Questions to Ask About the Neighborhood

Where you live should reflect your lifestyle. These questions will help you find the best community for you.

 

Is it close to my favorite spots?

Make a list of activities you engage in and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engage in your most common activities.

 

Is it safe?

Contact the police department to obtain neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type and trend. (Is crime going up or down?). Pay attention to see where in the neighborhood the crime is happening.

 

Is it economically stable?

Check with your local economic development office to see if household income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the ratio of owner-occupied homes to rentals? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they indicate a more transient population. Are there vacant businesses or homes that have been on the market for months? Check news sources to find out if new development is planned.

 

Is it a good investment?

Ask a local REALTOR® about price appreciation in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how a home’s value might grow. A REALTOR ® also may be able to tell you about planned developments or other changes coming to the neighborhood — such as a new school or highway — that might affect its value.

 

Do I like what I see?

Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go and get a feel for what it might be like to live there. Take notes: Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets bustling or quiet? How does it feel? Pick a pleasant day if you can, and chat with people working or playing outside.

 

What’s the school district like?

This is especially important if you have children, but it also can affect resale value. The local school district can probably provide information on test scores, class size, the percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, visit schools in neighborhoods you’re considering.

 

Read more: http://realtormag.realtor.org/sales-and-marketing/handouts-for-customers/for-buyers/questions-ask-about-neighborhood

Checklist for a Trouble-Free Home

Preserve the value of your home with this home maintenance checklist.

There is truth to the old adage that “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – especially when it comes to taking care of your home. A regular schedule of preventative home maintenance can thwart a host of expensive problems down the road and keep your house in tip-top condition. Preventative maintenance is also far easier than waiting until something breaks and then having to scramble to get it fixed.

Moisture

One of the most important things in preventative home maintenance is to keep moisture away from your house:

• Install rain gutters if you don’t already have them. This will direct water away from the foundation and can help prevent a cracked slab.
• Clear leaves from your rain gutters at least twice a year to avoid water backup that can rot wood gutters and rust those made of sheet metal.
• If gutter drainpipes are clogged, try to flush debris down them with a hose. If that doesn’t work, use a plumber’s snake to free the debris from the gutter drainpipe.
• Adjust your lawn sprinklers to ensure that you don’t water your house along with your grass and garden. Wet wood  can rot and attract dampwood termites.
• Inspect the washers on your hose and outdoor faucet periodically and replace them if needed to prevent dripping water from soaking the foundation of your home.
• Go up in the attic to check for roof leaks every several months to prevent water damage to ceilings and walls from rain.
• Use the bathroom fan or open a window when you take a shower to prevent condensation that encourages mold and mildew growth.

Emergencies

In case of an emergency, all the adults in your household should know where the following controls are located and how to turn them off:

• Heating fuel main shutoff
• Main electrical fuse/breaker box
• Main water shutoff
• Water shutoff valve for toilets, sink faucets, and your washing machine.

  Keep a wrench nearby each of the vital shutoff valves. Every home should also have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and in the garage.

Weekly/Periodic Maintenance

In case of an emergency, all the adults in your household should know where the following controls are located and how to turn them off:

• Heating fuel main shutoff
• Main electrical fuse/breaker box
• Main water shutoff
• Water shutoff valve for toilets, sink faucets, and your washing machine.

  Keep a wrench nearby each of the vital shutoff valves. Every home should also have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and in the garage.

Weekly/Periodic Maintenance

• Clean leaves and debris out of basement window wells.
• Rake debris away from around the foundation of your house and other structures on your property.
• Vacuum your carpet with a powerful upright vacuum cleaner at least once a week.

Monthly

• Clean faucet aerators and shower heads with vinegar to get rid of mineral deposits.
• Clean the drain pan on your frost-free refrigerator.
• Inspect your dishwasher for leaks.
• Clean your kitchen exhaust fan filter and fan blades.
• During the fall and winter months, check your heating system air filter and replace it if needed.
• Maintain drains by pouring boiling water down them. If a drain becomes clogged, pour a cup of baking soda into the drain – flush with three cups of hot water. If that doesn’t work, use one-half cup of baking soda and then pour one-half cup of plain vinegar down the drain.
• Pour water down any unused drains.
• Vacuum heat registers, vents and refrigerator coils.
• Test ground fault circuit (GFI) interrupters in your home.

