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Promises of a Real Estate Pro
There are thousands of licensed real estate agents, but of those licensed, how many are dedicated professionals? No doubt, many can make a good first impression. But to truly represent your needs, they’ll need to be able to follow through on the promises that only professionals can make. One way to separate the professionals from the simply qualified realtors is to ask them if they’re willing to make some promises about how they conduct their business. Here’s what any great real estate agent should be able to say from the beginning of your working relationship:
- Communication is Key. Communication is fundamental to a working relationship, and a great agent knows that a buyer or seller may have questions and concerns which need addressing as soon as possible. Be respectful of your agent’s schedule, but you should never feel that your real estate agent is missing in action.
- Full-Timer Realtors work full-time for you. Those with in-depth real estate experience have graduated from the part-timer’s status to the ability to support themselves with their income in real estate. Full-time realtors make great representatives for their clients.
- Open to work with a variety of professionals to get the job done. A true professional is open to working with lenders, insurance brokers, inspectors, and other companies that make you feel most comfortable. Real Estate professionals may recommend those who they know and trust, which is incredibly helpful, but a great agent will never confine you to their network of associates. They’ll also let you know if someone you recommend may not meet their professional standards.
- Honest advice is a priority.A professional real estate agent is engaged, concerned, and will tell you the best counsel when it comes to serving your needs. Sometimes, this advice may not be easy to hear, especially when it comes to pricing, budget, or repairs. An agent who doesn’t give advice may well be checked-out and giving you less-than-ideal representation.
- Professional Attitude all of the way.Honesty from your agent doesn’t mean abuse, neglect, name-calling, or undue pressure to see things their way. In every interaction, you should feel your agent walks, talks, and projects a competent professional’s image. Stress is part of real estate. The stakes are high, and emotions are always just beneath the surface. A pro agent will have the fortitude and discipline to maintain a professional demeanor under fire.
What is my specific promise to you?
I work hard to sell your home faster, at a higher selling price, and provides a better experience. The secret is simple . . . dedicated customer service.
With all the changes in the real estate business one thing has remained constant, I never waiver in my commitment to client satisfaction. I have put together a dedicated team of professionals that have closed 100% of all short sales we have listed.
Our team of agents, lenders, marketing professionals work to insure that your goal whether purchasing or selling a home is reached. Whether working with buyers in new home sales, retirees downsizing, or first time home buyers navigate the home buying process, I will work tirelessly to insure a smooth transaction.
Make Your Home Baby-Friendly
You may not have kids right now, but chances are you may be entertaining guests one day who do. Below are some sound strategies to make your guest’s visit low-stress and safe by baby proofing your home. These are great ways to put your guests at ease and do your best to protect their little ones from harm by investing in some modest pre-visit baby proofing.
Mind the Power and Appliances
Outlets are enemy #1. Baby fingers are like magnets for electricity, so splurge on some plastic outlet covers which fit snugly into those empty sockets. If you have any multi-socket power strips around, be sure to cover those as well (or elevate them out of harm’s reach). Depending on your youngest visitors’ age, some may be able to reach knobs and buttons on appliances like your stove. Exploring hands can accidentally turn on the gas, so if you think your kitchen will be vulnerable, invest around $10 on stove knob covers.
Make Some Rooms Off-Limits
It may not be practical to baby proof every inch of your house, making certain zones baby-free by using gates. Sturdy, simple, pressure-mounted gates will protect specific passages and prevent you from making any permanent holes in your wall. Alternately, use doorknob covers to make even unlocked rooms less likely to be prone to an infant invasion.
Fight Falling Objects
Babies are all about testing gravity, and as they try to bring themselves upright, they’re liable to tug on anything within arm’s reach. Items that can fall on a child include entertainment centers, bookshelf, floor lamps, or other furniture. Are there any precarious pieces that might tumble down and seriously injure a child? Consider items on top of shelves (like decorative glassware), which can fall if shook, even it is modest force.
Curtail the Cords
Power cords and curtain (or blind) cords can cause falls, entanglement, or even strangulation. Tie these up out of the way or too high for a baby to reach from the floor.
