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Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

The Offer

Direct link to offer 

  • Chase is offering some cardholders spending bonuses for spend between October 1 through December 31, 2023
    • United: 5x on Gas, Grocery, and Amazon
    • Hyatt: 5x on grocery
    • Southwest:
      • 10x on utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, insurance, local transit and commuting, or fitness club and gym membership payments
      • Get 6,000 bonus points if you spend $6,000+

Our Verdict

Some good categories and deals, worth checking to see if you’re targeted.

Source: doctorofcredit.com

Apache is functioning normally

My name is Steven Wynands and I’m the co-founder and CEO of Peer Reputation. Over 60,000 real estate agents and brokers use our platform to discover and leverage their professional relationships. This is my personal reflection on what happened over our first 12 months that finally gave me the courage to believe in myself and pursue this project full-time. I hope you find it interesting and that it helps you if you’re going through the same decision. 

Facing The Big Decision

I never thought I’d find myself in this position. Saddled with student loans, credit cards, a mortgage, and childcare for two, it would be very irresponsible for me to leave my cushy, government job to pursue my own startup ambitions. I tried to delay this decision as long as possible. I sacrificed sleep so that I could be there for my family and deliver everything my job expected of me. Wishfully, I hoped that the universe would take care of it for me by turning the startup into an overnight success or burying it to the ground. Neither of those things happened, but I did get plenty of signs that helped me make a decision.

Getting Inspired (Again)

I was just one year removed from an unsuccessful real estate startup that spanned two years. I had no intention of jumping into another project, but one afternoon of phone calls changed everything. The first phone call was from a buyer’s agent whose clients were interested in one of my listings. Her call made me uneasy and I wanted to protect my sellers so I made a few more calls of my own. 

I reached out to other listing agents who had recently worked with this buyer agent and was surprised by the responses. I wasn’t connected to these other agents in any way yet they openly shared detailed warnings with me about working with this buyer’s agent. They were eager and grateful for the opportunity to protect other agents and consumers from reliving their nightmares and wished there was an easier way to do so. Thankful and inspired, I called up my friend Steve with an idea.

Starting Up, Extra Lean & First Signs from The Universe

I’ve known Steve since middle school. We worked together throughout secondary school as well as college where we studied computer engineer together at Virginia Tech. We continued working together on projects after graduation including the recent unsuccessful real estate startup. At this point we were each raising two small kids and a bit burned out from long nights and weekends so I approached him with a very simple project based on the phone calls I just had that afternoon. We discussed the backstory and basic specs and agreed to meet a few days later to test out my idea.

The basic premise was simple. I wanted to know if other agents were just as eager to share their feedback to protect other agents and consumers too. To test out this idea I created a list of 600 recently sold homes along with the listing and selling agent information, and Steve coded up a test project to request feedback between these cooperating agents. We built this out on Saturday and Sunday and were ready to launch the following Monday. 

Immediately after launching our test I was prepared to throw in the towel. I thought the experiment had failed and I was just happy to know that we had only spent a few days on it. It turned out that the only failure was my uninformed expectations and analysis. I showed the results of our testing from that day to my brother who enjoys marketing as a Product Manager for Zappos and he was blown away!  He said that we were hugely successful by achieving a 70% total email open rate and 20% email click rate. 

I still wasn’t sure exactly what we were building but I knew enough from his reaction that we had to keep on going. The next week we doubled the sample size and tweaked some wording in our emails and achieved an 80% total open rate and 27% click rate! It was very clear that we were building something that people wanted. We just had to keep it going while we figured out exactly what that thing was.

Product? Market? Fits!

Over the next few weeks, we increased our survey sample sizes and maintained high open and click rates. We received over 10,000 responses in our first month! The manual data loads were becoming so overwhelming that we didn’t have time to work on the platform. I buckled down and focused on creating a web scraper to automate the data routines while Steve worked on building out the infrastructure that could house a richer experience.

