Archive for the ‘Ooltewah Homes’ Category

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Choosing the Right Ooltewah Home for You

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

As you are looking for the ideal home for you and your family, you may find yourself trying to decide between two similar homes. You could have worse problems than this on your Ooltewah home search, but how do you decide which home is better for you and your family?

Here are primary points to consider:

  1. Location. This is where you are going to live. You need to consider how far away it is from work, schools, and shopping. You probably want to do as little driving as possible. An Ooltewah home close to where you will be spending your time away from home may be the better choice for you.
  1. Home repairs. What will you need to do to the home once you move in? Think about the time and money you will have to invest in the home before making your decision. A home in slightly better shape may be the better option for you so you can concentrate on getting settled in your new home after moving in.
  1. Age of appliances. This can make a big difference in your choice. Do you really want to have to replace the appliances soon after you move in? Your might be better choosing a home with newer appliances.
  1. Hobbies. Is there a car lover or avid crafter in your family? Look at which home has the most to offer these people. Perhaps one garage has been expanded or has built-in work benches. Maybe a closet already has a space to organize craft supplies.

Let me help you find the Ooltewah home that best fits your lifestyle. Call me today at 423-488-1882or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com

Keyword/Tag: Ooltewah home

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Benefits of Exterior Lighting for Ooltewah Real Estate

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

As many Chattanooga real estate agents will tell you, curb appeal shouldn’t end when the sun goes down. Exterior lighting can be both utilitarian and create a welcoming atmosphere even at night. The huge variety in lighting types will also lend uniqueness to your property and make it stand out to potential buyers.

Benefits of Popular Lighting Types

  • Reduces crime:  Motion-activated flood lights on the front and back porch are essential in high-crime areas and always a good idea for any area. It’s been proven that criminals don’t like Ooltewah real estate with bright exterior lighting.  The bright lights will draw attention to visitors before they’ve ever reached your door.  Additionally, you should never discount the value of being able to see clearly when arriving home in the dark.
  • Decreases trip hazards:  Solar lamps make beautiful walkway lighting. They’re generally not bright enough to be obtrusive or attract many nocturnal insects, but they will show the exact location of a walkway and reveal any trip hazards on the way. Solar lamps also provide an additional selling point on which Ooltewah REALTORS can capitalize.
  • Improves safety:  Good garage lighting can help you find your way to and from your vehicle. More importantly, the garage is a potentially hazardous area. Good lighting ensures that anyone walking through or working in the area will have a clear view of their surroundings and the task they may be performing.
  • Relocates bugs:  In rural areas, a high outside light (similar to a street light) not only lights large areas enough to recognize any hazards, they can also draw nocturnal insects away from lights emanating from the home. Moths and other insects often plague rural residents as they like to fly into houses from any open door or window.

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KEYWORD: Ooltewah real estate

Curb appeal:

http://www.hgtv.com/curb-appeal/show/index.html

Walkway lighting:

http://articles.directorym.com/Walkway_Lights-a968310.html

Nocturnal insects:

http://dev.pestworld.com/Press-Releases/A-CHILL-IS-IN-THE-AIR-ARE-PESTS-IN-YOUR-HOME

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The Unavoidably Unavailable Ooltewah Home for Sale

Friday, January 1st, 2010

“I’m sorry. I know I have a Ooltewah home for sale, but I’m not available for questions and you can’t see it. Please leave a message after the beep.”

 

No More Precious Commodities

Houses are no longer the precious commodities they once were. A Ooltewah home for sale is no longer a rare occurrence. This is the biggest reason for the splurge of hints from real estate agents: update your curb appeal, stage the house, etc. Something seems to have been forgotten along the way: availability.

 

Where Were You When…?

Very rarely will anyone ever buy a house unseen. So the real question is have you (and/or your agent) been available for potential homebuyers, or have the potential buyers had to guess at what the inside of your home looks like?

