Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. wants your help and commentary on our Real Estate Blog
What You Should Know About Foreclosure Houses
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/13/14
Title:
What You Should Know About Foreclosure Houses
Word Count:
407
Summary:
Are you in the market for your first new home? Do you want to buy a home, but are not sure if you have the finances to make it happen? If you answered yes to either one of these questions there is an easy solution to your problem; you can look into foreclosure houses in your area. There are a few good reasons that foreclosure houses are great for people that are looking for their first property.
Keywords:
foreclosure houses, #Appraisal, #Tarrant, #Appraiser, #DFW, #Dallas, #Mansfield, #Southlake, #Hurst, #Euless, #Texas, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #Cedar_Hill, #Grand_Prairie, #Real_Estate
Article Body:
Are you in the market for your first new home? Do you want to buy a home, but are not sure if you have the finances to make it happen? If you answered yes to either one of these questions there is an easy solution to your problem; you can look into foreclosure houses in your area. There are a few good reasons that foreclosure houses are great for people that are looking for their first property.
The main reason that foreclosure houses make good first properties for people is that they offer a great price. You can save thousands of dollars by purchasing foreclosure houses instead of more traditional properties. There is a good chance that you will find more than one home in your area that is discounted up to half of the actual market value.
In addition to the great price that you can get up front on foreclosure houses, they are also great investment properties. If you buy a foreclosed home as your first property, and pay it off in 15 or 30 years, you will have made quite the profit. When you go to resell the house you will be able to sell it for thousands more than what you paid for it initially. And all you have to do to take advantage of this profit is simply live in your house, and make the payments.
Foreclosure houses are also good properties to look into because there is a large selection available all over the country. Regardless of where you live, you will never have any problem finding foreclosure houses in your area. This means that when you are picking out your first home that you will not be restricted in the least bit. All you have to do is locate the foreclosure houses in your area, and then go through all of them to decide which one best suits your needs.
A lot of people overlook foreclosure houses when they are searching for their first property. Even though you will not be buying your property from a real estate agent, you will still be getting a home that will suit your every need. Not to mention the fact that you will be able to save thousands of dollars off of the market value price. Chances are that if you are buying your first home that you have other things to purchase as well. Why not free up some cash by purchasing foreclosure houses?
Negotiating Real Estate - Go Slow
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/12/14
Title:
Negotiating Real Estate - Go Slow
Word Count:
487
Summary:
When you are negotiating real estate deals, it sometimes helps to go slow. Find out why.
Keywords:
negotiating real estate, negotiating, #real_estate, #DFW, #Dallas, #Arlington, #mansfield, #Burleson, #Kennedale, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Real_Estate_Appraiser, #Texas
Article Body:
Why should you sometimes go slow when negotiating real estate deals? It's all about the power of time investment. Let me explain with a story.
One of my less-pleasant experiences selling real estate was when I sold a home for a real decent guy, and the buyer was a lawyer. I was new to real estate, and this lawyer knew all the angles. Without getting into all the dirty tricks he used, I'll just say that the buyer had everyone involved angry, frustrated and worn down.
As a final blow, he arbitrarily decided that he wanted the price lowered by another $5,000. Now that's hardball negotiating. The seller was almost ready to throw away the whole deal, but he had been trying to sell the home for two years, and we had been working with this buyer for months. None of the agents or brokers involved wanted to see all their effort go for nothing.
There were three agents under two brokers involved in the sale. We all agreed that suing the buyer wasn't worth it. Instead, we gave in. The seller had enough of the buyers tricks, so each of the other five parties to the sale (3 agents, 2 brokers) agreed to each forfeit a $1,000 of the commission, just to make the deal close.
This is an extreme example of using "time investment" to your advantage. After investing so much time, none of us wanted to lose everything. The lawyer knew that, and used it. In this case, there was nothing in the contract that allowed him to renegotiate the price, making it unethical in my mind. Still, it was effective.
Negotiating Real Estate Deals - Ethically
In other cases, it is just good negotiating. If you want to get the best price on a car, do you think you'll get it after spending two minutes with a salesman? Let him invest two hours showing you cars, and he'll be begging the manager to let the car go for your low offer. The same is true with real estate negotiation.
Remind the seller about time, to let him remember the time he has already invested. To do this politely, say something like "Look, neither of us wants to lose the time we've spent on this and start all over, so why don't I..." Then offer some small concession.
