Real Estate Information Archive

If you were lucky enough to move into a new home recently then you need to know a few things that you should strive to accomplish soon after the move.    These things will get you set in the right direction for being comfortable in your new home for years to come.  A few of these ideas are listed below. 

• Be sure to take pictures of each room in your new home before moving in. Sometimes the inspection takes place and then the previous owners come back to get a few last items of theirs moved out.  You never know, especially if the previous owners were forced to move due to a short sale, what they may have done to the house.  Take pictures before you move your furniture inside.  This way if any damage has occurred you will have full documentation of it and may be able to get things fixed more easily.
• If you hire a moving company to move your belongings from one house to the other you will want to check all of your belongings to make sure there was no damage done to anything during the move.  You should have liability coverage in your moving contract and if that is the case if any damage occurs and you document the damage you should be able to get reimbursed for that. 
• One of the most important things to accomplish as soon as you move into a new home is to change the locks.  You have no way of knowing how many folks have a key to your home from the previous owners and you surely don’t want to worry about someone being able to get inside of your home without your knowledge.  Get this task done right away. 
• If you want to make the home have a nice new feel, painting is a great way to do that.  Painting an empty house is much easier than having to move the furniture around later. 
• If you are a registered voter and you have recently moved into a new home that is in a different county, you will want to change your voter registration right away.  It’s not a good feeling to be turned away at the polls because your address is incorrect. 

These are just a few ideas of things you should strive to accomplish soon after moving into a new home. Hopefully they will be of some help to you and yours.

Courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Expert Sandra Nickel.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, you likely will want to do a bit of renovating before doing so.  A great way to spruce up your home in order to sell it is by replacing the old kitchen counter-tops.  This is an easy upgrade that doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.  Here are a few different kitchen countertop ideas  to get you started in the right direction and weigh the pros and cons of each.  

• Granite counter-tops are all the rage and it seems that everyone is putting these in their homes these days.  A good thing about granite counter-tops is that it is very hard to damage them.  Granite counter-tops are basically fool proof.  They will cost you around 2,000-6,000 but are well worth the money.  The only con I can think of when it comes to granite counter-tops is that you may need to reseal them every now and again because the edges and corners can chip.  This will need to be done by a professional.
•  Soapstone and marble are some other good ideas for replacing your current counter-tops with as well.  These types of materials will cost you anywhere from 2,800-8,400.  If you have this kind of money to sink into your counter-tops you may find that your home will go for a bit more when it comes to selling it.  Soapstone typically scratches easily and may even stain although it is very beautiful.   Marble also can have these types of problems as well being easily damaged from heat.  If you are selling your home you may be able to get a higher asking price if you put marble or soapstone counter-tops in, but if you are going to be living in your house and you want maintenance free counter-tops you may want to stick with granite instead.  You are going to have beautiful new counter-tops not matter which material you decide to use, so whatever you choose to do will be a winning situation.  
• Quartz is always an option when replacing kitchen counter-tops.  It looks a lot like stone but it won’t require as much maintenance.  You can get all sorts of cool colors if you choose quartz counter-tops.  If you are going to go with quartz counter-tops I would suggest that you have the edges rounded as they can sometimes chip and need to be repaired. 

Hopefully this blog has given you a few ideas if you are planning to replace your kitchen counter-tops.   Whether you plan to live in your home for many more years or you are planning to put it on the market, a nice new kitchen counter-top can do a lot for a home. 

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Experts Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

There are two typical questions buyers and sellers ask all the time about real estate…

Sellers: “Shouldn’t I first start with trying to save some money by selling on my own as a “For Sale By Owner?”

Buyers: “Shouldn’t I just look around on my own and work with the listing agents when I find something I like?”

Both of those scenarios have hidden problems. The field of real estate is loaded with land mines. Real estate professionals “know the ropes” so you don’t need to. Here are some thoughts for you to consider!

• Sellers need true expert guidance navigating the dangerous pitfalls that currently exist. Finding a buyer ready, willing and able to pay fair market value at a time when lending standards are so stringent is not an easy task.
   
• Buyers are finding reasonable financing is not easy to come by. It can be very tricky when interest rates are volatile like they have been over the last several months. And underwriting standards are tight, meaning that you need special guidance getting pre-approved and assuring that your credit is clear.
   
• Both buyers and sellers need to be hiring a talented negotiator who could save you thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. Each step of the way – from the original offer, to the possible re-negotiation of that offer after a home inspection, to the possible cancellation of the deal based on a troubled appraisal – you need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes.
   
• Sellers should also realize that when an agent is negotiating their commission with you, they are negotiating their own salary; the salary that keeps a roof over their family’s head; the salary that puts food on their family’s table. If they are quick to take less when negotiating for themselves and their families, what makes you think they will not act the same way when negotiating for you and your family?
   
