How to Evaluate a Home’s True Potential

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably developed a pretty clear mental picture of what your new home should be like. But remember that even a home that’s not in ideal condition can still have great potential.

Here are some tips to help you look beyond bad decorating, old carpet and ugly wallpaper to see a jewel in the rough:

The floor plan is extremely important. Look at entrances and exits, where the rooms are located and how foot traffic will flow throughout the home. A good floor plan is worth a lot, especially when you consider the cost of changing it.

Walls and floor coverings make an important first impression. Paint is relatively inexpensive, so imagine the walls in the colors you would choose. Carpets and vinyl floor coverings can be removed and replaced, hardwoods can be refinished.

The kitchen is usually the center of any home. Paint and new appliances can make a huge difference if you don’t like what's there now. The most important thing to consider is whether it has enough counter and cabinet space to suit your needs.

Unless you're building your dream home, you will probably never find the perfect house. So before you make an offer, keep in mind what you can't live without and what you can improve upon with some well-placed upgrades and improvements.

If the house is cluttered and not as clean as you would like, remember that it will look different with your belongings and a thorough, professional cleaning is always an option.

If the exterior of the home doesn't have a great deal of curb appeal, just imagine it with a fresh coat of paint and new landscaping.

Please call or send us an email if we can help with more ideas on how to see past the surface when looking at a potential new home.

Which is Better for You: A New Home or a Resale?

When it’s time to make a move, one of the first decisions most people think about is whether to buy a brand new house or a previously-owned home. Here are some distinct advantages of each choice:

New house:

* Modern floor plans that could include a “great room,” bigger closets, more baths,
entertainment room, etc.
* The opportunity to choose upgrades and customize floor coverings, colors and more
* More energy-efficient insulation, windows and heating/cooling systems
* The added protection of a warranty from the home builder

Resale home:

* Existing features, including window treatments and mature landscaping
* Location -- existing homes are often closer to metropolitan areas instead of farther out in the suburbs
* Established neighborhoods and sense of community
* The opportunity to use an existing home as a base to remodel and create a unique property

Only you can decide if a brand new home or one with a few years on it is right for you. If you would like additional information on which option might work best for you, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

6 Things to Consider When Choosing a Lot!

When building a new home, selecting the lot is one of the key decisions a buyer must make. Here are six things that builders and architects say buyers must consider before making their final choice:

1. Size. The larger the lot the more it costs. Consider initial price, taxes, and even lawn care. From a purely investment point of view, architect and land planner Quincy Johnson says pick the smaller lot in a neighborhood of larger ones. All things equal, houses on small lots tend to appreciate more rapidly than small houses on larger lots in the same subdivision.

2. Orientation. This can be a big deal for your energy bills. Facing the home in the correct way makes an enormous difference in heating and cooling costs.

3. Terrain. An uphill lot provides better drainage and displays the home more effectively. "Psychological studies have shown that people feel more secure when they look down at the street rather than up," says Johnson.

4. View. Make sure the buyer knows what he or she is really getting. When the area is completely developed, that stretch of meadow on the other side of the road may be a shopping center or a gas station.

5. Location. People who need to make a fast getaway in the morning should consider a lot near the entrance of their new community. Those with small children who are concerned about traffic should go for one toward the rear.

6. Shape. Sites come in many configurations – square, rectangular, irregular and pipe stem, or flag-shaped. Flag lots are increasingly popular near water or in a rural setting. But in a typical suburban location, they could mean sharing a driveway with one or more neighbors or the house could be sitting directly behind a neighbor’s house.

Source: United Feature Syndicate, Lew Sichelman (10/21/2007)