For both sellers and buyers make sure that you always gather data about things. Look at the newspaper in that area for things like foreclosed homes, current and historic median selling prices and also how long homes are staying on the market. Also look up things like unemployment rate and crime rates for the area.

Chose a real estate agent that is dedicated to working for you. A good Realtor should be available before, during and after a sale. Ask the Realtor for references before making a decision. This person will be your eyes and ears in this process so make sure they are someone you can trust to stick with you.

Real estate is still the best investment you can make. If you take out a loan to buy your home, you are earning interest in appreciation on someone else’s money. Even after you pay the mortgage and insurance, the government subsidizes that by taking it out of your income as a deduction.

Inspecting the property you are buying is very important. Most people only order the structural inspection of the house. In older houses it is also advisable to look for the signs of rodent infestation. This is not only an aesthetic issue. It can also cause long term health problems and clearly shows poor maintenance.

After you sign a contract purchasing a home, don’t lose touch with your realtor or lender. Things don’t always go as smoothly as they’ve been planned. Keeping in touch ensures that you will be informed right away if something goes wrong with your financing or your homeowner’s insurance policy.

When you are looking for a new home, make sure that the home has quite a bit of storage space. This would include closets in the bedrooms and other storage areas for other things. It is always nice to have plenty of room for storage because then it helps you keep your home looking nice and organized instead of looking cluttered.

When going to open houses, it is necessary to bring a seasoned and experienced rehab contractor. The rehab contractor will be able to help you accurately estimate the cost of repair for houses. Also, they may be able to spot defects that you may have missed during a self inspection.

If you are looking into purchasing a home to run a business out of, make sure that the area is zoned for commercial use before you purchase. If the property is not zoned correctly you may not be able to operate your business. There are many real estate properties that are zoned for both commercial and residential use.

One of the worst ways to prevent the purchase of a potentially good home is to over analyze the home. Over analyzing property causes you to have doubts about it. When you have doubts about the property, you will begin to second guess yourself and decide against buying something good.

To improve your credit report, do not accept any grace periods from your credit card companies. These offers might be tempting but it is better for your credit score to pay the minimum balance rather than to accept this kind of offer. Ideally, you should pay a little more than the minimum balance.

Avoid beginning any new forms of credit when you are applying for a mortgage loan. When you apply for credit, such as credit cards, there will be an inquiry on your credit report. This can ultimately lower your credit score which could mean higher interest rate for your mortgage loan. You should wait until your closing is complete before you open any new lines of credit.

If possible, buy a home close to your family. Living near family members means that you will have extra help and guidance, particularly if you have young children in your home. Not only will you save on travel costs and babysitters, you will be flooded with a wealth of emotional support.

If you are purchasing your first home, chances are you will need a down payment, which can sometimes be the hardest part of the purchase. Financing this could range from selling off some of your personal assets or asking for help from parents, friends or other relatives. Of course, saving for this on your own for a few years is always a good option as well.

Make sure to read every document that is handed to you when you are purchasing a home. This is the biggest purchase that you will ever make; you need to understand what you are signing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need clarification about something and review all your paperwork before you close. There may not be sufficient time at closing to allow you to carefully read the documents.

If you have ever lost a home to foreclosure it may be a little harder to get another home, but it is not impossible. Most mortgage guarantors will back another loan for you after three years if you lost your home due to something that was out of your control.

If you’re buying real estate as an investment, you cannot assume what other people may want. People’s desires change depending on the state of the market, so always opt for low-priced property over property you feel to be more desirable to people. The object is to sell for a profit, not to leave a house sitting on the market for years.

Do not ever buy real estate you have not seen. It does not matter how close you are to your realtor, or how often you play golf with your mortgage lender. You must go to a property before you invest, and make sure that you are getting what you are paying for.

No doubt, the above article has given you some practical suggestions to make wise choices regarding real estate purchases. Use the advice that fits your circumstances. Make your experience a success!

The use of innovations and technology in civil construction has popularized the concept of  “Construction 4.0” . Software, intelligent tools and other applications provide countless gains for construction companies, whether financially, reducing waste or helping to optimize deadlines.

This theme has strengthened with the advancement of the segment , especially in recent years, just after the declaration of a pandemic, in which the area managed to keep growing even in the midst of the crisis caused by Covid-19 .

