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Curb appeal is key to gaining buyer interest

How can you lure in those buyers with one glance?!?

Have you ever been house hunting and, by simply looking at the exterior of the house, you do not even want to go inside? Having an immediate “un-appeal” can be devastating whether you are buying or selling. As an agent, I may know the inside of the home shows much better than it’s exterior, but, more times than not, you can’t convince your buyer to to spend the time to even go inside.

So, sellers, here are some quick and inexpensive tips to help you lure that buyer through your front door and to the closing table!

-Garage Doors: Paint, stain or even replace garage doors as needed. Believe it or not, these doors can be quite an eye-sore if left unattended.

-Exterior Light Fixtures: Change any and all outdated exterior light fixtures and make sure each and every one has a working light bulb for evening showings.

-Driveway: Professionally patch any large holes or cracks in your driveway or even get the driveway re-sealed. You want to make the buyer feel that they can drive the moving truck in with ease!

-Landscaping: Update your landscaping beds according to the season if they aren’t already. Trim all bushes and trees on the lot as needed. The buyer already has enough to do when they move in, the last thing they want to do is landscape!

-Overall Home Exterior: If the house is sided, get it power-washed to make it sparkle. Paint the window shutters if needed and make sure they are not hanging crooked. Clean up any toys and equipment from the yard and store neatly in the garage for the time being.

I know some of these things might seem a bit far-fetched and unimportant, but do keep in mind that most home buyers can’t visualize these changes and slight clean-ups, and the ones who can visualize it will be looking for a reduced price. With all this said, sellers and agents have a common goal; to sell your house at top dollar and as quickly as possible, right? Making simple changes like these can make the home more appealing and inviting to everyone who comes to see it and, in turn, makes your life, the seller, much, much easier! Happy cleaning!

Choosing the right mortgage loan originator

Your loan officer, and how to choose one…

“What’s the best way to find a lender?” It’s one of the most frequently asked questions by buyers in today’s market! As you start searching for your next home, you should always surround yourself with people whom you trust and know without a doubt will take care of things as they arise and in an appropriate manner.

So, you have a Realtor whom you trust but no loan officer? Not to worry one bit! I, personally, always recommend to my clients a list of three to four loan officers that I have used in the past and have had great experiences with. I know that each and every loan officer on my list will take great care of my clients and their next home purchase. It’s best to not surf around on the internet and find an officer whom has no tie to you, your needs or your Realtor. To them, you’re just another loan to service and just another name on a file.

Obviously, the downfalls of choosing a loan officer at random can truly be devastating. Your needs as a buyer can be easily overlooked, your personal time lines to move can be disregarded and your financing rates can even be higher than what you should be getting. All of this could possibly happen due to you being ‘just another loan to process’ to this loan officer.

My recommendation from personal experience is choosing to go with a loan officer that someone strongly recommends whether it’s your Realtor, your parents or your best friend. It truly can be more beneficial than you could ever imagine! I, as a Realtor here in Nashville, personally have loan officers that will push for documents harder, will decrease waiting time and will also provide the best service and price to my clients. All this because I have established a great relationship with these loan officers. But I always recommend getting at least 2 to 3 quotes even if it’s from the loan officers I recommend to make sure they are staying on the competitive edge.

In short, do not be afraid to use a recommended loan officer…but DO be afraid to use one where you are just another file in a drawer! Happy buying!

Tips for a more economical Nashville winter

Well it looks like winter’s here to stay in Middle Tennessee so I thought it fitting to try and help out with the bills. So here are some tips that I hope save you some chips.

* Turn your thermostat down and throw on a sweatshirt and socks. For every degree that you turn it down you’ll save 3% on your heating bill.

*Don’t let your hard earned money blow out the window. Seal all the windows and doors. Check all of your windows and doors for broken seals and caulk where needed.

* Use mother nature! On the side of your house where the sunlight shines the most during the day open the drapes and blinds so that mother nature heats your house and not you. However, don’t forget to shut them back at sunset, otherwise she’ll be stealing it from you instead of providing it to you!

* Properly insulate. Any area where there is only minimal insulation to no insulation needs to be beefed up. Check with the local hardward store for exactly how much, but a properly insulated home can save up to 30% every month.

* When you leave the house for more than a day, turn the thermostat down a few degrees. No need to heat an empty home.

