Spring and summer are the busiest seasons for home sales. However, for a buyer’s market, the best time to go house hunting is in the wintertime.  Most home sellers wait until spring and summer to list their homes, which means there are fewer homes for sale in the winter. Because of this, it benefits the buyer due to less competition and more leverage with the seller. Sellers in the winter often times have strong reasons to sell their homes quickly, such as job relocation. They’re more willing to accept a lower price and possibly add in a perk or two such as the dining room furniture or the curtains that you love. The low number of potential buyers also means you have more time to make your decision about a home, unlike in the spring when things are moving much quicker.

Observing the Home Condition

Scouting out homes in the wintertime has the advantage of seeing how they hold up under cold weather conditions. You are able to check to see if the heating system functions well or if the windows are letting in drafts. Sometimes buyers in the winter can be a little turned off by the exterior when the trees are bare and everything looks bleak. However, it gives the buyer a chance to examine the neighborhood and see how well the neighbors keep their yards up during the off-season. Do they tend the sidewalks and driveways? Are they salting the icy streets? Around the holiday season, it can also be a real treat to see if the neighborhood is bleak, grey, and boring, or beautiful and decorated for the holidays.

Greater Availability of Industry Professionals

            Another huge advantage of buying a home in the off-season is that the real estate agents have fewer clients, and therefore more time to focus on your home search. Lenders will be more available for your questions and they will even waive fees during the off-season to encourage borrowers to use their services. On top of all of that, movers even tend to lower their prices during the winter months. Even though trying to find the right home can be very stressful, in many ways, buying during the winter can be easier, cheaper, and perhaps a little less hectic. The pickings might be slim, but so are the prices.

The post Three Reasons Why it’s Better to Buy a Home During the Winter appeared first on NGA Realty.

1. Prevent Future Problems Before You Buy

Knowing what you’re getting into before committing to a home is always the best first step. Do your research ahead of time. You want to find a home that fits your lifestyle, including the other people who live around you. It’s always a very smart idea to meet the people in the neighborhood when touring the home for the first time. Ask them any questions you have about the area, if they enjoy living there, or if they have any complaints. You can even request police reports having to do with the property and see if there have been any crimes or disturbances in the area.

2. Gracefully Deal with the First Offences

Sometimes the dog next door won’t stop barking or there is loud music playing and you can’t sleep. When things like this happen, sometimes your neighbors don’t even realize how disturbing it may be. Instead of calling the police right away, try talking with the neighbor about it first. Address the issue in a calm and kind manner and you may be surprised by the result.

If the reverse situation happens and your neighbor complains about behavior from your home, fix the behavior right away and be very kind and apologize. You can even send them an apology gift like a basket of fruit or even just a handwritten note. It’s always important to maintain great relationships with your neighbors.

3. Some Things You Can Do On Your Own

If your neighbor plays the piano all night long and you’re not getting any sleep, the first thing you may want to try is fixing the problem on your end first. For example, turn on a fan/air purifier for white noise or try some other noise cancelling tactics. Before even addressing the neighbor, you may find that it’s just easier to adjust some things that you do to make yourself more comfortable.

4. Take Legal Steps if Necessary

Your neighbor may take things too far and violate city ordinances. Don’t call the police right away. Instead, first check the laws for your city about “residential disturbances” and see if what they’re doing calls for legal action. If it does, your neighbor could either get a verbal warning, infraction, or get fined by the police. If the situation is so bad that this still does not change the outcome, it is recommended that you speak to a lawyer regarding a private nuisance lawsuit.

5. Are You Being Reasonable?

To be sure that your living situation is to your liking, it is always smart to follow the golden rule: “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you.” If you don’t want loud music playing from next door, don’t play loud music yourself. Be considerate of the other people around you and think about how your actions may affect others. These actions may include keeping your yard tidy, controlling any pets, be considerate when parking, and be aware of noise coming from your home.

6. Moving On

If the day ever comes where you’re still not comfortable in your own home and your neighbors have caused too many issues, it might be the best decision to take your business elsewhere. Maybe the above tactics didn’t work for you and you’ve run out of options. Just remember that there’s always the option to move into a place where you truly feel comfortable and at home.

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1)   Letting charm fool you

You might fall in love and see yourself living in that charming old home, but be wary of issues you might not see. You’ll need to be prepared for repairs, upgrades and remodeling. Be sure to have a thorough inspection completed and consider negotiating a long due-diligence period.

2)   Guessing how much you can afford

When it comes to financing, don’t rely on online calculators. Buyers are often surprised when lenders will not qualify them for the amount they had in mind. Nowadays, lenders are reading applications more closely, verifying employment and running multiple credit checks before they issue approval.

3)   House-hunting on your own

With so many house-listing websites available online, many buyers assume they don’t need the help of a real estate agent. A real estate agent does more than just find listings…they know the ins and outs of the market and can walk you through each stage. When you don’t know what’s best or have important questions, your agent is your go-to expert.

4)   Not thinking like a seller

Always be thinking about the future in terms of your new house. Maybe you love to ride your bike everywhere and don’t need a garage, but consider the disadvantage of not having an important feature like that when you are on the other side of the transaction. Make sure your home has good potential to sell to someone other than yourself.

5)   Chasing deals

We all want to get the most for our money. However, lowball offers can cost you the house of your dreams just for the sake of a “deal.” Also, don’t wait until the market rises only because you’re waiting for a steal. You could end up paying much more in the long run!

The post Top 5 Real Estate Mistakes appeared first on NGA Realty.

