Posts for Syndication

Finding the right home, your home, can be an exciting time.  So exciting that sometimes home buyers forget some essential steps.  One of those steps is completing your home inspection.

Before the sale is closed and the deed transferred, you will need to have a professional inspection done anytime you purchase a home. Certified Snagging is one of the companies that offer snagging surveys near me.

A full report can be completed in about two hours and will leave you with peace of mind and an awareness of potential issues in your future home. You may even choose to have a professional licensed in asbestos, lead, chemicals, mold, mildew, or pests inspect the home, too, to notify you of any unknown dangers.

Your home covers  the basics concerning:

• • walls
  • ceilings
  • floors
  • your roofs
  • firewalls
  • windows
  • your foundation and slab
  • electrical power
  • water supply and pressure
  • gas lines

Landscaping, walkways and driveways will also be evaluated. While you’re at it, don’t forget about your foundation, you can easily contact Retaining Wall Pavers if you ever need repairs done on it.

An inspector from the best snagging company near me will note grading and drainage.  Any exposed framing in beams, attics, roofing, HVAC and plumbing systems will be inspected, as well. If you lack knowledge on how to deal with those problems, you can check out online sites or seek help from professionals like rusted Roofing Contractors Camas WA.

Generally speaking the age and condition of commercial roofing materials, plumbing and rain gutters will be noted, too, giving you an idea of your home’s maintenance history and if you need any roofing fixes done to your home. Water heaters, fireplaces, water softener and the sprinkler systems, if applicable, should also be evaluated, as should appliances, alarms, and smoke detectors being left in the home to ensure a safe move-in.

Moving from your home can be a stressful experience. Regardless of whether you are moving across town or two states away, it is a process that requires time, organization, and a plan.

If you are selling your home, you probably are already trying to pare down your belongings. Less clutter in your home will result in a quicker sale, easier staging and a reduction in relocation cost, due simply to volume. If you are buying your home, its best to curtail spending until the close of escrow for two reasons; less to move and your finances look better for loan qualification.

As a home seller or home buyer, it is paramount to recognize the time you will need to spend on transitioning your home. Take all deadlines and estimates seriously and make a plan early that breaks down the steps of your move.

Add Order to Your Move
Create lists that detail your timelines and milestones. Plan when your moving date is and then set specific dates when you will hire home movers or commercial movers and pick up boxes and bubble wrap. Think about how you want to notify neighbors of your move and who might help you as your seek to sift through your belongings.

You can elect to pack up your home room by room, color coordinate labels, or enlist the help of others if you approach the move to your home with lists that are easily understood, too. Recognize that you can always call in help if needed through rental, moving services and friends if you discover your plans are being frustrated. Additionally, if repairs are needed, make sure to contact a contractor who can take care of the roofing, residential siding, plumbing, and electrical so that you can be stress-free.

It’s Hard To Say Goodbye
Though your move will undoubtedly be a good thing long-term, any change can be difficult. As you consider leaving friends, co-workers, and relatives on your new adventure, try to plan a last activity where you can all connect, update contact information, and relax. You’ll find that moving can be an emotional whirlwind and having your support group invested in your success will make it easier. If you have children and pets, recognize that they are moving too and plan extra activities and decompression time for them as well.

Stay Well During The Move
Even if you’re the best planner, be prepared for the unexpected. Getting enough sleep, healthy eating, and taking care of yourself will help you adjust to mix-ups and changes. Rely on your lists to give you direction throughout all stages of your move and help you more fully enjoy and embrace relocating your home.

Buyers for your home may be interested in more than just the number of bedrooms and baths, reported the National Association of Realtors® in their just released survey results. The 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences study studied trends in home buying over the two year period ending in 2012 and gave some insight you may want to consider when selling your home.

While location is always a factor in home buying, the study showed that recent home purchases averaged home sizes of 1,860 square feet. Many of the homes were newer too, with the typical home purchased having been built in 1996, and more than half of the homes bought being single story.

Depending on the area of your home, different features are more highly valued. In the South, for instance, central air conditioning is a must-have, while results of the entire survey only revealed it to be of prime importance to 65 percent of home purchasers. In fact buyers still searching for a home actually stated that they would be willing to pay an average of $2,520 more for a home with central air conditioning installed by a professional a/c service.

Hardwood floors were another much loved feature, and considered a big value to those living in the Northeast. Garages, however, and other storage was determined to be needed across the nation, with 78 percent of recent home buyers requiring garages and 39 percent of home buyers requiring a walk in closet in the master bedroom.