* If you have a fireplace, use it wisely. Even when you are burning a fire, some of the heat from your vents can still go up the chimney, so only use your fireplace for ambience (unless you are getting free firewood) and be sure and close the damper just enough so that smoke goes up the cimney and not in your house this will push more heat to the house and not up and out. And when the fireplace is not in use, mak sure you close the damper completely off.

* Any rooms that you don’t use should have the vents either closed off completely or opened minimally if the rooms are only used seldomly.

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Fine Dining in Mayberry……What?

When’s the last time you’ve been to a “downtown” that was so small and quaint it made you wonder where all the people come from? Head to “downtown” Kingston Springs and you’ll see what I’m talkin’ about. I drove through there a few weeks ago with a Canadian client who kept telling me how much that area reminded him of where he lived in Canada. They are working on the roads in “downtown” and the finished product should be divine. It was too early for dinner but we asked the servers if we could come in and take a look around in Mack and Kates.

This quaint yet refined restaurant has crisp white table cloths surrounded by high ceilings and walls of exposed brick. The large windows in the front of the restaurant look out onto “downtown.” There’s not much to see except a library and that’s the beauty of it.

I had a nice chat with the extremely polite servers and bartender. Did I mention they were quite handsome? They are.

Allow me to mention some of the entrees on this menu that are revised with each season. All dishes are prepared fresh so if you’re hungry and you don’t live in the area……….well, grab a snack until your next visit. Some starters are Crab Cakes, Pulled Pork BBQ or Wild Mushroom Ravioli. Hmmm mmm good! Just wait. What’s next will make you want to smack Rachel Ray!

Let’s move on to the entrees. How about an 18 oz. Porterhouse Steak, Shrimp & Grits, Cider Glazed Pork Tenderloin or some Burgundy Braised Beef Shortribs? That’s what I’m talkin’ bout!

Good Lord! As if all of that doesn’t sound good enough what about some homemade desserts? Flourless Chocolate Torte, Carrot Cake? Okay, I must cease this immediately. Mack and Kates tonight it shall be!

No cell phones or smoking. It ain’t cheap but this is one of those dining experiences that you get what you pay for.

Although I haven’t dined there yet, a friend of mine went for her birthday and she said the service, food and ambience couldn’t have been better! She’s a new resident of Kingston Springs(less than 6 months).

Check them out at www.mackandkates.com!

Deeeelish!

Getting your home ready for the market

If putting your home on the market were as easy as making a phone call to your Realtor and having them place a sign in your yard for sale, don’t you think everyone would be doing it? Although sometimes it can be as easy as that simple phone call, most of the time a bit more work is involved. Not to worry though — it still doesn’t have to be difficult either! If you stay on top of your house and maintain it’s upkeep throughout your ownership of the home, it could just be a matter of some fresh paint here or there.

Here are a few pointers to help you and consider when you are about to put your home on the market that may make your sale of your home much easier, faster and more appealing to buyers:

1) Detach yourself from your own home and look at it through the eyes of a perspective buyer. Determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and/or tossed out.

2) Ask yourself: What would I want to see if I was interested in buying this home? Not only would you want to see a clean home, but also a home that maximizes space — which is very ideal and cozy.

3) De-clutter, de-clutter, and de-clutter! I can’t say it enough! Although you might have some very interesting nick-knacks from trips you have taken or some wonderful kid-made items on display in your home, it’s your house that is for sale and should be the featured ‘item’ on display, not the trinkets. So, de-clutter that house! Pack things up and store them neatly in the garage or even rent a storage unit for a month or two. It is guaranteed to help the sale of your home and you will see any and all money as a return on your investment when your home sells quicker than the one down the street!

4) Finally, talk with your Realtor before you list your home on the market. He or she might have some professional advice on how to attract the most buyers (demand for your home) as possible. Be very open when it comes to their opinion as well – after all, they are the professional and have a trained eye to help your home move quickly through the market!

While your home might have a short or long laundry list of things to do to get it ready for the market, know that completing each task will pay off big time in the end. Take pride in the repairs you make, the paint you put on the walls and the packing up you do. Ideally, you want your home to be competitive in the market, which will turn into a quick sale and a profitable one for you, the owner!

Sylvan Park Restaurant – home cookin’

Calling all No-Carb Dieters!!! This is the spot for you. Are you into the occasional greasy spoon, meat and three or just plain good ‘ole home cookin’? Get in your car now!

