Wanting to Sell Your Home But Unsure of How to Start the Process?

Here are four simple steps to get you started on the process of selling your home.

1. Call us. Typically you will want to get in touch with us 1-3 months before you want to list your home. We will provide you with a price opinion of what your home might sell for and an estimate of what your “net” proceeds would be at closing after all customer seller expenses, closing costs, real estate commissions and loan balances are paid. We can also consult with you and give you specific recommendations on what needs to be done to prepare your home for a timely sale to help you realize the highest price and net to you.

2. Assess the condition of your home to determine what updates and/or repairs might be required so that it will show more favorably against competing homes. Here are some main areas to consider.

• Flooring - analyze the carpet condition, replace if needed. Hardwoods, ceramic tile and laminate flooring are popular with buyers and may help your home sell faster and at a higher price.
• Light Fixtures - update, clean to sparkling, and replace light bulbs if needed.
• Fresh Paint Inside and Out - re-caulk as needed, clean & repaint baseboards.
• Make General Repairs - contact us if you need a referral for a great handyman. Address wood rot and active water leaks immediately.
• Service the HVAC System. If your system is over 15 years old consider replacing it, otherwise be sure to inspect the outside compressor unit, blower motor, evaporator coils, duct work and AC filters.
• Check the age and condition of household appliances, including your hot water heater. 
• Have your roof shingles professionally examined for wear and possible hail damage. 
• Get your lawn looking its best to maximize curb appeal. Mow, edge, trim, and install fresh mulch.
• Do a deep “spring cleaning” and pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. 

We all know that Utah is great, what with the skiing, breathtaking views, friendly people, etc. But we all might be being kind of biased, since we live here. I thought it would be interesting to see what the world thinks of different cities in Utah. There are dozens of lists out there for “best places to live for singles” “best places to raise a family” etc.  For this list though, I checked out CNN Money’s “Best Places to Live” list. Here is what I found:

#12 Farmington

Located just 20 minutes from Salt Lake City, Farmington is a safe, quiet and friendly suburb. Home to Lagoon (a 125 year old amusement park), and some of the lowest tax rates in the state!

#23 North Salt Lake

This friendly community offers easy access to Salt Lake City. There are plenty of recreation opportunities such as biking and in-line skating and recently a 13-acre park was constructed for community gatherings.  If you are considering a real estate purchase in the North Salt Lake area, feel free to contact us and we can help you find the perfect home!

#63 North Logan

Two hours north of Salt Lake City, this town is the more rural alternative to nearby Logan, where many of the towns residents work. Surrounded by mountains, and largely agricultural though the towns largest employer is Utah State University.

#81 Lindon 

Lots of people are drawn to Lindon for its country feel, yet it is just 15 minutes from nearby Provo. Lots here are bigger than in surrounding communities, and Lindon recently constructed a nice new aquatics center and senior center. Check out our Lindon real estate page for more info!

#85 Draper 

Half an hour from Salt Lake, Draper is famous for it’s hang gliding and paragliding spots. There are also over 70 miles of hike and bike trails in the city, an outdoor amphitheater, and a million dollar view of the Oquirrh Mountains. With big employers like eBay and Lifesciences fueling the local economy, this area will continue to grow and just get better. Check out our Draper real estate page for more info!

So it’s not just us. Utah really is the best place! Whether you are considering looking for real estate in one of these cities or one of Utah’s other (also awesome) cities, contact us! We would be more than happy to assist you!

It’s Getting Chilly!

Oh baby, it’s cold outside! The really unfortunate thing though is that for the past week or so it has been far colder inside of our house. We decided to kick on the furnace last week as the temperatures were dropping. I heard the clicks, smelt that “first run of the season” furnace smell, and heard the heater kick on. Then I went to bed. I can’t remember what I started out dreaming, but eventually my dreams turned to things like ice cream, eventually followed by sledding and snow angels, but then my dream turned in to a nightmare of being stranded in a blizzard and slowly freezing to death. I woke up with a shiver. And then I couldn’t stop shivering. It was FREEZING in our house. I went and checked the thermostat, the little red line was down as low as it cold go, though I had set it for 68dgs.

It has been a battle to stay warm since then. I could tell the furnace was working, kind of. It would kick on if I would jiggle the knob, but the air wasn’t ever very warm. We eventually checked the furnace filter and it. was. dis. gust. ing. No wonder our house was freezing, the furnace couldn’t intake any air! Yesterday we changed the filter and today I am typing without my snow gloves on, it’s a beautiful thing.

