From Daydreams to Reality...

I am desperate - Help me!! Short Sale help!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:29:20 -0600

Okay, I've done a few shorts and this is a first and I am desperately seeking help!

Situation: We had approval on the first, AHMS, and 2nd - Citifinancial. The 2nd was approved through the local branch and we were all given till end of November to close. We were last in touch with Citi on the 25th and all was still good.

Closing day comes up and the title company cannot get an updated approval from local - the local tells them it's been sent back to Corporate and our approval is no good!

Our contact at local was out of the office. When he returns back on Tuesday afternoon, day after our closing, he had no idea the file had been sent back to corporate.

The let's say darling because she's not, secretary had sent the file back to corporate on the 27th. The business day before we were supposed to close. With that one action, she has single-handedly SCREWED everyone's life.

Buyer has taken a 2nd mortgage on his house and a loan on this one in order to close. The title company has the checks from all the banks and the closing finished. But nothing can happen without the approval from Citi.

Corporate finally looked over the package, which thankfully they did a rush and looked at it as soon as we got it from Citi local on Tuesday. BUT they want $5141 MORE Than the local had approved on payoff, and to fight that, it could take us another 30 days.

Timeline:

Last contact with 2nd - 25th

Secretary sent file from local to corporate - 27th

Closing - 30th

All the funds are sitting at the title company. This could be closed, done, and everyone could have their money in 2 hours, but no.

Total amount owed the 2nd - 15,000

Local agreed to - $2500

Corporate wants - $7600

Does anyone have contacts for anyone high up in Citi?

Citifinancial if you read this or even care - HELP! This was one mistake by a local secretary and now 2 families and 2 agents are SCREWED.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

3915 N. Amidon for Sale in Wichita, KS - Enormous home, big lot, mature area - No Cookie Cutter!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:13:36 -0600

Don't Pay a Premium for Itty Bitty Subdivided Living!

Tired of cookie cutter homes that all look the same?
Tired of "Special" taxes - what's so special about taxes!!
Tired of subdivisions with no trees taller than you are?

I invite you to visit the mature area of Sherwood Glen with me. Located in North-West Wichita, near 37th/Meridian, this area boasts mature homes - most with only 1-2 owners ever, large established trees and lawns, no special taxes (Aside from the County-wide $4.04), and convenient to everywhere by a quick hop onto 235/K-96.

Here you'll find 3915 N. Amidon, an established 1950's rambling rancher with over 2000 square feet on the main floor, an unfinished basement, large all-season room, 2 car garage, and 1/3 acre lot size.

Look past the clutter (Pardon us, we're moving!), and you'll find:

3 bedrooms upstairs
Jack and Jill shared Master Bathroom that's large and easy to maneuver
Hardwood floors in Living, hall, and all bedrooms (under the carpet in 2)
Gorgeous banks of windows in the living room (currently used as formal dining)
Open Kitchen plan with tons of cabinets and good sturdy working appliances (they don't make 'em like they used to!)
Hearth Room Dining area with wood-burning fireplace and room for the whole family
2nd Guest Bathroom in the Entertaining areas
Enormous Family room with 2 built-in desks with shelving areas, large window seat with storage, separate Heat/air controls
Main-Floor Laundry
500 square foot All-Season room with insulated wall panels and windows, built-in heater
Updated 200amp Electric Panel with some workshop ready separate breakers in sun-room.
2 car Attached garage with new insulated doors
Over 1200 square feet of storage or future finish in the basement
Shed and playhouse
1 year Home Warranty to protect the heat, air, water heater, appliances and more!
Affordability - at only $134,900, there is no way you could build a home this size for this cheap in today's market.

So if you're ready to buy, but you're looking for a ton of room for your buck, an established and convenient neighborhood tucked out of the beaten path, and the chance to earn your own equity with some cosmetic updates (Hey, it was built in the 50's!), you really should come down and see this one!

This home would also be fabulous for those who need everything on one level!

For more photos and information, visit the home on the web at:

http://www.3915Amidon.com

To Schedule your private showing, contact below:

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Sedgwick County Property Taxes - What Sellers Should Know

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:56:33 -0600

Sellers - How does your Property Tax Value impact you when you Sell?

I am a little surprised sometimes when I go to list a home and in my discussion bring out the property tax value - and the seller has no idea what that number means to them!
This should not be - you need to know this number before you sell because it does and will impact you.

For a rundown on how the property taxes in Sedgwick County work, visit my Property Tax 101 article.

In the meantime, I want you to pay attention to your tax value. When you decide to list your property, this piece of information is one of the first items that I will research and pull up. It does several things - gives us agents information about the home such as square footage, basement, age, lot size - and also about the potential value - it is a mass appraisal based on historical sales data so should be somewhere in the ballpark - and it lets us know if we have a potential marketing problem.

What? You heard me - potential marketing problem. Now, there'd have to be some pretty big price discrepancy for most folks to care, but I have seen those homes asking 50-100,000 more than valuation, and it's not a pretty marketing picture.

Consider the case of Seller Chester Cheapie. Now Chester protests his taxes every year - it's his right after all to prove that his property is worth less than the county thinks it is, so he can pay less taxes. However, now Chester wants to sell his home and he has yearly been beating down the price per the County. How does it look to potential buyers when Chester lists his home for tens of thousands over County Value?

1. Chester looks like he's grossly overpriced from the amateur buyer's eyes - the buyers can access these tax values very very easily and they do. I have many times had buyers balk at prices due to a County value. They won't even go look at his house with that in mind.
2. Chester looks like a difficult seller to deal with - how can you on one hand argue your home is worth only 100k to the County but then turn around and demand $150k from the market? It looks bad to buyers and they may think the seller is trying to be tricky.
3. Buyers looking at Chester's property will be warned by their lender and agent that the taxes will jump when the sale is recorded and the county brings the property up to the sales value as the new market value. The low taxes may get many to look but you'll lose most when they find their payment may jump so much within a year or two of purchase.
4. When buyers look at Chester's tax value, and it has risen 0% and possibly even declined if he had a good appeal year, what do you think they think when they see property appreciation at 0 or Negative percentages? What most buyers see and think is "Oh gosh, this home's value is declining, I'll be upside down from the start and never get out!"