Get Down and Look Around
A baby will put anything in its mouth. That will include choking hazards, dropped medications, or stray chemicals such as rat poison or cleaners. Shift your perspective to the floor and look for anything suspicious.
Looking at things from a child’s perspective is critical. If you have magnets on your refrigerator, move them up out of the child’s reach or take them off your fridge and tuck them away. Kids love sticking things in their moth; magnets could cause a choking hazard. Consider putting bumpers on sharp furniture edges, as toddlers are still figuring out balance and will stumble easier. In the bathroom, install toilet locks to keep the toilet lid closed so that there is no chance for kids to fall headfirst in when they are curious.
Some homes are more kid-friendly than others. If you’re looking for a perfect home for little ones, I can help you find one today!
Is a Home Warranty Right for You?
The idea of a home warranty can sound great. The definition of home warranty is “a service contract, normally for one year, which helps protect home owners against the cost of unexpected covered repairs or replacement on their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear” (National Association of Realtors). Coverage is for systems and appliances in good working order at the start of the contract.
It sounds simple: You insure critical systems in the home, and should something go wrong with those systems, the insurance company largely covers the cost of repairs. And it’s true, a home warranty can be exceptionally valuable, especially in the first year of homeownership, when you’re still getting a feel for the overall health and maintenance status of your home.
For basic home warranty coverage, plans average from $350 to $600 per year. An annual premium and service charge is also referred to as a deductible paid by the homeowner for each claim. This fee ranges from $75 to $100 for each repair or replacement.
Sellers often offer a home warranty to ease buyers’ concerns over their first year in the home. In fact, in states where foreclosures are common, home warranties are practically the norm. If a buyer is looking at two comparable homes, a warranty can be a competitive advantage.
But as with all insurance policies, the fine print matters. When researching home warranties, you must be certain of what the policy covers and how the insurance company honors claims. For big-ticket items like heating and cooling systems, the home warranty can be a massive cost savings, often reducing out-of-pocket expenses to less than 10% of the total. However, with smaller appliances and simple repairs, the deductible/service fee can cost you as much as the repair would on its own. Plus, it’s vital to know if the warranty will replace versus repair aging appliances. (Many companies will repair an old stove or refrigerator rather than replace the unit with a more energy-efficient model.)
You should also be aware when having a home warranty isn’t required on certain home features. For instance, if you have a dishwasher or water heater that is already under the manufacturer’s warranty, the home warranty coverage may be superfluous. However, if you have major systems with considerable age, the warranty can be worth the investment.
Be aware of the terms of the warranty when it comes to maintenance and neglect. Occasionally, home warranty companies will try to get out of paying for repairs or replacement by claiming you haven’t kept up with routine maintenance issues. To ensure you don’t get caught out on these technicalities, understand how the insurance company justifies these claims.
We have found that homeowner’s insurance is most valuable for more extensive repairs rather than smaller ones such as a leaking sink or a toilet that keeps running. Insurance is always a complex business, but don’t shy away from investigating a home warranty if you’d like some protection from major, catastrophic repairs.
In addition, check with the insurance company for a list of providers in the Prescott area. Unfortunately, most claims are ‘emergencies,’ and you will want to make sure they have service contractors ready to take care of your needs quickly.
With a little diligence, you can get the coverage you need. If you have any questions about where to get home warranty quotes, get in touch with me today.
How to Make a Down Payment Possible
Every month you pay the rent, you’re probably thinking, “I wish this money were going into my future.” For a lot of would-be first-time home buyers, it’s the down payment, which makes home ownership seem impossible. We want to encourage you, climbing the “down payment mountain” isn’t impossible. Like any significant challenge, it’s all a matter of breaking your essential, challenging, audacious goal down into practical steps.
Here are some tips for conquering saving for a down payment:
Find out where your money goes. You can’t start saving money if you don’t know where you’re spending the money. For a month or two, track each expenditure, no matter how small. Get an objective picture of where you’re spending the cash.
