Tag Archives: Home Improvement

March 2014 Newsletter


 
Jack Edwards’…

Service For Life! ®

Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living
Inside This Issue…
  • 7 Major Financial Mistakes & How To Avoid Them…
  • Save Money On These Simple Home Repairs…
  • Fun Facts and Laughs: What To Do If Your E-mail Is Hacked, Great Travel-Planning Websites, And More…
  • Real Estate Q&A: My Home Didn’t Sell The First Time. What Should I Do Now To Get It Sold?…
If you’re not already a subscriber to my free e–newsletter email me to sign–up
Jack Edwards Jack Edwards 
California BRE#01331087
Phone: 916-240-9302
Email: jack.edwards@cbnorcal.com
All it takes is one emergency to disrupt your short-term financial goals such as taking a vacation this year or even long-term plans for when you can retire. That’s why I want to share how to avoid seven major financial mistakes in this month’s Service For Life!® Free consumer newsletter.You’ll also learn three do-it-yourself home repairs that will save you money, fast fixes if your e-mail is hacked, and great travel websites to plan your next trip – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more.

Jack Edwards

Jack Edwards, REALTOR®
California BRE#01331087

P.S.  When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide?

They may be people wanting to move this year, and you can tell them about my Free Consumer Report: “How To Avoid 7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home”. You’ll give them a huge boost in confidence because this guide shows how to net the most money from a home sale in the least amount of time. To request a copy for a friend, simply email me by clicking here.
Today’s Brain Teaser . . .

People are hired to get rid of me.
I’m often hiding under your bed.
In time, I’ll always return you see.
Bite me and you’re surely dead.
What am I?

(see answer below)
7 Major Financial Mistakes & How To Avoid Them

Watch out for these seven mistakes that could cost you big time:

    1. Not having an emergency fund. Keep at least three months’ worth of your expenses in an account so you’re not using credit cards to pay for unexpected events, such as a job loss or medical expense.
    1. Not having a budget. Take your income minus your fixed expenses, and the difference is what you can spend each month. Track your spending using tools like www.mint.com.
    1. Not saving for retirement. Be sure to take advantage of your employer’s retirement savings plan, and open your own retirement savings account.
    1. Not paying bills on time. Late payments affect your credit score. Sign up for a free service such as www.manilla.com, which lets you organize your bills in one place and sends you bill pay reminders.
    1. Not planning for your children’s education. Consider investing in a 529 education savings plan or look at a program such as www.Upromise.com, which lets you save money for college by purchasing from major online retailers. Also, research scholarship opportunities for your student at www.fastweb.com.
    1. Not monitoring your credit history. Get a free credit report every year from the three credit reporting companies by going to www.annualcreditreport.com. Check it for accuracy to ensure you’re not a victim of ID theft or fraud.
  1. Not paying down credit card debt before everything else. If your credit card interest is 20% and your mortgage interest is 5%, pay off the credit card debt to avoid paying more in interest over the long term. To learn how long it will take to pay off your credit card, use the www.bankrate.com under “credit card”.
Learn How To Maximize The
Value Of Your Home!

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing what to fix to net the most value for your home? It’s called “Make Your Home Show Like A Model Without Breaking The Bank” and it’s an essential guide to homeowner profits. To request your copy, simply email me by clicking here.
Save $$$ On Home Repairs

Sometimes you can just do-it-yourself. Here are three simple home repairs almost anyone can do:

Caulking. Save energy costs by using caulk to seal air and water leaks. Use 100% silicone caulk (available at a hardware store), because it’s waterproof and shrink-resistant. Remove old caulk with a razor blade, outline the area with masking tape, and use a caulk gun to apply new caulk. Smooth it with your finger and remove the tape.

Cleaning grout. If you’re tired of scrubbing, buy a grout color restorer at Home Depot or Lowes. Stone Care International’s Grout Ink, for example, comes in white, earth tone, or gray for about $8 a tube. Clean the surface, apply a coat and let dry. Do a second coat.

