Hate cleaning your house? No one could blame you: There’s precious little fun in scrubbing toilets. Or wiping down grime-streaked windows to the point where your elbows are sore for weeks. And you probably cringe when you think about your living room’s floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves, whose upper levels haven’t seen a dust rag since Tony Soprano faded abruptly to black.

Enter the humble housecleaner—here to save you from yourself! You can hand over your most hated tasks and wash your hands of cleaning.

But if you’re hiring a housecleaner to do the hard work, don’t make the job even harder. Following these insider tips from cleaning experts will not only help ensure your status as a decent human being, they can also help you save some cash.

Here are seven tips for keeping your cleaning from turning into a dust-up.

1. Precleaning will save you money

If you’re anything like us, you probably do a little precleaning for your housecleaner. And then, if you’re like us, you wonder how much of that is truly necessary—after all, that’s what the housecleaner is there for, right?

Here’s the deal: You should do whatever you can to help them help you. No, you don’t need to bust out the Clorox, the Shark vacuum, and the Miracle Mop, but you should tackle those dirty dishes, throw out the takeout containers, and pick up that pile of clothes. If you don’t, you may find that your wallet’s been cleaned out, too.

“Picking up clutter does make our job a lot easier,” says Megan Sentner, the manager at Greenapple Cleaning in Ottawa, Ontario. “That being said, we have no problem picking up clutter as long as the clients understand that it takes more time and costs more.”

Think it all comes out in the wash? Let us do the math for you: If your housecleaner charges you $30 per hour (the average rate) to clean, then a half-hour spent decluttering will cost you an extra $15—or $390 for a year’s worth of twice-a-month cleanings. Instead, straighten up the night before and save that cash for something else.

2. Give specific directions

Unless you’re ordering a top-to-bottom scrubbing every week, your cleaners need direction. Is the bathroom looking a little grungy? Ask them to spend extra time on the shower. Request extra attention to your baseboards. Sic them on your son’s room, now that he’s finally off to college.

“If they don’t leave full instructions, there’s a chance they’ll be disappointed,” Sentner says.

If you’re new to the world of professional housecleaning, you might not know exactly what your home needs most. Most maid services will happily stop by for a consultation so you can learn exactly how dirty you are.

3. Deal with your pets, please

Your dog runs in terror when you turn on your Dyson, so why would you leave it home alone when all the floors are getting vacuumed? Not all pups need to be boarded during housecleaning, but if you already know your pet hates strangers or loud noises, at least put it in the backyard or a comfy crate.

“We don’t mind having pets in the home while cleaning, but some pets don’t like having us there,” Sentner says. “It’s stressful for our team members to have a dog barking for three hours.”

Aggressive pets can also mean your house doesn’t get cleaned: Housecleaners aren’t expected to sacrifice their own safety to clean your home, and if they’re faced with an angry animal, they might have to bail on the job, Sentner says.

4. If you wouldn’t touch it, they won’t either

Yes, housecleaners will scrub away that nasty buildup around the bottom of your toilet seat. But they also have a limit: They won’t pick up your dog’s poop.

Or—and yes, Sentner says it’s happened—yours.

“Sometimes there are expectations that we can clean it, but we don’t,” she says. “We don’t expect our team to handle any waste above the usual cleaning of the bathroom or the toilet.”

5. Allot the proper amount of cleaning time

Don’t feel ashamed if your house is in dire straits. Life happens. Work picks up, a kid or two comes along, and suddenly you have no time for more than the bare minimum. Cleaners (probably) won’t judge you—but you should expect the job to take a bit longer.

Be honest with your housecleaners about the home’s current state so they can allocate enough time on their schedule.

6. Use an insured cleaning service

Housecleaners can’t avoid touching your most valuable belongings—Grandma’s heirloom teapot needs dusting, too. But sometimes accidents happen.

The best way to ensure the safety of your precious possessions is by selecting an insured cleaning service. It’ll have provisions in place to quickly rectify the situation.

