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Summer Care For The Gardens of Your Montgomery AL Home

by The Hat Team

It certainly appears that summer heat is here to stay.  While we humans have the ability to limit our time outside and escape to the relief of air conditioning and fans, the plants in the gardens of your Montgomery AL home are not so fortunate and must withstand high temperatures and frequent dry conditions.

gardenJust as we make an extra effort to watch over young children and the elderly during the summer months, so, too, we need to be aware of the needs of our plants.  The following tips should be useful in ensuring enduring greenery through the fall:

  • Dead heading:  Remove the spent flowers (called "deadheading") as they die, so the plant can put its energy into producing more flowers. This is particularly beneficial for geraniums, marigolds, roses, and most perennials.
     
  • Cutting back: When greenery such as petunias, impatiens, and trailing types of plants become long and spindly, cut them back by one-third to one-half and then fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer.
     
  • Weeding:  Although you most likely put down a thick layer of mulch when you first planted, those pesky weeds do have a way of cropping up.  Every few days check the gardens for weeds and pull them as needed. It is easier to pull weeds if the soil is moist.  If you must use a chemical weed control, check to see if it is selective or non-selective.
     
  • Watering:   Proper watering is critical to your plant's health, but frequent, shallow watering (rain, sprinklers, etc.) leads to shallow root systems and thus a low drought-tolerance.  Click here for a deep watering schedule and tips that will be most beneficial to the landscaping of your Montgomery AL home.
     
  • Fertilizing:  In addition to keeping the vegetation in the gardens of your Montgomery AL home healthy, fertilizing will also help keep your soil in good shape in case of drought or a stretch of extremely hot weather. Acid-loving species (camellias, gardenias, and azaleas) as well as those displaying yellow leaves will be especially appreciative of your diligence.

Remember, too, to take precautions to maximize your own well-being when engaged in any outside gardening projects.  Be vigilant about drinking plenty of water, taking frequent rests, and protecting your skin.  Be alert for signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration.  For specific tips on caring for yourself while gardening in the summer months, click here.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

6 Tips For an Easier Summer Move

by The Hat Team

Each year around 65% of all household moves take place between May and September, so obviously you need to plan ahead if you’re moving to a new Montgomery AL home this summer.

moving truckWhile the act of relocating a new place can certainly be exciting, there are, of course, challenges to be met, especially during a hot, busy summer season.  Although there are no foolproof ways to make the experience totally stress-free, there are, thankfully, actions you can take to make your “adventure” a more positive one.

Sage advice to heed includes:

  1. Plan ahead!  Contact moving companies or truck rental firms at least six weeks in advance if possible. Try to schedule your move for a weekday and at a time when traffic is less heavy.  . Make prior arrangements for the care of young children and pets on moving day—for their sake and yours!  Line up commitments from friends and family if you’ll need their assistance for the move.
     
  2. Be strategic about packing.  Gather necessary supplies and start packing early.  Whether it’s one room, one cabinet, or a drawer at a time, weed through what may be years of accumulation.  Decide what to donate to charity, give to a friend, recycle, trash, pack now, or keep handy until moving day.  Label boxes as to contents and intended room in your new home.
     
  3. Take care of logistics in advance.  Ideally, you should contact your future utilities provider at least two weeks before you move regarding turning on your electricity, gas, phone, cable, and internet before your arrival, if possible.  Contact any new school for a list of documents needed for registration.  Do not pack these materials away it’s better to hand carry them for easy retrieval.  If you’re going to need to spend a night in a hotel, make those arrangements early.
     
  4. Make life simple.  Keep all small parts labeled, in plastic bags, and all together in one box.  Likewise, take pictures of electronic hook-ups for future use.
     
  5. Consider the heat.  Dress appropriately, stay hydrated, and refrain from placing certain items in a hot truck—candles or wine, e.g.  Click here for tips on packing cleaning products and toxins.
     
