If you have been out house hunting, you may have noticed some for sale signs with “sale pending” badges on them. What does it mean when a sale is pending? Here is what you need to know about a pending home sale:

A home sale is pending after a seller has accepted an offer and the contract between the seller and the buyer has been signed. 

When the home sale is pending, it’s no longer considered active on the multiple listing service (MLS). The time-frame in which the deal is pending varies depending upon where you live. In some places, it is during the due diligence period when a property is inspected and its public record is checked to be sure there are not any legal issues. In other areas, the pending phase starts after the due diligence phase. Either way, pending home sales are considered a key indicator of market activity.

Due Diligence: In real estate, the period of time known as due diligence is an opportunity for you, the buyer-investor, to receive full disclosure of the facts and conditions of a potential asset prior to completing a transaction with the seller.

Once a sale is pending, the buyer needs to start preparing for the closing.  The best way for the buyer to do this is to make sure the necessary professionals are on hand, including the mortgage lender, title insurance company, Realtor, and inspector. A real estate attorney is also good to have to help complete all legal documentation prior to closing. In most markets, the due diligence period starts once the contract is signed and lasts about 10 days. During this time, the formal application for the loan is submitted to the lender, and appraiser researches the house and area to determine the property’s market value. The attorney will comb through the home’s public documents to make sure there is nothing that could affect sale of the home. This period is also the right time for the buyer to closely examine the details of the house and the transaction to make sure there are no deal breakers.  If both parties are ready to move forward and have agreed to waive the contingencies regarding inspection or appraisal, all that’s left to do is to wait until closing day.

The seller can relax a little more than the buyer while the sale is pending.

After the contract is signed, the seller pretty much just has to wait. The listing agent typically will schedule the inspection, appraisal or any other visits to the property, but the seller might need to be around to allow people in or to be present for the inspection.  However, in some cases, the seller may decide to not be present for any of it. 

It is important to note that once the contract has been signed, the seller cannot back out of the deal, while the buyer is legally allowed to cancel the contract.  But, when negotiation takes place regarding issues found during the due diligence period, the seller can decide what to say yes to.  For example, the seller can choose not to make repairs on things that surfaced during the inspection, or they can refuse to accept a lower price if the property appraises for lower than the sale price. The whole deal can fall apart if the negotiation does not go well, so it’s vital to have a Realtor who will help you through the process whether you are buying or selling.

The last step during the pending sale period is for the seller to move out of the home and leave it in good condition. It is a good idea to leave the home as clean as possible. The buyers will do a final walk-through a couple of days prior to closing. If the closing goes smoothly, the seller will finally be able to slap that sold sticker on the “For Sale” sign!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: realtor.com, inc.com, usatoday.com

The new year is here, and for many of us that means we are setting goals for ourselves…things we want to do and achieve in 2022. If you are a homeowner, you may want to add some home improvements to list. Here are some small home improvements you should consider making in 2022:

1. Update your kitchen.  We are talking a simple update; not some huge undertaking. You might be surprised at how different your kitchen will look with just a small change. Something like painting your cabinets or adding a new backsplash can really brighten up the room and give it a modern feel.
   
2. Beautify your walkway with bricks or pavers.  Plain concrete is boring…and not very pretty. But you don’t have to replace it. You can simply embellish it by adding stone, clay or concrete pavers along the sides. If that feels like too much to take on, giving your walkway and/or driveway a good power wash can make them look brand new!
   
3. Do a minor bathroom remodel.  It may sound like a big job, but something as simple as replacing the bathroom mirror and faucet can give your bathroom a whole new look. Want to take it further?  Consider replacing the toilet if yours is old and maybe switch out the shower head for a more luxurious shower experience.
   
4. Upgrade your flooring.  Do you have old, worn carpet in your home?  Now is the time to remove it and replace it with hardwood flooring. If hardwood is out of your budget, consider an alternative like laminate flooring that looks like wood. Laminate is less expensive, but very durable and fade resistant. You can also save quite a bit of money by installing it yourself.
   
