Birmingham’s Fan Favorites
As being the largest city Alabama has to offer, Birmingham is never short of to-do’s both indoors and out! The Bham Motorplex is home to over one million people and will even be the host of the 2022 World Games! Birmingham is home to a few different locally-owned breweries, diverse collections of museums, trails, all-around family fun with lots of free options! An intro to a few fan Birmingham favorites in this area are: TrimTab Brewing CompanyCahaba Brewing CompanyGood People Brewing CompanyAvondale Brewing CompanyBirmingham ZooBirmingham Botanical GardensVulcan Park and MuseumBirmingham Museum of ArtBirmingham Civil Rights InstituteSloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark These breweries and a ton of others are all within a five-mile radius … crazy, right? Some people may wonder how so many breweries this close together can still stay in business, but these companies know how to keep their distinctions by staying fresh on top of their clientele wants. They all have entertainment from table games, to cornhole, brewery tours, and other local sources such as food trucks! Whether you’re in town for an hour or the weekend, stop in and see what all of the fuss is about! TrimTab Brewing Company Some keep their fan base eager as they switch out and rotate their different beers each season (TrimTab is a mega contributor to this, to be exact). TrimTab is a warm, welcoming spot with retro vibes and loves to keep their offerings on a diverse rotation of beers; they even offer their very own spiked seltzers! Cahaba Brewing Company Cahaba is the official sponsor of Sidewalk Film Festival each year and hosts their annual Salsa Showdown. If interested, this year’s festival dates are August 24th-30th. Cahaba Brewing Company started off in 2012 with an 8,000 square foot warehouse and by 2016, opened their doors to the new 51,000 square foot building; just a little testament of how much people love them and their beer. Good People Brewing Company Good People Brewing Company is the oldest and largest brewery in the state of Alabama. Good People is highly known for their Double IPA called the ‘Snake Handler’ with an ABV of 10%. They have seven “mainstays” at all times at the brewery, with a few seasonals to accompany them. Avondale Brewing Company “IT ALL STARTED WITH A DRAMA QUEEN.” That particular line is the opening statement to Avondale Brewing Co.’s website, followed by the storyline of how they were inspired to become who they are. Avondale Brewing Co. offers both cans and draughts in their taproom of both their year round beers and seasonal options. They love to host different style concerts throughout the months with tickets starting as low as $10. If you’re ready to have some adult fun, consider going on a brewery tour around Birmingham. Have some ice cold beers, and some delicious food truck delicacies. Out & About and Iron City’s History Birmingham Zoo One of the hottest attractions in the state of Alabama is the Birmingham Zoo. The zoo is a safe home of about 700 animals of 230 species and endangered species from 6 continents. Their home consists of 122 acres right next to the city’s Botanical Gardens. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Leading us to another great outdoor space, free, and home to thousands of plants—the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is open 365 days a year, dawn to dusk, so with a couple of hours or all day to spare no need to have FOMO over here! Fun fact about the Gardens, it is Alabama’s largest living museum and ranks 5th in the United States in their native plant collections that celebrate the state’s biodiversity. Vulcan Park and Museum Home to “The Original Iron Man”, Vulcan Park and Museum is where the 58-foot tall statue of the Vulcan is located. For the long history dating back to the early 1900s, check out the timeline on their website with some original photos. The Vulcan Walking Trail is also a great place to get in 1.7 miles of scenic views while walking, running, or biking. Birmingham Museum of Art With more than 27,000 pieces of art, the Birmingham Museum of Art is proud of its diverse collection in hand. The collection features Asian, European, African, American, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art. The space is 180,000 square feet with an outdoor sculpture garden. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, as well as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. As stated as their mission/values, they are committed to telling the Birmingham story and enlighten each generation about civil and human rights while looking back on the past. They continue to provide cultural awareness by offering programs and educational research centers. This is a major part of Birmingham’s history, so to dive in on the city’s foundation this is a definite must for starters. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark started as a museum in 1983. These furnaces on the property are in their original condition and are a great insight into Birmingham’s industrial past that led to its popular nickname, Iron City. Sloss Furnaces property has held concerts onsite, as well as created very live haunted tour scenes during Halloween time. Great place for both a history lesson, followed up with a ghost story.
