Sunday, December 7, 2008
Merry Christmas Soldiers
I want to wish all the United States Soldiers a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Thank you for all you do to protect us and keep our country free. My dad is a WWII Veteran, he is still alive and lives in Waterloo, IA. He is 83 years old and served in the Phillipines. I know it will be a hard Christmas for those who are away from home, my nephew was in Iraq last Christmas. God Bless you and keep you all safe and hope you will come home soon.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Curb Appeal
17 Ways to Get Buyers Inside Your Home:
1) Paint or stain the front and garage doors, especially if they show any weathering. These are the first visuals where a potential buyer focuses. If garage doors are metal and dented, they may need to be replaced.
2) Any old, basically abandoned sheds or small structures, must be removed, the area graded and the grass replaced.
3) Change any dated, outside light fixtures.
4) Fix that driveway. If it is a blacktop, make sure cracks and crumbling areas are dug out and filled and then the whole driveway sealed. If it is cement, have large cracks filled and repaired professionally. The buyer must at least feel that they can drive the moving truck in confidently!
5) Make sure landscaping bricks are in their proper placement. Mowing, weed-eating sometimes moves them and this is something the homeowner rarely notices, but makes the property look unsightly.
6) Fill in bare dirt under large shade trees. Plant shade-tolerant plants in defined planters or groundcover. Landscape properly for that area.
7) All landscaping beds should be cleaned out and updated for the time of year it is in your region. Place new bedding material down.
8) Have trees and bushes pruned and trimmed. If a bush or tree is looking old or about to expire, remove it and replace it with a similar size and type if you can. If there is a tree limb(s) over the roof, have them removed.
9) If the house needs painting and a full paint job is not in the cards; have it touched up professionally in the worst, most visible spots. Paint shutters and fix them if they are hanging crooked. At least this may help get your client in the front door, even if they negotiate a full paint job into the sale later.
10) If the house is sided, have it power-washed and have gutters and windows cleaned. Window cleaning insideand out makes the house feel updated and fresh, rather than old and dingy.
11) Make sure grass is in good shape, weeds are removed, trimming done regularly. So many sellers fall down onthis job the minute the house is listed, and this is critical to selling a house quickly, especially one where theowners have already moved out. In snowy climates, removal must be done regularly too. If owners havemoved out, make sure you have an HWA Home Warranty to re-assure buyers.
12) Keep garbage and recycle containers inside the garage, along with all toys and equipment. Make sure the garage is neat and organized. Painted walls and floors also go a long way in this area and are inexpensive to do.
13) Decks should be washed and repainted or re-sealed; plantings around them cleaned, weed-free and lookinggood. Patio furniture should be in excellent condition. Even though it is in the backyard, this is the area where the family can envision enjoying the warm days and the new yard.
14) If the roof has missing shingles and they can be replaced inexpensively, we suggest this be done as it may save negotiation over a completely new roof. Roof repair needs and costs should be minor or the homeowner might as well replace the entire roof.
15) If the homeowner wants to do a bit more, we suggest solar lights lining the driveway or installing a more attractive front door with lead glass inserts and replacing plain doorknobs with something more custom.
16) If you have a evening showing, make sure lights are on outside an inside the house. This is warm and inviting.
17) If it’s a holiday season, by all means decorate the home! Just like sugar cookie or vanilla scent on the inside of the house, this really says “it’s a home” and I can see myself enjoying life here! In the least, always have some greenery or flowers for the season on the front step or porch; even a birdbath with a little gardenaround it says home.
Remember, most home buyers cannot visualize even these simple changes and clean ups in a house and the ones who can, will be looking for a reduced price. So to sell the house at top dollar and quickly, make it “appeal” to the many who will be seeing it rather than the few who are looking for a “fixer upper.”
Finally, have neighbors or friends look at the finished results to see if you have missed anything key that would be quick and easy to do.
1) Paint or stain the front and garage doors, especially if they show any weathering. These are the first visuals where a potential buyer focuses. If garage doors are metal and dented, they may need to be replaced.
2) Any old, basically abandoned sheds or small structures, must be removed, the area graded and the grass replaced.
3) Change any dated, outside light fixtures.
4) Fix that driveway. If it is a blacktop, make sure cracks and crumbling areas are dug out and filled and then the whole driveway sealed. If it is cement, have large cracks filled and repaired professionally. The buyer must at least feel that they can drive the moving truck in confidently!
5) Make sure landscaping bricks are in their proper placement. Mowing, weed-eating sometimes moves them and this is something the homeowner rarely notices, but makes the property look unsightly.
6) Fill in bare dirt under large shade trees. Plant shade-tolerant plants in defined planters or groundcover. Landscape properly for that area.
7) All landscaping beds should be cleaned out and updated for the time of year it is in your region. Place new bedding material down.
8) Have trees and bushes pruned and trimmed. If a bush or tree is looking old or about to expire, remove it and replace it with a similar size and type if you can. If there is a tree limb(s) over the roof, have them removed.
