Swimming Pools: Inside and Out
September 24, 2010
Swimming pools can make or break your decision to purchase a home. Perhaps they’re too costly, or maybe they’re a safety hazard. Then again, you might rather prefer your own private pool for therapy purposes rather than getting a membership at the local YMCA. Here are some notes to influence your final decision.
Health Hazards of an Indoor Swimming Pool
It’s been suggested that people with asthma should attend indoor swimming pools because the humidity in the air has been said to be good for their lungs. However, some people may not realize that attending an indoor swimming pool has often caused asthma attacks. This is because many public places with indoor swimming pools don’t take the time to measure the chemical content of the air in the room; they typically only measure the chemical content of the water itself to be sure it’s clean enough to use.
In order to be sure the overall atmosphere is not as dangerous, you should remember to measure the chemical content in the air, paying close attention to the content of the chemical nitrogen trichloride. This chemical is formed when nitrogen created by the oils and sweat from your skin comes into contact with the amount of chlorine within the pool, which then leads to the irritation of your eyes and respiratory system. It is most dangerous because it’s typically located right above the surface of the water where most swimmers encounter it as they come up for a breath of air.
Purchasing a chlorine salt system seems an expensive investment in the beginning, but in the long run it’s well worth your money. It winds up being cheaper to do this in order to reduce health issues caused by nitrogen trichloride and other harmful chemicals when inhaled in excess than it would be to constantly purchase endless amounts of chlorine. Using the salt system is better for your skin, as well. It does not dry out your skin as much as a regular chlorinated pool does. Also, make sure your pool is cleaned regularly and that the pumps work on an exceptionally high level.
Safety Issues of Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pools
Having an indoor swimming pool can be both helpful and harmful to parents with young children. If you decide to purchase a home with an indoor swimming pool, be sure the room’s entrance has a lock and only you have access to the key. Try to avoid letting your children know where the key is located, and always make sure that when they’re using the swimming pool, they’re under adult supervision. It’s always important to have someone who knows how to swim around the pool, especially when younger children are swimming.
Outdoor swimming pools are the same way. If you’re looking to purchase a home with an outdoor swimming pool, keep in mind that some states enforce a fencing law. This law mandates that if you have an outdoor swimming pool, you must have some sort of fence surrounding it, mainly for safety reasons. Of course, it’s not likely that you’d need a key to monitor your swimming pool in this case; but if your swimming pool cannot be accessed as soon as you walk out your back door, for instance, then it would be a wise decision to keep a lock and key handy.
Fun Times with Swimming Pools
Pool parties are the “in thing” during the months of summer. Birthday parties, graduation parties, anniversary celebrations, and more all are great events to celebrate with throwing a party in your backyard. The smell of hot dogs and hamburgers and the feel of the cool pool water on your skin are what define summer. Owning your own swimming pool will make you the life of the neighborhood and the gem of your children’s friends’ eyes. 
Both indoor and outdoor swimming pools are useful sources of exercise and physical therapy, as well. Though they can require fairly high maintenance, they are well worth your time if you use your pool regularly. If you live in an area with a climate that is constantly on the warmer side, you’ll be able to take advantage of the pleasures of your swimming pool all year round. And if you have an indoor swimming pool, you could heat it so that even if you don’t live in a warmer climate you’ll be able to use it all year long, as well.
Be sure to check for further proper maintenance care before and during your purchase of your swimming pool if your final decision is to purchase a home with one.
Remodeling Your Basement: Ideas to Boost the Comfort of Your Pad and Home Value
September 14, 2010
Are you tired of looking at that ugly cement floor and cinder-block walls? Then perhaps it’s time to refurbish your basement, to give it a new glow, an exciting environment that people actually want to spend time in. Many of us use the excuse that our basements are for storage. Yeah, it’s great storage space, but how ’bout spicing it up a bit? Create a whole new pad, save a room or two for your clutter that you might use once a year (those holiday decorations, especially the pesky strands of lights that never cease to tangle no matter how you store them).
Remodel Your Basement: Room for Entertainment
How awesome would it be to have a game room for a basement? It wouldn’t be that boring, dreary place young kids are afraid to venture down to. It would be a place where they and their friends could go to hang out, play some video games or pop in a movie on the big screen, play those old fashioned board games, or maybe table tennis or air hockey.
Not just for kids, the game lounge would be a family fun area. Rather than spending endless amounts of money to have a good time at the movies or amusement parks, you and your family can spend quality time together downstairs in your newly finished basement playing classic board or trivia games, or perhaps you could all enjoy a nice family movie with a bag or two of popcorn you just pulled out of the microwave on top of that miniature fridge in the corner.
