Wednesday, April 8, 2015

What's a fixture and why does it stay with the house?

The law of fixtures. When personal property is permanently attached to a structure or land, by means of bolts, screws, nails, cement, glue or other permanent attachment, it becomes a fixture which is part of the real estate.

Now does that mean everything that I have nailed or screwed into my house has to stay?
No, it doesn't.

Your art work and general wall decor stays with you when you sell.
However, curtain rods, not curtains, window shades and blinds are fixtures. Light fixtures such as chandeliers sconces and ceiling fans, and kitchen tracking like those pot holders that hang from the ceiling are, as well. Of course, there are other such things that qualify as fixtures as well, all plants or flowers that have roots affixed to the ground are also considered fixtures, so you cannot take those with you when you sell.

If there's something you really want to keep from your house, I suggest removing and replacing it with something else before you list it on the market. If the buyer never sees it, they won't want it. Expensive rods with lesser ones, cheaper appliances and lighting fixtures are just some ideas.

Now while I recommend that you can remove some fixtures you would like to keep, always replace it with something else. You do not want to leave an empty space and risk the buys attention to that. They will ask what use to be there, and why it's no longer there, and that could cause major problems.

I hoped this helped, until next time!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Be a Picky Buyer


Now when I say be a picky buyer, I do not mean that you should ask your Real Estate Agent to show you forty houses. You have access to the MLS from your agent. You may like forty houses, however they may not all be up to scratch for you, and that is fine. Narrow those prospects down before you call your agent for showings.
Why?
It is a waste of time for both you and your agent to look at that many houses, when most of the time you can drive up and tell whether you would want it or not before you get out of the house.
How can you do this?
Sit down and determine exactly what you want. The most precise highest quality home you want. How many bedrooms? Baths? Garage? Basement? City? Price? Etc...
From there, what you are willing to forego.
Then look through the MLS and narrow based on your Highest and Lowest ideal houses.
Once you have narrowed your list to 10 houses or less, take a drive by the front of the house. Does this seem right? Do you want to live here? Is the neighborhood something you want to live in? If you answered yes to these questions, call your agent and schedule a showing.
Not every house will meet your dream ideal. And this is a big decision. For some this is the only time they will buy a house. They will live here for the rest of their life, raise a family etc...
You can trust your instincts for whether a house will fit your needs or not.
So be picky, but learn to let some things go if you must.
You don't need to look at 100 houses to find the right one.
Happy house hunting!
Kristi

Monday, December 15, 2014

Why you should sell with a Realtor

Here is an excellent article on why you should sell your home through a Realtor, and not a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). By Dave Ramsey on CBN.com



For sale by owner?

Dear Dave,
What are the advantages of using a real estate agent versus going the for-sale-by-owner route when it comes to selling a home?
– Seth
Dear Seth,
I’ve had a real estate license for 30 years. If I were to put my personal residence on the market today, I’d use an active real estate agent who really knows his or her stuff in the marketplace. I’d gladly pay them their commission, too.

Now, why would I do that if I could just sell it myself and save the commission cost? For starters, if I do a for-sale-by-owner, or FSBO, I’m only getting my place in front of buyers I can attract from seeing a newspaper ad, Craigslist, and anyone who happens to drive by the house. If you go with a high-octane real estate agent, you’ll have the advantage of being exposed to their entire pool of buyers. More importantly, you’ll be in the MLS, or Multiple Listing Service, database. There, you’ll immediately have thousands of potential buyers. So, who do you think will have the best chance of selling your house? Market exposure is everything in the real estate game!

And think about this: Even if you went the FSBO route every time you moved, you might do three or four of these transactions in a lifetime. A good agent closed three or four deals last week! They’ll know all the ins and outs of buying and selling a home, and they’ll walk you through every step of the process. Research has shown that between basic mistakes, pricing errors, and lack of negotiation skills, you’ll cost yourself more than the agent’s commission by trying to sell it yourself.

