Warm Up Your Winter Listing - 12/21/11 07:37 AM
With winter weather gripping most of the country the fireplace takes on greater importance in the sale of a home.
The National Association of REALTORS® recently conducted a survey that found nearly two-thirds of homebuyers had a fireplace on their wish list. The fireplace has become a coveted amenity and homes boasting this feature see its benefits during resale.
“The fireplace is a focal point when people come to see your home,” said Hillary Staats, an interior designer for Sanctuary on Church in Vienna, Va.
That’s why it’s important to make sure that the look of your fireplace has been … (2 comments)

Don't Let Winter Get to You - 12/19/11 08:00 AM
Chilly weather in North Georgia is here, and cold weather is just around the corner. Perform the following maintenance tips each fall to protect your property's value and prevent major repairs.
 Roof, Gutters and Downspouts
Rain, ice, snow and wind can all cause damage to your roof and gutters. Now’s the time to trim back all tree limbs and vegetation away from the roof. You also should remove debris, such as leaves and sticks from your gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters don’t allow water to properly drain away from the home, which can cause seepage in your ceilings and walls. You … (3 comments)

Don't Ignore the "Throne Room" - 12/17/11 08:07 AM
Every homebuyer has a vision of their perfect house and the rooms that are most important to them. Because of their relatively small size in comparison to the rest of a home, bathrooms are often overlooked in the staging process, but for many, it could be the most important room in a buying decision.
            A bathroom is more than just a place for grooming; it’s a sanctuary. It’s a place one can relax in a hot bath and escape the stresses of daily life for a few moments at a time.
            Updating a tired-looking bathroom is one of … (1 comments)

You Don't Have to Hide the Kids - 12/16/11 08:02 AM
I am always amazed by home sellers who have children. Some of them think buyers will just have to get used to the mess. Wrong. Any distractions to the buyer detract from the selling process, especially Junior biting them on the ankle. There is always the safety concern of the proverbial roller skate dropped on the steps.Yet it is important to maintain a friendly environment for children in "their home". 
            Keeping that “staged look” as the kids create instant messes can be overwhelming.  Your primary focus should be the kids’ bedrooms, according to two home stagers.
“Children’s bedrooms are often … (2 comments)

Don't Overlook Assets in Building Credit - 12/15/11 02:03 PM
Mortgage lenders dissect the entire credit history of a potential client with strict attention to income, credit, collateral and assets. Of the four, assets are perhaps the least discussed yet may be the most important in securing credit and buying a home.
            Simply put, assets include the amount of money needed for the down payment, in addition to closing costs, pre-paid costs such as insurance and taxes, escrow fees and funds that would be available in case of an emergency.
            “Assets may be the truest reflection of a borrower’s fiscal strength,” Dean Hartman, regional vice president for Benchmark Lending, … (0 comments)

Reaching the “New Normal” - 12/09/11 01:36 PM
 
In my ongoing search to satisfy my curiosity about how real estate is “doing” in Pickens County, I came across some interesting information. It loosely falls in line with the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors.
 
I remember reading in 2007 that someone had predicted home prices would have to return to the levels we had prior to 2005 before we would see what the “new normal” would be in the marketplace. That seemed preposterous at the time, since it would be a roll back of something like 25-30% at the time. I’m not really sure … (1 comments)

Don't Be Cheap Now - Get an Appraisal! - 12/02/11 07:45 AM
One of the most important jobs for your real estate agent is to determine the value of your home by developing a Comparable Market Analysis, which will be used in pricing the home for the right amount.
            If your property isn’t attracting serious shoppers, your agent may recommend that you invest in an appraiser to get a second pricing opinion, as the appraiser will come in with an independent, unbiased opinion to help ensure your price is correct for the market.
            “An appraisal is important in today’s market especially, because it’s an objective and unbiased source of information,” … (3 comments)

 

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