Tag: real estate

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

• Similar to a car, your home requires regular check-ups to keep it running smooth all year round. As you wind down from the summer heat and start pulling out your hoodies for fall, take some time to tackle a few simple chores to prepare your home to take on winter in all its glory.
• Here are some of our recommended fall home maintenance tips.
• Disconnect your garden hoses from outdoor faucets and drain them before storing inside for the winter. While you’re at it, turn off any shutoff valves that lead to exterior faucets to avoid unnecessary leaks.
• Clean your gutters to clear all the leaves, twigs and general gunk that might build up during the summer months. Clogged rain gutters come winter could cause ice dams, leading to expensive repairs you won’t want to worry about.
• Don’t leaf it for later – rake ‘em now! That’s right, spending time for typical fall yard work will save you time and money later on. That means raking leaves, trimming trees, and cutting back foliage.
• Double-check your door and window seals, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and even your dryer vent. It’s easy to forget about these seemingly little things, but maintaining them well will mean a safer home for your family, and may run your home more efficiently.
• Lastly, one of the biggest things we’ve noticed people don’t do, but should—service your home mechanicals. At the beginning of fall, have your furnace serviced by a professional and in turn, have your air conditioning serviced come spring, as well. Prevent an emergency later on by having your furnace and air conditioning serviced at least once every other year. This allows you to maintain your units on your time, and your dime.
• If you’ve bought a home within the last few years and are starting fall clean-up, go back through your home’s inspection report. There, the inspector will have noted areas for you to watch out for that are specific to your home. This will help you get a jump-start on your fall home maintenance projects.
• If you’re considering a move, or have any questions about annual home maintenance, we’d love to meet with you and walk you through the process. Contact us to set up a meeting today.

Benefits of Listing in the Fall

The summertime real estate season is as hot as the summer sun, but you shouldn’t be deterred from listing your home in the fall.

While most hear “Rochester” and think “Mayo Clinic”, Rochester has a prosperous and diverse economy. Because of its growing business community, access to arts and culture, and a thriving food scene, Rochester sees relocation opportunities year-round, not just the spring months. In Rochester and the Southeast Minnesota area, every month is a good month for real estate.

Many people think listing in the fall isn’t the best idea, however, in our experience, we think it’s actually a good idea. Here’s why:

There’s less competition.

Fewer people will be listing their home in the fall compared to the busy spring and summer months. As a fall seller, you will have less competition in the market, which may help your home sell faster.

Snow is a great equalizer.

Don’t despair come fall and your yard starts to look drab – everyone else’s yard is, too! Think of it as just one less thing to worry about in showing your home. Because everyone’s yard will look comparable to one another during the winter months, this allows you to focus more time and energy in making sure the inside of your home stands out from the competition instead.

Holiday home shoppers tend to be more serious.

People looking for a home during the holidays have immediate needs and a limited selection to chose from. This is a great time to market your home.

Ultimately, the perfect time to list your home is when it’s right for you. If you’re considering a move at any time during the year, we’d love to meet with you and talk you through the process. Contact us to set up a meeting today.

To Remodel or Not….

Top Tips from a Kitchen Remodel Professional

Before and after photos from a great home remodel are daunting, often leaving you with questions like, ‘How did they think to do that?’, ‘What can I use from here in my own home?’, ‘Is this something I can handle?’

We work with a home rehab professional who recently completed a kitchen remodel, and here are our top tips to help answer some of these questions and more.

Consider why you are remodeling

The biggest consideration when remodeling should revolve around why you want to remodel in the first place. For example, how long will you be at this place of residence? Some remodels bring you more money at resale, while others should be considered for your own enjoyment. A professional can help you choose a remodel that is right for you and how you’ll use the space.

If you are planning to stay long-term, take a while to settle in before deciding to renovate. After a few months or years, you can learn how you want to use the space so that the remodel can be the most functional space for you and your living needs.

Back to the drawing-board.

How do you best decide on layout and overall concept? Easy – let the professionals do the legwork. A contractor does this for a living, and probably has ideas on kitchen layouts that you wouldn’t even think of. Having professional guidance from the beginning will save you money and headaches in the long haul.

Choose materials that work for you.