Get specific about how much you need to save. Even if you’re not 100% sure what your down payment needs to be yet, it’s good to start doing a little math to figure out how much you need to save. Pick a dollar amount and a timeline to hit that dollar amount. For example, a $25,000 down payment in two years comes to $1,041/month. Sound unrealistic? Either scale down your home desires to something smaller or scale up your timeline. If you can wait three years, that monthly savings goal drops to $694/month.
Determine the big moves you can make. If you’re in a three-bedroom apartment and can handle the idea of scaling down to a one-bedroom, how much would you save in rent? What about going from two cars down to one? If you can make it work, these sacrifices will have a massive impact on your savings goals.
Establish a separate savings account. Don’t let your dream home money mingle with your regular checking or savings account. Establish high-yield savings account with a credit union or money market account to protect and build your savings. It’s essential to have a separate account with a “hands-off” attitude.
Pretend you already have a house payment. Once you determine the approximate amount of what a new house payment would be, start making that payment now. Instead of paying the bank, pay your savings account. This trick is two-fold. It will help you accumulate a down-payment faster, and it will ensure that you can afford the amount of the new house payment.
Mind the risky investment schemes. Once you have a little momentum, it may be tempting to take some of that cash and invest it to make it grow faster. Be very prudent about this, as investing in stocks, startups, or high-yield funds can quickly decimate your savings. Be conservative.
Of course, it’s essential to know how much home you want to buy when you’re saving up for your down payment. I’m happy to give you an idea of what homes are selling for in your area.
Feel free to get in touch at any time if you have questions.
Kim Shaw
(928) 710-9148
Home Office Remodel: No Return
It is a proven fact that many home remodeling projects significantly impact the value of the home. Certain upgrades and renovations pay dividends when it comes time to sell your home, allowing you to recoup the money you’ve invested in the home improvements.
As always, there are exceptions. There is one renovation that stands head and shoulders above the rest (or should I say below) when it comes to receiving a significant return on your investment:
The Home Office
Does this surprise you? It may seem like a home office would be a boon for your home at sale time, especially considering the number of people who telecommute and work online. But the fact of the matter is, a home office seldom recoups more than 45% of the money invested in the remodel.
Why? Full-on home office renovation often takes up a bedroom, which new owners might want to be able to convert back into a bedroom. If you’ve spent the time and money having built-in furniture added, media wiring, and other “office like” details installed, it represents a cost to restore or lost-usage for the new owners.
Of course, if you need a home office and want to have the home office of your dreams, it might be worth it to you to put the return on investment aside. But if your main goal is to have a substantial return on your renovation investment, this is one project that may not pay off at the time of sale.
Renovations Buyers Like to See
Now, on the other hand, what renovations do buyers like to see? Most improvements that elevate the value of your home in the eyes of buyers without breaking your renovation budget is an excellent choice.
The National Association of Home Builders reports that these following features are on buyers’ most wanted list:
- Separate laundry room (91% preference): This is a small-scale project, expected cost $1,000 to $5,000
- Patio (87% preference): A concrete patio can run roughly $975 per 120 square feet.
- Garage storage space (85% preference): You can expect to pay $2,025 – $2,363 for 380 square feet of garage storage.
- Walk-in kitchen pantry (83% preference): Homeowners prefer walk-in pantries over the reach-in closet. Each design varies in cost, but the report says there is a distinct preference for perspective buyers.
- Walk-In Closet in Master Bedroom: Cost varies by design. These are gaining popularity with first- and second-time homebuyers.
- Eat-in kitchen: Cost $1,000 to $10,000. These are especially attractive to families with children.
Renovations are a bonus when it comes to selling a home. If you are you planning to sell your home before or after the home improvements, give me a call. I’d be happy to help you find a current value for your home and discuss if any renovations may help increase the market value.
Kim Shaw
(928) 710-9148
6 Things Buyers Forget to Check During a Home Search
Do you think you have found the perfect home? Hold on, and think again, it might not be as perfect as you think.
