James DAgostino Real Estate Agent

How To Swap Out Old 2 Prong Outlet If you own an older home, you might have outdated and unsafe two-prong outlets. Here's what you can do about it.

Spring Makeover for Your Front Yard Is it time for a spring makeover for your front yard? It is the "face" of your home, and to passersby, it is an indication of what the inside of your home looks like. An unkempt yard gives the impression of a home that is just as messy and disordered, while a well-maintained one builds the expectation of an orderly, tidy home. Along with spring cleaning your home, consider doing a spring makeover for your front yard. The weather is perfect ...Continue reading

The Cost of Selling a Home It may seem contradictory that someone selling a home will have to spend money first, but that's often the case. Here are the costs of selling a home.

Are Tankless Water Heaters Worth It? Is a new water heater the next appliance on your list to replace? Here's what you should know about the various heaters on the market.

Your Guide To Homeowners Associations If you have no experience with HOAs, you should learn what they're about before considering neighborhoods that have them. Here's a guide to get you started.

Finding a Home Loan Right for You It can be confusing at first to know which kind of home loan to take. Here's a guide to help you get started.

The winter weather isn't really that frightful, not if you're staying active. Here are some great Long Island destinations for outdoor winter adventures.

Where to Enjoy Winter Weather Around Long Island Just because it's winter is no reason to give up on the more strenuous walking regimens we developed in warmer weather. It's all a matter of having the proper gear: down outerwear; layers underneath, starting with thin, long-sleeved, wicking baselayer; warm, wicking socks; sturdy footwear; a face covering for windy days; and good gloves to keep hands warm. The next step is targeting the right destinations for your hikes. Are yo...Continue reading

5 Reasons to Get Pre-Approved Before House Hunting Getting pre-approved may seem like a hassle, but it'll save a lot of headaches later on. Here are the top reasons why.

5 Fixes to Sell Your Home Fast Here are five overlooked fixes that'll help you sell your home in no time.

Make a Resolution to Tackle Home Projects in 2021 2021 is just around the corner, so it's the perfect time to think about all the ways you can upgrade your home.

Adding under-cabinet lighting is a great way to shine a light on kitchen workspace. Here's how you can get started.

Shine a Light on Your Kitchen Workspace Ask any of our real estate agents , and they'll tell you the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. If you want to enhance your kitchen space, adding some under-cabinet lighting is one of the best ways to do it. This easy and relatively inexpensive project can completely transform your kitchen! Here are a few tips to help you get started. Evaluate Your Space...Continue reading

Shine a Light on Your Kitchen Work Space Ask any of our real estate agents , and they'll tell you the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home. If you want to enhance your kitchen space, adding some under-cabinet lighting is one of the best ways to do it. This easy and relatively inexpensive project can completely transform your kitchen! Here are a few tips to help you get started. Evaluate Your Space...Continue reading

Purge Your Closet of These 9 Things Colder weather, and the current state of things, means you're spending a lot of time in your home, which makes now the perfect time to clean out your closet. If you've been busy with other home improvement projects, then this part of spring cleaning might have slipped through the cracks. Luckily, following...

Home Selling Tips for Pet Owners Dog, cat, bird, fish, and beyond whatever species your companion is, you know a pet isn't just an animal. They're family! In fact, studies have shown a big yard for Fido to play in is a factor in many buyers' decisions about which homes to bid on. But what happens when you're on the other side of...

Buying a House in the Winter Thinking of giving new meaning to "home for the holidays" this year? Winter may not be the first-choice season for buying a house in the eyes of many shoppers, and that's precisely why it's an ideal time for savvy buyers to find the right home in an advantageous market. You will definitely have less...

While the holidays make be different this year, your family can still make them memorable. We share five things to make the holiday season special.