Four months after conducting our first test we finally had our platform shell in place. We relaunched our feedback platform more broadly in the same local market and watched the results come in immediately. Now that we finally had a user dashboard, agents were registering and interacting directly with us. A thousand agents registered the first month and I knew we had a hit when they were telling us how surprised they were that this kind of platform hadn’t existed before. They were also asking us for more features! We could not believe how smoothly everything was happening! Things were continuing to ramp up based on user demand.

Traction and Scaling

Eight months into our project, things were going very smoothly. Peter joined us as a co-founder and freed us up to be more strategic and engaged with the user community. Our friends saw their friends using our platform from social media and asked if they could help with our startup. We all had fun learning and growing together while watching thousands of feedback and hundreds of new users register every week, but I could feel the transformation of startup project to company taking place.

10 months into the project, I was spending nights and weekends at Steve’s house again. We’d plan and program into the morning hours and then I would sleep just enough that I could drive home safely and spend time with my family. I was also working nights and weekends to deliver on my full-time job and doing 20 real estate transactions on the side. I knew it was time to come out of the startup honeymoon and figure out if this thing was going to last before I burned out again and so we put ourselves through a major test-expansion.

For the first ten months, we only served one market as we built and fine-tuned the platform. We had grown at a compound monthly growth rate of 27%, and we were ready to find out if we could replicate our success nationally. We expanded to a few test markets and were thrilled to see that the email open and click rates stayed high as we increased our registered users 42% over the previous month! Everything was going so well but I couldn’t seem to take the leap of faith and work on this project full-time. This is around the time that the universe sent more signals my way.

Our Users Established Our Product Messaging

As an engineer who got into PropTech and then became a top-producing real estate agent, I’m keenly aware of how sensitive the real estate industry can be. I studied how RedFin pulled its Scouting Report project and how Keller Williams opposed AgentMatch. But I also saw how NAR and Houston Realtors had tried moving forward with ratings, and that the agent performance analysis was enough to propel HomeLight to a $40M Series B. Since our platform was built on top of agent-to-agent ratings, I didn’t feel comfortable taking the full-time plunge yet and thrusting myself into major industry scrutiny. That changed very quickly with one phone call from a real estate agent.

Every week we receive feedback from tens of thousands of real estate agents. We also get lots of phone calls and emails about our platform that I answer personally. After I finished my usual explanation on one of these phone calls, the agent responded, “Oh, it’s about professionalism? That’s awesome.” That was the key. Although our system was built on top of ratings that’s not really what we stood for. I learned from our users that they were actually utilizing it for professionalism and accountability. We finally had a message that we could promote publicly with great confidence and it came just in time for the next big moment.

Coming Out of Stealth Mode (Product Timing & The Parker Principles)

On April 2, 2018, Inman News published The Parker Principles: A Real Estate Manifesto. It was created based on input from agents, brokers, companies, and associations from around the country as a series of principles to make real estate better. It echoed so many tenets of our startup: Quality, professionalism, and accountability in real estate. When I read The Parker Principles I felt like these industry leaders were screaming for the solution our team had built. The universe was clearly telling me to pop out of my shell and so I did. I reached out to Inman News about our platform and they covered us two months later in June. I had outed myself as the real estate agent behind Peer Reputation and there was no going back now.

Something’s Gotta Give

We were about 11 months removed from the weekend project that turned into a full-blown startup and the major Inman Connect real estate conference was coming up in mid-July. I knew we had to keep the momentum going so I took a week off from work and flew out to San Francisco to mingle with the industry I had just revealed myself to. 

On the second day of Inman Connect I was standing in the lobby of the Hilton when the COO of Remine, Jonathan Spinetto, said, “Follow me.” He led me through a series of halls and we stopped outside of a suite. When the suite doors opened a few minutes later, MLS executives walked out and I walked into a dim room lit blue by a portable projector and populated with the CEO, COO, and CFO of Remine. Jonathan handed me a display cable and said, “Demo.” 