So if you're a constant Tax appeals person, you may want to consider your timeframe for selling and ramp it down before then so that you come closer to market value when you go to list. That said, if you protest because you sincerely believe your home isn't worth that much, then don't worry - it's really only a big issue if you're trying to sell for way more than the valuation. And for serial-protesters, all hope is not lost -the County will surely be forgiving if you discover your home really is worth more and want that Valuation increased.

There are also some genuine reasons why your Tax Value may be lower than what you're aiming for, and that's part of what I'll be looking at when I list a home, in order to know what the discrepancy is and be able to counter that objection from buyers who see the Valuation. You're not stuck to a low Valuation price, we just need to know how to counter that if a buyer brings it up.

1. In general, they try to value at 5-10% of market value, so it could just be low from that standpoint, which is very normal.
2. Their valuation is only as good as the property data - if they don't have the basement listed as finished and it is, we can easily point out to buyers the reason for the low value. Or a room addition, pool, garage, you get the picture. If the data's wrong, the value will be off.
3. Few or no recent sales - If there haven't been sales to really count or trend your value, you may have had 0-1% increases because they can't prove anything else. This can happen in low-turnover areas.
4. New construction - if you just built a home, it can often take 2 years to level out the taxes. It starts out just taxed as land, and then incrementally taxed as the County Appraisers visit and find different stages of completion. It can take them a while to get the whole house recorded and taxed properly.
5. Remodeling, renovations, recent changes to the property that may not be reflected on tax values. They don't enter your home, so if you've remodeled and put in a $20k kitchen, the Appraiser's office may not know.

Now if your tax appraisal is higher than we can sell the home for based on more recent market data, that's just good marketing material - Priced Under County Appraisal!! It could mean you've been paying extra for our school system for a while, and my kids thank you, but when you break it down by 11.5% and the mill levy, you've probably only been overpaying by 10-20 bucks/month.

It's a fine line, and for most sellers the valuation is close enough that it doesn't affect you much. The most often found discrepancy is in improvements made by the seller and not recorded with the County such as basement finish, which is easy to explain to buyers why the value varies so much from list price. It's really only in the grossly large differences that your Tax Value can hurt you.

And look tomorrow for :

Information Buyers Should Know about Property Tax Values

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Sedgwick County Property Taxes - Intro 101

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:06:18 -0600

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

Everyone hates them but we can't really get around them, though many folks try. Today we're going to talk a little bit about your Sedgwick County property tax values. I'll be making this into two more posts - one from how it affects the Seller of real estate here, and the other about how it affects Buyers.

To start though, a brief rundown:

Sedgwick County, KS practices mass appraisal. That means that they gather the data on your home and plug it into their computer. They gather sales data from every sale that occurs in the County. When they plug in sales for that year, the computer then "trends" the values. So say homes in a certain area had sales prices 3% higher than the year prior, then the computer moves up all the values that 3%. They temper that mass-adjustment with inspections - they visit every home that has had a sale or a building permit issued, in order to be sure the data is correct. They also re-inspect 17% of the County every year, to keep on top of changes, good or bad, to properties. This can help keep their adjustments in line if say they visit your home and can tell that it's falling apart or you've added on a 4 car garage.

Now Mass Appraisal works well for the masses, however they are not individual appraisals - which focus on the particular subject property and how it directly compares with the current sales in the area. So they (mass appraisals) are not the best value indicator. They work well for a generalized value, and particularly well in homogenous areas like subdivisions where most of the houses are fairly similar.

The County strives to keep their values within a certain percentage of the market value of a home - generally they wish to be within 5-10% of market value of a home, and most times they tend to err on the cautious side by being under the market value by that amount.

From that County Appraised value, they then calculate the Assessed value (11 1/2 % of the appraised value) and that is what they apply the mill levy against to generate your property taxes for the year.

Quick Facts:

The property has to be set at it's value by the end of that year so that on January 1, it's listed in the tax rolls at current value.

The mill levy which sets the tax rates are decided every November.

We pay property taxes in arrears and in halves -the first half of 2009 taxes are billed and due by Dec 20, 2009 and the 2nd half will not be billed until May.

Property Valuation notices are mailed out in March to let owners know what their property is now appraised for.

The back of the Valuation notice has the form to appeal your taxes.

You can appeal your taxes when you receive the valuation notice, or you can file a Payment under Protest and appeal when you make your tax payments.

For more information, visit Sedgwick County Appraiser's office website.

Now, after that delightful lesson in property taxes, look for the next installment tomorrow:

What Sellers Should Know About Their Tax Value

to be followed by

What Buyers Should Know About Property Tax Value

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

The Dangers of Working from Home - Captain Jamie Strikes Again!!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:21:30 -0600

It's time for another adventure from Captain Jamie!!

It's been a while since we've heard from our mischievous toddler and that could be due to his growth from Daring Destructo-child to Finicky Four-year-old Finagler. However, with the introduction of his new sidekick, the Amazing Amelia, Captain Jamie has had a relapse.

Now I'm not in the habit of working from home with my children, but you do what you have to and with them out of daycare and my husband off on a remodel project, surely I could manage a few phone calls, emails, and such with my sweet children around. But alas, it was not to be. I had just returned from accepting a referral (thanks Roz!) from the quiet of our den when I heard the laughter. Giggling playfulness with no hint of the usual fighting and sibling rivalry. "Awwwww" I thought to myself as I rounded the corner. And stopped.

Captain Jamie had struck again!