Home Staging Tips
You decided to sell your house, and you can’t wait to buy a new place. There’s just one thing standing in your way: You’ve got to close the deal on your current one first. You just hope it doesn’t take months to get an offer. You want to sell your house fast! Well, there’s one tried-and-true trick that’s proven to reduce your home’s time on the market. A study by the Real Estate Staging Association found that homes staged before listing received an offer in just 23 days on average. That’s 90% faster than those who waited months after listing to bother staging. Take a look at these 10 home staging tips and make changes that can help your home sell faster and for more money. Stage where it counts You want to focus your efforts on the rooms that have the biggest potential to influence buyers’ decisions, and spend less time on the rooms that won’t make much of a difference. The rooms that are the heart of the home and what most buyers focus on include the master bedroom, the living room, and the kitchen. Depersonalize the space If you cloud your home with too many personal items, it could possibly turn buyers away if they can’t view the house as their home. You want to help prospective buyers visualize the space as their own. Start by removing any personal photos, making sure to take down both framed photos on walls and surfaces and anything that’s hanging on your fridge. Keep clothes stored away and out of sight, and clear bathroom counters of personal items, like toothbrushes and skincare products. While it’s true that de-personalizing your home makes it a little weird to live in, it is extremely useful for helping buyers better connect with the property. Get rid of clutter You may like to showcase all of your personal belongings for your guests to see, but you shouldn’t showcase them for potential buyers to see. If you just read point two, then you know you need to put these items away. If your house still seems cluttered, try packing up items that aren’t necessary for everyday use. Just know that potential buyers will snoop around your house to find out how much space the house offers. The less clutter you’ve got in the space, the bigger it will look and the more appealing it will be to buyers. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before You want every square inch to shine, from the baseboards to the corners of your ceilings and everywhere in between. A squeaky clean home suggests to buyers that the current tenants took good care of the property, a notion that extends beyond the kitchen countertops to the entire house. If you’re not the-get-on-your-hands-and-knees type of person, then we highly recommend hiring a cleaning company. Patch and pair So your dog ate your drywall, or your kids drew on every inch of the wall in their playroom. Or maybe it’s as simple as some tiny nicks, scratches, holes, or other impurities. Whatever it may be, all of these should be tackled. You want to show potential buyers that you’ve put effort into maintaining the property as it is about making the place look nice Go neutral This staging tip is a bit more time and cost intensive, but it can make a major difference when it comes to your sale price and time on the market. Your kid may have begged you for that lime-green for their walls, but we can assure you your potential buyers will not be begging for them. Give the house a clean slate with neutral colors. Anything that would stand out in the crowd, paint over! Make a good first impression As much as the interior of the house matters, the exterior is just as important, if not more. Home exteriors are the very first thing neighbors, visitors and prospective buyers see, so you want your house front design to impress. Budget friendly changes can be as simple as power washing your front stoop, and adding some hominess with a simple doormat and perhaps a potted plant or two, provided they are in perfect condition. Focus on fresh Now that your home has been removed from personal items, clutter, and been retouched, it’s time to bring in some items. Yes, you read that right. Your home should still feel alive and not feel cold. The best way to do this is to bring in some healthy, well-placed flowers and plants. Let there be light The amount of natural light that slips through the windows attracts buyers. Raise the blinds, pull back the curtains, and put all the lights on in your house when it’s being shown. This will help make your home more welcoming, and also saves buyers from having to stumble around figuring out which switches turn on which lights. Rearrange your furniture While the way you have your furniture may be functional for you and your family, it could come off another way to buyers. Put extraneous furniture in storage to get it out of the way, focusing on getting rid of any oversized pieces, damaged pieces, and those that don’t match the rest of the room. With the furniture that’s left, rearrange it to make the room look and feel as spacious as possible. Staging a home to sell doesn’t require spending a lot of money – just making smart decisions. If you’re not sure if you need to make any of these changes, we can help you make specific changes that will add value to your home and entice the buyers who come for viewings. Once you know you’ve done everything you can to show your home in the best light possible, you can sit back and wait for the right buyer to stop by.
Tips For Buying a Home
New decade, new digs! These 8 tips will help you get a home you love. Make a wish list This is fun! Consider your ideal neighborhood, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and what matters to you. Need an extra-large mudroom/laundry room? Want a pool or space to put one in? Maybe you need an in-law suite? Whatever you may need or want, write it down! then prepare to scale back if you need to Most homebuyers make a sacrifice to stay on budget. Would you rather have a longer commute or a smaller yard? Ask yourself questions along those lines. Prioritize your list so you can look back at it when you’re in the heat of a decision. Consider your down payment 20% might sound right, but you don’t need that much. It’s a common misconception that most people still put down 20%. However, if you choose to forgo the recommended 20% down, you will have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) for the first year. The PMI may be canceled once you’ve built 20% equity in your home. Be ready for multiple offers Sadly, that dream home you want so badly, is probably wanted by multiple people. When a seller received multiple offers, there are many variables they’ll look at: the highest offer, an earnest money deposit, and waive some contingencies are just a few things you can do to look better. Learn why Homes For Heroes is awesome If you’re a qualifying hero (military, teacher, law enforcement, firefighter/EMS, or a healthcare professional) you can get money back. You can learn more at homesforheroes.com Learn what not to do when you’re about to apply for a mortgage When buying a home, you will need to apply for a mortgage. When you do so, mortgage companies will look at everything. Literally, everything. From how much your monthly income is to the last big purchase you’ve made. Our biggest tip for you is to hold off on changing jobs, opening new credit lines, closing major credit accounts, and making large bank deposits. When you find a home you love, write a letter to the seller If there are multiple offers, we always suggest buyers write a letter of introduction as a way to put a personality behind the number. A personal note about why you want the home can help your offer stand out. Mention the details that make the home so great. You can’t start too early Even if you aren’t planning to buy until late in the year or even after 2020, it’s worth talking to us to understand what you need to do to prepare. Buying a home can be taxing sometimes. Starting early allows you to play your cards right and really hone in on what you want and need in a house. Extra bonuses include finding a great deal!
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