1. Lot size. 

If you’ve been out looking at new homes for sale you may have noticed something in common with most new construction—the tiny yards!  This may not be important to you if you don’t have a pet or children, but most people like to have a space of their own in the back or front. 

My sister owns a fantastic older home in Salt Lake City.  One of the greatest features of the home is the perfect sized back yard.  Back in the day when there was more land to go around it was sectioned off in greater portions.  Another advantage that most people don’t tend to think about is the fact that older homes usually have more mature trees.  My sister’s backyard has big mature trees that provide fantastic shade—even in the middle of the day. 

 Also remember that many older homes already have good fences.  You may have to rebuild or fix up the fence, but it is often better than starting from scratch and having to build a brand new fence.

1. Location.  

 Many old homes (especially in Salt Lake City) are in the best locations.    In a normal market you would have to pay quite a bit to live in some of these convenient areas, but right now there are SO many INCREDIBLE deals out there that you can actually afford to get into a house that normally would be out of your budget.

 I know several people who live just above 13^th East near Westminster College and bought their homes within this last year.  Both of them got amazing deals—we’re talking $50,000-75,000 less than what it was listed for. 

1. Charm

 I will say that I have seen some new construction that has been charming, but for the most part I’ve seen way too many stucco homes that are drab colors and have no unique features.    Often times new construction uses cheaper materials to bring down cost to the builder—keep that in mind as you go house hunting. 

 You may be able to find a cheap new home in the mid 200’s, but it will most likely have cheap carpet, vinyl floors, cheap hardware & lighting fixtures, and boring white walls that need to be painted if you want to add color.  You could find an older home for close to the same price that has been completely remodeled with fantastic upgrades.  Some of the most beautiful homes I’ve seen on the MLS lately are the older homes with brand new hard wood floors, beautifully refinished cabinets, color paint jobs, fantastic track lighting, and stone tile in the bathrooms. 

 You may be thinking that this sounds great, but what about the plumbing and wiring in older homes?  It is understandable that you do not want to do all that work yourself or pay tons of money to have it done.  So, in response to that concern let me assure you that I have pulled hundreds of listings off the MLS for older homes that have had this work completed already—I’m so proud of all the responsible homeowners out there!  However, I know you can’t assume that all the work is done just because the owner says so.  Always make sure to get a home inspection before you purchase any home—old or new. 

4.  Established neighborhoods.

 My husband and I almost bought a new home this last year but eventually decided against it.  One of the reasons was because it was going to take several years for all the trees and parks to be added to the surrounding area.  There were also a lot of empty lots to look at and tons of construction going on.  The construction also involved the building of sidewalks—a project that was going to take quite a while to complete.  There also weren’t enough young children in the area for our daughter to play with.  We realized that by the time the neighborhood grew to the level of establishment we wanted we would probably be moving to a bigger home.

 Older homes are in established neighborhoods—this means plenty of sidewalks, finished parks, etc.  Also keep in mind that new homes are in neighborhoods that are often expanding and growing at a very fast rate, so you child may have to go to a new school in a couple of years.  This is because new schools have to be built to accommodate all the new people.

1. Renew, Reuse, Recycle applies to homes as well.

 There are so many homes in good condition that it seems a little wasteful to build a brand new one when you could spend less money by doing a little renovation or remodeling.   I often have clients tell me that they won’t look at any homes for sale unless they’ve been built within the last 5 years and it is very sad because they miss out on some of the most beautiful homes on the market.   I used to be the same way until I became a Realtor and realized that my favorite homes are the older ones that have been remodeled.  They are almost always more charming with nicer upgrades.   

 One of the reasons that the market is so saturated is because we have SO much new construction out there—our inventory of new homes is enough to last us for the next 30 years! 

 So, before you consider building a home, go take a look at some older homes and see if one of them might work for you.  NEWER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.

Here is a handy checklist to help you decide if a second/vacation home is right for you.