He is subtly warned that he could lose his whole time investment with nothing to show for it. The words "start all over" may even scare him. You set the scene, and then you offer a way out. This is non-offensive too, if done right. You say "Neither of us..." to let them know you're both in the same situation, and it's not just you threatening them.
This is, of course just one technique of many for negotiating real estate deals. Take the time to learn several, at least.
Negotiating With Your Lender
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/12/14
Title:
Negotiating With Your Lender
Word Count:
965
Summary:
If the foundations of your financial world are crumbling inwardly, and the black words 'foreclosure' and 'short sale' are hanging heavy in your heart, you are not alone. 'Hope Now' and 'Project Lifeline' are newly formed organizations that may be able to help you.
Keywords:
Lenders, Negotiating, Foreclosure, Negotiating with your Lender, #DFW, #home_appraiser, #Dallas, #Arlington, #Mansfield, #real_estate, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas
Article Body:
If the foundations of your financial world are crumbling inwardly, and the black words 'foreclosure' and 'short sale' are hanging heavy in your heart, you are not alone. 'Hope Now' and 'Project Lifeline' are newly formed organizations that may be able to help you.
Foreclosure feels like financial ruin, and even though you are out of energy, you must try everything you can to avoid it. This way, if foreclosure comes, you can at least know that it was inevitable.
Before you start down this dark track, have you tried to approach your Lender? He probably has no idea that you may be floundering. The Lender who paid for your property, be it a regular bank or a private Lender, will not want to take your house back. If there is a way for him to work out a deal with you, he may be glad of the opportunity.
The Lender does not want to take your house away; he wants to make his interest on your loan. He also knows that we now have a buyer's market, which makes it more difficult for Lenders to sell properties.
The Lender would like you to keep the property and carry on with your part of the deal - which was to make monthly payments to him. If you go into a foreclosure or sell by a short sale, the Lender stands to lose money.
Therefore, whether you are financed through a bank or a mortgage company, your first move is to make an appointment with your Lender to talk things over. Perhaps you can negotiate for some extra help.
For instance, do you think that if you were allowed to miss three months mortgage payments (and tack them onto the end of the amortization period), then you would be able to keep up the current payments? Sometimes just being in arrears is a vicious circle and if once caught up to date, is easier to manage.
In some cases, the Lender may offer to help you to re-finance your mortgage, and make the payments smaller for a time. There is also a government backed organization out there that is offering to help people on the verge of foreclosure. One of their conditions is that you must contact them before the procedure begins; they are found on line at 'HopeNow.com'.
You can also get in touch with 'Project Lifeline', a newly developed helping agency. They are proving effective in staving off foreclosures for all types of mortgages including sub prime, equity and second liens. They can help almost anyone, other than home owners with a foreclosure coming up before mid-March.
One of their strategies is to 'pause' everything while they investigate your own personal scenario. If you do not know how to contact them using the Internet, ask your local librarian to help you.
Your Lender may be willing to help you to apply to these organizations for help; he may know the procedures better than you. Refinanced mortgages with fixed rates are available now for homeowners struggling with sub-prime mortgages.
At the moment HopeNow is looking at the most serious cases, as its mandate is to avoid as many foreclosures as possible. This will be an ongoing process because many mortgage holders could face even more increases in their mortgages in the next two years.
This means that when you write to them, you need to state your case clearly, and do not feel shy about writing out your worst financial problems and the amount of money that you will lose, and how many children you have that will be homeless.
In some cases the help from HopeNow can come in the form of an interest rate freeze, rather than a complete change in mortgage plan, but this freeze will serve to tide mortgage holders over until they can re-finance without the panic of foreclosure over their heads.
HopeNow has been created by lenders in the mortgage services field who represent 90% of the sub prime market. There were at one time at least 2 million sub prime mortgage holders. This outreach program often contacts lenders before they get to foreclosures and offers to help them. Visit their web site.
This help is a blessing for the nation as well as the individual people in distress; once the foreclosure problem is faced and dealt with by a system that has government backing, the property market will not have a glut and prices will be re-established and sales will continue at a more normal pace.
If you feel that foreclosure is inevitable, then think about negotiating for a short sale. This will at least save your credit rating. Not all Lenders will agree to it and not all properties qualify for it. It also leaves you with a tax bill, but that is not an immediate concern.
