Saturday, May 18, 2013

Adding Life To The Basement

The basement is the hardest part of the house to decorate, because they are dark and many times damp.
 
Many home buyers use the basement as a storage unit for anything they do not want seen in the rest of the house. If you only use your basement for a storage space, then you are spending a lot of money on storage.
 
Every room in your house, including the basement, should be fully lived in, and a home with a basement should be used as a living area. So think about this when you start to decorate the basement. Also basements are the safest place to go, when there are tornado warnings.

 
Before you start decorate the basement, confirm that the area is dry. Inspect the exterior walls for moisture and make sure that the ground is sloping away from the foundation walls. The next thing you should do is find out whether you need to get a permit for the finish out work.
 
Basements need alot of light.  Keep the walls painted a light color.  Recessed lighting is great since you don't want fixtures hanging from a low ceiling. 


However you decide to decorate your basement,  just be sure that you use your basement for living space.  Don't get discouraged, you will actually love this room once you get all the work completed and add some great furniture.
 
Related Article: http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2013/02/staging-your-home.html#!/
 
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

10 Things to Avoid When Buying a Home

Don't buy a new car on credit. I have seen, too many times, financing fall through because the buyer decided to purchase a new car on credit while waiting to close on your property. So now the loan amount you were once qualified for before you bought the car dries up, because you now have the car payments.

Don't apply for any new credit cards. Applying for new credit cards, will lower the amount you are qualified for.

Don't change jobs. You need to show job stability.

Don't make an offer on a home, until you know exactly how much you can afford. And the offer should be subject to a home inspection by a professional home inspector.

Don't make an offer on a house, until you are sure you can get out of your lease agreement without a stiff penalty.

Don't get excited and buy a home on an impulse. Make sure the home is right for you and your family.

Don't ever think that a late penalty will not show up on your credit report, because it will. So pay any late fees that you owe ASAP.

Don't purchase a home that will be hard for you to sell. Think about resale when you are looking to make an offer on the home.

Don't over extend yourself by the purchase of the home. No one wants to end up being house broke.

Don't look for a home alone.  You need to have someone with you and that could include your realtor.
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Thursday, May 9, 2013

What Is My House Really Worth?


If you are getting ready to put your house on the market, then you need to know what your house is really worth to get the best price. You will need to know the market, and you need to know if there are any potential repairs that need to be made to your property. Then your going to have to get your house ready to be put on the market.

There are five steps that I recommend.

1. Getting your home appraised. You need the appraisal so you can validate your list price, and also have a comparison.
2. Having a home inspection. You need this so you will know up front if there are any potential problems and know exactly what condition your house is in.
Ordering an appraisal and getting the home inspection are the two most important steps to be done before you make any other decisions. 
3. Getting the title work done up front.
4. Offer a home warranty.
5. Staging your house. The house needs to look great. Read my article " First Impressions When Showing A Property". Staging the house includes a wide variety of projects from interior updates to seasonal landscaping color. http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2012/11/first-impressions-when-showing-property.html
You need to have all the details taken care of so when the buyer's inspection takes place, there is nothing left to do.
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Monday, May 6, 2013

Why Is Time The Seller's Worst Enemy?


Time can be the worst enemy for the seller of a home or property. Why? Because the law of the unintended, or better known as Murphy's Law, often rears it's ugly head.

The longer you wait for your buyer to close on your property, the more problems can and almost inevitably will come up. The buyer could lose his job, get a divorce, get laid off, or suffer from an unexpected pay cut or reduction in hours. These are common problems that I have seen many times. [Web Master's Note - The new federal health insurance law, also known as "Obamacare", redefined full time work as those who get more than 28 hours a week, as a result a great many people will experience a reduction in work hours].

I have seen, too many times, financing fall through because the buyer decided to purchase a new car on credit while waiting to close on your property, so the loan amount the buyer was qualified for before he bought the car dries up because said buyer now has car payments.

