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10 Things to Check Before You Buy a Home

Reposted from ApartmentTherapy.com – 10 Things to Check Before You Buy a Home

We’ve learned the hard way that there’s some very important things that should be checked before signing the papers to buy a new home. Sure you can have someone do an inspection and look over the place to make sure you’re termite and flood damage free, but these things fall into a different category — the immediate honey-do list!

Even though there will always be cosmetic changes to make to a new home, trying to avoid costly repairs upon first moving in is always a bonus. Being able to save that money for the dining table of your dreams, or even just for gas and groceries can be extra beneficial. Here’s a few things we suggest checking before you sign the papers and inherit all of the previous tenants past problems.

1. Check The Drains: This might sound silly, but we’ve had two homes with the same issues in the last several years. Somewhere between the house and the sewer line, there’s a backup. Usually tree branches or a collapsed pipe, but either way, it’s hard to spot unless you run a load of laundry, fill up the tub and sinks and let them all attempt to drain at the same time.

2. Open All The Windows: Replacing windows isn’t fun and it isn’t cheap either. Open them all to find out if they stick, are stuck or just plain old won’t open.

3. Turn On All The Faucets: Although changing out faucets isn’t exactly rocket science it’s always a pain to lay under a cabinet and reach for the sky with funny tools to get things removed. Just check to make sure they all work before buying to eliminate the back ache.

4. Light A Fire In The Fireplace: Even though chimneys are usually installed by professionals, that doesn’t mean they’re always in pristine shape. Cleaning them is as simple as a phone call to a local chimney sweep, but finding out if all the fireplaces in the home draft correctly is another.

5. Taste The Water: This lesson is always learned the hard way. Even if your city has great water, your pipes might be old enough that they’ll send a little extra something out of the tap and into your glass. Knowing up front if you’ll need to install a whole house filter or invest in a few Brita pitchers is always helpful.

6. Flush The Toilets: Knowing that all the toilets in the home can handle toilet paper is a bonus. Although they’re easy enough to replace or fix, finding ones that flush well are a bonus. If you’re dissatisfied they could issue you money back to make the replacement in order to get you to sign on the dotted line!

7. Open The Electrical Panel: A clean and labeled panel is a happy panel. Something that looks like squirrels got up inside can signal trouble. Look for loose wires or ones that simply don’t connect to anything. It could signal that there’s live wires inside the walls!

8. Turn On The Heat/Air: Knowing that both of these things work prior to actually needing them can be a serious bonus. Check to make sure they blow their respective temperatures in addition to just turning on.

9. Pull The Carpet Back: Before you move in, you’ll want to find out if there’s hardwood floors and also any mold or mildew under the carpets. Look for the lowest side of the room and if possible pull a corner back. Many homeowners will have a section of carpet removed in a closet to allow you to see the condition of the floors below.

10. Moisture: Although most home inspectors will sniff this one out for you, look for signs of dampness. Even if the walls aren’t apparently wet, look for things like dehumidifiers, bucks of silica or other things that grab moisture from the air and keep it at bay. If the home owners are smart enough to move these things, look for places near outlets that look clean (or leave a dust ring) where something like this might have sat.

Do you have one to add to the list? Share your tip (and story behind it) in the comments below!

The Impact of Over-Pricing

•   Serious buyers look in the price range determined by their down payment and monthly payment ability. Unless your property is priced correctly, the down payment and monthly payment requirements will not be competitive.

•   A buyer who is seriously looking will soon become very knowledgeable in his or her price range. An unreasonable asking price only discourages the buyer from looking at and considering your property.

•   Buyers purchase by comparison and a property that is priced above the competition does not compare favorably. Inviting a buyer to make an offer can indicate that a fair price has not been established.

•   If you plan to adjust your price at the time of sale, it is better to adjust the price now and attract serious buyers from the beginning. This often places you in the favorable position of having more than one buyer interested in your property.

•   It is very difficult to obtain a reasonable offer on an overpriced property. The buyer feels he or she should be just as unreasonable as the seller, and so a very low offer, if any, will be written.

•   By contrast, multiple offers are much easier to obtain on a reasonably priced property. You can then choose which offer to accept, with no obligation to one that does not meet your requirements.

•   It is a mistake to believe that you will get more for a property by asking more. You usually get less because fewer buyers will consider it when it is placed on the market. The right buyers will not see it. The property usually stays on the market so long that it tends to become shopworn.

•   To obtain proper market exposure, it is an absolute necessity to be competitive in price, terms, and condition with similar properties so yours will sell faster. You will also have greater peace of mind and less frustration with selling your property.

Foreclosure vs. Bankruptcy: Which One Hurts Most?

Foreclosure reduces the value of a home by 27 percent on average, according to a new study from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Other kinds of forced sales have less dramatic impacts, the study found.

An estate sale after an owner’s death reduces the price of the home by only 5 percent to 7 percent. A bankruptcy filing cuts the value by an average 3 percent.