Christmas Break Crafts and Activities for the Family The holiday season has always represented a time to connect with family and friends, celebrate annual traditions, and reflect on the year that has been. While we've had an unusual year that has changed how we interact with loved ones, you can still enjoy all the season has to offer even if you're staying home all day. Our real estate agents have gathered some of the best Christmas activities that will keep your kids enter...Continue reading

5 Times When It's Okay to Offer Over Asking Price You've been thinking about buying a house for some time now, and you've finally found the perfect home. Your dreams are about to come true, and you're thrilled! But... it's not quite done yet. Before the house is yours, you'll need to make an offer, and the seller needs to accept it. This is a critical...

How to Remove Dog Odors From Your Home There are plenty of home improvement projects that will add value to your home if you're selling and add comfort to your home if you're staying put. One of these home improvement projects is clearing out pet odors from your house. Lingering smells from dogs are particularly unpleasant and worst of...

How Home Equity Fuels Your Next Move Selling your home is as much of a lifestyle decision as it is a financial decision. Like any other investment, you want to make sure that you're making financially responsible decisions every step of the way. One option that you have when selling your home is to use your current equity to finance your...

Keep your home safe throughout the holiday season with these tips from our real estate agents.

5 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe This Holiday Season Seems we hardly get a break these days, trying to stay a step ahead and maintain safety in our homes, on the job, or traveling around. While we can't control everything, we can take measures to ensure our homes are relatively safe during the frantic holiday season. So as you go about your holiday preparations, take some time to consolidate your safety procedures. Be sure to ask our real estate agents in the Long Island area f...Continue reading

Buying a House? 3 Ways to Lose Your Earnest Money Deposit Many first-time buyers don't know the financial obligations involved in buying a house. With so much emphasis placed on saving for a down payment, some people don't fully understand all other financial aspects of the transaction, including the earnest money deposit. I encourage all buyers, first-time...

What To Do When Your Basement Floods There are many household problems that can be prevented with home improvement projects. Unfortunately, some homeowners may experience a household emergency that can rarely be prevented with even the best home improvement maintenance. A flooded basement is one of the most frustrating types of home damage...

Celebrate the season with a visit to one of these holiday light displays around Long Island. We share our favorite destinations for some Christmas cheer.

Light Up the Season: Holiday Light Displays Around Long Island Are you ready for another holiday season of spectacular light displays in communities across Long Island? There are drive-thru lights shows happening all over Long Island this year, allowing you to enjoy a festive family tradition from the warmth and comfort of your own vehicle. Many of your favorite annual light displays will be returning this year, and there are a wide variety of displays available to suit every...Continue reading

6 Eco-friendly Updates for Your Home Wouldn't it be nice to boost the energy efficiency of your home, improve your comfort, and benefit the environment in the process? Eco-friendly home improvement projects offer all of those benefits and more. Whether you're aiming to add value and increase buyer interest for an eventual sale or you're...

What is a Short Sale? Watch any popular real estate show on television and you've probably heard a lot of different takes on short sales. Some people swear by them, while others avoid them. But what is a short sale all about, really? Simply, a short sale is the sale of a property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage....

Is Your House FHA-Friendly? The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is a valuable tool for homebuyers because it allows buyers with good credit to secure home loans with a down payment as low as 3.5 percent. It's important to keep this in mind when selling your home because around 30 percent of buyers rely on FHA loans to purchase...

Moving In? 9 Ways to Feel More at Home Buying a house is one of the happiest feelings of your adult life. Although this exciting time will have you grinning from ear to ear, your first few nights in your new place can feel a little weird almost as if you're staying at a hotel or friend's home. When you're moving in after buying a house,...

6 Types of Fresh Christmas Trees Best For Your Home Love the scent of a real Christmas tree in your home during the holidays? You're not alone! There's simply something special about having a real tree for Christmas, but that doesn't mean you should just pick any old tree and call it a day. Think of it as a holiday home improvement project. Pick the perfect...

If you're considering retiring soon, you need to understand how your home can factor in. We share what to expect.