5. Update a room (or two, or more) with a fresh coat of paint.  It is amazing how different a room can feel if you paint it a different color. After you paint you can rearrange the room to your liking and add accent pieces (like throws and pillows) to complement the new wall color.

Just remember, small home improvements can make a big difference in your home without breaking the bank!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information.

Photo Credits: kitchenmagic.com, familyhandyman.com, homeguide.com, pinterest.com, buildwith5th.com

3591 Bankhead Avenue, Montgomery, AL  36111

MLS# 508078

4 Bedrooms | 3 Full Baths | 3,162 square feet | Edgewood

This stunning split-level masterpiece was designed by noted architect Betty Robinson specifically for the Marks family. This Midtown Montgomery home’s exterior is planed cypress and the grounds flourish with mature trees and heirloom shrubs. Entertain in grand style on the main level consisting of an expansive living room bathed in light by two story windows and featuring a real wood-burning masonry fireplace. Dinner parties will be extra special in the dining room overlooking the rear patio and spacious rear lawn. Upper level contains master bedroom and bath, plus two more guest bedrooms and a recently updated guest/hall bath. Balcony off master and front guest bedroom offers sweeping views of the property and is the perfect spot for morning coffee or a nightcap. Lower level has den/family room with decorative fireplace, built in bookshelves, and another large guest bedroom/bath. This two-owner home has been lovingly maintained and thoughtfully updated over the years and awaits a new family to continue memory-making and living at its best!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Billy Young, Sandra Nickel Hat Team

If you are thinking about selling your house this year, now is the time to start preparing to put it on the market. While cleaning it up, doing small renovations and making it look as enticing as possible are all very important steps, there is a lot more you need to know to successfully sell your home for the best possible price.

Don’t sabotage your home sale by neglecting to do the following:

• Finding an experienced professional Realtor.  Selling a home can be a stressful, complicated process. It will pay off to have a professional Realtor like Sandra Nickel on your side. Take advantage of her extensive expertise and market knowledge and get the best possible price for you home!
  
• Pricing your home right. If you overprice your home, it might sit on the market for months and become a stale listing. Most buyers will have Realtors who will keep them from bidding on a home that has an inflated price that is more than what it will likely appraise for.  And even if a buyer is willing to pay the high price, the mortgage company will send an appraiser and put an end to the deal. So, unless your buyer is paying with cash, they will not be able to obtain a mortgage for the inflated price. Let your Realtor assist you in pricing your home right!
   
• Making necessary repairs prior to sale. Potential buyers are going to be turned off if your home looks like it has not been taken care of. In addition, they will probably wonder what else is wrong that they can’t see. By making necessary repairs and presenting your home at its best, you will more likely sell faster and for a better price.
   
• Sprucing up your landscaping. The outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers see and it is vital that it makes a good impression. If your flower beds are full of weeds, the grass hasn’t been well maintained, and there is debris in the yard, buyers might not want to even go inside to see the house. It is not necessary to do anything fancy…simply clean up the yard, plant some pretty flowers and make it appealing so buyers will want to see more.
  
• Taking your personal feelings out of the negotiation process. Allow your Realtor to guide you through the negotiation process.  Remember that it is not a competition. You want to sell; the buyer wants to buy. Leave your emotions at home and don’t let the closing fall apart over some small issue.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information!

Photo credits: blog.rismedia.com, activerain.com, gocleanr.com

Lush Royal Crest Drive Home Site, Montgomery, AL  36109

MLS# 436476

0.86 Acres / Hillman Heights

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It's said that people want things that are hard to find. Things to make their lives the way they wish they were. Here's just the thing to make your life the way you wish it was: an existence surrounded by tall trees and good neighbors...but not too close. A home with enough space for everyone and everything, but not some house that thumps its chest and shows off. A home that's not only a home, but the home of your dreams. And it can be yours here and now! So make it happen! Beautiful lot in Midtown Montgomery! 

