Keep the critters out this fall!

When the temperatures begin to dip, humans aren’t the only ones who appreciate the warmth and shelter of a cozy home. Insects, rodents, and other small mammals are also drawn to the comforts your house provides. Ever have a mouse die in a wall? It’s not the sort of smell that one appreciates during the holidays. No one wants an expensive electrical repair when a rat chews its way through wiring in the attic or basement, either. Do yourself a favor and protect yourself from pests this Fall and Winter. Here are some tips:

1. Inspect the outside of your home for ways animals may sneak in. Often utility vents and areas under eaves have gaps which should be sealed or screened.

2. Look for gaps around door and window frames, and caulk or repair those gaps. Tiny entry ways can lead to big problems.

3. Examine trees around your home. Are any branches close to or touching the roof? These branches can be pathways for rodents to access your roof and any access ways the roof may provide to your attic, walls, or crawlspaces.

4. Make sure your garbage and recycling bins have tight fitting or locking lids. Hungry animals will find those scraps, trimmings, and drips, and they can more or less provide an invitation to come close to the house. It’s not a bad idea to buy containers with latches or locks that won’t interfere with garbage pickup, but will deter most animals. (Raccoons are particularly clever, though!)

5. If you have a wood pile for a fireplace or other stove, keep it at a distance from your home. If you’ve been keeping it close to the house because of the cover a roof provides, consider relocating the wood and using a tarp to keep it dry.

6. Inside your home, try not to store food on countertops as it will attract flies and rodents. Airtight containers inside of cabinets an drawers is a better bet.

7. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight if you can help it. Just like food on the counter, it’s an invitation for bugs.

8. Wash your floors with a water and a cleaner. Food residue from spills will attract ants.

With a little prevention, you can keep your home pest free this season. Even with the best protection, pest control can become a necessity, though. If you need a referral for a trusted pest control company, feel free to get in touch with me.

Ready to find the right house?

So you’re thinking about hunting for a home. Congratulations! How do you plan on finding the home you want? It’s surprising how few people can answer this question. Most people say: “Well, I guess I’d look online and maybe contact a real estate agent.” Sure, that’s a fine place to start… but if you want to hunt for a home like a pro, here are some simple tactics that will make your experience much more efficient, pleasurable, and likely to land you a home you want to buy.

1. Know what you can afford. How can you begin to look before you know what you can buy? Price range usually narrows the field considerably. You may not even know how much you can afford, though an agent can help you work through that math. Getting pre-qualified for a mortgage can also help you find the answer to this question.

2. Know where you want to live. Seems obvious, right? But within cities and communities there are all manner of neighborhoods with different flavors, amenities, and schools. Understanding things like walk scores, commute times, and the quality of the school district can have a huge impact on your choice. If you find a home you love in a neighborhood you can’t stand, you aren’t going to be happy.

3. Know what type of home you want. How much room do you need? What are your future plans? Do you love gardening, or would you rather never worry about a lawn? Do you work from home? Do you want an historic home? Is new construction your dream? Knowing what you can afford can help with this question, but you’ll still need to look at your desires and priorities to determine what’s right for you.

4. Give yourself plenty of time at showings. You may have an urge to see as many homes as you can in a single day or weekend, but feeling the crunch of the clock can keep you from really inspecting the home and getting a feel for the property. You want time to open drawers, cabinets, and walk around the yard areas as well. If the clock’s ticking, you won’t truly evaluate what you see.

5. Sign up for property alerts. Homes show up on the market all the time. Sign up for as many online property alerts in your target neighborhood(s) as possible.

6. Tell friends and family what you’re looking for. One of the best times to find your home is before it’s on the market. Friends, family, work associates, and their network of friends may know someone who’s thinking about selling just the sort of house you want. Ask around!

I am more than happy to help you work through these with you. Let’s talk about your home search together.

Ready to Gain the Buyer’s Advantage?

As you may have experienced already, the market is becoming increasingly competitive. As prices rise and quality inventory declines (especially in high-demand neighborhoods), it can be a little tougher to secure the ideal home.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to increase your chances of landing a home you can love for years to come. Though you may not be actively searching for a new home at the moment, these tips will serve you well when the time is right.

1. The all-cash offer. True, not many can make this offer happen, but those who can have a distinct advantage over others. If you’re downsizing, relocating to a less expensive market, or happen to have investments you can liquidate to make an all-cash offer, you will be head and shoulders above the rest.

2. Out-qualify the competition. If an all-cash offer is unrealistic, you can give your offer an edge by presenting your compelling case as a stable buyer. This means full-time employment, a credit score north of 720, and a down payment at or in excess of 20%. Come at the offer with these credentials and mortgage pre-approval, and you’re pretty appealing.

3. Write a love letter. No, you’re not proposing marriage, but if you let the seller know how much you appreciate the home, the neighborhood, and their willingness to consider you, you’ll go a long way to differentiating yourself during the bidding and negotiation process. Remember that selling a home is an emotional transaction, too, and sellers typically like to think of their “old home” in good hands. Prove it with a personal note.

4. Find the house before it’s on the market. Is there a home you like, but it’s not on the market yet? Do you have word of a premium property just about to be listed? The quickest way to trump the competition is to make sure there isn’t any. Whether it’s a “pocket listing” with a broker (ask me for details), or you want to see if an owner is willing to sell, an agent can help.

Wishing you the best in your next search!

The Dreaded Home Inspection

Part of my job as a real estate agent is educating and protecting my clients. Many of my clients get nervous about home inspections. They often ask: “Should I have a home inspection before I put my home on the market?” Here’s my take on the pre-listing inspection:

Knowing what you’re in for when it comes to selling a house is always better than getting a nasty surprise down the line. In the event you find repairs that need to be made, they can be done in a reasonable time frame.

The pre-listing inspection is also useful in situations down the line when you suspect the buyer’s home inspection reflects wildly inflated estimates for repairs.

Also keep in mind that if you fail to disclose a problem found in the inspection, you could be in big trouble down the line.

You also need to know the difference between maintenance repairs and home upgrades. Buyers have a reasonable expectation that the home has been properly maintained. Making necessary maintenance repairs doesn’t mean the you can up the price on the listing. You can’t cover the cost of your new roof by pumping up the sale price. You might be able to use it as an effective marketing point over other listings in the area, but it’s not a fabulous kitchen renovation!

If you don’t want to make the repairs, understand that not making repairs can have a disproportionately negative impact on your sale price. For example, if you want to dump a $1,000 plumbing repair on prospective buyers, the buyers are not going to equate that to $1,000 off the asking price. Instead, they’re going to think about the time, inconvenience, and the cost of the repair. A $1,000 repair might translate to a $3,000 hit to the asking price. Buyers will want to be well-paid to handle a seller’s headache.

There’s a definite benefit to the pre-listing inspection, but it’s important to consider the pros and cons with your agent.

I’d be glad to have a conversation with you about the specific concerns you may have about your home if you’re preparing to list it.