Don Spargo's Blog

3 Easy Tips To Protect Your Deck This Winter

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 00:31:28 -0700

Barbecue season is all but over, and you won't be spending as much time out on the deck. Don't let it get you down, though. Spring will be here before you know it. There are a lot of things that can wear down and damage your deck, so protect your deck and make sure it stays in tip top shape over the winter. Cover The Furniture You want your deck to look as good in the spring as it does now. The first step is to cover all the furniture (don't forget the grill!). Cover everything with commercial furniture covers or just use a tarp. Be sure that the covers fit snuggly. They won't do any good if they're blowing through the neighbor's yard. If you've got the space, make room in the garage for the deck chairs and table. They'll last longer if you store them indoors for the winter. Give It One More Good Cleaning Dirt and dust can get trapped in the wood over the course of the summer, not to mention dog slobber or barbecue sauce. If you let these things stain your deck all winter, it will be a pain in your neck to get them out in the spring. Make sure to give your deck a thorough cleaning before it gets too cold. You can use a pressure washer to spray away all the dirt. However, be careful not to splinter your wood, as pressure washers are powerful. Another option is to scrub the deck down with a brush. There are severally commercial cleaners to choose from, but don't get one with bleach. You don't want your wood to fade. If this sounds like too much work consider hiring someone to give your deck a professional cleaning. Moisture Is The Enemy Rain, sleet, and snow will seep into the cracks of your deck all winter. They can cause discolor, warping, and even cracking. Now is the perfect time to use a waterproof finish to seal all the little cracks in your deck and keep out the moisture all winter. There are a wide variety of finishes to choose from. Choose a darker or lighter finish to give your deck a new look. We're leaving behind the days of barbecues and swimming pools, and replacing them with wool socks and fireplaces. Over the winter you can't give your deck as much attention, but you can make sure it stays healthy and strong until spring. A good deep cleaning and a fresh new finish are your keys to avoiding cracking, warping, fading, and mold. Put in the time now, and you'll extend your deck's life by years.

5 Strategies To Secure A Home Against A Break In

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 02:52:25 -0700

Having your home broken into is completely violating. Burglars don't just steal your stuff; they steal your peace of mind. While this is the sort of thing you think will never happen to you, it's worth the time and effort to make sure you're not a target. Below are five strategies to help secure your home against a break-in. 1. Use Landscaping As A Barrier Purposefully place plants in spots that create a natural barrier to your home. Plant thorny rose bushes in front of bedroom windows and remove overgrown shrubs that provide coverage for creepers. Also, trim back any tree branches that might make an open upstairs window accessible. 2. Put In A Security Alarm While a loud alarm might not stop a burglar from quickly grabbing the large flat screen in your living room, it does limit their time for snooping around and finding other valuables. Install an alarm that monitors the entire perimeter of your home. Only give the code to family members and trusted friends. Also, be sure to advertise your alarm system with a sign out front. 3. Install Motion Detector Lights Not only should these be placed in the front of your home, but also on the sides and in the backyard. Install motion detector floodlights that cover a wide area, and use LED bulbs so that you don't have to change them as often. 4. Hide The Spare Key Better Get creative when it comes to hiding your spare key. Seasoned thieves know the common places to look, such as under your doormat, in the mailbox and beneath flowerpots. If you can't seem to find an obscure spot, then you're best to leave it with a close neighbor. 5. Don't Tweet Your Trips While we may have the strictest of privacy settings on all of our social media outlets, you never know who your real Facebook friends are — or who've they're talking to. So don't let all of your friends know over the Internet that you've arrived safely in Paris and will see them again in two weeks. The insecurities a robbery creates might even be worse than losing your precious valuables. Follow the precautions above to secure your home and make your possessions less of a target for looters on the lookout.

Tips On Passing A Home Inspection

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 06:59:19 -0700

Home inspections are a tense time for everyone. Sellers are fervently hoping that nothing major is wrong with their home that could hold up the transaction. Buyers are eager to hear that their new house is in prime condition. Whatever the wishes, one thing is for sure; any news from an inspector is usually bad news. Home inspectors have a tough job. They have to be trained to spot hundreds of potential issues with a home and be knowledgeable of local codes, community restrictions and residential permit parameters. Stay one step ahead of your home inspector by reading the list of common home inspection issues below. Then hopefully your inspection won't reveal any unwelcome surprises. Electrical Wiring This is a common bubble-busting issue, especially in older homes. Wiring might have been up to code when the home was built, but it now violates code and is a fire hazard. Look for ungrounded outlets, shoddy wiring or a mass of confusing connections in the electrical panel. Replacing an entire electrical system can be expensive, but it's worth it not to risk a fire. Plumbing Look for signs of water damage in the ceilings. This could be a sign that something above, like a bathtub or sink is leaking into the floor or walls. Look around toilets and inside kitchen cabinets for traces of wet flooring or wood. While external leaks are easy enough to fix, interior pipes might require you to rip up flooring. Foundation And Framing Examine the foundation and framing of your home for any structural issues. You'll want to keep an eye out for cracking in the foundation due to water runoff or settling. Also, look for signs of wood rot or termite damage. These issues affect the framing of your home and could cause scary structural problems if left unattended. Roofing While it's probably too difficult for you to inspect the roof yourself, just stand back in the yard and see if you can notice any bare spots. Also, check for water damage around the roofline from rain leaking in. Don't get too discouraged about roof issues. It might not call for a complete replacement, but just a repair on one section. These common home inspection issues affect both sellers and buyers. As a buyer, you'll want to keep a eye out for these problems so that you know what you'd be getting for your hard-earned money. As a seller, it's good to stay one step ahead of the home inspector so that whatever price is agreed upon goes through.