After a moment of shock wore off, we had a shredded paper snowball fight and everyone had a blast. Note to self, next time we empty the shredder, it should go STRAIGHT to the outside trash with no pitstops! In the meantime, send a vacuum with that next referral, I'm going to need it!

~Sheree

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

October 2009 Wichita, KS Market Report

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:06:00 -0600

October 2009 - Wichita, KS Market Report

The Ocober WAAR (Wichita Area Association of Realtors) statistical report is out and those who have been watching a little too much TV news might be surprised. The Wichita market area is in a SELLER's Market with only 4.5 months of existing home inventory. 6 is considered a balance market, and more than 6 months is a Buyer's Market. Totally different from what you hear on tv, isn't it?

I agree with WAAR - it's a Seller's Market here... IN SOME PRICE RANGES.

Just like last months' report, you'll notice in the breakdown below that over 75% of all area sales were in the price range of $159,999 and under. Less than a quarter of all sales were over that! I would definitely say that the Under $160k homes are in a Seller's Market with less inventory, more sales, more competition among buyers. And yet again, as last month, the price range with the most sells is that coveted $120,000 - $139,999 range. That's our market's Sweet Spot!

However, I'd say with the very low number of sales above that, the over $160,000 market is still a Buyer's Market, with very long days-on-market and tons of inventory.

So if you're a buyer looking in the $160,000 and under range, better turn that tv off - it's a fight out there to get what you want and there's not going to be any houses in move-in condition priced 50% of value. If you're selling, you should be able to line up buyers as long as you've got the big 4 going for you (Location, Condition, Price, and Marketing!).

If you're wanting to buy over the $160,000 mark, the ball's in your court and there's plenty of choices. Selling? Make sure you're home is the best of the best for the price, easy to show, and ready to go!

For more information about the market report and how it relates to your situation, drop me a line!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

NOW, the Tax Credit for First Time AND Move-Up Buyers has been signed! We have till April 30th folks!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:11:26 -0600

NOW, there is an expanded Tax Credit for Homebuyers!

I'm sure you've been reading articles here and there about the proposed Tax Credit Expansion. Maybe you've wondered why YOUR Realtor(R) hasn't posted anything! Well here it is! I prefer to wait until a proposed bill actually gets signed before handing out information so that we're giving out good information and not just speculation!
It became effective when the President signed it, so here's a breakdown on the difference between the OLD tax credit and this NEW version!

Old Credit - must close by Dec 1, 2009	New Credit - Must be under contract by 4/30/2010, close by 7/1/2010
First-time buyers receive 10% of the purchase value, UP TO $8,000	This stays the same
Buyers who have owned a home within last 3 years cannot claim credit.	Buyers who have owned a home for 5 consecutive years of the last 8 years are eligible for a $6500 credit.
Income limit for singles: $75,000 Income limit for marrieds: $125,000 $20,000 additional phase-out	Income limit for singles: $125,000 Income limit for marrieds: $225,000 $20,000 additional phase-out
No limit on purchase price	$800,000 limit on purchase price
No documentation needed to file for credit	Must provide documentation of actual purchase on the tax return

There you go!

Now I've already had questions from current homeowners who had sold a home and moved up in 2009. Unfortunately they did not make this retro-active, so it is effective as of the day they signed this into law. However, for those of you currently listed for sale, you now have a chance at a tax credit too! Plus this will help ensure the buyer pool keeps coming out looking instead of fading into the usual winter slowdown.

For buyers, you've got a breather and more time to find the right house without worrying about losing the credit. The loosened income restrictions will also help more qualify as first-time buyers and obtain the credit as well.

If you have any questions regarding the credit, drop me a line and we will do our best to answer! As always, since this involves your finances and taxes, of course we suggest that you check with your tax preparer for specific questions about how this will affect you at tax time!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

2509 N. Porter, Wichita, KS Home for sale! Fishing in your Backyard for $104,900!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:15:55 -0500

Fishing in your Backyard!

2509 N. Porter, Wichita, KS 67204 View Map

Life on the river awaits you!

This 3 bedroom 1 bath home is ready for new owners! Featuring hardwood floors (under carpeting), remodeled bathroom and spacious open kitchen, this home is ready for you!

The back yard is huge and fully fenced, sloping gently down to your own spot on the river! Bring your fishing pole and come on over to check out this home!

Details

Asking Price:

$104,900

MLS:

263357

Sq. Feet:

1150

Lot Size:

.24 acres

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

1 car

Year Built:

1970

Property Amenities

Contact Info

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor

Main 316.927.2222
Dir 316.461.0575
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Vintage Style, Modern Convenience! 808 S. Holyoke, Wichita KS Home for Sale!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:45:13 -0500

Fantastically Adorable Starter with Awesome Workshop!

808 S. Holyoke, Wichita, KS 67204 View Map

This absolutely adorable home features a lot of the charm of College Hill without the high prices!

You'll find a spacious living room with neat detailed ceiling, a remodeled kitchen and dining space that oozes charm and functionality (oh and all the appliances stay!). Be sure you note the enormous Master Loft Bedroom upstairs with walk-in closet, the bright and airy guest bedroom, and the nearby office/den space with sliders to the large deck outside!

You'll find storage galore in the unfinished basement area, and don't forget that Mammoth 2+ car garage and workshop out back, with heater, fridge, shelving, opener, and more!

All for a price that beats renting for sure! Come on down and check it out, you won't regret it!

Details

Asking Price:

$95,900

MLS:

263441

Sq. Feet:

1309+

Lot Size:

6376

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

2Car+

Year Built:

1927

Property Amenities

Contact Info

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor

Main 316.927.2222
Dir 316.461.0575
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Maize, KS and Garden Plain, KS Offering Thousands of Incentives to Build or Buy a New Build home in their areas!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:59:07 -0500

Maize and Garden Plain offering incentives to NEW home purchasers

As noted in my previous article about the September 2009 Housing Market, homes over the $159,999 mark are having a very difficult time selling. The only homes performing worse right now are NEW built homes over $159,999. There is so much inventory on the market that if you're looking in this range, you're going to have your choice of homes! While most note the value to be found in buying a resale, or "used", home - there's definitely the option to be a home's FIRST owner, maybe still have the chance to pick out your colors, flooring, appliances, or even to build from scratch.

