iRaleighRealEstate Blog

Here’s something for the water cooler from your Raleigh Realtor Team, Rick Freeman and Amy Davis.

Regardless of how you feel about politics and off-shore drilling, we can’t help but be disturbed by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Afterall, just about everyone on the planet will be affected, one way or another.   Well here is a fascinating video about a possible solution to the clean-up and it looks like these good ole boys may be on to something.  Enjoy!

Raleigh Real Estate Mythbusters

Real Estate Strategy

Myth – “The best game plan is to price your home over market to give yourself room for negotiation if offers come in low.”

Here’s Why that is a Myth – Most homes sell within 5% of what similar neighborhood homes have recently brought. Pricing your home too high will actually scare buyers away. They’ll assume you are unrealistic and likely to be difficult to deal with. In addition, buyers who believe your home is out of their price range won’t even look at it.

The best way to deal with a low offer is by making a counteroffer or rejecting the contract outright. Having an experienced real estate agent in your corner will help you price your home to sell quickly, while netting you the best possible return.

PRICING – Need more information on pricing your home to sell? Read our FREE online report, PRICING: Beat Your Competition To The Contract. There’s absolutely no obligation.

It’s going to be a beautiful day. If you’re out and about near my office on Falls of Neuse, 2 blocks north of I-540, stop by sometime between 11 and 2. We’re having hotdogs, giveaways, a bounce house for the kids and a lot of other stuff. Hope to see you.

Raleigh Real Estate and area homes alert for military and federal employees!

Did you know… Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the $8000/$6500 tax credit which just expired for everyone else.

Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule.

It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

For more information on this topic, email us at HomeSearchRALEIGH@nc.rr.com.  Visit us online for more Raleigh Real Estate information and see all of the homes in the Raleigh MLS for sale.  Any given day in Raleigh, home accidents happen and many could be avoided if a few changes to the home were made. Whether you live in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill or your home is somewhere across the country, safety should be a primary concern. It can also impact your real estate insurance rates. If you’re moving into a new home, or making changes to your current home, you can make choices that will help make your home safe, especially if you have small children or young visitors.

Remember that most home accidents occur in the kitchen. If you have a choice in appliances, select a stove with controls placed out of the reach of children. Vinyl flooring should be slip-resistant and both cabinets and countertops should have rounded edges. A window that overlooks any backyard play area will help you keep one eye on the youngsters while you’re preparing meals.

You can outfit your kitchen with a few simple items that will increase its safety. A step stool will help you reach overhead cabinets safely. A box of baking soda close to the stove can be used to douse small pan fires. You’ll need an all-purpose fire extinguisher in the kitchen, as well. A smoke detector will alert you to fires if you leave the room.

Practice safe habits in the kitchen, too. Clean up spills right away so that they don’t make floors slippery or sticky. Remember that long sleeves can catch fire. Store knives in a rack or a drawer that is not accessible to children. Make sure that pot handles don’t extend out over the edge of the stove while you’re cooking. Keep curtains, papers or other materials away from the burners of the stove.

Accidents can happen in other areas of your home, too. In your hallways, be sure scatter rugs have a skid-proof backing. Lowering light switches or installing switch extenders will help little hands turn lights on or off.

• If you’re renovating a bathroom, choose a tub with a non-slip finish. Cabinets that lock keep children away from hazardous medications or cleaning solutions. Ground fault interrupter (GFI) outlets should be installed on every outlet near water. (The GFI is designed to shut off the electricity to an appliance that gets wet.) Choose ceramic tiles that have non-skid surfaces on the floor.

Make sure stairways are well lit. A landing will help break up a long staircase and make it safer. Non-skid edges on steps and secure well-placed railings can also prevent accidents.

Taking a few moments to correct any hazards you find will let you have a safe–and happy-summer at home. More tips and real estate advice is online at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

For more information on this topic, email us at HomeSearchRALEIGH@nc.rr.com.  Visit us online for more Raleigh Real Estate information and see all of the homes in the Raleigh MLS for sale. 

I have some interesting perspectives on choosing Raleigh homes and Wake County real estate today.  As you drive around some of the neighborhoods in Raleigh, Cary and Wake Forest, looking at homes for sale and thinking about neighborhoods and schools, think about this…when you’re looking for a home in Raleigh or any of our Triangle area towns, remember: “where your house sits is as important as what the house is like.”

Here are some of the questions we always ask when we’re checking out a new listing. Naturally, we pass what we know about properties on to people shopping for homes in the Raleigh / Durham area, but you, too, can have these considerations in mind:

• What is the traffic like on the road where you’d like to live?
• What are future plans for road development, if any?
• What are the plans for surrounding property? (answers are sometimes common knowledge, but often they must be looked up in the town hall offices where maps, charts and proposals are available.)
• Where is the nearest public transportation?
• How far is the house from schools, shopping, recreation, religious and cultural centers (depending on individual preferences)?
• How far is the house from a particular place of work and what kind of commute is available?
• What do local taxes (state, county and town) amount to and how are they calculated?

If you’d like to learn more about our area, call us at 919-649-6638 or email us at

HomeSearchRALEIGH@nc.rr.com.  Visit us online at www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com and see all of the homes in MLS for sale.

The Freeman/Davis Home Team sells a lot of Raleigh homes and the real estate home inspection is one of the items that always brings anxiety to many home buyers and sellers.  A big issue that we often see is what’s not seen in the initial showings, or for sellers, what’s not seen because we have seldom, if any, reason to take a look.