Spring Maintenance Checklist

• Inspect weather-stripping around windows and doors. If needed, replace it tosave energyand cut down on air conditioning costs.
• Clean dirt and dust from around the air conditioner compressor.
• Change your air conditioner filter
• Inspect screens and repair any holes to keep flying insects out of the house.
• Hose off the exterior of your home.
• Scrub any mildew off of the exterior of the house and treat decks for mildew and fungus.
• Trim any trees or shrubs away from the house.
• Contact a licensed coolant contractor to inspect and service your air conditioner.
• Use silicone spray on patio door and window tracks for smooth operation.
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detector

Fall Maintenance Checklist

• Inspect storm window, clean them if needed and seal holes.
• Have your wood-burning fireplace inspected, cleaned and repaired to prevent chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Contact a licensed heating contractor to inspect and service your gas heater or furnace to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Your local utility company will often provide this service for free.
• If you use a hot-water system for heating, drain the expansion tank, check the water pressure, and bleed your radiators.
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detector.

Annually

• Seal exterior cracks in stucco.
• Touch up exterior paint.
• Drain water heaterand check pressure valve.
• Re-caulk showers, tubs and sinks to prevent water damage to walls.
• Wax marble counter tops with turtle wax.
• Maintain a contract with a pest control company to prevent or eliminate insect infestations such as termites or carpenter ants.
• Inspect hot water heat system radiators and convectors.
• Septic tanks should be checked and cleaned once a year.
• Check the pressure and expiration date on all of your fire extinguishers.
• Check your clothes dryer vent and hose for lint buildup. Clean if necessary to prevent a fire.
• Contact a roofing professional to check for leaks, loose shingles, or broken tiles.
• Schedule a chimney cleaning (if you don’t use your fireplace very much this can be done every two years.)
• Give your carpeting a professional cleaning.

Home Safety Tips

Home safety is an important part of preventative home maintenance.  You can avoid personal injury by following a few safety tips.

• Avoid overloading extension cords and electrical outlets.
• Turn off appliances when you are not using them.
• Do not store flammable liquids such as paint supplies near heating units.
• Keep flammable objects such as dish towels, curtains, and aprons away from stoves, and don’t wear loose fitting clothing while cooking.
• If a pan catches fire, cover it with a lid and turn off the heat.
• If a fire gets out of control, immediately leave the house and call the fire department using a neighbor’s phone or a cell  phone.
• Develop an escape route out of your house and practice it once a month with your family.

Disaster Preparedness

• Create a family disaster preparedness plan.
• Establish a meeting place outside your home and the neighborhood in case of a community disaster such as flooding, mudslides, earthquakes, or radiological and hazardous materials accidents. Make sure everyone in the family knows how to contact each other if you get separated.
• Establish an out-of-state contact (relative or friend) that you can call after the disaster to pass the word around that you and your family are okay.
• Assemble a disaster survival kit and stock emergency supplies. You will need:
• A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person per day.)
• A three-day supply of ready to eat canned meats, vegetables, and fruit for each person.
• A change of clothing and footwear for each person.
• A first-aid kit that includes prescription medicines.
• One sleeping bag or blanket per person.
• A battery-powered radio and flashlight and extra batteries.
• Special need items such as diapers, formula, baby bottles, denture and contact lenses supplies.
• A credit card, cash, or traveler’s checks.
• Tools and supplies such as paper plates, cups, and plastic utensils; a battery powered radio, flashlight, extrabatteries, non-electric can opener, tube tent, plastic storage containers, compass, matches and  plastic sheeting.
• Sanitation needs will include toilet paper; soap and liquid detergent; personal hygiene items; plastic garbage bags, plastic bucket with a tight lid; and household chlorine bleach.

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/maintenance-and-repair/repairing/checklist-for-a-trouble-free-home

Don’t Wait—Beat the Crowds and Buy This Winter

Now that the U.S. has regained its job-creation mojo, as the October employment report showed, the demand for housing is only going to grow.

 

After all, when people have jobs they can break off and form new households—ditching the roommates behind or finally moving out of Mom and Dad’s basement—and that’s what fundamentally drives home purchases.

 

Most of the households created over the past two years have been renting households, but based on U.S. Census data for the third quarter of this year, it appears that homeownership has started to recover.

 

This especially makes sense now that it is cheaper to own than rent in more than three-quarters of the counties in the U.S. And it’s not getting better— rents are rising year over year at twice the pace of listing prices. Meanwhile, mortgage rates remain at near record lows but appear poised to increase over the next year. And home prices are rising, too.

 

So if you qualify for a mortgage and have the funds for a down payment and closing costs—and if you intend to live in a home long enough to cover the transaction costs of buying and selling—you will be better off financially if you buy as soon as you can. After all, if you are tired of your current home now, you won’t feel better about it in six months.

 

The top factors driving home shoppers this summer were pent-up demand and recognition of favorable mortgage rates and home prices. These drivers will likely remain well into next year.

 

Yet demand for housing is extremely seasonal. In most markets in the country, we are conditioned to believe that we should buy homes in the spring and summer. So come each October, plans to purchase shift to the spring. While the school calendar and weather do influence the ideal time to move, many buyers would benefit from buying this fall and winter rather than waiting until next spring.

