The right landscape design can make all the difference to a prospective buyer, especially when it’s beautifully and carefully executed. In fact, Realtors and landscape professionals estimate that a well-landscaped yard can add 5% to 15% to the selling value of a house. Houses that look good from the road carry higher price tags – a fact that turns landscape investments into money in the bank when selling a house. Here are a few ideas on how to improve your landscape:

TREES
• One of the best investments you can make is a glorious stand of healthy trees as part of a well-landscaped yard. Realtors across Texas and the rest of the country know that healthy trees can increase the property value of a home, as well as provide years of aesthetic benefits to owners. Trees also cut down on energy costs. When Kiplinger published the 25 best ways to invest $1,000, buying a big tree was at the top of the list. If your selling timetable doesn’t allow for planting and nurturing a tree to maturity, remember this advice for your next home.
• Since a tree is a long-term investment, it’s important to start with a high-quality plant. In the case of trees, money definitely buyer quality. Trees that are 8-10 feet tall-either balled or wrapped in burlap or established and growing in containers-are usually the best buy. Homeowners can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000 for a quality tree.

PLANTS
• Add a few plants around the foundation of the house and in “curb appeal” areas such as near the front door. Or, consider using more permanent bushes, especially those that flower in the summer and have colorful buds in the winter.
• Gardeners on a budget can buy a few plants, then, add more as your budget allows.
• For an especially inexpensive jolt for your yard, flowers are a homeowner’s best friend. Bright splashes of color add visual appea. Though they’re usually temporary. For this reason, they’re great if you suddenly need to put your house on the market and need a quick landscaping fix. At that point, it’s best to stick to the basics, leaving more costly and permanent landscaping to the new owners.

Copyright 2004 Texas Association of Realtors. All rights reserved.

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1. An Agent You can Count On
Your home may be your biggest personal investment. One of the most important decisions you’ll make when selling your home is who you will trust to assist you. You should put the sale of your home in the hands of an experienced agent who’ll produce results for you. RE/MAX Sales Associates will put their experience to work for you to improve your odds of getting your home sold for the best price in the shortest time. This requires specialized skills and knowledge:
Knowing the market
Pricing your home correctly
Staging your home, inside and out, for maximum impact
Marketing to deliver maximum exposure of your home
Negotiating the offer to deliver the best deal
Navigating inspections, appraisals and the details
Successfully closing the deals

2. An Expert at Your Side
RE/MAX Sales Associates are professionals who are committed to you and possess the knowledge and experience to help you navigate today’s complex real estate market.
RE/MAX Sales Associates lead the industry in professional designations, which means they have expertise in specialized areas, including foreclosures, short sales, the luxury real estate market, working with Seniors and many others. With access to online, on-demand training in every facet of real estate, they are up to date on emerging trends and issues.

3. Marketing for Maximum Exposure
Looking for more potential buyers to find your property? A RE/MAX Sales Associate can help your home stand out in a very competitive marketplace through trust-generating yard signs, local and national advertising, and Internet and compelling marketing materials.

4. It’s All in the Details
Pricing, staging, and marketing are the first steps in successfully selling your home, but closing the deal requires in-depth knowledge and experience. Once you’ve accepted an offer, a lot of details remain before you get to the closing table. A RE/MAX Sales Associate will help you understand the process, navigate the details and keep the transaction on track.

5. Involved Community Citizens
RE/MAX Sales Associates are well-known locally and nationally for their involvement in many community programs. When you use a RE/MAX Sales Associate to sell your home, you contribute to the well-being of your community. RE/MAX is a national sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network, which aids sick children, and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. Concerned about the environment? So is RE/MAX. Together, you and your agent can take steps to ensure a better environment for future generations.

RE/MAX International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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When buying a home, how do you know what you’re getting? Most people probably only think of one or two questions to ask a home inspector: “How much is your fee?” and “When can you be there?” But these only scratch the surface.

Below is a list of suggested questions you might want to ask:

• What types of licenses do you hold
• What kind of training do you have
• Do you belong to a professional inspectors’ association
• How long have you been licenses in Texas
• Are you a full-time home inspector
• How much do you charge
• Do you also perform repairs? (If the answer is yes, that may indicate a conflict in interest)
• What will the inspection include? (Get specifics. It should include the electrical, heating, and central air-conditioning systems; interior plumbing; visible insulation; roof; walls; ceilings; floors; windows; doors; foundation; basement; and the visible structure of the house.)
• Do you inspect gas lines, swimming pools, spas, septic systems, and wells? Do you charge extra for these?
• Do you charge extra based on the size of the home? Multiple A/C units? Other items?
• How much would you charge if I ask for a reinspection after repairs are completed?
• Will you supply a written report? (Should!)
• Can I attend the inspection? (If the answer is no, find another inspector. This is the opportunity for you to learn about your new home.)
• Do you go up on the roof to inspect
• How long does a typical inspection take? (Should take atleast two hours.)
• Can I call you with questions that come up later?
• Can you give me names and phone numbers of three people for whom you’ve inspected homes recently

The inspector might not inspect swimming pools, wells, septic tanks, and other systems and items, and many inspectors will not conduct environmental tests or wood-destroying insect inspections. You will likely need to arrange for these inspections separately.

