Ray & Joleen Minyard

Holiday festivities abound at this time of year. If your home is on the market, your celebrations may feel constrained by the need to keep your home ready for a showing at a moment’s notice. Your family’s favorite holiday decorations may have been replaced this year with less traditional winter décor. Fortunately, your efforts to reach out to potential buyers could definitely pay off in the long run!

During the time leading up to the winter holidays, people refocus their priorities on their home and family. There is a feeling of wellbeing that is not always present throughout the year. The arrival of the New Year brings a sense of starting over. Consequently, most sellers and brokers who have sold a home during the holiday season remember the experience as a positive one.

Buyers are in short supply during this time of year, but some people have no choice but to purchase a home due to relocation or family changes. Sellers may need to be more flexible in their selling price and other areas of the negotiations, because buyers are in high demand. However, there are far fewer homes on the market during the winter holiday season. The net result of all these combined factors really depends on the home and the potential buyer. When your home offers the features and amenities that a potential buyer is looking for, you are more likely to sell it quickly in the winter than during the spring or summer buying season.

Your home may be looking its best this time of year. Exterior blemishes might be hidden by a layer of fluffy snow and your front door is probably adorned with a festive wreath. You may have a beautiful tree adorning your front windows and a fire crackling in the fireplace. Your home may smell festive with the scents of baking, pine, and other holiday aromas. There is no better time to show your home to potential buyers than when you already are paying careful attention to your home’s appearance. Think of it as doing half the work that you would need to do during the summer.

One trick for selling during the winter is to use incentives. If you can cover the buyer’s closing costs, or a portion thereof, you may attract potential buyers to your home by advertising this information. Some real estate agents advise their winter sellers to offer a “decorating allowance” (a.k.a., a cash bonus) for purchasing their home during the winter months. Other real estate agents call this a “landscaping allowance,” since in most areas the buyer will be unable to view the home’s landscaping until spring thaws the layer of snow that covers it.

The best news for sellers who decide to place or leave their home on the market during the winter holiday season is that people rarely “browse” homes at this time of year. Those potential buyers who visit your home are serious about buying it and are often in a hurry to do so.

This simplifies your job as a seller. With serious buyers and an already festive décor, you are well on the road to selling your home!

Ask your real estate agent for valuable insights about wintertime selling, as well as tips that can be useful for preparing your home for sale regardless of the season. Real estate agents have experience with home sales throughout the year and they know what attracts buyers in your specific area.

Scents of the Season Potpourri Recipe

Make your home smell its holiday best with this quick potpourri recipe made from ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry!

INGREDIENTS
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/4 c. whole cloves
• 1/2 lemon, halved
• 1/2 orange, halved
• 1 qt. water

PREPARATION
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer as long as desired. Check the pot often

Selling a Home in a Hurry
Sometimes, life circumstances are out of our control, leaving homeowners with no other alternative. They must sell in a hurry.   If you are among the many sellers who need to act quickly, your realtor will soon become your best friend.  

Your realtor will assist you in hastening the paperwork process, completing important documents such as disclosure forms, and listing your home the minute you give him or her permission to do so. Your realtor can also help you pinpoint ways to improve the appearance of your home in order to attract more potential buyers.

In order to fully understand the home-selling process, it is necessary to understand the buyer.   Today™s web-savvy consumers are quickly developing the habit of not buying anything until they have researched it on the internet. This trend is growing exponentially, especially among 30-somethings who are quickly discovering the value of saving money.  

Potential homebuyers are no different. Around 80% of potential buyers will search online as the first step in the home-buying process.   This practice quickly grew in popularity when potential buyers discovered that they could use the internet to screen homes from the comfort of their living room. This is why the visual appeal of your home is so important! A beautiful photograph will attract more buyers and increase the likely selling price!

Given this trend, sellers now understand the need for the home™s exterior to be picture-perfect “ unless, of course, they don™t mind waiting for their home to be viewed by potential buyers.   In our busy world, homeowners tend to buy homes that need little or no repair, because time is a valuable commodity.   Therefore, taking months to prepare a home before moving into it is no longer common.

Knowing how potential buyers think enables sellers to evaluate the overall appearance of their home and make simple changes that could very easily not only raise the selling price, but also help them to sell their home more quickly.

Realtors have spent years dealing with potential buyers and paying attention to what they look for in a home. They have identified two simple things that you can do when you need to sell your home quickly.   By making a minimal investment over a few weekends, you can greatly improve the way that your home appears to potential buyers.

Paint!
If time and budget allow, opt for a complete paint job on the exterior of your home to give it a fresh and clean look that will get the attention of passers-by and those searching for homes online.   There is no question that a simple coat of paint can completely transform the appearance of any home.

But it doesn™t end there.   Take a look around your neighborhood and select an exterior color that œfits. Select a neutral color. White, beige, grey or even a light blue are good options in most cases.   Unless you also plan to replace your roof, be sure that the color you select complements that of the roof.   Select a trim color that makes your home™s features stand out, or opt to use the same color that you used for the exterior walls on the home™s trim, too.

Once the exterior painting is finished, take a walk through your home with the mindset of a potential buyer.   Are there nail holes where family portraits used to hang?   Are the kitchen walls stained?   Are there signs of mildew or peeling in your bathrooms?   If you answered yes to any of these questions, then an interior paint job is critical.

When time is limited, focus on the most troubled areas first.   Paint them white, which is a neutral color and makes rooms appear larger and brighter.  

If you elect to paint only certain areas within your home, start with the entranceway.   If you have a foyer, paint the exterior door and door frame.   Then put a fresh coat of white paint on the walls of your foyer.   If potential buyers will enter directly into a room, paint that room and don™t forget the ceiling!   It™s crucial that the paint job be neat, and that you are careful to not get paint on the flooring or baseboards.

The new paint job will be a selling feature!   When buyers have many homes to choose among, a fresh cost of paint will make a great first impression, because it adds to the impression of cleanliness and, in some cases, brightness.

Whether you opt to paint by yourself or to hire a professional, it is very important to ensure that the painting is done correctly.   Fill in nail holes, wash dirty walls, and cover areas that should not be painted.

