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Displaying blog entries 211-220 of 1263

448 Clanton Ave: Pristine Craftsman Bungalow in Historic Garden District!

Wednesday, June 22, 2022
by The Hat Team

448 Clanton Avenue, Montgomery, AL  36104

MLS# 515099

2 Bedrooms / 1 Bathroom / 2,108 SqFt / Garden District 

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Remarkable and pristine Craftsman bungalow located in historic Garden District! Calling all Craftsman-style lovers...here is your opportunity to own one of the few un-mucked and original homes in any of Montgomery's historic districts. Starting with the extra deep covered front porch that extends the entire width of the house giving comfortable and spacious outdoor living opportunities. Large front rooms including living, dining and den/study all have the original stained moldings and woodwork, as well as beautiful, coffered ceilings. Beautifully grained oak floors have been freshly refinished. Grand fireplaces/mantles, built-in lead glass China cabinets, massive pocket doors, and unique 3/4 wall with grand French doors separating the living room and den/study are among the other architectural features you will find in this well-loved home. Long central hallway gives access to two large bedrooms and updated bath (which retains original OVAL pedestal sink and craftsman built-in toiletry cabinet!) Current owner removed a wall between original kitchen and service porch to create a large open kitchen/keeping room with center island and loads of natural light. Walk in pantry allows for endless storage, and the original butler's pantry has more built-in China/glassware display cabinets. Manageable private back yard boasts large patio for outdoor enjoyment. Make this Midtown Montgomery beauty your new home sweet home!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team

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Just Moved In? Make Yourself at Home!

Wednesday, June 22, 2022
by The Hat Team


Congratulations! You’ve just moved into your new house! It’s exciting, but it’s also a huge transition. It takes time to make a new house feel like home. Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • BE ACTIVE

If you have moved to a new area where you do not know anyone, you may be tempted to isolate yourself. After all, you have unpacking to do and maybe a new job to start. But try to resist that temptation. Staying socially, physically, and communally active, triggers significant feelings that create the sense of home. Join a gym or exercise class, join a community such as a church, the school PTA or a book club, and shop locally to get to know your surroundings.

  • SURROUND YOURSELF WITH LIVING THINGS

A move can be difficult, especially if you are grieving the place you left. It’s not uncommon for people to become depressed after moving to a new home. Combat those feelings by cultivating relationships with living things. Start a garden, spend time with your children and pets or volunteer in the community. Step out of your comfort zone…you will be glad you did!

  • COMFORT YOURSELF WITH COLORS

Decorate with a palette of colors that lift your mood. Choose colors that promote calm, happy feelings. For example, earth tones create a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere that evokes feelings stability, reassurance, and ease, while light pastel colors stimulate feelings of peacefulness, calm and cleanliness.

  • SURROUND YOURSELF WITH THE FAMILIAR

Even before you are completely settled into your home, placing familiar items such as family pictures and heirlooms in your new space can make it feel more like you. Even if you don’t hang your art right away, take it out of boxes and lean it against walls so that you can still enjoy it until you find time to place it where you want it. Some other ways to make you feel at home: cook favorite meals, burn candles with favorite scents and/or play your favorite music.

  • UNPACK

This may seem obvious, but it’s not unusual for people to still have boxes cluttering the house months after moving in. Take your belongings out of the boxes right away and begin decorating and arranging furniture. Start with your closets and dressers so that you will be able to find the things you need easily in order to set up the rest of your house. The sooner you do this, the sooner this once strange place will feel like home!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: antiquefarmhouse.com, verywellfamily.com, globalsportsmatters.com, angi.com, pinterest.com, dailyrepublic.com

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4261 Shamrock Ln: Four Bedroom Ranch Oozing with Potential!

