Questions??

What are some of your real estate related questions that you would like answers to? I'd like to blog about them. Comment on this post or e-mail them to me and I will be happy to answer them!

New Listing

New listing in Willow Park Village, click here to check out the virtual tour. 4 Bedroom-2 Bathroom-2 Car Garage 2216 sqft Enjoy sitting on one of the two covered porches in this beautiful ranch style home with all the lastest upgrades & amenities;Custom wood blinds thruout*Kitchen granite counter tops with lots of cabinets*Open flowing floor plan with crown molding*Beautiful rock fireplace & wood mantle*custom decorator paint colors*Huge master suite, marble countertops in bathrooms*Hand scraped wood entry floor, carpet & tile*Gutters*French drains in back yard* Aledo Schools $215,000

Spring Cleaning

Is it too early or perhaps wishful thinking to be talking about spring cleaning already? I am going to do it anyway because the weather has definitely put me in the mood to get my house out of the winter blues! Mission of spring cleaning: Clean-Declutter-Organize!

Whether you are thinking of selling now, next month or next year it's a great idea to consistently clean-declutter-organize. So many clients say to me when they go to put their house on the market that they wish they had done these things the entire time they lived there.

Here is an article with some tips on spring cleaning tips.

Also did you know that there are 1001 uses for vinegar? Cleaning, Laundry, Health, Garden, Automotive, Pets & Cooking........you should check them out. Vinegar Uses

If you're sitting on the fence

about buying or selling. Now is the time to get off of that fence and make a move. Interest rates have increased 1% since November 22. from 4.25% (a historic low) to 5.25%

what does this mean to you?

If you are looking to purchase a $200,000 home and owning it for 10 years that percentage point will cost you $14,463 WOW! That is a lot of money that could have spent on something other than interest to the mortgage company.

Moral of the story all indicators are pointing to continued increase in interest rates.

If you are thinking of buying, now is the time!

If you're thinking of selling and downsizing or moving up, now is the time!

Don't wait for the interest rates to go up another point. Call me if I can answer any questions that you may have. I'd be happy to assist you, your friends and family with all of your real estate needs.

Home Insurance

Insurance on your home, if you have a mortgage you are required to have it. It's one of those things that hopefully you never need, but it's good to know that should something happen your policy will cover you. So what are the some things to know about insurance?
1. You're a statistic.
To an insurer, you're not a person; you're a set of risks. An insurer bases its premium (or its decision to insure you at all) on your "risk factors," including your occupation, who you are, what you own, and how you live.
2. Know your home's value.
Before you choose a policy, it is essential to establish your home's replacement cost. A local builder can provide the best estimate.
3. Insurers differ.
As with anything else you buy, what seems to be the same product can be priced differently by different companies. You can save money by comparison shopping.
4. Don't just look at price.
A low price is no bargain if an insurer takes forever to service your claim. Research the insurer's record for claims service, as well as its financial stability.
5. Go beyond the basics.
A basic homeowners policy may not promise to entirely replace your home.
6. Demand discounts. Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk.
However, Americans waste money every year because they forget to ask for them!
7. At claims time, your insurer isn't necessarily your friend.
Your idea of fair compensation may not match that of your insurer. Your insurer's job is to restore you financially. Your job is to prove your losses so you get what you need.
8. Prepare before you have to file a claim.
Keep your policy updated, and reread it before you file a claim so there are no surprises.

For this and more articles about homeowner's insurance click here

Stucco

I know some of you are thinking, stucco....really? YES! It's all the rage these days. Stucco mixed with a little brick and rock can be the perfect accent to a home. Good news about stucco is it's very durable, low maintenance and keeps the moisture out. Not to mention it gives some great character to a house!

Home Warranty??

Many of my clients ask me if a home warranty is worth it or not. About 95% of the time when a buyer purchases a home it is written in the contract that the seller will pay for a residential service contract (home warranty) not to exceed X amount of dollars. I tell my clients to expect for the buyer to ask for about $400 home warranty, this will get you basic coverage for one year.

As a buyer you can research home warranty companies and choose the company and coverage that you want. It's important to see what the company's policy is on items that are important to you.

Anyone can purchase a home warranty on any home at any time. Most companies charge a $55-$60 service call fee anytime they come out and they will either fix or replace anything that is covered and not functioning. **Be sure you call the home warranty company BEFORE you call anyone else. If you are having a plumbing problem and you call a plumber to come fix it and then call the home warranty company they will not cover it. They have a list of approved vendors and they must schedule them to come and insure that no one else has serviced it.

Also as your policy comes up for renewal the warranty company will send you a notice to renew for a higher price than the original policy. Be sure to shop companies and get the best price & coverage.

So are they worth it or not? I had a client once who was a single mom and so excited to purchase her first home. Within a week of moving in to her home in July her air conditioner went out. Thankfully she had a home warranty, called the company, tech came out and said the unit was shot, the company replaced it and she only paid $55 service call fee. Instead of several thousand dollars. So I'd say that it's worth it!

Ice, Snow, Cold and House Problems

With the winter storm this week, I've had a lot of clients, friends and family who have had house problems. Some clients of mine had their pipes burst in a room above their garage and didn't know about it until the water was pouring thru their ceiling. Another client with busted hot water heaters. Our power went out for eight hours on Wednesday while the wind chills were below zero. I found a great article with a checklist of to-do's that might help us all the next time we have a storm, which according to the weather forecast, this week.....sigh. Click here to read the article.