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Thursday April. 26, 2018

THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS

Nationwide Open House Weekend

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f you are actively searching for a new home, or just thinking about up-, or down-sizing from your existing home, you may want to take advantage of the National Association of Realtors and Clovis-Portales Association of Realtors (CPAR) open house weekend.

Ten Real Estate agencies and 39 agents will be participating in this nation-wide open house weekend.

With 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes priced from $85,000 up to $369,900, you can be sure to find something that will fit the needs of your family and your budget.

This event will start on Saturday, April 28 in Portales where seven homes will be open for viewing from noon-2 p.m. and then four more homes will be open from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Agents from Buena Vista Realty, Eastern Sunbelt Realty, Keller Williams Realty, Pioneer Realty, RE/MAX First Place Realtors and Sagebrush Real Estate will be on hand to answer questions and show you all the special features of each home.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, all agents have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and will be more than willing to help you find just the right home.

On Sunday, April 29, the open house weekend moves to Clovis where, from noon-2 p.m. there will be 25 homes open for viewing and from 2:30-4:30 p.m. there will be 27 homes open for viewing. Agents from most of the above Real Estate brokerages, in addition to Kathy

Corn Realtors, Coldwell Banker Prime Real Estate, Southwest Real Estate, Elite Clovis Realty and Town and Country Real Estate, will be on hand to show you around these properties.

If you are unable to attend this open house weekend, or are can’t make it to all the homes you wish to see, the agents name and number are listed with each address. Give them a call and let the professionals in our community help you make your home-ownership dream a reality.

See complete list of open houses on page 6C

801 S. Ave C, Portales 575.356.6969

Prime Real Estate 600 N. Main, Clovis

Town and Country Real Estate, Inc. 521 E. Llano Estacado Clovis 521 Pile, N. Main, Clovis 400 Suite Suite 300 • A, Clovis, NM (575) 762-7776

575-763-7253

www.SellingClovis.com

720 E. Tierra Blanca • 762-7801 • Clovis, NM

www.sagebrushsales.com

3008 N. Prince Clovis, NM (575) 762-5611

521 W. 2nd, Portales 575.226.0671

1104 E Manana, Clovis 575.935.4040

817 E. Llano Estacado, Clovis 575.763.3729 120 S. Ave. A, Portales 575.356.0400

205 E. Llano Estacado Suite B Clovis, NM 88101 (575) 762-4200 Office

Page 2C • Thursday, April 26, 2018

Real Estate

THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS

Home improvements to help your home sell faster

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he real estate market is heating up, and if you’re planning to sell your home in the future, you want it to sell quickly and for as high of a price as possible. By taking proactive action now, you can make a few strategic home improvements that can help you achieve both your goals.

To boost your home sale and reduce time on the market, consider these top home improvement ideas to catch buyers’ eyes.

· Garage door: When potential buyers visit your property, you want to make the best first impression before they even come inside. That’s why it’s wise to replace your garage door. It takes up a significant amount of exterior visual real estate and helps define the home’s aesthetic.

What’s more, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value report, a garage door replacement recoups an astonishing 98.3 percent of cost upon resale. · Bathroom addition: More bathrooms typically mean you can charge more for your home. Think you’re limited based on existing construction? Think again. With Saniflo, you can add a complete bathroom where no drainage existed before thanks to above-floor plumbing features like a macerating toilet and drain pumps. The Saniaccess3 is a smart choice for full baths, and the Saniaccess2 is ideal for powder rooms. · Kitchen upgrade: A complete kitchen remodel is costly, but a few smart upgrades can make the heart of the home shine. Consider replacing worn laminate countertops and updating hardware for a fresh look. For extra ‘wow factor,’ add an island and use Saniflo Sanivite technology to add a sink to the space for additional functionality. Learn more at go.saniflo.com.

· Fresh flooring: You don’t have to replace all your flooring, but focal areas like the kitchen or family room, as well as areas that tend to experience higher wear, such as the entryway, can benefit from a new floor. Forget expensive tile or hardwood replacements. Vinyl wood flooring looks incredibly similar to real wood, and modern luxury vinyl tile mimics the gorgeous look of stone or ceramic tile but is more durable and affordable. You may be able to simply add new flooring on top of old, making it a much easier DIY project. · Neutral paint: Don’t ever underestimate the value of a fresh coat of paint throughout your home. Walls get dingy and colors get dated. Repaint rooms with modern, neutral tones. As much as you love plum, buyers may not, so stick with whites, creams and grays whenever possible. Visit your local paint store and you’ll see there are many neutral options to add excitement to interior spaces. Don’t forget the ceiling, too! A fresh coat of white can do wonders.