Which Additions Realy Add Value To Your Home?

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Thu, 03 Oct 2013 01:10:55 -0700

When you own a home, there are additions that you can make to the property that will improve the value of your home. For example, a newly renovated kitchen or bathroom is a popular choice that will really make the home more desirable to buyers. Also, adding storage space or a well-thought-out family room or other practical space can be a very good investment that will bring up the home’s value. However, there are other projects that are not really worth your time or money and will allow very little opportunity to recover your costs when it is time to sell the property. Here are a few examples of things that you think might add to the value of your home, but really don’t. An Elaborately Landscaped Garden A beautifully landscaped garden might make the home more visually attractive to buyers when they are looking at the property, but it will not likely add to the selling price. This is especially true if the new buyer is not interested in putting in the effort to keep the garden well-maintained and sees it as a burden. If they don’t have time to do the landscaping, they will need to hire a gardener which will add to their expenses. A Hobby Specific Room Are you tempted to convert a bedroom into a room that is specific to one of your particular interests, such as an art studio, a library or a wine cellar? This will not add a lot of value to the home, because the next buyer is not likely to share your passions. It might even make the home less than desirable, because the next owner will not want to spend the time and money renovating the room back into a bedroom. You can create a hobby room; just make sure that you make non-permanent chances to the room so that you can quickly and easily switch it back to a bedroom. A Renovated Garage Redoing your garage and turning it into a family room or a play room might give you a short term benefit, but you might regret it when you go to sell the home. Most people want a garage to serve its original purpose – as a place to protect their cars from the elements and store their shovels, garbage cans, leaf blowers and other outdoor things. These are a few examples of home additions that will not add to the resale value of your property. To find out more about selling your home, contact your real estate professional.

Before And After Tips When Dealing With A Disaster

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 23:36:41 -0700

Weather patterns across the United States seem to be getting more and more erratic. From tornadoes and earthquakes to flash floods and wild fires, there are many natural disasters that can quickly consume your home without warning. Because you never know when disaster might strike, it’s best to be prepared. Disaster insurance is the only precaution you can put in place to ensure compensation for your belongings and get your life back to normal as soon as possible. Below are the tips to take before misfortune strikes. Create An Inventory Most insurance agencies prefer if you include photographs of every room, including the insides of closets and cabinets. Shooting a video is even better. Then you can include audio of how much things cost or if they’re one of a kind. It’s also a good idea to create a spreadsheet with a list of major items and their value by room. Be sure to email these to yourself, so that you can access them anywhere. Double-Check Your Coverage Once you’ve inventoried your possessions, then ensure you have enough coverage. Also, speak with your agent to see if there are any supplemental disaster insurance policies he or she would recommend for your region. Tips To Do After A Disaster Does Strike Contact Your Insurer Immediately Call your agent as soon as possible and be prepared for mountains of paperwork. Be sure to ask for the claim number for your region and use it on all paperwork and in every conversation. This will help expedite your claim. Secure Your Property It’s your responsibility to ensure your property is secure after the disaster. Be sure to take photographs and video and then cover or stabilize any vulnerable points. You don’t want the insurance agency to have any discrepancies when determining if the damage was done during the disaster or afterward. Keep A Correspondence Record You are going to be completely overwhelmed after such an unfortunate event, but it’s important to maintain your wits. Keep a log of every conversation you have with insurance agents. Log the time, name, phone number and the key points of the conversation. This will help minimize the he-said-she-said accusations that can arise during these hectic times. Hopefully you’ll never have file a disaster insurance claim. However, if you do, it’s best to be as prepared as possible. Create an inventory of your possessions and make sure you have the appropriate coverage. Then if mayhem strikes, you’ll be that much closer to putting your life back together.