9) If the house needs painting and a full paint job is not in the cards; have it touched up professionally in the worst, most visible spots. Paint shutters and fix them if they are hanging crooked. At least this may help get your client in the front door, even if they negotiate a full paint job into the sale later.
10) If the house is sided, have it power-washed and have gutters and windows cleaned. Window cleaning insideand out makes the house feel updated and fresh, rather than old and dingy.
11) Make sure grass is in good shape, weeds are removed, trimming done regularly. So many sellers fall down onthis job the minute the house is listed, and this is critical to selling a house quickly, especially one where theowners have already moved out. In snowy climates, removal must be done regularly too. If owners havemoved out, make sure you have an HWA Home Warranty to re-assure buyers.
12) Keep garbage and recycle containers inside the garage, along with all toys and equipment. Make sure the garage is neat and organized. Painted walls and floors also go a long way in this area and are inexpensive to do.
13) Decks should be washed and repainted or re-sealed; plantings around them cleaned, weed-free and lookinggood. Patio furniture should be in excellent condition. Even though it is in the backyard, this is the area where the family can envision enjoying the warm days and the new yard.
14) If the roof has missing shingles and they can be replaced inexpensively, we suggest this be done as it may save negotiation over a completely new roof. Roof repair needs and costs should be minor or the homeowner might as well replace the entire roof.
15) If the homeowner wants to do a bit more, we suggest solar lights lining the driveway or installing a more attractive front door with lead glass inserts and replacing plain doorknobs with something more custom.
16) If you have a evening showing, make sure lights are on outside an inside the house. This is warm and inviting.
17) If it’s a holiday season, by all means decorate the home! Just like sugar cookie or vanilla scent on the inside of the house, this really says “it’s a home” and I can see myself enjoying life here! In the least, always have some greenery or flowers for the season on the front step or porch; even a birdbath with a little gardenaround it says home.
Remember, most home buyers cannot visualize even these simple changes and clean ups in a house and the ones who can, will be looking for a reduced price. So to sell the house at top dollar and quickly, make it “appeal” to the many who will be seeing it rather than the few who are looking for a “fixer upper.”
Finally, have neighbors or friends look at the finished results to see if you have missed anything key that would be quick and easy to do.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
BUYER AGENCY AGREEMENT
In my previous blog I have explained what a Seller Agency Agreement is. In this blog I will tell you what a Buyer Agency Agreement is:
The buyer’s agent represents the buyer only, so the seller may be either unrepresented or represnted by another agent. The buyer’s agent is responsible for performing the following duties:
Promoting the interests of the buyer with utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity;
Protecting the buyer’s confidences, unless disclosure is required;
Presenting all offers in a timely manner
Advising the buyer to obtain expert advice;
Accounting for all money and property received;
Disclosing to the buyer all adverse material facts that the agent knows; and
Disclosing to the seller all adverse material facts actually known by the agent, including all material facts concerning the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction
The buyer’s agent has no duty to:
Conduct an independent investigation of the buyer’s financial condition for the benefit of the seller: or
Independently verify the accuracy or completeness of statements made by the buyer or any qualified third party.
Designated Buyer’s Agent
The designated agent is a buyer’s agent who has been designated by the broker to represent the buyer to the exclusion of all other licensees affiliated with the firm. The designated agent may show properties listed by other agents in the designated agent’s firm. The designated agent performs all duties of a buyer’s agent, while the other agents in the firm perform the duties of a seller’s agent or a transaction broker.
The buyer’s agent represents the buyer only, so the seller may be either unrepresented or represnted by another agent. The buyer’s agent is responsible for performing the following duties:
Promoting the interests of the buyer with utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity;
Protecting the buyer’s confidences, unless disclosure is required;
Presenting all offers in a timely manner
Advising the buyer to obtain expert advice;
Accounting for all money and property received;
Disclosing to the buyer all adverse material facts that the agent knows; and
Disclosing to the seller all adverse material facts actually known by the agent, including all material facts concerning the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction
The buyer’s agent has no duty to:
Conduct an independent investigation of the buyer’s financial condition for the benefit of the seller: or
Independently verify the accuracy or completeness of statements made by the buyer or any qualified third party.
Designated Buyer’s Agent
The designated agent is a buyer’s agent who has been designated by the broker to represent the buyer to the exclusion of all other licensees affiliated with the firm. The designated agent may show properties listed by other agents in the designated agent’s firm. The designated agent performs all duties of a buyer’s agent, while the other agents in the firm perform the duties of a seller’s agent or a transaction broker.
Monday, January 7, 2008
WHAT ARE SELLER AND BUYER AGENCY AGREEMENTS
Real Estate Agents are required to disclose our duties to our buyers and sellers. Today I will explain the Seller's Agent Responsibilities.
