Archives for August 2022

Better Price!! Awesome Property With Incredible Potential

August 30, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

THIS COUNTRY PROPERTY IS ONE YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!

Just right outside of Comanche, Tx you will find a lovely and well-maintained house that sits on an attractive 4+ acres. Relax and unwind on the covered front porch and enjoy the view. This property has an awesome multiple living areas with multi bedrooms. The home boasts over 3,500 sq ft with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, a spacious living area, a dining room with a fireplace that provides warmth and style that opens up to large kitchen practically at the heart of the home. The bonus of this home is the large indoor entertainment rec room area that is directly attached to the main house; perfect space for friends and family to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Most of the bed & baths have been remodeled, a brand new hot water heater installed and the well and the operating components have been redone. Give Preferred Properties of Texas a call Today. Hurry to make it yours!!!

WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT INTO YOUR OWN!

Scents That Could Sell Your Home Faster

August 26, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

It is important to stage your home inside if you want to sell your house quickly. In an increasingly competitive market, the first impression a potential buyer has when they walk through your door is crucial.

The curb appeal will determine whether someone steps over the threshold. But, could it be that the first thing they see as they enter is undoing all the hard work they have put in?

While we don’t doubt that you love scented candles it is worth looking into which scents might make your home more appealing if you’re trying to sell. It’s a good place to put those popular and impactful scents in the entryway of your property.

Fresh laundry is a wonderful smell. Freshly washed linen is second in the list of scents that can help you sell your house. 36% of participants said it would win their hearts.

According to the survey, 27% of respondents rated this scent as a winner. You can also leave a French Press or a timer on your best espresso maker so that people feel at home.

There are certain scents or smells that you don’t want to have lingering in your home during house viewings.

It’s not surprising that 68% said moldy or damp smells would make them turn down a property. It is in your best interests to remove mold as soon as possible, regardless of whether you are selling.

Close behind were 64% of survey participants who said the smells of vomit and cannabis would turn them off. 55% of potential buyers also stated that this smell would cause them to reconsider putting in an offer.

Short suggests that you use a steamer or pet vacuum to remove any smells from your pets. Grapefruit, orange, and lemon scents are excellent at neutralizing the musky animal smells of pets. Citrus-scented candles are very popular and can add a pleasant, fresh-smelling fragrance to your home, no matter where they’re placed.

Rose, jasmine, and lavender are all good options for selling a home.

If you choose to light candles before house viewings, it is important to keep them out of reach of anything flammable, such as furniture, curtains, bedding, or decorations. To prevent an accidental fire from starting in your house, this is important. Also, don’t place lighted candles in areas where they could be damaged by animals, children, wind, or wind. Avoid lighting scented candles in rooms without windows or poor ventilation. This can make the room stuffy and overpowering.

Although the light of a candle can be enchanting, reed diffusers are safer and less fragrant than essential oil diffusers.

It’s an easy task to keep your home clean when you invite potential buyers in.

Original Blog: https://www.realhomes.com/news/best-scents-to-sell-your-home-fast?utm_source=SmartBrief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3BFA9068-DFBC-477B-BC94-C168B9A999F1&utm_content=9361F4BF-0919-4461-86E4-074E169E8CA3&utm_term=23ef8e9a-359a-444f-9fb8-e57c0efe2aba

First Aide For Scratches On Kitchen Countertops

August 25, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

You can repair kitchen countertops with a history wine spills, dropped pans and other sharp objects. This will help you maintain the value of your home and kitchen. While you can hide minor problems, professional contractors are able to fix larger ones.

Granite countertops are susceptible to kitchen wear. With a little knowledge and time, you can make granite counters shine again. Make sure to seal them after you have done the repairs.

Cracks and chips: Fill cracks in granite with layers of epoxy resin that is colored to match the stone. First, clean the area with acetone. This breaks down grease. Make sure you open a window to allow for airflow.
Stains The type and type of stain (wine, ink, oil, bleach) determines which poultice is needed to get it out. A paste made of flour and hydrogen peroxide removes grease, oil, bleach and ink stains. A mixture of flour, bleach and flour cleans wine stains. Alpha, Aqua Mix and StoneTech are all commercial-grade stone cleaners. Prices range from $6 to $20

Solid-surface countertops such as Corian are made from acrylic, resin and other materials. These countertops are durable but can still be stained and scratched. Use a wool pad to apply a white polishing compound to minor scratches. Next, wax the countertop.

Call a professional if you need to make deeper cuts or scratches. Labor costs are approximately $15 to $35 per hour. You will need to replace a portion of the counter. This should cost you between $35 and $65 per square foot.

Minor problems can be fixed, but it is difficult to fix or cover gouges in laminate.