1. Pressure Wash

For most people, washing their face is part of their daily routine. Now imagine going YEARS without giving your face a little rinse. That is what happens to your home. Pressure washing your home can provide a drastic improvement. Over the years you can build up quite a bit of “gunk” on the exterior of your home. A mixture of mold, dirt and random things left from the animal kingdom all mixed together by the elements can leave quite a mark on your home. With a swift pressure wash, years of buildup instantly disappear leaving your home sparkling clean. 

2. Freshen Up Your Paint

Much like a faded car that sits in the sun all day subjected the elements, time will certainly show your house’s age. A new coat of paint will add life to your home. You don’t necessarily have to paint the entire house, either. All it takes is touches to the shutters and trim and your home will look years younger.

3. Add a Garden

You don’t have to replicate the sprawling parterres of the Palace of Versailles to make this work. Keep it simple! The idea here is to add color and keep things looking fresh. Using seasonal flowers is a great way to show the home is current and well kept.

4. Don’t Underrate Your Windows

Often neglected, the windows of your home are one of the most important aspects of your home’s first impression. Similar to the pressure washing, washing your windows from both inside and outside can have a surprising impact on the overall look of your home. This will also enhance a homeowner’s favorite, natural light! Also, if your house is on the market, a nice trick is to remove and store your screens. This adds a little extra brightness to your home’s exterior.

5. Trim Any Overgrown Trees or Shrubs

You spent a lot of time deciding that this was the house for you. You inspected the floor plan, you scrutinized the appliances, you checked out the nearby schools and made sure you liked the neighborhood. So why would you want to hide any of that pride behind a mess of overhanging tree limbs and out of control/neglected shrubs?

6. Don’t Forget About Your Front Door

It can be a bit unnerving when approaching a front door that is riddled with cobwebs, faded and chipped paint and perhaps a nonfunctioning doorbell. What impression do you want to give passersby? How you treat the entrance to your home is a representation of yourself. Ask yourself: Is this a place I feel welcome? A fresh coat of paint on the door, a new doormat and getting rid of wasps nests and spider webs are the simple steps needed to have neighbors knocking with freshly baked goods.

7. Structural Damages

Are there loose boards and bricks coming off the exterior? Does the driveway have a big crack down the center of it? Much like the human body, exterior issues can often be an indicator of larger problems. A loose shingle or broken gutter could lead to water damage. Fixing these issues will not only make your home look better now, but could potentially save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Many of these improvements are small projects you can complete over the weekend and end up adding thousands to your home’s resale value. Especially during the summer months when being outside is routine, adding a few small home renovation projects is a positive boost in all directions. Homeowners often underestimate the impact of curb appeal. Whether preparing to sell or simply enhancing your home for your own enjoyment, these tips can help your pockets and your house look their best.

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“Going Green” isn’t just good for the Earth, it’s also great for your pockets! The Green Movement has evolved from the idea of hippies composting their old apple cores to the fiscally responsible choosing sleek new bamboo floors. Not only is being green noble, but it is smart. Making green choices can give you both an immediate financial benefit and pay dividends in the long run. Some choices are small while others are more substantial investments, however, any way you slice it they are improvements that will benefit you and the planet. Here are five tips to going green you can apply in your home.

1. LED Light Bulbs

Yes, I’m sure you have heard this before, but that is because it is such a simple and effective step toward going green. The biggest draw comes from their lifespan. The average LED light bulb lasts between 11-22 years and is 80% more energy efficient than an incandescent light bulb!

2. Watch Your Water

We might all like to think we do a perfect job minimizing our water waste, but it really makes a big impact to see the facts on paper. Did you know that turning off the water while you brush your teeth can save four gallons a minute, or that by substituting a broom for a hose when cleaning the driveway you are saving 80 gallons of water? There is a great website created by a group of cities in Arizona, wateruseitwisely.com, with a useful and straightforward ‘100+ Ways to Conserve’ list where these two water saving fun facts are found. Stop by the site to see other small improvements you can make and how big the water savings can be.

3. ENERGY STAR Appliances

Although many are familiar with the ENERGY STAR logo, not everyone knows that it is actually a government program that was created to help consumers identify the most energy-efficient appliances. Every appliance must meet a certain criteria in order to earn the ENERGY STAR approval. Many things are taken into consideration including the obvious energy savings, but price is also considered. If an appliance has the same features as a cheaper, standard version, in order to earn the ENERGY STAR approval, the product must make the extra cost up through its energy savings.

4. Programmable Thermostat

Would you ever pay for a dinner at a restaurant that you were not in and that you did not eat? This is the equivalent of leaving your home at that nice, comfortable temperature while you are out on vacation. Inefficiently running your thermostat is one of the most common and easily remedied mistakes a homeowner or renter can make. The most important place to begin is to actually inspect your usage, review your bills and see your trends. In the summer the warmest part of the day is the afternoon while the average worker is in a crisp office being cooled by someone else’s thermostat, and your home is all alone with no one to impress yet still pumping extra hard to reach your desired temperature. This would be a good time to relieve your air conditioning of its extra hard job. Going out of town even if just for the weekend is a great time to save money and adjust your thermostat accordingly. You will really see the benefits when you receive your next bill!

5. Preferable Materials

Doing some home renovations? Be sure to look into your sustainable options. There are so many now as this green wave has really taken off. Using reclaimed building materials can save you big money while looking chic. The EPA states on their website, “salvaging building materials and reusing them saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.” Sustainable materials such as bamboo, cork and concrete are other winners in the green book. Whether it is a small project or a full home makeover, ensure all of your options have been thoroughly considered.

Making green choices can be as small and simple as the flick of the wrist and end up saving you 22 years without changing a single light bulb. They can save you big money and add to the longevity of your home. Check it out and see what other adjustments you can make to your home.

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