1. Number One - What’s Your Motivation? Are you looking for a vacation home for just you and your family? Or as an investment property that you will rent out over the summer months weekly or just as a winter rental? Or is this where you see yourself retiring someday? Usually the answer is a mix of these but don’t go any farther until you have sorted this one out.
2. How Far from Home Are You Willing to Travel? Fly or Drive? With the ever increasing energy costs this is more important than ever. But it has always been right up there in considerations for a second home. Too far away and you will rarely visit - too close to home doesn’t work either. How close is it to friends and family? About 100-200 miles from home seems to be the best range. You get the vacation feel that you have gone away and have not broken the bank in fuel costs.
3. What Type of Property Do You Need? Single family home or a condo? You don’t have to set it in stone. Both have benefits - single family homes often offer yard space and condos give you option of maybe being poolside with no lawn to mow. Think about how many bedrooms (take visitors into account) and bathrooms are you going to need? What about parking?
4. Where Do You Want to be Located? Start a list of potential target locations. Close to the beach, near a lake, small town, or a more urban downtown area? Consider your hobbies like golf, gardening or surfing. Do you want to be close to cultural activities or a serenely private oasis. If you are considering down the road to retirement - medical facilities, transportation and an active senior community would be important questions to ask yourself.
5. Do Your Homework on the Communtity. Go online to Chamber of Commerce sites, city/town websites and area real estate websites. See if you like any of the local restaurant menus, checkout local activities and look at state web sites for historic destination and parks nearby.
6. Go Visit! Visit your top locations - check them out. See if you like the shopping areas, eat in the restaurants, talk to the people. Can you see yourself hanging out here? How does it feel? Take a walk around to get a feel of the place. The local Chamber of Commerce’s will have lots of hand outs on local businesses. Schedule into your travel plans.
7. Put Your Finances Together! Doing this in advance makes the process of buying a second/vacation home much more fun. Knowing what you can spend and the tax benefits of it gets rid of the largest obstacle to ownership. You don’t want to fall in love with your dream house only to find out you can’t have it! Getting pre-approved for the mortgage puts you in a stronger negotiating position.
8. Hire the right real estate agent! Use a professional who has experience in second/vacation home sales. The right agent can make your search more efficient and fun. This is a purchase in your leisure activities so you want it to be fun and easy from the start! 

Shannon Aldrich, Keller Williams Coastal Realty Portsmouth NH

Licensed in Maine & New Hampshire

The Real Estate Seacoast Team

Schedule professional pre-season tune-up on your heating system.

When you list your home, of course you want it to sell quickly and for a high price.  To achieve this in today’s market, it takes much preparation before actually listing your home to achieve these goals.  You need to spend time looking at your home as the buyer will.  As difficult as it may be, you need to “de-personalize” your home.  You must remove your personal items and allow a buyer to view the home while imagining what their personal photographs and belongings will look like in the home.

The key is to make the space as inviting as possible for a buyer.  You also need to take the time to “de-clutter” your home.  Remove everything possible from counter-tops and tables, put away your photos and knick-knacks and ensure that the house is clean from top to bottom.  When removing items, don’t just throw them in the bottom of a closet or in the basement, try to get as much as possible out of the house and into a family member’s or friend’s house or even rent a storage unit if needed.  This small inconvenience and expense will help to keep the house clean and clutter free.

Look around the house and make minor improvements prior to listing your home.  The items may seem minor to you, but you can be sure they will be viewed as major items to the potential buyers.  Take a look outside the home as well, curb appeal is very important.  It is the first impression a buyer has of your home, don’t underestimate its importance.  There are many houses you will be competing with, don’t give potential buyers reasons to run away from yours.  Spend a little time and money up front and help your house to shine!

Here are a few articles that give additional information on preparing your home for sale.  Enjoy!

http://homebuying.about.com/od/sellingahouse/ht/homeprep.htm

http://www.realestateabc.com/homeselling/getready2.htm

http://www.realestateabc.com/homeselling/unclutter.htm

If you think buying or selling a home is a simple matter of cruising open houses or posting a “for sale” sign on the front lawn, consider the following: Do you have access to every home for sale in the neighborhoods you’re interested in? Do you have the time, energy and resources to research the housing market? Can you market a property effectively? Can you read real estate contracts and, if selling a home, do you understand your legal obligations toward buyers?

Fact of the matter is, buying and selling real estate can be complicated, not to mention the biggest financial decision most people ever make. With so much at stake, working with a professional real estate agent can help locate the right property at the right price, or negotiate the best deal possible on your home sweet home.