When’s the last time you’ve gone into a little diner where a big haired, gum chewin’ lady asks, “What can I get for you, Hun?”

That’s what I thought. This no frills little place in the curve of Sylvan Park has had little or no updating. It still has it’s old school diner table and chairs. It still has the lacy curtains you’d see in your grandma’s house(depending on how hip your grandma is) and the servers still use the little green guest checks.

I have a girlfriend who’s a crab cake snob and she loves the crab cakes. On the other hand, I favor the fried chicken and I have the hips to show it. Even if you don’t like turnip greens, theirs may change your mind.

Aside from the atmosphere being EXTREMELY laid back and comfortable, the food will make you want to smack your Mama(we don’t recommend that). Run, don’t walk, to Sylvan Park Restaurant………across from McCabe Golf Course.

Calling ahead to find out if it’s “Fried Chicken Day” is strongly recommended.

LaVergne Ranked 61st Fastest Growing Suburb in Nation

According to Forbes.com, more than 8,000 people have moved to LaVergne since 2000, making it one of the fastest growing suburbs in the nation. Census numbers report that the city’s population jumped 43.9% over the last six years to 27,255 people. The only other Tennessee city to make the list was Wilson County’s Mt. Juliet ranking in at #83.

The accelerated growth has been spurred by LaVergne’s location off I-24 and accessible resources in neighboring Murfreesboro and Nashville. Another major attraction for people considering the move is the city’s low property tax at 50 cents per $100 of assessed value. The city’s largest employers, Bridgestone Firestone and Ingram Book, are partially responsible for bringing people to LaVergne and helping to construct Lake Forest Estates, the largest subdivision in the state with more than 3,000 homes.

Rutherford County’s school system recently opened LaVergne Elementary school to alleviate overcrowding, and Department of Transportation plans to compensate for increased traffic by widening Waldron Road. Despite the growth, La Vergne still has that small town feel, without the hustle and bustle of city life. So if your looking for affordable housing, low property taxes, and a city making progress, then look no further. And better yet, La Vergne is just 20 minutes away from NashVegas or as we like to say, just a skip and a hop away.

How do you find your next home?

While it may seem simple, a home is more than just a few bedrooms and bathrooms under a roof. Many properties, each with the same criteria (bedrooms, bathrooms and price), are more likely to be drastically different. You may find different floor plans, different locations, different lot sizes and tax costs just to name a few. While everyone is different, it is important for you to look at homes that fit more of what you’re looking for.

What’s most important is to consider your priorities with your home search. If you can’t get a home at your price with all the features you want, then what is of most importance to you? For example, would you trade your location to have the home you desire? Would you take fewer bedrooms to have a larger living space? Also, don’t forget to consider your future too – you might need a larger home in a few years for your growing family.

Finding your home may seem like digging through a haystack for a needle at times but with the right Realtor, this process can be guided along smoothly. Some buyers like to search online, in newspapers and through neighborhoods on their own while other buyers would prefer their Realtor send them listings that he or she might feel is something you are looking for. Whichever you prefer, keep the most important thing in mind – YOUR priorities in your next home. Good luck, have fun and happy hunting!

Why should you get pre-approved on a loan?

Considering that the majority of the buyers out there will not have the cash to purchase a home, a mortgage loan from the lender of your choice will be required to complete your home-buying process. While it may be frightening if you’ve never done something like this before – the idea always stays the same: snag the mortgage loan that best fits YOU with the lowest cost and best terms.

Getting pre-approved for a loan means just what you think it does – that you have met with a loan officer, you credit scores have been reviewed and it is believed that you can qualify for a given loan amount with at least one or more mortgage products available. From this, you will be able to provide the owner of your dream home with a letter stating you have already started your loan process and that you qualify for a loan. This is important as a buyer because it shows your ability to complete the purchase of the home since an owner of a home does not want to accept an offer and take the home off the market where financing might not be obtained by the buyer.

Finding the right loan officer for you is also important too. You will need someone who is professional but also understands your financial situation. If you don’t know where to start in finding a loan officer, you may even rely on your Realtor to give you a recommendation for the perfect fit for you. After all, your Realtor works with him or her on a daily basis as well. No matter what, and even though it might seem like a frightening process if this is your first time, just make sure you work with representatives you trust and feel comfortable with – the rest will naturally fall into place.

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