“If we made a mistake and caused damage, it’s our responsibility,” Sentner says.

Bu it’s your responsibility to make sure things are in line and prepared for your housecleaner’s visit. That includes removing any truly priceless valuables—and making sure your home (however dirty) is a welcoming environment.

7. You’re not entirely off the hook

Hiring a housecleaning service doesn’t mean you can skip all of the cleaning. Well, sure: You probably can, if you’re willing to pay for the service to do the basics every time it comes by. But if you want to cut costs, make sure you try to keep up your home’s appearance in between cleanings.

“Minor maintenance can be the difference between us cleaning for three or five hours every two weeks,” Sentner says.

Simple DIY tasks include wiping down the front of the cabinets after cooking, squeegeeing the shower, and sweeping the kitchen floor. Integrating them into your day-to-day routine can save you a few bucks on your bill.

For this and related articles, visit Realtor.com

When you think of the most design-forward room in your home, does the bathroom come to mind? For most of us, the answer is a resounding NO. In fact, unless you’re lucky enough to have a spa space with a free-standing tub and a rain shower, rarely do bathrooms go down in history as the most meditative or creative spaces.

But bathrooms can, in fact, be creative works of art just as much as (if not more than) your other interiors.

That’s why, for this week’s Instagram decor lineup, we chose to highlight five beautiful bathrooms with distinctive decor touches that showcase the potential of these humble rooms.

Whether you’re hoping to bring some unique charm to a sterile bathroom or personalize your plain powder room, the following suggestions offer something for everyone. Here are five bathroom trends we’re loving right now.

1. Washed-stone backsplash

When the usual subway tiles aren’t cutting it, turn instead to a more rough-hewn natural tile like the ones seen in this washed-stone backsplash from @reallivingmag.

“A washed-stone backsplash embraces nature and its perfect imperfection,” says designer Lauren Byington, of Warren & Lauren. “This look is a synthesis of nature and modernity. Adding organic elements like a washed-stone backsplash can offer a soft yet impactful element to your bathroom.”

Get the look: Incorporate some impossibly sweet organic elements into your bathroom with this antique stone mosaic tile.

2. Bathroom gallery wall

A gallery wall is often something we expect to see in an entryway or living room—not so much in a bathroom. But the unexpected quality of this look from @themaximalistdreamer is one of the reasons it holds so much charm.

“Bathrooms have moved far from bland and sterile,” says Byington. “Now they can carry a lot of personality and be a representation of who we are. Why do so many people get their best ideas in the shower? Bathrooms can be a place where creativity heightens. Pay homage to this notion with a bathroom gallery wall.”

Get the look: Follow this tutorial for tips to create your own bathroom gallery wall.

3. Wall-mounted faucet

Speaking of unique surprises, one of the best ways to achieve a custom look in your bathroom is by installing a wall-mounted faucet—just like we see in the look from @kerrieann_jones_stylist.

“I love the extra space on the vanity that these fixtures offer,” says designer Ana Cummings, of ANA Interiors. “Wall-mounted faucets can be both functional and highly decorative. They’re often paired with a show-stopping vessel sink and incorporated into the wall design. The number of metal finishes that these fixtures come in can really add to and elevate the design.”

In addition to the placement of this bathroom faucet, we also love the trendy brass finish.

Get the look: Create more usable space on your bathroom vanity with this Duchess antique brass wall-mounted fixture set.

4. Jute hamper

No stylish, well-designed room is complete without an element that adds texture and warmth to the space. This jute hamper from @bramleyandbear offers style and function. If you have the space, we recommend grabbing one ASAP.

Not only can a jute hamper serve as a catchall for laundry and towels, but it can also soften up the appearance of an otherwise shiny, cold bathroom.

Get the look: Soften up your space with this boho-style hamper.

5. Striped shower tiles

Looking to go above and beyond with the creative expression of your bathroom? Consider a shower tile arrangement like this one from @stiltje.se.