You can find a blank copy of the standard inspector report form at www.trec.state.tx.us to give you an idea of what may or may not be covered in the inspection.

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Finding a new home can be exciting. But deciding what you truly want and need-and can afford-can be challenging. Making these decisions begins with setting priorities among many different preferences. Most homebuyers invariably face trade-offs. As your buyer’s representative, I can play a key role in helping you sort out your options. My team can also offer important insights specific to our local market. Here are many of the considerations you’ll want to discuss with me or my team members:

Basic Home Features

• Do you prefer a single-family detached home, townhome, condominium, or other type of property?
• Desired number of bedrooms and baths
• Preferences regarding kitchen, dining, family rooms, etc. and preferred home layout
• High-priority home features, such as kitchen appliances, fireplace, etc.
• Other types of rooms needed (e.g., a home office or a hobby space)
• Storage spaces (closets, basement, and outdoor shed, etc.)
• Need for a garage or parking space, and if so, for how many cars?

Other Home Preferences

• Ranch, two story, split level, etc.
• Age and style of home (Victorian, bungalow, modern, etc.)
• How important is energy efficiency or other green home features?

Neighborhoods/Location

• Commuting considerations (to work, shopping, etc.)
• Proximity to desirable features (such as a community center, exercise facility, school, hospital, etc.)
• Views – how important is to find your ideal view (overlooking a park, for example) or avoiding a bad one (busy highway)?

Lot Characteristics

• Size and Shape of yards
• Landscaping Considerations – need for privacy, play areas, decking, etc.
• Home orientation – is it important for your home to face a particular direction?

Life at Home

• If you’ll be sharing your home with kids, pets, or others, how does this impact your housing preferences?
• Proximity to neighbors

Related Costs

• HOA or Homeowner Association Fees
• Property Taxes

Trade-Offs

• How much do you want to invest in a home beyond the purchase price, either financially or in terms of sweat equity, if you can’t find exactly what you want?
• Are you willing to consider other neighborhoods that provide better affordability?
Resale
• How long do you plan to live in this home? How does this impact the type of home you will buy, how much you’ll spend, and your choice of location?

This information is reprinted from a www.REBAC.net publication.

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Credit Problems can seem like an insurmountable barrier to getting a home loan. It’s not an easy task, but with patience and some insight you can turn things around. Here are four ways you can get on the road to credit repair – and put yourself in a better position for homeownership.

1. Develop a budget
Stop all credit transactions right now. It might sound harsh, but you should hide or destroy all of your cards if necessary! Now you can manage your inflow of cash and, more importantly, your outflow – money in and money out.
Develop a flexible budget. Consider all necessary expenses such as housing, food, and healthcare. Then, eliminate expenses that can be trimmed such as entertainment and dining out. For more help, contact a nonprofit credit counseling agency, such as the TCA at 866/528-0588 or http://www.takechargeamerica.org .

2. Contact your creditors
If you aren’t making timely payments, don’t wait for your account to be turned over to collections. Your creditors may be able to help you get on a lower-interest payment plan or agree to a settlement.
A helpful tip: If your balance is unmanageable, offer a 30% settlement payment first. Some creditors will take payments of 30-40% off rather than have you default. Make sure to get the agreement in writing. Once you’ve paid in full, send the settlement letter to each of the credit bureaus (Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian/TRW) for reference so they will update your credit report.

3. Consolidate your debt
Another approach to consider is acquiring a debt consolidation loan. This type of loan will allow you to pay off your outstanding balances with one, lower-interest monthly payment. A home equity loan for debt consolidation could allow the interest you pay to become tax-deductable.

4. Avoid Bankruptcy
A last resort is bankruptcy because of tis long-lasting effects. Bankruptcy can make it difficult to attain future credit, life insurance, and sometimes even a job. It does, however, offer a new start. The primary types of personal bankruptcy are Chapter 13 and Chapter 7. Chapter 13 allows you to keep property that you would otherwise lose, but payoff a default amount during a three to five year period. Chapter 7 (straight bankruptcy) liquidates all of your assets that are not exempt. Property is turned over to creditors or sold by a court-appointed official.

Help for Homeownership is out there…

There are lots of programs to help first-time and low-income homeowners, and even those with spotty credit histories who want to realize the American dream of homeownership. One is the Texas First Time Homebuyer Program. For more information, visit http://MyFirstTexasHome.org or call me today at 832.628.7355.

Texas Association of Realtors, All rights reserved.

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