Foreclosure discounts are especially large in neighborhoods that are low-priced already, researchers point out, apparently because of concerns over vandalism.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (07/26/2010)

If you or someone you know is facing foreclosure, contact Janet Anderson & Company today. 225-368-3237

For more information on the short sale process and other foreclosure avoidance strategies, visit our website at www.batonrougeforeclosurehelpnow.com

Avoid Foreclosure with Short Sales

A short sale can be an excellent solution for homeowners who need to sell, and who owe more on their homes than they are worth. In the past, it was rare for a bank or lender to accept a short sale. Today, however, due to overwhelming market changes, banks and lenders have become much more negotiable when it comes to these transactions. Recent changes in corporate policy and the Obama administration have also improved the chances of getting a short sale approved.

But to be technical, here’s a more official definition:

* A homeowner is ‘short’ when the amount owed on his/her property is higher than current market value.
* A short sale occurs when a negotiation is entered into with the homeowner’s mortgage company (or companies) to accept less than the full balance of the loan at closing. A buyer closes on the property, and the property is then ‘sold short’ of the total value of the mortgage.

For homeowners to qualify for a short sale, they must fall into any or all of the following circumstances:

* Financial Hardship – There is a situation causing you to have trouble affording your mortgage.
* Monthly Income Shortfall – In other words: “You have more month than money.” A lender will want to see that you cannot afford, or soon will not be able to afford your mortgage.
* Insolvency – The lender will want to see that you do not have significant liquid assets that would allow you to pay down your mortgage.

This seems simple enough, but it is a complicated process that takes the expertise of experienced professionals. I hold the CDPE® Designation and am ready to identify all possible options and, when possible, assist in the quick execution of a short sale transaction.

If you have questions or feel you may qualify for a short sale, please contact me for a free consultation.

Understanding your options now could mean all the difference in the world.

For more information on foreclosure solutions visit our website at www.batonrougeforeclosurehelpnow.com

6 Tips to Keep Cool While Upgrading Your Home

Since we have been posting so many articles about updating your home, this post is here to remind you to take proper precautions to keep your health (and your sanity) intact. In this blistering summer heat, it is very important to be cautious and avoid heat stroke and dehydration. Here’s 5 tips to keep your cool when the work must go on!

1. Hydrate Before, During & After: Before you begin your work, make sure you’ve downed adequate fluids. We’re talking the night before, the morning of and during any project you’ll be undertaking. Your body sweats to cool off and if you’re dehydrated it can make things even toastier! Don’t forget to keep drinking after the job is done, preferably more water than alcohol.

2. Wear Breathable Clothing: Yes you can bust out the sleeveless shirts, but make sure you actually wear one. Your clothing helps wick the sweat away from your body, allowing the air to blow through it and keep you cool. By forgoing clothing you’re actually doing yourself a disservice, even if it means you’ll have a funny tan line later.

3. Fans & Ice: Even if you don’t have the ability to turn on the air conditioning or an attic fan, moving any air can make a difference (even if it’s not cool). Try buying blocks of ice and setting them in front of your fan in a plastic tray or serving dish and let the fan blow over the top. It won’t make your space a meat locker, but it will turn things down by 5 degrees, usually.

4. Take Breaks: Although it can feel like you’re prolonging to time spent being sweaty, taking a few breaks to have a snack or refreshing beverage can help keep your body out of the danger zone before you spontaneously combust!

5. Change of Clothes: Even though we mentioned above that clothes play an important role in keeping your cool, once they’re fully soaked, they don’t hold the ability to continue wicking water. They might to some small degree, but not as efficiently as you need them to. A quick change will do you good and prevent chafing (gross, but true!).

6. Work Early & Late: Try working early, before the sun is in full force and take a nap during the hottest hours of the afternoon heat. Once you’ve rested and the sun has gone done, you can resume work. It’s easier to work ridiculously early or late if given the chance to help keep the temperatures down.

Do you have a heat-busting tip? Let us know below!

Upgrading Your Home on A Shoestring Budget

From REALTOR.com’s Daily Real Estate News
Homeowners who want to sell but don’t have a lot of cash to spruce up their properties might consider these tips from Bankrate.com for upgrading a property without spending a fortune.

  • Polish up the kitchen. Add new cabinet door handles, replace lighting and update the faucet set. Unless the cabinets are mica, give them a fresh coat of paint. Order new doors for kitchen appliances.
  • Tidy up the bath. Replace the toilet seat. Clean up the floor with vinyl tiles or sheet vinyl applied over the old floor. Re-grout the tub and, if the tub is dingy, add a new prefabricated tub and shower surround.
  • Paint the walls.
  • Add closet systems to all the bedrooms, pantry, and entry closets.
  • Hire a plumber and an electrician to fix anything that is loose or that leaks.
  • Clean the carpets or, if they are worn, cover them with area rugs.
  • Replace ceiling lights with inexpensive but attractive fixtures.
  • Refinish or repaint the front door and replace the hardware.
  • Mow the lawn, edge the sidewalks, mulch all the beds and put two big planters at either side of the front door.

