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Avoid These Home Selling Risks

by The Hat Team


Once you have decided to sell your house, there are a lot of steps to take to get it ready and listed on the market.  The goal should be to get the best possible price for your home with the least amount of stress and disruption.  Manage possible financial dangers by avoiding these home selling risks:

  • Selling your current home before closing on a new one.  This is a risk many people take because they need the money from the sale to make the down payment on the new home. But it can be a big mistake. It could mean that you have to move not once, but twice. Once to your temporary abode and then again to your new place once you buy. The financial burden of having to move twice along with the emotional toll it takes (because moving is no fun) can make the whole process very stressful.  If you have not found a new home when it’s time to close on the one you’re selling, at the very least make sure you are pre-qualified for a mortgage.
     
  • Moving out in the hope that it will make your house sell more quickly.  Some people think that a house will sell faster if it is vacant. But what if it doesn’t?  What if you have spent the money to move out, and you are paying rent and a mortgage?  That is a huge risk that may add to your financial burden along with the whole moving twice thing mentioned above.  The truth is that a staged home that is lightly furnished attracts more buyers than an empty house. So, be sure to consider the pros and cons of moving out when selling before you start to pack up your house. Reasons Empty Rooms Are a Bad Idea When Selling Your Home
     
  • Asking too much for your home.  It may seem like a good strategy to ask for a high price so that there is room for it to come down to an acceptable amount.  But by doing this you may scare off buyers. It can cause a home to sit on the market for too long which can be very detrimental to its selling potential.  When a house sits on the market too long, people start to think there is something wrong with it and they avoid looking at it at all, even if the price comes down. How to Price Your Home For Sale
     
  • Skimping on home improvements.  Just don’t do it. Remember that you are trying to sell your home and make a profit. While you may not want to invest a ton of money into improvements, you will want to be sure that what improvements you do make are well done.  Shoddy work will be noticed and will scare off potential buyers.  The right improvements, if done well, can increase the value of your home and enable you to sell it for a higher price. The Best (and Worst) Projects to Improve Your Home Resale Value

While it may be challenging to avoid all risks when selling a house, you can certainly minimize the financial peril you may find yourself in if you take steps to avoid the risks above.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs!  Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: ericbrown.com

Homeowners Can Save Money By Following these Tips

by The Hat Team


There are a lot of perks to home ownership, but let’s face it; it can be expensive.  You’re not only making a mortgage payment every month, but you are also responsible for maintaining your home.  But there are lots of easy ways to save money without ever leaving the house. Follow these tips and start saving today!

  • Save money on your electric bill by utilizing natural ways to cool your house.  During the spring and summer, open your windows and use fans to get the air circulating through your home.  Ceiling fans will help too. Moving the air through the house will help cool it down quite a bit.
     
  • Another way to save on your electric bill is to line dry your clothes.  Dryers use a lot of electricity, and there are many good reasons to choose line drying.  Not only is it an energy saver, but it may extend the life of your clothing! 5 Reasons to Line Dry Your Laundry
     
  • Get rid of cable television. With all the options for streaming shows on apps like Hulu and Netflix, you could save a lot of money by ending your relationship with cable and using apps to stream your favorite programs.  You might be surprised to discover that even after upgrading your internet, you will still pay less per month than you did for cable television. Best Live TV Streaming Services For Cord-Cutters in 2020
     
  • Always unplug.  Even when you are not using an appliance, if you keep it plugged in, it is still pulling electricity.  It may not seem like much, but over years you can save quite a bit by unplugging when not using things.  Chances are you are not going to want to be bothered with walking around your house to unplug everything, but to make it a little easier, consider using power strips so you can just unplug that at the end of the day.
     
  • Use a shopping list.  This may sound silly, but when you go shopping without a list you often come home with way more than you need.  Make a list and stick to it. It will not only make shopping more efficient, but it will save you money in the long run.
     
  • Learn how to do basic home maintenance.  You can save a ton of money over time by being able to take care of home maintenance yourself.  By doing small tasks like replacing filters and cleaning out dust, you can lengthen the lifespan of many appliances, thus saving money that way as well. 100 Home Repairs You Don't Need to Call a Pro For
     
  • Bundle up and save on heating costs.  Invest in quality, warm blankets so you can turn the heat down and still be warm and cozy when you sleep at night.  Decreasing your heat by just a few degrees can save you a lot of money over time.
     
  • Create a budget and try to stick to it. By creating a budget, you will be more conscientious about your spending.  It will not only help you to see where you are spending too much, it will also assist you in prioritizing your spending.

Saving money is important.  Whether you’re saving for retirement or for a special family vacation, it’s the little things you do that make a big difference in the long run!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs!  Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: bowmanheatingandair.com

Falling in Love With the Home You Have

by The Hat Team


When you’ve lived in a home for a while, it can start to lose the charm you first saw in it.  Day to day life can make it feel like a burden rather than a retreat.  Especially this time of year, when you’ve taken down the holiday decorations and the days are shorter and darker.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.  February is the month of love and it’s a great time to remember what made you fall in love with your house to begin with.  Even if your current home is not your dream house, you can still create a place you will love.  Here is a list of ways to love the home you have:

  • Declutter.  A messy, cluttered home can make you feel overwhelmed and embarrassed to have company.  Negative feelings about your home make it a place of stress instead of a place of peace and comfort. Cleaning up the clutter can seem like a huge task, but once you’ve done it, you will be glad you did! Stop Household Clutter: 50 Things to Get Rid of Right Now
     
  • Show the kitchen some love.  Whether you love to cook or not, chances are you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  So, it makes sense to have a kitchen you enjoy.  Simple things like keeping the sink, drainer and counters clear will go a long way into creating a space you will feel good about.  Place some fresh flowers on your counter or eat-in kitchen table. Find a spot for a speaker so you can listen to music while cooking.  Make the time spent in the kitchen a joy and not a chore.
     
