Sign in Home Selling Tips By Gina DeMillo Wagner Reading Time — 5 minutes February 13, 2018 This is part 1 of our 4 part #LoveWhereYouLive series. We’ve dedicated this Valentine’s season to a place close to our hearts: the home. You know the saying: Home is where the heart is. So why go anywhere else for Valentine’s Day? While others scramble for dinner reservations and book expensive getaways, you can relax and enjoy a romantic night in the comfort of your own home. Here are 10 creative ways you can turn your home into a romantic sanctuary and celebrate your love: Most of us have a favorite dish from our favorite restaurant — the one we crave time and time again. Have you ever tried to recreate that dish at home? With a little internet research, you can often replicate fancy restaurant meals at home. If you’re not sure where to start, try one of these restaurant-quality recipes from Taste of Home. Not everyone has the time or money to spend a day at a fancy spa. But you can pamper yourself and your partner by creating your own spa at home. Light some aromatherapy candles, draw a bubble bath or take turns giving each other a back massage. For do-it-yourself recipes for bath bombs, hair conditioners, mud masks and more, check out this helpful article from Babble. When’s the last time you and your sweetheart went dancing? Move aside the living room furniture to create some space, cue up some music and dance the night away. You can learn traditional ballroom dance moves like the Tango or Salsa with online courses such as LearntoDance.com. Or just freestyle it with your favorite music. There’s no better excuse than Valentine’s Day to snuggle under a blanket and watch a romantic movie. Lifehack made a list of the 23 most romantic flicks for Valentine’s Day — and some of their choices may surprise you! Or, for something more personal, you could snuggle and watch home movies or look through old photo albums. There’s something romantic about a picnic for two. If you live in a mild climate, create a backyard picnic and stargaze with your sweetheart. Lay out a quilt or blanket and feast on a variety of portable foods, such as these suggestions from Food Network. If the weather outside is frightful, you can host a picnic indoors by candlelight or by the fireplace. Lay out a blanket and pillows to make it cozier. Nothing is sweeter than preparing a fancy dessert with your partner. Elevate your baking skills with one of these heart-shaped dessert recipes from Taste of Home. Or create a simple, romantic dessert such as chocolate-dipped strawberries paired with champagne. Just dip fresh strawberries into melted chocolate (semisweet chocolate chips melted in the microwave work great) and place them in the refrigerator to harden for an hour before serving. Being playful and having fun isn’t just for children. Research shows that adults benefit from games too. They’re a source of relaxation, and they build your problem-solving skills, which can help strengthen your relationship. On Valentine’s Day, dust off your favorite board games, grab a deck of cards or play a round of Truth or Dare with your partner. For more on the benefits of playing games, check out this article at Help Guide. Perhaps you’ve been dreaming about a romantic wine tour in Italy or a relaxing trip to a far-away beach. Bring those adventures right to your doorstep by organizing a themed date night at home. If Italy is your dream, you could use these tips from Tuscany Tonight to host an Italian wine tasting party. Likewise, if you’re longing for summer weather and sandy beaches, you can bring some vacation rituals into your home using ideas from Houzz. Write a series of clues to guide your partner on a fun scavenger hunt around the house, leading to a surprise at the end such as a romantic meal or gift. Each clue, whether it’s a riddle or photo, should lead to the next. Pinterest offers several ideas for adult scavenger hunts and creative clues. Tap into your creative side and make some artwork together as a couple. You could create a collage of photographs of each other, write a poem together or gather some paints and a canvas and paint a romantic image like these from Pinterest. No matter what you create, display it as a reminder of your love for one another. Of course, these ideas also work for date nights at home, not just on Valentine’s Day. So keep them handy year-round to celebrate the person you love the most in the place you love the most. What romantic plans do you have to celebrate this day with your Valentine? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram! Related articles: This Valentine’s Day, #LoveWhereYouLive 5 tips to show your home some love 10 ways to keep your emotions in check when it’s time to sell your home1. Cook a romantic dinner
2. Create a Spa experience at home
3. Turn your living room into a ballroom
4. Cuddle up and watch a movie
5. Surprise your partner with a backyard picnic
6. Channel your inner pastry chef
7. Play games
8. Take a trip around the world — without leaving home
9. Create a scavenger hunt around the house
10. Create art together
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FAQs
How accurate is the Opendoor preliminary offer? ›
Keep in mind that Opendoor's initial offer is almost always higher than its final offer. That's because the "instant" cash offer is an estimate based on information you provide to Opendoor about your home's size, age, and features. It doesn't account for the actual condition of your home.