New Year’s Traditions and Celebrations Around the World

In many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of December 31—New Year’s Eve—and continue into the early hours of January 1. Revelers often enjoy meals and snacks thought to bestow good luck for the coming year. In Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries, people bolt down a dozen grapes-symbolizing their hopes for the months ahead-right before midnight. In many parts of the world, traditional New Year’s dishes feature legumes, which are thought to resemble coins and herald future financial success; examples include lentils in Italy and black-eyed peas in the southern United States. Because pigs represent progress and prosperity in some cultures, pork appears on the New Year’s Eve table in Cuba, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and other countries. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries, a sign that the year has come full circle, round out the feast in the Netherlands, Mexico, Greece and elsewhere. In Sweden and Norway, meanwhile, rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is served on New Year’s Eve; it is said that whoever finds the nut can expect 12 months of good fortune.

Other customs that are common worldwide include watching fireworks and singing songs to welcome the new year, including the ever-popular “Auld Lang Syne” in many English-speaking countries. The practice of making resolutions for the new year is thought to have first caught on among the ancient Babylonians, who made promises in order to earn the favor of the gods and start the year off on the right foot. (They would reportedly vow to pay off debts and return borrowed farm equipment.)

In the United States, the most iconic New Year’s tradition is the dropping of a giant ball in New York City’s Times Square at the stroke of midnight. Millions of people around the world watch the event, which has taken place almost every year since 1907. Over time, the ball itself has ballooned from a 700-pound iron-and-wood orb to a brightly patterned sphere 12 feet in diameter and weighing in at nearly 12,000 pounds. Various towns and cities across America have developed their own versions of the Times Square ritual, organizing public drops of items ranging from pickles (Dillsburg, Pennsylvania) to possums (Tallapoosa, Georgia) at midnight on New Year’s Eve. 

No matter how you choose to celebrate the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, have a safe, happy and healthy NEW YEAR! 

Info courtesy of History.com

Sometimes we try so hard to achieve holiday perfection that by the time New Year’s Eve rolls around we are exhausted. But then there is the added pressure of finding something fun to do for New Year’s Eve. It is the last night of the year and we feel we must celebrate in some big, memorable way. Because of that we might make plans to go out with friends to restaurants, bars, or hotels that are hosting expensive, fancy parties. Or we might not be able to say no to an invitation to attend a fun house party given by friends. But guess what?  Going out on New Year’s Eve is highly overrated. And we CAN say NO to those invitations. Does a stress free, relaxing night at home sound good to you?

Here are some good reasons for staying home for New Year’s Eve:

1. You avoid the anxiety that comes with trying to plan the “perfect” night. We tend to attach grand expectations to New Year’s Eve. And we have a vision of what it is supposed to be like - perfect sparkly outfit, a cool venue, lots of drinks...you know the drill. But honestly, the reality rarely matches up with the picture we have created in our head. And often we end up slightly disappointed that we went to all the trouble and expense.
   
2. You will stay safe and cozy. Chances are that it is going to be cold on New Year’s Eve. Possibly even snowy and icy. You can be out and about shivering in your fancy clothes, driving at a time when there might be other people driving under the influence, OR, you can be home in front of a roaring fire in your most comfy pajamas. No worrying about drunk drivers when you are not on the roads. Also, you can enjoy an adult beverage or two without having to drive anywhere yourself.
    
3. You will save money. So much money. The outfit. The dinner out. The pricey party package. The babysitter. Sure, you will be home with your kids, and maybe that is not how you envisioned spending New Year’s Eve, but if they are little you can put them to bed early and if they are older you can plan fun things to do together as a family. 
    
4. You can eat and drink whatever you want, for a lot less money than you would spend going out. Don’t feel like cooking and doing dishes? You don’t have to! New Year’s Eve is a perfect night to indulge in easy party foods You might even have some leftover from Christmas. 
   
5. You can choose whatever activities you want…or none at all. Whatever suits you and your mood. Have you ever made big plans and then the day comes, and you just don’t feel it anymore? You do not have to worry about that happening if you spend New Year’s Eve at home. It can be a family game night, or you can cuddle up with your partner (or your kids, or your dog) and watch a movie. Heck…you can take a long, luxurious bath if you want. It is totally up to you!

Some people really enjoy going out for New Year’s Eve and that’s great. But if you want a relaxing, stress-free night, try celebrating at home this year. Either way, have a safe and happy new year!

