Archive for December, 2009
Silent destroyers of your home
December 31st, 2009 categories: Folsom Lake, Folsom Lake Homes, Home Selling, Home buying, Real Estate
The condition of a home is something people pay close attention to when purchasing ,and sometimes try to ignore when selling, so it’s prudent to keep a close watch on the condition of your property. This time of year offers a great opportunity to observe the condition of your home from an up-close perspective as you hang your Christmas decorations. Of the many things that are investigated it’s the silent destroyers that cause the most harm, but can be prevented with some simple maintenance. Here’s a brief punch list of things to watch for when putting up the decorations so you can start budgeting time or money to take care of them after the holiday.
Water is the most intrusive element known to man and gutters are a wonderful invention to control it around your house. They function to keep the water from pooling at your foundation but aren’t effective if they’re clogged with leaves and debris. I once paid to have a client’s gutters cleaned on a home she was purchasing since I knew she would never sacrafice her manicure. Pine needles are especially toxic since they leech acids which rust and gutter guards don’t completely prevent their intrusion. There are many handyman companies that will clean them but make sure whoever you hire to check out their insurance policy…it could be a very costly mistake should they not carry one.
Most people think of getting pest inspections done just prior to listing their home for sale but did you know it is recommended to get one every 5 years? I never thought twice about getting one until I isted my 17 yr. old house for sale. Since maintenance is something I’m very attuned to I didn’t think I’d have any issues until the inspector found Borer beetles. Fortunately for me the beetles had a terrible sense of direction and made a right turn upon entering my trim board on the corner of my home. I guess it’s their natural inclination to go up, which saved me from having to tent my house. That saved about $6000 which is the average cost of tenting a 2 story structure.
Another critter that loves to live with you is the dreaded termite. My neighbor was sprucing up the house for the holidays and as she was wiping off the window sills noticed some holes bored through. The pest inspection found a colony of termites had infested her walls due to the Oak trees on her property. Apparently termites like to switch it up and find Doug Fir a nice diet change from Oak. Since her home was on a slab foundation she had to have holes bored into her concrete and poison injected under her foundation. The fun didn’t end with that becasue she had to wait 3 months to see if it took…which it didn’t. After a second application had to be done she finally received a clear report . Her new carpet was not exactly the Christmas present she was hoping for.
These are just some of the horror stories I hear from clients regarding deferred maintenance. So take some extra time to tune up the exterior while taking down the decorations and save yourself some serious money this new year.
| Discussion: No Comments »
Real Estate Holiday Slump
December 12th, 2009 categories: Home Selling, Home buying, Investors, Real Estate
The myth that homes don’t sell during the holidays is just that, so why don’t people take advantage of the natural marketing that occurs during this time of year? It might seem like a good idea to take your home off the market or hold off from putting it up for sale altogether, but here are some reasons why keeping that For Sale sign up can work to a seller’s advantage.
Black Friday signals the beginning of decorating to impress friends and family and this is a natural segue way for selling a home. Colorful lights and pleasant smells all create the “ideal home” which translates into open escrows and closed sales. New holiday towels spruce up the house and keep the decorating budget in check. Take advantage of the emotional connection your home offers and don’t forget the cinnamon spiced pinecones on the entrance table.
Initially, getting the house ready can create a sense of orderliness but having to leave every time someone wants to see the house grows old quickly. Holiday shoppers are serious, pre-qualified and ready to buy. Having showings at this time of year reduces the number of “tire-kicker” showings. You can also get away with restricting the showing times, as most people are more respectful for family gatherings.
Did you know that January is the biggest transfer month of the year? Transferring employees use the holidays to shop for their new home and feel pressured to find a home by the end of the year. Additionally, as Dec. 31 draws closer buyers want to have some time for family so make the extra effort to finish inspections quickly. Not only do you have a pool of committed buyers but they start to panic knowing they have to close by yearend so tend to be more agreeable.
Investors are another group of buyers that focus on quick closes at the end of the year. I had one client who didn’t want to face his CPA until he closed escrow and with the limited time frame was willing to soften on some of his demands. These serious buyers do not have enough time to start their search over so are more willing to negotiate.
Many sellers hold off listing their property until the spring due to family obligations and entertaining. This means less competition during the winter months, therefore less for a buyer to choose from. So take advantage of the slow down and showcase your home with your favorite holiday décor, you might be pleasantly surprised by how convenient it is to sell during the holidays.
| Discussion: No Comments »