Believe it or not, the minimal investment of a fresh coat of paint can make a tremendous difference in the amount of time that it takes to sell your home. Just be sure to finish painting well before you put you™re your home on the market. At the very least, wait for the smell of fresh paint to dissipate before potential buyers begin viewing your home.

Landscape!
As mentioned above, the appearance of your home™s exterior needs to be as close to photo-perfect as you can get it.   Once you have painted the exterior, or even if you decide not to paint, take a walk to assess your lawn.  

Look for bare spots in the lawn that could signal problems with insects or other predators.   Tossing some grass seed onto those areas is an inexpensive solution that can make a tremendous difference in the appearance of your lawn.  

Also take a look at your flowerbeds.   Are there a lot of unruly weeds? Do your rose bushes need a good pruning? Are there attractive plants and flowers?   Particularly when you list your home for sale in the spring or summer, the presence of brightly colored flowers will get potential homebuyers™ attention.   Even if you do not planning to sell until winter, photograph your home while the flowers are in bloom!

If you notice many problems with the appearance of your lawn, consider hiring a landscaper with the expertise you require.   Simple is best in today™s busy world.   A landscaper will be able to give you advice on what you can do to improve the appearance of your lawn and gardens without unduly increasing the lawn-care requirements.  

When selecting plants and shrubs for your landscaping plan, cheap is not always the best.   Sometimes purchasing full-grown versions of shrubs and plants is better than selecting young versions that might appear scrawny or sick.  

Potential homebuyers prefer to see homes that have a lived-in appearance.   They want to see that you have taken care of your home, so that they can feel confident about the quality of the home.   A new landscaping job should give the appearance of having been there for years.

By making a minimal investment of time and money, you can significantly improve the way that potential buyers view your home.   Painting and landscaping are two simple do-it-yourself projects that can be completed with a minimum investment of time and effort.  

If your time is extremely limited, you can easily find a professional painter and/or landscaper to complete the project for you.   Professionals usually work faster than do-it-yourselfers do.   Evaluate the benefits of increasing the value of your home while getting it ready for a quick sale.

Your realtor can provide additional assistance in determining what else you can do to increase the attractiveness of your home.   Realtors know what potential buyers are looking for, so feel free to give your agent a call and take some time to discuss your home, so that you can sell it in a hurry.

Property Disclosure Basics

Historically, a buyer who made the decision to purchase a specific home assumed all of the risks associated with homeownership.   Those risks included things that they did not know about the home they were purchasing.   Thankfully, today™s buyers have learned from the past. Assumed risk continues, but ignorance has fallen by the wayside.

To protect consumer interests, many states and localities have enacted laws requiring the current homeowner to complete legal disclosures about the property that is for sale.

The actual contents of each disclosure form vary, depending on the area.   But generally, laws require homeowners to tell potential buyers about any known liens or other legal issues surrounding the home and any known or suspected defects. The area of legal issues is fairly standard. However, local requirement vary regarding the defects that must be reported.   Sometimes minor defects may be overlooked by the owner, but at other times the homeowner must disclose every visible crack on the walls.

As a seller, when you complete a property disclosure form, you are required to provide only material facts.   This article explains the difference between material facts and immaterial facts. Here are some examples of what you might need to write on your property disclosure form:

•   The age of your home, the approximate age of any additions, and the age of the major systems and their     components (furnace, circuit box, water heater, air conditioner, etc.)
  • Any current problems with the home, or anything that you suspect could be happening within the home, such as a leaking roof, consistently clogged drains, or water in the basement.   This might also include problems with the heating or cooling systems, plumbing, or electrical systems.
    • Structural problems.   This is a difficult area for many home sellers, because exterior cracks are common when foundations settle.   It is often difficult for the average homeowner to recognize signs of trouble until there actually IS trouble with the structure.   Therefore, you need to note any visible exterior cracking in the mortar joints if your home is brick.   The same is true for interior walls.   If you see cracking on the interior walls, it is always best to protect your interests and disclose the information.
      • If at some point during the life of the home, you or some other owner built a portion of the home, driveway, or another item on a neighbor™s property, it needs to be disclosed.   Even if your neighbors were willing to lend you two feet of driveway width, the new owners of that home may want to reclaim that space as their own.   As the seller, you must tell potential buyers that this possibility exists, so that they can make arrangements regarding the encroachment.
        •  Any and all legal issues surrounding the home in question. These legal issues could include tax liens, contractor liens, etc. Or, it might be that the home is at the center of an estate dispute or a nasty divorce in which one spouse refuses to give up his or her rights to the property.   Try to clear up any legal issues prior to placing the home on the market. However, under some circumstances the sale simply cannot wait.   In this case, try to be completely honest with your potential buyers, unless you are willing to risk losing them once they discover the legal issues on their own.

        As mentioned above, some states and localities may not require the completion of a formal property disclosure form.   Just because there is no official form, you as the seller have an obligation to potential buyers to disclose known repair and legal issues related to your home.   National laws govern the release of information carefully, so be certain to ask your realtor for information about what types of disclosure must be completed prior to placing your home on the market. If you aren™t working with a realtor, call your state™s real-estate commission to ask what types of disclosure are required and how they should be completed.
        Every seller must prepare a disclosure of some sort.   Here are some more specific examples of what you might need to add to your list of disclosed items:

        Specific Examples of Facts to Disclose

        • The approximate age of the home™s roof and the materials used.  
        • Any current or past leaks from either the roof or the foundation.
        • Any suspected or known presence of mold or mildew anywhere in the home.
        • Termite or carpenter ant damage or infestation (current or past).
        • Known or suspected problems with the plumbing system, including sewer backups or septic system problems.
        • The amount of property, school and real-estate taxes as an annual rate.
        • The square footage and dimensions of the home.
        • Any knowledge of projects planned by the locality that will result in an inconvenience or loss of property for the new owner.
        • All known legal disputes involving the house (e.g., estate or divorce).
        • The presence of any utilities, fuel tanks, wells, etc. located on the property.