“Stripes stand the test of time,” says Byington. “Using them creatively, especially to define a space like the shower and add a decorative feature to the space, is brilliant.”

Get the look: Find shower tile in complementary colors, then follow this tutorial to create a perfectly striped shower.

For this and similar articles, visit Realtor.com

While homebuyers haven’t had much (or any) room to haggle amid the seller’s market that’s reigned for the past two years, a new report offers some indisputable proof that those days are officially over.

A recent survey by Realtor.com and HarrisX of 449 Americans who sold their home in the past 12 months reveals that sellers aren’t driving as hard a bargain today as they have in the past. In fact, they’re giving into buyers’ requests on a number of things that might have seemed unthinkable just months ago.

“Our survey shows that the overheated housing market of the past two years—which predominantly favored sellers—is beginning to regain a sense of normalcy, which is welcome news for homebuyers,” says George Ratiu, manager of economic research at Realtor.com. “The combination of higher mortgage rates and prices have noticeably cooled demand over the first half of the year.”

There was a time, not so long ago, when buyers were afraid to even ask sellers for any additional terms in their favor.

“The sad truth is that during crazy bidding wars, if buyers asked for concessions, they risked losing the home to others who were willing to forgo term changes or contingencies,” says New Hampshire real estate agent Josh Judge.

That’s just not happening anymore.

While we never expect to hit a perfect balance, let’s take a look at some of the survey’s numbers that indicate the scale is evening out a bit for buyers.

31% of buyers in July paid below asking price

Surprise! Research shows that almost one third of sellers in the last month actually dropped their prices below asking.

“As more homeowners have been listing their properties, rising inventory is motivating more of them to resort to price cuts in order to successfully close transactions,” says Ratiu.

As recently as March, the research shows that only 18% of sellers sold below asking price.

32% of sellers dropped the price because the home didn’t meet appraisal

“Meeting appraisal” means your bank or lending institution does an estimate of the value of the home you intend to buy, and if that appraisal shows the house is worth what you offered for it, it will “meet appraisal.”

But if the house doesn’t turn out to be what you offered for it in your bank’s estimation, you have what’s called an “appraisal gap.” At this point, you must consider a number of options, including coming up with all cash so you don’t have to deal with the bank at all, or increasing your down payment so the bank only loans on what it considers the property to be worth.

A third option is for the seller to cut the price so it’s more in line with the bank’s view. But that didn’t happen very often a year ago, since there was almost always a cash buyer waiting in the wings to pounce.

The fact that almost a third of sellers today are dropping their prices to accommodate the appraisal is a very good sign indeed for buyers.

92% of sellers accepted some buyer-friendly terms

“Buyer-friendly.” Don’t you love the sound of those words? Unfortunately, they’ve been used all too infrequently over the past two years.

So you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear about some of the buyer-friendly terms sellers are now more willing to entertain. They include sellers agreeing to contingencies in the contract, such as the appraisal, home inspection, home sale, and financing. Sellers are also increasingly paying for some or all of the buyer’s closing costs; and are more flexible on the timeline for closing.

95% of sellers who sold in the past month reported that the buyer requested a home inspection

That’s up from 82% of those who sold 6 to 12 months ago. That shows that buyers are growing bolder, and they wouldn’t ask if they didn’t have some expectation of a seller accepting their requests.

A professional home inspection is always a good idea for homebuyers, but during the housing market’s peak, many waived this important step in order to be competitive with their offer.

100% of sellers offered to make at least some repairs when asked

A little over two-thirds, or 67% of buyers, asked for repairs, usually after the inspection came in and found the home lacking in some way. Only 31% of buyers dared to ask for repairs six to 12 months ago.

And get this: The average amount that recent sellers spent on repairs prior to listing was $14,163, according to the survey. That’s not peanuts.

Sellers still have some advantages

Despite this gradual shift in buyers’ favor, there’s still a degree of good news for sellers—such as some homes continuing to sell at lightning speed.