Remodel Your Basement: Gettin’ Crafty
Maybe, instead of finishing the entire basement with attractive carpeting and comfortable furniture, you’d like to make a little workshop for yourself. Perhaps you don’t have a special place in the rest of the house where you can get messy doing hobbies you enjoy. Accidentally splattering paint on the carpet in the den wouldn’t be the best idea, so why not go downstairs and make your own miniature studio where dripping a bit of paint on the uncarpeted floor isn’t such a catastrophic event?
Remodel Your Basement: What’s That? A Sports Bar?
How ’bout adding a fancy bar to your home? Just put down a hardwood floor, throw some barstools down there, and install a flat screen TV. Oh yeah, and put up some shelves and a bar countertop, as well, and you’ve got yourself a sporty location to watch the next heated football game!
Your best bet to redesigning your basement in any way would be to hire a professional in whatever field you’re looking to get into. If you’re looking to turn your basement into a lounge for the kids, ask a variety of contractors for estimates and choose whomever you find most reasonable and trustworthy to get the job done. If you want to make a workshop or studio in an unfinished basement, that’s something you could do on your own which would save you money on supplies and labor. Then again, if you’re interested in a sports bar, collaborate your ideas with a contractor and you’ve got yourself a basement and a half!
15 Houses Where Murder Killed the Property Value
September 9, 2010
Homeowners are very protective of their property’s value. It’s not uncommon for residents to complain to neighbors about loud paint jobs or auto parts strewn about a front lawn, just two examples of the many ways in which a homeowner can ostensibly lower the value of their property and the properties surrounding them. But while these kinds of eye sores are easily perceived from the exterior of a home, the really terrible things that can affect a home’s value are often happening away from prying eyes. Here are 15 houses who had their value negatively affected by heinous acts committed on their property.
7 Quick Tips for Staging Your Home
July 13, 2010
Now that you put on your house on the market the next step is staging your home for potential buyers. It’s important to de-associate your home as the place you live. Remember, the end goal is to sell your home, so think of it as a product or commodity to potential buyers. The reason for staging your home is to present it in the most visually pleasing way possible so buyers are able to imagine themselves actually living there. Keep in mind that staging does not entail decorating. Executing on effective solutions to enhance your homes appeal will have immediate, positive impressions upon the potential buyer.
Enhance Curb Appeal –Since the potential buyer’s interest first lies in the exterior visibility of the home, you want to make sure that everything is up to par. Replacing front entry hardware alone will increase curb appeal tremendously. In addition, you want to update the front entry further by providing a fresh coat of paint to exterior doors, garages and window trim. You also want to take a look around the patio, walkways and steps to determine if there is cracking that needs to be fixed. In regards to landscaping, keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly and trim the bushes. Also, store away any landscaping tools, RVs and old beaten up cars so they are not visible to the buyer.
De-Personalize – Potential buyers ultimately want to picture themselves, family and friends in the home. Pack up all the personal belongings including photographs and family heirlooms. Having personal artifacts on display will distract the buyer from imaging their own personal possessions in the home.
Organize Closet and Storage Space – New homes buyers absolutely love to peek in the closets and cabinets. Make sure everything is well organized and not falling out on the potential homebuyer as they open a door! Neatly stack dishes and glassware, provide an organized utensil drawer, line up shoes, hang or fold clothing and place your hamper in a reasonable location, preferably out of site. (Note: if you need to replace or upgrade your cabinetry prior to staging, consider this site to buy cabinets online.)
Provide a Clutter-Free Home – In retrospect, you have probably collected a majority of keepsakes and treasures, otherwise known as “junk” that are useless on day to day basis and even a yearly basis! Keep in mind that you will soon have to pack up your home and prepare for moving day. So why not de-clutter your home now, while your home is on the market. Remove books from the bookshelves, put knickknacks away, trash the magazines, donate old toys that have collected dust, dispense old towels, sheets and curtains, etc.
Rent a Self-Storage Unit – I’m sure you have heard of the saying, “less is more.” Keep this in mind when staging your home. Less furniture will actually open up space and have it appear larger by removing the pieces that block pathways or are there for comfort. There are a ton of self-storage locations where you can store all the photographs, books, furniture and RV’s. At FindMySelfStorage.com, you can locate a self storage unit near you, for both indoor and outdoor use. Also, make sure to store away any appliances you don’t wish to sell.
Make it Sparkle – Don’t forget to dust, vacuum and do all the necessity cleaning before opening your doors to the public. Make your furniture look brand new and have the glass and counter-tops sparkle.