 

Buyer agents are starting to complain: “I had this tour all lined up to show houses, called the seller agents and couldn’t get through. By the time it was all said and done, my list of fifteen homes to show became five.”

 

If you’re trying to sell a house, you have to make it available for buyers to view. Too many sellers think that buyers will look over the home when they (the sellers) are available. “Hey, it’s great that you have potential buyers who want to look at my house right now, but I have stuff to do. Rearrange your housing tour, set it back a few hours and I’ll meet you there at six.”

 

What if the potential buyer doesn’t have until six to look at your house? For that matter, what if I (as the buyer agent) can’t put your house in the last slot on the tour? Why would the buyer meet you at an inconvenient time for them when there are plenty of other homes available?

 

Conclusion

A lot of sellers have their houses listed as “by appointment only,” but this only works if you answer your phone to make the appointment. Others have seller agents who hold the keys, but buyer agents can’t get the keys without being able to reach the seller agent.

 

If you really are a motivated seller with a Ooltewah home for sale, remember that you have lots of competition who may be more available. Answer your phone, tweak your schedule so it’s wide open and show that you really are a “motivated seller” – make your home available.

 

Keyword/Tag:  Ooltewah home for sale

 

Links:

 

Stage the house

http://www.homestaging.com/

 

Seller agents

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/practical/homebrokers_seller.html

 

Buyer agents

http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/real-estate/house-buying11.htm

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Safeguard Your Ooltewah Home this Holiday

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

During this festive season, our thoughts turn to giving gifts, baking delicious treats in our Ooltewah homes and visiting friends and family. However, there are others who think about unoccupied, gift-filled houses.

 

Don’t give a thief a chance this year.  Safeguard your Ooltewah home for the holidays by following these tips:

 

Holiday Safety at Home

 

  • Keep all doors and windows locked, even if your step out for a moment.
  • Videotape valuables so you’ll have a record of ownership.
  • Inspect all holiday lights for frayed wiring before your hang them.
  • Beware of strangers coming to the door asking for charitable donations. Ask for identification, if donations are tax deductible, how the funds will be used. If you are not satisfied, don’t give. Instead, help a charitable group you know.

 

Holiday Events Away from Your Ooltewah Home

 

  • Turn on lights, a television or radio so that it appears that someone is home.
  • Lock all doors and windows.
  • If you have a home alarm system, use it.  Alarm systems are only useful when they’re activated.
  • Holiday gifts should not be displayed where they can be seen from the outside.
  • Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots or other “secret” hiding places — burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

 

Holiday Travel

 

  • Secure all doors and windows including your pet doors.  Burglars can gain access to your premises from amazingly small openings – including cat doors. Secure all pet doors and remember to lock every single window and door, including those on garages and exterior buildings or storage sheds.
  • Ask a neighbor to watch your house and pick up any packages left for you.
  • If you leave your car at home, park it where you normally would.
  • Use automatic timers for your interior and exterior lights.
  • Stop your mail and newspaper deliveries.
  • Arrange to have snow shoveled (if necessary) while you’re away.
  • Notify your local police department and leave a number where you can be reached in case of an emergency.

 

Take the time to be safe so you can relax and enjoy this wonderful time of the year.

 

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

 

Keyword/Tag:  Ooltewah home

 

Links:

Safeguard your [city] home for the holidays

http://crime.about.com/od/prevent/qt/tip_home.htm

 

Holiday travel

http://www.electricinsurance.com/articles_02/holiday_travel_plans.asp

 

automatic timers

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/diy/automatic-timer-control

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Job-loss Mortgage Insurance: A Second Chance at Ooltewah Homes for Sale?

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Even those with a steady job and sufficient income are cautious about signing their mortgages for Ooltewah homes for sale. They realize that signing mortgages set them up with payments for a significant amount of their lifetimes. Others worry, especially now, about losing their jobs in an unstable economy. The “what if” game begins, and potential homebuyers know that, if they lose their job, there’s a very real possibility they might lose their home.