In an effort to spur these home sales, 2 of our suburb city areas are offering some pretty nice incentives!

Garden Plain is located on Kellogg/US-54 between Goddard and Cheney, just about 15-20 minutes outside of town. It's nice and quiet, with a small-town feel, but close enough to hop into Goddard or on into Wichita for fun and excitement. They have 2 new home developments, yet have not had any new homes built this year. The city has partnered up with a local construction supply business to offer these credits/rebates towards the city's water/sewer bills:
"The credit is $3,000 for new houses between $100,000 and $150,000; $4,500 on houses between $150,000 and $200,000; and $6,000 on houses over $200,000."

Earlier this week, Maize also announced an incentive tied into the Parade of Homes to stimulate new home sales in their area. Maize is located North-West of Wichita, right up against the Wichita border. Just hop on K-96 and get off on Maize Rd, or go north of 37th/Maize Rd. It's grown right into the Wichita area, and is very near to great shopping at New Market Square and of course is most known here for its school system.

Their incentives are limited to contracts signed by December 1st and are as follows:

"The city has put in place credits ranging from $2,000 to $6,000 on city water and sewer bills, but developers and builders say they will match that, said Deputy City Administrator Rebecca Bouska.

In effect, she said, homebuyers could get up to $6,000 off a lot, up to $6,000 off a house and up to $6,000 off their utilities for a house valued at over $500,000."

To read the full article about the credits, you can read it here at the Wichita Eagle's website or pick up your local copy of today's paper!

If you're thinking of buying a new home in these areas, drop me a line or start your home search below!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

September 2009 Market Report for the Wichita, KS Area - Are we in a Seller's Market here? Really?

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:46:34 -0500

New WAAR report shows that our market has been a Seller's Market for a bit and although inventory has increased slightly, it's still leaning towards more of a Seller's Market. Totally different from what you hear on tv, isn't it?

I agree with WAAR - it's a Seller's Market here... IN SOME PRICE RANGES.

For instance, this chart was pulled from the marketing report and shows the breakdown of sales in price ranges for September.

You can see that out of 816 sales for the month, 584 or 72% of them were for homes under $159,999. That's the ones bracketed in Red for you. The ones in Green are what I call the "sweet spot" - 35% of ALL sales were between $100,000 and $159,999!

I'd say 100% that anything in the sweet spot is a Seller's Market, and pretty surely anything under $159,999.

However, I'd say with the very low number of sales above that, the over $160,000 market is still a Buyer's Market, with very long days-on-market and tons of inventory.

So if you're a buyer looking in the $160,000 and under range, better turn that tv off - it's a fight out there to get what you want. If you're selling, you should be able to line up buyers.

If you're wanting to buy over the $160,000 mark, the ball's in your court and there's plenty of choices. Selling? Make sure you're home is the best of the best for the price, easy to show, and ready to go!

For more information about the market report and how it relates to your situation, drop me a line!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf Recipe - Cooking in Wichita, KS!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:13:36 -0500

Sweet and Sour Meatloaf - Just like Mom used to make, sorta!

Those of you who know me are probably spewing pop out of your nose at the idea of me posting a recipe! Ha! Just because I happen to know how to burn water doesn't mean that I'm not married to someone who can do more than push Start on a microwave!

This recipe was one of my Mom's and happens to be my favorite meal. It was very often requested for parties, where she did a Meatball version. Meatball making is time-consuming work, so the preferred method is now a Meatloaf, but it's yummy yummy nonetheless! Evertime I mention he cooked this for me, I'm asked for the recipe!

Here you go!

Ingredients

1 egg	1 1/2 lbs beef	2/3 c Cracker crumbs
1/3 c chopped onions/green peppers (optional)	1 1/2 t salt	1/4 t ginger
1/4 c milk	2 Tbs cornstarch	1/2 C dark brown sugar
1 20 oz can pineapple tidbits in heavy syrup	1/3 c vinegar	1 Tbs soy sauce

Directions

Mix egg, beef, crumbs, salt, ginger, milk, and any chopped veggies. Shape into a loaf pan or 1/12 quart dish and bake at 400° for 1 hour or until done.

In a bowl, mix cornstarch and sugar, then stir in the pineapple juice from the can, vinegar, and soy sauce until smooth. Pour in a skillet and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until it thickens and boils. Boil and stir for 1 minute, then add in the pineapple tidbits.

Serve meatloaf slices over white rice with the pineapple/sauce mixture poured over.

Voila! Now, go off and make Meatloaf! But don't forget the final step - inviting me to dinner! Ha!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Two Great Country Acts coming to Play Wichita, KS!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:37:20 -0500

Two Famous Country Acts Playing Wichita

If you're familiar with the Wichita area, you know we've spent a ton of time and money and breath in building our beautiful new Intrust Bank Arena! Whether you were for or against the building, noone can deny it's a very neat looking structure and destined to bring in some great talent to entertain the community!

First to bat, or the first listed so far, will be the award-winning Brad Paisley! I hear he puts on a great act with some pretty mean guitar-playing! Paisley will be the Arena's opening act on January 9th.

Probably not the next to play, but the next to announce for the area so far is Taylor Swift. Yes, THE Taylor Swift, one of few country stars to win an MTV VMA! Her music crosses genres and is played on country, pop, and many other stations. While she hasn't confirmed her venue being the Arena, she has at least confirmed she's coming to Wichita! She's aiming to be in town April 1st.

