Before a potential buyer even sees the inside of your home, you're front yard is the first thing they will view. First impressions can make or break a deal. Here are a few tips to help insure the front yard doesn't kill the deal before the car is even shut off.
Last year, thousands of U.S. households did some kind of landscaping project. The average annual bill was just under $375, according to the National Gardening Association. Many of projects can turn into disasters especially when the homeowners go to the closet big name garden center and just pull anything off the shelf that looks nice. Go to the local nursery that knows your area, and knows what they are talking about. Let them tell you what plants will work well in the area. Take into consideration soil conditions, sunlight and amount of rainfall. Do some planning first, then talk to the people that are pros about what your goals are, how much money you are willing to spend, and how much time you will need to water, prune, weed and fertilize.
Here are a few tips to help...
1) Lay the groundwork for successful planting. Does the property have good drainage or is water going to lay there. What is the Ph of the soil? Is it rocky, clay, sandy or nice soil?
2) Create a plan to draw your eye to a central point. Your yard doesn't need to have several flower beds all over the place, just a few well planned and thought out beds. Plant along a wall so it creates a focal point You can use different types of shrubs, or flowers to accomplish this.
3) Create a "portable atmosphere". Plant your flowers and herbs in decorative pots and any type of container. Get creative. Use old baskets, buckets, sneakers! They can make your deck or patio inviting and relaxing. Then, when you move, they move with you.
4) Part of your plan should be for privacy and shade. Part of a successful plan in landscaping is to hide your neighbors from view, or to help muffle the street noise. Tall plants can be used to screen your windows from your neighbors, or vice versa. Hedges are great for helping to block noise. Use your plantings to make different sitting areas. A tanning area, a quite area for reading, or an area created around a fire pit.
5) And finally, something that looks great after the blooms are done. Shrubs offer different colors and shapes. Shrubs will also be lower maintenance then flowers and herbs.
This is just a few ideas to get your home ready to put on the market. This is a buyers market and there is much more competition. That doesn't mean homes aren't moving. It means that
your home MUST be better then the neighbors, and it MUST be priced better then the neighbors. Do what it takes to make the home the most appealing home in the area. It will be worth it.
If you are putting your home on the market, or know of someone that is, please give me a call. I would like to meet you show you what I can and will do. I don't want to just list your home, I want to sell it. give me a call. My web site is www.ricksapovits.com. I am looking forward to meeting you.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
What are you waiting for? Here are 5 GREAT reasons to buy a home NOW!
What are you waiting for? The real estate market has never been better to buy a new home. If you are a first time buyer and no property to sell, you are in a great position to jump off the fence and make that purchase. Here are 5 reasons to do it...
1)Affordability is better then ever! Homes are sitting on the market longer, prices are dropping. Put the offer in, ask the seller to pay, or at least assist with your closing costs. Dont be afraid of a counter offer, you can say yes, no or counter again.
2)You have an incredible inventory to choose from. In many places, it is taking months to sell a home, creating tons of inventory. This inventory includes new construction that builders are stuck with(ask for incentives) to foreclosures. A large inventory definately keeps the buyer in the driver seat and is driving prices down. Sellers are starting to realize the market isnt what it was a year or two ago and are starting to get the picture. Sellers are getting desperate. With homes on the market longer, sellers are finally realizing what is going on. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!!
3)Builders are offering big discounts!! Banks want their money from builders also. Home builders are getting more aggressive with their pricing as well. FREE upgrades packages. Finished basements, lighting packages, kitchen upgrades!! GO for it!!
4)Mortgage rates are still very low. It is not just the price tag on the home that effects what you can afford, but the interest rates as well. A few months ago, rates on the 30 year fixed hit incredible low rates. rates that haven't been seen in years, and rates are still close to that level. The first week in February, the avargae rate for a 30 year fixed was 5.25%. More help may be on the way. A short time ago, President Obama said that his new economic plan would help lower the cost of mortgages for home buyers. More details have not been given. Low rates dont mean the mortgage companies are handing out money, you still need good credit, a substantial down payment, and the willingness to document your income to qualify for those great rates, if you qualify at all.