Bake Cookies – It’s often recommended that the smell of cookies baking allows potential buyers to feel at home, in a warm environment. Make sure you lure the buyers in and put that cookie dough in the oven!
Of course, there are a variety of additional staging elements that can be done in prepping your home for sale. However, to make the most of the staging process, it is best to hire a staging expert or real estate agent that can better assist in all areas of selling your home.
Need Help Avoiding Foreclosure?
May 21, 2010
Millions of people go through the troubles of foreclosure each year, and in today’s market, that number seems to only increase. What should you do to avoid being the victim of such a predicament? When you come to the realization that you will not be able to or can’t make your mortgage payments on time, you should contact your lender as soon as possible. Ignoring this obstacle will only increase your risk of foreclosure. Not sure how to get a hold of your lender? Just take out an old mortgage statement and his/her contact information should then be easily accessed. Your lender will be able to provide you with some options that will help you avoid losing your home. Getting help early can aid in lessening the amount of damage placed on your line of credit.
Mortgage Forbearance
Forbearance is just one of the options your lender may offer you in order to put off your probability of foreclosure. With this option, the lender will place a hold on your monthly mortgage payments. The hold can usually last for about a year while you pull yourself back on your feet. If stopping payments isn’t an option, it might be possible to work with your lender to reduce your payments. Forbearance can also be combined with a repayment plan or reinstatement, both of which will be discussed in detail below.
Modifying Your Loan
Modifying your loan creates a permanent change within the terms of your original loan. When you collaborate with your mortgage company to modify your loan, you’re making a commitment to continue making payments but this time the amount you pay per month would be less, making it more affordable. It is also possible to change more than one term on a loan.
What is a Repayment Plan?
Often combined with a forbearance offer, this type of plan allows you to pay your required monthly rate plus a certain percentage higher at a specified term after the forbearance. This helps you pay back what was not paid during the forbearance period within an agreed-upon time frame. Once that term is up, you will have paid back those payments you missed and will then be back to paying a set rate.
What is a Reinstatement Plan?
This type of plan is also often used in a forbearance offer, as well. With reinstatement, the lender allows you to pay back what you owe all at once by a set date. If you take advantage of this plan, you’ll seem more credible by showing them that you’ll be receiving some sort of lump sum in the near future, perhaps in stocks or bonuses. This allows the mortgage company to see that you mean business, that you won’t just tell them you’ll pay them back and then go against your word. Showing them proof reassures that they can trust that you’ll be able to return the necessary payments all at one time.
Refinance Your Mortgage
Refinancing your home is probably the most well-known possible option when you feel as though you might soon face foreclosure. By refinancing your home to pay a lower mortgage rate, you may have the money to pay off other debts.
Always be sure to look at all your options before choosing a plan that may not be to your best interest. Look out for those sites that suggest fees for learning how to reduce your risk or get out of foreclosure altogether, because the information you need is completely free and easily accessed by using the Internet. You have the world at your fingertips; take advantage of it!
GetMyHomesValue.com Supports March of Dimes
May 13, 2010
The other day, GetMyHomesValue.com (GMHV) employees gathered around outside during a lunch break that proved to be an exciting event for all involved, even spectators. It was time to get revenge on the bosses. It was time to pie some people in the face.
Fund-Raising for March of Dimes
The event was a fundraiser for March of Dimes, a well-known nonprofit organization that raises money to support the health of unborn babies. Their research and efforts have helped and continue to help reduce premature births, birth defects, and infant mortality. Throwing pies at the owners and employees was just one of the many opportunities offered during a silent auction in mid-April. Other options included offers such as a catered lunch for 6, a one hour massage, a weekend trip to a beach house in Wildwood, flight director of a rocket launch, guitar lessons and more. This and other fundraisers helped GMHV raise over $1600 to benefit the March of Dimes’ March for Babies campaign.
The Results
We all watched at noon as 6 vanilla cream pies were splattered in the managers’ faces, one by one. Donned in trash bags, Dave Conklin, Rory Wilfong, and Steve Young, the founders of GMHV, left the event with vanilla cream and purple dye dripping from their faces. They weren’t the only three though. Sales Manager Jim Bradford and Customer Success Specialist Mike King got pied as well. COO, John Fraunfelter placed the highest bid on his own pie hoping to avoid being smacked with it, so employees urged COO John Fraunfelter to eat his pie with no hands. Take a look to see what happened next!
Pies in the Face for March of Dimes from Dave Conklin on Vimeo.