        You Are Not Required to Release Information Unrelated to the Condition of the Home on a Disclosure Form
        Many home owners become overzealous with the amount of information that they release to potential buyers.   Sometimes, too much information is just as bad as not enough information being disclosed.   Here are some examples of what you should NOT tell potential buyers on your disclosure paperwork:

        • Personal information about you and your family, including ages, marital status, employment information, etc
        • Information about why you are planning to move and where you will be living in the future.
        • The medical condition of you or your family members and whether any of the current residents are HIV-positive.

        There are some grey areas about disclosure, and the rules vary depending on where your home is located.   Consider, for example, the following list of items that may or may not be required on a disclosure form.

        • In most places, an owner does not have to disclose that a death occurred inside of the home.   However, if the death was a homicide, the law treats the death differently and the information may need to be reported on a disclosure.   Know that if you tell your agent about a death in the home, and the agent is asked about it later, he or she must answer the question truthfully.
        • Methamphetamine labs are a new addition to many states™ disclosure requirements.   If you know that a meth lab was located in your home or on your property, then you need to disclose the information.   The residue from methamphetamine production can be toxic and buyers need to know about this in advance.
        • If you live in an area prone to natural disasters, such as flooding or earthquakes, you will probably need to disclose any damage your home has suffered as a result.
        • Finally, if you believe that your home is haunted, in a handful of states you need to tell potential buyers. Check with your realtor for more information if you believe that this is an issue you need to disclose.

Sell Your Home in a Slowing Market
Any real estate agent can tell you that the best possible selling situation is one in which the home seller has to consider ten different bids, resulting in offers that far exceeding the home™s listing price.

Unfortunately, sometimes the housing market is not quite so generous to sellers.   Nevertheless, when the housing market takes a dive, it doesn™t mean that the selling price of your home should do the same.   Even when the housing market in your area is not very favorable, it is still possible to get your asking price.

In order to get a top-dollar price, you may need to pay a little more attention to your home™s appearance. Think of your time as an investment which will pay off when the home sells.   Likewise, any updates or renovations that you opt to perform will raise your home™s value.

Your realtor will be able to give you useful advice about how you can increase your chances of a successful and profitable sale. The following information, collected through years of real estate experience, may be helpful to you:

Consider œCurb Appeal
Today™s buyers are looking for their dream home, and they often begin their search on real estate websites where they can view potential homes from the comfort of their living room.   Remember that the first thing they will look at is the photo.  

Therefore, you need to take an actual photograph of your home.   Look at the photo and note any visible flaws.   If your grass is too tall, you should mow the lawn or consider hiring a landscaping company to get the lawn in tip-top shape.   If your flower beds are filled with weeds, now would be a great time to pull those weeds and lay down some mulch.   Trim any unruly shrubs and clean off your front porch.   These are some of buyer™s major pet peeves. If you address these things before listing your home for sale and taking that final photo, you stand a much better chance of attracting potential buyers.

Appeal Must Go Beyond the Curb
A potential buyer who walks into a home wants to feel comfortable.   Above and beyond any other features that the home offers, it must be comfortable.   Therefore, once you have cleaned up the outside of your home, take a look at what buyers will see when they walk through the front door and do everything you can to make it as warm, inviting, and comfortable as possible.

Clear Clutter!
In a slow housing market, buyers have many homes from which they can choose.   Therefore, you will need to be particularly careful about keeping clutter out of sight.   Buyers will look in your closets and cabinets, so this means you must eliminate clutter and not just hide it.   Consider having a yard sale, making donations or giving unused belongings to friends or family members.   Remember that what you don™t throw away, give away or sell you will have to eventually move. In general, it is easier to get rid of clutter now instead of waiting until you™re packing.

Keep it Clean!
By keeping you home clean while it is for sale, you greatly improve the chances of a buyer falling in love with it.   It will also benefit you, because having a clean and organized house will make your own packing process easier!

If you are unsure about where to start, consider the kitchen.   A deep cleaning should include the insides of appliances and cabinets and along the baseboards or floor trim.

Don™t forget about the garage.   Sometimes sellers tend to stash items in the garage, or even to use their garage as a staging area for their own upcoming move.   Both of these situations are okay, but you should pay attention to how your garage looks.   Keeping the garage organized is always best, regardless of what it is being used for.

Many homeowners shy away from cleaning their basement.   If your basement is finished, it is less likely to have been taken over by cobwebs and clutter.   However, especially if it is an unfinished basement, you should definitely take a weekend to straighten it up and remove those unwanted cobwebs.

Be Willing to Negotiate
In a slow market, buyers are in short demand and homes are in ready supply.   Therefore, sellers are advised to price a bit higher in order to leave room for negotiations.   Buyers who are shopping for a new home when the market is in their favor realize that sellers are more willing to negotiate when they need to sell their homes.   Even if they don™t realize this fact on their own, their agent will probably pass the information along to them.

So, you must be willing to negotiate with potential buyers in order to keep them interested and protect your interests as a seller.

Sometimes the negotiations will be monetary, but some buyers are willing to pay more for a home that comes with amenities such as a new kitchen or bathroom and maybe even appliances.  

Another way to help seal the deal with a potential buyer is to offer seller assistance for closing costs or to offer to pay the buyer™s agent commission on behalf of the buyer.   Those looking to purchase a home during a slow market are often looking for cost savings and they want to reduce the amount of cash that they need to pay up-front.   By offering to cover some of the buyer™s costs during the closing process, you gain favor with the buyer and will stand a much better chance of selling your home.

Select Your Agent Carefully
Selecting an agent to sell your home is a process that requires time, attention and research. Unless you have already used a local agent to sell a home in the area where you live, you will probably need to begin the home-selling process by interviewing potential listing agents.

When the market is slow, your best bet may be to work with an independent agent who has time to devote to marketing your home.   However, there are benefits to working with a large real estate company with the resources to get the word out to other agents through a variety of marketing techniques.   The choice is yours.  

Regardless of whether you choose to work with an independent agent or a large company, be sure to ask about commission percentages, exclusivity agreements and any other potential costs.   In a slow market, listing agents will sometimes offer to accept a lower commission rate in order to get your business. Just be sure to work with a reputable and experienced realtor.

When you are selling your home in a slowing market, when interest rates are high and buyers are in short demand, you will need to put more effort into improving the appearance and condition of your home than if you were selling in a more favorable period.   Many sellers have managed to sell their home successfully during these times by following the tips listed above.