  6. Stay calm.  Relax, whistle, smile, and anticipate the pleasure of living in your new home.


Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

6 Tips For a Quick Home Sale

by The Hat Team

If you're looking to sell your Montgomery AL home in today’s real estate market, you have most likely already read numerous articles advising you to set a realistic price, pay attention to curb appeal, thoroughly clean and de-clutter, remove large pieces of furniture, repaint in neutral colors, remove personal mementos, and the like.  All of this information is valid and useful, but there are other, less-publicized ways to appeal to potential buyers.  Read on for some creative tips on how to generate interest and get the best price possible.

  1. house soldArrange for a pre-listing home inspection.  In addition to facilitating the sale of your home by reassuring potential buyers, an inspection helps you comply with full-disclosure real estate laws.  You can also have a termite inspection done.
     
  2. Use online venues and your personal networks to market your house.  Put an ad on Craigslist, use sites like Zillow.com or Trulia.com, get your own URL with the house’s address, promote the house through social media like Facebook and Twitter, and send out a copy of your listing to people on your email list.  Sometimes word of mouth is one of the best ways to market a house.
     
  3. Replace all brass fixtures.  Today’s buyers dislike this “cheap” look that may have been fashionable a couple of decades ago, but it has to go if it’s in your home today.  Switch out each light fixture, switch plate, door hinge, knob, and faucet with for ones with a modern oil-rubbed bronze or nickel finish.
     
  4. Add power outlets with USB ports in rooms that lack them, especially in the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms where they’re most needed.  Also, find a place for a wireless router for use with the Internet and flat-screen TVs.
     
  5. Offer more unusual incentives.  Paying a buyer’s closing costs, taking care of HOA fees for the first year,  giving a “redecorating” credit, or providing a home warranty for a set time period have become almost expected perks, but you can consider landscaping services, personalized gift certificates (home supply store or a plant nursery, e.g.) or a flexible closing date.
     
  6. For equally effective, but more expensive buyer magnets, look into outfitting closets for extra storage (top contenders are an entry closet, a kitchen pantry, and a linen closet) or removing much-maligned “popcorn” ceilings.  Click here for DIY instructions or get estimates from a professional.

Selling this spring? Click here for Questions To Ask Before Listing!

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

 

Fabulous Estate-Like Setting in Montgomery AL

by The Hat Team

Fabulous Estate-Like Setting in Montgomery AL!

1254 Gregory Ave, Montgomery AL 36111
MLS# 307465

Fabulous Estate-like setting in Edgewood. Situated on a huge beautiful lot, this home is both spacious and comfortable. If you are looking for a lot of room to spread out, this home is perfect inside and out. Simply wonderful for entertaining or relaxing with family and friends. Eat-in kitchen has been nicely updated with granite, lovely living room, dining room and den with built-ins and the best side porch to enjoy a book, coffee or cocktail. This house is a deal for the neighborhood! Check it out today!

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

5 Reasons To Buy a Home Now

by The Hat Team

Many Montgomery AL home buyers wait until Spring to buy but there are 5 reason why buying now might be a better decision. Yes, spring is the busiest market time but take a look at why NOW is a great time!
 

reasons to buy

1. Homeownership is the one leveraged investment available.
Real estate is the only investment where you can use other peoples' money, i.e. the lender, to increase your purchasing power and take advantage of the asset's appreciation.

2. You're paying for housing whether you rent or own.
There is no getting around it, housing costs money. Whether you are putting money out each month for rent or for a mortgage, you are still putting it out. You are paying your mortgage or your landlords. Wouldn't you rather pay your own?

3. Owning is usually a form of "forced savings".
Most to us find it difficult to save routinely save money each month. Paying a mortgage is a "forced savings" as you are paying down your loan balance, or debt, each month, thus gaining more equity in your home.

4. There are substantial tax benefits to owning.
Homeowners are able to deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes lowering the amount of federal taxes owed each year. Many of the cost of purchasing your home are also tax deductible.