Can I negotiate my Opendoor offer? ›Yes, we will negotiate your offer to purchase a home with Opendoor. We send counteroffers by email and we can negotiate by email or phone until an agreement is reached. Depending on the other terms of the contract, we will also negotiate closing costs.
Are Opendoor offers low? ›Lowball Cash Offer: Their cash offers are as low as 70% to 80% of your property's fair market value. High Additional Fees: You have to pay a 5% service fee, repair cost, and a 1% closing cost when you sell your house to Opendoor.
How long does it take to close with an Opendoor? ›Closing with Opendoor can take anywhere from 14-45 days. You'll have a dedicated Opendoor Expert to guide you through every step. Here's how it works. Once you're in contract, an escrow company will reach out within a few business days.
What is the Opendoor controversy? ›The FTC alleged that Opendoor pitched potential sellers using misleading and deceptive information. In reality, most people who sold to Opendoor made thousands of dollars less than they would have made selling their homes using the traditional process and many paid more in costs than what sellers typically pay.
Does Opendoor do a final walkthrough? ›One of the advantages of selling to Opendoor is you don't have to worry about a buyer qualifying for financing; you get the certainty of a competitive, all-cash offer. The final walk-through typically occurs 24 hours before closing.
Why is Opendoor down so much? ›Opendoor has a potentially disruptive real estate business, but a tanking housing market is stifling its growth. It's making progress in house buying and profitability. Opendoor stock trades at a dirt cheap valuation.
Do you lose money selling to Opendoor? ›Those selling their home for the first time or who don't have a strong understanding of the real estate market risk losing a large portion of their net proceeds if Opendoor sends a low offer that is well below the market rate.
Why is Opendoor selling homes at a loss? ›Opendoor sold nearly 20,000 homes in 2023 and is down to just 75 homes from the less profitable inventory it had accumulated before the housing market cooled off in 2022. The company bought 11,246 homes in 2023, nearly a third of what it bought in 2022 (34,962 homes).
Can you back out of an Opendoor contract? ›With Opendoor-Owned Exclusives, you can back out of the purchase any time until closing and for any reason, and receive a full refund of your earnest money deposit. If you plan to finance the purchase of your Opendoor-Owned Exclusive, you'll have 5 days after signing the contract to submit your pre-approval letter.
Why would you sell to Opendoor? ›
What does Opendoor do? Working with an iBuyer like Opendoor fast-tracks the real estate process, making selling or buying a house faster by eliminating traditional real estate agents and paying cash, which means home sellers don't have to wait on a buyer's financing to be approved.
How soon after an appraisal is closing? ›How long does it take after the appraisal to close? Mortgage underwriting and other closing procedures can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 45 days. On average, lenders tell borrowers to expect a 30-45 day window to finish processing everything.
What is a realistic first offer on a house? ›For example, let's say you see similar homes being sold for $10,000 to $15,000 less than the asking price of your potential home. If you're in a buyer's market, it's probably safe to make an offer $10,000 below the asking price.
Will Opendoor negotiate after appraisal? ›Its offers are usually final — although, if Opendoor overlooks a detail that might significantly impact its assessment of your home's value — like an updated kitchen or attic addition — you may be able to get a higher offer. Opendoor also charges all home sellers a non-negotiable 5% service fee to offset its costs.
Is your first offer your best offer in real estate? ›“I always tell my clients from personal experience that your first offer is usually your best offer,” Napolitano says. When there's limited inventory and high buyer demand, sellers generally have more leverage and buyers are typically willing to offer the asking price at the very least when the home hits the market.
Do sellers usually take first offer? ›Real estate agents often suggest that sellers either accept the first offer or at least give it serious consideration. Real estate agents around the world generally go by the same mantra when discussing the first offer that a seller receives on their home: “The first offer is always your best offer.”