You will need to send a hardship letter to the Lender, or more specifically, the person who can make the decision. Do not hold back on this letter. You also need to send a list of assets and proof of income. The list must show that you have no money, savings or anything that can be liquidated.
If this list of assets indicates that you 'stretched the truth' when applying for the mortgage, you will have to be extra humble! Remember, this Lender is going to lose his money too; you need him to be on your side, so try to understand his point of view.
You also need a current market evaluation from your real estate agent. If you have an interested buyer - that is even better. However, there is lots of negotiation involved with short sales, even if initially agreed upon, and both sides must have endless patience. Only tread this path if you cannot get help from either 'HopeNow' or 'Project Lifeline'.
Get Rid of Rodents - Once and for all
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/12/14
Title:
Get Rid of Rodents - Once and for all
Word Count:
663
Summary:
They might be cute, or they might be big and ugly, but their incessant need to chew is not helping your home. Rodents can do serious damage to your woodwork, wallboard, insulation and siding. The mess they leave in your kitchen cupboard is frustrating, sure, and with the costs of food going up you can't afford to fork out for your furry friends' dinners as well as your own.
Keywords:
Rodents, Pests, Vermin, Rats, Home Improvement, Home Repair, #DFW, #appraiser, #Appraisal, #home_Appraisal, #home_appraiser, #Texas
Article Body:
They might be cute, or they might be big and ugly, but their incessant need to chew is not helping your home. Rodents can do serious damage to your woodwork, wallboard, insulation and siding. The mess they leave in your kitchen cupboard is frustrating, sure, and with the costs of food going up you can't afford to fork out for your furry friends' dinners as well as your own.
Tackle the rodent issue as soon as you spot signs of their encroachment - don't wait until you find yourself leaping onto a chair to avoid that rat racing across the kitchen. At that point, you'll be waging a war rather than just defending your borders.
If you've copped on to the presence of critters early enough, you may be able to use non-lethal force. It may be a matter of blocking their entrances and encouraging them to go elsewhere. Fill any holes they might be entering through and caulk cracks. Screens and steel wool (which can't be chewed through) are good deterrents.
If you have children or pets you may want to try natural rodent repellents. Some people suggest putting cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil near openings and in areas rodents frequent. Others swear by keeping little bowls of black pepper near food areas. Bunches of mint and/or lavender may be another way to deter the little (or bigger) critters. Another solution is an odor based repellant - these use the odor of predatory animals to frighten rodents off.
Keeping in the humane vein, live traps can be effective, but only if you take your unwanted tenants far enough from home that they can't find their way back. Also, be aware that rodents spread disease, which you may want to think about before you go ferrying them around town. The regular, lethal traps are probably a safer, more effective choice. Think about the placement of your traps. Most rodents have poor eyesight and keep close to the walls, only venturing into open space when necessary so set your goods in their passage, not in the middle of the room.
For others who want to keep their hands clean, or who have a reoccurring rodent issue, getting a cat can be an excellent solution. But remember, not all cats are born mousers and you may inevitably need to step up your game. Depending on where you live, you may want to reinforce the perimeter of the property by building nest boxes to attract natural predators such as barn owls.
When all else fails (or if you haven't the patience to wait that long), it's time to turn to poison. The nature of rodents means that they will eat a little, wait and if they don't get sick, return for another meal. Prior to using a poison, you may want to leave out regular food for a few days, so that the rodents learn to trust the food source before adding poison.
There are many reasons you may not want to use traditional anticoagulant poisons, the main ones being that the poison can cause toxicity in children and other animals. Unintended death is a possible outcome depending on the type of poison and how quickly the patient is treated - be sure to keep the poison out of reach of family and pets. Some animals can get secondary poisoning by eating the poisoned rodent, which can happen when the toxic rodent goes outside to die. If you have other pets and children you should be careful that they aren't in contact with the bait or the deceased animal.
When you have finally won the battle, try to avoid round two: make an effort to keep food stored in sealed containers and be aware of pet food, composts and other possible lures. Use bird feeders that recapture any unwanted seed, rather than allowing it to become snack food for unwanted pests. By removing the food incentive you can forgo inviting those rascally rodents for a return visit.
Getting Into the Negotiation
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/12/14
Getting Into the Negotiation
Whether you are buying or selling real estate, you need to do the right talking to the right people in order to get the best deal. Being or using a negotiator is the best way to make sure that you know exactly what is going on and are able to fall into the right piece of property. Whether you are a negotiator or working with someone who negotiates, you will want to make sure that you walk into a home with your facts straight.