5. Owning is a hedge against inflation.
Housing costs and rents historically increase over the years while your principal and interest payment remains the same...unless you have obtained a variable rate mortgage.

Another factor to consider when thinking of buying a Montgomery AL home now rather than the spring is interest rates are expected to increase in the spring. Take a look at what an increase in rates will do to your buying power.

buyer purchasing power

According to Bankrate.com, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 4.5%. Monthly principal and interest on a $180,000 loan is $1,013. Look at what happens if the rate increases by only 1%...the monthly payment goes to $1,022. This looks like a small increase by adds up over time.

Ready to take advantage of today's rates? Click here and learn how much home you can afford!

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 2719 Boykin Pl

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

2719 Boykin Pl, Montgomery AL 36117
MLS# 306546

Perfect For Entertaining!

2719 boykin pl
One of Lowder's best floor plans ever! High ceilings and great layout make this the perfect house for entertaining as well as living. Formal living and dining rooms flow into open kitchen and breakfast room, with great den/family room off kitchen area with fireplace! Split plan means adults have privacy from kids, and the 4th bedroom makes a PERFECT home office/study! Attached two car garage means never having to endure the "elements" when leaving or coming home. Fenced backyard is large enough for any size pet and affords lots of "play" room. Location is smack in the middle of Montgomery, and So convenient to shopping, dining, and schools.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Selling During The Holidays - Good Idea Or Not?

by The Hat Team

Contrary to popular belief there are actually some advantages to selling your home during the holidays. And many home owners really don’t have a choice because of a necessity to relocate. Most of us do tend to want to have our time free to enjoy all the activities that surround the year-end holidays. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of the opportunity to market your Montgomery, AL home.

houseThere are some definite advantages to consider if you either chose to sell or you find that you have no choice but to sell. Here are just a few advantages that you can find out more about here:

  • Business moves are very common in the month of January. Remember, it is a big work transfer time of the year…and that goes both ways.
  • Buyers generally have more motivation to buy if they are looking during the holidays. They probably wouldn’t be looking if they don’t really intend to buy.
  • Competition tends to be lower due to other potential sellers not wanting to market during the holidays if they have the choice. Less inventory for sale means your chances are better of getting buyers’ attention.
  • Decorating and staging your home for sale is easier if you are decorating for the holidays anyway. Staging your home for sale any other time of year can be a chore. But, decorating for the holidays can actually turn staging into fun.
  • A warm and cozy feeling of a home in the winter can contribute to a positive experience for the potential buyers touring your home.

In addition to advantages of selling during the holidays, here are just some of the 13 tips for selling in the winter offered by bankrate.com:

  • Take advantage of natural light. Encourage your Realtor to push for daylight times for showings and get your windows washed so they sparkle in the lower winter sunlight angle.
  • Give your Montgomery, AL home a nice holiday aroma. The No. 1 favorite is chocolate chip cookies. Especially if you enjoy baking, make the effort to leave cookies for the showings when you can. This is especially important for open house tours.

No matter what your motivation for selling your Montgomery, AL home, don’t shy away from marketing it during the holidays. Turn your holiday decorating into a fun staging activity for marketing your home.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale: 1440 Wedgewood Dr

by The Hat Team

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

1440 Wedgewood Dr, Montgomery AL 36111
MLS#  305190

Charming Edgewood Home - Move-In Ready!

1440 Wedgewood Dr

Charming move in ready ranch in Edgewood. Pretty hard wood floors throughout, zero carpet. Living room and cozy den with glass doors to backyard. Nice workable kitchen with separate laundry room. Detached carport and storage. Great deal for the neighborhood.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Tips For Selling Your Montgomery AL Home In The Fall

by The Hat Team

Perhaps your Montgomery AL home has been on the market all summer or personal circumstances require you to list it now.  In either case, selling during the fall season requires that your property has ultimate appeal and stands out from the competition.  Although the pool of potential buyers diminishes once summer is over, those who do continue look more often than not have a goal of finding a place before the holidays.  It makes sense, then, that house salewith mindful staging strategies, continued landscape maintenance, and seasonal awareness, your home could be just what they have been looking for.