• Buyers should consider working with a buyer’s agent from the start. That should be someone who really tunes into your needs and wants. That’s so they can really pinpoint the search for the right property for you. They can save you hours of spinning your wheels and they are ultimately compensated by the seller at the closing table.

Both buyers and sellers should take to heart that old saying “You get what you pay for.” Just like a good accountant or a good attorney, real estate professionals will save you money when all is said and done.

Information courtesy of Montgomery Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

A well-planned garage or yard sale can make room in your home, get rid of unused items and make some money but it needs some planning to be successful.

• Start early to research and plan
• Promotion is key
• Display items attractively
• Price items right
• Organize checkout

Saturdays are generally the best day but there may be some exceptions.  Experienced garage-salers believe that a well-planned one-day event will do as well as a multi-day event.  Serious purchasers will look for the “new” sale and most people don’t come back multiple days.

Advertise in local newspapers and free online classified sites like craigslist.  If several families are going together for the sale, mention that in the ad; it will be a big draw.  Mention your bigger-ticket items like furniture, equipment and baby items.

Garage sale signs can be purchased or made at Staples, Fedex Office or Kwik Signs.  Signs need large lettering so they’re easy to read while people are driving. Most important info: Garage or Yard Sale, address, date and time.  Directional signs are also important.  Balloons and streamers to attract attention to the signs are very helpful.

Consider using the service Square so that you can take credit cards.  The cost is 2.75% per swipe and can be done on your smartphone or iPad.  You’ll need to sign up at least two weeks in advance to receive your reader.

Unless you’re having an estate sale, keep your home locked.  You don’t want people wandering through your home while you’re outside.  If you start to accumulate a lot of money, take some of it inside.  Don’t discuss how much money you’ve made during the sale or how successful it has been.

People will want to bargain; it’s the nature of the game.  Consider this strategy: less negotiations early in the sale and possibly, more toward the end of the sale.

Information courtesy of Sandra Nickel Hat Team REALTORS.

Montgomery AL Home for Sale:

521 Chatsworth Drive, Montgomery AL 36109
MLS# 311868

You’ll Be Pleasantly Surprised!

Desirable Dalraida! This immaculate home doesn't feel like the typical 60's ranch. This one has beautiful hard wood floors (zero carpet!) and a nice open floor plan. The kitchen opens onto a great family room/den, the hall bath has a double vanity and plenty of counter space and the master bedroom has a huge walk-in cedar closet that you won't believe! Have more than one vehicle, then check out the 3 bay attached carport that can double as a covered patio too. Check out this one soon, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Marketed by Sandra Nickel, Sandra Nickel Hat Team Realtors, Montgomery Alabama.

As a seller, you most likely already know that today's breed of buyers is unlike the generations that came before. Tech savvy and always on the go, Millennial buyers—a blanket term that includes Generation Y and the Echoboomers—have different expectations from their parents when it comes to buying a Montgomery AL home.

• A recent survey of Millennials (ages 18 to 34) by the home builder PulteGroup found that among the top home desires are an open layout for the kitchen and family rooms that allow for easy entertaining.
   
• Ample storage is high on the “must have” list, and large, walk-in closets are coveted.
   
• The next generation wants space for TV, movie, and sports watching.  Many buyers now prefer high-tech rooms with surround sound, large-screen TV’s, and the most up-to-date A/V equipment to the coveted formal dining room or living room of past generations.
   
• In order to accommodate today’s fluid lifestyle, a Montgomery AL home with “flex space”--a room that can be converted into a home office, a guest room, or a nursery, eg,-- provides options for both current and future needs of the young buyer.
   
• Nearly all young buyers prefer gleaming hardwood floors to make a space feel less confined and give it a new, clean feeling. 
   
• “Green” and smart homes are also high on the Millennials’ wish list.  Energy-efficient appliances and windows are expected, and these buyers are impressed by home automation systems.  Having grown up with smartphones, apps, and Google searches, they want to use technology not only in their search for a home but also throughout the home itself.  A spring survey by Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate shows that 77 percent of Gen X & Gen Y home buyers want their homes “equipped with the technological capabilities they have grown accustomed to.”
   
• Also increasing in popularity are smaller living spaces and one-floor homes.  Likewise, urban residences are gaining appeal since active and social young buyers want to be near transit hubs and are looking for buildings with amenities. They often want a full-time concierge, a full-service gym, even an in-house spa or business center.

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 Real Estate: Incredible Renovation!