The first thing to do as a negotiator or to look for in a negotiator is to make sure the facts are there. You will need to know going rates, real estate investments and the market, the trends that are in place, and what facts will be best for the properties that are being looked at. Of course, this will mean that you want to spend time to find the right deal and the right piece of property. Whether you are an individual looking for property, or are working with a negotiator, make sure that your individual needs come first.
If you are working with or as a negotiator, you want to make sure that they have your best interests in mind. Often times, negotiators will try to sell someone on a deal just so they can receive commission. This is not necessarily a good way to negotiate or find a deal. Everyone should walk away feeling like they won with the investment in the property. This starts with finding the right information and ends with making and signing the right contract.
If you are interested in real estate or just want to work with a negotiator, make sure that they fit your description of a good sales person to work with. This will make a large difference in the property that you invest in as well as a difference in your ability to have your individual needs met.
Get an Added Edge with Real Estate Pre-Construction Investment
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/12/14
Title:
Get an Added Edge with Real Estate Pre-Construction Investment
Word Count:
462
Summary:
When it comes to real estate, a pre-construction investment can maximize your return.
Keywords:
pre-construction investment, #DFW, #Arlington, #mansfield, #home_appraiser, #home_appraisal, #Dallas, #Appraisal, #appraiser, #Investment, Pre-Construction, Property
Article Body:
Real estate may be all about location, location, location, but real estate investment is also about timing, timing, timing. Like the stock market, when you make your investment is just as important as the investment you choose. And, when it comes to real estate, a pre-construction investment can maximize your return.
The primary pre-construction investment advantage is that you can generally purchase a property at a lower price than if you were to wait until after the project breaks ground. Once construction is underway, popular locations and properties can trigger an influx of new investors who drive prices up. A pre-construction investment also allows you to choose among premium properties, whereas later investors can choose only from among the less desirable properties.
What to Buy in Today's Climate
While the asking prices of single family dwellings are trending downward, there is still enough uncertainty in the market to cause concern. Lately, the attention of investors has turned to what are called condo hotels. These properties generally have both condominiums and luxury suites, and the communities typically have a number of attractive features, such as retail space, restaurants, and pools. Often, investors will buy a condo hotel unit and use it part of the year as a luxury vacation accommodation, while renting the property out for the rest of the year. The best condo hotels take care of the rental management and maintenance, leaving the investor to enjoy his or her property while reaping the financial rewards.
Where to Buy
Real estate is all about location, so when considering a pre-construction investment, it's important to find a place where there is high demand for short-term housing. In the United States, Orlando, Florida, is one of the best places to invest. Analysts estimate that the real estate market in Orlando is undervalued by as much as 30 percent. And, with the tens of millions of tourists the area draws each year, thanks to Disney World, Sea World, and Universal Studios, the hotel occupancy rate hovers at around 80 percent.
With these kinds of numbers, Orlando is the perfect place for a pre-construction investment. As an example of what's available, the Blue Rose is a condo hotel scheduled to break ground in late 2007 and scheduled for completion in 2009. The Blue Rose Resort is planning to offer over 250 condominiums along with over 1,200 condo hotel suites of up to 3,000 square feet. To complement the accommodations, the Blue Rose is planning to build the Swan Lake Promenade, which will house five themed restaurants, European cafes, private pool cabanas, and a Broadway-style theater that seats 1,000.
Pre-construction investments in top-rated short-term rental markets have a great potential return on investment. Plus, due to the desirable destination, savvy investors will be able to enjoy both appreciation of property values and great vacation accommodations.
Get Poor Quick With Real Estate
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/09/14
Title:
Get Poor Quick With Real Estate
Word Count:
522
Summary:
YOU can become RICH with REAL ESTATE!!! Live the life you want with REAL ESTATE! Come to my seminar on how to MAKE MONEY from REAL ESTATE!!! OMG! Party! BBQ!
Keywords:
Real Estate, Investing, Fake Gurus, Scams, real estate investment, Easy Money, Get Rich Quick, #Home_Appraiser, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #DFW, #Arlington, #Fort_Worth, #Home_Appraisal
Article Body:
YOU can become RICH with REAL ESTATE!!! Live the life you want with REAL ESTATE! Come to my seminar on how to MAKE MONEY from REAL ESTATE!!! OMG! Party Time! BBQ!
