. “Introducing a little bit of glass tile at the countertop line also helps with spills and cleanup, as they are not directly on the marble.”
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
High drama. Julie Cavanaugh, founder and principal designer at Design Matters — which operates across five studio showrooms in Northern California; Jackson, Wyoming; and Park City, Utah — will often use a statement backsplash to dial up the drama. “The owner of this smaller ranch-style house in San Jose loves high style and lots of glam,” Cavanaugh says. “For this backsplash, we combined glass tile in multiple sizes and elaborate natural stone. We did a riff on the idea of ‘soldier’ tile, which is a single row of vertical tile at the countertop and a second tile or material above it.
“As this project required us to amp up the glam, we turned the soldier tile horizontally to allow for a few more inches of the beautiful plume-styled stonework to take center stage,” she says. “Introducing a little bit of glass tile at the countertop line also helps with spills and cleanup, as they are not directly on the marble.”
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
1. Stain It Again
Designer: Kirby Foster Hurd of Kirby Home Designs
Location: Edmond, Oklahoma
Project. A new-construction spec home. “We collaborated with the builder, MassaRossa Luxury Homes, who allowed me full design creativity to create a space that would appeal to the masses,” designer Kirby Foster Hurd says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The entirety of the kitchen cabinets are stain-grade maple wood,” Hurd says. “We created a custom stain by combining various stain colors together to get a light stain color. And we finished the cabinets with a matte finish.
“When I walked in to check in on the staining process, the cabinets were extremely dark. I had a panic moment for sure. We go through a very detailed process of stain samples on the same species of wood we are using in each particular project, so I was absolutely shocked when I saw the kitchen cabinets and how they were not representative of the prior stain sample I reviewed and approved. Unfortunately, the custom stain color had been matched incorrectly at the paint store.”
Solution. “Luckily, we work with very talented painters,” Hurd says. “They sanded the original cabinet color off and we started the whole process over again. Second time was a charm.”
Find designers, general contractors and other pros near you
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
2. Hardworking Sink
Designers often recommend giving extra consideration to elements that you interact with the most. In a kitchen, that can be a lot of things, but the kitchen sink is one area that always sees a lot of action. So it makes sense to put a little more effort into designing the sink area and choosing components.
These days, many sink manufacturers offer designs called workstations, which feature add-ons such as cutting boards, strainers and prep bowls. “I always recommend a sink with gadgets,” designer Brittany Steptoe-Wright of BSW Design says. “For example, the sink in this project [shown here] is a single, large undermount sink, but it has a colander, cutting board and drying rack that sit inside on a small lip and provide so much function. It’s a game changer.”
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
Algozzini often uses seamless bluestone or granite for outdoor counters. “They can be honed, polished or, in the case of granite, even have a leather finish,” he says. “We also use some newer synthetics, which generally provide a lower profile with a crisper, slightly more contemporary look.” The counters seen here are outdoor-grade engineered quartz.
Douglass also recommends granite. “It’s durable, looks great and cleans easily,” he says. For outdoor installations, he suggests a 3-centimeter-thick granite counter instead of a thinner one. “The extra thickness will help with laminated seams,” he says. He also advises against using a full, laminated bullnose, saying that “extreme weather will cause problems in the long run.”
Work with a landscape contractor in your area
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What Is a Pocket Listing?
A pocket listing is a real estate sale offer that is handled by a single broker or salesperson and not made available to multiple listing service (MLS) members or even colleagues in the same office. A pocket listing is an off-market listing or exclusive listing, meaning it is not sold to the general public.
Pocket listings can help sellers who insist on privacy and brokers with extensive connections in the community. Even if no sale is made, a pocket listing helps the seller gauge the home’s market value before eventually listing it on an MLS. However, the exclusivity of pocket listings can lead to fewer or lower offers, preventing a bidding war and maximizing the selling price.
Key Takeaways
A pocket listing is an exclusive, off-market sale of a home or property not listed on a multiple listing service (MLS) for the general public.A single real estate agent handles a pocket listing, offering privacy to the buyer and seller.A pocket listing creates exclusivity, allowing the seller to concentrate on serious buyers.Buyers have fewer competitors with pocket listings, and the seller could receive fewer offers or lower bids.A pocket listing helps the seller gauge the property’s market value before selling it via an MLS as newly listed versus an unsold property.
How a Pocket Listing Works
When a real estate agent is hired to list and sell a property, a contract is signed between the seller and the agent and the agent’s company. Usually, the property is listed in the multiple listing service (MLS), the database of properties for sale that all brokers use. This is done so that real estate agents and brokers can cooperate with other agents and brokers and share a portion of the total commission paid by the seller.
However, with a pocket listing, a property will not be listed in the MLS, and there is no agreement to work with other real estate professionals.
The pocket listing is used mainly by owners of very high-end or unusual properties who want only serious and qualified buyers to show up. The owners may be celebrities or politicians. The list of potential buyers is small, and the agent is well-connected.
At a less lofty level, the owners may choose a pocket listing to test the waters and see what price the property might bring. If no sale is made during the contract term, they can always open it up to an MLS listing.
It’s important to note that some types of pocket listings are considered ethically dubious because a single agent is representing both the buyer and the seller. For this reason, some types of pocket listings are banned by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) or restricted by state laws. The sale may be handled by investment brokers rather than real estate brokers.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Pocket Listing
Pocket listings have pros and cons for the agent and seller.