As you’ve read numerous times, a buyer’s first impression is paramount in importance.  Play up any lovely foliage in your yard by patching brown spots in the lawn, mowing whenever needed, and raking leaves frequently (both front and back).  Keep in mind that as leaves fall, the exterior of your Montgomery AL home becomes more exposed, so consider power washing dirty siding, touching up chipped paint, cleaning gutters and downspouts, repainting faded shutters, railings, and doors, and pruning overgrown trees and bushes.  Keep walkways clear of debris and outdoor lights clean and in good working order.  Make your entrance way inviting by adding autumn potted plants, a seasonal door wreath, and a pumpkin or two.

And don’t forget the garage—inside and out.  You may consider the garage just an add-on, but prospective purchasers react quite well to one that is clean, organized, and useful for storage.  You can get online help in removing unsightly grease/oil stains from the concrete floor and for tips on garage organization.

“Staging” is the process of arranging your Montgomery AL home so that it appeals to all buyers and allows them to imagine themselves living there.  Three C’s —clean, cozy, and clutter-free--work well here in making both physical and emotional impressions on buyers.  Highlight fall colors with pillows, towels, rugs, flowers, or bedding.  Enhance brightness by using higher wattage bulbs and keeping curtains open.  Display a bowl of apples or bake a pie or cookies just before an open house.   If you have a fireplace, make it the focus of a room.  Want more ideas?  Several sites, including Rismedia, and Realtor.com offer valuable do-it-yourself staging tips that will enhance the “sell-ability” of your home.

Search all Montgomery AL Real Estate And Homes For Sale.

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

Interested in buying a bank-owned home? Get bank-owned listings alerts FREE!

You can reach Sandra by filling out the online contact form below or give her a call anytime.

Have a Happy Halloween At Your Montgomery AL Home!

by The Hat Team

halloweenThere's a goblin at my window,
A monster by my door.
The pumpkin at my table
Keeps on smiling more and more.
There's a ghost who haunts my bedroom,
A witch whose face is green.
They used to be my family,
Till they dressed for Halloween.

- by Sandra Liatsos

Question: What do you do when 50 zombies surround your Montgomery AL home?

Answer: Hope it’s Halloween!!

Did you know that 86% of Americans decorate their houses for Halloween? And Halloween in the US is second only to Christmas in terms of consumer spending!

Halloween actually started as a kind of semi-serious holiday…it was a celebration of the end of the harvest and it is on the eve of All Saints Day (November 1st), also known as All Hallows Day.

That is a day of remembering the saints who have departed this life. Hallows Eve, or evening, became shortened to Hallowe’en and then Halloween. Because it is a day of remembering the dead it conjures up images of ghosts and other spooky things in the night before All Saints Day.

halloween witchIt has become a night of costumes and partying and trick-or-treating. In old Scotland trick-or-treating was known as “guising.” That came from the word “disguise,” as in “disguising” yourself using a costume to go around soliciting treats. Isn’t that a fun word?

Speaking of fun, are you going to carve a pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern? What a fun way to decorate your Montgomery AL home for the holiday. By the way, the term “jack-o-lantern” is said to have come from the spooky appearance of peat bogs sometimes burning in the night. A burning bog flickers with small flames that look very spooky and unnatural at night. If you want some fun with transforming a pumpkin here’s where you can get some patterns and stencils.

If you’re looking for some ideas for dressing up for Halloween try this website for costumes. And your Montgomery AL home won’t be complete unless you have plenty of treats on hand for the goblins coming to your door. Most of all have fun and enjoy the holiday.

Question: What room does a ghost not need?

Answer: A living room!

Happy Halloween!

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