Real Estate Information Archive

Blog

Displaying blog entries 151-160 of 175

Tips for De-cluttering Your Bathroom

by The Hat Team

De-cluttering any room in your house can sometimes feel like a huge job to take on but for some reason de-cluttering the bathroom can seem to take on a whole life of its own.    Truth is there are many items in our bathrooms that we no longer use.   Take an hour or so to go through your bathroom with this list of tips for de-cluttering.

  1.  The first tip to de-cluttering your bathroom   is to do what was just mentioned, take the time to go through your entire bathroom looking for items you no longer use.  If you haven’t used an item in the past week you should consider either getting rid of the item or at least finding a spot for it that will help to cut down on clutter in the bathroom.
  2. Another tip for de-cluttering your bathroom is to throw out old toothbrushes.  Some folks may not know this but you are supposed to change out your toothbrush once every three months to keep it from forming bacteria.   If you want to keep your old toothbrushes you could do so and perhaps use them as cleaning tools in other areas of the house.  You might find that they are good for such things as cleaning in between tiles and other small areas that you can’t otherwise reach.
  3. Take a look in your bathroom medicine cabinet when de-cluttering your bathroom.  If you find medications that have expired, go ahead and toss them in the garbage right away. 
  4. Another tip for de-cluttering your bathroom  is to toss out any old makeup or nail polish you may have stored away in a drawer.  Old makeup and nail polish will not work like it is suppose to so there is no use to keep it around. 
  5. If you have a lot of half empty shampoo and/ or conditioner bottles laying around your bathroom you can use what is left in them to refill your soft soap container.  Throw out all the old bottles once you have used their contents to help de-clutter your bathroom in a great way. 
  6. If you have a lot of hotel soaps, shampoos etc, why not toss them into your gym bag and use them there to help make your bathroom less cluttered. 

De-cluttering your bathroom is quite simple really; you just have to take the time to do it.  Once you do, I am sure you will like the clean fresh feeling you have as a result.  

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

Real Estate Listing Photo Mistakes

by The Hat Team

There are many kinds of real estate listing photo mistakes that can be made when listing your home for sale.  Realtors know these mistakes and will do their part to make sure these types of photos do not end up in the advertisement of your house, however if you are going it alone doing a for sale by owner you will need to learn these and avoid them at all costs.  Below are some real estate listing photo mistakes that you need to be aware of so that you don’t make them.

  1.  One of the worst things you can do when listing your house is to show pictures of each room’s corners.  We all remember children having to be put in the corner in the olden days of school and therefore the corner is not a very friendly spot to show when listing your house pictures as it may have some negative connotations associated with it.   If you want to show how big a room is, be sure to include at least two corners of the room in the picture, not just one corner. 
  2. It is best to not take pictures of the outside of your house at night if you want to use it as a listing photo. The best time of day to take a photo of your home for a listing photo is when the sun is shining brightly and the entire house looks nice and inviting. 
  3. Taking a photo of your home with a distorted lens to try to make the room look bigger is an old trick that needs to stop. Everyone knows that the picture is distorted and that the room is not as big as you are trying to make it seem.  Do your best to make the photos give a clear representation of what the room actually looks like so that folks are not disappointed when they come for a tour. 
  4. Make sure when taking a picture of a particular room in your house that you don’t show more of the ceiling fan than the room itself.  These types of pictures can look very dated and make your home look less than stellar. 

If you do your best to avoid these common listing photo mistakes you will be well on your way to making the best impression of your home with photos.  When you make a good impression with photos, you are more likely to get a bit of interest in your home that may even turn into an offer! 

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

A Few Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Condo

by The Hat Team

If owning your own home isn’t on your agenda and you would rather purchase a condo or townhome to make things a bit easier on yourself, you are not alone.  There are several things however that you should consider and think about before purchasing a condo and a few of those things are listed below. 