  • Make your bedroom a retreat.  Your bedroom should provide you with peace, quiet and comfort.  When decorating, you might focus on the rooms that guests will see.  But don’t neglect your bedroom.  It is your sanctuary.  Your place to escape to when you want time alone.  Choose colors that give your bedroom a relaxing vibe. Splurge on luxurious bed linens. And don’t be frugal when purchasing a mattress and pillows. Sleep is so important to your overall health and having the right mattress and pillows greatly effects the quality of your sleep. 15 Calming Bedroom Colors to Relax and Unwind
     
  • Display favorite family memories. Like many people, you probably have hundreds, if not thousands of photos on your electronic devices.  Take some time to go through them and find photos of your favorite family memories to print and frame for display.  Need some ideas?  Check out Pinterest for lots of unique ways to display photos in your home. Photo Displays
     
  • Design a room that works for you.  Do you have a room that doesn’t get used much (if at all)?  For example, a formal living room that nobody in the family uses?  Perhaps it’s time to make use of that room in a way that works best for you and your family.  Don’t get tied down to the fact that is a “formal living room”.  It can be anything you want it to be. Do you love to read?  Create a cozy library with a comfy chair and book shelves.  Do you need home office space?  Then create a home office that makes you look forward to “going to work” each day.

Even if you are not currently living in your dream house, you can make small changes that will help you fall in love with the home you’re in! 

However, if you are looking to sell your current home so you can find your dream home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs!  Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: facebook.com

3443 Bankhead Avenue: Updated Sprawling Ranch Home!

by The Hat Team

3443 Bankhead Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36111 

MLS# 468501

3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2,952 sqft | 0.53 Acre | Edgewood

Play VisualTour

 

You will be surprised with the open feel and all the space in this updated ranch style home! Traditional foyer leads to spacious living room, open to dining room and updated kitchen with granite and great breakfast bar! BIG sunny breakfast room is great place for informal meals. Cozy den/keeping room off kitchen features fireplace and great built-ins for collectibles. Down the hallway you will find two well-proportioned bedrooms, each with its own bath. Through the study/office there is a HUGE master suite addition with two walk-in closets, and a knock your socks off master bath with jetted tub, big walk-in shower, split vanities, and plenty of storage. Rear features marble patio with multiple areas for outdoor living, great landscaping with heirloom shrubs and shady trees. Plenty of parking and detached 2 car carport with detached shed/workshop, PLUS a large attached storage room with ramp and double doors for easy access. Great location on prestigious Bankhead Ave! 

Improving the Efficiency of Your Home

by The Hat Team


Making your home more energy efficient is a cost-effective way to not only save money but to also improve the performance of your home.  The most effective strategy for improving your Deep South home’s energy efficiency is to focus on the “shell” of the house…the attic, windows and doors.  Next, improve the energy efficiency of systems such as heating, cooling, lighting and appliances.  Last, but not least, consider clean energy generation such as solar or geothermal.

The first step toward energy efficiency is to make sure that your attic’s super insulated.  High quality insulation slows the rate that heat flows out of the house in the winter or into the house in the summer.  That means it takes less energy to heat or cool your house.  If you have an unfinished attic, it is worthwhile to upgrade its insulation.  It is a good idea to use an Energy Auditor to make sure that the insulation is installed properly. Professional Home Energy Audits

The next step is to upgrade or replace windows. If your windows are old or leaky, it is time to increase their efficiency by using weather stripping and storm windows and you may not replace them if you live in a locally designated historic district. It’s not usually cost-effective to replace windows just to save energy, if you are going to replace them anyway, the additional cost of Energy Star-rated replacement windows is very modest and is a comfort improving upgrade that is worth the cost.  Energy Star Windows

Another way to save some energy in your home is to plant shade trees and shrubs around your house.  If you have an older home with poor insulation and windows, good landscaping can help, especially if planted on the house’s west side.  Deciduous trees are the best way to go for this purpose.  During the summer, the foliage will block the infrared radiation that would warm the house, while in the winter the bare branches will let the radiation through. Deciduous Trees

Replacing an older furnace with a new high-efficiency system may seem like a huge expense, but in the long run it will save energy and money.  If your furnace was built before 1992 and has a standing pilot, it likely wastes 35% of the fuel it uses, and it’s probably near the end of its service life.  ACEEE (American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy) recommends you replace it with a condensing furnace with annual efficiency of at least 90%.

You can improve the efficiency of your hot water system by turning down the temperature of your water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F).  You can also insulate your hot water lines so that they don’t cool off as quickly between uses. And using low-flow fixtures in your showers and baths will help as well.

You can use ¾ of the energy used with incandescent light bulbs by replacing them with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).  You may not realize that the cost of the electricity used to run a light bulb is more than the cost of the bulb itself.  A CFL may be a little more expensive than the traditional light bulb, but it lasts for 10,000 hours and uses only 27 watts to generate as much light as 100-watt incandescent bulb. Over the long haul, you will save money by investing in CFLs.

You can save money with an energy efficient home in many ways, including the tax benefits that are available to you.  Federal tax incentives are out there for energy efficiency upgrades to existing homes.  Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, let Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs!  Call them today at 334-834-1500!

Photo Credit: confused.com

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