But how does one choose a real estate agent? Here are a few helpful hints:

* Interview candidates from different agencies. Look into their qualifications. How many years have they been on the job and how competent are they? Have there been any complaints filed with the State Board of Realtors? Finally, how compatible are you? There’s no underestimating the importance of personality when choosing a real estate agent.* Do they know the neighborhood? Is the agent familiar with the housing market in the areas you’re looking to buy or sell? Agents with a history of transactions in neighborhoods that interest you will know what’s available and in what price range. If you’re listing your property, a good agent will know the market well enough to set an optimum asking price attractive to both seller and buyer.

* Keep in mind when choosing a real estate agent that he or she has access to a powerful tool — the Multiple Listing Service (M.L.S.) that inventories all available properties by region. A skilled agent can use the M.L.S., plus their own experience, to locate homes in neighborhoods matching your property wish list — such as a quality school system, convenient shopping or close highway access. A great source for M.L.S. information is Realtor.com.

* What level of customer care will you receive? A real estate agent is your business partner in a huge financial undertaking, so you’ll want to choose a real estate agent that is always ready, willing and available. Be sure that communication stays open and phone calls are returned. Some agents employ assistants to handle much of their legwork. If this is the case, be certain your agent is the one present and accounted for when it comes time to check the contracts and close the transaction.

* Know what you’re signing. Take the time to read through all of the fine print if asked to sign a working contract with an agent.”

Home Staging to Sell…By Betty Webber, REALTOR®Modified Housing Professional

You picked your Realtor, priced your house, it’s listed in the MLS and the for-sale sign is in your front lawn, it is all ready for possible buyers to view your home. Or is it?  The way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two different things.  Anyone in the real estate industry will tell you this.  It’s imperative to make your house look its best when it comes time to list and show it.  There are two important factors to buyers when they are looking for a home.

1. Curb appeal… a large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house based on its curb appeal.  Most buyers drive by before they even set up a showing.  That first impression is everything you have to get them into the house to sell it.
2. Criteria to buy… People start hunting for a house with definite criteria; they already know what they want.  They are looking at your house because it fits their criteria, but why they buy is based mostly on emotional reasons. 

When a Real Estate agent brings that potential buyer to your house, most of the work has already been done.  The buyer already knows the location, price, the amount of bedrooms and the style of house; they have an idea of what the house should look like and now they want to find the “home” they picture in their mind, they are ready to buy.  Your house needs to be ready too if you want it sold! 

 It’s difficult to look at our own home in the same way that potential buyers do, because when we become comfortable with the way something looks or functions, we can’t see its faults.  Remember most buyers cannot visualize changes, and often won’t even take a second look at a house if the first look doesn’t appeal to them.  However, buyers who can visualize changes, and are prepared to make them, expect you to reduce the price of the house to compensate for the work they plan to do.  To sell you must stop thinking of the property as your home and thinking of it as a house.  A product you want to sell for the highest dollar possible.   This brings me to “Home Staging”.  The goal of home staging is to allow potential buyers to walk into the house and have that “this is my home” feeling.  Buyers form an opinion about your house within 5 seconds of seeing it and that is before they even go inside, if they go inside.  Staging is the very best proven way to get top dollar for your house as you prepare it for sale.  Staging can minimize faults and maximizing desirable features in a house.   A Realtor with Accredited Staging Professional (A.S.P.) credentials, can not only list your house but they can stage it as well. Making it more marketable especially in today’s changing market.   

Staging can range from simply rearranging existing furniture to emptying a house out and filling it with rented furniture.  Some times it only requires a few minor additions, a ficus tree or two or new linens.   While other times it might warrant more changes, like minor landscaping, repainting, or re-wallpapering.  This is especially important in a difficult listing, such as a house that’s vacant, cluttered or in a high price range.  For a vacant house, or new construction, sometimes it can appear smaller than it is.  Contrary to the old saying “less is more”, “empty is not better”.  It does not make your house look bigger sometimes without furniture it actually looks smaller.   A resale home one that someone lives in can appear cluttered, dark, worn or worse like someone else’s house.  That would impair buyers from envisioning themselves living there. 

There are a lot of simple, fairly inexpensive things you can do to make a good first impression and attract offers as quickly as possible.  There are times that adding elements to your landscaping can improve curb appeal, but there are other times when removing something is even more effective. Here are just some of the things you can do to for a good first impression:

­   Keep your lawn mowed and tidy up your front landscaping.

­   Put a new welcome mat in front of the door.

­   Beautify your front door or walkway with potted plants or a nice wreath on the front door.

­   Put a fresh coat of paint on your front door, and even put in a new doorknob.