The materials you use when remodeling your kitchen should depend on the home and the needs of the remodel. For example, an old home with original cabinets may come with a built-in cavity for the fridge. The cavity may call for some high-end vinyl to allow more space for the refrigerator. If you put hardwood or tile, you lose valuable space.

Style: trendy or traditional?

Style is a personal preference. If you plan to stay at this house for more than five years, go ahead and decorate with your favorite retro-inspired laminate cabinets and patterned wallpaper backdrop. But if you plan to resell after the renovation, keep the style subdued and classic to appeal to more potential buyers.

Plan for the unexpected.

Always, always, always prepare for unforeseen expenses. Plan ahead and prepare for a little extra cushion in your budget – you’ll thank yourself later.

When will I see the real bang for my buck?

Depending on the remodel, it could take a number of months or even years to get money out of your project. For example, paint and new carpet are investments that return quickly, while a new addition could take years to recover the cost.

In the minds of remodel professionals, the old adage, “quality over quantity” rings tried and true. Spend your remodel budget on fewer quality products rather than more cheap updates that may not stand the test of time.

If you are considering a remodel project before you list, we’d love to meet with you and talk through the process. Contact us to set up a meeting today.

Townhouse: Yea or Nay

Ah, the golden years. You’ve made it to retirement and now our society says, “It’s time to downsize and move into a townhouse or condo!”, but we don’t see it that way. The decision to leave your single-family home and move into a condo or townhouse is a choice to be made based upon your lifestyle, not your age or income.

Townhouse/condo living is perfect for those who are:

• • often absent due to work or leisure travel
  • looking to have someone else deal with the maintenance
  • social and looking to be more connected to a community

If you do decide townhouse/condo living is for you, there are a few things to keep in mind. Typically, you’ll be dealing with a Home Owners Association (HOA), which people tend to get skittish in regards to. There are often misconceptions about cost, liberties with your property, and even pets when a HOA is involved. The cost is usually offset by the elimination of other costs. Your homeowners insurance most likely will decrease due to the HOA assuming the liability and casualty coverage for the outside of your unit. Lawn care and snow removal are often covered by the HOA, too.

There are downsides to HOAs. There are choices you may have to give-up, such as where to plant a tree or which color to paint your door. Home maintenance must be agreed upon with your neighbors in attached units, too. If your roof needs to be replaced, but your neighbors don’t want to incur that cost, you’ll most likely go without a new roof.

Be sure to check the pet policy of the HOA. If you are a pet-lover, know there can be breed/size restrictions. On the flip side, if you like quiet and solitude, the Chihuahua living next door can be a hindrance to that.

There are many things to consider when you begin to think about downsizing and we welcome the opportunity to help you with this decision. Our job is to walk you through the process, not dictate what you should do.

If you’re looking to move in, move up, or scale back, we’d love to meet with you and talk you through the process. Contact us to set up a meeting today.

Nine Musts Before You Move…

Most of us move several times, if not dozens of times in our lives. And, it’s stressful. However, there are a few things you can do to make your move as stress free as possible. We’ve put together a list of nine things you need to do before you move that most people tend to leave until the last minute.

1. Connect your internet

Living in a new house without internet can be very frustrating and inconvenient, for you and your kids, so save yourself the stress and connect early.

2. Set-up your utilities

The following need to be set-up before you move:

• electric
• gas
• water
• garbage/recycling

The following are dependent upon your home and lifestyle choices:

• water treatment service
• cable
• phone

Click here for a list of Rochester utility providers.

3. Have a plan for children & pets

Moving is stressful for children and pets. Try and line someone up to take care of them for the day. Caring for them is one less stress you need to tackle on moving day.

4. Update friends & family with your new contact info

Send a text message or email notifying people of your new address and phone number so the important people in your life can contact you.

5. Change your address

It’s best to do this as early possible so you don’t have to rely on others to forward your mail. Notify the post office immediately of your new address and then contact businesses and government bodies individually and promptly to make sure your mail is going to the correct place. Don’t forget to…

• update magazine or box-style subscriptions
• contact your car insurance provider to change your address
• update your voter registration information
• let your bank know you’ve moved
• get a new driver’s license with your new address

6. Pack an unpacking box

This box should contain any tools you might need to construct furniture, labeled ziplock bags with screws from furniture you dismantled in the move, scissors, screwdrivers, masking tape, dust cloths and cleaning supplies. Having these items all in the same box will save you time and your sanity when setting up your new home.