Use laminate repair paste to fix small chips that match the countertop’s color.
Use countertop polish or wax to cover scratches
Apply contact cement to both surfaces of the peeling laminate and press it back into place.
Use vinegar, baking soda or household cleaner to remove coffee and tea stains.

It will be necessary to replace the stretch that has been damaged. There are a million colors of laminate, so it could be challenging to find the right match for an older counter.

You can replace the counter to achieve the desired look. For countertops with a beveled edge, which look like granite, the cost of labor is between $15 and $35 per hour.

You can stockpile old tiles if you plan ahead. Then grab some and replace any damaged or cracked areas. The following first aid can be used if you don’t own extra tiles:

Use a little toothpaste to remove any scratches on a clean cloth.
Use a toothpick to apply epoxy glue to cracks. Then, color the area with oil-based paint.
Use a utility knife to remove old grout and then use a rubber trowel to replace it.

Over time, stainless steel countertops can become dull, scratched and stained. You can remove scratches but not completely. However, you can polish them with vegetable oil.

Use a mixture of dish soap and baking soda to remove stains. Stains can be removed with a little Barkeeper’s Friend.

Original Blog: https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/diy-repair/repair-and-replace-kitchen-counters-stay-top-scratches/?site_ref=mosaic

Home Security Systems

August 18, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

Smart home security gives you peace of mind and a virtual lock for protecting your home.

Smart door locks are Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled devices that allow you to lock and unlock doors via an app on your smartphone. Smart locks open and close deadbolts electronically. This type of keyless entry allows you to open a door by simply tapping an icon or speaking a command. This way you won’t have to search for keys when your arms are full with groceries.

You can see who is at your door even if you aren’t there. This device is also known as a doorbell camera and streams live video to your smartphone via Wi-Fi. The app will notify you if someone rings the doorbell, or if the camera detects movement. You can then speak to the person at your door by streaming live video from the video doorbell to your smartphone. If you need to keep track of who was on your porch, you can record the video and save it either to your phone or to the cloud. A video doorbell is an essential item, many people agree. About 20 million homes in the United States had video doorbells by 2020 (16%). According to industry analysts, this number will rise significantly as more people adopt smart-home technology.

Smart motion sensors are battery-powered devices that detect when something or someone crosses their path and trigger an action. It can communicate over ZWave or Zigbee. The motion sensor can do anything from turning on the lights when someone enters a room to telling when your toddler climbs out of her crib. Motion sensors can also be activated by a lack of motion. Lights will turn off if there is no one in the room. To control smart lights and speakers, you can simply tap an icon to run motion sensors from your smartphone’s app.

A security kit is a way to make your DIY smart home security more than just one or two devices. These kits, also known as a home surveillance system, replace the alarm systems that you had to have installed by a professional. These kits usually include motion and contact sensors, a base station, which is the wireless brain of your system, and touch screen control panels.

Protecting your home with smart tech security devices is easy and affordable. Many of these devices can be installed by you and you only need to pay for the monitoring plan when it is needed. You can monitor your family and home from anywhere via sensors and cameras right from your smartphone. High tech security is at your fingertips with video doorbells, motion sensors, smart locks, and home monitoring system.

Original Blog: https://www.houselogic.com/save-money-add-value/smart-home-security-devices-get-smarter/

How To Know If The Phone Call Is A Real Estate Scam

August 15, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

According to First Orion’s 2022 Mid-Year Telephone Scam Report, housing-related scams jumped by more than 30% in May. Scammers are increasingly targeting consumers to con them into buying home-related items such as remodeling projects or home warranties.

The report shows that home warranty scams targeting seniors have increased in number. These schemes often offer a callback number, which collects personal information from those who respond. First Orion estimates that the United States received over 100 billion fraudulent phone calls in the first six months 2022. This resulted in financial losses up to $40 Billion.

According to the First Orion report, vehicle warranties, home warranties, social security, financial assistance, and life insurance were the top three most prevalent and emerging phone scams in all industries. Kent Welch is First Orion’s chief information officer and spoke to REALTOR(r) Magazine recently about home-related frauds and what consumers should be aware of.

Scammers are big business. We see them adapt their strategies and ploys to the seasons or current events. Seasonal trends are often evident. Tax scams rise during tax preparation season’s first quarter. Scammers are also known to exploit consumers’ needs. This can be linked to current events and pending legislation, such as student loan forgiveness.

Recently, housing has been a seller’s marketplace. Record numbers of people quit their jobs during the pandemic or took early retirement to sell or downsize to get the inflated prices associated with recent home demand. Consumers working remotely have also contributed to an increase in home-buying demand, despite the generally strong job market. Remodeling projects and home improvements are also in high demand.

The interest rates are rising, too. This can cause a rush to the housing market from buyers looking to lock in rates and renters who want to leave but are unable to commit to long-term loans.