­   Move all the toy’s, bicycles etc. away from the house put them in the garage or basement.

­   Make sure lighting that’s visible through front doors and windows add to the home’s appearance, people often drive by at dusk or night to view homes.

­   Make sure you have nice street numbers that stand out.

Once you’re done with the exterior, you’ll need to continue to make changes on the interior.  For starters, you can:

­   Remove all the clutter, this is most important.  People don’t look past clutter, they leave.

­   Depersonalize, remove knickknacks and family photos, you need to pack them anyway.

­   Get your carpets clean prior to listing your house.

­   Hang fresh clean towels in the bathrooms at all times.

­   Vacuum your floors before showings. 

­   Replace any burned out bulbs in the whole house even the basement people need to see that area too.

These are just a few of the things that can be changed to help you sell your house.  Remember that everyone has their own style. You’re not trying to decorate with your style of décor.  Rather, you are decorating to meet the style of every potential buyer… neutral.  The ultimate goal is to “sell you house”.

Last week I had the opportunity to go to a feng shui class that also gave tips about how to feng shui your house to sell.  I know that many sellers are learning the value of staging their homes to appeal to buyers and I believe that adding elements of feng shui can truly help.  I found the tips below and thought I’d share them with you.  If you would like more information about feng shui or if you would like a consultant to meet with you, Jan Magner is an excellent choice.  Click Jan’s name to visit her blog and get more information.

 FENG SHUI TIPS 

Have a house to sell or looking to buy a new one? I hope you know feng shui can help you. If you plan to sell your house, or have been trying to sell it for a while, here are some proven-and-true tips to get the energy moving:

1. GO OUTSIDE - your duplex, your condo, your house, whatever it is that you are selling, and look at it from a bit of a distance. Better yet, do it with a friend who has not seen it for a while. Jot down all the thoughts that come to mind in the first 2-3 minutes.

Do not censor it or get defensive; the more open you are to criticism, the better off you will be when presenting it to other people. You might think the big purple frog looks cool by your main door and is even good feng shui (no, it is not) but potential buyers will not appreciate it. As with every sale, it is a lot about selling a specific emotion, rather than the commodity itself. Make your main entrance look fresh and inviting.

2. GO FRESH AND GO GREEN. If you own a house, definetely invest in some landscaping; it will increase your property value. Do some research and make a call to a good landscape professional; it may create a totally new energy around your home.

If you live in a duplex or a condo and there is not much “outside” to work on, focus on the main entrance and bring vibrant chi, or energy, right as you come in - a big elegant plant or a vase with fresh cut flowers, good lighting, beautiful art and a feel of spaciousness/expansion the strategic placement of mirrors is the secret here!

3. LESS IS MORE. When you shop for anything, and I mean anything - clothes, appliances, food - it is often helpful to see the item in action i.e have your skirt on a mannequin, try a sample of the food, etc. However, would you want to pay full price for a used item? Probably not. Think of it and apply it to your home - the less “personal”, or “used” you make it, the better. Show to the best how the space can be used, but do not overdo it with personal touches.

Create a spa feel in the bathroom, but do hide all your personal items (buyers do not need to know which toothpaste brand you prefer) make the kitchen smell and look good, but take it easy on how you save with recycling cans, etc etc. You get the idea.

Most importantly be aware of the “almighty” triangle when selling a home: the Kitchen, the Bathroom and the Bedroom. Buyers need to know they will sleep well, eat well, and well, unwind well if they chose to buy your home. Treat their imagination well.

RoofingMany lenders require that roofs be certified when a previously owned home is purchased. Roofing contractors usually inspect the roof and determine if any repairs need to be made. If possible, they will certify the roof, usually for two years. Most roofing contractors will not certify flat roofs because they generally are difficult to repair and often must be replaced.SkylightEven the most skilled do-it-yourselfer may require professional help to install a skylight. It’s wise to have a contractor install a skylight larger than 48 inches square; also rely on professional installation if your roof has a slope greater than 6 inches for every 12 inches or is surfaced with slippery tiles or slate.If you have a built-up roof covered with polyurethane foam or roofing felt and hot-mopped asphalt, you may be able to install the skylight yourself, but you might prefer to hire a contractor to rebuild the roofing around the skylight. If not properly installed, water leaks could develop and cause extensive damage to other areas of your roof or interior ceilings.Since work of this type is governed by local codes, check your plans with the building department. You may need a building permit.If you know of someone who is considering purchasing a  home or, I would welcome the opportunity to help them as well.