We went over the platform, the processes, team, and potential roadmap. At one point during our discussion I remember that Mark Schacknies, then-CFO and now-CEO, told me, “You need to sleep.” It actually wasn’t the first time I had heard something like that. When Gill South interviewed us for the Inman News article, she told me that I should devote my full attention to the startup. Smart industry folks were telling me that I needed to quit my full-time job and I was finally ready to consider it.

The Tipping Point & Decision

A few weeks after coming back from Inman Connect, my boss called me into his office and asked me, “Do you have outside employment?” I responded openly and honestly and from there my work life began to unravel. My telework was cut in half which meant I spent more time driving through grueling DC area traffic. I wasn’t prepared to scale back on my startup activities when things were going so well so I just continued sleeping less.

I was tired. The startup was going great and the work environment was souring. Why couldn’t I just quit and focus on the startup? The answer was that I wanted to provide a stable environment for my wife and children, and that requires income. I had been so focused on building the platform and acquiring users that I hadn’t considered income until now. Now I was motivated, confident, and ready to take a leap. On October 17th, 2018 Peer Reputation welcomed its first paid subscriber. 10 days later, I quit my job.

Fast Forward

It’s been 9 months since I quit my job and I don’t regret it one bit. Things have not slowed down and continue to look better and better. I’d love to write more about it but, unfortunately, I’m out of time! I’ve got to get back to preparing for some major events. I’m heading to Inman Connect in Las Vegas where we’ve been selected as a finalist for the Inman Innovator Award. I’ll also be pitching onstage at the conference as one of eight selected startups at Tech Connect. If you’re going to the conference as well please swing by our table in Startup Alley to say hi! (I still can’t believe this is all happening!)

Source: geekestateblog.com

Apache is functioning normally

Before you move your life into a new rental, you need to look over your new digs with a fine-tooth comb to make sure everything is on the up-and-up, clean and safe. Don’t put off an apartment inspection.

What is an apartment inspection?

Think about renting an apartment like buying a used car. Someone has had the item in their possession before you. Whether they used it properly and are passing it on in good condition isn’t always easy to tell. You’d take a used car for a test drive, ask about past accidents and repairs and eyeball every scratch, mark or dent. An apartment inspection that ensures you’re getting what you expect in your next home.

An apartment inspection should take place before you sign your lease. “This can help avert or minimize disputes with your landlord in the future about the condition of the property, as well as providing you with a safer, more pleasant place to live,” according to Justia.

Not only does completing an apartment inspection ensure everything gets fixed and to your liking, it also prevents your property manager from claiming any pre-existing issues are your fault or responsibility when it’s time to move out. Your property manager may even have time to address the specific issues you find before you move into the apartment.

So you know what you’re looking for, here’s a breakdown, by room, for your apartment inspection. Focus on each section of the apartment separately to give it as close a once-over as possible. Look at issues:

You can take our apartment inspection checklist with you too. Download it here.

Throughout the apartment

Each room will have its own items to inspect, but certain things should get examined throughout the apartment. It’s best to start with these since you’ll need to remember to check them out as you move from room-to-room.

1. Walls

Check for cracks, structural holes or evidence of water leaks, especially around windows and vents. If you find small holes from pictures and the like, note these so you property manager is aware they’re pre-existing.

While looking for issues, also check out the paint job. It should feel professional, with no drips or chips along the wall. Paint color should also consistently match throughout the apartment. Don’t forget to do the same inspection on the ceilings.

2. Electrical outlets

Make sure every plug in the apartment works. Plug something small (like a nightlight) into every outlet to check that it’s functioning. Make sure you don’t smell anything either. Look for burns around outlets and cracks in the covers.

3. Cable hookups

Check that all cable, internet and fiber optic outlets are in good condition, not blocked and in the areas of the apartment where you need them. If the apartment has a satellite dish, check that it’s secure and there are no leaks or holes around the connection to the unit.