Below you can see a list of the five main trends for civil construction in 2022 , a period that marks the resumption of business in the national and global economy. Check out:

Three-dimensional prints

3D printers came to revolutionize construction methods. The use of these machines makes it possible to quickly and accurately develop objects or buildings prototyping.

Its uses range from the creation of small molds to the development of “models” for the elaboration of projects, together with the architecture team. Another usability of three-dimensional prints, but on larger scales, is the constructions themselves being made using large printers.

But you may ask yourself, how is this possible? It is an innovation in the segment, made by larger machines, similar to desktop 3D printers. Through a digital design (made on a computer), the automated structure deposits the material in layers at the construction site. These will solidify and, little by little, transform into the designed format.

The biggest advantage of this method is in its execution, since it is built automatically through an intelligent system . Reducing material waste is also another benefit found.

Some systems are able to calculate the amount of material needed and the estimated time for construction. This technology is already popular in countries like China , with housing construction, diverse structures and even dams.

Virtual and augmented reality

With the technologies available on the market, new options for viewing environments within civil construction have emerged. These are two technologies that have also become popular in the segment, virtual and augmented reality . But do you know the difference between the two and how they help professionals as well as clients?

– Virtual reality: through specific glasses, this device transports the user into a new reality, which can be, for example, a 3D environment of the project to be built – an immersive visualization of space. It can be used for approval of a project by the construction company or even to facilitate the purchase of property by the client.

– Augmented reality: this technology, on the other hand, brings the three-dimensional drawings into the screen of the cell phone, tablet or other device. It is possible to have the visualization of the floor plan of the property, for example, in an interactive way. A possibility to present and analyze elements in greater detail. This facility is used to visualize potential buyers or professionals in the segment, to adapt the projects.

These are technologies that add and enhance the experience of both fronts in the segment.

Virtual reality uses visual and sound effects, and simulates – in a virtual way – a real environment. The user can interact with what he is seeing or not, according to the system settin

BIM Concept

The popularization of this concept has also spread in recent years. The BIM concept ( Building Information Modeling ) or Building Information Modeling is a process that involves several tools for designing projects, with the help of software and parameterized three-dimensional files .

Its use occurs in practically all phases of the work, from the feasibility of the project to its planning and execution.

have been making their products available in this format. These file libraries go beyond visual representation. They have the 3D drawings of the products and technical information necessary for the correct application or use of the material.

This evolution in the segment generates benefits for both sides, whether for the manufacturing industry or for the professional, who will specify the item in future works.

The use of the BIM concept, as well as augmented reality, provides customization and better project management. 

Use of drones

Drones (small unmanned aircraft) have revolutionized the world of cinema when it comes to capturing images and, when applied to the construction segment, their use is no different .

Being a great alternative for hiring helicopters – used to take photographs of the projects’ areas -, drones have come to provide excellent cost-benefit for companies at construction sites.

Its use in the segment goes beyond capturing images. The aircraft also assists in other stages, such as mapping the terrain (topographic mapping of the location), monitoring and inspiration of the work, in addition to bringing more safety and agility to the process.

In an exclusive post by Cerâmica Ermida, you can find more details about the importance of using drones in construction .

Drones in civil construction, for example, help in the process of collecting aerial images, enabling audits in works, inspecting public works. 

Safety and sustainability

And last but not least, safety and sustainability have also become a trend in civil construction .

The segment started to place sustainable constructions as a priority, whether in relation to the raw materials acquired or in the construction processes, for example.

The purchase of materials from sustainable sources, use of renewable energy, reduction in the emission of pollutants at the construction site, among other aspects, are characteristics that have come to guide the universe of large construction companies, aligned with the concept of ESG – acronym for ” environmental, social and governance” (in Portuguese).

The safety of professionals and enterprises has also become even more important in recent times. A trained and properly equipped team with security devices is what companies are looking for lately, for the good of all.

The theme “safety” also reaches what is often not visually perceptible: such as the use of materials certified by competent bodies. 

Buildings with green facades are examples of sustainable construction, found mainly in large metropolises.

Ermida Ceramics, synonymous with safety and quality

A reference company in the construction materials market, with a complete line of ceramic blocks. There are several certified models, which bring tranquility to the most varied types of constructions, whether using structural blocks, sealing or ceramic channels , all models manufactured with cutting-edge technology.