Http://www.MyNvaHomes.com

  If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, one of the most important decisions you will make is picking the right real estate agent. However, when most people give a great deal of time and thought to choosing a home, they spend very little time when they choose their real estate agent.

It should go without saying that if you want a smooth and trouble-free buying or selling experience for your home, you first have to find a competent real estate agent.  Sadly, it doesn’t always turn out this way, as many homebuyers are anxious to buy or sell and rush through choosing a real estate agent.

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will have to make.  The process can be complicated.  With so much at stake, you need to know you are working with a professional who will help find the right home for you and possibly sell your home at the right price and negotiate the best deal.

You may also be interested to know that the National Association of Realtors is the largest commercial association in the United States, with over 1.3 million members who offer a high standard of quality, so you should not find it hard to find someone qualified to help you.

How do you choose a good real estate agent?  Start by looking outside your door. Drive or walk around your neighborhood and take a look at the for sale signs.  Are there many different companies or does one seem to have the monopoly?  Are the signs well maintained?    Do you see SOLD signs within weeks, or rarely at all?  This shows you if the properties are being actively marketed or not.  If a real estate agent isn’t marketing other properties well, the chances are they won’t do any better for you either.

Talk the agent’s previous clients and ask them questions about the real estate agent, such as:

• How well did they handle the process?
• What did they like and dislike about the real estate agent?
• Were their needs listened to?
• Did he negotiate the best terms?

A good way to meet agents casually is to visit open house viewings that an agent is hosting.  In this way you can tell how professional, informative and friendly they are. However, you should always interview an agent you meet in this way, as this might be his only area of expertise.   You might need more experience in an agent, so find out his specialties, success rate and experience. This applies equally to any agent whether recommended by a friend, relative, or someone that you cold called.

 Looking at various company web sites can also provide useful information.  Look to see if there are virtual tours, good photos and then decide how comprehensive they are.  What about their information–is it descriptive or obviously over-embellished?  Read real estate blogs.   These will give an idea of the agent’s personality and the type of issues they are used to handling.  You will need to read between the lines as some reveal little information whereas other will be frank and candid.

Once you have chosen your real estate agent, make sure you have a written agreement, which spells out your requirements and one where they work for you exclusively.  Overpricing your home keeps it on the market longer.  A good agent will assist you in setting a price that is in comparison with others like yours that have sold recently in your area.  It should be high enough to give maximum profits, but not too high where it will scare off buyers.

In light of what’s going on with Hurricane Gustav, Californians need to think about what to do in case of other natural disasters like earthquakes.  Here is a list of what you should have ready…

1. Flashlights (one per person) and extra batteries of varying sizes: D,C,AA, AAA and a battery-operated radio to follow storm alerts.

2. Replacement batteries — sufficient quantity to replace all battery-operated equipment

3. First aid kit.

4. Bottled Water for everyone in your household (enough for at least 5 days to use for personal hygiene, cooking, drinking, pets)

5. Medications - fill them early.

6. Food! Canned or dry cereals, etc. that won’t spoil if electricity goes out. along with a Manual Can Opener.

7. Charcoal, lighter fluid, matches/lighter and BBQ grill (or propane gas grill with plenty of propane) for cooking and some candles for light.

8. Liquid Bleach for treating water to make it potable. Fill your bathtub with water and put a few capfuls of bleach to treat germs. Use this for washing, flushing toilets but don’t drink unless emergency. The recommendation is 1/2 capfuls of bleach per gallon of water. Note: You can boil water at least five minutes or more to kill bacteria.

9. Cell phone (charge beforehand and buy a charger for your car in case of extended power outage). Note that if cell towers are down — your cell phone may be useless.

10. Cash: Take out cash in case banks are closed and ATM’s down.

11. Documents (insurance policies, birth certificates, banking and credit card information, medical records), photos, and keepsakes in water tight containers/bags.

12. Take photographs/video of the interior and exterior of your house and of any valuable items (e.g., antiques, heirlooms, collectibles) in case anything gets damaged/destroyed and keep them with your important documents.

13. Infants: ensure you have sufficient diapers, formula, and other supplies as appropriate.

14. Electricity: If you leave your home, be sure to turn the main switches in the circuit-breaker box to the “off'’ position.

15. Fuel: tank your car up early.