Fixing squeaky doors. Shut the door and pull out the center pin from one hinge. Clean the pin with a scrubbing pad and coat it with petroleum jelly. Put the pin back in and open and close the door a few times. Repeat with other hinges if necessary.
Are You My Client Of The Month?

Every month I choose a very special Client Of The Month. It’s my way of acknowledging good friends and saying “thanks” to those who support me and my business with referrals, word of mouth and repeat business.

This month’s Client Of The Month is Marlyn Mackitarian.

You might be my next Client Of The Month too! Watch for your name here in an upcoming month.
Fun Facts and Laughs

Great Travel-Planning Websites . . .

• www.tripit.com – Create a detailed itinerary of car rentals, restaurants & hotels, and even keep up with the weather.

• www.lonelyplanet.com – Follow the discussions of those who have just come back from your travel destinations.

• www.plnnr.com – Create free automatic travel itineraries for major cities in the U.S. and Europe.

What To Do If Your E-mail Is Hacked . . .

If your friends and family say they got a spam message from you, your email may have been hacked. Try these fixes:

• Change your e-mail account password. Use phrases, upper/lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Don’t use your birthday!

• E-mail your contacts immediately. Tell them your account was hacked and they shouldn’t open your e-mails containing suspicious links or requests for money.

• Check your security levels. Firewalls usually block hackers. Do an anti-virus update and run a scan on your system.

• Don’t click on anything in suspicious e-mails. That’s probably how your e-mail got hacked in the first place.

Remember These Classic Candies? . . .

• Bit-O-Honey — Honey-flavored taffy guaranteed to remove your fillings.

• Bubble-gum cigars & cigarettes — Yes, they sold these to kids!

• Little Wax Bottles filled with a sugary liquid — you can still find them out there!

• Clark’s Teaberry Gum — It even had its own song called The Teaberry Shuffle.

Have A Laugh . . .
FREE Consumer Help Is
Just A Click Away!

Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE. Email about my “Insider’s Free Resources” by clicking here.
Brain Teaser Answer:

Dust
Thanks For Thinking of Me!Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.
Real Estate Q & A . . .
Q.  I just took my home off the market because it didn’t sell. What can I do now to try to sell it again?
A.  The biggest things to consider are the home’s price and its condition.You may have set the price too high, keeping buyers and real estate agents away. If you lowered your price in increments, it may have been too late since it was already viewed as an “overpriced” home. Also, look at your home’s condition from a buyer’s perspective. Is there more you can do to make it stand out from other homes for sale?It may be time to hire not just a REALTOR®, but a Home Marketing Expert. This is an agent who understands your needs and can use their expertise to re-evaluate the price plus share easy ways to make your home appear more attractive to buyers.To learn more about how to sell your home quickly, call and ask for my Free Consumer Report called “4 Tips To Guarantee Your Home Sells The Second Time.” I’ll send a copy right over to you.

Do you have a question you want answered related to real estate or home ownership? Feel free to call me at 916-240-9302 or email me by clicking here. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!
THANK YOU… for reading my Service For Life!® personal newsletter.  I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you.  Help your friends get more out of life by forwarding this email to them…
Share this issue with family and friends --- Forward To A Friend
You received this email because you requested it, are on the mailing list as {EMAIL_ADDRESS}, or a friend forwarded it to you.Disclaimer:  The information contained in this email is intended for informational purposes.  It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice.  Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This email is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.
Copyright (c) 2014 by Forte Communications, Inc.


Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jack Edwards, your real estate advocate, specializes in helping buyers and sellers in Elk Grove, CA,  and the greater Sacramento area.   Get information about available homes online at:  www.ElkGroveRealEstate.comOur mobile clients can find us at Mobile.ElkGroveRealEstate.com  BRE License # 01331087

 

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. BRE License #01908304

One Cool Thing — Home Financing Trends

Home_Financing_Trends
Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jack Edwards, your real estate advocate, specializes in helping buyers and sellers in Elk Grove, CA,  and the greater Sacramento area.   Get information about available homes online at:  www.ElkGroveRealEstate.comOur mobile clients can find us at Mobile.ElkGroveRealEstate.com  BRE License # 01331087

 

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. BRE License #01908304

February 2014 Newsletter

Our February Service For Life Newsletter is ready to go. Just click the link below.