B-A-B-I-E-S. There were 6 pies and only 5 victims, so the sixth pie was auctioned off on site to hit whomever the winner wanted. After a heated debate, Heather Heffner won the final pie and was thrilled to pie Mike King, smack in the face!
Events like these allow the employees to have fun in the workplace! That, along with the added benefit of a great cause makes for a fun-filled (and messy) day at GMHV!
Celebrity Homes Market is Falling
May 11, 2010
The housing market today isn’t horrible just for your average homeowner. Celebrities are experiencing the hardships of selling their multimillion dollar homes, as well. It’s important to take inflation into account, but sometimes people completely disregard this idea and charge whatever they please. Other times, people just want to get rid of their homes. Celebrities are no exception to these situations.
Nick’s Got High Expectations
Nicholas Cage decided to purchase a gorgeous home built in 1940 with 9 bedrooms as well as bathrooms on the market for about $7 million in 1998. In 2006, Cage decided he would put it on the housing market for approximately $35 million. From 1998 to 2006, the average house on the market increased from $138,925 to a whopping $303,517–that’s a 218% increase! However, Cage must not have paid much attention to this shift, as he increased his $7 million home by 500%.
Three years later, he made a wise decision to remove his house from the market but then put it back up a few months later at almost $20 million. From 1998 to 2009, the market experienced an increase of 193%, but this didn’t matter to Cage. He listed his home at around a 286% increase. Mr. Cage just won’t give up!
When putting their homes on the market at such high increases, it is a sign that these people are either not really interested in parting with their homes or perhaps their hopes are just too high.
Slash’s Price Gets Slashed
In January of 2006, former Guns N’ Roses crazy guitarist Slash purchased a home in Hollywood Hills for $6.2 million. Though included on the property was a swimming pool and private gym, the guitarist claimed that the house with such outstanding views was not nearly as attractive as the real estate agent had portrayed it to be. A dissatisfied Slash sold this home for $5.7 million in December of the following year and pursued suing his private agent to justify the deception he faced when dealing with this particular agent.
Houses listed at over $20 million dollars are sitting and have been sitting on the market for a number of years now, because not many people are looking for something that large or expensive. Celebrities are even holding off from purchasing such highly priced homes, even if they have a 35-seat movie theater or private gym.
The Worth of a Spectacular View
May 3, 2010
Are you in the market for a home on the beach or something in a small town? Do you want to know just how much the values of these houses differ depending on their location? Check out the differences of values based on their locations below to get an idea of just what you’re looking for.
Unobstructed View at Ground Level
Neighboring houses are at the same level as your home, but with this view, you are able to see land that is nonresidential or commercial. If you’re living in the country, the probability of your house’s view being of woods is very high. Though for some people this view may be calming, it isn’t the most desirable view. With what the majority of people perceive as a fairly attractive view in this sort of environment could increase the home’s value by close to 3%.
Partially Obstructed View on a Rooftop
Sometimes a view from above isn’t always the best option. If you’re in the city, other roofs may be higher than your location. This can be a turnoff for some people, but others may like this inner city atmosphere. If you have a passion for living in the city and you enjoy a view from the top, there is a chance that the value of your rooftop home may climb up to 5%.
Medium Elevation with an Unobstructed View
Medium elevated homes with this type of view can be found on small hills. Their inhabitants are able to view their surroundings to a certain extent from each side of the house. However, since they are not highly elevated, the inhabitants cannot usually see past the other houses within small communities. Within a small community, a view like this may lift up your home’s value by approximately 8%.
High Elevation with an Unobstructed View
The worth of these buildings often depends on where they are located. Buildings in major cities like Las Vegas are going to cost much more than buildings of high elevation in small towns. If the house you are looking at is highly elevated in a secluded location, the price is also going to be higher than in a small town. The house’s value can rise up around 12%.
Water View Unobstructed
Depending upon the house’s location in relation to the body of water it overlooks, its value may increase anywhere from 15 to an outstanding 80%, possibly even higher! Small, fairly unknown rivers won’t raise the value of a home nearly as much as an open view of an ocean, enhanced by a golden yellow sunset on the horizon. A house on the market for nearly $200,000 located somewhere like on a small hill could easily be worth $317,000. A place on the shores of a lake in this situation could be worth nearly $450,000.
Always make sure you do your research, with a strong focus on values in your desired location(s), before you purchase a home. Also, don’t rule out the power of a real estate agent. It would be a good idea to consult an agent for advice.
Residential Appraisals: The 411
April 21, 2010
There are plenty of things to keep in mind when getting your home appraised–everything from choosing the right appraiser for you to being sure you know just what your appraiser is doing.
