Real Estate Information

You have just purchased your first home! Congratulations! You got through the process with the help of your Realtor, but now you have signed the paperwork and received your keys, and it is time to move in. You may find yourself wondering, “what next?”.  Here are some tips to help make your transition to homeowner a little less stressful:

1. Educate Yourself About Your Mortgage Statement

It is important that you learn how to read your monthly mortgage statement. When you receive the first one, you will see that there is a lot of information on it. Most importantly, it will tell you the amount due, how to pay it, and the due date. It will also include your loan servicer’s contact information, which you will need if you have any questions about your mortgage. Buyers Guide to Home Ownership

2. Don’t Pay Attention to Refinance Offers

You might start receiving a lot of unsolicited mail after you move into your new home. That is because your information becomes public record and companies will start sending you refinancing offers. The thing is it is not usually beneficial to you to refinance early on in your mortgage repayment process. It may be a great option for you down the road, but not right away. Knowing Your Options Guide

3. Organize Your Documents
   

When you close on your house you will sign a lot of papers and you will be given copies of all of them. Be sure to keep these documents together in a safe place. You will need access to them when it comes time to pay your taxes so that you can take advantage of tax savings that come with home ownership.

4. Do a Home Inventory

The day you sign the title to your new home, your homeowner’s insurance will go into effect. But there is more work to be done to protect your home and belongings. The smart thing to do is to create a written/photographic inventory of all the valuables in your home. This will be very helpful if a worst-case scenario occurs and your personal property is damaged, stolen or destroyed. If you can present your insurance company with an organized list of what you have lost, it will help expedite your claim. And there’s no better, more convenient time to do this than when you are unpacking in your new home. You Really Need a Home Inventory

5. Give Your New Home a Deep Cleaning

It is always a good idea to give your new home a deep cleaning before you move in, even if it is a newly constructed home. It is so much easier to do this before you have moved all your belongings in, and you will feel good about starting out in a freshly cleaned house!

6. Change Your Locks
   

This is a step that many people overlook. You’ve just received the keys to your new home, but many people have had those keys before you. From previous owners, to Realtors, to contractors and more; you really have no idea who might still have access to your home. To ensure your safety, call a locksmith and schedule an appointment to have all your exterior door locks changed the morning after your closing. You will feel safer knowing you are the only ones with keys to your house!

7. Educate Yourself About Your Home

Take the time to learn your home systems. Familiarize yourself with your HVAC unit, the circuit breaker, the security system, the fireplace, and the hot water heater. Find where the fire extinguishers are and make sure smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are in good working order. Keep all warranties, instruction manuals and such together in one place where you can easily find them when needed.

Becoming a homeowner is exciting and sometimes overwhelming, but you can start out on the right foot by following these tips! 

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

Photo Credits: bobvila.com, thespruce.com, thisoldhouse.com

Your house is on the market and the holiday season is here. Just because you are trying to sell your house does not mean you cannot still make it feel like home. Especially this time of year. And let’s face it, unless you are a Scrooge, twinkle lights and holiday décor make a home feel more inviting and cheerful than ever. But, when making your home festive for the season, it is important to remember that buyers need to be able to picture the home as their own. Overdoing it could keep buyers away and hurt your chances of selling.

Here are some tips for staging your house for the holidays:

• Depersonalize your decorations. It is hard for people to picture a home as their own if they see your personal life prominently featured in your décor. Avoid things like ornaments your kids made in pre-school, stockings with names on them, photo Christmas cards and pictures of your kids with Santa. Keep it simple. Think of it like makeup…you want to enhance the features of your home, not overwhelm them.
  
• Stand out by not standing out. What does your neighborhood look like during the holidays?  If everyone goes all out with exterior lights and trimmings, then you do not want to be the only house on the block that’s dark at night. But if people use more subtle decorations outside, follow their lead.  Less is more when it comes to staging your house for buyers.

Still confused about how to decorate to most appeal to buyers?  Here are some more dos and don’ts:

• Say no to the “kitsch”! Big inflatables, reindeer on the roof and tons of lights might be fun to look at, but it also might keep potential buyers from wanting to see the inside of the house.  Keep it classy to entice buyers.
  
• Classic décor is always best. An elegant wreath and simple white lights are warm and welcoming without being overwhelming.
   
• Consider skipping the tree. Unless you have high ceilings you want to show off, you may want to skip the tree this year. If a tree is too big it can make a room feel cramped and small. If a tree is too tiny, it can seem sad and depressing. Also, needles from live trees can be challenging to keep up with when you must keep your house neat and tidy for showings.
   
• Scents over scenes. There’s nothing more alluring than holiday scents. The smells of fresh baked cookies and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove create a warm ambiance that makes people feel at home.
   
• Protect your presents. You may not want to have presents under the tree when strangers will be walking through your house, especially if your Realtor is holding an open house. The last thing you want to discover Christmas morning is that someone walked away with one or more of your gifts.

The bottom line is, don’t be afraid to decorate and enjoy the holiday season in your home even if it’s on the market and being shown. Just remember to keep it simple and enticing to potential buyers.