According to NAR President Gary Thomas, “Deciding where to live comes with a lot of options, but buyers quickly realize that some features are more important than others when it comes to choosing the right house for them.” He further explained that when searching for homes, “Buyers need to have a clear idea of what features are important to them and know where they are willing to compromise; in this respect, Realtors® can bring buyers home. Realtors® visit hundreds of homes with buyers each year, and have a unique understanding of what buyers value in their local markets.”

You can read more of the details outlined in the 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences by clicking here.

Warmer weather and cloud-free skies may have you dreaming of leaving your home for a vacation or trying hiking, skydiving, and other cool stuff.

No matter where you choose to journey for your break away trip, take the time to make preparations to your home before leaving, for example you can use information, as this Mold And Water Damage Prevention: How To Protect Your Home When Going Holiday Vacation.

A few smart steps toward protecting your home while you are way, could mean the world to you when you return.

Tips For Securing Your Home

• Appoint a look-out.  Ask a good friend or “watch-worthy” neighbor to keep an eye on your place while you’re away.
• Wait until after you return from vacation to post your photos to Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.  Otherwise you are alerting “friends” and others that may be less than friendly of your absence.
• Think about ways to keep your home from looking empty while you are vacationing.  From house sitters and timers to placing holds on your mail and newspaper delivery, there is plenty you can do to make your home seem less vacant. 
• Secure your garage door and any pet entrances with locks before leaving town as it can provide easier access to your home. Call on a garage door service professional to conduct a garage door repair if necessary.
  
• Timed lights, a well-kept home, and motion detectors can be a deterrent to thieves as well.
• And although pets can be a great deterrent to those who may harm your home, when you leave town, you must make arrangements for their boarding and care.

As a home buyer or home seller, when it comes to your home, you expect your real estate agent to be up to date on the latest technology. You want us to have an active web presence and list your home on social media so that you can get the most exposure possible for your home.

But were you aware that many single-family home builders and remodeling professionals are tech savvy, too? Do you research the contractors or home remodel services you hire to complete your home renovation projects online before having the work completed? These days you can.

In a recent study from the National Association of Home Builders, more than 80 percent of construction professionals utilized smart phones and computers and most, over 70 percent, used laptops to conduct business operations and manage projects, as well.

Many of these service providers seek ratings and pay attention to client satisfaction, but only about 20 percent allow customers to track project progress through technology. Still, this is one area where technology has experienced huge increases in the last two decades.

As consumers have become more comfortable with their technology, they’ve come to expect it from their construction professionals, many of whom they even connect with on Facebook and LinkedIn. In fact, the study revealed that it may be possible for some remodelers and small builders to double their share of business by using downloadable brochures and sharing new home buying details on their websites.

As a consumer, do you agree? Do you want and need technically proficient builders and remodelers? Do you enjoy looking through website portfolios when deciding on your contractor or do you make your decision on a face-to-face meeting?

I’m sure it’s much the same as being a real estate agent. My clients love searching for homes on my website, doing their own research on my communities and calling me as they have questions or are ready to actively pursue home buying and home selling. Still, nothing beats a face-to-face meeting!

If you are curious about how technology has changed the construction and home building industry, see the full report here.

The secret to a winning Thanksgiving in your home is to approach it with a sense of gratitude.

Compose your guest list of those you love and are glad to have in your life and include them in the meal preparation. Including your guests can be as simple as asking them to contribute a dish to the meal or you can invite a few to be a little more hands on and actually prepare the meal as a group at your home.

When assigning out parts of the meal, it’s best to determine what “makes sense” to alleviate stress on you as host. If Aunt Sue is driving 2 hours to enjoy the holiday meal, a room temperature appetizer or salad will likely be a better choice for her to bring than the masked potatoes which should be served piping hot. If your son is notoriously late for family gatherings, perhaps assigning him a dessert or some beverages is the best approach.

Managing a Big Meal in Your Home

If the entire meal is to be created in your kitchen, create a timeline or vision of how and when the preparation should flow. In most cases your main course will take time to cook, so plan how and whether your side dishes, rolls, and dessert will fit into your overall timeframe. Utilize crock-pots to expand your ability to keep foods warm and consider which items can be made in the days prior to the event to prevent a time-crunch. Ask for help as needed and be sure to leave some easy last-minute preparations available to assign to guests who “want” to help as they arrive, such as tossing a salad or stirring the gravy.