It seems that whenever you are interested in investing in real estate, you get inundated with large font, glaring colors and titles promising you the sun, moon and stars if you take their seminar (a bargain at $2999), buy their inspirational tapes (what a deal at $199.99), and/or purchase their motivational DVD and book combo (only $ 99.99? Practically giving them away!).
When the eager investor signs up, the "guru" delivers speeches and media that are long on fantasy and short on reality. These people prey on greed, pure and simple. They capture the attention of people who want to believe that the path to riches is not paved with long, hard work in the beginning.
It's certainly true that real estate investments can improve your finances and diversify your portfolio. It is also true that there are many people who are quietly well-to-do as a result of careful investing in real estate. The thing is, most of these people worked hard, gave up luxuries and invested wisely instead of falling for claims of easy money.
What these fake gurus will do is emphasize the life you "could" have and gloss over the work real estate investment takes. They describe themselves with as many adjectives as possible instead of actually giving you verifiable information as to their competence. They gloss over any problems common to real estate investment.
Fake gurus also don't want you to talk to real professionals, like REALTORS(R), because a good REALTOR(R) will lose no time informing you about the truth of your position in the real estate world and then guide you to sensible investments that are likely to give you a good return for the money and time you are willing to put in.
Not every person conducting a seminar on real estate investment is a shyster. Look for people who don't promise you the moon, who don't use flashy buzzwords instead of actual facts and who have verifiable references. Do they work in the real estate industry? Do they have references from that industry? What is the focus of the seminar? Someone who is willing to give you the facts on what could go wrong is much more valuable to you than someone who charges you a grand to tell you nothing about what you need to know.
There are people out there getting rich by holding seminars with an emphasis on motivational material instead of facts and strategies. They will throw a lot of buzzwords into their shop talk and intimate that you a) are a fool b) going to stay POOR for the rest of your life and/or c) are too ignorant to understand their 'vision'. If you show any sign of critical thinking, they will attempt to deflect your questions with more buzz-talk and/or unverifiable claims.
Don't fall for these scam artists. Put your trust in an agent or a home appraiser who will make your goals a priority and won't charge you for their knowledge until you seek out their services.
Dallas Appraiser LLC
Getting Started in Real Estate Foreclosure Investing
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/08/14
Title:
Getting Started in Real Estate Foreclosure Investing
Word Count:
713
Summary:
With the increase in Real Estate property appreciation rates across America, a prospective foreclosure buyer may want to fix up a property to improve its value to live in, to rent out or to resell. The strategy a buyer pursues will determine which foreclosure property to buy and the location.
Keywords:
free bank foreclosure listing, bank foreclosure home, #DFW, #home_appraiser, #Arlington, #Appraisal, #Appraisers, #Texas, #Fort_Worth
Article Body:
Deciding to Invest in Real Estate Foreclosure Investing
With the increase in Real Estate property appreciation rates across America, a prospective foreclosure buyer may want to fix up a property to improve its value to live in, to rent out or to resell. The strategy a buyer pursues will determine which foreclosure property to buy and the location.
For example with San Diego, California's media home prices topping at $500K+, a couple might not be in a position to afford a home of their own in San Diego, California. Yet, might be able to purchase a foreclosure property in another area or state with lower housing prices but in a faster growing market or with better future appreciation growth potential; when the property increases it's value in a few years time, sale of the property could provide the necessary capital to purchase in the San Diego area.
Locating Foreclosure Properties
Finding foreclosure properties can be done by visiting the local recorder's office and making photocopies, since listings are added on a daily basis, this can be daunting.
Using the internet, a number of web sites allow searches by state, county, city, and zipcode. All the sites listed below offer listings for a fee. Take advantage of the free trial period offered to fully evaluate their listings. The sites should offer the latest listings with daily/monthly updates.
Determining the Distressed Property Valuation
Once you have identified a foreclosure property of interest in an area you have researched, determining the value proposition will determine whether or not to continue. This is where I recommend getting a home appraisal. In any residential real estate investing scenario, a home appraiser may cost you $400, but the proper valuation could make you thousands of dollars or save you thousands of dollars. Clearly in the DFW area for a home appraisal call Dallas Appraiser LLC at (817)496-8989 or visit their site at www.FortWorthappraisal.com. Either way, the value determination will be influenced by your investment strategy, i.e., whether you wish to live in, to rent out or to resell are factors to consider as well as your investment time frame.
