Anshu Arora LLM, MSc, PMP

Moving to a new home? Here are a few traditions from around the world to bring luck and cast out bad energy. Here are a few.

1. Make a clean sweep
According to U.S. superstition, your old broom can carry all the negative energy from your former dwelling place to the new one. Leave it behind for a fresh start.

2. The door to success
According to old Irish tradition, the first time you leave your new home you should exit through the same door you entered to ensure good luck. After your initial departure you’re free to leave through whichever door you’d like.

3. Ward off evil (and stale smells)
Native Americans traditionally burn dried sage and wave the smoke around the corners of a room to clear out negative energy. If you’re allergic to ragweed, you might want to skip this one as sage is in the same family.

4. Let your pot overflow
Indian tradition holds that boiling milk and rice in a pot until it overflows helps bring purity and long life to the homeowners. Another Indian tradition is to bring a cow into your new home and wrap a flower garland around its neck – a bit more logistically challenging than the rice.

5. Set the tone
Tibetan moving rituals include ringing a “space-clearing’ bell in each room of a new home to clear away old, dying chi (life force energy).

6. Bread and salt
According to Jewish tradition, bread and salt should be the first items brought into a new home. The loaf of bread ensures that the homeowners never know hunger. The salt will bring a life that’s always full of flavor.

7. Lightning insurance?
The ancient Norse believed that putting an acorn on a windowsill protected the home from lightning strikes. Blind-pulls shaped like acorns remain popular today.

You don’t need magic tricks or superstitions to find the right home. I Can Help!

1. Patience
MONOPOLY: So your family has decided to play Monopoly? Refill your beverage, grab a snack and change into comfortable clothes. You’re going to be there a while.

LESSON: Buying real estate is a process. There’s pre-approval for a loan, interviewing agents, searching for homes, submitting an offer, maybe submitting another offer, the home inspection, the appraisal, and final loan processing before you get the keys. Needless to say, buying a home can take some time. Instead of getting frustrated, focus on all of the great reasons you decided buying a home was right for you. Staying in close communication with your agent throughout the process will help, too.

2. Neighborhood matters
MONOPOLY: Everyone starts the game with one corner in mind: Boardwalk and Park Place. The highly priced properties have the best returns on investments, and the players who snag them first tend to do well in the game.

LESSON: Location is often a major consideration in real life as well. Home values, your lifestyle and so much more are factors in your neighborhood choice. Work with your agent to learn all you can about the neighborhoods that pique your interest.

3. Keep an open mind
MONOPOLY: Baltic and Mediterranean Avenue have a bad reputation because they’re the cheapest properties on the board, but they also present opportunity. Add a few houses and hotels and your return could be bigger than the one on nearby Connecticut Avenue.

LESSON: Keep an open mind when shopping for a home. An up-and-coming neighborhood may have appeal you didn’t see before, and more value for your budget.

4. Be prepared
MONOPOLY: You’re a Monopoly mogul! You have a handful of desirable properties and a steady stream of income from your houses and hotels. Then comes the Chance card: “Make general repairs on your property – for each house pay $25, for each hotel pay $100.”

LESSON: You never know what card you’re going to draw. But unlike Monopoly, the real world has home insurance available to help you prepare for unexpected repairs and disasters. A variety of plans, customizable to any budget, are available. Some homebuyers also opt for warranties covering potential appliance issues after move-in.

5. How to win a bidding war
MONOPOLY: Trading properties keeps Monopoly exciting. And there are no strict rules as to how a seller determines to accept an offer. Sibling rivalry, bribes involving candy or even business sense can play into a player’s decision.

LESSON: Sellers don’t always accept the highest offer. Writing a letter about why you fell in love with their home can sometimes sway their decision in your favor.

6. The importance of strategy
MONOPOLY: Monopoly is a game of strategy, but few players are inclined to study ways to win. What if you had a coach sitting next to you, advising how much to bid for a property, where to look next, and whether or not mortgaging a utility to buy Boardwalk is a smart idea? You would be unstoppable!

LESSON: Buying a home is an infrequent occurrence; for some it happens only once in a lifetime. Wouldn’t it be helpful to have someone on your side who was up-to-speed on laws for your state, knew which neighborhoods would best fit your lifestyle and offered to help you navigate a bidding war? That’s the value I provide

With winter’s short days and single-digit temps, you’re less likely to hang out outside and run into your neighbors. Gather the gang and catch up with these fun ideas for grown-up get togethers.

1.. Fondue Party
You provide the cheese and invite neighbors to bring things to dip. Dessert should, of course, be served with a chocolate fountain.

2.. Eat on the Run
Coordinate a progressive dinner party with neighbors and enjoy each dish, and perhaps a new variety of wine, in a different home.

3.. Put on Your Detective’s Cap
Host a murder mystery party. Download storylines and clues from the web or order a kit with costumes. It’s always a fun way to kill an evening.

4.. Hit the Beach
A luau-themed party may be the closest you'll get to a beach vacation this winter. Grass skirts, plastic leis, tropical drinks, hula tunes and a few rounds of limbo will help warm things up. Indoor tiki torches not recommended.

Love to entertain, but squeezed for space? I can give you an idea of new home opportunities could broaden your party horizons.

Is this winter’s bout of cabin fever got you dreaming of more space in your home? Do you find yourself fantasizing about a separate room where you can cloister the kids when it’s too cold for them to play outside? Your solution may be right beneath your feet. Here are few things to keep in mind if you’re considering refinishing your basement.

1. Water, water, anywhere?
Have a pro come in and investigate any evidence of water damage in your basement. You’ll need to resolve any moisture issues before you begin remodeling. 

2. Know the code
Before you design your dream basement, check the municipal code for any restrictions that may impact your project, such as the number of exits required or regulations about adding bathrooms and kitchens below the main floor of your home.

3. Kill the chill
Check with a contractor to find out if there are ways to adjust your home’s current ventilation and heating configuration to efficiently heat your basement. Installing quality flooring can help with insulation.

4. Light up your (underground) life
Avoid creating a well-decorated dungeon by installing adequate lighting, especially if there are no windows.

5. The right steps
Don’t skimp on the stairway. Carpeting on the stairs, bright lights and handrails make access safer and more inviting.

6. Turn down the volume
If you have plans for an entertainment center, consider installing sound insulation in the ceiling to help tone things down.

Not sure if turning your basement into an underground oasis is worth the investment? I can Help You determine what features will Add Value and what features Buyers are looking for