5) You can get a federal tax credit! There is currently a tax credit up to 8000 bucks! to home owners that haven't owned a home in at least 3 years. That money doesnt have to be paid back if the home is purchased between Jan 1 and Nov. 30th of this year, if that home is not re-sold for atleast 3 years! That money will certainly come in handy. The avarage first time homebuyer shells out about 6 thousand in the first 6 months of of owning a home.
Here you go, 5 great reasons to buy that home. If you are in Chester County, or Delaware County you have the reasons, you have my name and number. Give me a call, let me walk you thru the process. Let me help you get into that first home!
My name is Rick Sapovits, my web site is www.ricksapovits.com. I can be reached at Keller WIlliams Real Estate, 610-363-4300 x 2452. I look forward to hearing from you.
1)Affordability is better then ever! Homes are sitting on the market longer, prices are dropping. Put the offer in, ask the seller to pay, or at least assist with your closing costs. Dont be afraid of a counter offer, you can say yes, no or counter again.
2)You have an incredible inventory to choose from. In many places, it is taking months to sell a home, creating tons of inventory. This inventory includes new construction that builders are stuck with(ask for incentives) to foreclosures. A large inventory definately keeps the buyer in the driver seat and is driving prices down. Sellers are starting to realize the market isnt what it was a year or two ago and are starting to get the picture. Sellers are getting desperate. With homes on the market longer, sellers are finally realizing what is going on. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT!!
3)Builders are offering big discounts!! Banks want their money from builders also. Home builders are getting more aggressive with their pricing as well. FREE upgrades packages. Finished basements, lighting packages, kitchen upgrades!! GO for it!!
4)Mortgage rates are still very low. It is not just the price tag on the home that effects what you can afford, but the interest rates as well. A few months ago, rates on the 30 year fixed hit incredible low rates. rates that haven't been seen in years, and rates are still close to that level. The first week in February, the avargae rate for a 30 year fixed was 5.25%. More help may be on the way. A short time ago, President Obama said that his new economic plan would help lower the cost of mortgages for home buyers. More details have not been given. Low rates dont mean the mortgage companies are handing out money, you still need good credit, a substantial down payment, and the willingness to document your income to qualify for those great rates, if you qualify at all.
5) You can get a federal tax credit! There is currently a tax credit up to 8000 bucks! to home owners that haven't owned a home in at least 3 years. That money doesnt have to be paid back if the home is purchased between Jan 1 and Nov. 30th of this year, if that home is not re-sold for atleast 3 years! That money will certainly come in handy. The avarage first time homebuyer shells out about 6 thousand in the first 6 months of of owning a home.
Here you go, 5 great reasons to buy that home. If you are in Chester County, or Delaware County you have the reasons, you have my name and number. Give me a call, let me walk you thru the process. Let me help you get into that first home!
My name is Rick Sapovits, my web site is www.ricksapovits.com. I can be reached at Keller WIlliams Real Estate, 610-363-4300 x 2452. I look forward to hearing from you.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
So you think you are ready to buy a home?
Here is a list of things you need to do before you start to shop for a home, and when you need to do them.
Any time you buy a home, it can be quite stressful, and mind boggling, especially for the first time buyer.
The following time line starts 1 year before you seriously start shopping for a home. You can do it quicker if need to, but you will be smart to take your time and walk thru all the steps in order. The more time you give your self for this process, the better off you will be in the long run.
One year out (or as soon as possible)...
Get your credit reports. Every American is entitled to a free credit report every year. Contact on of the big 3 credit reporting companies. Errors on the report can force you to pay a higher interest rate on your mortgage, or even prevent you from getting a mortgage at all. Go to annualcreditreport.com. This information comes from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Make sure you look for accounts that aren't yours, and collection accounts for debts you don't owe and negative marks that are older then 7 years.
Get and improve your FICO credit scores. Your credit scores, which are 3 digit numbers used to gauge your creditworthiness, help determine the rates you can get for a loan. There are tons of different credit scoring formulas, but the one used by most lenders is the FICO
Deal with your debt. Most people don't need to pay off their college loans, auto loans or other low rate debt before getting a mortgage. What you do need to take care of is the toxic debt, credit card balances! These are sure signs that you are living way over your means. Get them taken care of now. Once you are in your home, there are many, many expenses associated with home ownership(property taxes, insurance, repairs, decorating, and maintenance)
SAVE SAVE SAVE, then SAVE some more! Stop eating out, do you need all those cable channels? Do everything you can think of to put away as much money as possible. FHA loans only require 3 1/2 percent down, You need 20 % down to avoid PMI.