Your realtor can serve as an excellent source of information about how best to prepare and market your home when you decide to sell during a slowing market.   A reputable and experienced agent can list your home and look out for your interests.   Remember, your home will most likely not sell itself.   Years of experience have taught realtors what buyers are looking for in homes throughout your area. This experience will allow you to be much better prepared to face a slower market when you have chosen to sell. And you definitely will stand a better chance of selling your home for the price you want or need to receive from the buyer.

Sell Your Home in a Slowing Market
Any real estate agent can tell you that the best possible selling situation is one in which the home seller has to consider ten different bids, resulting in offers that far exceeding the home™s listing price.

Unfortunately, sometimes the housing market is not quite so generous to sellers.   Nevertheless, when the housing market takes a dive, it doesn™t mean that the selling price of your home should do the same.   Even when the housing market in your area is not very favorable, it is still possible to get your asking price.

In order to get a top-dollar price, you may need to pay a little more attention to your home™s appearance. Think of your time as an investment which will pay off when the home sells.   Likewise, any updates or renovations that you opt to perform will raise your home™s value.

Your realtor will be able to give you useful advice about how you can increase your chances of a successful and profitable sale. The following information, collected through years of real estate experience, may be helpful to you:

Consider œCurb Appeal
Today™s buyers are looking for their dream home, and they often begin their search on real estate websites where they can view potential homes from the comfort of their living room.   Remember that the first thing they will look at is the photo.  

Therefore, you need to take an actual photograph of your home.   Look at the photo and note any visible flaws.   If your grass is too tall, you should mow the lawn or consider hiring a landscaping company to get the lawn in tip-top shape.   If your flower beds are filled with weeds, now would be a great time to pull those weeds and lay down some mulch.   Trim any unruly shrubs and clean off your front porch.   These are some of buyer™s major pet peeves. If you address these things before listing your home for sale and taking that final photo, you stand a much better chance of attracting potential buyers.

Appeal Must Go Beyond the Curb
A potential buyer who walks into a home wants to feel comfortable.   Above and beyond any other features that the home offers, it must be comfortable.   Therefore, once you have cleaned up the outside of your home, take a look at what buyers will see when they walk through the front door and do everything you can to make it as warm, inviting, and comfortable as possible.

Clear Clutter!
In a slow housing market, buyers have many homes from which they can choose.   Therefore, you will need to be particularly careful about keeping clutter out of sight.   Buyers will look in your closets and cabinets, so this means you must eliminate clutter and not just hide it.   Consider having a yard sale, making donations or giving unused belongings to friends or family members.   Remember that what you don™t throw away, give away or sell you will have to eventually move. In general, it is easier to get rid of clutter now instead of waiting until you™re packing.

Keep it Clean!
By keeping you home clean while it is for sale, you greatly improve the chances of a buyer falling in love with it.   It will also benefit you, because having a clean and organized house will make your own packing process easier!

If you are unsure about where to start, consider the kitchen.   A deep cleaning should include the insides of appliances and cabinets and along the baseboards or floor trim.

Don™t forget about the garage.   Sometimes sellers tend to stash items in the garage, or even to use their garage as a staging area for their own upcoming move.   Both of these situations are okay, but you should pay attention to how your garage looks.   Keeping the garage organized is always best, regardless of what it is being used for.

Many homeowners shy away from cleaning their basement.   If your basement is finished, it is less likely to have been taken over by cobwebs and clutter.   However, especially if it is an unfinished basement, you should definitely take a weekend to straighten it up and remove those unwanted cobwebs.

Be Willing to Negotiate
In a slow market, buyers are in short demand and homes are in ready supply.   Therefore, sellers are advised to price a bit higher in order to leave room for negotiations.   Buyers who are shopping for a new home when the market is in their favor realize that sellers are more willing to negotiate when they need to sell their homes.   Even if they don™t realize this fact on their own, their agent will probably pass the information along to them.

So, you must be willing to negotiate with potential buyers in order to keep them interested and protect your interests as a seller.

Sometimes the negotiations will be monetary, but some buyers are willing to pay more for a home that comes with amenities such as a new kitchen or bathroom and maybe even appliances.  

Another way to help seal the deal with a potential buyer is to offer seller assistance for closing costs or to offer to pay the buyer™s agent commission on behalf of the buyer.   Those looking to purchase a home during a slow market are often looking for cost savings and they want to reduce the amount of cash that they need to pay up-front.   By offering to cover some of the buyer™s costs during the closing process, you gain favor with the buyer and will stand a much better chance of selling your home.

Select Your Agent Carefully
Selecting an agent to sell your home is a process that requires time, attention and research. Unless you have already used a local agent to sell a home in the area where you live, you will probably need to begin the home-selling process by interviewing potential listing agents.

When the market is slow, your best bet may be to work with an independent agent who has time to devote to marketing your home.   However, there are benefits to working with a large real estate company with the resources to get the word out to other agents through a variety of marketing techniques.   The choice is yours.  

Regardless of whether you choose to work with an independent agent or a large company, be sure to ask about commission percentages, exclusivity agreements and any other potential costs.   In a slow market, listing agents will sometimes offer to accept a lower commission rate in order to get your business. Just be sure to work with a reputable and experienced realtor.

When you are selling your home in a slowing market, when interest rates are high and buyers are in short demand, you will need to put more effort into improving the appearance and condition of your home than if you were selling in a more favorable period.   Many sellers have managed to sell their home successfully during these times by following the tips listed above.

Your realtor can serve as an excellent source of information about how best to prepare and market your home when you decide to sell during a slowing market.   A reputable and experienced agent can list your home and look out for your interests.   Remember, your home will most likely not sell itself.   Years of experience have taught realtors what buyers are looking for in homes throughout your area. This experience will allow you to be much better prepared to face a slower market when you have chosen to sell. And you definitely will stand a better chance of selling your home for the price you want or need to receive from the buyer.