Monday, June 20, 2022
by The Hat Team

4261 Shamrock Lane, Montgomery, AL  36106 

MLS# 519269

4 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms / 1,928 SqFt / Green Acres 

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Green Acres is the place to be! This spacious 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom brick Midtown Montgomery house is oozing with potential! Split floor plan, 2 car attached garage and nice sized shed for extra storage. Close to Vaughn Road Park. Perfect for investor looking to add to their portfolio, or a lucrative fix-and-flip! With a little TLC this could be a wonderful home!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Alison Bertschy, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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Prepare for a Quick Move if Your House Sells Fast

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
by The Hat Team


With the way houses are selling so quickly these days, chances are you might need to move out sooner than you thought. And let’s face it, no matter how prepared you think you are, moving is stressful. One of the worst parts of moving is packing up your current house. You are probably busy enough already, and now you are adding this huge task to your “to do” list. It can be overwhelming. One way to make it a little easier is to spread it out over several weeks instead of trying to do it all right before you move. It is a good idea to prepare for your move even before you put your house on the market.

Here is a guideline for packing for a move:

  • PRE-PACKING - If you are planning to put your home on the market soon, it’s a good time to pre-pack items that you won’t need or use before you move. Out of season clothing, tools and small appliances, and collectibles/knick-knacks are items that you won’t miss, and you can get them out of the way.
  • BOX UP NON-ESSENTIALS - Among the items that you didn’t pre-pack, choose those that you know you likely won’t need before moving. Books, extra linens, and kitchen items can be packed up because you likely won’t be doing much reading, and you only need enough linens, plates, and utensils for the number of people living in the home. 
     
  • TIME TO GET SERIOUS - Once your house is on the market, it is time to really start paring down the amount of “stuff” still in your home. If you have children, allow them to choose a few toys/games to keep out, and pack up the rest. If you have a home office, clean it out and box up what you plan to take with you. Jewelry and shoes that you don’t wear daily can go as well. Simply label everything well so you can find items you might want or need if your house doesn’t sell as quickly as you thought it would.
     
  • IF OFFERS ARE COMING IN - Now it is time to pack up all but the few things you will need to get through the last few weeks at your current home. The rest of your clothes and kitchen items can go (leaving yourself what you will need until the move, of course).  Go through your medicine cabinet and toss any expired medications. Pack the rest except for the ones you take daily. If you accept an offer and the financing goes through quickly, you may be closing and moving soon!
     
  • MOVING IS IMMINENT - At this point the stress might reach maximum levels, but if you have been packing a bit each week, you should be almost finished! Box up your electronics (in their original packaging when possible), bathroom items, and any miscellaneous items that are left. Keep a box for essential items that you will keep with you as you are moving.
  • MOVING DAY: IT’S HERE! - All that should be left is furniture and appliances.  Whether you have hired movers to load the large items or you are doing it yourself, it will be so much more manageable with everything else already boxed up and ready to go.

IMPORTANT TIP: Label every box.  You can either write what is in the box or what room the box should go to. Or both. You will be glad you did when you are unpacking!


Remember that this is simply a general guideline.  You should do what is right for you and your family when it comes to packing and moving. But hopefully this will make what can be a trying and overwhelming time a little more pleasant.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: azbigmedia.com, moving.com, foxnews.com, movematcher.com

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4524 Young Orchard Ct: Large Young Pointe Home in Gated Neighborhood!

Monday, May 23, 2022
by The Hat Team

4524 Young Orchard Court, Montgomery, AL  36106

MLS# 516795

3 Bedrooms / 2.5 Bathrooms / 1,773 SqFt / Young Pointe

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Quiet gated neighborhood with great convenient location! Situated on a large corner lot, this is one of the larger homes in Young Pointe. Spacious living room/dining room combination has soaring 20 ft ceilings and has a contemporary feel. Cozy den/family room with fireplace overlooks covered patio and private back yard and is open to the big family sized kitchen. Laundry room and powder room finish off the main floor. The second floor features main bedroom with private bath and walk in closet, two guest bedrooms and a hall bath. Attic provides additional storage space, and the 2-car garage has lots of shelving for storage. This Midtown Montgomery hidden gem is move-in ready and is very convenient to shopping, dining, and centrally located within the city!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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1431 Midlane Ct: Spacious Garden Home in the Heart of Midtown!