When it comes to the actual meal, serve what you want, keeping in mind that any family traditions will need to be served as well. To prevent cries of “Where’s the…” or “Why are there nuts in the…” its best to stick to the well-loved recipes you’ve always served while adding in new ones, rather than changing up the tried and true. If you always cook a turkey, add in a ham or vegetarian dish instead of replacing the item. And, if you’re cooking a turkey, please use a meat thermometer to judge doneness and forgo basting the final hour of cooking to create a golden, crispy skin.

Lastly, keep in mind that this is a meal to be enjoyed by all who enter your home, including you. Take a break to relax and enjoy the meal alongside your family and allow everyone to help with clean up. You’ll be grateful you did, and so will they!

You may have been talking with a neighbor or simply heard a snippet on the radio or television, but suddenly you are aware that right now is a “seller’s market.” Thoughts of an instant million dollar sale of your home or timing the selling of your home may be coursing through your brain and if so, you should consult with a knowledgable real estate agent to get the inside scoop. Many areas are experiencing low home volume and high demand which could place your home for sale in prime position.

As a home owner, you may not understand the technicalities behind multiple offers and so working with a local real estate agent can provide you with the much needed guidance you’ll require to navigate your home sale. There are some simple steps that can aid you in getting multiple offers and the basics are outlined below.

Sell Your Home For More Money

• Stage Your Home for Sale – In a “seller’s market,” potential buyers know they need to act fast to put in an offer on the house (or houses) they like. Make sure yours is on that list by tending to every detail, cleaning is a big part of it, so don’t forget to clean every single spot, if necessary hire the pressure washing service in Katy TX for an more intense cleaning.
• Spread the Word – From hosting a Broker’s Preview to the open house and other advertising, make sure that your home for sale is being properly promoted. Attention must be drawn to your home in order for it to be seen and offers to be submitted. Give your home the promotion it needs or find a real estate agent who will, so you can wait for the offers to roll in.
• Ask for a Lockbox – To have multiple offers, multiple people need to view your home (in staged condition) at all times. Realize that getting your home sold quickly will likely mean a bit of inconvenience for you in the short term. The sooner you accept an offer, however, the less time you’ll need to spend adjusting your lifestyle.

If you need more advice or simply want a real estate agent you can trust with your home, please don’t hesitate to call.  I’d love to get you multiple offers!

Buying a home starts with determining how much house you can afford. While it’s important to be careful of buying more house than you can afford, changes in the mortgage industry make doing that nearly impossible these days.

Recent restrictions on debt to income ratios, required documentation, and loan to value amounts have established industry standards that aid in preventing homeowners from buying more home than is affordable. While restrictive, these requirements can put your mind at ease as a homeowner, knowing that you are not in over your head in the purchase of your home.

With that in mind, the key in home buying is to buy as much home as you can afford! Interest rates are at their lowest in decades and home values are still in question in many areas, allowing you to enter low on both counts and possibly purchase your home for much less of a monthly payment than you would normally expect. As values begin to return, interest rates may start to increase, too, allowing you less home for the same monthly amount.

According to West Coast-based Mortgage Banker Ken Starks, “At this point in the market cycle, interest rates are as low as they EVER have been, and real estate values appear to have fallen all they will fall in many markets across the country.” Starks added, “These two factors alone combine to create the buying opportunity of a lifetime with the possibility of excellent long term real estate gains and long term low payments.”

As a potential home buyer researching loan products, there really are not many options commonly chosen these days. Most home buyers choose a fixed rate 30 or 15 year mortgage. This week’s average rates for both fixed rates are under 3.5%, according to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey®.  Specialty products and adjustable rate mortgages are still offered at times, but generally only to individuals with high net worth and disposable income (who really don’t need the loan).

Many new home buyers turn to FHA loans as they allow more flexibility on down payments, credit scores, and debt to income ratios. While FHA loans may initially seem to have more fees, a good mortgage company will work with you and often absorb that cost to get you the right loan, so don’t be afraid to compare rates when buying your home.

Guides For Buying Your Home

If you are considering buying a home, consider the additional guides below when determining your price point and work with an agent who knows your area, to find you the best home that delivers value, in your budget and in the best location.

• Stay within the income guidelines, having only 30% of your income being related to housing costs (including HOA fees if applicable).
• Keep your TOTAL debt under 40%.
• Read the fine print. If you are withdrawing from a savings plan (such as a 401K or IRA) for your down payment, be aware of any penalties or restrictions before you count on the money and plan accordingly.
• Plan on something going wrong and maintain some savings. Many new homeowners find themselves challenged when disaster strikes. Whether the trouble results from a natural disaster or one that’s man-made, reserving at least 3 months of expenses in a savings account, will help you to weather the storms of life, and enjoy your home long-term.