Own Your Home? Here's How It Could Factor Into Retirement Plans At Laffey Real Estate, our real estate agents have helped thousands of clients make the right real estate moves to support their retirement lifestyle. For many, that means downsizing to a smaller, more manageable home. But if you already own your home, deciding what to do next is a little bit more complicated....Continue reading

Why Buying a House During the Holidays is A Great Idea Buying a house? Worried about the real estate market slowing down during the holiday season? Getting a transaction done in December can be challenging for the sellers, that is. They need to work extra hard to advertise a home and make sure it's in great condition for showing. Sometimes that means...

5 Hacks to Remove a Stripped Screw Nothing can throw a wrench in your home improvement projects quite like a stripped screw! We're talking about those stubborn screws that have been over-tightened so much they won't turn properly or simply refuse to budge. If you're a home improvement enthusiast, these can quickly become the bane of...

Should You Sell Your Home During the Holidays? Selling your home? Wondering if it's a good idea to keep it going during the holidays? The holidays can create some special challenges when you're selling your home. Staging a home for sale often means you need to be thoughtful about decorations drawing attention where needed without overwhelming...

Get ready for a home inspection with these helpful tips from our agents. We share how to make sure it's a success.

Helpful Hints for a Successful Home Inspection If you've got a home inspection coming up, it's completely normal to feel a bit nervous. After all, nobody enjoys having strangers poke and prod around their home, looking for problems. Even if you think you know your home inside and out, you never know what they might find. Our real estate agents talk to nervous sellers about this all the time. The best advice they give is to remain calm and make sure you're prepared. This will ...Continue reading

6 Boredom-Busting Ideas for Home DIY Projects If you're like most homeowners, you used your time during the early months of the quarantine to take care of all the home improvement projects on your list. Now, you might be getting bored and wondering what to do next. Don't worry, we've got six ideas for fun home improvement DIYs that you're sure...

Makeunder Your Home Before Listing it for Sale When selling your home, it's wise to remember that potential buyers have different perceptions, tastes, and priorities than the owner of the property. No matter how much you love the decorations and personal items you have placed in your home, buyers want to be able to imagine what their lives would...

Getting Out of the Rental Rut There's nothing wrong with renting your home. In fact, in certain circumstances, it's the smarter choice. However, if you've been renting for what seems like forever, you might have started thinking about wanting to get out of the "rental rut." While it's nice to know you can call the landlord any...

Visit these Long Island coffee shops for a morning jolt of espresso. We share our favorite places for a strong cup of joe.

Fuel Your Morning at These Long Island Coffee Shops It's no secret that New York City runs on coffee, but you don't need to go to Manhattan to get a great cup of joe. There are hundreds of cafes around Long Island that will get you fueled up and ready to go! Our real estate agents encourage you to celebrate National Espresso Day on Monday, November 23rd, at one of these local coffee shops around Long Island. Flux Coffee 211 Main St., Farmingdale, NY 11735...Continue reading

Keep Your Heating Bill in Check Like it or not, colder temperatures are here to stay at least for the next few months. Unfortunately, for most, the nip in the air also means high heating bills. While there's no way to eliminate this cost completely, some simple home improvement projects can go a long way towards helping to keep your...

Lowball Offer: Getting Real with the Deal For many homeowners, the thought of selling your home for less than what you believe it's worth is unthinkable. After all, your goal is to try to make a profit or recoup the majority of your initial investment. Unfortunately, lowball offers are often part of the home selling process. There are many instances...

How Remote Working is Changing Homebuyer Needs Almost overnight, our world changed completely due to the impact of COVID-19. Since then, every element of our lives has been altered, including the real estate industry. Over the last nine months, adults considering buying a house have identified new lifestyle needs as a result of working remotely....

Visit these restaurants around Long Island in celebration of World Vegan Day. We share our favorites.

Go Vegan for the Day at These 5 Restaurants World Vegan Day may have been Nov. 1, but our real estate agents are still celebrating with a hearty, wholesome vegan dish this week. The annual event highlights the dietary and environmental benefits of veganism. No matter if you're strictly vegetarian, pescatarian, or someone who likes a good meal with or without meat, you'll love the offerings at these Long Island vegan restaurants. 3 Brothers of Rockville Centre 285 Merrick Rd...Continue reading

6 Tips for Millennial Homebuyers Buying a house is a goal of many Millennials. However, some people mistakenly believe that it's an impossible goal. If you're interested in buying a home, it's essential to know this goal is attainable with a little patience and preparation. Millennials take note: these six tips will help you become...