Tips for Operating Your Furnace

I am always good about changing my vent filters, but never even thought about the furnace filter till now. As we are approaching colder weather, we thought we would share a couple furnace maintenance tips with you. This tips will ensure your family stays warm and safe, all while reducing your energy consumption and saving you money.

• Change your furnace filter every six months (whoopsie!)
• Have an annual inspection done
• Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace or boiler
• Install ducting to bring outside air directly into the burner
• Keep your furnace room clean and uncluttered
• Consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient furnace or boiler
• If your furnace is gas-fired, keep your pilot light burning all year long
• Do not store flammable liquids or materials in your furnace room
• Test your heating system in the early fall
• Try keeping your thermostat at 68dgs. Each degree you keep it above 68 will raise your heating bill by 3%!
• Lower the temperature on your thermostat by 10 dgs when no one is home
• Make sure your thermostat is not being hit by direct sunlight or any other heat source
• Close doors to rooms on outside walls without thermostats that aren’t being used
• Check that your thermostats are mounted level horizontally
• Clean your thermostats regularly (remove cover and clean dust)
• Check the temperature calibration of your thermostat, and adjust if necessary

It’s late at night. You put the kids to bed hours ago. You wake with a start to small footsteps across the wood floor. You wait for the common site of your toddler to open your door and climb in bed, but she never comes. Slightly panicked, you sit up. You listen more carefully. Footsteps, you’d bet your life you were hearing footsteps. Slowly, cautiously, you creep out of bed and open the door. Certainly it’s your toddler, it’s always your toddler, but no one is there. You cautiously walk all the way down stairs to find your children all tucked snugly in their beds. At first you sigh a sigh of relief, but then your heart starts racing…if it wasn’t your toddler what was walking in your house?!?

Odd noises and similar spooky situations plague most homes. Here is a list from Real Simple of what could possibly be haunting your house this Halloween.

Doors Opening Spontaneously? Well it could be a visitor from beyond the realm, but more likely your door is breathing. Did you know that most claims of this type of paranormal activity in the Northern United States are made in the winter? Grant Wilson, co-host of Syfy’s “Ghost Hunters” explains that “in the winter, the heating system evaporates moisture in the wood, making doors contract and causing them to become unlatched.” The doors could also be opening because of a small draft, or a change of air pressure in the room.

Voices in the Night? While it might be an unexpected visit from “the others,” there is likely a more realistic and less frightening explanation. Radio waves can interfere with audio devices. These mixed signals can result in you receiving CB messages during your favorite tv show. You could also just be very tired, lack of sleep (particularly REM sleep) can make you think you are hearing things. But then again if your microwave starts criticizing your poor meal choices, you may have a true paranormal problem.

Moving Objects? While there are those who claim that ghosts are moving objects around in their house, it is far more common that there is a more scientific explanation. In this day and age with so many gadgets and wifi and radio waves permeating our air it is easy for our “lines” to get crossed. Meaning your neighbors remote might turn the channel on your tv. Also, dying batteries can make gizmos do crazy things. We once had a toddler play table that would turn on during all hours of the night. Before we called the Ghostbusters we took out the batteries, problem solved! Other times pure physics is the culprit. Where it is the condensation on the bottom of a glass of water that makes it appear to move across a table, or the vibrations from a nearby train knocking picture frames off of the wall, physics can play lots of seeming paranormal tricks in our homes!

So hopefully if your home is plagued by scary noises and bumps in the night these explanations can help! But if your house is truly haunted, don’t hesitate to contact us, we will be more than happy to show you some Utah real estate bargains around town to consider if your house is legitimately haunted! Happy Halloween!

Presidential Announcement

President Obama made a major announcement today detailing a major overhaul of the government’s underused refinance program (HARP; Home Affordable Refinance Program) for federally guaranteed mortgages.  It is estimated that the changes made to HARP could help as many as 600,000 or more home owners.

CBS reports that these programs will help homeowners who are underwater and have been paying their bills but are unable to refinance or take advantage of current low mortgage rates. The revamped program is removing a lot of barriers that have been in place that prohibited people with little equity in their home to participate.

They new regulations which will be implemented by the independent Federal Housing Finance Agency, will go out on November 15th and should be available for homeowners in December.

Fannie May and Freddie Mac have been able to help approximately 9 million families refinance into a lower cost or more sustainable mortgage product. About 10% of those refinances were made possible by HARP. HARP is the only refinance program that enables borrowers who owe more than their home is worth to take advantage of low interest rates and other refinancing benefits.