 

Job-loss mortgage insurance gives homebuyers a “fallback plan” should they ever lose that stable income. It’s a definite relief to many who want to buy Ooltewah homes for sale, but can job-loss mortgage insurance really help homeowners? Or, is it just another way to swindle the innocent out of hard-earned money?

 

What is it?

Job-loss mortgage insurance is exactly what it sounds like. Some insurance companies offer an insurance plan to help you pay your monthly mortgage payment should you lose your job. Although it’s been around for years, the big companies, such as Bank of America and GE Casualty, have begun picking it up in the past 10 years,.

 

How does it work?

Job-loss policies pay all or part of your mortgage payment if your job loss is involuntary, and some pay if you become medically unable to work. Policies vary depending on the provider, but most go into action after a month of unemployment. Most also have a wait period which means they won’t pay out during the first six months after you’ve purchased the policy.

 

Maximum monthly benefits, what the policy covers and whether you have to be receiving unemployment benefits are just a few things to look over while researching providers. As usual with anything insurance, make sure you read the fine print.

 

Is it worth it?

A lot of financial advisors say not to bother with the job-loss mortgage insurance. Take the money you’d be spending on insurance and build a savings account to hold six months worth of payments. However, many first-time home buyers have depleted their reserve funds just to get the house, and may not have the money to put aside.

 

My advice to you…

If you’re interested in buying one of the Ooltewah homes for sale, but you’re worried about your job stability, look into job-loss mortgage insurance. Once you have the facts, policy information and coverage costs, figure it into your finances (payments for coverage vs. building a six-month fallback account) and decide what’s best for you.

 

If you’re looking for a beautiful home at a price you can afford, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag: Ooltewah homes for sale

 

Links:

Mortgage payment

http://www.trulia.com/blog/helen_oliveri/2009/07/job-loss_mortgage_insura

 

GE Casualty

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20021020&slug=homeharn20

 

Job-loss mortgage insurance

http://www.insuranceagents.com/homeowners-insurance/job-loss-protection.html

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Racing for Ooltewah Homes for Sale

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Potential first time homebuyers are racing the clock to find the perfect Ooltewah homes for sale. Who’s going to reach the finish line first?  And… why are they racing?

 

Many of you have probably heard of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) by now. For those looking for Ooltewah homes for sale that haven’t heard of the ARRA, first time homebuyers can receive up to $8,000 back in tax credits from the U.S. government. Singles and those married but filing jointly, have an $8,000 threshold, while married individuals filing separately have a $4,000 threshold.

 

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? With the tax credit, your taxes are matched dollar-for dollar. This means, if you owe $9,000 in taxes for 2009 and get the full $8,000 tax credit, you’ll only owe $1,000 in taxes. That’s quite a bit of money to save, especially now. Better yet, if you don’t owe anything, that tax credit may become a tax refund – $8,000 of refund, to be exact.

 

With all the homes available, why are first time buyers racing? Aren’t there enough homes to go around? Of course there are – in fact, millions of homes in the U.S. are waiting for a buyer. However, first timers want to take advantage of the tax credit, and it only goes until April 2010

 

You may think that’s still plenty of time, but it’s not, really. To qualify for the tax credit, you have to have the keys to your new house in hand and the sale finished by the ARRA ending date.

 

Should you be racing, too? Well, that depends. If you want to buy one of the Ooltewah homes for sale, can realistically afford it and have been waiting for the best time, that time is here and almost past. However, if you want to buy a home, but can’t afford it yet, don’t let the tax credit push you into a tight monetary situation you can’t get out of. Take the time to build up equity and savings until you can buy a home you can afford!

 

If you’re a first time buyer wanting to take advantage of the tax credits, I can help. Call me now at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com .

