Typically, home sales are strongest in the spring and summer months; however, there are several advantages to shopping for homes in the fall and winter. Sellers are often more motivated in the winter and may be willing to negotiate terms such as price, repairs, and even a closing date. The rule of thumb is that anyone braving the elements (or taking the time during the busy holiday season) to view a home is a serious buyer, and the same can be said for those who leave their homes on the market during this time and continue to have viewings.
Fewer buyers in the marketplace during these months mean less competition and a better chance of getting a home at a lower price. Also, potential buyers in the winter months have the luxury of spending more time researching homes without as much concern of losing a house to another party. When viewing a home in the cooler months buyers get a realistic ide a of a home's energy efficiency. Pay attention to the thermostat temperature and take note of any drafts in the home. Trees without leaves give potential buyers an accurate picture of the privacy (or lack thereof) from neighbors or the street.
Because the majority of moves take place in the warmer months, moving companies may be readily available when it comes to your desired move date and even flexible on their rates.
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Gutters and downspouts work hard to protect your house from moisture damage. If gutters leak or downspouts are clogged, water can spill out and accumulate near foundations, soaking the soil and causing foundation walls to settle. In worst-case scenarios, moisture-laden soil presses in on basement walls, causing bulging and cracking. Water can even be forced inside by means of hydrostatic pressure.
Keeping gutters and downspouts in good condition requires regular maintenance. Mike Gibson of Quality Gutter Services in Des Moines, Iowa, advises doing this chore twice each year—in spring and in the fall. "Yes, it can be messy," says Gibson, "and you might get dirty. But it's definitely worth it."
Steps to clean your gutters
Clean leaves, sticks, needles and seeds from gutters, scooping out debris with a garden trowel or gloved hand. Don't try to remove the debris with a hose because that may cause downspouts to clog.
Remove the pasty goo made up from the tiny granules from asphalt roofing shingles that have mixed with dirt and water.
Flush out residual matter, using a garden hose.
To clean downspouts, turn on the hose full blast and thread it into the drain opening.
Check gutters after flushing for pools that indicate low spots. Gutters should be sloped about one vertical inch for every 15 to 20 horizontal feet so that they drain properly. Adjust gutters as necessary.
Repairing Gutters
Install new hangers to hold gutters firmly in place. Typically, gutters are attached with straps, hangers or long nails inserted through metal collars—a system called "spikes and ferrules."
Don't bother replacing straps, renailing old spikes or adding new spikes. Because you must pry up roofing materials to replace straps, it's easier to make repairs using individual gutter hangers with self-tapping screws, available at home improvement centers.
Also replace spikes with gutter screws and matching ferrules. "Over time a spike is always going to push out," says Gibson. "A gutter screw really has holding power."
Fix Leaks
Fix leaks at seams with silicone sealer. Although patch kits are available for repairing rust holes in steel gutters, the patches will prove to be only temporary. "If you've got rust holes in steel gutters," says Gibson, "they're pretty much finished. It's better to get new ones."
Replacing Gutters
If you need to replace your gutter, Tom Wood of Emerald Gutter Services in Eugene, Ore., says steel gutters generally perform better than aluminum or vinyl. "Aluminum gutters move too much during weather changes," says Wood. "The expansion and contraction causes nails and screws to loosen up. And vinyl comes in 10-foot lengths, meaning there are lots of seams that need to be sealed."
Both steel and aluminum can be installed without intermittent seams, and the best steel gutters feature baked-on enamel finishes with 40-year warranties. According to Wood, expect to pay about $450 for a professional to install new gutters and downspouts on a typical two-story suburban house.
A Safety Tip
Remember that gutter maintenance often means working on a ladder. As you work, make safety a priority. Make sure your ladder is firmly planted, and don't stretch to make repairs.
Century21 Travis is pleased to announce that after a lengthy and carefully executed process, Maureen Roberts has been selected by Bank of America to represent them in this region for all Bank of America REO properties. Maureen was selected over many other very talented real estate agents in this area to handle this business sector for Bank of America. Bank of America has entrusted this opportunity to Maureen, and our congratulations go out to her.