Key Changes to HARP

The new program enhancements address several key aspects of HARP including:

• Eliminating certain risk-based fees for borrowers who refinance into shorter-term mortgages and lowering fees for other borrowers.
• Removing the current 125% LTV ceiling for fixed-rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Waiving certain representations and warranties that lenders commit to in making loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Eliminating the need for a new property appraisal where there is a reliable AVM estimate provided by the Enterprises
• Extended the end date for HARP until Dec 31,2013 for loans originally sold to the Enterprises on or before May 31, 2009.

Great News for Home Buyers!

We received great news from the Community Development Corporation over the weekend! There are currently funds available for Salt Lake City real estate, Magna real estate, and Kearns real estate. These down payment assistance programs are used to help eligible first time home buyers purchase a primary residence. The funds can only be used to assist with closing costs and down payments.

Applicants must be pre-approved for an FHA, VA or conventional loan. These funds are extremely limited each year and applicants are awarded the down payment assistance on a first come, first serve basis. The availability of funds can change quickly so be sure to call us to verify if funds are still available in the area you are looking in.

Details of the Program

The Own in Salt Lake County Program is a federally funded deferred loan program offering down payment assistance up to 6% (not to exceed $10,000). Applicants must meet income eligibility for their household size and have a yearly combined household income equal to or less than 80% of the area median household income (as determined by HUD).

Applicants must be a first time home buyer or have not owned a home in the previous three years. Eligible properties are detached single family residences as well as town homes and condos. Applicants must contribute a minimum of $500 in personal funds to the down payment or closing costs. The purchase price of the home cannot exceed $230,000

Act Now, While Supplies Last!

As we mentioned earlier these funds go quickly, so if you have been considering a home purchase in Salt Lake, Magna or Kearns give us a call today so we can start looking at homes that qualify for this great grant program!

Search for Qualifying Real Estate!

Death and Taxes

I’ve mentioned before that my first home purchase was in Texas. You may not know this, but if you switch the e and the a around…it spells Taxes. The property tax in Austin for a $200,000 home per year is about $3,300 while a similarly priced home in Salt Lake City would have property taxes of approximately $1,400. That’s a pretty significant difference! I don’t say that to elicit sympathy for my tax bill (well…maybe I do), but instead to say that we don’t have it so bad in Utah.

According to a recent research report produced by the Utah Foundation, Utah’s property tax is significantly below the national averate, ranking 37th highest per $1,000 of income.  And although property ta revenue is growing, it is not growing as fast as personal income.

No matter how big or small your tax amount, it is still a burden to pay. Am I right? I don’t think any of us cheer when our property tax bill comes due. But there is a bright side. A lot of us don’t realize all of the city services that our property tax goes to pay for. Here’s a partial list:

• Aging Services
• Air Pollution Control
• Animal Services
• Arts
• Community Policing
• Convention Centers
• Crime Prevention
• Elections
• Family Health Services
• Flood Control
• Food Protection
• Hazardous Waste Management
• Ice Centers
• Libraries
• Paramedics
• Parks
• Public Health Nursing
• Public Schools
• Recreation Centers
• Road Maintanence and Improvement
• Street Lights
• Swimming Pools
• Water Quality Control
• Youth Services
• And MORE!

Haunted Real Estate

Being scared out of your ever-loving mind. It’s not really a feeling I enjoy. Heck, yesterday I took the family to a corn maze that wasn’t even haunted and I still screamed like a school girl about twelve times. All I had to do was turn a corner and see another human being, even cute little toddlers and it would send me in to a fit of shrieking. Yeah, my kids thought it was hil-ar-i-ous. So, feeling like I am perpetually in a haunted house isn’t really on the top of my to-do list, but I understand that it could appeal to some people.

Some homes with sordid pasts can come as an excellent real estate bargain!  Take for example  Ohio resident Chris Butler. He was in search of a nice home with plenty of space for his band to practice. He didn’t want to disturb anyone so he wanted some distance from his neighbors. These types of homes were hard to come by in Summit County, Ohio, but after a determined search Chris found the perfect house. It was a bit of a kill-joy when he learned that it was the childhood home of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Not only his childhood home, but the home where he committed his first murder. While Butler was taken aback by the news, he bought the home regardless, and at a significantly reduced price. *shudder*

In fact there are even real estate agents who specialize in niche markets — like haunted houses (I’m still working on that certification!). Take for example Bonnie Vent, a San Diego based agent who is also a Paranormal Expert and Medium (talk about an impressive resume!).  Some of her listings on her site include these ghostly descriptions…

“The house has two house “guests,” one makes your arm tingle, the other one rushes past. Both are manageable, entertaining.”

