Sunday, January 30, 2011

Selling your home during the winter months?

Are you trying to sell your home with the 3 FEET of snow we have on the ground right now? 
 
This time of year it can be a challenge to show your home with snow on the ground.  But, keep in mind that  buyers looking at your home in the winter months with three feet of snow on the ground are serious buyers so do not turn them away!
 
Here are some tips to make buyers feel right at home:
 
Make sure your home feels warm and cozy...do not conserve energy for showings.  Open your curtains and blinds to allow as much light in as possible and keep them open for evening showings. Make sure to have all lights on in your home.  Walkways and stairs should be shoveled and salted including your driveway.  If you can, clear decks and patios so that buyers can see all the attributes that your home offers. Keep outside lights on.  Snow can be beautiful in the evening with lights shining making the buyer feel cozy in your home.
 
If you are not going too far during showings light your fireplace, burn candles in the house, simmer some potpourri, or bake a pie right before the showing.  Make sure the inside of your home is spotless and put a small note by the front door for buyers to remove their shoes for the showing.  Buyers will understand.
 
Especially now, with the amount of snow we have on the ground, place seasonal photos of your home during the summer/spring if you have any.  Get creative if you have a digital photo frame, or just simple photos on the kitchen counter will do.  Right now buyers are having a very hard time figuring out landscapes of a home that they are unfamiliar with.  Retaining walls, shrubs, gardens, and even patios and decks are hard to determine.  The more information that a buyer has on your home, the more they will remember it and the more comfortable they will be.
 
"Make the rounds" of your home- inside and out during these harsh winter months.  Inspect inside walls/ceilings for leaks, deterioration, or any abnormalities & signs of water or structural damage.  Walk around outside, check for any hazards that might affect a showing. 
 
Remember when it is cold and snowy outside you want buyers to feel like your home can be their home. 

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Ice Dams

Ice Damming has become a huge problem lately for many homeowners.  Causing water to leak into their homes and in some cases, roofs to cave in as well as other structural damage. I have noticed that the most significant damage is on homes that are Ranch Style or Raised Ranch styles, particularily because of their long roof line with a low pitch to the roof. If you are in need of assistance from someone that can clear your roof and get rid of the ice dams, please let me know.  I have a list of people that can help.

What is an Ice Dam?

nAn ice dam is generally created by heavy snowfall.  Heat from the residence melts the snow on the roof.  Water runs down to the eave of the residence.  The eave is not adequately ventilated and or/colder than the main body of the residence and the water turns to ice with a back up of water behind it. 
The worst ice dams occur when there is a heavy snow followed by very cold weather. Check the home carefully when ice dams form. Look at the underside of the roof sheathing and roof trim to make sure they haven't gotten wet. Check the insulation for dampness. Make sure that the roof sheathing hasn't rotted or that other less obvious problems in the ceiling or walls hasn't developed. And then detail a comprehensive plan to fix the damage. But more importantly, solve the problem.
 
nHome Remedy Quick Fix for Ice Back-Ups
nIf you live in a cold, snowy region, you already know about the damaging affects of ice dams. The gutters clog up with ice, then water runoff from the roof gets trapped by the dam and eventually backs up the roof, travels under the shingles and leaks into the house.
nWhile a permanent fix for ice dams usually requires increasing the insulation, sealing and ventilation in the attic, there is a simple way to diminish the damage after the dam has formed.
nFill the leg of discarded pair of panty hose with a calcium chloride ice melter. Lay the hose onto the roof so it crosses the ice dam and overhangs the gutter. If necessary, use a long-handled garden rake or hoe to push it into position.
nThe calcium chloride will eventually melt through the snow and ice and create a channel for water to flow down into the gutters or off the roof.
 
nIt is common for the tabs on the roof shingles to appear lifted or un-sealed following an ice back-up.  However, when the roof is heated by the sun on the next warm day of the season, the tabs will become soft and pliable and fall back into place.  This same warmth reactivates the tar strips on the back of the shingles and the shingles become resealed.  No damage results.  Therefore there is no loss.
 