As this program is beginning to unfold and pick up steam, buyers or investors should keep an open mind for any opportunities which may present themselves. REO purchases are sometimes drawn out and lengthy, but Bank of America is committed to working closely with Maureen and Century21 Travis to offer the very best service and customer service in working to match clients with available properties. Bank of America has a local processing center in Waltham, MA through which all applications will be processed. They have also dedicated one of their top performing loan officers to handle the actual transaction, and can usually close on these REO loans in 30 days.
We are honored to have Bank of America provide Century21 Travis with the opportunity to service the local region with their REO properties. We look forward to an exciting time ahead!
It's no secret -- the lenders have tightened every belt and have created every hoop possible when making lending decisions. After the collapse of the mortgage market, lenders learned a very expensive and painful lesson. As a result, they are being exceptionally picky about who they will lend to. A good credit score alone does not guarantee anything.
Because even getting approved these can be an arduous process, below are four mistakes to not let happen when you are in the mortgage approval process:
Avoid major purchases right before closing your loan.
Do not go out and buy the furniture you so desire for your new living room. Hold off on buying that new or used car! Wait until after you have closed on the loan. Why?
If the lender sees you making major purchases of this nature, they will see you accumulating additional debt, adding to your risk value. Rule of thumb -- hold off on any major purchases until after closing the loan.
Stay in your current job until loan closes
You don't like your job, but stick this one out. Don't make any major career changes until after your loan closes. The lender will be doing last minute credit/employment checks and the last thing they want to see is someone who just started a new job. This creates additional risk in the lenders' point of view. What if your new job doesn't work out? Rule of thumb -- stay in your current job until the loan closes.
Prepare for last minute credit checks
People tend to think that once they've been approved for a mortgage, it's a done deal. Not so fast! The lender will likely perform a second credit check right before closing. If you have any late payments or factors that may change your credit score, (credit card inquiries, etc.) your loan may be jeopardized. In today's lending environment, second credit checks are almost routine. Rule of thumb -- stay current, and don't do anything that can change your credit score.
Closing cost surprises
A lot of people put every last cent they have into the purchase of a home, forgetting entirely about the closing costs. Closing costs are fluid, and can vary wildly. If you can't pay the closing costs, you may wind up losing the home. When preparing for close, you should always be well in formed in advance what the anticipated closing costs will be. Smart buyers will always have a cash reserve or available funds for these types of situations. Rule of thumb -- consider your closing costs when making the decision to purchase property.
Are you thinking of making summertime improvements to your home? Depending on where you live, certain major improvements are worth doing in terms of adding value to your home, others just don't make it worth the expense.
Pools -- worth doing? An inground pool can add an average of 8% to the value of a home. However, that is only an average. Geographically speaking it all depends where you live as to whether it's worth investing between 25K and 50K and upwards for what is mainly a seasonal enjoyment. With any pool, it's not just the pool itself, but the patio/deck, electrical, chemicals and other upkeep/repair costs that come along with installing and owning a pool. An above ground pool is a cheaper alternative, but it can actually lower the value of your home by 1.9% if a potential buyer feels it needs to be taken down. Do your homework on this one!
Deck -- worth doing? YES! composite decking will recover 66% of it's value, wooding decking can recover 72.8% and generally costs about 5K less to do. If your home currently doesn't have a deck, this would be a good investment and will add to your outdoor enjoyment of your home.
Patio -- worth doing? YES! depending on the layout of your neighborhood, a patio may be more desireable than a deck. If you have a flat level lot, or a one level home, a patio will add outdoor living space and will create a very usable entertaining space. Depending on the material of choice, a patio can start for as little as $11 per square foot for brick. Other popular choices for patio materials are concrete and flagstone.
Outdoor kitchen -- worth doing? This major home improvement is very weather dependent and geographically speaking probably wouldn't make much sense in New England. However, for the discerning homeowner of a luxury property this option may be a must. An outdoor kitchen in the properly located home can return almost all of the investment costs.
Gazebos -- worth doing? YES! If you have the space a gazebo will create a lovely outdoor room to be enjoyed during the warm spring and summer evenings, while allowing you to experience the crisp fall air as well. Returns on this type of improvement are sketchy.
CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate
630 Boston Rd • Billerica, MA 01821 Direct: 978-667-2121 • Toll Free: 866-667-2121 Fax: 978-667-5221 info@Century21Travis.com
CENTURY 21 Travis Real Estate