Tips To Beat Out Cash Buyers

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 05:32:47 -0700

You've been searching for the perfect home for quite a while, and finally, you've found it! You get all of your finances in order and place an offer on the house. However, you're not the only one that loves the home, because there are multiple offers — and one of them is cash. Cash buyers are seen as desirable because they're almost always a guaranteed quick close. They don't have to borrow money from a bank therefore won't have any financing hang-ups, which is where a large portion of offers fall through. Don't worry; not all hope is lost. Follow the steps below to beef up your offer and get your foot in the door. Less Expensive Homes If you've put offers in on homes at the asking price and are continually beat out by buyers that are paying more, then you might want to consider looking in a lower price range. This is an especially smart strategy for those living in fast-selling markets. By looking at less expensive homes, you can be the one that puts in an offer over the asking price. 20 Percent Down Payment Save up a higher down payment for the price range of homes you're considering. If you can come up with 20 percent, then you're in a position to wave the appraisal contingency for financing with the bank. The more you have in cash, the better. Take-It-Or-Leave-It Home Inspection This means that based on the home inspection, you'll take the property with all its issues, or you'll walk away. What you won't do is ask the seller to waste more of their time and money fixing every little problem that's found. Fees Waive the seller concessions, such as closing costs and the home warranty, and pay your real estate broker's fees. These extra costs add up in the mind of the seller and will show that you really want the property. Going up against cash buyers can be extremely discouraging. But, just because they're dealing in cash doesn't mean they'll get the property. Many investors think they can put in a low offer because they're dealing in cash. So show you're serious about a property, follow the steps above and put in your best offer. You'll be a homeowner soon enough!

Don't Overlook These Important Factors When Buying A New Home

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 01:34:26 -0700

Most of the time when buying a property, there are a few obvious factors that you will consider – such as the location, the number of bedrooms, the accessibility to schools or your workplace, the need for repairs and any interior features. However, there are a few things that might not have crossed your mind during your house hunting but are still quite important. Water Quality Most home buyers don’t even think about the water quality at the property until they get to the inspection stage. However, if you find out that the home has hard water this will dull your clothes when you wash them and irritate your skin. Hard water will also create calcium deposits within your showers and faucets and even inside your washing machine and dishwasher. Have the water tested so you know its quality and can look into options for a water purification system. Cell Phone Reception When looking at a house, don’t forget to pull out your cell phone and check to make sure that you get good reception. There are a number of “dead zones” throughout the country and you don’t want to buy a house where you can’t make a phone call on your cell. If you have found your dream house but it has poor phone coverage, there is the option to buy a wireless cell phone signal booster. Lead, Asbestos And Other Health Risks When buying homes that are older, make sure that you have the home thoroughly inspected for any health risks such as lead paint or asbestos insulation. These materials were commonly used several decades ago, before anyone realised how toxic they really are. If you find any toxic substances you can have them removed safely or look for a healthier home. Slope Of The Land Take a walk around the property and look at the land around the house. Is it flat, or does the earth dip or slope in one corner of the property? Keep in mind that when it rains, water will flow to the lowest point on the property. If the house is at the bottom of a slope you might have issues with dampness collecting around the foundations. This can be corrected only with serious landscaping, so it’s much easier to buy a house on higher ground. These are just a few factors to consider that you might not have thought of when buying a house. For more real estate tips on property, contact your real estate professional. Share this:

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - September 16, 2013

Don Spargo, Massachusetts REALTOR® (ERA Key Realty Services) — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 03:30:41 -0700

Last week didn't feature any housing-related news other than Freddie Mac's weekly survey of mortgage interest rates. Reports on consumer credit, job openings and weekly jobless claims suggest that without some relief in the jobs market, Americans may be taking a "wait-and-see" stance toward buying homes. Consumer Credit Rose By $10.40 Billion In July The Federal Reserve reported Tuesday that revolving credit fell by an annual rate of 2.60 percent as compared to an annual decrease of 5.20 percent in June. Non-revolving consumer credit such as vehicle and education loans rose at an annual rate of 7.40 percent. Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey indicated that mortgage rates were unchanged for both 30-year and 15-year fixed rate mortgage loans. The average rate for a 30-year FRM was 4.57 percent with discount points of 0.80 percent; this was higher than last week's 0.70 percent. Average rates for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage were unchanged at 3.57 percent with 0.70 percent in discount points. The average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage fell by six basis points from 3.28 to 3.22 percent with discount points unchanged at 0.50 percent. Mortgage rates are likely to change next week in response to any announcement by the Federal Reserve regarding its plan for reducing the amount of monthly bond purchases in its current quantitative easing program. Mortgage rates would likely rise if the Fed begins tapering its $85 billion monthly purchase of securities, but if the Fed maintains its current rate of purchases, mortgage rates could remain steady or fall in response to the news. Retail sales fell short of expectations on Friday. The Department of Commerce reported a seasonally-adjusted growth rate of 0.20 percent in August against an expected reading of 0.50 percent and July's revised reading of 0.40 percent, which was initially reported at 0.20 percent. The University of Michigan/Thompson Reuters Consumer Sentiment Index for September fell to its lowest reading since April. The September reading was 76.80 percent as compared to expectations of 81.50 percent and August's reading of 82.10 percent. What's Coming, Will The Fed Taper Its Securities Purchases? This week's economic news is highlighted by the Fed's FOMC statement scheduled on Wednesday after its two-day meeting. The announcement is expected to include an indication of the Fed's intention concerning its QE program and whether or not monthly securities purchases will be reduced. Fed chairman Ben Bernanke is scheduled to give a press conference after the FOMC statement. Other scheduled economic news for this week includes the Consumer Price Index and Home Builders Housing Market Index on Tuesday; Wednesday brings reports on Housing Starts and Building Permits in addition to the FOMC statement and press conference. Thursday's economic reports include Weekly Jobless Claims and the Freddie Mac PMMS along with Existing Home Sales and Leading Indicators.