Jack Edwards’…
Service For Life! ®
Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living
Inside This Issue…
  • Can You Tell If That Review Is Real Or Fake?…
  • 3 Reasons Why You Should Eat This Type of Chocolate…
  • Fun Facts and Laughs: Using Credit Cards Overseas, Websites For Car Sellers & Buyers, And More…
  • Shopping in Elk Grove
  • Real Estate Q&A: What Should I Do To Find The Right Home At The Right Price?…
Jack Edwards Jack Edwards 
California BRE#01331087
Phone: 916-240-9302
Email: jack.edwards@cbnorcal.com
Reading online customer reviews is an excellent way to decide if you want to buy a product or service. But are they always real? You can learn how to tell whether a review is real or fake in this month’s Service For Life!® Free consumer newsletter.You’ll also learn why you should eat dark chocolate (yum!), what you should know about credit cards if you’re traveling internationally, and three great web sites for car sellers and buyers – plus fun facts, a trivia challenge, and lots more.

Jack Edwards

Jack Edwards, REALTOR®
California BRE#01331087

P.S.  When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide?

They may be people needing to move in the next 6 months, and you can tell them about my Free Consumer Report: “Home Seller’s Guide To Moneymaking Fix-Ups”. You’ll look really smart because this informative guide explains how to avoid costly repair rip-offs and what improvements bring the biggest return. To request a copy for a friend, simply email me by clicking here at jack.edwards@cbnorcal.com.
Today’s Brain Teaser . . .

I am not alive but I grow. I don’t have lungs, but I need air.
I don’t have a mouth, and water kills me. What am I?

(see answer below)
Is That Review Real Or Fake?

You probably look at customer reviews before you buy almost anything online. But you also know that some of the reviews may have been written by paid reviewers, company employees, competitors or people who just have too much time on their hands. These signs will help you spot the real from the fake.

Signs the review may be fake:

  • It sounds like an ad. The reviewer repeats the company name, model number and features (from the product description). For example, “You won’t believe your
  • The reviewer is anonymous. That’s a red flag. If you can, look for reviewer profiles so you can see what else they have reviewed and generally how positive or negative they may be.
  • The review is completely one sided – either positive or negative. Is anything absolutely perfect?

Signs you should look for:

  • The reviewer actually purchased the item. He or she may post pictures from a hotel you are considering. On Amazon, look for a review marked “Amazon Verified Purchase.” Also, reviews labeled “Amazon Vine” are from trusted reviewers who gave their opinions in exchange for free products.
  • The product or service has many reviews. Check for even more reviews on other sites by searching the product name followed by “reviews.” Get as many opinions as you can.
  • The reviews have pluses and minuses. For example, “This TV is great for gaming and watching sports and the size is perfect. I’m happy with the purchase but the audio quality could be better.”
  • The reviews show a consistent theme. If several reviewers mention the same problem (e.g. the sheets fade after repeated washings), you might do more shopping.
Thinking Of Selling Your Home Soon?

Don’t attempt to sell your home without my Free consumer guide,“44 Money-making Tips For Preparing Your Home To Sell.”My exclusive report will give you all the facts for a fast, top dollar sale. Just call 916-240-9302 anytime, or simply email me by jack.edwards@cbnorcal.com, and I’ll rush a copy out to you.
Why You Should Eat Chocolate

You may have heard (or hoped) that chocolate is good for you. It’s true, if you eat the right kind. Studies show that eating small amounts (7 ounces a week) of high-quality dark chocolate has health benefits. But it has to contain at least 70% cacao and be low in sugar and fat. Here are the 3 biggest benefits of eating dark chocolate:

  • It lowers your risk of heart disease.
    How?: Research indicates eating dark chocolate helps lower blood pressure. But it doesn’t work if you’re eating other things that are not healthy.
    Why?: Dark chocolate contains flavonoids. These plant chemicals have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Foods rich in flavonoids have been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.
  • It helps reduce the negative effects of stress.
    How?: Scientists have found dark chocolate to reduce anxiety (probably why you crave it when you’re stressed!). It can also help you feel happier.
    Why?: Dark chocolate raises endorphin levels in the brain, which give you an euphoric feeling. It also triggers serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter (signal to the brain) known to be an anti-depressant.
  • It may lower your Body Mass Index (BMI).
    How?: Eating dark chocolate can help your body naturally regulate your weight.
    Why?: BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height that is an indicator of body fat. Dr. David Katz of Yale University says research suggests that antioxidants might play a role in reducing inflammation, and dark chocolate in particular might help balance the hormones that facilitate weight control.
Here’s A Free, Valuable Resource…

Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com
Fun Facts and Laughs

Tips For Using Credit Cards Overseas . . .

If you’re traveling internationally, you’ll want to use credit cards for hotels, meals and large purchases, and debit cards for cash. Besides telling your bank that you’re about to take a trip so they don’t freeze your account for those purchases you make in Italy, here are two more important tips:

Avoid “Foreign-Transaction” Fees. Call your card’s customer service department to see if your card has this fee, which may be up to 3 percent of each purchase. If it does, get a card that waives the fee, including Capital One and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards. Also, ask your credit card company if you’ll be charged an ATM withdrawal fee. If your bank has a partnership with banks in other countries, you shouldn’t be charged for an in-network transaction.

Consider getting a card with a “chip.” Most U.S. cards use a magnetic strip for transferring information. Cards in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere use a microchip embedded in the card (called EMV or “chip and PIN” technology). You should get by with your card with proper identification, but you’ll have problems at automated kiosks (e.g. gas stations) that only accept “chipped” cards.

One final thought before you catch that airplane to Europe. Make sure that you have some local cash on hand when you leave home.  As soon as you arrive at your destination airport, you will need cash to buy a ticket on the train or Metro or to pay a cab driver, and you will pay dearly for cash conversions at the airport. I always go online to my bank at home and order Euros in mixed small bills. The last time we went to Europe, I ordered Swiss Francs and Euros. Will be doing it again for the next trip. A few Euros in your pocket really does simplify things and will get your trip off on the right foot. You can find our travel tips on our blog at www.TeamEdwardsTravel.com. Just click on the Blog link.

Websites For Car Sellers & Buyers . . .

• www.kbb.com — Find out how much your car is worth on this Kelley Blue Book site.

• www.carfax.com — Use it to get vehicle history reports if you’re buying a used car.

• www.edmunds.com — This car-shopping site provides car reviews, photos, videos, research, and buying tools to help you pick your next car.

Quotes To Live By . . .

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.
–John Quincy Adams

Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.
–Steve Jobs

If you lose the power to laugh, you lose the power to think.
–Clarence Darrow

Have A Laugh . . .
Please Welcome New Clients And Good Friends Into Our Real Estate Family…

I’d like to take a moment to personally introduce and welcome a few of my clients and good friends who have supported my business over the years. And special thanks for everyone who thought of me with your referrals!

Pat and Kristi Foy
Where do people shop in Elk Grove…

When I am showing clients houses, they always ask me about shopping in Elk Grove. Usually they just ask, “Where’s the Mall?”

Sadly I have to tell them that the Mall has not been built yet, but it should open as a Premium Outlet Center in late 2015. In the mean time, they still need a place to shop.

To give them an answer about where to shop, I created a local website that has information about every shopping center and mini mall in Elk Grove.  You can check out the map to find a shopping center and it will show you all of the stores in that area. Makes it easy to plan shopping as well as lunch breaks since all stores are shown. There is also a direct link to the website for each store that has a website.