  1. One thing to consider when purchasing a condo   is who the manager is.  If you have a manager that is easy to deal with then you shouldn’t have any issues, but if you have a manager that doesn’t see eye to eye with you on things you may find yourself wishing you never would have purchased a condo. 
  2. There are fees associated with owning a condo.  You should definitely check into the fees associated with your particular condo before purchasing it.  These fees can range anywhere from $200 to $400 per month or year depending on how upscale the condo is you want to purchase. 
  3. Looking at the condo financial statements is a great way to see if you really want to purchase a condo or not.  For example if the condos financial statements do not include paying for repairs on a broken street light, you may end up seeing the repair costs tagged on to your bill.  Taking these types of things into consideration could sway your decision one way or the other regarding purchasing.  If you find that repairs on such things are not included in a particular condos financial statements you may want to search for a condo that does cover them. 
  4. Knowing the rules of condo living can make or break your decision of purchasing as well.  Some condos don’t allow holiday decorations while others just tell you where to park.  It’s up to you to decide what is most important to you and what rules simply do not matter that much, however knowing the rules is imperative. 
  5. Checking out the condos liability insurance to make sure there are no pending lawsuits against it is also a good idea. 

These things to consider before purchasing a condo are just the tip of the ice berg.  Do your due diligence, ask questions and find out all there is to know about condo living  before sinking your money into a one you are not happy with. If you do all of this and you are satisfied, you will likely enjoy condo living and all it has to offer.  

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

Montgomery AL Real Estate For Sale:

 
MLS#409639
 

Pristine home situated on a quiet cul-de-sac in Green Acres. Move in ready with new carpet and fresh paint. Lots of living space with living room, family room/den and a huge bonus room addition. Bedrooms are spacious and bathrooms have new vinyl tile floors. Lovely covered patio perfect for relaxing and good size back yard with two storage sheds. Home has been very well cared for, check it out today!

 

Tips To Avoid A Reverse Mortgage Nightmare

by The Hat Team

Many times folks hear about a reverse mortgage on the television and they think it sounds like the best thing since sliced bread.  There are a few things you need to know about reverse mortgages before you decide to move forward with one and below we have listed a few tips on how to avoid a reverse mortgage nightmare.  

  1. One way to avoid even thinking about doing a  reverse mortgage  is to not wait until you simply don’t have any other option.  Do not go into something like a reverse mortgage without counseling with a HUD-certified housing counselor.  If you make huge decisions such as getting involved with a reverse mortgage during a time of financial stress, you will likely end up worse off than you started. 
  2. Another tip for avoiding a reverse mortgage nightmare is to search around for all that is offered.  You don’t have to settle for a reverse mortgage just because you think it’s the only thing you can do.  Talk to a financial counselor and find out what all of your options might be and then make an informed decision based off of the facts and not just what you think the facts might be. 
  3. If the lender you have chosen to move forward with suddenly starts telling you that your home needs a ton of repairs, be sure to find a new lender as quickly as possible.  HUD insures over 95% of reverse mortgages and they only require that the home be safe and functional.  Any small issues that your home might have shouldn’t even come into play during a reverse mortgage consultation. 
  4. If you feel pressured at all to sign on the dotted line to receive a reverse mortgage, do your part and do not sign the papers.  You don’t want to end up in a reverse mortgage nightmare just because you felt like you were being pressured into signing the papers.  Again, get up and leave the room if you feel any kind of pressure to sign on the dotted line for a reverse mortgage.
  5. Be sure to show up for the closing if you do decide to do a reverse mortgage.  If you are not present things may go astray and you might end up with a raw deal in the end. 

These are just a few tips to avoiding a reverse mortgage nightmare.  Do your part to pay close attention to detail so that you don’t end up living in the middle of a real nightmare.  

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.   