Pros
Agent gets paid the whole commission
Privacy for both seller and buyer
Seller can test the market to create a selling price before listing on the MLS
Less time on the MLS, making it appear as a new listing versus an older, overpriced property
Cons
Only one agent is trying to sell the property
Fewer offers or low offers
Less chances of multiple offers and a bidding war
No walk-in traffic due to no lawn sign or advertising
Advantages of a Pocket Listing
A pocket listing may offer a considerable advantage to the real estate agent charged with selling the property.
Agent has exclusive listing: Since the agent has the listing exclusively, they can earn the full commission. The listing agent is under no obligation to share the commission with another broker or agent unless they choose to bring in help in finding a buyer.Test the market: A pocket listing can help determine a property’s price by testing the market at a higher price. If the offers fall short, the seller can list the home on the MLS.Less time on the market via MLS: If the seller changes from a pocket listing to one listed on the MLS, the property will appear as a new listing. This prevents the property from being viewed as being on the market for too long or an older listing at an unreasonably high price.Privacy for the buyer and seller: The private listing can help the seller avoid unnecessary foot traffic from unlikely buyers and concentrate on serious prospective buyers. On the other hand, the buyer has less competition.
Disadvantages of a Pocket Listing
Although many advantages exist, below are a few of the disadvantages of pocket listings.
Lower participation in sales efforts: Fewer people are involved in selling a property when the realtor acts as a solo agent, emphasizing more on the realtor’s effectiveness unless they believe interested parties exist or have a buyer lined up already.
Less marketing or word of mouth: By keeping the sale hush-hush with no listing or lawn sign, the word is unlikely to spread beyond the realtor’s contact list, resulting in fewer prospective buyers seeing the property.
Fewer offers or low offers: A pocket listing might lead to the seller meeting only a few interested buyers, leading to fewer or lower offers. However, this might be advantageous to the buyer.
No bidding war: Pocket listings reduce the chances of multiple offers and a bidding war over the property, leading to the opportunity cost of selling the property at a below-market price.
Example of a Pocket Listing
Sadie is interested in selling her estate, which is worth a substantial amount of money. Sadie already has a family member, her cousin Nick, who has expressed serious interest in purchasing the home.
Because Sadie already has a buyer lined up, she contacts the real estate agent she has used in the past with an offer of a pocket listing. As a result, the property does not get put on the MLS, making it an exclusive listing.
Why don’t Sadie and Nick get together and make the deal? Realtors do more than show property. They also prepare the legally required documents that must accompany a property transaction. Also, even family members need professional assistance in negotiating the details of a property sale.
Why Would I Try to Sell My House Via a Pocket Listing?
If you are a celebrity, a politician, or a wealthy individual with a massive estate, a pocket listing prevents hordes of sightseers from touring your house. Instead, you can hire a real estate agent with a solid list of contacts who can identify the buyers most interested in your property.
Why Would I Not Want to Sell My House Via a Pocket Listing?
Pocket listings are “off-market” listings, meaning there’s no lawn sign, no MLS listing, and marketing is done through private channels or word of mouth.
A pocket listing can help very high-end and unusual properties when only a handful of prospective buyers exist. It may also work for people who have already identified a likely buyer or those looking to test the market for their property. If the property fails to sell at the original asking price, the seller can move to an MLS listing at a more realistic price.
Are Pocket Listings Banned?
Pocket listings are legal throughout the U.S. However, the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the trade association, effectively banned pocket listings in 2020 by requiring that all listings be added to the multiple listing service (MLS) within one day of the contract signing.
For this reason, pocket listings may be handled by investment brokers rather than real estate agents. Pocket listings can look dubious because only one person is representing both the buyer and the seller. They may invite discriminatory practices by limiting knowledge of the listing.
The Bottom Line
Typically, a single broker or agent handles a pocket listing, offering privacy to the buyer and seller. A pocket listing creates exclusivity, preventing too many from walking through to view the home and concentrating on serious buyers.
However, since the buyer has fewer competitors, the seller might receive fewer offers or lower bids. Even if no sale is made via a pocket listing, the seller has gauged the market demand at a particular selling price. The seller can then list on an MLS, where it appears as a newly marketed home versus an older, unsold listing.
This article was originally published by a www.investopedia.com . Read the Original article here. .
Construction Firms
1. Business activity outlook increased. The Expected Business Activity Indicator, related to project inquiries and new committed projects, increased by 10 points, to 62, for the fourth quarter of 2024, from 52 for the third quarter of 2024. This means more construction firms anticipate quarter-over-quarter growth than anticipate a decline.
Expectations for project inquiries increased by 7 points, to 59 (from 52 for Q3), and expectations for new committed projects increased by 12 points, to 64 (from 52 for Q3).
Both build-only and design-build firms are more optimistic for Q4 than they were for the previous quarter. The expected activity indicator for build-only firms increased 9 points, to 62 (from 53 for Q3), and for design-build firms it increased 10 points, to 61 (from 51 for Q3).
The indicator is based on survey questions about whether businesses expect the number of project inquiries and new projects to increase, decrease or remain unchanged in the coming three months compared with the previous three months.