Calamities can also happen to the seller. How many homes that were for sale, or in the process of being sold, were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Sandy? Thieves can break in to steal appliances or the pipes, which are sold to recyclers. The bottom line is that too many things can happen when you are waiting around for a closing date. Be smart, set a closing date that is realistic. If the buyer asks for more time you need to know why with no ambiguity. If the buyer asks for a delay you would be wise to ask for some additional non refundable earnest money, along with a letter from his lender explaining exactly why he is asking for an extension, and how long it will take for the lender to get everything the buyer needs to close the deal.

If you are not a realtor and your trying to sell the property on your own, do your homework up front and be very careful in your negotiations. Make certain that you know what you are doing. Legal issues are just the first in a string of problems that can manifest themselves. Be smart, if you are not legitimately confident in what you are doing find a good realtor that has some years of experience to get the house sold and closed for you. Remember selling the house is merely a small part of the process, getting to and completing a legal closing should not be left to guesswork.

Related Articles

http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2013/02/selling-your-pet-friendly-home.html
http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2012/11/first-impressions-when-showing-property.html
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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

First Impressions Can Make Or Break The Sale


A first impression is not "everything" when selling a home, but it certainly is the lions share. Most home buyers decide on whether or not to view a home based solely on the first impression. A good first impression leaves an aesthetic value with the customer and can translate into thousands for the seller in a negotiated price.

You want to be sure that the buyer gets out of the car and looks at your house. What should you do? 

Make certain the yard is manicured nicely and there is some nice color around the front of the house. Flower beds are a popular choice. Edge the sidewalks and remove all dead vegetation. Police the yard of leaves and sticks, if there are any tree limbs touching the roof make sure to have them trimmed or removed. Some mistakes can make a good first impression impossible, such as wiring hanging off the house, gutters that aren't cleaned out or hung properly. Sometimes a house will need to be pressure washed if there is dirt on the siding and dingy decks. 

Make sure all safety issues are repaired before you show the house. A buyer who trips and falls on the deck that has loose wood, or a slight tear in the carpet inside the house will have bad feelings every time they think of the home. No compromise, look at each feature of the house and make certain there are no safety issues before you show the property for the exterior as well as the interior. 

Some simple things you can do to improve the first impression of your home is to clean the windows and screens make sure the front door is free of fading or chipping paint. Remove any window stickers Many times, kids will put stickers on the light switches and walls, pull those off and clean. Appliances need to be cleaned, inside and out. If appliances cannot be made to look good, consider replacing them. No one wants a rusty stove or stained dishwasher.The hardware all needs to shine, so clean it up. 

Make sure all the light bulbs are working. Burned out light bulbs are a real turn off. If there is a ceiling fan, make sure it works, is free of dust, and the light bulbs are burning. Think of it as a first date, you want the house to look the very best it can possibly look. 

Discoloration leaves a bad first impression, but vibrant colors and a well kept appearance send a message to the prospective buyers that the property was taken care of. Some interior walls may need to have a fresh coat of paint, floors cleaned and polished and carpets looking like new. 

Discoloration of a deck is often overlooked by sellers, but it is not overlooked by buyers. Discoloration on decks and exterior surfaces do not just simply need to be repaired, it may be important to know the source of the discoloration so it can be cured and not return. This is very important. 

Buyers are looking for anything to help bring down the price. They will have a discriminating eye and so should you. Look under all kitchen and bathroom cabinets to ensure there are no stains from water leaks or discoloration. Everything from the inside out needs to shine. 

Ask friends and relatives to name the worst feature about the property, then brainstorm how you can get that feature replaced or repaired, so you can overcome that obstacle. 

After the first impression three things will either excite or turn off the perspective buyer, kitchens, bathrooms and the odor. The house needs to smell good if you want to get it sold. 

Replacing all faucets is inexpensive and will go a long way, as years of use often leaves them looking tattered, leaky and unkempt. The kitchen and bath rooms are the two most important rooms, in my opinion, that will make the buyers want to consider the purchase of the property. Do whatever it takes to make them look functional and appealing. If the perspective buyer is "wowed" by the kitchen and bathroom it will mean a quick sale and thousands on the price. 