Before buying a home, hire a professional to come and inspect the following major house systems to insure that they do not have any problems or deficiencies: the heating and central air conditioning, plumbing, the roof, electrical systems, attic, visible insulation, walls, windows, ceilings, floors, foundations, and the basement. Even if expenses are tight, set aside money to hire the inspector, for he or she may catch the slightest evidence of water damage that you would otherwise have had to later pay thousands of dollars to repair the damaged walls, structural beams, ceilings, and/or foundation.

Water damage may occur for multiple reasons. For one, if the temperature drops below negative ten, your water pipes can freeze or even burst, resulting in six inches of water covering your floors. If you own a pool and it begins to leak, you will definitely ruin your lawn and most likely flood our basement. Or perhaps your washing machine will overflow or the sewer pipes will back up, both will result in a flooded basement. Maybe water will seep from the ground into the basement, which will damage the foundation and interior. If your roof leaks during a heavy rainstorm, it will likely be damaged, as well as the attic, ceiling, and maybe even furniture. When the kids overflow the bathtub, water seeps into corners and wood, which could stain and eventually lead to mold growth and structural damage. If a nearby stream, river, or lake overflows, your living room may be flash flooded.

Insurance companies often cover water damage problems. So, if you currently have water damage, contact your insurance agent to see if the issue is covered. If you are not dealing with water damage, consult an agent anyway to make sure you know which of our possessions are covered in your insurance plan and which are not.

Before buying a home, make sure you and your inspector have examined for the following major issues: water seepage and wet basements, roof leaks, and weak water pressure. To prevent water seepage and wet basements, make sure any house foundation cracks are sealed and all surface water runs-off away from the house. If the house has small cracks in the foundation or has porous walls, heavy rains could cause severe and expensive structural damage. And by simply redirecting water surface run-off, water damage problems can be alleviated.

When investigating the roof, take extra time to examine the flashing, areas where the roof plane changes. For example, if the roofing was poorly laid around the chimney or plumbing vent, there may now be water damage. When you have a home or if you already have a home, check the flashing and the interior of your roof at least once a season to catch constant leaks early and to prevent mold growth or damage to the insulation.

Poor water pressure could be the result of either deficiencies in your water service supply, or it could stem from the more costly problem – your piping needs to be upgraded. The plumbing problem may be as simple as blocked faucets aerators that are partially closed or defective. If your home is older, you may have galvanized piping (steel pipes with zinc coating), which will likely mean that time has allowed your pipes to either corrode or gathered deposit build-up. In this case, you should think about replacing the blocked sections of piping.

One of the largest water issues of today is mold. Mold has become the cause of numerous insurance claims because they can be harmful to one™s health and destructive to homes. Normally molds are not indoor problems, unless mold spores land on a dark, moist spot.
Molds produce allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances, such as mycotoxins. When in contact with mold, sensitive people may experience allergic reactions, fever-type symptoms, runny nose, red eyes, skin rashes, sneezing, asthma attacks, sore throats, and/or irritated lungs. Usually only allergic and irritant type reactions from inhaling molds are reported

If you have just bought a house or currently own one, take the following steps to prevent mold damage of your home and to prevent health issues.

1. Examine your home for mold. When found, wash it off hard surfaces, and allow them to dry completely. If you find mold on absorbent materials, such as carpets, tiles, or ceilings, replace them.
2. Keep your air conditioner, refrigerator, and dehumidifier™s drip pans accessible to keep clean and dry.
3. When you are showering, cooking, or using the dishwasher, keep exhaust fans running or windows open in the kitchen and bathrooms.
4. Always keep the vents of your dryers and bathroom exhaust fans flowing outside.
5. If you™ve experienced a flood, replace the affected absorbent materials such as carpets and drywall.
6. Find a hygrometer at a hardware store to measure the humidity level and maintain a relatively low level of 30-50 percent.
7. Use mold-killing products to clean your bathroom and kitchen.
8. Add mold inhibitors to paint when you are painting your home.
9. Never carpet your bathrooms. If you have carpet there, ripe it up and replace it with vinyl, laminate, or tile.
10. If the problem is overwhelming or heath problems are acting up, consult a professional.

For other tips and reports visit http://wwwViewTulsaProperties.com

Steps to Follow When Selling Your Home
Whether you have accepted a job offer in another part of the country or have decided that it is time to move to a larger (or smaller) home, you will first need to sell your home.   Regardless of whether you have ever sold a home before, you will need to do some research and invest time before listing your home for sale.   Doing your homework will make you a more prepared and better educated home seller.   Your realtor will respect your willingness to be prepared, and buyers will be pleased to learn that they are dealing with a serious seller.

Here is a list of steps that you should follow after you have made the decision to sell.   Following these steps will allow you to assess your current financial situation with regards to your home and to be better prepared for the selling process.

If You Plan to Purchase a New Home, Begin Talking to Potential Mortgage Lenders
It may seem strange that the first step in preparing to sell your home is to investigate home loans, but your financial situation has probably changed since you purchased your current home. Mortgage programs change frequently with changing interest rates and the health of the economy.

Most lenders now offer mortgage pre-approvals to homebuyers.   Getting pre-approval is important, because you need to know whether you will be able to afford and be approved for a mortgage for the type of home that you are considering.

Once you have received pre-approval, you can feel secure in knowing that you will be prepared to complete a real-estate transaction of your own once your home has been sold.

Additionally, you will want to investigate œbridge loans.   Lenders offer bridge loans for individuals in situations similar to yours.   The purpose is to help you to cover the expenses incurred should you need to purchase a new home before you can sell your current home.   Several different types of bridge loan programs are available and your lender is the best source for additional information.

Find Out How Much You Still Owe on Your Home, if You Have an Existing Mortgage
Your lender can provide you with detailed pay-off information about your existing mortgage, including any prepayment penalties.

Research the Value of Your Home
Whether you bought your home one year ago or 30 years ago, chances are that the fair market value will not be equal to what you paid for the home.   The best possible discovery that anyone selling a home can make is to find out that his or her home is now worth significantly more than the home™s original purchase price.   This does not apply only to those who have owned a home for a long period of time.   Sometimes certain developments and geographic locations increase in popularity quite suddenly.   In these areas, sellers may be selling with the intention of taking advantage of increased demand for their property and making a tidy profit.