Monday, May 9, 2022
by The Hat Team

1431 Midlane Court, Montgomery, AL  36106

MLS# 516609

2 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms / 2,393 SqFt / Midlane

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This spacious and well-built garden home is in the heart of Midtown, close to shopping, dining, and MCC. Traditional layout has ample entry foyer opening to large light-filled living room with volume ceiling, fireplace, and nice built-in bookshelves. Cozy sunroom off living room is great spot for morning coffee or lounging. Spacious dining room has walk-in china closet and eat-in kitchen has center island with space on either end for stools, space for small bistro table, and lots of cabinet and counter space. The first floor has master bedroom with walk in closet, bonus closet, and split vanity bath. 2nd bedroom is also on first floor and has its own private bath. Upstairs is a BIG bonus room and additional closet storage/space. 1 car garage and sweet little courtyard out back. Very private!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team! 

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1030 Old Breckenridge Ln: Fabulous 5 Bedroom Home in Great Neighborhood!

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
by The Hat Team

1030 Old Breckenridge Lane, Montgomery, AL  36117

MLS# 516455

5 Bedrooms / 4 Bathrooms / 3,588 SqFt / Breckenridge

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Looking for extra room? This fabulous 5 bedroom, 4 bath home in Breckenridge is ready for its next family! Open the beautiful wood double front doors to find a large two-story great room with fireplace that opens to a custom kitchen with center island work space and a breakfast bar, an elegant formal dining room, master suite with double vanities, and a bedroom and bath on the opposite side that would make a perfect in law suite. Upstairs are three huge bedrooms, two baths and a bonus room/man cave complete with a custom bar. Off the kitchen is a cozy screened porch overlooking the large backyard. Tons of storage and light filled rooms. Don't miss the awesome neighborhood clubhouse and pool! Come check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Home Loan

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
by The Hat Team

You are ready to buy a house, and chances are you do not have a suitcase full of cash at your disposal. So, that means you will need to get a home loan. Before you start shopping for your home, you will need to shop for a mortgage. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you along the way:


Step 1: Research Mortgage Lenders

Many first-time buyers make the mistake of finding the perfect house before they have shopped for a mortgage. All lenders are a little bit different in terms of interest rates, closing costs etc., so it is smart to comparison shop before choosing your lender. This process will also help you discover if there are any concerns lenders might have with your application so that you can take care of them before you find your dream home!

We work with many local lenders and know their special programs, so check with us first for a lender referral.  And keep your business local as that (1) gives the seller a comfort level and (2) helps if there is a hiccup along the way.


Step 2: Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Loan

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is an important step that should not be skipped. It not only lets you know how much you can afford for a house, but it also lets sellers know that you are serious about buying and may give you an advantage over other buyers. 

Step 3: Get a Home Appraisal

Once you’ve chosen a lender, made an offer on a home, and signed a sales contract, your lender will want to schedule a home appraisal. A professional home appraiser will check out the home and assess its market value using comparable homes for comparison. It is also time to schedule the home inspection as soon as possible. Doing so will give you adequate time before your closing date to negotiate with the seller if the inspection reveals any unforeseen issues. Click here to learn the potential cost of skipping a home inspection.  


Step 4: Title Search

Once you have purchased your home, you will “take title” of the property. Congratulations!  You are now the rightful owner!  But your lender will want proof. So, they will ask for a title search.  A paid title company will search public records for any possible heirs that think the property belongs to them, for liens that might still be on the home, or other issues. Once the title is cleared, you can move forward to closing.

Securing a mortgage may seem like a long, time-consuming process, but when you sign the dotted line and become a homeowner, it will all have been worth it!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: regentology.com, realtor.com, allianzebposervices.com

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309 Ware Hill Ct: Beautifully Updated Home in Desirable Dalraida!

