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"My business grows from your referrals…Thank you so much!!"
Laura Hadden, J.D., SFR
Prudential Lovejoy Realty
17305 Cedar Ave. #110
Lakeville, MN 55044
Cell: (952) 303-1842
Office: (952) 854-2888
LHadden@Prudentiallovejoy.com
https://www.facebook.com/LauraHaddenHomes
Published: November 1, 2011
Americans still think buying a home is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. Here are some ways to increase your home’s value and comfort for less than $1,000.
We knew reports of the death of American home ownership were greatly exaggerated (nod to Mark Twain), and now we’ve got the numbers to prove it.
A just-released survey by the Meredith Corp., which publishes Better Homes and Gardens magazine, says the vast majority of people polled believe owning a home is a smart financial move and a source of pride.
Here are some results of the 2,500 people surveyed online:
A thousand bucks may not seem like a lot, but it goes long way toward improving the value and comfort of your home. Here are some projects we recommend:
1. Add a new entry door. Spruce up your curb appeal and save energy by upgrading your exterior door. Steel doors, which can mimic many types of wood, typically run for $400 at big-box stores and offer the strongest barrier against intruders.
2. Get organized. Decluttering and maximizing storage space are inexpensive ways to transform a home. Add space to kids’ rooms by installing platform or bunk beds ($400-$600); neaten piles of shoes with shoe organizers ($20), which can do double duty as catch-all organizers in family room closets and kitchen pantries; extend bookshelves to the ceiling, creating storage in otherwise dead space.
3. Save with a programmable thermostat. Switching from a manual to a programmable thermostat (less than $500) can save you up to $180 a year in energy costs. The latest models offer remote programming via the Internet.
4. Replace cabinet hardware. If you’ve got traditional knobs and pulls, try contemporary; change from staid to whimsical. Big-box retailers often have huge selections for budget prices. (10-pack for $20).
5. Update bathroom flooring. Give bathrooms a quick facelift by replacing old tile with vinyl flooring or ceramic tile, which can cost as little as $3 per square foot for material and installation.
6. Create luxury with a shower panel. Turn you bathroom into a spa with a programmable shower panel with adjustable spray jets, fog-free mirror, and multifunctional shower head. Most systems easily attach to existing plumbing. Panels typically sell for $360.
7. Turn a mudroom into a garden room. Bring nature inside by recasting your drab mudroom into a flower-filled garden room. (If you already have a utility sink, you’re halfway there. If not, it will cost you $200 to $350 to tap into existing, nearby plumbing, and $80 for a plastic tub.) Repurpose an old wood table into a potting bench. And hang your basket collection from J-hooks attached to a forged iron curtain rod ($100).
What improvements have you made recently under $1,000? What are you planning to do in the next six months?
So, you think you are finally ready to buy a home. You have heard so much about the great deals out there and you have waited to see where things are going to go. Now you have decided to jump in. Before you do, there are some important things you need to know.
ALWAYS check with a mortgage professional before even calling a real estate agent. Why? Because you really should know what you qualify for. Maybe you will find you have to fix a couple of things on your credit report (often there are entries that aren’t even yours!). You should get pre-qualified up to a certain dollar figure so you know what you can pay for a home if you choose to. It can be very disheartening for buyers to find a home they love only to discover they cannot affort it. This doesn’t mean that if you aren’t comfortable with a payment as high as you qualify for that you can’t stay within your comfort zone.
KNOW what you qualify for. It is important to know what type of loan you qualify for or what you choose to go with. If it is an FHA loan, this will have an impact on the type (condition) of home you can buy. I frequently have people tell me that they are willing to do “some work.” Usually that equates to paint, carpet, minor repairs, etc. Most buyer’s don’t want to have mold removed by a certified mold specialist, or replace concrete, roofs, garages, flooring in the home – you name it, I have seen it. Even if you are willing to do this work, an FHA loan will not allow it because the home has to pass certain guidelines BEFORE you close. A conventional loan allows a little more leeway, but not a lot. Homes that need this much work are generally properties that investors buy.
BE REALISTIC. Remember those “great deals” you heard about? They are no more. In fact, as time marches on it is becoming more and more of a seller’s market. That does not mean that you will be paying too much for a home. The home prices are still far lower they were before the recession. And interest rates are still fantastic, although they are starting to creep up. So, what your friend, family member, co-worker, etc. paid for their house in 2010-2012 will very likely be much less than what you will pay now. And those homes that look like a good deal/price, well…see above.
FLEXIBILITY is key. Be flexible on the type of home you will consider. You will find a much better deal on a townhome/twin home now because there are many more on the market than single family homes. The inventory is very low for single family homes currently, which drives the price up and the good ones go fast! There are many different types of twin homes/townhomes, some with more privacy than others. Always something to consider.
PRICING can vary in different cities/towns. The more you will consider the better odds you will have finding what you want in the price range you want. Many of my clients started out saying they had to live in this one town, or maybe 2. Think ahead about why you are choosing the areas that you are, and if there might be some possibility that you could live in a neighboring community.
ASK your real estate professional for help in these areas. They are on the ground out there, and they are very knowledgeable. I never mind answering questions, explaining, and/or helping someone decide what will or will not work for them. Maybe it is not the time for them to buy – and that’s okay! But ask the questions – your real estate professional is a wealth of information and can navigate this very difficult process for you. And best of all, the commission is paid by the seller so you don’t have to pay a dime!
Call me, any time, for more information!
Laura Hadden
Prudential Lovejoy Realty
(952) 303-1842
lhadden@prudentiallovejoy.com
During this time of year I try to start thinking about my business plan for the coming year. I’m supposed to figure out what my goals are, what I want to continue doing, what I want to change, etc. A big part of my plan has to include a budget, which means I have to figure out how much money I have to spend to keep my business going. This includes, but is not limited to, license fees, association fees, required education costs, marketing costs, etc. I also have to try to project what I will make the coming year, and set goals. I am not good at doing this, and I think it’s because I don’t really think of what I do as a business. I don’t think of people as a business.
When I take buyers out looking at homes I don’t look at the commission payout and if I notice it I am not influenced by it. I look to see if the seller will accept a certain type of loan, for example, FHA. I try to tell what shape it is in and whether that will impact the buyers loan. I look to see that it has at least most of the specific’s the buyer is looking for (or doesn’t have in some instances). Then, if there is not time for me to preview I do my best to at least drive by it. If a buyer is really int3erested I will run comps – do a market analysis, to ensure that not only are the buyer’s not paying too much for the home, but that it will appraise at the accepted price so the loan can go through.
I also don’t care if the buyer purchases the first home they see, or the 52nd home (this happened) they see. I didn’t mind because I had so much fun looking and spending time with my client. To me, everything is a learning experience, and one can never have too much learning.
I have to know about different types of contracts, what’s standard and what’s not; different types of loans because although I’m not involved with the financial aspect, I have to know how it might impact an offer or the possibility of getting that loan given the circumstances of that home. I also have to be familiar with earnest money, negotiations, inspections, appraisals, addendums, amendments, closing costs, to name a few. I have sold some properties that were farms, with wells instead of city water, with sewage treatment on the property or toxic items, variances, laws in the specific county/city to ensure what the buyer wants to do conforms to the ordinances. The list goes on. This short list are just some of things I think about every day.
So, when I have to develop a business plan and Market myself, I am at a loss. The marketing part does not sit well with me. I feel like prospective buyers think I’m about to attack, like I feel when I walk by a store in the mall and a sales person is standing in the doorway ready to pounce. I honestly will walk far away from that store, even if I wanted to go there! I have no intention of trying to make someone buy a home, any home, but especially one they are not ready to buy or is more expensive than they are comfortable with. I would just like to have a chance to be interviewed by prospective clients to see if we would be a good fit. I know I am very good at what I do, and that I go far above and beyond what many agents will do. But how do I convey this without frightening people? I don’t know…another thing I will have to work on in the new year!
And so, I will work on this business plan, and I will try to be better at marketing myself because do have to earn money to support my family: Voice lessons, guitar lessons, help pay for my son’s flying major in college (very expensive), food for the kids and animals… I know, you get it. But at the end of the day, I will spend most of my time representing my clients needs because thatis what this business is really all about to me.
"My business grows from your referrals…Thank you so much!!"
Laura Hadden, J.D., SFR
Prudential Lovejoy Realty
17305 Cedar Ave. #110
Lakeville, MN 55044
Cell: (952) 303-1842
Office: (952) 854-2888
LHadden@Prudentiallovejoy.com
https://www.facebook.com/LauraHaddenHomes
This is my very first blog post….EVER! I just thought I should explain a bit about what I plan to include in this blog and why, although I am certain it will be ever evolving!
I have found that the thing I love most about real estate is the opportunity to get to know people – to spend time with them so I can help them make the best decisions regarding their real estate needs for THEM! I provide information and answer questions, I ask questions, but most of all, I listen. I need to really hear what my clients are saying in order to reach their objective in a timely and financially sound manner. There are so many aspects of real estate that we as agents sometimes take for granted and forget to share with our clients. I really enjoy taking the time to educate, after all if my clients knew everything they wouldn’t need me! Although, I am pretty awesome:)
I really like to work with first time home buyers because I generally get to spend a great deal of time with them and help them every step of the way with the process. Often first time home buyers are so excited to buy a home they don’t necessarily hear everything that is said. It is my job to make sure they hear and understand what the process entails and what they have to do to attain their goal….to buy their “dream” home!
So, in essence, I frequently come across useful information, both in working with clients as well as from real estate news, at the office, through contacts, etc. that I think is worthy of being passed on. I would also love ideas about what you would like to see in this blog – If I don’t know about the particular subject matter I will research it and find out!
© 2012 Laura Hadden Homes *The information and opinions expressed here are those of Laura Hadden and not necessarily those of Prudential Lovejoy Realty. Prudential Lovejoy Realty is an Equal Housing Broker.
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