The survey reports that 22% of people who sold within the past month said their home went under contract in less than a week. That is up, believe it or not, from 14% of the people who sold six-to-12 months ago.

And don’t assume home sellers are unhappy with this turn of events, either. “At the same time, it’s worth noting that the majority of recent sellers are still satisfied with the outcome of their home sale,” Ratiu says.

In a perfect world, both buyer and seller are happy with their transaction, right?

For this and related articles, visit Realtor.com

If you’re raring to buy a home, chances are you’ll need a mortgage. But which kind of mortgage should you get?

Home loans aren’t one size fits all, but come in a variety of forms to suit home buyers in different circumstances. One good place to start figuring out your options is a mortgage calculator, where you can plug in various home prices and and have this sum broken down into monthly payments. Still, in addition to a home’s price, you should carefully consider the type of loan you get.

Two of the main types of mortgages home buyers consider getting are a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM.

So what’s the difference between these two types of home loans? In a nutshell, a fixed-rate mortgage has an interest rate that stays the same over the life of the loan. An ARM, by contrast, has an interest rate that changes over time.

Before you seek out mortgage pre-approval, let’s break down the pros and cons of each loan so you can decide which one is right for you.

Fixed-rate mortgage

According to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Area branch manager Chris Jurilla, the majority of homeowners tend to prefer fixed-rate mortgages. And for good reason: A fixed interest rate means your mortgage payments remain steady over the life of your loan.

“Fixed-rate mortgages provide more long-term stability,” Jurilla says. “And with rates still low, borrowers prefer the security of not risking a rate increase or adjustment if the market were to turn.”

If you’re a home buyer with steady employment who wants to put down roots in a community, a fixed-rate mortgage might appeal to you. This kind of loan is also advantageous to people approaching retirement, because the fixed payments make it easier to plan their finances.

The pros of a fixed-rate mortgage:

• Predictability: The interest rate doesn’t change for the life of the loan, giving home buyers peace of mind.
• Fixed costs: You can budget more easily as the rate and payments remain constant.
• Straightforward numbers: The math involved with figuring out your loan is way easier than for an ARM.
• Stability: This predictable loan is more appealing for the risk-averse.

And the cons:

• You’re locked in: You won’t be able to take advantage of falling interest rates without refinancing.
• Your borrowing has a ceiling: You may not qualify for as much house as you would like, because those mortgage payments are typically higher.

Adjustable-rate mortgage

An ARM starts out at a fixed, predetermined interest rate, likely lower than what you would get with a comparable fixed-rate mortgage. However, the rate adjusts after a specified initial period—usually three, five, seven, or 10 years—based on market indexes. If those indexes go up, your payment will go up, too (sometimes way up).

If you’re a more mobile or first-time home buyer who wants to keep your long-term options open, an ARM’s low introductory interest rate is certainly tempting. As long as you’re ready to move on before the introductory period ends, you’ll benefit from the advantage of making lower payments while you’re living in the home. And because your lender will be qualifying you based on a lower monthly payment, you could qualify for a more expensive house than you would with a fixed-rate mortgage.

“ARMs are best suited for investors or home buyers who have short-term ownership goals in mind,” says Jurilla. “Most opt for an ARM if they don’t foresee themselves staying in the home for an extended period of time. There are some who use it as a stepping-stone loan, a short-term solution with a lower monthly payment.”

The pros of an ARM:

• Low initial rate: There are lower rates and payments early in the loan term than in a traditional fixed-rate mortgage.
• You can borrow more: You have a chance of being approved for a more expensive house because your lender will look at the lower payment when qualifying you for the loan.
• Falling rates: Some ARMs allow you to automatically take advantage of lower rates without the hassle and expense of refinancing.