nOften-Icicles will form from the inside of the soffit running down the exterior of the wall and siding.  This can deteriorate and damage paint or siding.
n
 
To prevent future problems, rake or shovel off your roof.  My friend even hoisted his snowblower on his roof which I thought was quite funny.  Some roofs are easy to tackle yourself, and some require a professional.  Keep your gutters clear.  Unfortunately, with the weather we have been having, everyone needs to evaluate their own home on a daily basis.
Review the exterior of the house closely for damaged siding, broken soffits and/or split fascia.  Review gutters for possible damage. The weight can create damage.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Pre-Sale Renovation: Do's & Don'ts

Thinking of Selling?  Take advantage of all these Snow Days to prepare your home, or just get organized.  Even the smallest decor changes can make a big difference when it comes to the way your home shows.  Even if you aren't planning to sell anytime soon, some fresh paint, new curtains & new throw pillows can change the look of an entire room!  I just went through some "room makeovers" at my own home.  I have a list of great contractors for reasonable prices.  Feel free to ask for more info.  The number one point I stress to all my clients is to de-clutter & simplify.  Its free, your home will show better, and probably sell for a higher amount.  Remember, everything should have a purpose!! Below are some great tips on what to do and what not to do.

RISMEDIA, January 25, 2011—You’ve probably seen those depressingly cheery home-themed TV shows: a couple needs to sell their house, they have an outdated kitchen, and a designer comes in and proceeds to convince them to renovate the kitchen into a stainless-steel-clad shrine to culinary greatness—for tens of thousands of dollars. In an ideal real estate market, that would add value, but in today’s market, expensive pre-sale renovations, for the most part, aren’t worth it. The numbers bear this out: In general, a home remodel will cost quite a bit more than you’ll get back when you sell; remodels done in 2010 will only recoup 60% of their price when the house is sold, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2010 Remodeling Cost vs. Value survey, done in partnership with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
Two of the areas that potential buyers are often most pressured to remodel before selling are the kitchen and bathroom. Here, we’ll tackle both of those rooms, and let you know what to do—and what to avoid—when considering a pre-sale renovation:
Kitchen
-Don’t put in expensive professional-grade cook’s appliances. You may choose a tricked-out, $10,000 Wolf stove, but the buyer may be a loyalist to Viking. Or, even worse, the potential buyer might be a take-out addict.
-Do, however, service the appliances you have, so that they work perfectly. And, if you have seriously outdated appliances that can be replaced for $1,000 or less (like swapping a dingy old fridge for a basic new one), that’s a good idea. Similarly, if there are any appliances that you lack, which most buyers consider essential, it makes sense to buy one (like a dishwasher—you can get a nice model for under $1,000).
-Don’t replace your cabinetry entirely—even if it’s a little outdated. It’s just too subjective. You might think sleek, white Scandinavian cabinets are the way to go, but you’ll be in a bind if your potential buyer prefers dark wood.
-Do invest in cabinet refacing if your cabinets are extremely outdated. Many refacing companies will give your cabinets a fresh façade for well under $2,000, and it’s a good investment in creating a positive impression of the room without doing a pricey knock-down.
-Don’t go granite crazy. Or marble. Or etched-Murano-glass-accented tile. Spending thousands of dollars on a new countertop and backsplash is downright dangerous, as there are so many different options these days, it’s impossible to find one that will please most people.
-Do hire a professional cleaning company to come in and make what you have sparkle. While this won’t magically make your tile look magazine-spread-worthy, it will certainly make it look a lot better, as discoloration from age often makes tile look even worse.
Bathroom
-Don’t do expensive tub/shower repairs or replacements. Just like with the big-ticket kitchen fixes, this is a matter of taste. If you put in a round jetted tub, what if the buyer wants square? And is an amethyst-crystal steam shower really something everyone will love?
-Do replace dated bath and shower fixtures; this can be done generally quite inexpensively. For instance, if you have a 30-year-old, tiny showerhead, replacing it with a large, rainwater-style model will lend a subtle spa-like quality without costing a lot.
-Don’t replace your smallish vanity with a new, built-in model. A lot of remodelers emphasize the intrinsically relaxing qualities of having all your toiletries, towels and even reading material beautifully organized in one big unit made of high-end wood, marble and chrome. And it is certainly beautiful. But it’s also a risky choice, and a matter of taste.
-Do freshen up the vanity area. Invest in a big mirror and put bright lights over it. And a few hundred dollars spent on a nice faucet is well worth it, as, like the showerhead, it’s a true basic—and updating the basics, in most homes and markets, is all you should be focusing on.
Other tips for redoing your kitchen and bathroom frugally
Kitchen:
-Declutter your counters. A disorganized kitchen is a buyer-deterrent. Clean up the counters and pare down countertop items to the essentials—toaster, microwave, coffee pot and not much more than that.
-Keep your pantry and cabinetry clutter-free too. You don’t have to alphabetize your cereals—just know that potential buyers will probably open those cabinets, so they won’t want a ladle falling out on their head.
-Give your kitchen table or breakfast bar some life. It’s simple—placemats, a colorful vase or two and a tasteful flower arrangement will reinforce the idea that the kitchen is the heart of the home.
Bathroom:
-If you want to add a little life to the wall, try a simple, straight-lined wood or stainless-steel floating shelf with a few candles on it. It’s an elegant, boutique-hotel touch that doesn’t cost much.
-Toss down a colorful floor mat. Bathrooms are often devoid of color; this is a great way to add that color, and a little warmth.
-Again, clear clutter. Even your beauty essentials shouldn’t be on the counter if you’re in the open house stage.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