Put your bills on automatic pay. A single 30 day late payment can drop your score 100 points. Been there, done that! Set it up with your bank. Set up automatic debit payment that comes directly from your checking account.
6 months out
Start checking out your mortgage options. Too many people today are loosing their homes because they didn't understand what kind of mortgage they had. If you cant afford a 30 year fixed FA-GETABOUTIT!! To many times there are low teaser payments that allow the buyer to purchase more then they can really afford. Then the payments jump and they can no longer afford the home.
Research all the costs of owning a home. Your mortgage is just the start. You will have property taxes, and insurance on your home. You could be paying HOA and condo fees as well. Your utilities might be higher then an apartment and there will be maintenance and repair costs.
3 months out. The FICO scoring formula is sensitive to how much of your available limits you're using on credit cards and other revolving lines of credit. The less is better.
Don't open or close any accounts. Until the mortgage process is complete and you've moved into your home, don't do anything to cause actions that could harm your credit. Don't buy new appliances, or a new car. You could be living in it.
2 months out.
Get an idea of the mortgage rate you can expect. Get a new set of FICO scores. Checking your scores doesn't ding the report, and talk to some mortgage lenders about what rates you might qualify for. Don't apply yet, and don't allow your credit to be pulled.
Understand the effects of mortgage shopping on your score. You want to get the best terms and rates possible, which means you will need to shop around, but how does that effect your credit score? Here's the deal; every time you give a lender permission to check your credit, a "hard inquiry" appears on your credit report. Good for you that the FICO scoring formula lumps all mortgage related inquires made within a specific time period together and counts them as one. You want to shop around, but typically in a short period of time, and usually after an offer has been accepted.
Get pre-approved! This is when the lender gives a commitment to make you a loan, is different and more valuable to sellers then a pre-qualification, which merely gives you an idea of the size of the mortgage you might be able to afford without making any commitments. You don't have to use the lender that gives you the pre-approval, but it does involve giving permission for that "hard inquiry", but the potential ding is well worth it because you are in a better and stronger position with sellers.
Consider a mortgage broker. Once the offer is approved, you can shop for a mortgage on your own, but if you want a lot of hand holding through this process or your credit isn't great, you might benefit from the services of an experienced, ethical mortgage broker. STAY AWAY from the fast talkers, use a large national company with a great reputation.
Begin to research neighborhoods and look for an agent. If you are in Pa, please give me a call!
My web site is http://www.ricksapovits.com/
Once you have found your home, and your offer is accepted... start to shop for a mortgage. You do need to move fairly quickly, the process can take 3 to 4 weeks.
Arrange for an appraisal, do your home inspections, and do a walk through. The appraisal is required for your loan to be approved, An inspection isn't necessarily required, but do it any way. It can alert you to any serious problems before the deal closes. The walk through is done within 24 hours of closing so you can make sure any repairs have been completed by the sellers that you have agreed upon.
Home owners insurance. Mortgage lenders require this coverage. You will need to prove you have it at settlement , or it ain't happening.
Get your exact closing costs. You will need to know how much money you will need at closing. Closing is when all the papers are signed, and all the agreed upon amounts are paid, which can include your down payment, and your share of legal fees, property taxes and title insurance.
Afterwards,you now have a set of keys to your brand new home!
My name is Rick Sapovits and I look forward to helping your next home.
Any time you buy a home, it can be quite stressful, and mind boggling, especially for the first time buyer.
The following time line starts 1 year before you seriously start shopping for a home. You can do it quicker if need to, but you will be smart to take your time and walk thru all the steps in order. The more time you give your self for this process, the better off you will be in the long run.
One year out (or as soon as possible)...
Get your credit reports. Every American is entitled to a free credit report every year. Contact on of the big 3 credit reporting companies. Errors on the report can force you to pay a higher interest rate on your mortgage, or even prevent you from getting a mortgage at all. Go to annualcreditreport.com. This information comes from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Make sure you look for accounts that aren't yours, and collection accounts for debts you don't owe and negative marks that are older then 7 years.