4. Smoke detectors

Be sure smoke detectors exist in or near each bedroom, by the front door and by the kitchen. Test them to make sure they all work properly. Ask your property manager when the last time the batteries got replaced and the age of each smoke detector. Batteries should be changed every year, and the entire device should get replaced every 10 years.

Find out if fire extinguishers, carbon monoxide or radon detectors are also within the apartment, and make sure they’re in working order.

5. Lighting

Turn on all lights in all rooms to ensure everything works. Look for cracks or burn marks around light fixtures and recessed lighting. Ask your property manager to replace any burnt out bulbs before you move in, especially if the fixture is hard to reach without a ladder. That’s a job for maintenance, not you.

6. Thermostat

Check to make sure the temperature reading on the thermostat feels like the temperature in the room. Examine other rooms to see if the temperature is consistent throughout the apartment.

Turn up the heat, and check vents for heated air. Then do the same for the air conditioning. If the apartment has a radiator for heat or a window unit for A/C, check those, as well.

7. Blinds and shades

Inspect each set of blinds, shades or curtains for damage or holes. Open and close blinds and shades to ensure they are in working order.

8. Windows and doors

Run your hand along the frame of each window and door to feel for leaks or drafts. Inspect any insulation for cracks or brittleness. Determine if you can see light through any cracks in a closed door, indicating poor insulation.

Open and close the windows and doors to ensure they work properly. Make sure all windows and doors lock completely and feel secure when you pull on them. You should never have an apartment window that does not lock.

9. Flooring

Inspect all areas of the floor and carpet (including behind any furniture and in corners) for stains or holes. Get down and check for pet or other smells. Tug on some of the edges of the carpeting and floorboards to see if they come up too easily. Look around for improperly installed flooring nails that have popped up. You don’t want to step on those babies in your bare feet.

10. Overall cleanliness

As you’re conducting your simple and thorough visual inspection, take note of the overall cleanliness of the apartment. Look around for small brown pellets or insect eggs, evidence of roaches, other insects or rodents. You may find these in gaps in the walls, the bathtub and around plumbing and utility wires.

For furnished apartments, extend your cleanliness and damage checks to all furniture.

In the bathroom

Bathrooms are sneaky places when it comes to problems. With pipes hidden inside cabinets, you might not notice a leak. Tile cracks or issues with grout can be small when you move in, but quickly get worse. Out of all the rooms in an apartment, this one deserves a very close inspection. Don’t forget to check everything.

11. Toilet

Flush the toilet and make sure it works. The bowl should refill properly and quickly, and it should stop running in sufficient time. Lift up the lid on the back of the toilet to make sure nothing is damaged or broken. Sniff for bad odors, and look for cracks and nicks, especially where the toilet meets the floor. Check that the seat is sturdy, as well (how you choose to do that is up to you).

12. Sink

Turn on all faucets, and check water pressure. See how long it takes the hot water to heat up and the cold water to get cold. Be sure there are no drips or leaks both from the faucet and the plumbing underneath. Even small drips over time can balloon your water bill. Look for cracks both in the bowl and the pipes.

13. Shower

Turn on the water, and see if the temperature heats up in sufficient time. If you feel comfortable leaving it on, let the water run to determine how long before you lose hot water.

Check that the water pressure meets your personal needs, and there’s no excessive dripping after you turn it off. Make sure the water looks clear and clean and drains properly. Examine the tiles and grout for mold and chips.

14. Tub

If you have a bathtub, stand in it and jump (safely) around a bit. If you feel any give, it could be a sign of damaged flooring or mold underneath. Pull gently on the soap dish to make sure it’s secure, especially if you tend to put your foot up on it to balance for cleaning or shaving. Make sure water runs properly out of the tub faucet and the drain closes for when you want to take an actual bath.

15. Storage

Look under the sink to check that the storage area is clean and dry and nothing is blocking access. Check for signs of rodents or insects.