Choosing Your Appraiser
Are you refinancing or buying a home? If so, your lender will most likely be choosing who appraises the home. If the choice is up to you, however, there are a few things you should do, including the following:
* Find a real estate broker, possibly by going online or looking in your phone book, to get a reference for an appraiser who is licensed.
* Double-check with your prospective appraiser his or her rates, and ask him or her when the appraisal will take place and ideally how long it will take to complete.
* Meet with your appraiser at a time that is most convenient for him or her, and ask that person when a good time for him or her to take a look at your property would be so that you are able to be home at the same time.
* Be sure to have the appraiser include the following in appraisal:
o A brief survey of your home and your neighborhood, and
o A note as to the sales of three homes within your area over the past three months.
* Make sure the appraiser you choose has no personal connection with you. This is especially important in that if you know the appraiser, you may not receive a fair appraisal. That person may be biased, and it may even cause problems with your relationship further down the road.
What You Can Find in an Appraisal Report
Ever wonder what exactly goes into the final appraisal report? It focuses specifically on your property, more commonly known among appraisers as the subject property, and its significantly noticeable negative qualities (i.e., a decaying foundation) that will bring down the subject property’s monetary value.
The report also compares your property to a few others in your area, including the type of area in which your house is located, such as a development. This helps when the appraiser is estimating the overall value of your home. The appraisal report also includes, in relation to the subject property’s value, your area’s general real estate market.
Lastly, the appraiser includes in the appraisal report an estimated sales time for your property.
Two Approaches to Appraising in the Residential Appraisal Field
Sales Comparison
The appraiser uses surrounding properties, or comparables (comps), to better estimate the subject property’s value. He or she then alters the characteristics of the comps so that the appraisal of the subject property is more accurate.
Cost
This type of approach is used mostly and most efficiently for newer properties. In this case, the price it costs to put together a house is readily available, so the appraiser can have a better idea of the monetary value. He or she is better able to estimate the cost it would take to rebuild the house if it was demolished in some way.
When looking to get your home appraised, be sure to keep the above in mind. It will be to your benefit in the long run.
Buying a “Hot” Vacation Home
March 24, 2010
It’s that time of year again—time to forget about school or work for a well-known nation-wide week known as Spring Break! Many people reserve beach front houses or hotel rooms each year. But what if you had your own getaway home overlooking a gorgeous view of the sun rising and setting over the ocean?
If you had your own beach front property, it would save you the stress of registering for a house every year. By renting for a week each year, you don’t get the opportunity to make your vacation spot your own. Sure, it’s nice not worrying about the responsibility of furnishing a house when you’re renting, but being able to personalize your own space makes such a difference. Perhaps, when the weather is bad for a day or two and you’re stuck inside, you may feel more [comfortable/at home] surrounded by photos of friends and family and around other treasured, personal items. You can remodel the home to fit your preferences, as well.
Determining the Ideal Season to Buy
It’s springtime. The snow is gone, the sun seems brighter with each day it rises. Though the spring is known to be the busiest time to purchase real estate around the beach, especially in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, that doesn’t mean it’s the worst time. The earlier you buy a summer home, the better off you are. Purchasing a second home around this time of year allows time to close the deal by late spring. It is also much easier to take a look at many prospective vacation homes because no one usually leases them around this time. It’s simply not beach weather just yet.
Summer, on the other hand, is the worst time to consider purchasing beach front property. Owners and companies are leasing to strangers left and right, so going to visit the houses to see their conditions is almost impossible. Tourists are everywhere! If a house happens to be available to show, it’s typically not a convenient time for you as the potential buyer.
When the leaves begin to turn and a chill is in the air, you’re more likely to have an opportunity to browse the homes along the shores. Why? Well, no one wants to be on the beach in the cold! The water is too cold to draw in foreigners at this point, so not many people will occupy the types of homes you’re interested in. Purchasing a second home now, in the fall, gives you plenty of time to make any sorts of repairs you find necessary, and you’ll have any time between that winter and spring to move in your belongings.
Real estate sales are generally lower around wintertime. Some people say this is due to the lack of available attractions. Summer shops are closed along with some of the locally popular restaurants. Though sales are down, it’s much easier to shop for a house along the beach in the winter because not everyone is thinking about their summer vacations. Many of us are concerned with preparing for family get-togethers to celebrate the holidays.
It would be best, then, to take advantage of sales during the fall and winter seasons. Prices tend to be lower, and there are lest tourists roaming the towns. Less traffic means you’ll have a much easier time searching for what could be the vacation home of your dreams.