East Hampton Tax Assessments

There have been many questions and some confusion on the letters that went out to all property owners in East Hampton. 

In December you received a notice about your property's value. The Town went through it's 5 year reassessment. Most property values should have gone down., however many went up. The reassessment process, the many mistakes of the appraisal company and the conduct through the first round of informal appeals has many people upset. 

First, every 5 years the Town has to have a reassessment. It's law and it's not of the Town's choosing.   As a result of the periodic assessment the Town  makes a Grand List, which is a list of all taxable properties within the boundaries of the town. The Grand List is compiled each year and signed by the tax assessor. It is maintained as the master document regarding the property taxes payable to the town. When the Grand List is completed, property owners have a brief period to appeal the assessment. If they do not appeal within the allotted time, then the ability to argue for a reduction in the assessment is lost. 

Normally, the Grand List comes out in January, and property owners are allowed to file appeals at any time between February 1 and February 20th. This year, the process has changed a little. The Town of East Hampton has been given until the end of February to publish its Grand List, which means that appeals are to be filed from March 1 to March 18. It appears that there were so many complaints by property owners regarding the recent property revaluation that the Town may have needed the extra time to handle all the fallout. If you went to a hearing with the appraisers, then you will receive notice of the result. If you did not go to a hearing, then you will not receive notice, and starting February 1st is your time to file an appeal.

The recent reassessment of property values will remain on your property for the next 5 years. If you were surprised by an increase that seems out of sync with the real estate market downturn, you may have reason for appeal. If you don't appeal then you are stuck with the valuation.

There are specific reasons and arguments that can be made at a tax appeal, you can't just walk in and say that you don't think the appraisal is correct. Attorney Erik Roberts of Barber & Roberts in East Hampton is handling the property tax appeals for anyone who would like to appeal their assessments, and they are offering a free half hour evaluation to see if you have an appealable appraisal. They can be reached at 860-267-2263.

We had originally believed that a second notice would go out, this is not the case. There will be no other notices from the Town. February 1st starts your appeal date.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.