There are six little details which can turn an ideal house into a purchase you may regret. Before you make your offer, take into account these six small, but surprisingly important details:
#1: Check Your Cell Reception
Does your future dream home have cell reception? Check your signal when you’re on the property and see if it has dead spots, poor/limited data connections, or flat out “NO SERVICE” messages. This is especially important if you telecommute or had planned on skipping a landline entirely. While you can try and live on VoIP connections, WiFi, and other options, the hassle of a hole in cell coverage can wear on you.
#2: Calculate Your Commute
It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, and for kicks you decide to see how long the drive is from your potential dream home to your office. Doesn’t seem too bad, does it? Now try it during rush hour on a Monday (in bad weather if you can swing it). You might be surprised how school zones, backed-up interstate ramps, new construction, and peak transit schedules extend that commute. This goes for urban commutes too, so even if you don’t drive to work, you’ll want to evaluate the commute in real-world conditions.
#3: Check the Delivery Zone
Restaurant delivery areas are often drawn like congressional districts, so if you can, check out what the local food delivery options are like ahead of time. Look up a few places, call them, and verify they deliver to your address. (Asking the average delivery time is a good idea, too.)
#4: Do a 24/7 Check
The home may be in a neighborhood that is quiet and peaceful on a Saturday afternoon, but what is it like on a Friday night? What kind of traffic is there in the mornings? There may be an excessive number of children playing in the street in the afternoons after school. It is wise to do a drive-by at various times of the day, as well as various days of the week.
#5: Give it the Sniff Test
Do you smell sewage, gas, or anything equally unpleasant? Sewage systems in older homes can sometimes get clogged or damaged by tree roots. Luckily, some sewer or plumbing companies can send a camera through the pipes to detect any breaks or blockages. How does it smell outside? There are some neighborhoods that have distinct odors from nearby farms, landfills, water treatment plants, and industrial parks. It is vital to give it the sniff test inside and out.
#6: Touch EVERYTHING
Literally, touch everything. Turn on every faucet and light switch, open every window and door, and flush the toilets. Buying a house is a big step, quite possibly one of the biggest, and you need to know how everything works firsthand. Don’t forget to taste the water. There are water treatment options, but water quality is something you will definitely want to know prior to becoming homeowners.
Markets can be super competitive, but remember that you’re planning on living in this new house for a considerable amount of time. (Most people would tell you at least 5 – 7 years.) Perhaps your priorities don’t include these six details, but they might to other buyers when you’re ready to sell.
As a realtor, I truly respect the time it takes to find the best home for the best price. I diligently do my homework for you to find what you are looking for. Contact me at (928) 710-9148, I’d be happy to show you homes for sale in the Prescott area.
Affordable Design Upgrades to Help Sell Your Home
What is it about a home that catches a buyer’s eye? What makes a home “feel right”? When two home are comparable to one another, why will one edge the other out?
The difference is in the details. Small little touches will give a home a major edge in the market. Below is a list of a few clever design upgrades that will provide your home with an overall feeling that it is of higher quality than the competition:
- Custom Home Address: A custom home address plaque is a common overlooked upgrade by homeowners. It is an affordable killer upgrade that will add curb appeal to the home. For between $50 and $100, create the plaque to include the home’s numbers and the street name spelled out. Use Pinterest to research the design that will best fit your home.
- Upgrade Light Switch Plates: Freshen up each room in the house, by splurging a few extra bucks to swap out old switch plates. Upgrading dirty, chipped, or cheap-looking switches is a fantastic way to spruce up the look in your home. In the bathroom and kitchen, match the color of your new switch plates to the tile.
- New Cabinet and Drawer Hardware: Modern drawer handles work wonders in rejuvenating tired or outdated cabinets. Concentrate first on the kitchen, because it is the central location of the home, then look for options to upgrade the bathroom as well.
- Paint the Front Door: The front door is the first thing buyers will see. Create a welcoming environment with some extra plants, and add a fresh look by painting the front door.
