Roanoke Virginia Year To Date Housing Market

I wanted to share how our housing market here in Roanoke, Virginia is doing year to date.   Please see below

for our market statistics.  If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in the Roanoke, Virginia and

surrounding areas, I would love for our team to interview with you and apply for the job of helping you.

Together we offer over 50 years combined experience and have a fully staffed team to support you in every

aspect of buying or selling.  To put one of the highest recognized teams to work for you today please call us

at 540-725-7727 or email me at christycrouch@aol.com.  To learn more about our team and to see the homes

we currently have for sale in Roanoke, Virginia and our surrounding areas please visit our website at

http://www.thecrouchteam.com

 

Property Type Year to Date Activity Report

For 01/01/2014 To 5/5/2014

Property Type	Area	Current Active	New	Pend	Sold	Sold Volume	Average Sales Price	DOM	CDOM	% Of List	Coop Sales	Coop Volume	Expr	Withdrawn
Residential	0110 – City of Roanoke – Downtown	14	6	1	1	640,000	640,000	187	200	85.3	1	640,000	3	1
Residential	0120 – City of Roanoke – South	73	72	23	29	10,421,200	359,352	156	198	95.6	26	9,822,200	13	5
Residential	0130 – City of Roanoke – SW	174	203	65	82	14,109,374	172,066	95	138	95.5	72	13,004,257	41	3
Residential	0140 – City of Roanoke – NW	143	124	25	61	4,542,052	74,460	133	185	93.4	51	3,673,202	40	3
Residential	0150 – City of Roanoke – NE	187	214	46	86	8,733,592	101,553	110	181	95.1	78	7,990,092	50	6
Residential	0160 – City of Roanoke – SE	41	43	11	19	1,035,951	54,524	113	188	92.5	17	889,951	13	3
Residential	0170 – City of Roanoke – Garden City	26	30	4	18	1,296,000	72,000	104	132	93.5	14	1,055,300	8	1
Residential	0210 – Roanoke County – North	185	216	68	108	20,290,960	187,879	110	167	97.1	91	16,830,960	47	5
Residential	0220 – Roanoke County – East	63	79	24	37	6,262,025	169,244	93	155	96.4	36	6,067,025	16	5
Residential	0221 – Roanoke County – Town of Vinton	44	45	6	24	2,939,079	122,462	118	170	96.7	21	2,570,079	14	0
Residential	0230 – Roanoke County – South	306	317	93	124	27,708,039	223,452	108	155	96.6	106	23,197,023	86	4
Residential	0240 – Roanoke County – West	115	99	24	33	7,203,543	218,289	123	207	97.6	31	6,945,543	25	1
Residential	0300 – City of Salem	187	195	36	70	11,417,016	163,100	102	175	95.5	59	9,912,266	60	5
Residential	0400 – Franklin County	707	462	88	143	35,368,979	247,336	202	312	94.0	128	31,379,079	170	13
Residential	0600 – Bedford County	514	369	59	121	26,043,011	215,231	191	279	92.9	100	22,407,035	113	11
Residential	0601 – Town of Bedford	36	29	6	10	1,179,500	117,950	174	226	93.4	8	919,500	14	1
Residential	0700 – Botetourt County	306	263	55	80	17,727,281	221,591	139	194	94.9	70	15,797,281	86	4
Residential	0800 – Craig County	30	13	6	8	1,414,450	176,806	218	245	88.7	6	1,333,450	2	2
Residential	0900 – City of Radford	2	2	0	0			70	70		0		0	0
Residential	1000 – Montgomery County	26	32	36	4	524,000	131,000	114	126	96.4	4	524,000	7	0
Residential	1100 – Floyd County	60	37	7	14	2,386,250	170,446	192	227	92.0	7	1,025,250	19	3
Residential	1200 – Patrick County	5	5	0	0			175	191		0		3	1
Residential	1300 – City of Martinsville	6	3	0	2	144,500	72,250	146	146	97.7	1	122,000	3	0
Residential	1400 – Henry County	32	31	6	6	451,900	75,317	119	122	91.9	3	282,000	16	0
Residential	1500 – City of Danville	4	8	0	2	100,100	50,050	75	75	90.5	2	100,100	2	1
Residential	1600 – Pittsylvania County	59	40	5	9	863,790	95,977	177	226	91.8	7	526,790	11	0
Residential	1700 – Halifax County	2	2	0	0			45	45		0		0	0
Residential	1800 – Charlotte County	0	1	1	0			68	68		0		0	0
Residential	1900 – City of Lynchburg	12	11	5	4	616,400	154,100	187	202	96.8	4	616,400	3	1
Residential	2000 – Campbell County	13	16	3	3	604,500	201,500	146	147	89.6	2	390,500	5	0
Residential	2100 – Appomattox County	2	2	0	0			128	128		0		1	0
Residential	2200 – Amherst County	5	2	0	1	78,000	78,000	139	139	86.8	0		1	0
Residential	2500 – Rockbridge County	14	8	1	3	712,000	237,333	180	194	100.6	3	712,000	5	0
Residential	2600 – City of Covington	2	2	0	0			129	129		0		2	0
Residential	2700 – Alleghany County	17	18	2	7	989,900	141,414	103	137	87.5	2	60,000	8	0
Residential	3000 – Pulaski County	7	6	1	1	82,500	82,500	87	87	97.2	0		0	0
Residential	3100 – Wythe County	1	1	0	0			100	100		0		0	0
Residential	3200 – City of Galax	0	0	1	0			138	138		0		0	0
Residential	3300 – Carroll County	4	2	0	2	165,000	82,500	363	363	94.7	2	165,000	2	0
Residential	9900 – All Other Counties/Cities	8	6	1	2	172,088	86,044	95	105	90.5	2	172,088	2	1
Subtotal		3432	3014	709	1114	206,222,979	185,119	144	211	94.9	954	179,130,370	891	80