The seller's agent represents the seller only, so the buyer may be either unrepresented or represented by another agent. The seller's agent is responsible for performing the following duties:
* Promoting the interests of the seller with utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity;
* Protecting the seller's confidences, unless disclosure is required ;
* Presenting all offers in a timely manner;
* Advising the seller to obtain expert advice;
* Accounting for all money and property received;
* Disclosing to the seller all adverse material facts about the buyer that the agent knows; and
* Disclosing to the buyer all adverse material facts actually known by the agent, including:
** Environmental hazards affecting the property that are required to be disclosed;
** The physical condition of the property;
** Any material defects in the property, or in the title to the property; and
** Any material limitation on the seller's ability to complete the contract
The seller's agent has no duty to:
Conduct an independent inspection of the property for the benefit of the buyer; or
Independently verify the accuracy or completeness of any statement by the seller or any qualified third party.
DESIGNATED SELLER'S AGENT
The designated agent is a seller's agent who has been designated by the broker to represent the seller to the exclusion of all other licensees affiliated with the firm. The designated agent performs all the duties of a seller's agent, while the other agents in the firm perform the duties of a transaction broker, unless they have a buyer agency agreement.
I will explain the Buyer Agency Agreement next time.... stay tuned.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this or call me at 316-992-1563.
The seller's agent represents the seller only, so the buyer may be either unrepresented or represented by another agent. The seller's agent is responsible for performing the following duties:
* Promoting the interests of the seller with utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity;
* Protecting the seller's confidences, unless disclosure is required ;
* Presenting all offers in a timely manner;
* Advising the seller to obtain expert advice;
* Accounting for all money and property received;
* Disclosing to the seller all adverse material facts about the buyer that the agent knows; and
* Disclosing to the buyer all adverse material facts actually known by the agent, including:
** Environmental hazards affecting the property that are required to be disclosed;
** The physical condition of the property;
** Any material defects in the property, or in the title to the property; and
** Any material limitation on the seller's ability to complete the contract
The seller's agent has no duty to:
Conduct an independent inspection of the property for the benefit of the buyer; or
Independently verify the accuracy or completeness of any statement by the seller or any qualified third party.
DESIGNATED SELLER'S AGENT
The designated agent is a seller's agent who has been designated by the broker to represent the seller to the exclusion of all other licensees affiliated with the firm. The designated agent performs all the duties of a seller's agent, while the other agents in the firm perform the duties of a transaction broker, unless they have a buyer agency agreement.
I will explain the Buyer Agency Agreement next time.... stay tuned.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this or call me at 316-992-1563.
Monday, December 31, 2007
HAPPY NEW Y EAR
I want to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year. I cannot believe that the year 2007 is over so quickly. I look back over the year and wonder where it went. If you are thinking about doing anything with real estate this year, call me and I will be glad to help you. I believe that real estate is what keeps all other businesses thriving. If houses are being sold, there are many people involved in that transaction. If a new home is built that puts a lot of people to work; bankers, mortgage companies, lumber companies, builders, carpet makers, tile makers, painters, plumbers, heating and air workers, realtors, landscaping and on and on. Just sit in a house and think about all the people involved in getting the house completed. Buying land has always been a passion of Americans and foreigners that come to America.
Happy land hunting! Keep America strong!
Happy land hunting! Keep America strong!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Borrowers Get Year-End Gift from Fed
The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates today for the third straight meeting of the FOMC. What does this mean? Well, if you're looking to capture the best home loan rates, you need to act now. For those with an application already in process, you should probably lock your rate as soon as possible. And, for anyone who has yet to begin a loan application, what are you waiting for?
Rate Hikes on the Horizon
Despite this latest cut from the Fed, rates for many borrowers could actually increase soon. Why? Because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently announced 2008 Loan Level Price Adjustments (LLPAs) that are already starting to show up on lenders' rate sheets. LLPAs are automatic “penalties” based on credit scores, which tack on costs in the form of points or higher rates for most anyone with a FICO less than 720.
Back to The Fed
But, let's get back to the good news. The Fed cut the Federal Funds Rate, an overnight lending rate that banks charge each other and which influences the amount of interest consumers pay for various types of debt, such as credit cards, home equity lines of credit, and auto loans.
Since September 18th, the Federal Funds Rate has gone down 100 basis points. If you have a loan that is tied to the Prime Rate, this means your rates have been lowered a full point. But, for those seeking to obtain new financing, you must act now to take advantage.
No Time to Wait
Following each of the last two interest rate cuts by the Fed, home loan rates jumped higher a couple of weeks later. Remember, lower short-term rates are inflationary by nature, and cause consumers to spend more money. Because of this, long-term rates tend to increase as bond holders hate inflation and command higher rates as a result in order to protect their investments.
Because of these pressures and the upcoming Loan Level Price Adjustments, interest rates are going to rise. You need to get with your mortgage company now in order to secure the best deal you may see for some time.
This information prepared by
Clark Schafer, Security Savings Bank
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