Unknown numbers should not be answered. If they feel it is important enough, they will leave a voicemail.

One of the most common mistakes people make when calling is to give out personal information such as their Social Security number and birth date. If you are unsure whether the caller is from your bank, a homeowners association, or a landlord, don’t divulge banking information. It’s a scam if they ask for wire transfers or gift cards to pay. Look up the phone number and hang up.

Don’t listen to the robotic voice asking you whether you would like to be added to the “do-not call” list. Do not press the button and don’t answer yes. This will place you on a list with active callers. Don’t answer the phone.

Consider registering with the federal No Call Registry.

Branded communication can help businesses restore trust with their customers via the telephone. Calls can be branded with the company logo, department, and reason for calling, both on the recipient’s phone and in the call log. This increases the chance that the customer will call back. This helps reduce the number of unanswered phone calls, and it also helps distinguish the legitimate calls from fraudulent calls.

Original Blog: https://magazine.realtor/technology/feature/article/2022/08/know-when-that-phone-call-is-a-real-estate-scam?nwsltr=navnar

What To Know About Home Appraisals

August 11, 2022 by chorton Leave a Comment

The home appraisal is a crucial step in any home buying or selling process. An appraisal is a crucial part of getting a mortgage. This will confirm the seller’s price to the lender. A good appraisal will help sellers get the best price for their house.

An appraisal is a professional, objective estimate of the property’s value. Lenders require a home appraisal before they will issue a mortgage. This is to protect their investment. If the actual value of the property is less than the sale price, and if the buyer defaults upon the mortgage, the lender will not be able sell the property for sufficient money to cover the loan.

Refinances may be eligible for a property inspection waiver (PIW). This is if your loan amount exceeds the estimated home value. Even if the loan to value ratio has been very low, PIWs rarely get granted.

The appraisal is usually done after an offer has been accepted and the house has been inspected. You, the buyer, will pay for the appraisal. Most likely you will also have to arrange for it. Even though the appraisal is supposed to protect the lender, it is your responsibility.

The lender usually receives the completed report once it is complete. You can also request a copy. This generally doesn’t happen automatically–you’ll have to ask.

Your property type and your location can impact the price. Homes with more units or those that are more expensive will usually be more costly. An average single-family home of average size will cost $300-$450 for a professional appraisal. The average cost of a professional appraisal for a larger house is $300-$450. An appraiser must be a licensed professional or certified to perform the work. They should not have any direct or indirect interests in the transaction.

An appraiser will need to know where the property is located. They will also analyze details and conditions of the house in order to determine the fair market value.

Comps are the most important factor in determining a property’s worth. These properties are usually within a mile of the property in question and have sold in the past 90 days.

To determine the property’s value, the appraiser will compare the features to the comps. The factors that influence the value of a property include its square footage, appearance, amenities, condition, and age.

A large home with four bedrooms in an area that has seen a lot of three-bedroom homes recently sell will likely be more valuable than comparable properties. A house with peeling paint or a patchy yard in a well-manicured subdivision is likely to have a lower appraisal than other similar properties.

Sometimes, the house’s appraised value is lower than anticipated. This can have a negative impact on many aspects of the sale.

The lender will decide your loan amount as percentage of the property’s price. If it does, it will either choose the appraised value or the sales price. Lenders won’t lend more than 80% to 97% from the home’s fair value. Therefore, the appraised value of your home is crucial when deciding how much you can borrow.

The loan amount you apply for will be granted if the property appraises at or above the sale price. If the property appraises at less than the sales price, the lender will likely lower the loan amount to match its value.

Low appraisals can cause a delay or cancellation of a sale. Buyers and lenders won’t overpay for a house. Sellers may not be willing to significantly lower the price they are looking to purchase.

If the appraisal is low, you have several options. You can opt out of the deal if your offer contract includes a condition that the property must be valued at the selling prices or higher.

You can also negotiate with the seller to lower the sale price if you are buying. Another option is to pay more to make up the difference between the sales price and the appraised value.

You can always contest the appraisal. Ask your agent to find out the comparable sales and determine if they are appropriate. Your agent may be more familiar than the appraiser with the area and could be able locate additional comps to support higher valuations.

Buyers will usually pay an earnest money deposit prior to an appraisal. The buyer will be reimbursed their earnest money if the appraisal contingency is not met and the sale fails.

To protect your investment, your lender may require an appraisal if you take out a mortgage. You can opt to not get an appraisal if you make a cash offer. However, you could end up paying more for the property if you do.

Home inspection and home appraisal are two different things. An appraisal assesses the home’s value, while an inspection examines the condition of the house. An appraisal or inspection may be part of a home-buying agreement. The buyer can then cancel the contract based on the findings.

Original Blog: https://www.thebalance.com/appraisal-process-when-buying-a-home-2395235