Finally, there is a search link on the main page that allows you to search for the store of your desire.

What more could you ask for, other than a Mall, of course?

Check it out. Also, please let me know if a store has closed or a new one has opened so that I can update the website for you.
Brain Teaser Answer:

Fire
Thanks For Thinking of Me!Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.
Real Estate Q & A . . .
Q.  What should I do to find the right home at the right price?

A.  A tip that will help you get the home you want is to be financially prepared before you start house hunting. Here are two key points:

    • Find a motivated lender. Ask your REALTOR® (choose one who is an experienced Home Buyer Representative) to refer one or two reputable lenders to you. Study up on basic terms so you’ll be able to choose the loan that will be the best deal for your situation.
  • Get pre-APPROVED, not just pre-QUALIFIED for a loan.You’ll have more power to negotiate because the sellers know you can close on the transaction.

You can find seven more tips on saving money when buying your next home in my Free Consumer Report called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Buying Your Next Home.” Call and ask for a copy.

Do you have a question you want answered related to real estate or home ownership? Feel free to call me at 916-240-9302 or email me by clicking here. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!
THANK YOU… for reading my Service For Life!® personal newsletter.  I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and is fun and valuable to you.  Help your friends get more out of life by forwarding this email to them…
Share this issue with family and friends --- Forward To A Friend
You received this email because you requested it, are on the mailing list as {EMAIL_ADDRESS}, or a friend forwarded it to you.Disclaimer:  The information contained in this email is intended for informational purposes.  It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice.  Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This email is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.
Copyright (c) 2014 by Forte Communications, Inc.

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jack Edwards, your real estate advocate, specializes in helping buyers and sellers in Elk Grove, CA,  and the greater Sacramento area.   Get information about available homes online at:  www.ElkGroveRealEstate.comOur mobile clients can find us at Mobile.ElkGroveRealEstate.com  BRE License # 01331087

 

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. BRE License #01908304

Getting Ready to Sell Your Home…

Some great ideas brought to you by Jack Edwards at ElkGroveRealEstate.com  If you are planning to sell your home,  I am sure that your agent probably gave you a list of things to do to get your house ready. I have a handout with 44 things to do to get ready to sell that I share with my clients. If you want a copy of my list, don’t hesitate to contact me a Jack@ElkGroveRealEstate.com

In the true spirit of giving credit where credit is due, much of the info below is not something that I have been sharing with my clients, at least in this format. I will in the future, but thanks to a posting on Facebook by fellow Realtor, Sue Gibson, I am sharing her list with my modifications and additions.

Put together binder with the info below. Gathering this information before you put your home on the market may even help your home to sell faster as all of this information is available upfront, eliminating the need for guesswork and waiting on answers while another property could possibly come on the market to grab the buyer’s attention.

1. Home improvements you have made.  Provide paint recipes, wallpaper swatches, etc. Anything along these lines makes it easier for the new homeowner to match and plan. Make sure the paint cans in the garage are well marked too. If you had your house painted, re-roofed, etc… make sure to have the receipts/warranties/estimates available too. If you installed the sprinklers, please leave behind a copy of the plan so that it is easier for the new owner to make repairs or to know where to dig or not dig. A copy of your landscape plan would be helpful too.

2. Floor Plans – Buyers often need to know room dimensions to help with furniture placement n the new space. It is great to be able to provide the floor plan, but be careful about putting in the measurements. If you make a mistake, you may be held liable for the errors. I would just provide the floor plan and let the new buyer use it to record their own measurements. If you don’t have a copy from when you bought the house, ask your Realtor because he or she may have a copy. I keep copies of floor plans for all developments in my area since the time I started my real estate business.

3. Utility Bills – Buyers want to get an idea of what they can expect the heating and cooling bills to be in a home. This information can be very beneficial when a buyer sits down to number crunch their total costs of owning a home.