 

In October, the percentage of would-be buyers on realtor.com® saying that they intend to buy in seven to 12 months was the highest it has been all year and represented the largest time frame for purchase. Likewise, October produced the lowest percentage of would-be buyers saying they intend to buy in the next three months.

 

In other words, people’s stated plans point to a very strong spring for home sales. Great, right? But here’s the problem: Inventory isn’t likely to be higher in March and April than it is now. And while inventory should grow in late spring and into summer, it won’t grow as fast as the seasonal demand.

 

So, if you are ready, consider getting in the market now instead of early spring. You will have more choices and less competition, and you can lock in today’s rates rather than risk rates being 25 to 50 basis points higher. (A basis point is 0.01 percentage point.)

 

A 50 basis-point increase in rates (for example, from 4.05% to 4.55%) would cause monthly payments to be 6% higher. And that increase would not only affect your monthly cash flow but could also affect your ability to qualify.

 

So if you are considering buying a home this spring, it’s worth exploring the inventory now and reaching out to a local Realtor®. A new home could be the best gift you give yourself and your family this holiday season.

 

http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/reasons-to-buy-a-home-this-winter/?identityID=5518632b4148c7238f0003ed&MID=2015_1113_WeeklyNL&RID=2915073782&cid=eml-2015-1113-WeeklyNL-blog_1_buyinwinter-blogs_trends

6 Ways to Uncover the Truth About Your New Home—Before It’s Too Late

6 Ways to Uncover the Truth About Your New Home—Before It’s Too Late

 

Congratulations, you’ve found your dream home! Or have you?

 

You set up appointments to visit your potential new home more times than you can count (you’re secretly wondering if your agent is going to change her number). You did so many drive-bys, your would-be neighbors are getting nervous. You took endless video of every room inside, and you measured all the spaces so you can start doing some late-night obsessive-compulsive furniture shopping. You’ve done all your due diligence, right?

 

We hate to break it to you, but maybe not.

 

There are a few more things to look out for—a few nagging annoyances that you might not notice right away but, unchecked, could eat at your soul day and night. Certainly, not all of the issues are deal breakers. But given the choice between dealing with them now or eventually becoming a bit too familiar with that bar on your (soon-to-be) new corner as you mull over what might have been, you might want to choose the former. Deal with the extra-fine details now!

 

Here’s how to make extra sure your new home won’t drive you crazy.

 

Drive by at night

 

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before (spoiler alert: You have!). Because it’s really, really good advice. A lot of basic but important questions (Is there a streetlight shining directly in my window? Do the neighbors throw late-night 80s hair metal parties?) can be answered with a quick after-hours drive-by (or two). Yeah, we know you’re already doing them during the day. Do them at night too—on the weekend as well as a weeknight.

 

“Find out what kind of noise levels there are before making your final decision,” says Amy Cook, a San Diego Realtor®.

 

Do not skip this step: Discovering these problems after closing could give you an endless headaches.Like, real ones—migraines that won’t go away.

 

Take a walk and ask lots of questions

 

To be truly thorough, you need to get out of the car and hit the pavement. Repeatedly.

 

“If you really want to learn about the neighborhood and find out all the gossip, good and bad, walk around the neighborhood meeting people and asking them questions,” says Fort Collins, CO, Realtor® Angie Spangler.

 

Of course, this strategy works best if your neighborhood is sociable; in a suburban neighborhood without sidewalks or much daytime activity, you might not learn much (and you might freak people out a bit). Some moderation is key. And if things are too quiet, maybe this hood isn’t for you. Or maybe it’s perfect. Some shoe leather reporting will give you a better indication of how you’ll fit in.

 

Understand the zoning

 

If there’s one thing that can prevent surprise heartaches, it’s understanding the neighborhood’s zoning laws.

 

Even if there are no restaurants or bars nearby today, commercial zoning allows their presence, meaning you might be right behind a noisy club five years down the line. Is your potential new home in a designated historic district? That can affect future renovation plans. In a mixed-use district? Some people don’t mind having shops and restaurants just around the corner, but you know best if that “some people” is you.

 

Spangler recalls selling a home to a couple a few blocks from what’s now Fort Collins’ Old Town—a raucous strip of retail shops and bars.

 

“They were upset that there’s commercial going in all around them,” she says. “I took for granted they had a good understanding of what to expect.”

 

Consult with the city’s departments

 

Speaking with your city’s planning, water management, and police departments can uncover vital information about your potential home—such as its flood hazard, which you may not notice in the dry season but can put your home at risk when it rains.

 

How close are you to emergency services and what’s the average response time? Is there a big commercial project underway nearby that could increase traffic? Do the crime statistics concern you?