Get and improve your FICO credit scores. Your credit scores, which are 3 digit numbers used to gauge your creditworthiness, help determine the rates you can get for a loan. There are tons of different credit scoring formulas, but the one used by most lenders is the FICO
Deal with your debt. Most people don't need to pay off their college loans, auto loans or other low rate debt before getting a mortgage. What you do need to take care of is the toxic debt, credit card balances! These are sure signs that you are living way over your means. Get them taken care of now. Once you are in your home, there are many, many expenses associated with home ownership(property taxes, insurance, repairs, decorating, and maintenance)
SAVE SAVE SAVE, then SAVE some more! Stop eating out, do you need all those cable channels? Do everything you can think of to put away as much money as possible. FHA loans only require 3 1/2 percent down, You need 20 % down to avoid PMI.
Put your bills on automatic pay. A single 30 day late payment can drop your score 100 points. Been there, done that! Set it up with your bank. Set up automatic debit payment that comes directly from your checking account.
6 months out
Start checking out your mortgage options. Too many people today are loosing their homes because they didn't understand what kind of mortgage they had. If you cant afford a 30 year fixed FA-GETABOUTIT!! To many times there are low teaser payments that allow the buyer to purchase more then they can really afford. Then the payments jump and they can no longer afford the home.
Research all the costs of owning a home. Your mortgage is just the start. You will have property taxes, and insurance on your home. You could be paying HOA and condo fees as well. Your utilities might be higher then an apartment and there will be maintenance and repair costs.
3 months out. The FICO scoring formula is sensitive to how much of your available limits you're using on credit cards and other revolving lines of credit. The less is better.
Don't open or close any accounts. Until the mortgage process is complete and you've moved into your home, don't do anything to cause actions that could harm your credit. Don't buy new appliances, or a new car. You could be living in it.
2 months out.
Get an idea of the mortgage rate you can expect. Get a new set of FICO scores. Checking your scores doesn't ding the report, and talk to some mortgage lenders about what rates you might qualify for. Don't apply yet, and don't allow your credit to be pulled.
Understand the effects of mortgage shopping on your score. You want to get the best terms and rates possible, which means you will need to shop around, but how does that effect your credit score? Here's the deal; every time you give a lender permission to check your credit, a "hard inquiry" appears on your credit report. Good for you that the FICO scoring formula lumps all mortgage related inquires made within a specific time period together and counts them as one. You want to shop around, but typically in a short period of time, and usually after an offer has been accepted.
Get pre-approved! This is when the lender gives a commitment to make you a loan, is different and more valuable to sellers then a pre-qualification, which merely gives you an idea of the size of the mortgage you might be able to afford without making any commitments. You don't have to use the lender that gives you the pre-approval, but it does involve giving permission for that "hard inquiry", but the potential ding is well worth it because you are in a better and stronger position with sellers.
Consider a mortgage broker. Once the offer is approved, you can shop for a mortgage on your own, but if you want a lot of hand holding through this process or your credit isn't great, you might benefit from the services of an experienced, ethical mortgage broker. STAY AWAY from the fast talkers, use a large national company with a great reputation.
Begin to research neighborhoods and look for an agent. If you are in Pa, please give me a call!
My web site is http://www.ricksapovits.com/
Once you have found your home, and your offer is accepted... start to shop for a mortgage. You do need to move fairly quickly, the process can take 3 to 4 weeks.
Arrange for an appraisal, do your home inspections, and do a walk through. The appraisal is required for your loan to be approved, An inspection isn't necessarily required, but do it any way. It can alert you to any serious problems before the deal closes. The walk through is done within 24 hours of closing so you can make sure any repairs have been completed by the sellers that you have agreed upon.
Home owners insurance. Mortgage lenders require this coverage. You will need to prove you have it at settlement , or it ain't happening.
Get your exact closing costs. You will need to know how much money you will need at closing. Closing is when all the papers are signed, and all the agreed upon amounts are paid, which can include your down payment, and your share of legal fees, property taxes and title insurance.
Afterwards,you now have a set of keys to your brand new home!
My name is Rick Sapovits and I look forward to helping your next home.
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