Medicine cabinets should open and close easily, and shelves should seem secure and clean. Test the sturdiness of the shelves of any built-ins, as well.

16. The rest of the bathroom

Examine the floor and tiles for damage or mold. Look carefully in corners. Assure yourself any hardware attached to the walls is secure. While you’re checking the toilet paper holder, also make sure you can reach it from the toilet.

In the bedroom

You may not realize it, but you’ll spend the most time in your apartment in your bedroom. Yes, you’ll usually be asleep, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore it during your apartment inspection. In particular, don’t forget to check the spaces that seem most unlikely to have a problem, like the closet.

17. Windows

We already mentioned windows, but it’s doubly important in the bedroom. Run your hand along every edge of the window to check for space for leaks. In the bedroom, poor insulation can mean a very cold night. Check the locks on the windows to affirm you’ll get a safe night’s sleep.

18. Closet

Take a close look at the floor to ensure there’s no damage, and check all built-ins for sturdiness. If you have permanent hanging rods, tug on them slightly to make sure there’s no give.

Closets are dark and favorite hiding places for rodents and roaches. Use a flashlight if necessary but look around for rodent and insect droppings. Also, be sure the door, or doors, open and close easily.

19. Bed

In a furnished apartment, check every part of the bed for damage, cracks, loose bolts and evidence of bedbugs. Bedbugs aren’t very discreet, so if you see any dark staining on the mattress or bed frame, there’s a good chance there was an infestation at some point.

20. Ceiling fan

If you’re fortunate enough to have a ceiling fan in the bedroom, turn it on and off and try all the speeds. Does it rattle or wobble when it’s on high? If so, make sure it’s fixed before you’re nocturnally impaled.

21. Floors

Inspect the floor or carpet around where the bed would go, and make sure there aren’t carpet dents or floor damage from a previous bed. The bedroom is where pets like to sleep and do other things they shouldn’t do, so get your nose down to the floor and smell around for any pet odors.

In the kitchen

There are a lot of moving parts in the kitchen. For an apartment dweller, it’s where most of the functional appliances are located. In addition to making sure they all work, don’t forget to inspect the rest of the space.

22. Oven and stove

Turn on the stove to make sure it heats up as quickly as expected. Open and close the oven door a few times to ensure a good seal. On an electric stove, turn on every burner to make sure they all work and the heating elements all get hot. You can test this by dropping a splash of water from your hand onto each burner.

For gas burners, check that each burner lights without too much effort or releasing a lot of gas. Run the drop of water test, too. Make sure all burners go out and get cold when you switch them off, and you don’t keep smelling gas. Lift the hood and check the trays.

23. Sink

Turn on the water and check the pressure. Make sure the hot gets hot and the cold gets cold. Turn on the garbage disposal (with water on) for at least 15 seconds and listen to see if the sound is smooth and consistent. Try disposing something, like ice, if you wish. Check for odors afterward. Look around the base of the sink and underneath for water damage or cracks.

24. Refrigerator

Check all the stripping around the doors to make sure there’s a proper seal. Loose or dry sealing must get fixed. Open and close the doors. Feel inside the fridge and freezer to make sure they seem cold enough. See if all the lights turn on (sadly, you won’t be able to see if they turn off). Look for missing or cracked trays and shelves. Test the ice maker not only for proper operation but that the ice cubes smell and taste right.

25. Cabinets, counters and drawers

Open and close every door and drawer to see if they’re loose or squeak and if they’re flush on their hinges. Inspect every cabinet and drawer for animal droppings. Look around for cracks and signs of water damage.

26. Miscellaneous kitchen appliances

If luxury living is your style, you may have a few extra appliances. Don’t leave them out of your inspection.

  • For built-in microwaves, check that the door closes all the way and it operates correctly
  • Make sure the dishwasher doesn’t have any leaks or odd odors. Turn it on and wait for the water to run before turning it off.
  • Check that all recessed lighting works properly
  • Look in tough-to-reach places for floor damage, especially under and around the refrigerator

In the utility closet

Don’t forget about your utility closet. If it’s locked, insist your property manager open it up for you to inspect. Anything goes wrong in there, you’ll have major issues with your apartment, so look closely.