It’s dark and cramped, and most of us would rather avoid it. But your crawlspace is one of the most important parts of your home to monitor when it comes to possible damage from moisture.  Rain, snow, plumbing leaks, condensation and landscape irrigation are all sources of water that can silently turn your crawlspace or basement into a home maintenance nightmare. Damp conditions or standing water can lead to serious damage in the form of wood-destroying insects, rot and mold. These conditions will eventually cause structural damage that is costly to repair, as well as contributing to poor indoor air quality that is detrimental to your health and comfort.  Late winter and early spring is an optimal time to inspect your crawlspace, as it allows you to see wetness on the ground and where it is coming from. You are also less likely to encounter insects and other pests during the winter than in the warmer months. Look for standing water, wetness or discoloration of the foundation walls, or a damp feel or smell.

For help with crawlspace moisture and other home repair and maintenance services, visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com and contact the Freeman/Davis Home Team at 919-649-6638 or via the contact button on our website.

With only 8 more days left to take advantage of the $8,000/$6,500 home buyer incentive, I thought I’d pass along some tips on finding the perfect home. It’s not too late to get under contract by April 30th, although for many of you, that may be unrealistic. A home purchase is one of the most important decisions you can make; The Freeman/Davis Team is ready to help, but only when you’re ready to start the process. Search for homes the no-pressure way by checking out www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com and our MLS search tools…and check out these tips to help you in the decision process.

Zeroing in on a new home can be fun and exciting. But it can also be tiring and confusing. So before you start looking at houses, write down what you want in your new home. Start with the size of the house, number of rooms, most convenient layout, and desirable features. Prioritize the list, noting beside each item whether it is “nice to have” or “a must.”

Plan for the foreseeable future
As you make the list, consider how long you will likely be in the house and how your family and lifestyle may change over time.
Keep your goals in mind
Bring the completed list with you when we plan the first house-shopping tour.
Be a comparison shopper
As you preview each house, jot down how it compares with your list. Fill in the blanks as you see fit–yes/no, good/fair/poor, etc. Keep your notes on each house to compare homes until you find the right house. Also note the features you would like to change in each house.
Housing Needs Checklist
Requirements

HOUSE AND LOT
Square footage __________________

Number of bedrooms __________________

Number of baths __________________

Closets/storage __________________

Basement __________________

Interior condition __________________

Yard space __________________

Fence _________________

Patio or deck __________________

Garage __________________

Energy efficiency __________________

Exterior condition _________________

THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Parking __________________

Overall appearance __________________

Traffic and noise __________________

Snow/trash removal __________________

Fire and police __________________

Schools: Bus or walk __________________

Distance to school __________________

School district __________________

Quality measured by SAT scores or other criteria__________________

Amenities __________________

Distance to job __________________

Childcare __________________

Public transportation __________________

Major highways __________________

Stores/supermarkets __________________

Medical facilities __________________

Recreation _________________

Community services __________________

Restaurants __________________

Churches/synagogues __________________

Airports/trains __________________

Are you or a loved-one in medical debt? You’re not alone. The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation, reports that 79 million adults have medical bill problems, despite the fact that 62 percent of them have medical insurance. You can lessen your financial pain by taking these steps:

• Understand your insurance coverage. Make sure you’re getting the coverage you’re paying for by spending some time on your insurance company’s website and studying your plan. Know your deductible and co-pay requirements. Be proactive, and challenge insurance company denials.
• Tell your doctor that cost is a concern. Ask questions about the necessity of tests and procedures. He or she may make lower-cost recommendations or work with you in talking to hospitals.
• Negotiate up front. Doctors and hospitals are becoming open to negotiation. Try asking if the price would be reduced if you pay cash. Different hospitals charge different prices for the same services so, if you can, ask your doctor’s office for the “current procedural terminology” or CPT code for the procedure and shop around to compare prices. For a small fee, you also can access reports on doctors and hospitals (including pricing) in your area at www.healthgrades.com.
• Ask for an itemized bill. As many as 9 out of 10 bills from hospitals and providers contain errors, such as double billing for the same services with different descriptions. If you are too ill or don’t have time to scrutinize your bills, hire a medical billing advocate from such organizations as the Medical Billing Advocates of America at www.billadvocates.com.
• Discuss monthly payments. If you’ve incurred a big bill, talk to the doctor and the hospital about a payment plan.
• Look for assistance. If you are struggling with medical bills, you may find help by visiting a site such as www.patientadvocate.org, which has a state-by-state directory of financial resources.

For more great information and to search Raleigh homes and Wake County real estate, visit www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com.

Subscribe to The Freeman/Davis Home Team’s “Service For Life” newsletter. Each month, Rick Freeman and Amy Davis share great consumer tips by email or by snail mail! Click here to ask for your Service For Life FREE subscription.

First impressions are often lasting impressions–particularly when a home buyer looks at a property. If a home doesn’t look good from the outside, chances are potential buyers will never walk through the door.

Well-maintained grass, trees, shrubs and flower beds are just the beginning. Plant some blooming flowers. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint and a new doormat. Make sure the doorbell works! Keep toys, bicycles, hoses, etc. out of sight. If you have an asphalt driveway, put a fresh coat of sealer on it. Create a solid, well-cared-for look and buyer traffic will follow.

TWO-MINUTE DRILL

We know lots of inexpensive ways to make your home more attractive to buyers. Find out more by reading our FREE online report, TWO-MINUTE DRILL: Timely Tips For Short-Notice Home Showings. Just click on the link to read the report. And feel free to call on us if you’re ready to list your home for sale.

Visit our family of real estate and Raleigh homes websites and search the MLS NC 24/7 at:

• www.HomeSearchRALEIGH.com
• www.FreemanDavisHomeTeam.com
• www.iRaleighRealEstate.com
• www.iRaleighHomes.com
• www.Facebook.com/HomeSearchRALEIGH