7. Update your homeowner’s insurance

When you move it’s important to contact your insurance provider to make sure you’re covered for the duration of the move. Your current home insurance policy should end the day after you’ve moved out and your next insurance policy should start the day before you move.

8. Have spare keys cut

Do this as soon as you have the keys to your new house. Moving days are stressful and busy so it’s easy for keys to get lost or locked inside your new home, especially without an established routine. Have a set of keys cut for each member of your family and maybe even a spare.

9. Pack a first night box

Just as important as the unpacking box, the first night box is essential to a successful move. It should contain a change of clothing, basic toiletries, toilet paper, pjs, towels, bed linens and any other essentials you may require, like children’s lovies or a special snack. Having these items at-hand can make such a big difference in the comfortability of your first night in your new home.

If you’re considering a move, we’d love to meet with you and talk you through the process. Contact us to set up a meeting today.

Financing your home…

Conventional loans, FHA loans, interest-only loans—Oh, My! Figuring out your financing can be the most difficult part of purchasing a new home, yet it is key to have in place before you begin looking, especially in this fast-paced market.

If you’re a first-time borrower, there are a few things that can be done to help you through the overwhelming process of sorting through financing options. Take time to figure out exactly how much you can afford to borrow and then finance accordingly. The best way to do this is through working with an experienced mortgage broker or banker. They will help you sort through all of the different programs and options. (For a list of our preferred mortgage specialists, visit our resources page.)

In the end, nothing will give you more peace-of-mind than knowing what you want and ultimately, what you can live with. 

If you’re looking to move in, move up, or scale back, we’d love to meet with you and talk you through the process. Contact us to set up a meeting today.

Fix or Nix: What to fix before you list

Ready to list?

Home is a special place to each of us. Many of our best memories are rooted in our home and the people we love most are often found there. As time goes on, your needs, and the needs of your family, change and often, your home needs change, too.

This is an exciting time in the real estate market. Homes are moving more quickly than ever and sometimes are getting more than the listing price. If you’re ready to move up, move on, or scale back, here are a few things to consider in order to get the most for your home.

• Get your home on the market! Trying to “pre-sell” your home may short-change you.
• Choosing to sell your home on your own to avoid realtor fees may end-up costing you in the end. Real estate advisors know this market well and know that you may get far more for your home than expected.
• The days of looking for just any buyer are over. In this market, seek the right buyer, who will pay top dollar, with the most attractive terms.
• Let the market determine your home’s worth!

If you’re even thinking about listing your home, we would love to meet with you to talk through the process and the exciting things happening in this market. Contact https://www.wightmanbrock.com/contact/ us today.

First time?

Buying your first home is an exciting, often overwhelming, experience. There are so many details that need to be in place before the looking can even begin. This market presents its own set of challenges, too. Many investors are actively seeking to purchase entry-level homes and often are making cash purchases, non-contingent on an inspection, and offering more than list. How can a first-time home buyer compete?

While it may seem like the odds aren’t in your favor, there are a few things you can do that will make finding your home a bit easier. As you embark on this journey, keep in mind you may have to compete for a home—and may still lose it. At the end of the day, if you’re out looking and losing house after house, just know that it wasn’t the right house for you.

Here are a few things to consider before you start searching for your first home:

• Have your financing in place. Know how much you can put down and be sure you can cover your closing costs, especially in this competitive market.
• Be prepared to move quickly, but allow time for the process.
• Make sure you’re consistently checking the MLS site (not a third party site) to get the most  up-to-date listings.
• Partner with a real estate advisor that knows this market, is prepared to move at the same pace as you are, and most importantly, that you trust.

The last piece of advice we’d like to impart is to become as educated as you can on this process. You may have to write offers on a few different homes, but know this is part of the process. Don’t become discouraged.

If you’re ready to begin this exciting process, we’d love to partner with you. Contact https://www.wightmanbrock.com/contact/ today!