Hey well, that sounds ideal if you are lonely, right? Nothing like an entertaining apparition to help you pass the dull, lonely nights.

“Orbs in pictures, lights flashing, doorbell rings unexplained. Noises upstairs. During recent investigation with local ghost hunters, one of ghost hunters was pulled into a closet (I was a witness to this). During clearing ceremonies flames shot up 3 feet and spiraled.  I am the realtor representing this client and would love to sell this to a “ghost” friendly buyer. This area of NW Florida is also very famous for the “Gulf Breeze UFO’s”..Gulf Breeze is a short 3 1/2 miles from this house. Very open community to the paranormal.”

Ghosts AND UFOs? Where do I sign?!

“Dogs growl up at the stairway, heavy footsteps up the stairs, sounds of person “falling” down in attic, boxes falling in attic when it is empty, light bulbs “pop” after electrician says there is ‘no problem’, things ‘disappear’ and never return, some return in different places. Hearing far-off voices, etc.  Nothing has ever been mean or frightening.”

Well…yeah, it’s not like having a clumsy old ghost who keeps falling in your attack and moans occasional is frightening. Not at all.

So, yes, if you prefer to share your residence with the spooky sort there are plenty of opportunities out there for you! If haunted houses are your thing, give us a call, I am sure we can help you find the haunted Utah real estate of your nightmares dreams!

Selling a Home in Fall

We’ve made it through summer which can often be the hardest time of year to sell a home.  Fall sure came quickly this year, didn’t it? Seems like we even got a little blast of winter there for a few days. Luckily it is warming up and hopefully the duration of October will be the warm, breezy, cozy fall weather most of us love.

Here are some tips from HGTV to think about as you prepare to sell your Utah real estate this fall.

• Curb Appeal. We talk about this with every changing season, but that is because creating great curb appeal requires different things each season. The good thing about fall is that the seasonal foliage can be an automatic boon to the beauty of your home. Keep in mind though that you need to put in the work to keep your home looking its best. Keep the falling leaves raked and patch up any brown spots in your lawn. As the leaves fall from the trees, minor flaws in your homes exterior are more exposed. Examine your home carefully to inspect for chipped paint, dirty siding, etc. It never hurts to pressure-wash your home and retouch the paint before you start showing.

• Sense Appeal. I just put my “pumpkin roll” scent in to my Scentsy this morning. I don’t want to leave the house. It smells that good.  Certainly smells can’t sell a house, but the array of pleasant fall scents (think apples, cinnamon, baked goods, etc.) can create a homey and comfortable feel in your home.  As the weather cools more time is spent inside. Make your home a welcome place where buyers can envision passing their days. Let in as much natural light as possible and
  emphasize comfort by accenting your decor with soft blankets or plush towels.
• Warmth. We’re all a little scared of winter. Or is that just me? I want my home to be a warm and inviting place. If your home has a fireplace, this is a great selling point during the cooler months. Make your fireplace a focal point. You can place a mirror, artwork, vases or other tasteful decor on the mantel to draw more attention to your fireplace. 

Deseret News Home Show

The annual Deseret News Home Show is going on this weekend at the South Towne Expo Center.  The home show will feature dozens of exhibits with experts there to answer all of your questions about anything for remodeling your kitchen or adding a room to your home to increasing your home security or adding a backyard pool. Generally at these types of shows the vendors will also offer fantastic discounts for their services, so if you are looking in to improving your home in the upcoming months this show could save you both time and money!

In addition to the exhibits mentioned above there will be lots of celebrity presenters as well, including :

John Gidding of HGTV’s Designed to Sell and Curb Appeal: The Block 

Bryan Baeumler of HGTV’s DIY KING

Joy Bossi, Host of KNRS Radio’s Joy In the Garden 

and even Utah’s own Grocery Guru, Ken Roesbury. I’ll be honest, I had the opportunity to attend one of Ken’s workshops (and then to go shopping with him) and it really is amazing. You’ll recoup the cost of your home show ticket just by implementing some of the strategies he will teach you.

There will also be an ENERGY STAR center where you can go to learn more about rebates, incentives and discounts that are available to you to help save you money and increase the energy efficiency of your home.

There will even be local chefs every hour at the chef stage teaching you how to make fun new dishes for your family (now that’s my kind of exhibit!).

Be sure to buy your tickets online since it will save you $3 a person (adults $8, children under 12 – FREE!). And be sure to contact us if you have any additional questions!