- Dimmers in Major Rooms: Create a bright and warm environment with lighting. Utilize natural lighting by opening your blinds and updating light fixtures. A simple solution is increasing the wattage in your lamps and fixtures. However, along with bright lighting, adding dimmer switches in major rooms creates a little sense of luxury. If your looking to install the dimmers yourself, there is a quick tutorial by Home Depot, click here to view their YouTube Video.
- Neutral Paints: Bold paint colors can through off potential buyers. Instead freshen up your homes design by sticking with light neutral wall colors. Light colors add freshness and style.
- Crown molding: Tasteful crown molding can really make a plain room feel high-quality. The key is adding molding which doesn’t seem ostentatious or inappropriate given the size and existing decor in the room. Better Homes and Gardens has a great tutorial on How To Transform a Room with Crown Molding.
You might not be able to quantify the exact return these clever upgrades will net you, but you can bet they will help your home stand out from sellers who won’t take the time to make some simple changes. Remember, success is in the details!
Kim Shaw
(928) 710-9148
Essential Tips to Make an Efficient Home and Save on Your Energy Bill
As a homeowner, it’s important to keep your home running efficiently, not only to save money, but also to help the environment thrive. It is important to pause and taking time to think about making some key upgrades that will improve the efficiency of your home. If you’re looking to sell your house, and increase the pool of potential buyers in your market, the energy upgrades below are something that you should consider.
“In the U.S., energy costs eat between 5 and 22 percent of families’ total after-tax income.”
What should you spend on utilities? (Source: Wallet Hub)
“If you’re working with a budget, and trust me, you should be, your utility costs should be no more than 8-10 percent of your monthly income.” (Source: Money Management)
How can you make your home more efficient?
Below are some handy tips that can help you improve the energy efficiency of your home, and how to make them happen:
- Make the Switch to LED
LEDs are a great example of how innovation and technology can make your life easier. They last at least 25 times longer and consume up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
Tip: By switching five of your home’s most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs, it’s possible to save $75 on energy costs annually.
- Seal Those Leaks
On average, heating and cooling account for almost half of a home’s energy consumption. In fact, all the little leaks can be equivalent to leaving open a 3-foot-by-3-foot window.
Tip: Take simple steps like caulking windows, sealing leaks around chimneys and recessed lighting, and sliding draft guards under your doors to save up to 20% on heating costs.
- Heat and Cool Efficiently
Don’t waste money heating or cooling an empty home. Install a programmable thermostat and in colder weather schedule your home’s heat to lower when you are away or asleep and increase when you are returning home or waking-up. In warm weather, schedule the thermostat to raise the temperature when you are away or asleep, and lower it at other times.
Tip: Follow the U.S. Department of Energy recommended temperatures and be energy-efficient all year.
- Maintain Your HVAC System
Make sure to clean or change your furnace filters regularly. A dirty furnace filter will slow down air flow, making the system work harder to keep you warm (or cool) and costing you more money.
Tip: Consider getting a winter tune-up. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a semi-annual or yearly tune-up of your heating and cooling system can be vital to improve efficiency, saving you money and making your home more comfortable.
A few more tips you may want to consider when trying to conserve energy.
- Not all clothes need to be washed in warm water, if possible, wash your clothes in cold water.
- Use your microwave instead of your stove when cooking.
- Set your refrigerator temperature to the manufacturer’s recommendation to avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.
- Turn off heated dry on your dishwasher and air dry instead.
- Turn off the lights when they’re not in use. Lighting accounts for about 12% of a typical residential utility bill.
Bottom Line
By making a few key upgrades to your home, you’ll save on your utility bills and improve the energy efficiency of your home. When you’re ready to sell your house, these key features will make it even more attractive to potential buyers. Contact me when you are ready to get together to discuss what buyers are looking for when it comes to energy efficiency options in our area. Contact me at (928) 710-9148.
Thinking of Selling Your Home? Waiting Can Be Costly.
Humans are impatient by nature, at times being patient and waiting pays off. Other times, waiting can cost you money. Surprisingly, individuals who wait too long to sell their homes can have a negative effect on the bottom line. Traditional thinking would suggest it may be best to wait to sell when there is a flood of buyers in the market, but right now may in fact be an even better time to list your home.