Determine How Much Cash You Will Need to Purchase Your New Home
Many sellers err by failing to consider the costs of buying in addition to the costs of selling.   Because you will need to pay closing costs and possibly a down payment, it is wise to have a contingency plan just in case you need to buy before your home is sold.

Add in the cost of moving-related expenses, particularly if you are relocating to a new city. Talk to your lender one more time and request a cost disclosure in order to ensure that you are not overlooking anything in your estimate.

Consider the Costs You Will Incur While Selling Your Home
Some of the costs that you will incur while selling your home appear only on the day of closing. These costs include agent commissions, a percentage of the property™s annual real-estate taxes, and the excise tax imposed at the time of the sale.

Still other costs will not become apparent until well after the time of the sale.   For example, a major cost associated with a home sale is the capital gains tax.   This tax applies only if the sale price of the home far exceeds the value of the home, yet many sellers find themselves subject to this tax.   There are very specific criteria for assessing capital gains taxes, and there are deferment options for sellers who plan to buy a home of equal or greater value within a certain amount of time following the sale.

If you anticipate facing a significant capital gains tax when your home sells, discuss your individual situation with a tax advisor or financial planner.   Your real-estate agent may prove to be an excellent asset and may be able to offer some suggestions if you are not already working with a tax advisor or financial planner.

Figure Out How Much You Will Earn When Your Home Sells
This step allows you to determine how much liability remains on your existing mortgage and how much profit you will earn.   If you expect to earn a significant amount from the sale of your home, you may be able to reduce significantly the size of the mortgage that you will need to purchase your next home.

Consider Repairing and Updating Your Home
Some home improvements are free, while others are extremely costly.   As a seller, you want to attract as many potential buyers as you can once the home is listed.   Therefore, investing in your home™s exterior appearance and landscaping may prove quite effective in drawing potential buyers through your front door.

Clean Your Home
Even if you have opted to forego updating, you must ensure that your home is sparkling when potential buyers view it.   Clean the bathrooms and kitchen daily while the home is listed for sale.   Take a walk through your home with the mindset of a potential buyer and try to spot any problem areas.   Cluttered garages or basements are a buyer turn-off, so take some time to de-clutter them, even if that means placing some of your belongings into a temporary storage unit.

Following these simple steps will increase the chance that your home will sell quickly and without any problems.   Remember that attracting potential buyers is as much your responsibility as it is your agent™s responsibility.   By presenting potential buyers with a home that they will want to drive by repeatedly, you are increasing your chances of receiving a great sale price.

Also, it cannot be stressed enough that you must know where you intend to live once your home is sold.   Some sellers have been forced to resort to renting after their home sold, simply because they did not keep this in mind.

Your realtor can help you determine which of the above steps will work best for your particular situation.   The expertise and experience of a licensed realtor will add to the benefits that you get when your home sells.

Make Your Home Irresistible to Buyers
When selling your home is a priority, you need to realize that an ordinary home with ordinary features is not going to grab potential buyers™ attention.   You need to go beyond ordinary and make your home irresistible to every homebuyer.

Regardless of whether you have owned your home for one year or forty years, you will probably need to make some changes to attract people who are looking to buy a home.   You probably loved your home when you bought it, so why shouldn™t you want to make people fall in love with it too? Naturally, you should!  

Here are some ideas for making your home feel more open, airy and inviting.   Years of experience have taught realtors what people like and dislike when they look at homes for sale.   Learn from these experiences in order to make selling your home an exciting and pain-free process.

Apply a Fresh Coat of Light-Colored, Neutral Paint to Your Walls
The people who are considering buying your home want to see what it looks like.   Keeping this in mind, repaint any dark rooms with white or neutral paint.   You may prefer darkly colored rooms, but most buyers will be able to imagine their furniture more easily in a neutral-colored room.

White ceilings are always preferable.   If time is of the essence and you cannot paint entire rooms, quickly adding coat of white paint to the ceilings can make all the difference in the world.

Remove Flowered Wallpaper
Despite your personal home-decorating preferences, many homebuyers are turned off by wallpaper.   This is particularly true when the wallpaper contains large or brightly colored flowers.   If time allows, remove the wallpaper and paint the walls.  

Painting over wallpaper is never a good idea. The biggest reason for this is that painted-over wallpaper looks terrible.   Potential buyers will realize that the paint has been applied to wallpaper that they will need to remove after buying the home.   Paint makes the removal process more difficult, so if you decide not to remove the wallpaper, just leave it alone.

Add New Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures
As mentioned earlier, buyers like bright interiors.   They also like airy homes.   Therefore, installing a few ceiling fans or updating the fans you already have could help you convey the desired bright and airy feel to potential homebuyers.

Avoid Clutter at All Costs
Some real-estate agents will fail to tell you that clutter is a home™s worst deterrent for homebuyers.   People find it difficult to imagine how their own furnishings will fit into a room full of clutter.   Clutter also tends to make rooms appear smaller.

One of the ways that you can get ready for your own move while preparing to sell is to hold a garage sale or to make a large donation to a local charity.   You will need to sort through your belongings at some point, so why not start now? Begin with those things that always though you might use, but have been sitting in the attic since you put them there ten years ago.

Minimalism is best when you are trying to sell a home.   If possible, pack up some of your smaller décor items and leave out only a few conversation pieces.   If you plan to sell during the holidays, try to achieve a festive spirit without overdoing your decorating.

Place a Fresh Wreath or Floral Spray on Your Front Door
Buyers want to be welcomed by homes.   Placing a tasteful wreath or other decoration on your front door welcomes people into your home, making a huge difference in how fondly buyers remember your home.

You can extend the welcome further by placing similar décor items throughout the home. Stay away from eucalyptus and other strong odors, because they might be an irritant to buyers with sensitive nasal passages or allergies.

Pay Attention to What™s Happening in Your Kitchen
It™s always a good idea to have a clean kitchen, but when you are trying to sell a home you need to go beyond simple cleanliness.   If you know that a potential buyer is coming in this afternoon, bake brownies.   The scent will linger, making your home more inviting. Just be careful not to burn your tempting delicacies!  