Ticket sale dates have yet to be announced, but you can find out more and keep up to date by visiting the Intrust Bank Arena's Website! Looking forward to a ton more great acts at our beautiful new facility - giving us even MORE things to do in Wichita, KS!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Vivacious and Bold - 5 Bed 3 Bath Newer home for sale in Wichita, KS!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:28:50 -0500

Get a place with pizazz!
2621 N. Edgemoor, Wichita, KS 67220
	You'll love this vivacious contemporary home! Enjoy a family friendly home with vaulted ceilings, Master bedroom with double-closets, dual-vanity bathroom, and upgraded finishes. You'll drool over the sleek kitchen with new stainless steel appliances YOU get to keep! The finished basement has 2 more bedrooms, large bathroom, and hugefamily room! Out back you'll find maintenance free vinyl fencing around a lush lawn, new extensive playset for the kiddos, and a patio with eating bar for grilling out!Forget builder blah and get a home with some character!
Click to View Show
Details		Contact Info
Asking Price: MLS: Sq. Feet: Lot Size: Bedrooms: Bathrooms: # of Floors: Garage Size: Subdivision: Year Built:	$139,900 263043 1916 .14ac 5 2 1 2Car The Courts II 2006		Sheree Wilkerson Realtor Main 316.927.2222 Dir 316.461.0575 Email \| Website Other Shows
Property Amenities
- Range/Oven - Sink Disposal - Full Refrigerator - Microwave - Dishwasher	- Vaulted Ceilings - Basement - Patio - Fenced Yard - Central A/C	- Central Heat - Family room - Office/den - Stainless steel appliances

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

How To Give $69,500 Away When You Sell Your Wichita Home

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:56:41 -0500

For Sale By Owners - Please, this is why we give you our advice, representation, and services. It's not all about us, it is actually helping YOU out! Don't believe us, read below. This is not the only one of these happenings.

Via Kristina Pratt, REALTOR® - GoshenRealtyGroup.com (St. Louis' Illinois Suburbs - RE/MAX Preferred Partners):

I really enjoyed my cousin's wedding last Friday night. The bride was beautiful, the groom couldn't be happier, there was fabulous food and great music. There was also a lot of new people to meet.

While taking a break from the festivities on the outdoor patio, I overheard the following conversation take place...

New Home Owner turns to his buddy and says, "Yeah, we just got a heck of a deal on our new house. I looked around with an agent for awhile, but then I got this great idea. We passed a house with a For Sale By Owner sign in the yard and it dawned on me... they aren't paying a commission!"

New Home Owner's buddy, "That's a great idea. Dude, I bet you got a good deal."

New Home Owner replies, "Did I ever. Get this... since I knew they weren't paying an agent I figured that was at least $25,000 of the asking price right there. When I called, the chick gave me waaay too much information. Turns out that her husband was in the middle of a job transfer. He was already all the way out in Oregon and she couldn't wait to get out there to be with him. She told me they had already bought a house out there and they were making two house payments. She acted like the fact that they were the original owners was a selling point, but that told me they had wiggle room. They were asking $365,000 and most houses in that neighborhood listed with agents were closer to $385,000."

New Home Owner's Buddy, "No way. She didn't keep her mouth shut?"

New Home Owner, "Nope. I bet her husband was ticked. Now I knew I had a live one on the other end. We went to look at the house, and even though it was a ranch and we wanted a two-story we bought it anyway. They had no idea how to negotiate, so I got them down to $318,500. Can you believe that? I told them I knew they weren't paying a commission, so they should have lots of wiggle room."

New Home Owner's Buddy, "You got them down like $45,000??"

New Home Owner laughs and says, "Then I asked for the sun moon and stars when the inspection had issues. They gave me more money off the price of the house instead of making repairs. All in all I bought it for $315,500!"

I stopped listening at this point. It was almost too painful. To hear someone sit there and brag to his friend about ripping someone off made my stomach churn. The thing that really made me sick was that this whole thing could have been avoided. I'd like to take a second to point out some things that sellers with a For Sale By Owner sign in their yard need to remember...

1. NEVER, and I mean NEVER tell ANYONE your motivation for selling. You are guaranteed to lose your shirt on the deal.

2. NEVER let someone come look at your house if you are there alone. Don't tell anyone that your husband is thousands of miles away. These buyers are not working with agents, and it could be a ruse to come in and commit a crime.

3. Buyers are very savvy in today's market. Educate yourself on how to become a good negotiator. You have to emotionally detach, and that's very hard to do with your own home.

The moral of the story is this:

You're going to pay the commission one way or the other, so why not hire a professional? Between the listing price being too low, revealing their motivation and not being an expert negotiator this buyer just walked off with $69,500 of this owner's money. That's almost three times more than any agent I've ever known charges in commission.
About the Author: Kristina Pratt is a REALTOR® with Goshen Realty Group at RE/MAX Preferred Partners in Edwardsville, Illinois. She and Nancy Milton help their customers buy and sell homes and investment properties in St. Louis' Illinois suburbs of Madison and St. Clair counties with special emphasis on the communities of Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Collinsville and Troy. For more information, visit their web site at http://www.GoshenRealtyGroup.com or e-mail Kristina@GoshenRealtyGroup.com

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

New Listing - Newer Wichita Home with Tons of Room

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:21:56 -0500

Deal Alert! Move-in Ready Rancher!

4140 S. Gilda, Wichita, KS 67215 View Map

What a deal!

2300 Square feet of move-in ready loveliness ready for you to enjoy!

Upstairs you'll find newer carpet, large living room, open kitchen/dining floor plan, eat-in bar, laminate flooring, private master bath, walk-in closet, and more!

Downstairs you'll notice a large family room with fireplace, 2nd Master/Guest Suite - huge bedroom with egress and attached bathroom, double-vanities, and walk-in closet!

And you're even going to love the outside! 2 car garage, privacy fenced yard, and one AWESOME deck!

This home is priced to sell fast and is a definite value! Call today to get in and see it!