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

Photo Credits: grovecitysummit.com, pinterest, journal.gomillie.com

If you are planning to put your house on the market in 2022, there is no time like the present to start getting organized for the process of staging, showing and moving out of your home.

Begin now by following the tips listed below and you won’t feel so overwhelmed when it’s time for that first open house!

• Eliminate piles before you sell. Some of us suffer from what I like to call “flat surface syndrome”. If there is a flat surface, it is covered with “stuff”. Now is the time to eliminate any of the “stuff” cluttering the horizontal surfaces of your home. Things like mail, magazines, and other odds and ends that are piled on your tables, desks and shelves should be removed. Keeping these spaces clear allows potential buyers to see the space without distractions.
   
• Clean out storage areas. If your closets, bookcases, pantry, and other storage areas are overstuffed, this is a red flag for potential buyers that screams, “not enough storage!”. Keeping a minimum number of items in your house will leave the impression that there is a generous amount of storage in your home.
  
• Get rid of excess. Eliminate or pack up any surplus items you won’t need before your move. For example, only keep enough dishes, towels, sheets, toys etc. that you will use during the time your house is for sale. Why have ten sets of sheets crowding your linen closet when you only need one or two?
   
• Remove seldom used items. Pack away things that you don’t use very often, as well as seasonal items. This will make your house appear spacious, which appeals to prospective buyers. Some examples are off-season clothing and shoes, holiday decorations, and rarely used small kitchen appliances.
   
• Throw things away. If something is worn out, broken, rusty, stained, torn, or incomplete, it’s time to let it go. If your belongings look shabby and old, your house will look that way too. Don’t hesitate to throw such items away.
  
• Donate before you sell. When you are cleaning and sorting items, if you come across things you don’t use now and won’t use in your new home, donate them. Don’t waste time packing and moving things you won’t ever use. But if it’s in good shape, someone else will get use out of it.
   
• Sell before you sell. If you find you have a great deal of items to eliminate from your home, think about selling what you don’t store, throw away, or donate. You can sell at a yard sale, bring items to a consignment shop, or list items online. Remember to have reasonable expectations regarding how much money to charge for used items.
  
• Rent a storage unit. Move large items/equipment that you don’t use often to a storage unit. It can also provide space for packed boxes to give you a head start in preparing for your move. Remember that space is a beneficial asset when selling your home.
   
• Spruce up outdoor living spaces. Remove any clutter (toys, lawn ornaments, garbage bins) from your yard. The outdoor spaces are usually the first and last impression for potential buyers, so it is vital that they look neat and tidy.
   
• Go easy on holiday décor. If you will be putting your home on the market as soon as the new year begins, why unpack and repack all of your holiday décor? Keep it simple this year with a real tree and some homemade/inexpensive ornaments that you won’t have to pack up for a move.

If your goal is to sell your house for the best possible price as quickly as possible, then you definitely want to be prepared! So, don’t wait! Think positive and get ready to stage and sell your home now.

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

Photo Credits: baltimoresun.com, caringtransitionsofnortheastiowa.com, thespruce.com, architectureartdesigns.com

Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of "All Hallows' evening"), also known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve, is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the departed.

Montgomery AL Home For Sale:

3111 Malone Dr, Montgomery AL 36106

MLS# 505892 | 2 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1,980 Square Feet | Hillwood West

Virtual Tour

Fabulous move-in ready townhouse in popular Hillwood! This one story townhouse has such a wonderful floor plan that you will not believe how spacious every room is! The eat-in kitchen is huge and beautifully updated with granite counter tops, tiled back splash, tons of cabinets, nice sized pantry, and stainless appliances. It opens to the large living room and the den/formal dining room with built-ins… a great space to use for whatever suits your needs. The enormous master had 3 walk-in closets and an en suite bath with split granite vanities and tiled shower. The guest bedroom is on the opposite end and has two large closets. There is a cozy covered patio and small yard with just enough grass for a pet but not a lot of upkeep. The location in Midtown Montgomery is so convenient and walking distance to restaurants and shopping. Check it out today!

Marketed by Montgomery AL Realtor Lauren Keen, Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

As you probably already know, 2020 was a banner year for the housing market. The market set record numbers and per year-end analysis by Zillow, the U.S. housing stock increased by nearly $2.5 trillion over the past year. Yes, you read that right…TRILLION. That is the largest net gain for a year-long period since 2005. The appreciation of current homes accounted for about $2.2 trillion, while $274 billion came from new construction.

It was a bit surprising to many that the Covid-19 pandemic did not deter interest from homebuyers. In fact, for a multitude of reasons, demand grew. And the resulting competition between buyers meant that properties sold quickly. But, things can change quickly, especially in the housing market. So, as the end of the year approaches, let’s look at changes that have occurred already over the past several months.

HOME PRICES ARE UP

With so many people seeking to buy new homes, the prices in the U.S. skyrocketed. The median home sale price for the country’s second quarter was just under $375,000. Last year, at the same time, the median was around $322,600.  That is a 16% increase!

