An Ounce Of Prevention

Sometimes a $1,000 disaster can be prevented with a $4 hose. That’s the finding of many Wilmington NC homeowners who end up paying a lot for repairs that could have been prevented with just an ounce of inexpensive prevention.

One of the best places to check first is any place in your home that can be damaged by water. A survey by the American Society of Home Inspectors found that 40% of home maintenance problems are related to water. Water seeping into the basement or crawlspace, leaks from neglected washer and dishwasher hoses, and leaking pipes can leave you wet and poor.

Pay attention to the following items in your home regularly:

Water Threats
• Check for leaks from appliance hoses (washer and dishwasher), connections to the hot water heater and humidifier, outside spigots, exposed plumbing. Tighten all connections.

• After a heavy rain, check for water in attics, basements and crawlspaces. Make repairs as soon as the area is dry.

• Backed-up gutters can cause water to seep back up into the attic. The solution is simple, though: regularly remove leaves and debris from the gutter system.

Electrical System
• Check the circuit breakers about every six months.

• Check switches when lights seem to blink when the switch is touched.

• Keep wall-socket plates secure and replace broken ones.

A/C and Heating System
• Check these systems at least once a year; have them cleaned and serviced. You could save thousands in repair/replacement bills later, and improve operating efficiency thereby lowering monthly costs.

• If you have a fireplace, make sure it is professionally inspected and cleaned annually. Wood-burning fireplaces can cause creosote to build up in their chimneys–a dangerous fire hazard.

To Search all Wilmington NC real estate please visit www.cbbaker.com

The Market has been hot and the inventory is low.

Right Sales Price For Seller Is Buyer’s Call

Proper pricing is critical to a timely sale in any market. Yet, some home sellers today still want to set their price in relation to what their neighbors have sold for or are asking now, sometimes ignoring current market conditions and the differences between homes. When pricing a home — especially in today’s housing market — we find it’s helpful for sellers to understand what governs a buyer’s decision to purchase.

Here’s a quick look at how buyers view price:

• Monthly payments are usually more important to buyers than the sales price.

• The “out of pocket” cash needed at settlement/closing is a big factor with buyers.

• All buyers want to cash in on a good deal.

• Buyers have often shopped the competition and know how your home compares.

• Buyers recognize value and shy away from overpriced homes.

• Buyers don’t want to pay for your mistakes (paying too much when you purchased, over-improving the home, poor-quality remodeling jobs, etc.).

• Buyers have no interest in how much money you need to realize from the sale to make your next move.

• Buyers who work with a buyer’s agent mean business. They are ready to negotiate and close a deal.

Look at your competition and compare… www.cbbaker.com for all your Wilmington NC real estate needs.

You’re someone who knows the value of real estate.

Like you, our clients have seen their personal residence grow in value over the years. They know the only thing better than one valuable property is two valuable properties. The secret is timing. Knowing when to buy BEFORE demand sends prices up.

That’s exactly what experts are predicting will happen to vacation homes soon. In fact, every 7 seconds a baby boomer turns 50, and these “boomers” are beginning to influence second home demand. There has never been a better time than now to buy a second home.

As a neighborhood real estate specialist, we don’t sell beyond our market. But once we know your interests, we’d be happy personally to put you in touch with a pro in the best position to help you. Please give us a call soon. Looking forward to talking with you.

P.S. In the meantime, you can get immediate, expert advice on finding the perfect vacation home to fit you lifesytle. Click here now for our FREE e-Report, PLAY SMART: Savvy Tips On Buying A Vacation Home. You’ll be glad you did!

Start your Wilmington NC real estate search on www.cbbaker.com or on your phone at mobile.cbbaker.com

tab.ink

Great news for Wilmington NC real estate!  January 2013 numbers are in and the market is looking great compared to January 2012 .  All the numbers are up except Days on Market, which is a great thing.  It looks like the market is slowly climbing back up.

For all the stats from prior year please visit here….

To view our local real estate market, please visit www.cbbaker.com.  The market has been hot.  Homes are getting multiple offers, which is something we have not seen in awhile.  Looking forward to a healthy spring and summer.

Selling  your Wilmington NC real estate sounds simple. As a “For Sale By Owner,” all you have to do is put a sign in the yard, an ad in the paper, and stand back while the buyers come running to bid.

If you’re tempted to market your home without the aid and advice of a real estate professional, take a moment to ponder these questions:

• Can you set a price on your home realistically and accurately?

If you price your home too high, you’ll get few shoppers and help your neighbors sell their houses. Price it too low, and you’ll lose money. Local real estate markets change quickly, street by street, and unless you have the same information that real estate professionals receive daily, chances are you’ll set your price over or under current market value.

• Are you prepared to spend possibly many days glued to your home?

Shoppers come looking every day of the week and every hour of the day. Remaining ready for them to show unannounced can make you a permanent home sitter.

• Are you able to reach a wide range of possible buyers?

Experience shows more than 60% of home sales are made by matching a seller with a buyer from an extensive network of contacts. These contacts don’t come from ads but from a career of building relationships and the multiple listing service. Without that pool of qualified buyers to show your house to, self-sellers are reduced to expensive hit-or-miss advertising.

• Can you be sure that the people entering your home are genuinely interested in buying, not in taking advantage of your “open house” and unprotected presence?

Real estate professionals both screen house hunters and accompany them as they go through your rooms.

• Are you experienced at negotiating and creating legal contracts?

Buyers of homes sold by the owner typically offer much less than the asking price and may expect sellers without agents to share the “savings” on the brokerage commission.

• Can you size up a potential buyer’s ability to finance the purchase of your home?

Many weeks can be wasted waiting for mortgage approval that lenders can’t give to unqualified loan applicants. Real estate professionals routinely pre-qualify house hunters and show them only property they can afford. Real estate professionals don’t like to waste time either.

As trained real estate specialists, we’d like to help you sell your home. Not just because it’s our livelihood, but also because we’ve seen the many difficulties that have beset would-be “Sale By Owners” who came for help after their efforts failed. We’d like to do the same for you, saving you the hassle of trying to go it alone. The market has been strong, call us to talk about the possibility of selling your home or visit www.cbbaker.com for advice.

If you’re considering adding on to your home or remodeling instead of moving up, be sure to acquire the appropriate building permits before you start construction. While you may be tempted to bypass this layer of bureaucracy, when it comes time to sell your home it will be a lot easier with permits in hand.

Some buyers will ask to see permits that prove the work was done properly. There’s also a risk that buyers could sue you after the sale if somethinggoes wrong with your addition or remodeling project — e.g., a sinking foundation or electrical problem — and you can’t provide permits showing the job met local codes.

If you’ve already made alterations without a proper building permit, you can seek an “as-built permit” from your local building inspector or permits office. This permit forgives your short-sightedness, approving the site as it stands.

Take note, though, the inspector may want to take a look at infrastructure before awarding the as-built permit. This could mean checking for code compliance by excavating the foundation; opening the walls, ceiling and roof; and pulling out insulation. Once you apply for an as-built permit, there’s usually no backing out.

Wilmington NC Real Estate, Wilmington NC Homes, Wrightsville Beach Homes.