We can see the overall economy is good: wages are rising, there are near record-low unemployment rates, plus the mortgage interest rates are still very low. Over the past 10+ years the housing market has stabilized, so what (if anything) is the biggest challenge in the housing market today?
The answer is simple: it’s inventory.
What does this mean?
While homes are coming to the market, they aren’t coming fast enough!
According to BankRate.com, “a seller’s market is a real estate term, indicating that there are more real estate buyers in the market than there are sellers. When demand is higher than the supply, home prices increase, which benefits sellers. During a seller’s market, buyers have little room to negotiate price because demand is high. Seller’s markets usually occur when the economy is good and there is low housing inventory available in the area.”
Time to Sell
When we look at the numbers and see the challenge presented by low inventory, we can see that now is a great time to sell your house. This market provides an opportune time for sellers, who own homes in the starter and middle-level markets, to sell in a sellers’ market, before inventory catches up with demand. Serious buyers are actively in the market and ready to make a move during these situations. When inventory is limited at the lower end, like it is today, selling before more homes are listed could mean a significant seller’s advantage to those who are ready to move up. The upper level of the market has much more inventory available to move into, so it’s a win across the board.
If you’re considering selling your home, now may be a great time to make your move. Take advantage of the high housing demand and the low inventory of homes for sale at the lower end of the market and use your purchasing power while mortgage rates are low to go after the move-up home of your dreams.
Give me a call and I can help you decide if now is the right time for you. Contact me at (928) 710-9148.
Don’t Move It, Sell It!
Getting ready to move to the Prescott area? Welcome to “Everybody’s Hometown”, we are excited to have you! You have picked a gorgeous town. Prescott truly has something for everyone. There are plenty of things to do in the area, making it the perfect community for people of all ages. Prescott is often rated as one of the best places to retire, but our popular town is equally as family-friendly (and dog-friendly too!). The Prescott population is growing; however, the small town feel the city has to offer, gives residents the best of both worlds.
As your packing to move, we have a secret for you. The secret to an easy, less stressful moving process, is moving less stuff.
It’s obvious, but it’s true. You can save time, money, and the anxiety of finding the right place for extra stuff if you simply take the time before your big day to declutter. While you may have stuff that’s destined for the dump, the odds are you have a lot more stuff which could find a better home with someone else. So how do you quickly and easily declutter your home before the move?
- Start with a garage sale. The garage sale is a reliable way to offload your junk. For example, you may not want to keep your surf board when moving to Prescott, but someone may be willing to pay top dollar it. Another option is a “moving in” garage sale. Consider having a garage sale when you arrive. This can be a great way to get to know your new neighbors.
- Sell your stuff online. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, eBay, and Nextdoor are all good venues for finding buyers. These online marketplaces offer a fast option for a large number of people to see what you have to sell. However, remember to be safety conscious when meeting with strangers. Beware of scammers, and instead of inviting strangers into your home, if possible, meet the buyer in a grocery store parking lot, or at a gas station.
- App it up! There are multiple competing apps for selling stuff privately, including OfferUp, Gone, and LetGo. Best of all, these work directly from your smartphone, making it easy to snap pics and post ads in a hurry.
- Trade in, don’t chuck it. Many retail chain outlets will provide you with a way to trade-in items for credit, especially if the items are consumer electronics, games, or mobile devices. Even if the trade-in amount is low, it beats sending the stuff to the landfill.
- Donate it! Just because you don’t want to use it anymore doesn’t mean that someone out there can’t benefit from it. Get a tax deduction and do a good deed by dropping off unwanted possessions with Goodwill Industries, Stepping Stones, or the Salvation Army. This is also a good way to positively impact the community.
Don’t let extra clutter drag down your move. Set aside time before the big day to sell, trade, or donate. You may sell enough to earn a few extra bucks to buy pizza on your first night in your new place.
If you need help finding a place to move, I would love to help you find the perfect home! Or, if you are needing to list your home, I love listing homes and helping them sell fast. Contact me at (928) 710-9148.