27. Heating and air-conditioning

Inspect your hot water heater and the HVAC unit. With the furnace or air on, put your hand over the vent to check the air pressure and temperature. See if there’s water pooling in the hot water heater tray. Inspect all hoses, and look around for water damage or leaks. Take out the HVAC filter, and note if it needs replacing. It will look gray if it’s dirty, white if it’s clean.

28. Fuse box

Open up the fuse box, and see if everything looks okay. Fuses should all be on with nothing tripped. Each fuse should also have a clear identification should you need to flip something while you’re living in the apartment.

You don’t have to trip every fuse, but see if there are any missing or damaged switches.

29. Laundry

If you have in-unit laundry, inspect the washer and dryer. Check that all the hoses and exhausts are attached and working. Look for blockages, and check that the lint trap in the dryer is in good condition. Start each appliance to see that they work. Watch for water stains and mold, and check for any odd smells.

In the building itself

Now that you’ve taken your time checking everything out on the inside of your apartment, give yourself the opportunity to inspect what’s on the outside. Even if it’s not technically part of your apartment, you want everything around it in good condition.

30. Exterior doors

Recheck all the locks on exterior doors whether they open into hallways or outside. Check for air leakage and if there is any, get it fixed, or expect a big electricity bill.

Be sure you can properly use the peephole, that it’s not painted over, and nothing is blocking it. This is an overlooked part of the security inspection, so don’t forget about it.

31. Exterior windows

Windows get a second check, too. Recheck the outdoor ones for air leakage. Triple check they all lock properly, especially if you’re on the first floor. Look for cracks or loose panes. Check all the windows for properly-installed screens, and assure there’s no damage or holes or you’re going to have a buggy summer.

32. Porches, decks and walkways

No matter what kind of exterior elements you have (if you’re fortunate enough to have one), check all wood and concrete for cracks and water damage. Feel around any gates, fences, posts or handrails for stability and safety. Look around for branches or tree limbs that are in danger of falling on your property (or on you).

33. The rest of the outside

Test that all exterior lights are in working order, whether outside on a post, attached to the building or in the hallway. If there’s a security system, make sure you know how it works and test it before you need it. Wherever your mailbox is located, make sure you can get into it, the key works and — if freestanding — it’s not in danger of falling off or over.

A proper apartment inspection makes a difference

While it may feel tedious, a careful apartment inspection is good for everyone. It ensures you’re getting the apartment you expect, headache-free from immediate issues. Not only that, it means your property manager is getting a tenant who takes the care and maintenance of their home seriously. It’s a win-win even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.

This is why, before you sign a lease or move in, grab your apartment inspection checklist, and set aside a block of time to closely examine your new home.

Source: rent.com

Apache is functioning normally

As technology continues to advance across the board, it should come as no surprise that it is playing a powerful role in shaping the property management industry and its future progression. The rental market is getting more and more competitive – for both property managers and tenants – and many property owners are using amenities as a way to stand out from the crowd. According to the National Apartment Association, the top amenity today’s renters are demanding revolves around connectivity: renters prefer anything that can make their lives easier through technology.

Tenants want to stay connected to the digital world from the comfort of their homes, whether on a mobile device or desktop, for work or entertainment. One study shows that Americans spend over 10 hours each day interacting with digital devices, and nearly 40% of young adults (ages 18-29) access the internet almost constantly. In the past, property managers may have offered internet services as an additional perk to entice renters in competitive markets, but now connectivity may be seen as a necessity to keep up. By including internet services as an amenity for tenants at your rental property, you can increase your property’s desirability and decrease vacancy time.