The first step in foreclosure property valuation is the obtain information regarding the area. A number of web sites offer free sales comparables or "comps". This information greatly assists in determining the property value.
Securing Financing
Due to the quick window of opportunity a foreclosure presents, it is important for a potential buyer to be pre-qualified before engaging in Real Estate Foreclosure Investing.
Also, knowing the amount of monies available to the investor can be a guide to locating areas within the U.S. that are with the the investment range
Being pre-qualified allows the buyer to be in a financial position to purchase the foreclosure property. Pre-qualification provides an important edge in competitive markets. Once approved, financing in-hand makes negotiations easier.
Finding and working with Real Estate Agents
The single most important aspect of foreclosure investing involves finding and working with a Real Estate agent.
If a foreclosure property is being considered out of the area or state, then working with a local agent in that area -who can advise on the condition, knowledgable about the growth potential, advise on local conditions, is an important relationship to develop.
Since a majority of Real Estate agents focus on "traditional" real estate transactions, mentioning "foreclosures" might cause them to balk at potentially working with an prospective investor; Therefore, educating the agent on the opportunity of working with you is important.
Buyer’s representatives have the home buyer’s interests at heart, and are charged with finding the right property and negotiating the best price for their clients. Picking the right real estate agent will make a buyer’s life much easier. There are agents who specialize in the foreclosure market, with specific experience in REO properties.
Look for an agent with foreclosure transaction experience, as well as knowledge of local, regional and state laws. But it is also important to consider the agent’s knowledge of the area; their ability to close a deal; and their access to other professionals (attorneys, lenders, mortgage and title professionals) to ensure that the buyer is in good hands.
Making an Offer
Once you have determined the property valuation, researched the area and appreciation growth potential, and established a relationship with a Real Estate agent making an offer amount somewhere below the market value is the final step.
If the property is bank owned (REO), you could prepare an offer similar to a typical purchase offer, contingent on a full inspection and title search.
Remember to always contact a professional like a real estate agent or home appraiser before making a final decision.
Giving your Siding a Facelift. #Curb_Appeal
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/08/14
Title:
Giving your Siding a Facelift
Word Count:
385
Summary:
If you are looking to add some value and glamour to your home there is nothing quite like redoing the paint or siding. Now the question is presented, which type of exterior should you choose for your home? The largest deciding factor in this choice is likely going to be what type of exterior is already on the home. If you have vinyl siding, or stucco, or simply painted wood it will usually be more cost effective to stick with what you already have.
Keywords:
Improve your Home for Sale, Fixing Siding, Curb Appeal, Types of home Siding, #Fort_Worth,
#Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Texas, #DFW, #Dallas, #Arlington, #mansfield, #Real_estate, #Burleson, #Home_appraisal, #Home_appraiser
Article Body:
If you are looking to add some value and glamour to your home there is nothing quite like redoing the paint or siding. Now the question is presented, which type of exterior should you choose for your home? The largest deciding factor in this choice is likely going to be what type of exterior is already on the home. If you have vinyl siding, or stucco, or simply painted wood it will usually be more cost effective to stick with what you already have. However here are a few more things to consider when this choice presents itself.
There are four basic types of siding on the market today. Vinyl siding, stucco, aluminum siding and wood. Stucco is a great exterior to deal with and is very easy to keep in pristine condition. A good power washing can bring life back to the most distraught looking stucco quite easily. What to look for to decide if your stucco needs to be redone is crumbling around the bases and edges. Stucco is also easy to paint. When dealing with vinyl siding it is not a good idea to paint this surface as vinyl can bend easily and cause the paint to crack and peel. Usually in this situation vinyl siding will need to be replaced if it cannot be cleaned. Aluminum and steel siding is another long-lasting surface that is easy to paint and easy to maintain. Usually a fresh coat of paint will bring this metal surface back to life. Finally we come to wood siding. Paining or staining is an absolute necessity for wood as it needs to be protected from the elements, if not it will rot and decay quickly. Is the wood soft and splintered? Can you see the grain on the back side of peeling areas? If so, then replacement might be necessary. The same is true if your siding appears to be warped or buckled.
The exterior of your home is the first thing that people see so it is quite important to have it in the best condition possible. No mater what type of exterior your home has, a little time & effort can make it shine like new! Don't be afraid to put a few dollars into it either, during the sales process it will come back in abundance.