Always remember that buying a home is a little like a courtship, the little things matter. Buyers do not want to move into a home just to immediately start doing maintenance to the property. Make the buyer happy means making them imagine how great it would be to live in the house, any flaw takes away from the vision. 

Related Articles

http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-is-my-house-really-worth.html
http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2013/02/selling-your-pet-friendly-home.html
http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2013/02/staging-your-home.html
http://lea-france-fannie-mae.blogspot.com/2013/02/how-important-is-curb-appeal.html
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Friday, April 12, 2013

A Cut Above!

Everyone has been asking, "which company makes the best lawn mower"? I really don't have an opinion, because it all depends on what your needs are for you and your lawn. I do think that if you have a large yard, say an acre or even more, then it might be nice for you to buy a riding mower. Make a list of what your mowing needs are, such as, do you want the lawn mower to mulch and bag grass for you? Check with your friends and neighbors to see what their thoughts are on different lawn mowers, and also be sure to check with "consumers on line" for lawn mowers, (the link is below).
 
The schedule for mowing is "mowing when the yard needs to be mowed" during the growing season. There is not a set pattern or day of the week, it may not always be a Saturday that you need to mow. So there is really no set schedule. Also, mowing at the correct height and frequency is important to keep your yard healthy for good curb appeal. Additionally, changing the direction of the cut each time you mow, creates a nice look. Don't cut the grass too short, if there is no reason.
 
Each season, there are a lot of people injured with power mowers. Be sure that before you mow, that you know the equipment thoroughly, and keep children and pets away from the mower. Be very careful and wear gloves when you are fueling up the mower. Read all the directions and safety issues before you ever use the lawn mower for the first time.
 
For me, I always liked the "push mower", that is the mower that does not have an engine. I enjoyed bagging all the grass myself, even with a big back yard. Read my article below regarding "curb appeal" for additional tips.
 
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Friday, April 5, 2013

The Sharpest Yard Around

It's that time of the year again to get the yard cleaned up, and looking like "the sharpest yard around".  Below are a few tips and articles on how to get the best results.

The link just below, tells what actually happens to your yard in the wintertime? http://solutions.edf.org/2011/09/27/where-do-lawns-go-in-the-wintertime/

Now before you start on the yard work, make sure the roof is cleaned off and there are no tree branches or leaves left on the roof. The dead tree branches can also damage your roof if not removed. Also clean out all the gutters and make sure the gutters are secured.

Make a list of things that need to be done, then organize the task. Before you get started, I recommend wearing a mask, so you can try to avoid the fungal disease known as "snow mold" which is left on all the dead leaves and litter.

Rake all the litter from the yard and flower beds so you can actually see what is left. Please do not use a "leaf blower". The articles below tells how leaf blowers scour the earth stripping off the topsoil, desiccating roots, and killing vital soil dwelling organisms, while propelling into the air clouds of dirt, dust and dangerous contaminants, volatile compounds, mold and fungal spores, insect eggs, pollen, molecules of myriads of toxic chemicals that people spray and sprinkle on their yards. Not to mention bird and rodent feces. Yes, this is disgusting.
 
Trimming of all tree limbs and bushes will need to be done. Larger trees will need to be professionally trimmed.

Mow and edge the yard, before you add any new plants.

Before you purchase and plant any flowers or trees, you need to know where to place them. Will the new plants need direct sun, or shade? Knowing what the plants needs, will help you to know what you should purchase and what has the best change of growing in your yard. You do want to have the sharpest yard around, so this is going to take spending a little money on some new plants.

Mulch the ground before you replace flowers and bushes.

Fertilizing your grass? Avoid synthetic fertilizers, especially those that are nitrogen-based. Their manufacture produces large amounts of global warming pollution.

This work should be done in stages, not all in one day. It is a big job, especially if you have a big yard. Once you have the yard completely finished, then clean off your patio furniture and enjoy
having "the sharpest yard around".


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