For more information on how to fix up your home, go to our Media section and Download our Home Seller’s Handbook.

Preparing to Show Your Home on a Moment's Notice

As much as we would love every potential buyer to provide plenty of advanced notice before scheduling a showing, that is not always the case. Follow these quick tips to ready your home for its best showing when you have 30 or fewer minutes’ notice.

Start where the potential buyers will start:
• Make sure that the front door presents well. Sweep steps, if needed.
• Pick up any out-of-place objects and store them away quickly.

Head inside:
• Open window treatments and turn on lights.
• Put any dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
• Make the beds.
• Put any dirty laundry inside the washing machine.

If you still have time:
• Run a quick vacuum to give carpets and floors a fresh look.
• Wipe down counters and tabletops.
• Warm some vanilla on the stove to give the house a welcoming scent.

While we would all like to have our houses in showroom condition 24 hours a day, we also acknowledge that we live in them. Do your best to present your house in its best light and make sure that every potential buyer has an opportunity to view it—accommodate all showings possible.

Why Buy? 9 Reasons Buying is Better than Renting

1 – Pride in Owning:
Most people buy homes to have control over where they live. Although investment features are important, the psychological reasons for buying—the satisfaction of owning and freedom from paying rent—are at least as important.

In a survey done by the National Association of REALTORS® of 6,000 homeowners and 2,000 renters—perhaps the largest survey ever of attitudes toward home ownership—it was shown that 76 of owners and 66 of renters considered pride of ownership an important reason for buying.

2 – Dislike Paying Rent:
Close to 7 in 10 of almost equal portions of owners and renters expressed a dislike of paying rent as an important reason to buy. Renting offers a lifestyle that’s nearly maintenance-free. That may appeal to you, but consider that renting offers you no equity, no tax benefit, and no protection against regular rent increases. Writing a rent check is just like watching your hard-earned money sail away!

3 – Settling Down:
More than 6 in 10 renters said “settling down” was an important reason to buy.

4 – Good Investment:
76 of owners and 69 of renters said that the investment aspect of ownership was important.

5 – Tax Advantages:
Property taxes and qualified home interests are deductible on Schedule A, for itemized deductions.

6 – Long-Term Appreciation:
People consider home-ownership a good investment because they view it as a long-term venture.

7 – Leverage Investment:
People borrow a great deal to buy homes, yet they receive the full benefits of price appreciation. In the long run, investments in homes far outpace inflation rates.

8 – Source of Savings:
Home-ownership always has been and continues to comprise the single largest source of savings for American households. Homeowners build equity and can borrow against it.

9 – Sacrifices Are Worth It:
Almost 7 in 10 renters in the National Association of REALTORS® home-ownership survey said that they planned to buy a home in the future. More than three-quarters of these people said they were willing to sacrifice to do that.

Selling Your Home

Selling your home involves much more than just placing a “For Sale” sign in your yard and going to the closing. As a REALTOR®, we are here to help you prepare your home for sale, market your home, and guide you through the sale process to ensure you sell your home within your time frame and get the best price possible.

As your REALTOR®, we will determine the correct price range for your home, point out things you should do to make your home more appealing to buyers, and devise the most effective plan of action. Here are some of the steps we will take to sell your home:

  • Review the selling process–without the technical jargon
  • Perform a comparative market analysis
  • Determine the list and target prices
  • Market your property
  • Keep communication open
  • Present the purchase agreement

Factors That Affect Your Home’s Sale

There are three main factors that determine how marketable your home–price, financing, and time.

Price – If your home is priced too high, you must be willing to wait much longer for your home to sell. Either it will take that much longer to find someone to pay more than the home is worth, or the market will eventually catch up to the asking price of the home through inflation.

Financing – You may not realize it, but the financing of your buyer can have a tremendous impact on the success of selling your home. Try to offer very attractive financing options. Consider carrying the financing yourself at a below-market interest rate or preparing your home for government financing. This could open the door for many buyers that otherwise wouldn’t even consider your home.

Time – If your time frame is important then you must be willing to lower the price.

How Much Should You Ask for Your Home?

Of course you want to get the full market value for your home. The first step to getting the best price is to determine your home’s value. As your REALTOR®, we can help you set an asking price by taking the following factors into consideration:

  • Your home’s value may depend on recent selling prices of comparable homes in your area. After reviewing the selling prices for such homes, the price is adjusted according to current market trends.
  • Buyers most likely look in the price range determined by their monthly payment ability and down payment. Buyers are often very knowledgeable in their price range and purchase by comparison. Unreasonable asking prices are an immediate turn-off.
  • Inviting a potential buyer to make an offer shows that you are willing to bargain. However, if your asking price is outrageous, the buyer’s offer will most likely also be unreasonable.
  • It’s necessary to offer pricing, terms and conditions that are competitive in your market. This will help you sell faster and get the full market value.