208 N Lewis St, Montgomery AL 36107
MLS# 307577

Incredible old house renovation has been recently performed on this cute 1922 Capitol Heights bungalow. If you want an old home in great condition without all the old house problems look no further. Generous size living and dining rooms for entertaining. Stainless steel appliances less than 3 years old. Eat in kitchen is adjoined by laundry, half bath and great rear deck for cookouts. Large front porch for visiting as neighbors pass by becomes an extension of the homes living space. You can buy this same concept at The Waters which is a wonderful area, but not for less than $77,000. Bring your landscape architect to make it your own oasis. Wired for cable.

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.

The real estate market is recovering but still faces hurdles, notably from tight mortgage credit, but problems with a sizeable share of real estate appraisals are also holding back, or even nullifying, home sales, according to survey findings by the National Association of REALTORS®.

Most appraisers of Montgomery AL real estate are competent and provide good valuations that are compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.  However, appraisals generally lag market conditions, and some changes to the appraisal process have been causing problems in recent years, including the use of out-of-area valuators without local expertise or full access to local data, inappropriate comparisons, and excessive lender demands.

NAR has long advocated for an independent appraisal process and enhanced education requirements that allow appraisers to produce the most accurate reports possible. However, appraisers have faced undue pressure – whether from a lender or an AMC – to complete appraisals using distressed sales as comps, to complete an appraisal in an unacceptably short time frame, and to complete a scope of work that is not justified by the fee being offered.

Thus, hiring the right home inspector for your Montgomery AL real estate is as important as the actual home inspection itself. Once your Realtor has given you the names of a few appraisers, you need to begin your own research:

• Ask potential appraisers about their education, qualifications, professional affiliations, and certifications.
• Do not hire appraisers who either perform repairs or refer contractors. Although some states allow this, it could potentially represent a conflict of interest.
• Ask about the technology and methodology used during the inspection. Look for appraisers who use computers and take photos during inspections and incorporate those photos into the report.  Do they include foreclosures and short sales in their comparisons?
• Find out how long they’ve been in business.
• Read client testimonials. Do they have testimonials from three delighted clients, or thirty?
• Read about their resumes and ask about their experience.
• Be sure that they are familiar your community and have done previous appraisals there.
• Assess the appraiser's experience with your type of Montgomery AL real estate.

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.

Generally, most landlords appreciate good tenants and deal with them in a timely and reasonable.  There may be times, however, when the owner of your Montgomery AL home is unresponsive to your request for necessary repairs, and you know you need to take action of some sort.

Where to start?  First, familiarize yourself with the Residential Landlord / Tenant Act of 1973, RCW 59.18 which clearly details your rights, responsibilities, and legal remedies   You should also carefully you’re your lease and research your state and municipal laws governing tenant-landlord relations before taking any kind of action against the landlord of your Montgomery AL home.  Free legal advice is available to you at Just Answer.com or other similar online sites.

It is important that you ignore suggestions from well-meaning friends who advise you to withhold rent, have the repair done by a professional and either charge it to the landlord or deduct the cost from your rent, or break your lease.  Each of these options may well be viable, but only if done in a manner prescribed by law and thoroughly documented.

Once you have done your research and are knowledgeable about your rights, create a plan and follow it carefully. 

• Make your request for a repair to your Montgomery AL home in writing, unless it's an emergency that requires immediate action. Detail the problem, how it affects you, and what you want done and when.
• If your landlord fails to remedy the problem, build your case. Take pictures. Have a professional assess the problem and estimate repair costs.
• Consider calling state and local building or health inspectors if repeated requests are ignored.
• File a lawsuit. Suing your landlord should be a last resort action. However, if the need arises, you should not hesitate. Contact your county court clerk to briefly describe your problem and identify the proper venue for filing a lawsuit. Your state may also require arbitration or mediation before allowing the lawsuit to be heard. Bring witnesses to the trial if they will strengthen your case. Present an organized case with all of your documentation. Do not stray off topic or let your anger and frustration control your actions in court.
• While it is comforting to know that you have rights as a tenant, do not forget that you also have a responsibility to follow federal, state, and local ordinances in your quest for a solution to your problem.

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 Real Estate For Sale:

1935 Norman Bridge Ct, Montgomery AL 36104
MLS# 293236

Affordability and Practicality!

Quiet Garden District cul-de-sac is just minutes from all the action at the Cloverdale dining and entertainment district, as well as Downtown! Spacious "L" shaped living/ dining room affords plenty of space for variety of furniture arrangements, and good sized den/family room is perfect for casual living. OR, use LR/DR area as one large living space, and utilize the den/family room (just off kitchen) for a more formal private dining space. Once a third bedroom with access only from middle bedroom, this space has been converted to a large master bathroom with endless possibilities for dressing/storage areas. Chill on the brand new rear deck, and enjoy the peacefulness of this tucked away yet conveniently accessible location. And, with Historic designation, your value will be protected from neighbors doing terrible things to adjacent properties. Affordability and practicality!

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.