These five projects will enhance your listing so you get more attention and book more showings. You may even start a bidding war with enough interest, and that can really drive up the price. Take action now and these home improvement efforts are sure to make an impact.

THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS

Real Estate

Thursday, April. 26, 2018 • Page 3C

Insider tips, tactics for buying in a seller’s market (BPT)

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hether you’re a millennial looking to buy your first home or a boomer thinking about downsizing your empty nest, you’re probably aware that it’s a seller’s market out there.

Homes are selling at lightning speed, bidding wars are commonplace, buyers often have little to no room for negotiation and the price of those homes keeps rising.

But don’t worry! Just because it’s a seller’s market doesn’t mean you can’t get a good deal on the home of your dreams. Here are some insider tips and tactics from the pros at RE/MAX, LLC to help you get your slice of the American dream at a price you can afford.

Work with a full-time, experienced agent.

This is critical, vital and non-negotiable. Things move so fast and offers are made within minutes of seeing a home. If you don’t have a real estate agent, you can easily be overwhelmed by this thrill ride.

Your agent can help you with negotiation, serve as your champion, and can guide you through this process as a pro.

Get pre-approved with a lender. When you’re preapproved, you’ve done all the paperwork upfront. The bank has decided what you can afford to spend. This tells the seller you mean business and are ready to roll.

Use technology. If you aren’t using technology, you are missing out. Hop on remax.com and view homes within your price range or in your desired school zone or neighborhood.

You can also get a sense of what’s selling at your budget, and even calculate your estimated mortgage payment.

Don’t wait to request a showing. If you’re checking out houses online, ask your agent to request a showing as soon as you see one you like. Don’t wait until the weekend. You know what they say about he who hesitates ...

Don’t wait to make an offer. If you like it, jump on it.

Make your offer clean (no contingencies such as the sale of another property), if possible, and consider offering favorable concessions to the seller such as a flexible closing date.

Think outside the box. You might have come into your home search wanting to live in a specific neighborhood. What if you expanded your horizons a bit? Cast your net wider into areas you hadn’t considered. A lovely gem might be waiting out there for you.

Don’t make a major purchase between offer and closing. If you do, it could upset your debtto-income ratio.

Your lender could run the numbers again, and you’d be sunk. Hold off buying furniture or ordering new appliances until after closing documents have been signed and the place is yours.

Following the advice of your agent is always critical, but it’s even more important in a seller’s market. He or she will guide you through the process, and you’ll be unpacking boxes in your dream home in no time!

Page 4C • Thursday, April 26, 2018

Real Estate

THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS

4 ways to simplify your DIY projects

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hether you’re working on a spring home improvement project or a summer task, this is the time of year when you focus on improving your home both inside and out. As you look for ways to make your home even better, nothing beats a good DIY project.

DIY home improvement projects are popular each year, and they can be as big or small, short or long and expensive or inexpensive as you desire. Whether you are an advanced builder or a novice home improver, the options are wide open, but remember the one thing every DIYer can agree on: Eliminating unnecessary difficulties and the chance of having to redo a task is always a plus.

A recent Post-it Brand study conducted by Wakefield Research found nearly 40 percent of workers have to redo a project or task at least once a week specifically because of poor communication. Even professionals run into hurdles along the way, but avoid situations such as this with a few easy tips.

To make your next DIY project go as smoothly as possible, here are four ways you can iron out potential difficulties before they become a problem. After all, a smooth project isn’t just more fun and rewarding, it saves you time. · Capitalize on subject matter expertise. A little experience goes a long way, and you’ll understandably have an easier time tackling a DIY project you’ve done before.

In many cases, however, this isn’t possible, so look to your friends and family to see if any of them have ever completed a similar project. Ask them your questions and learn from their experiences and you’ll gain valuable insight about what to do - and what not to do - before your project even gets started. · Keep accurate, durable notes. Throughout the course of your project, you’ll take notes regarding processes, punch lists, measurements and the materials you need.

However, even a slight miscommunication or lost note can compromise the project, even for a professional.