BUYERS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR HOMES

Along with home prices rising, there has been a shortage of homes available for sale. But that has not slowed down buyers. In fact, in almost every part of the U.S. people still want to buy homes. With the market so hot, homes have been selling quickly. Some people may be moving for “normal” reasons (job transfer, downsizing) but others have been influenced by the pandemic to find homes that offer more space and the ability to work remotely. It does appear, however, that the extreme urgency to buy a home has slowed down in the past month or two.

WHAT ABOUT MORTGAGE RATES?

Mortgage rates hit all-time lows at the height of the pandemic. And since June, the rate has continued to go down. The 30-year mortgage rate was below 3%; 2.77% to be exact, during the second week of August, 2021. But it’s predicted by many economists and housing authorities that rates will go up into the low-to-mid 3% range by the end of the year, rather than in the high 2s we’ve seen this past summer.

WHAT ARE BUYERS INTERESTED IN?

It’s not just about numbers. There has been as shift in what is most important to the majority of homebuyers. Per a Zillow survey in North Carolina, 40% of homebuyers are ONLY interested in purchasing a newly constructed home. And only 35% of the respondents said they would consider buying an existing home. It was also learned from the survey that buyers are  interested in homes that might provide revenue through renting it out or at least renting a portion of the property to another person, couple, or family. An astounding 32% of respondents said that the opportunity to rent out their home was a major factor in their decision to purchase a home.

While it’s hard to predict where the housing market is heading as we approach 2022, you can be sure that it will continue to change as the world is constantly changing. That being said, now is a great time to buy or sell a home and Sandra Nickel and her Hat Team of specialists can help you do that!

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

Photo Credits: realtor.com, anchorloans.com, apartmenttherapy.com, amycoburn.com

806 E Edgemont Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama

MLS #505230

4 bedrooms | 2 baths | 2,394 sq ft | Cloverdale/Idlewild

NEW, NEW, NEW! Another gorgeous remodel in the historic Cloverdale area. This 4 bedroom and 2 bath is completely new! There is much more here than meets the eye to this corner lot home including new electrical, plumbing, A/C and roof just to name a few. The interior has been completely redone. A spacious master bedroom and bathroom have been added and the kitchen has been expanded to provide an open atmosphere with views to the formal living & great room. The kitchen boasts all new stainless steel appliances including a gas stove, custom range hood, refrigerator, granite countertops, cedar beams and hard tile floor. New LED ceiling fans and can lights throughout. Refinished original wood flooring throughout and new carpet in one of the two entertainment areas. New insulated vinyl windows throughout the entirety of the home that easily open & provide better insulation (a rarity in Cloverdale)! New LED electric fireplace in the living room is sure to dazzle your guests and provide warmth this winter with none of the hassle. Fresh paint throughout the home including the casework and crown molding! Within walking, biking or a short drive to all the Cloverdale attractions. Call me or your favorite realtor today to see!

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

Halloween is around the corner, so if you are thinking of turning your home into a spooky haunted house, now is the time to start planning!  Here are some tips for creating a frighteningly fun experience for trick or treaters who come to your house this year:

1. Set the Mood - Your front yard is the ideal place to start with decorations that let your guests know they are in for some scary surprises! Create a creepy cemetery using faux tombstones. Hang scream-inducing masks from trees and shrubs. Use fake spider webs around your porch and front entrance. And to really get people in the right frame of mind, set up some outdoor speakers and play some haunting music! 55 Halloween Songs to Soundtrack Your Spooky Soiree
    
2. Play the Perfect Host - A proper haunted house needs a proper host. Have a family member dress as a witch or a mummy or another scary character of their choice and put them in charge of guiding guests to different parts of the haunted house.
    
3. Decorate Like Crazy! - First, to give your home a haunted feel, you will want it to be cold. If it’s nice and cool outside, open your windows and let the cold air indoors. If it is still warm outside, crank your AC up to provide a chilly ambiance. Put sheets over furniture and windows and keep overhead lights off. Create dim lighting with battery operated candles. Now it’s time to pull out all the stops with décor…spiders, mice, skeletons and ghosts…oh my!
   
4. Trick Your Guests with Illusions - There is nothing more likely to give a good scare than seeing the unexpected. Create illusions that will give your guests a little shock! ILLUSIONS!
   
5. Serve Scary Snacks - Forget caramel apples…try Black Toffee Apples instead and label them “Poison Apples”. Concoct a fizzy, green monster drink with frozen lemonade, Sprite and green food coloring. There are tons of fun recipes for “gory” ways to serve food to your Haunted House guests. Check some out here: Disgusting or Delicious?
   
6. Play Some Ghoulish Games! - Make the night even more fun with some games. You can go old school with bobbing for apples, or you can get more creative - for example, hide gummy worms in a plate of whipped cream and have the kids find them or create a spider web on the wall and play “Pin the Spider on the Web”. 
    
7. Create Mystery Boxes - All you need are some containers and a blindfold and everyone will have fun trying to guess what kind of food is in each “mystery box”. Cooked spaghetti is perfect for brains, corn kernels make great monster teeth, and peeled grapes feel like nice, squishy eyeballs!

These are just a few ideas to help you start to plan a fantastic Halloween Haunted House! 

Happy Haunting!

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

Photo Credits: womansday.com, cnet.com, today.com, pinterest