Including Internet Services: The Good

Offering free internet as an amenity isn’t an industry standard, so going this route can set you apart from your competitors. Rental property owners can provide high-speed internet in the common areas of their multifamily properties, or include personal access in each unit – either way, you can easily market reliable and fast broadband internet as a way to attract tenants. In addition to attracting tenants, offering a service that other properties don’t include can also keep tenants around longer as they will have to consider taking on an additional expense if they move.

If you’re already offering cable TV services at your property, internet should be an easy and relatively inexpensive add-on. You may even be able to negotiate a deal with your internet service provider if you’re planning on offering internet services to a large quantity of units within one property. Some property managers choose to include internet costs as part of a tenant’s rent at a discounted rate, while others charge a set fee on top of the monthly rent. Think about it this way: if your multifamily property has even 10 units, and each unit pays approximately $100 each month for internet services, your building is paying $12,000 a year for Internet. If you absorb this cost yourself and can secure it at a discounted rate, charging your tenants directly for internet services can actually turn out to be a profitable business.

Including Internet Services: The Questionable

Providing your tenants with internet services can come with some risk. One concern is that tenants may look to their landlord for IT support. The last thing you need as a property manager is tenants reaching out about connectivity or technology concerns. To combat this issue, clearly provide your tenants with information on whom they should contact with any questions or concerns.

Security can be another issue that property managers face when it comes to offering internet services to their tenants. Tenants want their personal networks to be secure and protect their personal information, while property managers want to ensure their network is only used for legal activity. To protect yourself, you should include specific language in your lease about the terms of use, prohibiting any illegal activity. This is also something you should address when choosing an internet service provider.

At the end of the day, deciding to provide internet services for your tenants at your rental properties will depend heavily on the supply and demand in your rental market. If your vacancy rate is low and you don’t experience much competition when it comes to finding tenants, you may not need this additional service to attract and retain tenants. If you live in a market where supply and demand are both relatively high, you might consider providing internet to set yourself apart. Most tenants want access to the internet in their homes, and including internet services in the monthly rent is usually one of the features tenants appreciate the most.

[Graphic via HuffingtonPost]

Source: geekestateblog.com

Apache is functioning normally

We’re officially in the “ber” months, which means it’s the best time to transition your home decor for cozier weather. No one knows this better than Joanna Gaines, and her exclusive collaboration with Target is no exception. 

Ahead of the fall season, Magnolia’s Hearth & Hand collection at Target has some of the best fall home decor pieces, including accent lamps (one of which is the perfect modern spin on those vintage fairy lamps that TikTok is obsessed with), faux foliage, stoneware, and, of course, some of the best candles. 

Find out more about how we test.

Joanna and Chip’s collections have been staples at Target for years now. The first collection launched in 2017 and every year has seen a new range of earthy fall classics that are perfect for making a cozy, comfortable space. 

Ribs return

(Image credit: Magnolia / Target)

We’ve seen a big increase in Art Deco-inspired pieces this year as the 21st century gets its own Roaring Twenties. Joanna’s collection for Target is no exception, with lots of ribbed pieces giving a contemporary twist on design classics. 

Ribbed Tonal Ceramic Table Lamp

Ribbed Glass Cylindrical Accent Lamp with Wood Base Clear/Tan

Ribbed Glass Autumn Cider Fall Jar Candle

pour-over coffee maker. These are often pretty utilitarian, but Joanna’s is gorgeous. 

Magnolia Pour Over Coffee Maker

Hearth & Hand x Cuisinart Digital Gooseneck Kettle

Wide-Fluted Stoneware Beverage Pitcher

Fluted Stoneware Serving Bowl Pumpkin Brown

Faux Golden Ash Leaf Fall Stem

Wooden Decorative Tray with Metal Trim

Faux Golden Ash Leaf Fall Arrangement

Wood Cookbook Holder with Metal Ledge

Multi-Faceted Ceramic Bud Vase

Textured Fall Plaid Woven Placemat

Toasted Almond Chunky Cable Knit Throw

Tartan Fall Plaid Cloth Napkins

these wooden ones from Hearth & Hand are beautiful) to place on top of your stoneware. The plaid style invites a subtle nod to the season.  