How to Sell Your Home When It's Not Selling Selling your home can be a quick and smooth process; however, it can be an extended and somewhat frustrating process. Even in the best markets and after maximum preparation efforts, there can be instances in which a homeowner has trouble selling their property. If you're selling your home and it isn't...

10 Things to Know Before Building a Fence for Your Home With so much time spent indoors lately, homeowners across the nation are realizing the value of investing in exterior home improvement projects. A fence is often one of the most important features of an accommodating outdoor area, as it provides privacy for homeowners and neighbors alike. If you're interested...

Should you invest in a condo or a house? We share how to decide which living situation is right for you.

How to Decide if a Condo or House is Right for You Real estate is a financial investment, but it's also an investment in the type of lifestyle you want to enjoy. There are advantages to purchasing a home, and there are advantages to buying a condo. Carefully weighing your options is the key to making the right choice for your future. Comparing the Costs of Fees and Maintenance...Continue reading

6 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Home More homeowners are concerned about doing their part to protect the environment. When you reduce your carbon footprint, you not only leave the Earth a little cleaner for future generations but also save more money. You can make a big difference by using just a little less electricity, fuel, and water. A...

Buying a Condo vs. Home. What's the Difference? Buying a house is a goal for many people. While some folks envision a single-family residence as their dream home, purchasing a condominium brings its own set of benefits. Let's take a look at the benefits of buying a single-family home versus a condominium. Benefits of Buying a House If buying a home...

10 Common Home-Selling Mistakes If you're considering selling your home, you may believe it's an easier process than buying a house. While being on this end of the transaction does have its advantages, homeowners should be aware that it's easy to make costly errors. When you're ready to begin the process of selling your home, try to...

You're fortunate enough to have more than one offer on your home for sale, but how do you decide? We give pro tips to make the right decision.

Multiple Offers: How to Make the Right Decision While it's true that two offers are better than none, that doesn't make it any easier to make the right decision. There are many factors to consider, and you will want to weigh each offer carefully as you decide which one to accept. Our real estate agents understand the challenges in front of you and recommend the following to help guide you to the right choice. Price Vs Terms...Continue reading

Eight Ways to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Identity theft can happen to anyone, especially in an era when so many transactions happen online and so many of us rely on mobile devices to make purchases. The costs of identity theft are often severe, with lost funds, damage to your credit score, added stress, and extensive time spent addressing the...

5 Ways to Buy a Home That Won't Bust Your Budget Buying a house is one of the most significant financial decisions of your life. Many first-time buyers believe such a decision involves going "all-in." Buying a house does not mean you have to overextend your finances. There are many ways that you can buy a home without busting your budget. With a little...

Steps to Determine What Your Home is Worth If you're planning to sell your home, you'll need to know what it's worth so you can price it accordingly. We all may tend to overvalue our houses. With so many memories filling these spaces, it's only natural that we see the property through rose-colored glasses. Unfortunately, one mistake that many...

Take your pick of sweet treats when you visit these Long Island destinations. We share our favorite destinations for dessert.

Save Room for Dessert Around Long Island What could be better than Dessert Day? Celebrating that special day on Long Island, of course! There are so many legendary, local bakeries throughout Long Island communities, many of which have been serving the region for decades. Whether you're looking for a traditional treat or a fresh, new custom creation, Long Island's bakeries have it all. Our real estate agents are saving room for dessert, and we have all the delectable details o...Continue reading

Do-It-Yourself Pest Control Tips If you're plagued by ants, flies, roaches, or other nasty bugs, you'll want to get the situation under control right away! Luckily, there's a good chance you can save some money by taking care of the problem yourself. Start with these simple DIY pest control tips. Seal Up Your HomeOne of the most...