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information!

Photo credits: kickkicksnare.com, positiveroutines.com, bhgre.com

If you are preparing to list your house for sale, you may be wondering if the financial reward will be worth the time, effort and money to fix up things that are in disrepair or that are dated.  The answer to that question depends on a myriad of circumstances such as the current real estate market, the condition of competing inventory and whether the renovations that need to be made generally provide a return on investment.

Some home buyers are looking to purchase a “fixer upper”. They are looking for properties priced to sell, perhaps because they don’t qualify for more expensive homes or maybe because they want to make a profit by fixing the home up themselves. Most fixer buyers want to do simple repairs such as painting walls, replacing light fixtures and putting in new carpet. Only a few want to take a house down to the studs and completely redo it. These potential buyers will want a price for the home that will allow for all the repairs, the inconvenience of doing the work, and often a bit more. For example, if a home is worth $200,000 fixed up but needs a new roof, and the roof costs approximately $10,000, a buyer most likely will not offer $190,000 for this home. The reason is that they can probably find a similar house that already has a new roof for $200,000 and save themselves the headache of replacing it themselves. A buyer in this situation might offer $175,000 or less, in which case it would make more sense for the seller to replace the roof and sell it for $200,000.

It is important to note that there are also many buyers looking for “turn-key” homes. They fear having to make major repairs because they might be costlier than anticipated or other problems might be revealed. Even if the price is right, homes listed for sale in “as is” condition might not attract as many buyers.

However, before doing major renovations, there are many things to consider. 

Smart sellers will research what their home’s market value will be once improvements are made and compare it to the cost of the renovations. If an upgrade will not provide return on the investment, it probably does not make sense to do it.  Knowing the condition of your competition is helpful. For example, if other homes for sale in your neighborhood all have modern kitchens, it might make sense to update yours. This does not mean you should tear it down and start from scratch. Often a minor kitchen remodel will suffice. Also, keep in mind that kitchen and bathroom remodels are known to bring the best return on investment.

Start by making a list of the things in your home that are dated or in disrepair and then prioritize.

Here is a list of 10 minimum improvements to make before putting your house on the market:

• Patch all holes and cracks in walls and ceilings.
• Fix all appliances and HVAC systems.
• Repair leaky faucets.
• Replace worn carpeting.
• Repaint dark or marred walls in neutral colors (not white).
• Replace broken windows.
• Repair the roof.
• Change dated light fixtures/ceiling fans.
• Replace old linens/window coverings.
• Fix any code violations.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home (or both), let me, Sandra Nickel, and my Hat Team of Professionals assist you with all your real estate needs! Call us today at 334-834-1500 and check out https://www.homesforsaleinmontgomeryalabama.com for more information!

Photo credits: youtube.com, hookedonhouses.net, smartasset.com

3933 Hickory Drive, Montgomery, AL  36109

MLS# 507365

3 bedrooms | 2 baths | 2,262 square feet | Dalriada

Lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath move in ready home in desirable Dalriada. Nestled in the heart of this great neighborhood amongst the beautiful oak trees. Original crown molding throughout the house as well as hardwood floors. Carpet covers the left wing of the house and tile dominates the kitchen and breakfast nook areas. Living room has a burning gas fireplace and den area has a wood burning fireplace, perfect for those cold winter nights coming in January. Master bedroom has walk in closest with a bathroom that boasts double vanities, garden tub and separate shower. On the right side of the home is the laundry room which is very spacious. The breakfast nook is as cute as can be with good natural lighting and open views to the backyard for that morning coffee. The kitchen was updated less than 10 years ago and has granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances with ample room for cooking. The backyard is large and spacious and has two storage sheds and a playset. Breathtakingly beautiful almost half acre lot! HVAC system is 5-ton Trane and less than 4 years old, security system with cameras, and multiple parking spots on driveway. Within walking distance to the shops and restaurants which include SOL, Shane's Ribshack, The Wharf, Publix and more! Call me or your favorite realtor today to view!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor, Brennan Parker, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!