Details

Asking Price:

$126,500

MLS:

263006

Sq. Feet:

2302

Lot Size:

.17ac

Bedrooms:

Bathrooms:

# of Floors:

Garage Size:

2Car

Subdivision:

Wheatland

Year Built:

1998

Property Amenities

Contact Info

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor

Main 316.927.2222
Dir 316.461.0575
Email | Website

All information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

FHA 203K Rehabilitation Loan - Great for the Wichita, KS area too!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:28:01 -0500

Aside from Arizona, the FHA 203k loan product is a great way to go if you're looking at purchasing a home here in Doo-Dah that needs a little help. Sure there's a bunch more steps involved and it takes a little longer, but it can be a great way for that ideal fixer-upper to be yours AND livable!

Read below for how this program works!

Via David Krushinsky (WJ Bradley Mortgage Capital, Phoenix AZ):

The FHA 203K Rehabilitation Loan was started as a tool to help the revitalization of neighborhoods and communities throughout Glendale, Arizona and the United States. This loan program offers borrowers the resources to rehabilitate they're home in Arrowhead Ranch that may be in need of limited repairs and/or upgrades without exhausting their savings. This can be used for either the purchase of a fixer-upper or the refinance of a home they currently occupy. One single loan is used to pay for the purchase (or refinance) and the cost of renovating the home.

The FHA 203(k) loan is available to borrowers of all income levels who plan to occupy their house in the Arrowhead Ranch area. This loan also opens the door for many Arizona first-time homebuyers and applicants with less than perfect credit, while still allowing for low down payments. Properties eligible for this product include any single family residences, condominiums, manufactured homes, townhouses and properties with one to four units located in the Arrowhead Ranch area in Glendale, AZ.

The Streamlined 203(k) program is intended to facilitate uncomplicated rehabilitation and/or improvements to a home for which plans, consultants, engineers and/or architects are not required. The repair costs can be up to $35,000 and there is no minimum requirement. (***Please note that there are also 203(k) loan programs available without a maximum repair cost amount and additional improvements capabilities.)

The following is a list of some of the eligible improvements and/or repairs:

•-      Repair/Replacement/Upgrades of roofs, gutters, HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical systems and flooring

•-      Minor remodeling of kitchens and bathrooms

•-      Purchase and installation of appliances

•-      Painting - exterior and interior

•-      Weatherization including insulation, weather stripping, storm windows and doors

•-      Window and door replacement and exterior wall re-siding

•-      Lead based paint stabilization and abatement of lead based paint

•-      Repair/Replace/Addition of exterior decks, patios and porches

•-      Repair to existing swimming pools up to $1,500

•-      Repair/Replacement of septic system and wells

•-      Accessibility improvements for persons with disabilities

•-      Finishing/remodeling of basements, not including structural repairs

The actual cost of the renovation is based upon the contractors' accepted contracts specifying the scope of work, cost of materials and labor and timeframe. All repairs must be completed by a contractor within 3 months of the closing date. Borrowers are required to have the necessary expertise and experience to perform work. Please feel free to contact the Krushinsky Team at 623-594-7600 for any additional questions related to the FHA 203K Rehabilitation Loan in Arrowhead Ranch.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

FROG? TLC? WBFP? What does the agent MEAN??

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:11:23 -0500

Deciphering Real Estate Ads

Over the weekend, I received a plea for help from a friend located in another state. She'd been searching online for properties, and noticed acronyms that she just couldn't make out. The one she finally gave in and called me on was FROG. She was concerned that it was a new decorating style, like the roosters, chefs, or ducks that were popular!

In fact, it's generally a Finished Room Over Garage.

What other acronyms might you run across in real estate ads, why are they used, and what on earth could they mean?

Originally the purpose of them was due to the high cost for real estate ads and the need to squeeze as much info into as cheap an ad as possible. Another reason was the limited number of characters original MLS systems allowed as well. Hence the need to shorten terms.

Here's some frequent ones you may run across:

FP = Fireplace
WBFP = Wood-burning fireplace
GFP = Gas fireplace
Kit = usually kitchen
W/O or WO= Walk-out (as in a walk-out basement)
V/O or VO = View-Out (as in basement, windows are above grade, view out onto yard)
BR = Bedroom
BA = Bathroom
FR = Family Room or Finished Room
BSMT = Basement
TLC = Tender Loving Care (needs work)
FIN or UNFIN = whether a basement is Finished or Unfinished
Det = Detached, as in a building not attached to the house, such as a detached garage
Gar = Garage :)
Mstr = Master, as in Master bath or Master bedroom
Hdwd or wd = generally referring to Hardwood floors or wood floors
Fam Rm = Family Room
Lg = Large
Bldg = Building
HWH = Hot water Heater
HBPP = Home Buyer Protection Plan
Mn Flr = Main Floor
CDS = Cul-de-Sac
Appl or Appl'd = Appliances or Applianced, generally referring to kitchen
DW = Dishwasher
OS = Oversized
Cpt = Carpet
DOM = Days On Market - how long a house has been listed for sale
TFLA, AGLA, BFA = Total Finished Living Area, which is a combination of Above Ground Living Area and Basement Finished Area

Other Acronyms got you stumped?
Ask and we'll translate Realtor® Speak into Buyer-ese for you!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Country Living - 1 acre, 3 bed 2 bath, full bsmt, 2car, 2002 built, CHEAP!!!!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:52:43 -0500

Back on the Market and Seller will PAY YOUR COSTS!*

The buyers lost their loan on this property so it is again available for YOU!
*Seller will pay up to $3500 of buyer's closing costs!

Over 1400 sq ft upstairs, plus 200 finished in the bsmt, for over 1600 sq ft!
Full basement could be finished out with a "bed"room, family room, and full bathroom! (bid on file for $6,000 to finish it all out through Air Capital Construction!)
2 car attached garage, polebarn style, with opener and extra storage!
1 Acre lot allows for 2 horses per County - lots of room to build or romp!
Norwich Schools are fabulous!