Buyers may subconsciously or consciously notice scents in the homes they visit.   Quickly dispose of any foul-smelling scraps or rotting produce. While your home is for sale, check daily for possible odor sources in your kitchen.

Wash your dishes and put them away, making sure that your countertops are immaculate.   Also, sweep your kitchen floor frequently to minimize dirt and crumbs.

Modernize Your Master Bedroom
Master bedrooms and master suites are extremely popular right now.   Therefore, if you want to wow a potential buyer, consider what is most fashionable and popular.   Visit a home-decorating supply store or look online for ideas that might help you to add new zing to your bedroom.

Even a new quilt or comforter can make a big difference for potential buyers.   The master bedroom is the homeowner™s sanctuary. Therefore, neutral tones are the best option.     Consider a light shade of green or blue as an accent color, since these tones create a relaxing and calming environment.
 
Consider the Value of Landscaping
In the past, a freshly mown lawn and some flowerbeds at the front of a home were enough to attract potential buyers.   This still holds true in some areas, but many of today™s homebuyers are looking for homes with attractive landscapes that do not require much maintenance.

If you hire a landscaper, ask him or her about what is most popular in your area.   Request that he or she use shrubs and plants that require little maintenance.   A good ground cover will reduce the need for weeding, saving you time while you are selling your home and making the home look maintenance-free from the curb.  

Curb appeal is extremely important in the world of real estate, particularly since internet listings with photos are becoming increasingly common.   Your home needs to be as photogenic as possible.

These are some simple ways to capture potential homebuyers™ attention and make them feel welcome in your home.   A little effort on your part will greatly improve your chances of selling quickly. Of course, a few tasteful upgrades will also increase the value of your home.

Your realtor will be happy to work with you to maximize your home™s attractiveness to potential buyers.   Realtors know what buyers are looking for and how you can give those things to them! Years of experience have taught realtors what is most popular in your area, and what kind of home décor is most attractive to potential buyers. Listen to their advice, and then act upon it.

Visit our Website for more Seller’s and Buyer’s information and Free Reports.   www.ViewTulsaProperties.com

Factors to Consider Before Making an Offer

Before you make an offer on a home, you obviously need to know what the home has to offer in terms of location, size, number of rooms and amenities.   If you are buying for the first time, you may not realize that you also need to pay close attention to the list of comparables provided by your realtor.   If you don™t have such a list, ask for one.   Also, find out how the homes in the same neighborhood are faring in terms of value and sales prices.   You can often find this information online,  and you can always ask your realtor to share this kind of information with you.  

The Condition of the Home
Condition is a huge factor in evaluating the price that you are willing to pay for a particular home.   While it may be counterbalanced by other factors, the home™s condition is one of the most important things to evaluate closely.   Just what makes up the condition of a home?   Here are some of the easiest things to factor in:

The Roof
The roof is one of the first things that you can assess about a home™s condition. If the roof is in very poor condition, it will be immediately obvious to most people. Missing slate or shingles, rotting wood, significant bowing, or moss growth may be just a few indicators that a roof will need to be replaced soon.   Once inside of the home, you can notice signs of leaking after a heavy rainstorm or snowstorm.  

The Windows
Windows are an expensive update.   Therefore, if a home desperately needs new windows, it is important to figure the replacement cost.   It is common to replace all of the home™s windows at the same time.   Consider the size and style of the home™s windows when determining your offer price.

Water Damage
Water damage anywhere in a home is probably one of the biggest resale-value killers.   Visible water damage, no matter how long it has been there, can be a sign of environmental hazards such as mold and mildew.   If the basement or crawlspace beneath a home smells musty, there is probably mildew somewhere in the area.   Look for black spotting along the foundation, in the corners, and where the walls meet the floor.   The presence of water damage or mildew should not necessarily prevent you from purchasing a home.   Just realize that, if it is present, you will need to make an effort to kill the mildew that is there and to present future water damage which can exacerbate the problem.  

The Kitchen
Today™s families spend more time in the kitchen than in almost any other room of a home.   Therefore, most buyers are looking for a large, spacious, up-to-date kitchen with the latest conveniences.   In very few cases, a home™s kitchen is considered only slightly.   In most cases, when you want to buy a home with resale value, look for a home with a great kitchen.   Spacious kitchens can be updated to increase the home™s resale value, but kitchen renovations are expensive. If you are purchasing a home with the intention of renovating the kitchen, install plenty of cabinets and the latest appliances.   This will definitely increase the value of any home in the eyes of potential buyers.

Fireplaces
Fireplaces are a common feature of family rooms and sometimes living rooms.   A family room with any kind of fireplace is attractive to buyers, but a living room fireplace is not going to add much to the resale value.   This is not to say that you should avoid homes with fireplaces, but it™s not something that is required to have a high resale value.

Garages
Most families used to have just one car.   In contrast, today™s families generally have one car for each adult and often even a third car for older teens.   Therefore, homes that have limited parking areas are less desirable and have a lower resale value.   A single-car garage is great, but a home with two internal garages or a dual-car garage is much more desirable and will definitely add to the resale value.   The same is true for the driveway.   A wide driveway with the ability to park multiple cars side by side is preferred by most buyers, so keep your eyes open for homes that provide plenty of parking spaces.

Location of the Laundry Area
Laundry facilities housed in basement corners are definitely a thing of the past.   Today™s families are busy and prefer the convenience of having the laundry room on the main floor.   Often the area is quite small, with folding doors and enough space for the appliances and a small sink.   A more expansive laundry room with closets or space to hang clothing as it is taken out of the dryer will draw the attention of working people who do not want to carry heavy baskets of laundry throughout the house whenever they do laundry.

If you take the time to carefully shop for your next home, it is very likely that you will find the right home for your needs and wants.   If you are like millions of other buyers, resale value will be one of the things on your list of needs and wants.  

In addition to the factors mentioned above, there are other things to think about when looking for a home with a high resale value.   Carefully research the school district in the area where you will buy, as well as the home™s proximity to public transportation and where the area™s largest employers are located. The area where you are buying needs to be an area with good economic growth, or at least a stable economic climate.   Otherwise, your home probably will not achieve the resale amount that you need to satisfy your original mortgage should you opt to sell in only a few years.

