Make your home more appealing for potential buyers with these quick and easy tips.

1.  Trim bushes so they don’t block windows and cute down on light.

2.  Buy a new doormat.

3.  Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.

4.  Put new doorknobs on your doors.

5.  Put a fresh coating on your driveway.

6.  Edge the grass around walks and trees.

7.  Keep your garden tools out of sight.

8.  Be sure kids put away their toys.

9.  Buy a new mailbox.

10.  Upgrade the outside lighting.

11.  Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel

12.  Polish or replace your house numbers.

13.  Clean your gutters.

14.  Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.

15.  Buy new pillows for the sofa.

16.  Buy a flowering plant and put it in a window you pass by frequently.

17.  Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.

18.  Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.

19.  Buy new towels.

20.  Put a seasonal wreath on our door.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Assocaiation of REALTORS.  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.  http://www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

0 comments. This is an old post. The comments are currently closed. Click here to send me a comment via email.

It’s an objective opinion of value, but it’s not an exact science so appraisals may differ.

For buying and selling purposes, appraisals are usually based on market value – what the property could probably be sold for.  Other types of value include insurance value, replacement value, and assessed value for property tax purposes.

Appraised value is not a constant number.  Changes in market conditions can dramatically alter appraised value. 

Appraised value doesn’t consider special considerations, like the need to sell rapidly.

 Lenders usually use either the appraised value or the sale price, whichever is less, to determine the amount of the mortgage they will offer. 

Used with permission from Kim Daugherty, Real Estate Checklists and Systems ( http://www.realestatechecklists.com ).

Reprinted from REALTOR Magacine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS.  Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.  http://www.REALTOR.org/realtormag

0 comments. This is an old post. The comments are currently closed. Click here to send me a comment via email.

The appraised value of a property is a professional estimate of a property’s market value. It’s based on the recent sales of similar properties, square footage, location, construction quality, and more. An appraisal varies in cost depending on the price and size of the home. Most lenders require appraisals as part of the loan application process.

But don’t confuse the appraisal with market value. The appraised value is a certified appraiser’s opinion of the worth of a home at a given point in time. And it should give you a pretty good idea what your home will sell for. Ultimately, though, your home’s market value is the price a buyer is willing to pay for it. Having your home professionally appraised before putting it on the market will help you and your Texas REALTOR® determine a fair asking price. There are other methods of determining the value of your home, including a comparative market analysis (CMA). A CMA compiles information and sales prices from homes similar to yours from your neighborhood that have sold recently. Many Realtors perform CMAs for clients and potential buyers.

Whether you rely on a CMA, an appraisal, or both, you will be able to price your home according to objective measures rather than a gut feeling or a number plucked from the air. 

This information is provided by the Texas Association of Realtors® website.

0 comments. This is an old post. The comments are currently closed. Click here to send me a comment via email.

Right now, many people are renting instead of buying because of the recent credit crunch. Since interest rates are so low, some people are even choosing to buy a new house and rent their old one until the market gets better for selling. If you would like help listing your home as a rental or if you are looking for a rental property, I can help you find what you need. If you need help finding a place to rent I charge half a month’s rent for my commission. If you see a For Sale by Owner Home, you can still use your own Realtor to show you the property. It can be very uncomfortable touring someone’s home with the owner standing over you. Not to mention it isn’t safe knocking on someone’s door and entering a stranger’s home alone. I can show you the property and gather information on comparable houses in the area to make sure you offer what the property is worth, not what the homeowner wants it to be worth. I am the Spring area specialist. Out of 415 Realtors in the area, I am the only one with an exclusive market snapshot offered for the 77373 area. As your real estate professional, I can help you with all of your Real Estate needs.

0 comments. This is an old post. The comments are currently closed. Click here to send me a comment via email.

I have added a new feature to my home page that can tell you what your home is worth. When you submit your property address a custom, current Market Snapshot is created specifically for you and sent to your email in box within thirty minutes. The information gathered is the most current available from the Houston Multiple Listing Service Database. It provides information to help consumers see what other houses near them have sold for, how many days those houses spent on the market before selling, and selling prices of homes that are for sale. It provides the information in various forms including graphs and charts. Please feel free to use this service whether you are in the market to sell your home or not. It provides very useful information that all consumers should be aware of. If you have any questions about your market analysis please let me know and I will gladly go over it with you. I hope you find this information of value and will share it with your friends.

0 comments. This is an old post. The comments are currently closed. Click here to send me a comment via email.