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:3225 Audubon Road Montgomery AL 36106

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home for Sale

MLS#43320
$449,000
 

Welcome to Petite Provence, a 4 bedroom, 4.5 bath hidden oasis in the heart of historic Cloverdale-Idlewild. Built in 1965 by noted Montgomery architect John Shaffer for his family, this exquisite home incorporates reclaimed elements from some of Montgomery's grandest historic homes including rustic wide-plank heart pine floors, patinated copper shingle roof and antique beams. Now offered by the second owners who completed a thoughtful renovation designed by McAlpine architect Lida Cunningham Sease and using the highest quality materials, this home is one of the most unique properties in Montgomery. Situated on a private keyhole lot with nearly an acre of beautifully landscaped land full of lush mature foliage and flocks of beautiful song birds, one feels as if they are deep in the quiet country but with the convenience of Cloverdale's trendy shops, restaurants, playhouse and movie theatre just a short walk away. The ground floor of the 1.5 story main home features a large en-suite master bedroom with walk-in closet; a powder room with antique garden wall sink; formal living room with fireplace; formal dining room with murals depicting the grounds hand painted by local artists; a cozy bookcase lined library with fireplace; large, bright eat-in kitchen and charming screened porch. The second story includes two large bedrooms, a luxurious chromotherapy and sound soaking tub room and an additional full bath. The attached sunlit guest house boasts a bedroom, full bath, kitchen and large living area complete with fireplace and beautiful mural by local McAlpine architect and artist David Braly. Do schedule your appointment to experience this retreat-like home today, you will be enchanted!

Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Trends - Sept 2016

by The Hat Team

mortgage rates

Freddy Mac reports that mortgage rates staying low. Here are the national averages for mortgage rates during the week ending Oct. 6:

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.42 percent, with an average 0.5 point, unchanged from last week. A year ago, 30-year rates averaged 3.76 percent.
  • 15-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 2.72 percent, with an average 0.5 point, also unchanged from last week’s average. Last year at this time, 15-year rates averaged 2.99 percent.
  • 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 2.80 percent, with an average 0.4 point, dropping slightly from last week’s 2.81 percent average. A year ago, 5-year ARMs averaged 2.88 percent.

With rates like this, is it time for you to buy a home? If so, just hit reply to get started!

Take a look at how many folks bought homes in our market last month…

Midtown Montgomery Real Estate Market Trends

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for September 2016 show the number of homes sold increased 36.6%. The average sales price increased by 14.5%. The median sales price increased by 14.4%. Market times dropped by 87 days.

Midtown Montgomery Sept 2016    Sept 2015
Homes Sold 41 30
Average Selling Price $130,667 $114,082
Median Selling Price $109,000 $99,000
Days On The Market 87 174
Highest Selling Price $469,000 $417,000
Lowest Selling Price $12,000 $15,600


For the latest Midtown Montgomery real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.

Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale: 1948 Graham St

by The Hat Team

1948 graham st

Midtown Montgomery Home For Sale:

1948 Graham St, Montgomery AL 36106
MLS# 409031

3 bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,472 Square Feet | Cloverdale

Adorable Cloverdale cottage on one of the most desirable streets! Step right in to find a wonderful open floor plan, perfect for entertaining family and friends. The charming kitchen is updated and has a huge breakfast bar. The bedrooms are spacious and the master bath has been beautifully renovated and there's even a walk-in closet! Other recent upgrades include newly refinished hard wood floors, freshly painted interior and exterior, brand new HVAC and a 3 year old roof. In the back yard there is a wired building that could be a workshop, studio/office, man cave or just storage. Literally steps away from fabulous restaurants and shopping district of Midtown Montgomery that has everything you would need. Check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Layfield, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

 

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 614 Federal Drive

by The Hat Team

614 federal dr

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

614 Federal Drive, Montgomery AL 36107
MLS# 407607

3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | 1,662 Square Feet | Montgomery Heights

Wonderful starter home or investment property in Montgomery Heights. One family has owned this property for the past 73 years and it has been well cared for. Plenty of room with a spacious living room/dining room, breakfast room, den and a finished attic for an additional bedroom or bonus room. Last but not least, is a nice sun room overlooking a huge deck and lovely backyard. There is a green house and storage building in the back as well. Don't miss this opportunity for a great deal!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Layfield, Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

Open House: 3225 Audubon Rd

by The Hat Team

Open House: 3225 Audubon Rd, Montgomery AL 36106
Sunday, October 23. 1:00 - 3:00pm

3225 audubon rd

Displaying blog entries 151-160 of 175

Syndication

Categories

Archives

   cdpe    crsHat Lady on Zillow