Valentines Day is fast approaching and love is in the air.  Share a little extra love with your home for sale this week and you may find a buyer sooner than you thought!  Buying a home is largely an emotional decision.  Buyers may try to rationalize, set limits, make T-charts, and even compromise when searching for a home, however typically the sale is made when a potential buyer “falls in love” with your home for sale.

As a home seller, you may feel challenged in trying to anticipate what you can do to make your home more inviting and attractive to a prospective buyer.  However, the following easy steps can welcome your buyer instantly and help them to feel as though they are “coming home” when they enter your property, so read on.

First, look out your windows.  Are they clean and inviting?  Do you have a pleasant view or can you camouflage it with some temporary plants just outside the window?  Whenever you leave or anticipate a home showing, remember to leave the window coverings open so natural lighting can show off your property.  The more light the better, so evaluate whether additional room lighting should be left on,  as well.  If the weather is nice and the outside noise quiet, consider leaving a window open to create a slight breeze.

Is your home comfortable looking?  Is the temperature moderate and the ambiance set without being overdone?  Soft music, flowing water from a fountain, or fresh flowers can leave a lasting impression about the “feel” of a home.

Your goal is to intrigue the senses throughout your home.  Whether it’s a soft blanket or an antique desk; if you have an unusual and beautiful showpiece, show it off.  Creating a lasting impression through touch or evoking a memory, since these are often reasons later given for why a particular home was chosen.  The sense of smell is very powerful, too, so keep in mind that baking cookies REALLY can help in the sale of your home.  If you do have the smell of baked goods lingering in your home, please make sure the cookies are available for potential buyers so disappointment does not cloud their view of your property.

Lastly, leave the house.  That’s right – let the potential buyer have a chance to feel that the house is theirs – if even for 15 minutes.  Your home buyer needs to feel as if they are in their new home.  For this reason, many professional home stagers recommend eliminating personal effects and photos when a home is being shown.  Remember, your main job as a home seller is to prepare your home so potential home buyers feel a sense of ownership and an urgency to make it theirs before they leave.

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Is it time to sell your rental property, but you’re not sure how to deal with the current tenants? If you’re a landlord, selling a home that is currently occupied is not as straightforward as a traditional sale. It’s important to consult a landlord attorney to know what a tenant’s rights are, and how best to handle the transition. Here’s a rundown of what you need to consider.

The type of lease your tenant signed

If your tenant is on a month-to-month lease, check state law to determine how much notice you need to give them to vacate. Typically it is 30 to 60 days. Next, send a letter to your tenant advising them of your intent to sell and the date their lease will end.

Conversely, if your tenant signed a fixed-term lease, you are obligated to let them live out the term of the lease. The lease can only be terminated early if it is stipulated in writing, or if the tenant has violated any terms of the lease.

Showing the property

If you have a difficult tenant, it may not be in your best interest to show the property while it is still occupied. An unhappy tenant likely won’t do you any favors, least of all getting the home clean and ready for a showing. If your home doesn’t look its best to potential buyers, it could impact the number and quality of the offers you receive. But if your tenant recently just moved out but the place still needs some cleaning, you should immediately hire the best move-out cleaning services to greatly improve your selling points.

On the other hand, if you have an agreeable tenant, you may be able to work out a situation where you can show the property while it’s occupied. It’s easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in a home that is occupied, as opposed to one that is vacant. Be aware that you need to give proper notice to your tenant before you, an agent or potential buyers stop by. This is typically at least 24 hours.

Selling to an investor

If you’re interested in selling your property before your tenant vacates, you might consider selling to an investor. In most cases, investors will be thrilled to know that the unit is already rented. The new owner is obligated to honor the current tenant’s lease, so you won’t have to worry you’re kicking anyone to the curb, although if he does decide to move because of this, maybe he can get help from a denver relocation specialists who are great at getting rental or buying choices for this

Selling to the tenant

If your tenant is quite happy living in the home, it’s possible that they would be interested in buying it. This can be a win-win situation for everyone. But what happens if your tenant doesn’t qualify for a mortgage? In that instance, you could offer seller financing, where the new owner makes payments to you instead of the bank.

When all else fails

If you find yourself in a position where your hands are tied, you do have other options. First, you can offer a discount on rent to get your tenant to cooperate about showings. A little break on their monthly expenses might encourage them to be amenable to interruptions and to keep the home clean. Second, you can offer to pay your current tenant to leave by essentially buying them out of their lease. You can also offer to pay their moving costs and security deposit at their next place.

Compliments of Virtual Results