4. Pest Control – If you maintain any type of pest control on your property, compile information as to who the provider is, what you have done, how much you pay and how often does the company come out to treat the property. A copy of your service agreement is helpful in this instance.

5. Insurance – Buyers especially want to know who a seller uses for their homeowners insurance and how much they pay. This is particularly the case in higher risk areas (where there are hurricanes, floods, fires, etc.) With homeowners insurance potentially more difficult to obtain in some areas, going through the existing seller’s insurance company can help streamline the process, particularly on an older home.

6. Product Manuals and Warranty Documents – Now is the time to gather the various product manuals for all items that will be staying in the home such as appliances, water heater, heating and cooling system, ceiling fans, pool equipment, etc. If your home came with any warranties, be sure to include these for the new owner as well. Putting all of these in one large envelope makes it easy for everything to be readily accessible in one place for the new buyer.

7. Service providers – Compile a list of all service providers/vendors and their contact information who you have used on your home – lawn service, pool service, A/C company, garage door company, etc. While a new buyer may or may not choose to use these services, they will certainly appreciate having resources available to them.

8. Covenants and Restrictions, Neighborhood Rules and Information – Yes, it is true that the potential buyer will get a copy during the escrow process, buy it is a good idea to have this info available before the buyers show up. This is key critical information for a new owner to have on hand. A contract may likely hinge on the buyer’s review of this information, so it is best to have it available ahead of time. If you don’t have these, contact your neighborhood’s association president or management company for assistance in obtaining a copy. Many of these documents are matters of public record and are available by going online to the appropriate municipality’s website.

9. Survey – especially if you have acreage or a large lot, you might want to consider a survey. Have this document available and provide to your listing agent so they can include in the information about your home. Buyers want to know about property lines, easements, conservation buffers, if there is room for a pool, if the property line extends to the water behind your home, etc. Having a survey to provide upfront will help to eliminate these types of concerns vs. waiting until a property is under contract.

10. Important contact numbers, addresses, websites and email addresses – it is especially important that a potential buyer knows who to contact to contact when they need help. For example, who handles the Home Owners Association administration. Often it is an outside company that handles it all, and your buyer needs to be able to make contact with them.  You might even leave a list of your favorite stores and service providers. How about getting the water, gas, electricity out of your name and into theirs. They will need that info to make it happen. Last of all you may want to think about leaving your contact info behind so that the new buyer can call or email you if they have questions or if they find that you left something behind, like a box of photos up in the attic.

If you don’t have all of your contact numbers at hand, you may find them on my website at www.LivingInElkGrove.com on the “Utilities” page or the “Links” page.

Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jack Edwards, your real estate advocate, specializes in helping buyers and sellers in Elk Grove, CA,  and the greater Sacramento area.   Get information about available homes online at:  www.ElkGroveRealEstate.comOur mobile clients can find us at Mobile.ElkGroveRealEstate.com  BRE License # 01331087

 

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. BRE License #01908304

One Cool Thing – Median Home Prices In California

CaliforniaMedianHomePricesByCounty2014As you can see, homes are still very affordable. If you are thinking about buying, don’t wait until prices go up and interest rates go up. You might miss out!!! 


Start building your memories,
as you turn your house into a home. 

As you might guess, this document is a compilation of information from our own efforts as REALTORS, as well as input from other REALTORS in our Coldwell Banker office.  I hope it has been of value to you.  Don’t hesitate to email us with any suggestions that will make this document better for you and your fellow homeowners!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ElkGroveRealEstate.  For information about properties available for sale and for more information for buyers and sellers, please visit our website at www.ElkGroveRealEstate.com and don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email with your questions.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Jack Edwards, your real estate advocate, specializes in helping buyers and sellers in Elk Grove, CA,  and the greater Sacramento area.   Get information about available homes online at:  www.ElkGroveRealEstate.comOur mobile clients can find us at Mobile.ElkGroveRealEstate.com  BRE License # 01331087

 

©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. BRE License #01908304