Large open kitchen, built in pantry, newer appliances!
Ample dining space!
Nearby main-floor laundry!

3 bedrooms and an office on the main floor!
Another bedroom with egress in the bsmt (no closet)!
Fireplace!
Deck!
Partly fenced area for pets!
Master bathroom has shower and garden soaker tub!

Drop a line or call today to find a time to see this one and put your offer in!

316-461-0575
sheree@rwwichita.com

http://www.kansashomebuzz.com

Listed by Sheree Wilkerson, Realty World Alliance LLC

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Would Your Family Hear a Smoke Alarm? Consider Fire Sprinklers

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:47:56 -0500

Smoke Alarms are Great, but Should you Sprinkler?

Tornado siren tests, ambulances, fire truck sirens, police sirens, fire tests, tornado drills, and more!

In a world where alarms are norm, would you even notice if the smoke alarm went off?
Would your spouse? Your kids?

I can say that I sleep through alarm clocks daily - I don't know if I'd wake up. I have one child who requires medication to sleep (yes, requires. Otherwise he does NOT sleep AT ALL) - he wouldn't wake up if a train drove through the house. The other 2 kids - I know for certain the baby would, but my 4 year old... hmmm...

The point being that a Smoke Alarm, while loud and obnoxious, has a chance to be ignored. And obviously if you're not home, it does no good at all. You may have one that's wired into your home security - which is definitely a better upgrade!

But have you considered having Fire Sprinklers installed? You see them in hotels, schools, offices, and more, but should your home be protected as well?

Here are some factoids to consider:

Often, the sprinklers can contain or put out a fire before the fire department even reaches the house.
Having both sprinklers and smoke alarms cuts the risk of death by a fire in the home by 82%.
Insurance companies offer as high as 35% discounts for homes with fire sprinklers.
Sprinklers operate independently, only those near the fire will activate, protecting the rest of the house from both fire and water damage.

For more information about the benefits and cost of fire sprinkler systems, visit
The Home Sprinkler Coalition.

Photo by dvs on Flickr Photostream by Creative Commons license.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Fall Home Maintenance

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:46:28 -0500

As we enter a new season, it's always a good idea to check up on your home! We've found that the most damage is often caused by something that has simply gone unchecked for too long. Catch things early and get them fixed much cheaper!

As an extra note in our area, I'd like to add one more thing to your Fall To-Do List:

Winterize your sprinkler system!

Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):

As fall approaches, it’s time to do your seasonal home maintenance. While many of these items should be routine, some are often overlooked and have the potential to create serious problems. Make certain to check these items as you prepare for the coming season.

Fall Home Maintenance:

Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by pressing “test” button.

Change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

Clean dryer vent and check outside exhaust for excess lint.

Vacuum covers on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Inspect furnace, boiler, AC compressor, sump pump, and water heater for visible problems.

Replace HVAC filter.

Vacuum return air grills and HVAC registers.

Vacuum grills on bath vent fans.

Vacuum behind washer & dryer and inspect dryer vent hose for kinks/damage.

Vacuum behind refrigerator and vacuum front grill and coil.

Clean underside of kitchen range hood and wash filter if applicable.

Clean gutters and check for proper drainage away from foundation.

Check under sinks and vanities for leaks in supply lines or drains.

Have fireplace chimney checked and cleaned as necessary.

Check windows for proper operation/seal and check window caulking.

Check weather-stripping and caulking around exterior doors.

Pour at least 1 quart of water in drains that are not regularly used such as: guest bath tub and sink or floor drains in garage, basement and laundry room.

Inspect exterior covers for bath, kitchen, and dryer vents for proper operation and bird or insect nesting.

Check expiration dates on fire extinguishers and inspect for obvious defects.

The Housing Guru: The one source for all your housing questions

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Listed or Not - You Must Disclose Material Facts!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:38:45 -0500

Disclosure Q&A - The Law doesn't exempt FSBO's

Q. I was going to list my home with a real estate agent, but I was told that I'd then have to let buyers know about the water problems in my basement. If I sell it on my own, I don't have to do a disclosure, right?

A. One important thing that For Sale By Owners often forget, and traditional sellers too, is the rule of disclosure. By law, you have to disclose something of material fact about the property. That means that if you KNOW something is wrong with the house or area, you can't just hide it. As a Realtor®, we also have to disclose material facts about the home.

Sometimes, a seller thinks that since if he tells his agent and we HAVE to tell a buyer, they can get around this by either not telling their agent, or selling the home themselves. But this is just not true. Yes, you might get away with not telling this, in either case. However - should the fact be discovered during the transaction or even in the future after it's closed and changed hands, you could be sued beyond your wildest dreams for non-disclosure of a material fact. And that's really not fun. While Kansas does not have a specific statute addressing this in a real estate transaction, it is covered under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, which can be found in statutes Ch 50, Article 6, and various statutes addressing fraud and fraud by silence.

Often, it's found during the listing period - agents are generally trained and attuned to spot signs of trouble for their buyer clients. We are not experts, but long experience and training has taught us red flags to point out for further research. Homes are also subject to a home inspection, during which a buyer can bring in numerous experts and check things out. Even if the defect is not uncovered during all this, that does not mean you are excused!

What's considered a material defect/fact about the property?
Anything that would affect the value or possibly affect the value of the home.

This includes things like leaks, broken items, cracks, recurrent water problems, frequent wind damage, particular dangers in a neighborhood such as landfills, water contamination, EMF fields, etc. The best thing to do is fill out that property disclosure form and fill it out fully, to the best of your knowledge, hiding nothing.

Remember what Momma always told you - Honesty is the Best Policy.

It can also help keep your little tushy outta jail!

Note: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. However, I did consult with Jon Davis, Attorney at Law with Wallace Saunders, and recommend any seller also consult with an attorney for their obligations under Kansas law for disclosures!

