Posts Tagged ‘Ooltewah Real Estate’

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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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Why FSBO Isn’t the Way to Go When Selling Ooltewah Condos and Homes

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Whether for Ooltewah condos or single-family homes, For Sale by Owner (FSBO) sales aren’t near as successful as those sold by real estate agents. In fact, by 2006, the average price for a FSBO home was at least $50,000 less than agent-run sales.

 

Why is that? Are real estate agents just naturally better at it? Although I’d love to say yes, the reality is that there are just some things FSBOs don’t know. Because they don’t know it, they make mistakes. Some of the most common are:

 

  1. Incorrect pricing – The market can only bear so much. By pricing their Ooltewah condos and homes too high, many FSBOs fail to sell. If your home isn’t selling, this may be the reason.

 

  1. Not understanding everything involved – Selling a home, whatever the type, takes a lot of time, energy, ability, effort and know-how. For instance, accessibility is especially important, and a lot of FSBOs can’t be available to show the property when a buyer wants to see it.

 

  1. Screening – You can waste a lot of time on unqualified buyers. You can also lose money by taking an offer that’s lower than it should be. Screening buyers can take a lot of time and effort, especially if you don’t have the experience to spot them.

 

  1. Financing questions – The prospective buyer wants to know their financing options. As a FSBO, you need to be able to answer financing questions and explain their options. To do this, you’ll need to build a network of financial experts.

 

  1. Knowing contracts – You need to be well versed in legal jargon, so you can handle contracts, agreements and disputes. Make sure everything – the negotiations and the agreements – is in writing.

 

These five points are just a few of the things you need to know to sell Ooltewah condos and single-family homes on your own. If you’re not prepared to do it all, hire an agent to do it all for you!

 

If you’re trying to sell your home or condo and need someone who knows the ropes, I can help. Call me today at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com  for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag: Ooltewah FSBO

 

Links:

Pricing

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13108482

 

Financing options

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/08/homebuyer-financing-option.asp?viewed=1

 

Negotiations

http://top7business.com/?id=1139

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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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Ooltewah Home for Sale? 6 Tips for Selling Now

Friday, November 20th, 2009

If your Ooltewah home for sale isn’t selling, you’re probably wondering if you’re missing something. Well, here’s a list of things you might not know that could make all the difference:

 

  1. If the location of your Ooltewah home for sale isn’t great, the price and terms are the only thing that will sell it. Make them outstanding!

 

  1. Attractive, competitive terms may help you get a higher price. For instance, if you’re allowing the option of owner financing, and also allow a smaller down payment (say, $20,000 – $30,000), you may be able to sell your house for a higher overall amount.

 

  1. Because of the current high competition, your home has to be in the best condition at a competitive price. Check out the competition, accept that yours might need work, and get to it.

 

  1. You can’t set a limit for home improvement. If your home needs something done to beat the competition and you can do it, do it! You aren’t just spending money; you’re investing in the sale of your home. Although you may not get all your money back, you just might get a quick sale at full value.

 

  1. Staging – you’ve heard of it; tons of agents are talking about it. If you want to get your house sold, either invest in staging services or do your homework and stage the home yourself. It’s all about presentation.

 

  1. Remember that you are no longer the host/hostess of the house. You are a business person, and your business is getting that house sold. Don’t let your emotions get in the way of a solid business deal.

 

Putting up your Ooltewah home for sale is a daunting prospect. If it’s been up for a while, it can be an exercise in frustration. However, keep the above points in mind, listen to the experts and put what you learn to work for you.

 

If you’d like to get your home sold, I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at travis@travisclosehomes.com  for more information.

 

Keyword/Tag:  Ooltewah home for sale

 

Links:

 

Owner financing

http://homebuying.about.com/od/financingadvice/qt/091007_OwnFinan.htm

 

Home improvement:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=home

 

Stage the home

http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/real-estate/home-staging2.htm

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A Home for Sale in Ooltewah: Are You a Competitive Seller?

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Do you have a competitive nature? Do you always have to have the last say? Do you always feel you have to win? If you have a home for sale in Ooltewah, you may have “competed” yourself right out of a buyer. Please, read on to find out how NOT to make this mistake.

 

Who Calls the Shots?

You’ve probably heard “it’s a buyer’s market” many, many times already. With the number of people who have a home for sale in Ooltewah, this is something you can’t afford to ignore. This is especially true considering that the longer your house sits on the market the more it depreciates.

 

A competitive nature is all well and good, but, when dealing with potential buyers, you have to rein it in. Winning, in this case, is not getting the last word, but selling your home. As you enter into negotiations, keep in mind that the end goal is to sell.

 

Buyers know they have the market. While this doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll try to walk all over you, it does mean that they may try to negotiate:

 

  • On price
  • On closing date
  • On inspection period
  • On closing costs
  • On anything

 

Now, just because they’re trying to negotiate doesn’t mean they aren’t qualified buyers. You may have a very qualified potential buyer trying to negotiate with you.

 

Warning: at this point, your competitive nature may try to rise up and crush the negotiating potential buyer. Restrain yourself – strenuously if you have to.

 

While dealing with offers, counter offers and counter-counter offers, ask yourself if you’re being competitive, silly or surprisingly realistic. Are you turning down their offer because it isn’t an exact fit for you? Do you have a legitimate reason for the counter offer, or are you trying to “one-up?” Will a requested change really make that much difference to you?

 

Although I’m not suggesting that you take the first offer that comes along without looking at it, or that you take an offer that is less than you can afford to take, I am suggesting that you remember there are plenty of people with a home for sale in Ooltewah. As you look at the offers, keep this in mind. Shut down that competitive nature and remember that the only way you really win is when you sign the papers and hand over the keys.

 

Ready to get your home sold?  I can help. Call me at 423-488-1882 or email me at tclose@realtycenter.com for more information.

 

 

Keyword/Tag:  Home for sale Ooltewah

 

Links:

 

Buyer’s market

http://www.investorwords.com/641/buyers_market.html

 

Closing costs

http://homebuying.about.com/od/financingadvice/qt/BuyClosingCosts.htm

 

Counter offers

http://homebuying.about.com/od/offersnegotiations/qt/CounterOffers.htm

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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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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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