Brentwood and Franklin Tennessee

Front yard landscaping is created to make your home more appealing with a garden area. It is very seldom that one will find the barbeque area, patio or swimming pool in the front yard. Homes, without the luxury of swimming pools and barbeque areas, can easily develop a neglected backyard or become a dumping site. Here are some ideas for the backyard:

• Get rid of all unwanted items that are lying around in the backyard. Plan a small, easy to maintain, herb garden. Most herbs thrive in just about any location that gives them plenty of light. Good air circulation and drainage are also important to the success of your herb garden. Many herbs overlap in category. Border a cooking herb garden with some cultivars that have ornamental, aromatic and gastronomic qualities. The main purpose of a culinary herb garden is for use in your kitchen.
• Invest in a lemon tree or some other fruit trees. A fruit tree can be an attractive and useful addition to the backyard landscape. Planting and Early Care of Fruit Trees will help you to establish new fruit trees that will provide you with beauty and fruit.
• Plan and invest in a relaxation deckwhere you can kick of your shoes after a hard days work. There are many ideas on the internet as to how to design and make a deck if you are a DIY person. This will unquestionably add to your home’s value if you plan on selling in the future. In the mean time you get to enjoy the relaxation.
  • Lately, people have become increasingly interested in building barbecues of their own. This is an investment that will provide wonderful family quality time which is much needed in today’s busy lives.

Sprucing up the backyard will add to the value of your property, as well as make it more enjoyable to you and your family.

The National Housing Survey and the Myers Research and Strategic Services Survey founding’s stated that people are buying homes for reasons that do not include money.  However, when you find yourself in a conversation about Real Estate, people talk about the money involved in property. The topics will vary from interest rates to the current home prices. It seems that the reason for the majority of people to buy a house is to provide a better lifestyle for themselves and for the family. A home offers much more than a roof!

The reasons given for buying a home according to the National Housing Survey are: providing a stable home to raise children and let them enjoy a good education; providing a safe environment with a place you can call home; sufficient room for the family; changes and renovations can be decided and planned by you; the money that you pay every month to your landlord when renting, now goes towards your investment.

The reasons given for buying a home according to the Myers Research and Strategic Services Survey are: a family can enjoy a safe environment; instead of paying the monthly rent, you are now investing your money into property; you can be a proud homeowner with no mortgage to pay by the time you go on pension or retire; you have the prospect of living in an area of your choice; you can renovate and decorate your home to your own liking.

Taking the above reasons into account, it is obvious that a home offers much more than just a structure with a roof. This is the place where a family can create wonderful memories. This is all the more reason why a potential buyer should be motivated and encouraged to obtain professional advice and assistance from a Real Estate Agent. Your agent can find you the home that suits your specific needs and where you can create memories.

Potential buyers have a general perception newly built houses are in good condition. But what if the builder used substandard material and practices? So, this statement is not necessarily true. There are houses that have been tested by years and years of use and negligence. Houses built years ago and that stood the test of time. An inspection to determine the quality and condition of the house is recommended in both cases.

• Take a good view at the house from a distance to see if the walls are smooth and flat. If you see cracks discuss it with a professional. It might mean nothing, but it is wise not to ignore it;
• The roof should be properly applied and appear neat;
• Check to see if there is any water damage proof. The excess water must be carried away from the house by the drainage pipes and downspouts;
• Doors must be inspected for open spaces between the door and frame;
• Make sure there is sufficient water pressure. You can turn on the faucets and flush the toilet;
• Are the air conditioners, furnace and heater in good condition and proper working order;
• Make sure the pipes between the fixtures and the heater is copper manufactured;
• The bath fixtures and kitchen fixtures should be in proper working order and of good quality;
• Make sure the main circuit breaker indicates a minimum of 100 amps;
• Quality workmanship should be reflected by the tile work and paint;
• Inspect the stairway. A tilted stairway indicates movement in the foundation.
• Look in the attic to ensure the insulation has been done to the correct standard. In moderate climates the recommendation is R-19 (6 inches of fiberglass).

The above list can provide enough information to avoid the costs of a house inspector. If there are any concerns about the home you are about to buy, discuss this with a professional home inspector.

To all my clients, friends and family: I wish you a happy and prosperous 2012!

You can afford to transform the rooms and bathroom:

Ceramic tiles are expensive. If your bathroom needs care and you do not have the funds to do it now, here is an affordable option: you can paint the tiles and give it a fresh look.

 Cautions before you paint the tiles:

• Paint on the floor can wear off. Concentrate on the wall areas;
• Do not paint the bathtub or shower;
• Cracked grout can be repaired at least 48 hours before you start painting;
• Make sure the surfaces where you want to apply the paint are clean and dry.

How to paint the tiles:

• A semi-gloss primer and paint that is a 100% acrylic should be used;
• Choose the color that matches the other elements in your bathroom;
• The primer and the paint should be slightly thin. Apply several layer rather than one thick layer;
• A low-nap roller can be used. Apply one thin layer of primer and wait for the primer to dry. This can take a couple of hours. The first layer of paint should be applied with a brush and several hours later the second layer with a roller;
• Use a small artist brush to paint the grout lines. Have patience, this will take time.
• To finish the newly painted surface paint one layer of urethane.

There are the most amazing tips on the Internet on how to decorate your home. Read from the basics of setting up a room to finishing touches to make the space a reflection of your personality and good taste. Formal or casual, everyone finally gathers in the living room or family room. Read techniques to use to create a comfortable, personal space. Find information about bedding, furniture, luxury products, and lighting to help create a personal space in your bedroom. Whether your kitchen is the family gathering place or a place to “refuel,” you’ll find loads of information here for a workable and beautiful space.

High cost of living, being over indebted or losses of income can worsen the default on mortgage payments. A short sale deals with the lender when the mortgagor can no longer keep up with the payments and the outstanding mortgage is higher than the property market value of the specific area. A short sale must be well explained for the benefit of the seller and the buyer. This process takes longer and is not the same as buying a marketable home.

When investing in a short sale thorough market analyzes and calculations are recommended. The property can be in a condition where renovations and reconstructions are required or hidden defects that will impact the repair budget. A contractor is usually of great help to estimate costs. These costs, together with the cost of maintaining the property, are an expense one should spread over a reasonable period. Maintenance, renovations and reconstruction is used to generate sales and can be seen as an expense. Over capitalizing happens when what one indebted costs more than the original value of the home.

Each short sale is different and has its own merits. A lot depends on the lender and on the listing agent. This is a time consuming process. Banks request a broker price opinion which takes a while. To convince the bank to accept your offer, the comparable sales have to support the sales price. The market value is determined by comparable sales of the same area similar to the home in question and with a similar floor plan.

The expertise of a real estate agent is essential when buying a short sale property. This is not a process that you would undertake without being educated, having sufficient knowledge about. For the best professional assistance we encourage you to contact us.