You Want a House, But Where Do You Begin?

The stars are finally aligned and you have decided to throw your towel into the housing market.  The rates are good and with FHA loans making it easier for first time buyers to purchase a home, you start thinking, why shouldn’t I bite the bullet and take the plunge.  But, where do you begin?  Do you just go out and look at homes?  Do you go to the bank and tell them you want a mortgage?   Like so many people out there looking for their first home, many buyers are a little intimidated about how to start the whole process.   There are a few essential steps to buying a home, but it is not as difficult as some people think.  So, take a deep breath and relax.  The first thing any prospective buyer should do is get copies of your credit reports and credit score from all three credit reporting agencies.  Since lenders could use any of the three to determine your credit worthiness, you need to check them all for accuracy and fix any mistakes you may find before applying for a mortgage.  You do not want any surprises coming up when you are in the mortgage loan office.  After that, get pre-approved for a loan.  This is when the lender will look into your financial history and run your credit.  This will give you and your lender an idea of how much of a home you can afford and which mortgage will be right for you.  Just remember this is only a snapshot of your financial readiness, so don’t do anything drastic between your pre-approval and when you finally close on the loan, or you may find that pre-approval disappear.

Besides your finances, you need to consider what you are actually looking for in a home.  You should make a wish list where you have prioritized your must haves in a home as well as those things that are deal breakers that you don’t want.  Be clear about what you would be willing to compromise on if a home does not meet all of the items on your list.  You want to be happy in your home and not regret purchasing it after the fact.  Once you know what you are looking for and how much you can afford, it is now time to start looking at homes that meet your needs.   Happy hunting.  

All the Leaves Are Brown, and the Sky Is Gray

The leaves are turning color as they gracefully fall to the ground and there is a slight chill in the air.   Halloween has come and passed and Sweater weather has fully arrived and it’s time to bust out the boots.  And just in case you weren’t really sure, the aroma of pumpkin spice latte’s can be smelled for miles around.  Yes, fall is in full swing, and it’s time to get your house ready for it.  Whether you are diligently using your home maintenance checklist or if you just kind of wing it, there are a few things you must do every fall in order to maintain your home and get it ready for winter.   This is the time of year, just as the leaves are changing; you need to think about changing things too.  What I mean is, it’s time to change out all of the batteries in your smoke detectors.  While you’re at it, you should change (or clean out) your air duct filters.  Most filter need to cleaned or changed every three months, so why not take a day and do both at the same time. 

            

            Besides changing things out, fall is also the time to check things out.  First and foremost, you need to check your house for any air leaks.  Check around all the doors and windows for signs that any leaks are occurring, such as gaps or missing caulk.  Also check to make sure the weather stripping is in good condition.  Since, air leaks are one of the biggest causes of energy loss, making sure that they are plugged up will save you money in the long run.  The next place to inspect is your roof.  You need to make sure that it is in good condition and ready to handle any type of storm that winter can bring.  And lastly, you need to check your fireplace and chimney. Fireplaces need to be cleared of debris and cleaned out, and the chimney inspected for any cracks.  Once all of this is done, grab your pumpkin spice latte, curl up in front of the fire, and relax knowing you are ready for what fall and winter will bring. 

From Halloween to Ho, Ho, Ho’s: How to Decorate for the Holidays and Still Sell Your Home

You are in the process of selling your home when all the holiday festivities begin.  Sure, you have cleaned, de-cluttered, and staged your home and it looks beautiful.  The holidays come and you can’t decide whether to leave things as it is or get into the holiday spirit.  Sure, some buyers won’t appreciate the decorations, but then again some might.  Seeing a home tastefully and elegantly decorated for the holidays may inspire some buyers to envision themselves enjoying the holidays with family and friends, inviting warm feelings of home.  Then again, a home decorated in tacky and off putting décor may make some buyers turn up their noise and go running for the hills.  The decision is yours, but, to make sure those holiday decorations do more for the sale of your home rather than hinder it, just follow a few simple rules of thumb to have a great holiday season while still trying to sell your home.     

           

           The most important to thing to remember when decorating for the holidays while trying to sell your home is that less is more.  Overdoing the decorations so that your home can be seen by the international space station is never a good idea when showing your home to prospective buyers.  Add some subtle touches here and there that convey the holiday spirit rather than beat buyers over the head with it.  Also, use your common sense and avoid anything that some might find controversial.  Sure they may be funny, but your sense of humor may get lost in translation and offend some potential buyers.  In addition, try to refrain from using too many overtly religious decorations.  Something more secular may be more appropriate as to not upset those who do not share your same spiritual beliefs.   You will also need to consider the safety of the potential buyers as they walk through your home.  Keep an eye out for any possible tripping hazards as you put up your decorations.  You may know about them and know to avoid them, but those viewing your home may not have as keen of an eye.  The last thing anyone needs is litigation over the holidays, especially if you are trying to sell your home.  One of the biggest things that you need to ensure while decorating your home for the holidays is to remember to not hide your home’s assets under excessive décor.  If your mantle is the showpiece of the room, covering it in holiday décor may just ruin the effect.  Too much holiday frills outside may hide your home’s curb appeal.  So, if you do decide to decorate for the holiday season while your house is on the market, the best thing to remember is to keep it simple. 

 

Winter Is Coming, Are Your Ferns Ready?

The leaves are changing color and falling all around the neighborhood.  While the outdoors is awash in the gorgeous hues of fall, the plants inside your home are, however, looking sad and droopy.  Winter is coming and you need to get your indoor oasis ready for the season.   Just like the plants outside, winter is a time of rest and recuperation for those that are kept in pots inside.  They still need basic care but not as much as they would during peak growing season in the spring.  Indoor plants need less moisture during the winter, so cut back on the watering.  If the soil is dry when you place your finger one inch into it, then let the water flow.  Otherwise, you could be overwatering, which can cause soil to become too saturated and can also cause the roots to rot.  In addition, indoor plants do not need as much food or fertilizer, so hold off on feedings until spring comes around.  Just like in your outdoor garden, this is also the time of year to go ahead and prune your indoor plant in preparation for spring.  

If your indoor plants are looking a little down, they may just need a change of scenery, as in a different window sill to sit on.  Throughout the year, the sun changes angles thus changing the amount of sun that your plants may be receiving if they sit in only one window all year long.  Moving the plant to a new location may give the added sunlight it needs during the winter.  Also, don’t forget to rotate the plant so that all sides get a little bit of the rays.  Indoor plants do not like great fluctuations in temperature, so be sure to place your plants away from major heat sources, like the fireplace or stove.  The last thing you should consider is a good sponge bath.  Just like us, dust, dirt and grime can clog a plant’s pores and make it hard for the plant to absorb the nutrients it needs to grow.  This is a great time of the year for you to mark on your calendars to give your houseplants a gentle cleaning with a damp cloth.  Besides removing debris, it is a great time to inspect the plant for and to get rid of any unwanted pests.