Trust me, you’ll get a much better deal—with a lot less hassle—by using a top-flight real estate agent!
 Dave

The cost can't be justified

Dear Dave,
How much do you put into your old car for maintenance and repairs before it makes sense to buy a new vehicle?
–Christy
Dear Christy,
I know a lot of people don’t believe this, but it’s almost never mathematically justifiable to go out and buy a new car, or even a newer one. Let’s say you’re driving a $1,000 car, and you keep having problems and putting $250 worth of repairs or maintenance into it each month. Do you realize how long you can keep putting that $250 into the car before you reach the point of it making sense to buy a new $10,000 car? I mean, we’re literally talking about years!

Really, it all boils down to a couple of things. One, do you have the money sitting around to pay cash for a new car? If you’ve worked hard and can go to the dealership and write a check for a new car, then go for it.

The second thing is the hassle factor. Is the car absolutely unsafe, or is it driving you nuts in terms of inconvenience and repair costs? If so, then you might need to look into getting a newer vehicle. You’ll notice I didn’t say a new car, right? And you still pay cash. You don’t want five or six years’ worth of car payments hanging around your neck.

I’m not against you having a nice car, Christy. What I’m against is your nice car having you!                                            
 Dave

 

For more financial advice and a special offer to our readers, please visit www.davesays.org.

Dave SaysDave Ramsey is a nationally-syndicated radio talk show host and author of the New York Times bestselling books, Financial Peace Revisited andThe Total Money Makeover. His life-changing advice in the area of personal finance helps people get out of debt, stay out of debt and build wealth that will last a lifetime and beyond.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Breaking down Closing Costs

Closing a loan is the most important part of the buying/selling process. 
Making sure that you have all of the paperwork to the Escrow closer and that it is all correct when you sit down to the table.
However, like most first time home buyer and seller, sometimes, no matter how many times it has been explained to you, the closing costs can be a bit confusing. 
Below is a graph explaining the break down of those Closing Costs, courtesy of modernfsbo.net








Saturday, November 8, 2014

7 Open House Tips

In our "Selling Tip 1.0" we talked about Home Staging, and it's importance.

When we have an Open House to bring in potential buyers, Staging comes into play. So do some other important points.

1. Owners should not be present during an open house.
    Having a sentimental and attached person there will turn your prospects away. They do not want to     feel like they are intruding on your property. It's better to have a family friend or relative who can       be impartial, or better yet a Realtor. Someone who will work hard to acquire you a buyer.

2. Clean and de-clutter.
    That means carpet, window treatments, appliances and furniture. Closets should be relieved of  
    much of their contents, as they can be a deal breaker for many potential buyers. The same is true of     the kitchen. Remove hanging equipment or potential safety hazards. Towels should be put into    
    drawers, not hanging on the oven handle. Remove any evidence of pets: people will run from a  
    house that may have had a pet.


3. Not all smells are equal.
    Not everyone will like the fragrance that you think "spruces" up the place.
    Keep it simple, the deep clean you just did will give a welcome, clean scent that everyone will  
    enjoy.

4. Lightly decorate for the season.
    Nothing to heavy, a door arrangement, something for the mantle and maybe a dining table center  
    piece. This gives them the sense of home, with out them feeling like they're intruding on your
    home.

5. Year Round
     Have some pictures around of what the house looks like during the different seasons. The busiest        time of year to buy are warm months, but people want to know what the area looks like during the      fall, winter and spring months as well.


6. Paper Information
    Extra pamphlets about he house, MLS Listings for examples are great advertising. They can go  
    home with that information, pick it up at a later time and potentially buy that house from the
    physical reminder. School district information and a map of the local business district are also  
    great to have on hand. Don't forget your Realtor's business card and information.

7. Light snack.
    People are more open minded and attentive when they've been fed. But it's costly, not to mention
    messy and too much work to have a full lunch provided. Instead a simple dessert tray; cookies,  
    pastries and tarts go a long way!

Until next time.
Kristi Eskew

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Winterize

Check out this article written by Elizabeth Eckhart about winterizing your home.