And the cons:

• Unpredictable rates: After the introductory term, payments and rates can rise substantially. However, if market indexes go down, that doesn’t necessarily mean your mortgage payments will, too. Be sure to read the fine print on your mortgage.
• Complicated mortgage agreements: You’ll need to understand the complex terms of your agreement, such as margins, caps, and adjustment indexes.
• Math and more math: You have to put in significantly more work to figure out the math of an ARM and how it could potentially affect your budget.
• Prepayment penalty: You can’t pay off your loan for the number of years specified in your agreement. So if interest rates jump while you still have a prepayment penalty in place, you can’t refinance or sell your home without incurring a huge cost.

Choose the loan that’s best for you

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is the most popular in America, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect for you. An adjustable-rate mortgage can work well for many young or financially savvy homeowners. Still, many borrowers would rather deal with the stability of a fixed rate than the fluctuating payments of an ARM.

So, who wins? Either mortgage can—it all depends on your individual circumstances. Talk to a mortgage lender or mortgage broker to learn more about which one is right for you. And be sure you understand each loan’s terms, and always compare rates before signing onto a mortgage.

For this and similar articles, visit Realtor.com

It’s a slow Sunday morning. You’ve just brewed your Nespresso and popped open your laptop to check out the latest home listings before you hit the road for a day of open houses.

You’re DIYing this real estate thing, and you think you’re doing pretty well—after all, any info you might need is at your fingertips online, right? That and your own sterling judgment.

Oh, dear home buyer (or seller!)—we know you can do it on your own. But you really, really shouldn’t. This is likely the biggest financial decision of your entire life, and you need a Realtor® if you want to do it right. Here’s why.

1. They have the right expertise

Want to check the MLS for a 4B/2B with an EIK and a W/D? Real estate has its own language, full of acronyms and semi-arcane jargon, and your Realtor is trained to speak that language fluently.

Plus, buying or selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. Realtors have the expertise to help you prepare a killer deal—while avoiding delays or costly mistakes that can seriously mess you up.

2. They have turbocharged searching power

The Internet is awesome. You can find almost anything—anything! And with online real estate listing sites such as yours truly, you can find up-to-date home listings on your own, any time you want. But guess what? Realtors have access to even more listings. Sometimes properties are available but not actively advertised. A Realtor can help you find those hidden gems.

Plus, a good local Realtor is going to know the search area way better than you ever could. Have your eye on a particular neighborhood, but it’s just out of your price range? Your Realtor is equipped to know the ins and outs of every neighborhood, so she can direct you toward a home in your price range that you may have overlooked.

3. They have bullish negotiating chops

Any time you buy or sell a home, you’re going to encounter negotiations—and as today’s housing market heats up, those negotiations are more likely than ever to get a little heated.

You can expect lots of competition, cutthroat tactics, all-cash offers, and bidding wars. Don’t you want a savvy and professional negotiator on your side to seal the best deal for you?

And it’s not just about how much money you end up spending or netting. A Realtor will help draw up a purchase agreement that allows enough time for inspections, contingencies, and anything else that’s crucial to your particular needs.

4. They’re connected to everyone

Realtors might not know everything, but they make it their mission to know just about everyone who can possibly help in the process of buying or selling a home. Mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, home stagers, interior designers—the list goes on—and they’re all in your Realtor’s network. Use them.

5. They adhere to a strict code of ethics

Not every real estate agent is a Realtor, who is a licensed real estate salesperson who belongs to the National Association of Realtors®, the largest trade group in the country.

What difference does it make? Realtors are held to a higher ethical standard than licensed agents and must adhere to a Code of Ethics.

6. They’re your sage parent/data analyst/therapist—all rolled into one

The thing about Realtors: They wear a lot of different hats. Sure, they’re salespeople, but they actually do a whole heck of a lot to earn their commission. They’re constantly driving around, checking out listings for you. They spend their own money on marketing your home (if you’re selling). They’re researching comps to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

And, of course, they’re working for you at nearly all hours of the day and night—whether you need more info on a home or just someone to talk to in order to feel at ease with the offer you just put in. This is the biggest financial (and possibly emotional) decision of your life, and guiding you through it isn’t a responsibility Realtors take lightly.

For this and related articles, visit Realtor.com