Buying or Selling a Home - Things you need to know.

GET THE RIGHT APPRAISAL BY TAKING THE PROPER STEPS

Whether youʼre a buyer or a seller, getting an accurate appraisal of a homeʼs worth is critical before proceeding with a sale. When it comes to knowing the value of a purchase, your home is the bottom line.

In todayʼs market, lots of factors can contribute to an appraisal coming in lower than expected, some of which might include the lack of recent comparable home sales in the area, or using an appraiser from another town or region. Want to know if your home is being appraised properly?

FOR BUYERS:  Ask your lender to fi nd an appraiser that is from the county where you are buying.  Make sure that the appraiser has a residential appraisal certifi cation and professional designation.  Meet with the appraiser beforehand and inform them of any factors that could have an impact on the appraisal.

FOR SELLERS:  Get an appraisal before you list your home for sale. Use it, along with your real estate agent’s expertise to set the right price for your home.  See what similar houses are selling for or are valued at.  Maintain a fi le of all the improvements, upgrades made, and tax documents related to your house.  If you don’t like the appraisal, question it. Maybe there is some information you can provide or something that you can point out that the appraiser missed.

Also, if you’re selling your home, before you get an appraisal, do your best to make the most of your home’s features. Obviously, your home won’t transform form from a single-family to a palatial estate overnight, so some things in the appraisal (square footage, number of rooms, etc.) won’t change. But you can make sure that things are clean, everything in the house appears maintained and functional, and knock out any DIY projects you’ve been putting off.

IS YOUR HOME GETTING LOST IN A SEA OF ONLINE LISTINGS?

Agents who advertise in The Real Estate Book work hard to get your listing in front of the right buyers, directly in the communities where they live, work, and shop.

Contact an agent from The Real Estate Book today and get your home sold!

Fall Home Considerations to Make Before Winter

While the spring is the standard time to clean and declutter your home, fall is also a great opportunity to examine areas you may have overlooked, refresh any spaces that feel dull, and consider safety measures.

Get softer lights. Shorter days and colder weather mean we’ll be spending a lot more time indoors. Switch to light bulbs that have softer light that is easier on the eyes. Poor quality or bright light can cause unneeded eye strain. Use this time to make the switch to LED bulbs if you haven’t already – they last longer and are cheaper than ever.

Refresh. Give rooms a facelift by switching out the old carpeting or area rugs. Opt for a hypoallergenic option to help you enjoy the comfort of the carpet, while not worrying about its allergens, microbes and odors. Give your bedroom linens a refresh as well, by making the switch to warmer flannel sheets and blankets that will keep you warm and cozy in the night.

Safety first. October is Fire Prevention Month, and it is the perfect time to take stock of your home’s fire safety by testing alarms to ensure that the devices and batteries are functioning properly. Replace any alarms that are outdated and install new alarms in your home. One should be located on every level and in every bedroom of the home. Fire deaths are often caused by dead or missing batteries or no alarms at all – so keep your family safe. And if you don’t have any, it is now the time to install carbon monoxide detectors as well.

Speaking of cozy – keep that way during the long, cold months ahead with a basket in the living room and den filled with comfy throws and blankets. You’ll want to reach for one on those colder nights when all you want to do is curl up with a book or a movie.

HOW T O K E E P YOU R PR OPE R T Y SAFE OVER THE

The holiday season is all about spending time with loved ones, and for many, this means traveling. There are certain precautions you should take whenever you leave your home for more than a few days, but the holidays specifically tend to lead to an increase in home break-ins and stolen packages. And beyond theft – empty homes are more vulnerable to household calamities like frozen pipes and leaking sinks.

But with the proper preparation, you will be able to enjoy your holiday travels with better piece of mind, leaving you to only fret about the presents you’ve yet to wrap. Protect your property with some of these simple steps:

INSTALL SOME HOME SECURITY

There are many things on the market – such as video doorbells and video cameras – that can help you keep a watchful eye on your home. But nothing compares to the full protection of a home security system, which will help to keep you and your family safe. It’s the perfect holiday gift to your family as well – so reach out to your trusted home security firm today for an estimate.

HAVE A LOOKOUT

Ask around to see if a neighbor or friend is staying in town for the holidays and find someone who would be willing to keep tabs on things for you. If they’re willing, have them do things like bring in your mail or park a car in your driveway to make it look like someone is home. If nothing else, have your neighbor or friend simply drive by your property each day to make sure nothing looks out of the ordinary and that there’s nothing that needs immediate attention.

If you don’t have anyone available, you can even enlist the help of a home watch service, which can provide these services, along with others such as inspecting the house for damage. Just make sure whoever is looking out for you has a copy of your contact info and itinerary.

TIME YOUR LIGHTS

Leaving a few lights on while you’re away to make it look like someone is home is usually a good idea, but if you leave the lights on throughout your entire vacation, your electric bill will be an unwelcome surprise, and potential thieves would notice the constant light. Instead, purchase an automatic timer that’ll turn the lights in your home on and off according to a programmed schedule.

PROTECT YOUR PIPES

If you live in a cold climate, you need to prevent your pipes from freezing while you’re away. Make sure your pipes are properly insulated and leave the heat on low to prevent pipes from freezing. If you’ve recruited a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on things, have them turn on the faucet every couple of days.

Reach out to your local home security firm and see what kind of options they have to protect your home. The holidays are a time to celebrate and relax with loved ones, so don’t spend the season worrying about your home. By taking some simple precautions you can spend your holiday season focusing on what really matters.