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

Isn't FICO a puppy's name? No - FICO is your LIFE!

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:45:43 -0500

Here Fico, here boy!

No wait - Fico isn't the family pooch, FICO is something much bigger and something many of us don't understand, but are affected by daily. Particularly those of us looking to buy a home or make any other financed purchase.

Here's a brief overview of what FICO is and what it means to you.

FICO is just another credit score. Your credit score is a number that summarizes your risk to anyone loaning to you, and FICO is just one of the corporations that calculates your credit risk. It stands for Fair Isaac COrporation - FICO! It's the most popular score used by lenders to determine your risk to them. When a lender orders a FICO score, they can order it from any of the three agencies that maintain credit reports. The FICO is calculated at that given time, based on the information on that agency's credit report right then.

Make sure you check your credit reports yearly for accuracy - it's free!
When YOU order your own score, make sure you're ordering a FICO so you see what the bank sees.

FICO scores can range from 300 - 850! The higher the score, the lower the risk you are perceived to be to the lender. This generally translates into better approvals and better rates and terms on financing. A person with an awesome FICO is considered to have a great ability at maintaining their payments, credit, etc. Someone with a much much lower score is seen to maybe not be ready for a checkbook much less a loan.

Here's some of the big things that go into calculating your FICO score:

Types of Credit you have (revolving, installments, etc)
New Credit - including inquiries
Length of overall Credit History
Payment History - this is the biggest factor
Amounts Owed - this is the 2nd biggest factor

From these and their importance, you can obviously guess that the recommendations are:

Have a mix of credit types to show your ability to handle various credit lines, but not too many!
Open credit you need, but don't open credit just for fun! Keep inquiries to a minimum - when applying for loans, do your inquiries as close together as possible so they register as one product search and not as though you're opening 10 mortgages.
Obviously the longer you have a history the more data they have to calculate and the more time you've proven yourself. This of course can only get better with time.
Pay on time, every time. As late payments fade in time, they'll affect you less. Set up automatic payments of at least the minimum on all your cards so that you are never late. Your FICO will thank you.
The more you owe, the more overextended you look, the more risk that one thing going wrong will send you into financial disaster and the banks will lose all their money on you. So basically, try to keep your balances down to less than 30% of your limit.

For more information about FICO and how it affects you, visit http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation

The more you know, the more power you have, the more you can do!

photo courtesy of Trinity Credit Services, creative commons license, Flickr.

For more information about getting ready to purchase a home,
drop me a line or call anytime!

Sheree Wilkerson

cell/txt 316.461.0575
sheree@rwwichita.com

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

When Choosing a Roof, Color Does Matter

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 11:24:42 -0500

The Lighter the Roof, the Lower the Bills?

Of course most of us know that a white car is cooler in the summer than a black one, white clothes are cooler than black, etc. But I personally had never thought of this in terms of roof colors!

Next time you look to replace your roof (oh you know, about every 3-5 years here in Hail-land!), consider lightening the color and see how your bills react! I'm going to give it a go, next time my dark green roof gets a wallop!

~Sheree

Via Robin Scott - Broker CRS ABR SRS Austin Texas REALTOR® (Amelia Bullock Realtors):

Have you ever given much thought about the color of your roof? I remember the first time I chose a roof color, It made no difference to me because I had never really paid any attention to how a roof looked. I advanced to understanding the esthetics of a roof color and now have an ecological and economic perspective as well.

At one time my nieghbor and I would compare electric bills (air conditioning being the biggest draw on our electric energy) because they seemed high to us, but mine was always higher than hers and she had a bigger house and more kids going in and out the door. The only conclusion we could draw from that was that her roof was a much lighter color.

The Secretary of Energy and nobel prize winning physicist Steven Chu said that painting all the roofs of all the buildings in the world white would significantly reduce global warming.

When my roof was damaged by hail and I had an opportunity to replace it, I chose a light color. Not white, but light tan. The roof went on at the end of July and with August temperatures in the 100's every day, I was concerned about my how my need for air conditioning would effect my electric bill. Surprise! My bill was $30 less than the previous month. Yes, $30 less.

Some neighborhood associations have restrictions about the kind and color of roof you may use so check with them before replacing your roof. If your HOA's choice is not energy efficient, it may be a good time to attend HOA meetings and lobby for change.

Keep cool and if you are planning to buy or sell a house, I want to be your REALTOR. If you don't live in the Austin area, I can find a reputable REALTOR for you in your area.

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575

When Children Take Listing Photos...

Sheree Wilkerson (Realty World Alliance) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:49:40 -0500

(although I've seen grown up Realtors(R) do this too!!)

My darling autistic 6yo has decided he would like to work for our Real Estate Office! He sets up his own office everytime we're there and even had his own cubicle for a while! He adores all things Realty World and I recently got him his own RW logo embroidered kids shirt, and he wears my RW hat plenty!

My young charge has had plenty experience with buyers - those with kids often ask if I have any I can bring to help entertain theirs! (the more the merrier???). So I thought it was time to take the newbie out on a listing. ;)

I had to wait for the perfect opportunity - afterall it's not generally a good idea to unleash your 6yo into someone's home! Finally, a good friend looking for a way to involve her kiddo in the sale of their home as well! Awesome!

Loading our trusty digital cameras into the boys hands, we sent them off to get pictures of the house that they thought people would want to see and make them want to buy!

Needless to say - I came back later sans kids, to take actual listing photos but here's what the boys got!

Hey - they got some important features! What's a home without doorknobs and light-switches! His friend's hair unfortunately, does not convey with the home!

All in all it was a fun exercise that got the kids excited about selling the home! And they did a better job than a few agents I've seen, lol!

Get your kids excited about your move!! Use a Family Friendly Realtor who gets them involved!

Like oh, I dunno - me!

Sheree @ 461-0575

Sheree Wilkerson
Realtor®
Txt/Cell: 316.461.0575