 

Keyword/Tag:  Ooltewah homes for sale

 

Links:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204335,00.html

 

Waiting for a buyer

http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=an17jgiccivM

 

Home you can afford

http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/houseafford/houseafford.html

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4 Ways to Set Up the Perfect Home Office in Your Ooltewah Home for Sale

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

If you have an Ooltewah home for sale, every room needs to be just right. Most people think about the kitchens and bedrooms, but these days a great looking home office can make a huge impact too. Check out a few ways you can make a big impact:

 

Designate the right space

Whether it’s a spare bedroom or a computer nook, you need to specify a separate place to do business. Make sure the area has enough room so that you can set up a desk, chair, computer and a printer without making it look messy.

 

Clean your area

To really have a good home office, the space needs to be neat. To make your home office look its best to potential buyers, get rid of clutter and only retain the essentials. 

 

Don’t waste money

Just because you have a home office doesn’t mean you need to go broke trying to furnish it when preparing your Ooltewah home for sale. Think about wants versus needs first. Then once you get the necessities, use any left over money to buy office supplies such as ink cartridges, computer paper and more.

 

Add a decorative touch

Now that you have what you need, it’s okay to add some decorative style. Hang artwork. Add a few plants.  But, remember to keep it simple and neutral so that potential buyers can easily imagine it as their own home office.

 

Many people don’t think of the importance of a home office when preparing their Ooltewah home for sale. But with so many people working from home, a dedicated space for a home office is a great selling point.

 

If you’re ready to sell your home, with or without a home office, I can help.  Call me now at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com .

 

Keyword/Tag:  Ooltewah home for sale

 

LINKS

Computer nook

http://www.ehow.com/how_2156879_transform-closet-computer-nook.html

 

Good home office

http://interiordec.about.com/od/planninganoffice/a/budgethomeoffic.htm

 

Artwork

http://familyfinances.suite101.com/article.cfm/find_cheap_art_online

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4 Halloween Decorating Ideas for Your Ooltewah Home

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

It’s October, which means Halloween is just around the corner. Are you still struggling to come up with great decorating ideas for your Ooltewah home? Have no fear; your real estate agent is here to help. Here are a few ideas that will take away those holiday Halloween jitters:

 

  1. Nothing says “Halloween” like twitching fingers, growling werewolves and hovering demon skeletons. Thanks to today’s technology, you can turn your decorations into a hellish wonderland with animated Halloween props. Build a graveyard and have a rocking tombstone or a creeping skeleton to snatch up visitors.

 

  1. Everybody has the standard jack-o-lantern on the front porch. As Halloween nears, they crop up everywhere. This year, try something a little different. There are plenty of pumpkin-carving patterns available for purchase or for free on the Internet. Grab some bloodcurdling patterns and get to work.

 

  1. Are you throwing a party this year? Add a little fog to your Halloween decorations! Fog machines aren’t near as expensive as they used to be. You can grab one big enough for fantastic, spine-tingling effects for less than $50. Sometimes the extra touches make all the difference, and fog is a great addition

 

  1. Spruce up your doorbell with sinister sound effects and chilling Halloween music. Record-A-Chime™ by Dimango® Carlon® is perfect for just such a thing. Although it’s somewhat expensive at $59.98, you can record whatever sound effect or music you want for any holiday.

 

Each Halloween, people struggle to come up with something different for their Ooltewah home. I hope these ideas help you find your “something different” and get your creative juices flowing. Have fun, stay safe and happy holidays!

 

Keyword/tag:  Ooltewah home

 

Links:

 

Animated Halloween props

http://www.frightcatalog.com/Halloween-Props/Animated-Props/

 

pumpkin-carving patterns

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/halloween/mpatterns.htm

 

Record-A-Chime™

http://www.dimango.com/dc-record-a-chime.htm

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Selling Your Ooltewah Home? There’s Still Hope!

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Many who have put their Ooltewah home up for sale in the past year are still waiting to put that “Sold” sign in the yard.  If this is you, don’t panic! There’s still hope for closing the sale this year.