Post-it Extreme Notes are an innovative new product designed to facilitate communication and ensure important notes stick securely, whether on a job site in construction, manufacturing or foodservice or at home in a freezer, garage, boiler room or bathroom. They stick to textured, rough and curved surfaces, including those involved in home improvement projects such as raw wood, brick ex-

teriors, tile bathrooms, cement garages and more. Made with ultra-strong Dura-Hold Paper and Adhesive, Post-it Extreme Notes withstand harsh conditions indoors and outdoors, like moisture, wind and extreme temperatures.

These durable, water-resistant notes help keep track of important information to get the job done no matter what the task is.

· Explore your options to find the right tool for the job.

How many times have you tried to tackle a DIY project with the wrong tools simply because you didn’t want to spend the money on the right tool for a one-time use? If this has ever happened to you, consider renting the items you need instead of buying them. Tools like paint sprayers, jackhammers and brush cutters can all be rented for a fraction of the price you would pay to buy them, and doing so ensures you have the right tool for the job from the very beginning, allowing your project to go more smoothly. · Plan out as much as you can. The adage of measure twice, cut once still holds true for today’s DIY projects, and your possibilities to “measure twice” are magnified thanks to modern technology. If you’re planning to paint a room, for example, many paint companies offer a simulator where you can see how the paint will look in a digital environment. There are also other virtual tools to help you get accurate measurements, test layouts and reduce mistakes in your DIY projects. Once you’ve found the answers you need, record them on a durable note like Post-it Extreme Notes and write down measurements, jot down step-by-step directions and map out furniture and paint placement throughout the process. · Start planning your project today. Big or small, your project is as unique as you – but it won’t be completed until you start. Apply the tips above and your project will be done before you know it.

Data statistics about communication are results from a Post-it Brand survey conducted by Wakefield Research (www. wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 U.S. workers, ages 18+, who work in non-office settings, with statistically significant data among the following industries: trades/construction, manufacturing and culinary, using an email invitation and an online survey.

THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS

5 deep-cleaning jobs that are oddly satisfying (BPT)

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hether it’s scrubbing through grime to reveal a sparkling surface, cleaning dust bunnies from under appliances or organizing your pantry, there’s something oddly satisfying about a deep clean.

According to a recent survey conducted on behalf of Clorox, lots of people get the good vibes flowing when it’s cleaning day. Seventy-one percent say it makes them feel relaxed, while 57 percent say they feel accomplished.

Of the most oddly satisfying places to clean in the house, 34 percent say they find their bliss after cleaning the countertops, while a clean microwave lends that special feeling to another 30 percent.

To reach that spring cleaning joy, try some of these not-so-obvious cleaning jobs that will transform the look and feel of your space into a springtime sanctuary.

Grout: Over time, mold and mildew buildup can make your bathroom grout look dingy, but with the right approach, the grout stains will disappear. Start by wetting the tile with a cloth. Then, dip a sponge into a gallon bucket of water with 3/4 cup of bleach and wipe down the tile. Wait five minutes for disinfecting, rinse and viola!

Your tiles will shine, offset by the clean lines of white grout.

Microwave: We don’t like to think about it, but a lot of hard-to-remove food residue accumulates in our microwaves and we rarely spend the time to give it a thorough clean.

Microwave a cup of water and in five minutes the steam will help loosen the stains. A Clorox Disinfecting Wipe will take care of those extra stubborn messes.

Dust: In addition to moving aside the beds, appliances and other heavy pieces of furniture to get those dust bunnies, make sure you’re tackling the not-so-obvious places.

Use the vacuum’s brush attachment to clear your HVAC register vents and don’t forget to dust the tops of fan blades!

Windows: Those panes have taken quite a beating over the months. It’s time to get a soft sponge and a bucket of warm, soapy water to defeat the smudges and layers of dirt, and then wipe them clean with a squeegee. You’ll love how sparkling clean glass transforms the room.

Outdoor surfaces: Right outside your back door is a golden opportunity for a deep clean. Rent or borrow a pressure washer, and once it’s set up, you can enjoy watching the blast of water and degreaser effortlessly turn your concrete walkways and driveway into bright clean surfaces - like a magic wand. To easily remove the mold and mildew off your deck and patio furniture, add 3/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water and swipe away the stains from seasons past.

Try these tips and enjoy basking in the satisfaction of a deep-cleaned house.

To find the tools you need for the job, visit Clorox.com/satisfyingspringclean/.

Real Estate

Thursday, April. 26, 2018 • Page 5C

Page 6C • Thursday, April 26, 2018

Real Estate

THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS