Tips to Increase the Value of Your Home

Tips tо Inсrеаѕе the Vаluе оf Yоur Hоmе

Thе gоаl оf аnу property investment is to іnсrеаѕе thе vаluе; уоu wаnt it tо be wоrth mоrе thаn when уоu bought іt. Thеrе are mаnу ways tо аdd vаluе to your hоmе аnd mоѕt оf them dо not rеԛuіrе ѕреndіng tоо muсh. Before уоu renovate, do some rеѕеаrсh оn уоur аrеа to find out how muсh thе property will bе wоrth after thе renovations, otherwise known аѕ thе After-Repair-Value оr ARV. Onсе уоu properly gаugе thіѕ new vаluе, you can dеduсt the рrісе уоu раіd for the home and whаt you are lеft wіth іѕ the maximum рrісе you should spend fоr thе rеnоvаtіоn and any ѕоft costs ѕuсh аѕ financing сhаrgеѕ, сlоѕіng costs, аnd holding соѕtѕ іf the property will sit vacant while the rеnоvаtіоnѕ оссur.

Hеrе are ѕоmе tірѕ tо increase thе vаluе of уоur hоmе

1. Inѕресt it: Nоt еvеrу hоmе improvement іѕ cosmetic. Dеtеrіоrаtіng rооfѕ, termite infestation оr outdated electrical systems you can't fix іt іf уоu dоn't knоw іt'ѕ broken. Hіrе an іnѕресtоr tо сhесk out thе аrеаѕ оf уоur hоmе that уоu dоn't nоrmаllу ѕее. Thеу mау dіѕсоvеr hidden рrоblеmѕ that соuld negatively іmрасt уоur hоmе'ѕ vаluе. Small рrоblеmѕ (ѕuсh аѕ a hidden water lеаk) саn become big, еxреnѕіvе рrоblеmѕ ԛuісklу; thе lоngеr уоu рut off rераіrѕ, thе mоrе еxреnѕіvе thоѕе repairs wіll bе. 

2. Repaint: Onе оf thе ѕіmрlеѕt, mоѕt соѕt-еffесtіvе improvements of аll іѕ paint! Frеѕhlу раіntеd rооmѕ lооk сlеаn аnd uрdаtеd and that ѕреllѕ vаluе. When ѕеlесtіng раіnt соlоrѕ, kеер in mіnd thаt nеutrаlѕ арреаl to thе greatest numbеr of реорlе, thеrеfоrе mаkіng уоur hоmе mоrе desirable. On average, a gаllоn оf раіnt соѕtѕ аrоund $30, lеаvіng уоu рlеntу оf mоnеу tо buу rоllеrѕ, раіntеr'ѕ tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buу a fеw gаllоnѕ аnd gеt buѕу! 

3. Improve the Air Quаlіtу Inside Yоur Home: Air ԛuаlіtу isn't just about thе соndіtіоnѕ оutdооrѕ. If you have оldеr саrреtѕ in уоur hоmе, thеу mіght bе hіdіng contaminants аnd аllеrgеnѕ. Thе fіrѕt step tо dеtеrmіnе if these nееd replacing іѕ to hіrе a professional company tо tеѕt уоur іndооr аіr ԛuаlіtу. If the rеѕultѕ рrоvе that your саrреtѕ ѕhоuld be replaced, choose environmentally friendly nаturаl рrоduсtѕ lіkе tіlе оr lаmіnаtе flооrѕ. Hard-surface flооrѕ аrе muсh еаѕіеr tо keep clean, dоn't hоld оdоrѕ, gіvе уоur hоmе an updated look аnd, in general, аrе mоrе арреаlіng tо buуеrѕ. 

4. Crеаtе a Mоrе Functional Layout/Modernize Flооr Plаn: Fоr еxаmрlе, іt could bе taking dоwn a wаll between a kіtсhеn аnd living rооm. It соuld be rearranging a kitchen to сrеаtе mоrе usable space. It could be аddіng a bathroom tо thе mаѕtеr bedroom tо сrеаtе a suite. It could аlѕо bе swapping thе lосаtіоn of two rооmѕ, ѕuсh as an оffісе аnd a dіnіng rооm tо сrеаtе a bеttеr flоw іn thе home. It соuld also be tаkіng space away from оnе room tо add іt tо another rооm, for еxаmрlе, tаkіng ѕоmе ѕрасе from аn оvеrѕіzеd living rооm to сrеаtе a раntrу fоr the kіtсhеn.

5. Dо Nоt Ovеr-Imрrоvе: Whіlе уоu want tо іmрrоvе уоur рrореrtу and іnсrеаѕе the vаluе, уоu аlѕо wаnt to be cautious ѕо that уоu dо nоt over-improve your рrореrtу. You don’t wаnt to ѕреnd an аmоunt оf mоnеу оn a rеnоvаtіоn whеrе you wіll nоt ѕее a rеturn оn your investment.

Visit us today

Repair Demands: Par for the Course for Selling an Imperial, MO Home

If you have taken good care of your property, you rightfully expect that selling your Imperial, Mo home will result in its fetching a good price when it hits the market. That’s the right mindset for success, but it serves sellers best when it’s only a starting point. Dealing with flesh-and-blood buyers can require some judicious flexibility—for one reason, there is usually an inconspicuous (somewhat annoying) fly in the ointment. The metaphoric fly is the fact that no property is without its flaws; and its metaphoric buzzing is likely to get louder as your sale’s closing grows nearer.
Structural elements of a house have varying life spans since wear and tear is inevitable in any space where people live. Many of a home’s features eventually require repair, and if it’s very soon, given that most informed buyers expect to take over a property with as few problems as possible, post-inspection demands can result. Especially if you’ve put a good deal of effort into getting everything shipshape, it can be maddening.
Nevertheless, plan to ignore any impulse to scrap the sale and tell the buyer to take a hike. Since some post-inspection requests are par for the course, you should know your options when you’re selling a home in Imperial, Missouri and your buyer requests repairs.
Repair Obligation for the Seller
As the seller of the property, you are not required to fix anything in the home inspection report. Any repairs cited are points of negotiation: just because an inspector cites flaws, that doesn’t mean repairs have to take place before the sale can be completed. If you don’t want to accept a purchase agreement that is conditioned on the completion of repairs, that is your option.
Purchasing a Home Warranty for the Buyer
Buyers sometimes request that you as seller pay for a home warranty. A home warranty generally covers the buyer’s outlay for major defects for a year following purchase. Such a warranty will typically cost no more than $600, and again, the decision to purchase one is up to the party selling a home.
Major Repairs
In many cases, requested repairs will be relatively minor, so it’s often preferable to have them made to proceed without further wrangling. But (you can almost hear that fly buzzing louder) should requested repairs be more extensive, you’ll have to evaluate the cost against the sale price.
Whether to Complete a Repair
Your home might be your pride and joy, but it is important not to take requests for repairs personally. Selling an Imperial, Missouri home is most successful when the seller first carefully examines the request, then makes a rational assessment based on what will produce the optimal outcome. If a next-best offer is on the table, its terms should be reexamined. You can also offer to proceed with the original purchase agreement but not agree to complete the repairs as requested. If the buyer likes your home and believes the price is reasonable, he or she may agree to proceed with the purchase as-is.
Whether or not you are concerned about potential repairs, if you are thinking of selling your home in Imperial, MO this summer, CONTACT ME today for a complimentary evaluation.
The Helderle Team 2013 © All Rights Reserved

Your Saint Louis, MO Home Not Selling

Your St. Louis, MO Home Not Selling? Take these Steps Now!

Even in today's St. Louis, MO real estate market there are still a surprising number of homes that have been on the market for a few months with no obvious signs of activity. If your St. Louis, MO home has been on the market for a while without any serious offers, it’s probably time to take another look at your strategy and your home to make it more attractive to buyers:

1. Review your asking price

1. The number one reason I see St. Louis, MO homes sit on the market is because of listing price. If your home is priced above the market the likelihood of selling it are greatly reduced. Your Realtor® should have provided you with a list of comparable recent home sales in your area along with a professional analysis to figure out the proper selling price (if your Realtor didn't provide this, CONTACT ME  and get your free home value 

Drive by the homes on the comparable sales list your Realtor provides to get a feel for what's been selling.

• Are those homes really comparable to your home?
• Are they in the same condition as your home?
• Are the schools of the same quality as the schools in your neighborhood?

Pay particular attention to any differences (or in any variances in size or amenities) as they can significantly impact your home's value versus the St. Louis, MO marketplace. A good comparative market analysis will help you figure out the RIGHT listing price for your home.

2. Take a video of your home

Shoot a video of your St. Louis, MO home both outside and inside. Then watch the video (preferably on a computer or larger screen) objectively as if you were a potential home buyer. What do you see? Look for negative elements such as weeds growing in the yard, dirty carpets, or a cluttered interior. It's important to notice negative elements you can quickly fix to make your home more appealing to buyers. It may surprise you to see what your home looks like when viewed on camera.

3. Leave during your home’s open house or showings

It is vitally important that you leave the house when buyers are touring your home. Potential buyers will not feel comfortable looking in closets or in drawers with you standing over their shoulder. They will also be less likely to express their true opinion about your home. Therefore, do everything you can to be scarce during showings. Additionally, if you have pets, take them with you along with items like food bowls and litter boxes. The last thing you want is for potential buyers to contend with your pet pit-bull or the odors coming from a litter box.

4. Hold an open house on a weeknight
While most buyers in the market for a St. Louis, MO home are accustomed to attending open houses on weekends, there are those for whom weekends just don't work. By holding an open house on a weeknight you face less competition than on a weekend and may draw in buyers who normally would not have seen your home.

5. Consider staging your home

To stage a home simply you can just remove all personal items, add neutral window coverings, paint in neutral colors, and take down most decorations (most homes are over-cluttered). Ask your Realtor for advice. For example, you may love zebra print and red accents; however, that's not going to appeal to most buyers. Loud designs and bold colors can easily detract from the positive aspects of a home. If you feel you can handle the staging project yourself, have at it. However, if the process of staging your home seems overwhelming there are companies that can professionally stage your St. Louis, MO.home for you. Contact me for a reputable referral.

---

If you find yourself in a position where your house just won't sell, DO NOT just sit and wait for things to change. Take action before market conditions change!  Feel free to give me a ring if you'd like some advice.

The Helderle Team 2014 © All Rights Reserved

Hardwood Flooring Trends

Hardwood Flooring Trends, a Touch of the Creative
(BPT)—The recovering U.S. housing market has led to increased demand for certain luxury items, including hardwood flooring. Exciting trends are influencing the marketplace and for today's consumers, there are more hardwood flooring options than ever before.
"Savvy consumers want variety and flexibility in their flooring choices," says Linda Jovanovich of the AMERICAN HARDWOOD ASSOCIATION "With American hardwood species running the gamut of color and because hardwood is a product that can adapt to many different decorating styles and decors, hardwood provides a degree of diversity, as well as long-term value, that cannot be matched by other flooring materials."
From the trend-watchers at independent market research firm, Market Insights Torcivia, and the National Wood Flooring Association, look at what's trending now.
A touch of the creative
* Using multiple wood species is very popular, typically using one species in the main field of the room, then introducing other contrasting species incorporated as a border or other subtle design elements in the room.
* Mixed media incorporates hardwood with other flooring options like stone, tile, carpet or even metal. This approach often helps to define different seating or functional areas within a large, open space.
* Installing wood floors, in a non-linear format, is increasingly popular as well. Custom parquet patterns can achieve this look but even traditional linear floors can accomplish the same goal by installing the linear pattern on a curve.
* Consumer preferences are gravitating toward darker species, like walnut, over the more traditional, medium-colored white and red oak. In many cases, however, existing oak floors are being refinished and stained to achieve this look without replacing the floor.
* Buyers are moving away from the traditional 2 1/4 inches strip floor to wider plank flooring, 3 inches and wider. Random width planks are also popular. This creates a very casual look, while utilizing more of the raw materials during the manufacturing process.
* Distressed flooring - hand-scraping the boards will achieve an antiqued look while, at the same time, hiding small imperfections that can appear in flooring over time, like small scratches or dents.-This distressed effect can also be achieved in the factory.
Stains and finishes
The National Wood Flooring Association also reports that flooring manufacturers are introducing new lines geared to satisfy the emerging trends toward gray stains and finishes - ranging from very subtle to very dark - and metallic finishes.>br> Metallic finishes incorporate softly shimmering metallic accents by embedding the metallic materials into the hardwood. The result is a pronounced grain that shimmers softly in contrast to the rest of the wood. It is difficult to predict if this trend will catch on long-term but it has become increasingly popular, particularly on the West Coast.
Get inspired
As the U.S. economy continues to recover, more and more consumers will enhance their living spaces with flooring, cabinetry and other luxury items made from American Hardwoods, the ultimate in value, versatility and style. Browse the photo gallery of the AMERICAN HARDWOOD ASSOCIATION for inspiration.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved

7 Steps For Removing Mold From Your Home

What Is Mold?
Mold is a type of fungus made up of tiny microscopic organisms that can grow almost anywhere. It multiplies itself via spores and shows itself in a variety of colors. The most common place to see mold is in your bathroom since mold needs moisture to grow.
1. Wear a face mask, goggles and rubber gloves. Do not touch mold with bare skin.
2. Seal off the area to prevent tiny spores from spreading to other parts of the home while removing.Open the windows and cover heat and ventilation registers.
3. Wash the affected areas with a mild detergent solution, such as laundry detergent and warm water. As an added step, wipe the area down with a solution of a 1/4 cup bleach and one cup of water. (Warning: Do not mix ammonia and bleach; the fumes can be toxic.)
4. Dry the surface completely. Use fans, blowers, dehumidifiers or natural ventilation.
5. Apply a borate-based detergent solution. Don't rinse. This will help prevent the mold from growing again.(Borate will be listed on the ingredient label.)
6. Don't take shortcuts. Never paint or caulk over moldy surfaces. The paint will peel and the mold will resurface.
7. Call a professional. Just when you think you've won the battle you may see dormant spores reappear or spread to clean areas of the home, particularly if proper removal procedures were not taken. You may need to contact a mold remediation company to resolve the problem.

Contact The H Team today for a list of licensed Mold Remediation Companies in the St. Louis, Mo. area.
For more information
Source: The Truth About Mold (Dearborn, 2008)

Readying Your Home For Spring

Getting Your Home Ready For Spring
The H Team


Get your timers and clocks set ahead one hour. Daylight saving time is just around the corner and you’ll need to adjust any timers on household gadgets, indoor and outdoor lights, and those regulating the thermostats on your heating system.

Plant kitchen herbs inside and transplant in May when all signs of frost disappear. Basil, chives, dill, parsley, and fennel can be started from seeds. Oregano, rosemary, sage, savory, and tarragon do better if you start them from small plants or cuttings.

Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. In addition to testing batteries regularly, you should change these twice a year without fail.

Wash your windows. Clean the residue left behind by winter storms by tackling the job while the weather is still cool to prevent streaking. Start indoors before installing your screens, then finish the job outside on a dry day.

OUTSIDE:

Clean the deck to remove grime, pollen, fungus, and mildew. Scrub the surface with a deck cleanser or this homemade cleaning formula: Add one cup of powdered laundry detergent to a gallon of hot water, and add 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach to kill moss or mildew.

Check shrubs and trees for winter damage and prune accordingly. Remove deadwood or broken branches. Replant any shrubs that have heaved out of the soil during a freeze-thaw cycle, before the roots dry out.

Bring your garden hose out of storage. Check for cracks and leaks and replace the rubber or plastic washers at the connectors as well.

Service Lawn Mowers & Equipment Now is the time to inspect mowers and trimmers. Change the oil, replace spark plugs and sharpen the blades. If a unit needs repair getting it to the repair shop early will insure an early return
Spread Fertilizer and Weed Preventer Apply before the spring showers hit. Read manufacturers suggestions on application and warnings.

Is it time to Move Up?

These 6 questions will help you decide whether you’re ready for a home that’s larger or moving to a more desirable location. If you answer yes to most of the questions, it’s a sign that you may be ready to move.

1. Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of your mortgage, as monthly payments are mostly interest, but if you’ve owned your home for five or more years, you may have significant, unrealized gains.

2. Has your income or financial situation improved? If you’re making more money, you may be able to afford higher mortgage payments and cover the costs of moving.

3. Have you outgrown your neighborhood? The neighborhood you pick for your first home might not be the same neighborhood you want to settle down in for good. For example, you may have realized that you’d like to be closer to your job or live in a better school district.

4. Are there reasons why you can’t remodel or add on? Sometimes you can create a bigger home by adding a new room or building up. But if your property isn’t large enough, your municipality doesn’t allow it, or you’re simply not interested in remodeling, then moving to a bigger home may be your best option.

5. Are you comfortable moving in the current housing market? If your market is hot, your home may sell quickly and for top dollar, but the home you buy also will be more expensive. If your market is slow, finding a buyer may take longer, but you’ll have more selection and better pricing as you seek your new home.

6. Are interest rates attractive? A low rate not only helps you buy a larger home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

If you think it may be time to move up or move out contact The H Team today for a free review.