 

Scope out social media resources

 

Apps such as Nextdoor help you keep an eye on the neighborhood and can be a valuable resource before moving in. Scour other apps and online resources, join local Facebook groups, and sign up for neighborhood email lists to find out the most common complaints and concerns of your new neighbors.

 

Pay attention to nearby homes

 

If you don’t have a trained real estate eye, it might be easy to overlook your neighbor’s unmowed lawn—but ignoring it might mean missing a vital clue to the area’s health and upkeep.

 

“As a real estate agent, it’s easy for me to identify the properties that are rentals or show lack of upkeep,” Spangler says.

 

If houses in the neighborhood aren’t well-cared for, it could affect property values down the line. Caveat Emptor. And that means you.

 

http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/ways-to-uncover-the-truth-about-your-new-home-before-its-too-late/

Home Staging for Fall #6

In Home Staging conversations, there is a reason these two little words are so overly used – they are simply too important to ignore – CURB APPEAL!!  While autumn can make curb appeal more challenging, those who take the extra steps are already at an advantage over the competition that often ignore this after the flowers have died and the grass no longer needs mown.  Take the time to clean out flower beds and other dead plants from pots and landscaping.  Pressure-wash the house, clean out the gutters and do those tasks we often reserve for spring.  Outdoor fall decorations will add color back into the landscaping where the flowers once thrived.
Like the inside of your house, keep the exterior tidy and uncluttered.  If you
have trees on your property – Rake! Rake! Rake!

– Steve Baker, REALTOR®

HOME STAGING TIPS #6

Home Staging for Fall Part #5

Gift your potential buyers with seasonal scents!  Autumn is ripe with smells that trigger sharp memories of warmth and home.  Trigger those same olfactory memories in your guests with candles or oils of apple and cinnamon, pumpkin spice or baked apple pie.  Brew some apple cider and leave it out for your buyers to enjoy – the scents and tastes will be associated with your home.
Leave them with a memory to take with them that will help
them pleasantly remember your house over the competition.  – Steve Baker, REALTOR®

HOME STAGING TIPS #5

 

HOME STAGING FOR THE FALL PART #4

As the weather cools it is important to keep the home warm and welcoming for potential buyers. If you aren’t currently living in the house you are trying to sell or are away for a time, be sure to leave the heat on! Walking into a cold house lacks appeal. Additionally, a cold house that doesn’t provide comfort doesn’t encourage buyers to take their time to examine the house nor does it leave them with a “warm” feeling about the property. If customers and realtors are thinking about how fast they can get back to their warm car, they aren’t focused on your house. – Steve Baker, REALTOR®

“There is nothing inviting about a cold house.”  – Steve Baker, REALTOR®

HOME STAGING TIPS #4

HOME STAGING FOR FALL #3

We’ve stressed the importance of lighting over and over. Let’s face it, we see nothing without it and how we see everything is affected by it. So the importance of lighting can never be over emphasized.So why am I featuring it here in a discussion about Home Staging for Fall? As fall approaches the hours of daylight we receive decreases. It is important to put your house in the best light (pun intended). Open curtains and blinds to allow as much natural lighting into the home as possible. In darker areas, or areas you wish to feature, add lamps or spot-lighting. This adds to the

HOME STAGING TIPS #3

warmth of your home and gives it a sense of space. – Steve Baker, REALTOR®

“We see nothing without it and how we
see everything is affected by it.” – Steve Baker, REALTOR®

HOME STAGING FOR FALL PART #2

As the cooler temperatures encroach upon us and our outside activities tend to move indoors, it becomes a great time to paint the interior of your home with warm and inviting colors. Master stagers always stress the importance of neutralizing the colors when selling your home. Warm, neutral colors such as creams and tans easily achieve these results. Now consider adding accent pieces to the room with rich fall colors of orange, browns, yellows and reds. This will spice up the neutral background and pull the comfort of fall into your home. Remember, your home is competing with other houses on the market. Everything you can do to add to your home’s appeal will help it sell faster and increase the chances of getting top dollar from your investment. – Steve Baker, REALTOR®

HOME STAGING TIPS #2

HOME STAGING FOR FALL

Autumn presents a fantastic opportunity to add rich flavors and colors to your home staging repertoire. Fortunately, the beautiful earth tone’s rich in hues of browns, oranges, reds and yellows are neutral enough to appeal to a broad audience.  Incorporating fall decorations and the autumn scents of the season into your house add warmth and create a welcoming feeling of home.
A word of caution for the overzealous, keep it simple. Your home is what is on show, not your decorations. Keep it simple and non-obtrusive; never distract from your home’s best features!  Let those features shine brightest! – Steve Baker,  REALTOR®

HOME STAGING TIPS 1