HOME WINTERIZATION: FIVE WAYS TO KEEP OUT THE COLD

Written by Elizabeth Eckhart on Wednesday, 05 November 2014 12:56 pm
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April may bring showers, but winter weather can bring all sorts of other unexpected and expensive damages to your home. Fall's cool temperatures are a reminder that winter days are on their way - take stock of what you may need to do to prepare your home beforehand, and you'll be ready for the onslaught of ice and snow. Here are several simple, cost-effective tasks you can do now to make the transition into the colder months easier.
1. Clean Out Your Gutters
Once the leaves are off the trees it's time to clean out your gutters. Poorly maintained gutters can damage the roof of your home as well the exterior. When snow and ice mix with clogged gutters, it's a recipe for disaster, inside and out. Leaves and debris will prevent moisture from running off the roof, resulting in ice dams and water leaks. Before flurries form make sure to clear out any waste that's accumulated, and also be sure to note any missing or broken pieces and have them repaired. Remove potentially hazardous branches, or structurally unsound trees that could pose problems under the weight of snow or in the midst of a dangerous windstorm.
2. Have Your Heating System Checked
You don't want to be the person waiting in the frigid cold for a repairman to come when your heater stops in the dead of winter. Instead, have an inspector come in and make sure that the system is well ventilated and running smoothly before the first cold snap hits. Inspections generally run between $70-$100. If you live in an area where winter storms consistently knock out both electricity and heat, consider investing in a small generatorLearn more about what you can do to ensure that your system is operating properly, and give yourself time to make any needed repairs before winter comes and the heating companies are overbooked.
3. Have a Snow Preparedness Kit
It's happened to all of us. Waking up to discover a solid two feet of fluffy white snow layering the ground, only to realize that we've just got one old, dull shovel to dig ourselves free. Before stores are bought out of the necessities, make sure you have everything you need in case of a blizzard:  a shovel, flashlights with extra batteries, one or two bags of road salt to coat the driveway, sidewalk, and walkways, and an ice scraper or two. Keep an emergency kit in a designated spot, and when you awake and find yourself trapped in a winter wonderland, you won't be stuck trying to come up with new and inventive ways of unearthing your car tires.
4. Reverse Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans aren't only useful in the summer months. If your fan has a reverse switch, you can keep your home extra warm in the winter by reversing the cycle of the blades. Having the blades rotate in the opposite direction will create an updraft. Since heat rises, this pushes the hot air down and re-distributes it throughout your house. It's especially useful for homes that have high ceilings.
5. Caulk Doors and Windows
In the depths of winter the average home can lose nearly one third of its heat through drafty windows and doors. If the gap between your windows and doors is greater than the width of a nickel, it's time to reapply some exterior caulk to prevent this heat from escaping. Silicone caulk is highly recommended due to its non-shrinking quality and impermeability to the harsh elements. Block drafts from coming under doors with "draft dodger" door stoppers. You can easily make your own at home. Taking these extra steps will ensure that when the temperature drops, the cold and unforgiving air will stay outside where it belongs, and save you any money you'd be spending on additional heating.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Selling tip 1.0

Everyone wants to get the most $$$ out of the selling of their house. Some think that just taking pictures of the house "as is" is ok, people will see around your clutter and stuff to see the potential beauty and jump to buy.

The cold truth, it is unsightly and unpleasing to the eye. You may have an amazing house, but people will not be interested if the above is what you post in your MLS listing, or For Sale By Owner Listing. 
It doesn't take much to get your home ready, and more appealing to prospective buyers.
1. Remove personal items: Pictures, all but a few; toys, put in children's room neatly; pet gear.
2. Minimize Decor for maximum effect. Leave a few art pieces as shown above, enough to get the idea of home, without making the buyer feel like their intruding on someones else's life.
3. CLEAN. This means everything. Windows, no one wants to look outside and see grime; floor boards; and every surface. A dirty dusty house is no one's friend.
4. Put away all those kitchen extras, leaving things on your counters is distracting and takes away from the space of the kitchen, especially if it is a smaller one.
5. Add seating to rooms. This allows people to get comfortable and begin to envision themselves in your house.
6. The first thing someone sees when they come to look at your home is the front door. Make sure the paint is good, if not repaint. Clean and polish or if need be replace door handles and accessories.
7. Repaint colored walls to a neutral color: white, grey, tan, or beige. This makes the rooms look bigger and is pleasing to the eye. The prospective buyer can also envision what they may want to do with the home better this way also.

Well, these are just a few tips, there are plenty more. If you would like a more comprehensive list go to: http://www.forsalebyowner.com/sell-my-house/preparing/staging-101-declutter-room-room-outside-home 

Until next time.
Kristi Eskew