 

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, home sales have risen five months in a row. Great news for everyone currently in the real estate market. Why are they rising? A few reasons:

 

  • Mortgage interest rates are at an all time low.
  • Home prices are dropping to become more affordable.
  • Buyers have a large selection to choose from, which encourages buyers that might otherwise have held out.
  • First time buyers are rushing to buy before the $8,000 tax credit ends, which means closing the deal before November of this year.

 

Here are a few tips to help you get your Ooltewah home sold before the year is up:

 

  • Pricing – The key for most homebuyers seems to be the price. In fact, lower priced homes are selling the fastest. Go over your pricing with your real estate agent. Discuss whether you can afford to drop your home price, and if so, by how much.

 

  • Valuation – A major reason for some of the sales falling through is because appraisals were performed by home appraisers outside of the area. Unfortunately, many of them appraised homes lower than the price the buyers and sellers had negotiated. Because of this, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae push for appraisals to be done by home appraisers in the local area and appraisers who are more experienced with the local area’s housing trends and market. So, when it’s time to have your house evaluated, choose someone in your area, and ask that the buyer does the same.

 

  • Competition – Because there is so much competition, it’s always a good idea to take one last look at your Ooltewah home. Take your real estate agent with you and go over the home with a fine-toothed comb. What can you do to up the value? What can you do to make it more appealing?

 

Lastly, don’t give up hope! You have a great house to sell and buyers are looking. Do your best, listen to your agent and stay relaxed.

 

If you’re ready to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

 

Keyword and Tag:  Ooltewah home

 

Links:

 

Home sales have risen 5 months in a row:  http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/aug2009/db2009084_489446.htm

 

$8,000 tax credit

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/real_estate/homebuyer_tax_credit_finalized/index.htm

 

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae push for appraisals

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/14/business/main5160228.shtml

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Is Your Ooltewah Home For Sale Perfect for Men?

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

There’s a group of individuals constantly overlooked when someone has a home for sale in Ooltewah. It’s not just newlyweds, families and women looking for homes. Men are on the look out, too. So what are they looking for? Here are a few points on the list:

 

  • Location, location, location – Most men want a place close to their job. No long commutes, no hours on the highway. In fact, it’s one of their biggest considerations when choosing a home.

 

  • The Man Cave – Is your home for sale in Ooltewah set up with a man cave? Many men dream of having an extra room that can be converted into a place for recreation and entertainment. If you already have a man cave, you’re ahead of the competition!

 

  • Surrounding area – In a fun survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces examined America’s cities and marketing trends to find the “Top 50 Manliest Cities” in the U.S. Believe it or not, Nashville took the top place as the Mecca of manliness. Why? A few reasons:

 

  •  
    • High number of NASCAR fans
    • High number of BBQ restaurants
    • Popularity of hunting and fishing

 

What other things did Sperling’s look at to decide “manliness?”

 

  • Major league sports teams in a city, nearby NASCAR events, monster truck events and local drag racing strips, among other sports venues
  • Memberships in motorcycle owner groups, bowling, hunting, woodworking, DIY home improvement
  • Number of manly retail stores, such as steak houses, sports bars, general hardware stores, sportsman stores, etc.
  • Percentage of houses subscribing to manly magazines

 

So what does all this mean to you? If you have a home for sale in Ooltewah with manly decor as well as surrounding attractions, you have a match made in heaven for the busy bachelor. Okay, so women like monster truck events, motorcycles and DIY, too. And, okay, so the survey is a little silly. However, if you’re trying to sell that house and are having no luck, it’s definitely something to think about.

 

If you’re trying to sell your home, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com for more information.

 

Keyword and Tag:  Home for sale in Ooltewah

 

Links:

Man cave:  http://www.mancavesite.org/

 

Sperling’s BestPlaces:  http://www.bestplaces.net/

 

Manly décor:  http://interiordec.about.com/od/guydecor/a/guysroomF.htm

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