Getting the Best Price for Your Home Includes Landscaping for Curb Appeal
by Dallas Appraiser L.L.C. on 05/08/14
Title:
Getting the Best Price for Your Home Includes Landscaping for Curb Appeal
Word Count:
861
Summary:
When trying to sell your home, first impressions are very important. When prospective buyers visit your home, they'll form an opinion as soon as they see the home. This article explains how to improve your landscaping to give a great first impression.
Keywords:
selling your home,landscaping,curb appeal,home staging, #Texas, #DFW, #Appraisal, #Appraiser, #Home_appraiser, #Home_appraisals, #Appraisals
Article Body:
If you own a home, then sooner or later you are going to be ready to sell that home. Maybe you've already sold a home or two. People tend to move more often than our parents did.
There are a lot of things that go into getting the best possible price for your home, but the very first thing your home needs is curb appeal. When a prospective buyer, or a realtor for that matter, pulls up in front of your home, they immediately form an opinion about your house. Fair or not, that's what people do. You can have the most beautiful home in the city, but if prospective buyers don't get a super positive feeling about your house the minute they lay eyes on it, they are going to enter and view the rest of your house with a negative impression.
Fixing that problem is easy enough to do.
When people pull up in front of your house there are two things they see. A house, and the landscaping in front of that house. If the landscaping is unattractive, the house will appear to be unattractive. Landscaping for curb appeal does not cost a lot of money, it's simply a matter of making sure the landscaping is neat, with well defined edges, and colorful. But when landscaping for curb appeal, the most important thing you need to do is to raise the beds with topsoil. Of course you have to do this before you plant.
Plants do much better in raised beds, and the plants in the beds really stand out. In order to raise the beds around your house you do not have to buy expensive stones and build retaining walls. Just establish the outline of the planting beds, cut an edge into the soil with a spade, and fill the planting beds with approximately ten inches of good rich topsoil. You'd be amazed at how much you can raise a planting bed without any type of retention.
Here are two more things you don't need:
Plastic edging. It's expensive, a lot of work to install, and it never stays in place. You can cut an edge with a spade and your landscape will actually look better. Then you can make the bed a little larger any time you need to.
The other thing you definitely do not need is weed control fabric. The stuff just doesn't work. The weeds grow right on top of the fabric, then root through the fabric making it even harder to keep your beds weed free. You'll find a really good article on weed control on my website.
When landscaping for curb appeal, plant placement and selection is very important. In a corner bed you need a centerpiece. I like Canadian Hemlock because they are evergreen and provide an excellent background for more colorful plants. In front of the Hemlock you can use a bright colored evergreen like Gold Thread Cypress, but don't use too many. Usually three is all you want. Around the backside of the same bed you can use a darker evergreen like Taxus or even a flowering shrub that you keep trimmed down low like Weigela. Lots of colors are fine, but don't stagger the colored plants in your landscape, use them in groupings, and be careful not to use too many in any one grouping. When you use more than three of any colored plant they lose their effectiveness. You are adding them for contrast, and when used sparingly they look much better.
There are lots of landscaping photos on my website that will give you a lot of good ideas.
In front of a house I like to use an arc of medium height plants like Blue Girl Holly, then put a couple of taller plants behind the arc. When landscaping for curb appeal you want the landscape to stair step toward the house. In other words, the lawn is the bottom step, the raised bed is step two, low growing plants step three and so on.
If you are re-landscaping an older home you probably should start with a sledge hammer before you do anything else and bust out the sidewalk to the front door. Builders put in the ugliest sidewalks in the world, and they usually are hard to maneuver as you walk toward the front door. Once you have the old sidewalk removed, let your imagination run wild. Remember, you are landscaping for curb appeal, and there is no better way to establish ultimate curb appeal than with a beautiful curved walk that gently winds its way to the front door. Once again, there are photos of such sidewalks on my website, and you'll see what wonderful landscaping opportunities they present.
The last step in landscaping for curb appeal is to create an interesting shaped raised bed in the front yard. Fill this bed with spring flowering bulbs, and annual flowers for the summer. If your house is going to be on the market in the fall, add some chrysanthemums for a burst of fall color.
So what's the best benefit of landscaping for curb appeal? You'll gain great experience so you can make sure your new home is landscaped just the way you want it!