Thursday, April 28, 2022
by The Hat Team

309 Ware Hill Court, Montgomery, AL  36109

MLS# 514857

4 Bedrooms / 3 Bathrooms / 2,849 SqFt / Dalraida

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Welcome to this beautifully updated 4 bedroom, 3 bath in desirable Dalraida! Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac, from the outside you would never know this home has such an open floor plan that is suitable to a variety of lifestyles. The newly renovated kitchen boasts granite countertops and island, stainless appliances is open to the great room - perfect for entertaining. Two main bedrooms with en suite baths, each with amazing garden tubs! Pretty laminate flooring, new light fixtures, and unique tile throughout. This lovely property is low maintenance with a pretty front yard, an enclosed private patio, two-car garage AND carport, making it easy to "lock and leave". Check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

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Home Sale Deal Breakers: Termites

Wednesday, April 27, 2022
by The Hat Team

Selling your home can be a stressful endeavor. Even in this seller’s market where you may get offers above asking price, most buyers will still require a home inspection contingency. And finding termites and the damage they have done can make a deal fall through fast.

Finding out that your house is infested with termites is no fun at any time, but especially when the discovery is made during a home inspection for your home sale. Sadly, many homeowners have no idea there is a problem with termites until a lot of damage has already been done.

Termites are sneaky, destructive little pests. Unfortunately, some homeowners attract them to their homes without realizing it. For example, even a little bit of moisture from poor drainage, leaks, or poor ventilation combined with wood can be very alluring for termites. The cellulose in wood is consumed by them for nutrition, and they require moisture, so they don’t dry out. Even soggy soil close to your foundation can be very inviting to termites.

Termites are also attracted to the protection from foam board insulation and exterior wall solutions like Dryvit, a synthetic version of cement siding. They will chew right through them to get to wood. They can also enter the home via cracks in the foundation as well. Once in, they will find wood and begin to feed on it, thus causing damage to the home.

How do you know if you have a termite infestation?

When investigating possible termite infestation, here are some things to look out for:

  • Hollow wood: Try knocking or tapping on your wood. If it sounds hollow, it’s likely you have termites. You can take a screwdriver and press it into the wood to test it. If the wood gives way easily, that is a bad sign.
     
  • Mud tubes: Subterranean termites create their own “highways” out of tubes of mud to connect the wood they eat to soil. These mud tubes, made up of wood and soil, are about as wide as a pencil. Spotting them means you have termites, but if you don’t find them it doesn’t mean you don’t have termites. The subterranean termites may not have made them yet, and drywood termites don’t make mud tubes, so beware of those as well.
  • Swarm evidence: Subterranean termites shed their wings in piles when they set off to create a new colony, so if you see piles of wings, you likely have a termite infestation.
     
  • Frass: If you see small, granular, oval pellets on your door frames, baseboards, and windowsills, they may be frass, or termite droppings.
     
  • Peeling paint: When termites damage drywall, moisture enters the space between the surface and the paint, causing paint to bubble or peel. There are other reasons your paint may buckle, but if you note this in tandem with other signs, you may have a termite infestation. 
     
  • Head banging: Strange clicking sounds coming from inside of your walls may not be your imagination. When soldier termites detect a threat, they signal danger to other termites by banging their heads against the wood and shaking their bodies.  
     
  • Seeing live termites: It is possible that you may come across some live termites. It’s important to distinguish them from flying ants so that you know what you’re dealing with. Termites’ rear wings are even in size, their abdomens are thick, and their antennae are straight. On the flip side, flying ants have wings of different size, are thinner through the middle, and have bent antennae.

 There are several ways to help prevent a termite infestation in your home:

  • Remove cellulose-based debris from around your house. Any sort of organic wood material around your house will attract termites.
     
  • Get rid of any wood that is in direct contact with the ground, like wood lattice or siding, or door/window frames that go to the ground.
     
  • Have your home pre-treated for termites. If you’re going to build a home, set a termite barrier on the land before starting construction.
     
  • Remove cracks and crevices in your home to prevent termite access.
     
  • Hire a professional to do termite inspections annually.


Whether you are selling your home soon or don’t plan to sell for a long time, be sure that termites aren’t causing damage that will mean costly repairs, and the probability of losing buyers when selling.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo credits: homeinspector.org, trustterminix.com, thisoldhouse.com

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