Once you have purchased a home that you are confident will provide you with the resale value that you are seeking, there are a few things you can do to ensure that the value increases quickly.

First, inspect your home with a fine-toothed comb, paying attention to the details.   Repair or replace anything that needs it, because when potential buyers are viewing and valuing your home in the future, they will definitely notice and appreciate the TLC (tender loving care) that you showed to the home.

When you know what factors create a high resale value for a home, you are a more educated and prepared buyer.   Now is the time for you to find your next home.

For information like this go to www.ViewTulsaProperties.com

Sell Your Home in a Slowing Market
Any real estate agent can tell you that the best possible selling situation is one in which the home seller has to consider ten different bids, resulting in offers that far exceeding the home™s listing price.

Unfortunately, sometimes the housing market is not quite so generous to sellers.   Nevertheless, when the housing market takes a dive, it doesn™t mean that the selling price of your home should do the same.   Even when the housing market in your area is not very favorable, it is still possible to get your asking price.

In order to get a top-dollar price, you may need to pay a little more attention to your home™s appearance. Think of your time as an investment which will pay off when the home sells.   Likewise, any updates or renovations that you opt to perform will raise your home™s value.

Your realtor will be able to give you useful advice about how you can increase your chances of a successful and profitable sale. The following information, collected through years of real estate experience, may be helpful to you:

Consider œCurb Appeal
Today™s buyers are looking for their dream home, and they often begin their search on real estate websites where they can view potential homes from the comfort of their living room.   Remember that the first thing they will look at is the photo.  

Therefore, you need to take an actual photograph of your home.   Look at the photo and note any visible flaws.   If your grass is too tall, you should mow the lawn or consider hiring a landscaping company to get the lawn in tip-top shape.   If your flower beds are filled with weeds, now would be a great time to pull those weeds and lay down some mulch.   Trim any unruly shrubs and clean off your front porch.   These are some of buyer™s major pet peeves. If you address these things before listing your home for sale and taking that final photo, you stand a much better chance of attracting potential buyers.

Appeal Must Go Beyond the Curb
A potential buyer who walks into a home wants to feel comfortable.   Above and beyond any other features that the home offers, it must be comfortable.   Therefore, once you have cleaned up the outside of your home, take a look at what buyers will see when they walk through the front door and do everything you can to make it as warm, inviting, and comfortable as possible.

Clear Clutter!
In a slow housing market, buyers have many homes from which they can choose.   Therefore, you will need to be particularly careful about keeping clutter out of sight.   Buyers will look in your closets and cabinets, so this means you must eliminate clutter and not just hide it.   Consider having a yard sale, making donations or giving unused belongings to friends or family members.   Remember that what you don™t throw away, give away or sell you will have to eventually move. In general, it is easier to get rid of clutter now instead of waiting until you™re packing.

Keep it Clean!
By keeping you home clean while it is for sale, you greatly improve the chances of a buyer falling in love with it.   It will also benefit you, because having a clean and organized house will make your own packing process easier!

If you are unsure about where to start, consider the kitchen.   A deep cleaning should include the insides of appliances and cabinets and along the baseboards or floor trim.

Don™t forget about the garage.   Sometimes sellers tend to stash items in the garage, or even to use their garage as a staging area for their own upcoming move.   Both of these situations are okay, but you should pay attention to how your garage looks.   Keeping the garage organized is always best, regardless of what it is being used for.

Many homeowners shy away from cleaning their basement.   If your basement is finished, it is less likely to have been taken over by cobwebs and clutter.   However, especially if it is an unfinished basement, you should definitely take a weekend to straighten it up and remove those unwanted cobwebs.

Be Willing to Negotiate
In a slow market, buyers are in short demand and homes are in ready supply.   Therefore, sellers are advised to price a bit higher in order to leave room for negotiations.   Buyers who are shopping for a new home when the market is in their favor realize that sellers are more willing to negotiate when they need to sell their homes.   Even if they don™t realize this fact on their own, their agent will probably pass the information along to them.

So, you must be willing to negotiate with potential buyers in order to keep them interested and protect your interests as a seller.

Sometimes the negotiations will be monetary, but some buyers are willing to pay more for a home that comes with amenities such as a new kitchen or bathroom and maybe even appliances.  

Another way to help seal the deal with a potential buyer is to offer seller assistance for closing costs or to offer to pay the buyer™s agent commission on behalf of the buyer.   Those looking to purchase a home during a slow market are often looking for cost savings and they want to reduce the amount of cash that they need to pay up-front.   By offering to cover some of the buyer™s costs during the closing process, you gain favor with the buyer and will stand a much better chance of selling your home.

Select Your Agent Carefully
Selecting an agent to sell your home is a process that requires time, attention and research. Unless you have already used a local agent to sell a home in the area where you live, you will probably need to begin the home-selling process by interviewing potential listing agents.

When the market is slow, your best bet may be to work with an independent agent who has time to devote to marketing your home.   However, there are benefits to working with a large real estate company with the resources to get the word out to other agents through a variety of marketing techniques.   The choice is yours.  

Regardless of whether you choose to work with an independent agent or a large company, be sure to ask about commission percentages, exclusivity agreements and any other potential costs.   In a slow market, listing agents will sometimes offer to accept a lower commission rate in order to get your business. Just be sure to work with a reputable and experienced realtor.

When you are selling your home in a slowing market, when interest rates are high and buyers are in short demand, you will need to put more effort into improving the appearance and condition of your home than if you were selling in a more favorable period.   Many sellers have managed to sell their home successfully during these times by following the tips listed above.

Your realtor can serve as an excellent source of information about how best to prepare and market your home when you decide to sell during a slowing market.   A reputable and experienced agent can list your home and look out for your interests.   Remember, your home will most likely not sell itself.   Years of experience have taught realtors what buyers are looking for in homes throughout your area. This experience will allow you to be much better prepared to face a slower market when you have chosen to sell. And you definitely will stand a better chance of selling your home for the price you want or need to receive from the buyer.

For a free report “10 ways to show your home like a Model …..for less than $200.”   log on to www.ViewTulsaProperties.com or email us at rminyard@cox.net