FAQs

Who is Joanna Gaines?

best Target fall home décor. If Target isn’t for you, we’ve also found that best Walmart fall home decor.

Source: homesandgardens.com

Apache is functioning normally

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Direct link to offer 

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  • 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases
  • $100 off an annual Alaska Lounge+ Membership when you pay with your new card
  • Get Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare from $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) each account anniversary after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year
  • This card will not be available to you if you currently have or have had the card in the preceding 24 month period. This does not apply to the business credit card product.

A lot of these details are from recent changes.

Our Verdict

Not as good as the 70k + $100 offer, I tried to do a dummy booking but didn’t see 70k + $100 unfortunately. I’d wait a bit to see if that starts to appear, but 70k might be enough for some people to apply.

Source: doctorofcredit.com

Apache is functioning normally

In the US, no one really talks about their money. It’s taboo—impolite, embarrassing, rude. No one wants to sit at the dinner table comparing salaries and tax brackets.

But when the time comes to buy a house, money talk is a necessary evil. Such conversations are critical to getting on the same page financially as your partner. In fact, financial disparities between partners is a leading cause of divorce when not handled properly.

Fortunately, we have some tips about having this delicate conversation on money with your partner, and coming out of it with a better idea of what you two can afford in the housing market.

Planning Before the Conversation.

Before anything, it is important to plan your conversation ahead of time. Write down questions and responses you would like to have ready when you have the talk with your partner. If you don’t already know what their yearly earnings are, it is time to find out.

Additionally, it may be helpful to brainstorm some financial management strategies to cut down on existing costs. Do you really need that magazine subscription or the deluxe package of cable channels? If you are coming into this conversation from a position of power (i.e. you earn more than your partner) take time to carefully word your conversation to avoid gridlock and tension. Some good opening lines include:

  • “We might benefit from meeting a financial coach together.”
  • “We should spend the night going over our budget together. Would you help me get a sense of our spending for each month?”
  • Where do you think we should start our housing search in terms of pricing? What is financial stable for you?

Where to Start.

The first step of the money talk is perhaps the most difficult step. It is important that you and your partner talk about relationship goals. You don’t necessarily have to ask the clichéd question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” but you should have a good forecast of where you will be in a year or two.

Further, where do you see this relationship going? Sometimes, a house is more than a purchase, but the next step in a relationship. If marriage or kids are on the horizon, that will certainly effect the size and location of your real estate search.

Next up, it is important to assess your current financial situation. Where are you both in terms of income and expenses, assets, debts, and credit ratings? Will your financial profile be strong enough to earn a favorable mortgage interest rate? Or will you have to plan to take on a little more debt? Alongside this conversation, it would be a good idea to think about ways to reduce any debts you have faster. This is where you and your partner should be getting into the nitty-gritty of financial transparency. Talk about retirement savings and compare credit scores; factor in family planning costs if that’s where your relationship is heading.

Once you have sussed out where you are presently in terms of money, it is time to look toward the future and discuss potential changes to how, where, and why you spend money. Budgeting together is the best way to start this conversation, identifying where each other can stand to shave off a few dimes.

Communication is key, especially if the money being put toward a home will come more from one partner than the other. That extra financial burden should be recognized and discussed. It is also time to compromise. Commonly, partners will have to find ways to balance the splurging problems of one partner with the intense frugality of the other.

Where to End Up.

Your conversation on financial planning should really culminate in a place of mutual understanding. You and your partner have a future ahead of you that requires, by necessity, time and money. Even if your financial situation changes in the next month or year, getting on the same financial page as your partner will give you a road map to fiscal solvency, and the ability to plan for your future years together.

With that knowledge in mind, you can come into the real estate market from a position of power, brokering deals that will suit you and your partner and provide a strong head start to a future together.

Source: totalmortgage.com