What's Included in a Monthly Mortgage Payment? If you thought the only number you needed to calculate before buying a house was your down payment, think again. Though the down payment is a vital element in the sale, and often one that many first-time homebuyers place the most focus on, it's essential not to neglect the other significant expense following...

Selling Your Home? How to Decide Which Is the Best Offer Selling your home is quite an undertaking. While the ideal scenario is to find a buyer that is willing to meet your terms and accept your price, many sellers receive multiple offers that are each appealing in their own ways. Fielding too many offers is certainly more preferable than receiving none at...

If you're buying a home in a location that you can't readily commute to, video visits are a perfect way to get up close to a house you may not be able to see in person just yet. Video visits can help you narrow down options, or reduce the risks when you must buy a new home sight unseen. Our real estate...

Homebuyers: What to Ask During a Video Tour If you're buying a home in a location that you can't readily commute to, video visits are a perfect way to get up close to a house you may not be able to see in person just yet. Video visits can help you narrow down options, or reduce the risks when you must buy a new home sight unseen. Our real estate agents are highly experienced in helping home buyers in a variety of situations, and we want you to make the best of your visits, wh...ether virtual or in person. You should have a list of questions to ask about the homes you view; you can add these, or use them to start your list. How long has this property been on the market? Sometimes, a home just needs the right buyer. But if a home has been on the market for more than a few months, it may have problems that local buyers have spotted more readily. It shouldn't bar you from considering a property you love, but it should prompt closer inspection and further questions. Can you open the curtains and/or blinds? You'll want to check for the quality of the natural light, examine for obstructed or otherwise undesirable views and get a peek at the outdoor space you'll have access to, if the tour has not started with the outdoor view. How old are the major appliances? Replacing worn-out appliances can add thousands to the price of a home. And don't forget to ask about the furnace and hot water heater. If you're looking for a home in the cooler months, ask if your real estate agent can turn on the heat for a brief test. Can you turn the camera towards the ceiling? This is the easiest way to spot serious water damage from leaks. It is no substitute for a full inspection, but it will give you a guide to what may need a closer look. What do you hear when you walk across wooden or carpeted floors? Sounds of creaking may not be a problem, but they can also indicate signs that the sub-flooring needs repair. If your real estate agent hears creaking, ask when the carpeting was installed. Newer carpeting may indicate that it was installed to conceal problems with the sub-flooring. Do you smell dampness or mold? Some years are wetter than others, but moisture can cause damage, and poorly managed dampness can indicate roof damage. What noises do you hear, and how loud are they? This is especially important in downtown areas or busy streets. Construction may be loud, but it's usually temporary. Loud traffic noises, however, tend to be persistent. If you work at night or are a homebody, a quiet neighborhood will be even more important. Buying a home can cause some apprehension even when you're able to see the house in person. It can be especially challenging when you must rely on video tours, which is why we're here to assist you with any concerns you have. If you have questions or would like to take a video tour, please contact us today. http://jamesdagostino.laffey.com//homebuyers-what-to-ask-d

Closing Costs That Cut Into Your Budget When it comes to selling your home, it's natural to focus on the sale's potential profits rather than the potential costs associated with the process. While selling your home can be a profitable experience, there are many expenditures throughout the process that can cut into your budget. Closing costs...

Which Home Improvement Projects Are Booming During the Pandemic? With most homeowners spending much more time in their houses during the pandemic, it's no surprise that home improvement projects are on the rise. The average home is now the setting for work and school in addition to being a place for relaxing, gathering, and entertaining. While we don't yet know when...

What is a Short Sale? Watch any popular real estate show on television, and you've probably heard a lot of different takes on short sales. Some people swear by them, while others avoid them. But what is a short sale all about? A short sale is the sale of a property for less than the mortgage amount. Short sales aren't quite...

Of all the home design trends that can shape your effort to buy or sell a home, house size is one of the most inflexible. You can remove crown molding or install a kitchen island, but adding or removing square footage is a serious undertaking. However, if you have a larger home, our real estate agents...