What’s Up With FSBO’s

As the market is beginning to pick up we’re starting to see more and more sellers trying to sell on their own as FSBO. For those of you who don’t already know, that means For Sale By Owner, meaning the owner of the home is trying to sell the home on their own vs hiring an agent to help them.

A buyer asked me the other day, “why would a seller try to sell it themselves instead of having a professional handle it for them?” I thought it was a great and interesting question, being a Realtor. This particular buyer is a first time home buyer and was uncomfortable dealing directly with the FSBO because they were afraid of going through the process alone. We ended up calling the FSBO and asking to show the home to this buyer, they said yes and we ended up selling it to this first time buyer.

I told him in most cases a seller will try it on their own in hopes to save money on commission and try to net more money. As the days have passed, I’ve given more thought to that question and decided to write a blog post about the pros and cons of trying to sell a home as FSBO.

For sake of easy reading I thought I would just share my thoughts and opinions on this as bullet points.

So in my opinion the pros of trying FSBO would be:

1. Possibly saving money on the commission

2. Being able to control the showings

3. Getting access to any buyers that may choose not to work with Realtors to help them find a home

The cons in my opinion would be:

1. Having less than a 5% chance of selling it on your own without a Realtor involved. These statistics come from studies done by The National Association of Realtors and reflects the above situations where a Realtor shows the FSBO and ends up selling it without actually listing it.

2. Leaves the seller vulnerable and unprotected. Even if they are open to paying a buyer’s agent’s commission, in most cases that agent is actually working for and representing the buyer and negotiating on behalf of the buyer, not the seller.

3. Leaves the seller in a vulnerable situation when showing their home and/or holding open houses. You have no idea of who may be walking in the front door, and your personal safety is at risk as are your belongings if you have more than one buyer there at a time in the case of an open house. This actually holds true for Realtors doing open houses as well, which is why our team doesn’t do them anymore. You have no way of knowing if the people walking through the front door are financially approved and able to buy or if they are genuinely there with interest in the home or for other reasons. In today’s market if a buyer is interested in buying they are not going to pass the home by without calling to schedule an appointment with the listing agent and/or seller just because there wasn’t an open house. I simply don’t think they’re effective or safe in today’s market but as a FSBO it’s one of the few ways to gain exposure with open house signs luring anyone in and an ad in the paper in paper.

4. If you happen to get an interested buyer there are endless disclosures, inspections, title searches, red tape and processes that need to take place to get you from contract to closing. This has become like an act of congress for Realtors and lenders in today’s market to actually get something from contract to close as a result of the continued stricter underwriting guidelines, agency and disclosure laws. It’s become such a sue happy world that it’s simply a huge risk in my opinion to charter the waters of buying and/or selling a home on your own with a professional Realtor there to ensure everything is properly handled.

5. You essentially miss out on the huge pool of buyers that Realtors work with unless somehow they or the buyer happen to see your ads or sign.

6. If you’re one of the many FSBO’s that agree to allow agents to show your home and are offering a commission for this then essentially you’re only saving the list side of the commission and at the end of the day it just may not be worth it with all the cons involved with trying to sell it on your own.

7. Many buyers have indicated to me that they think they can “steal” the FSBO b/c there’s no professional involved to make sure the seller gets the right price for the house so this leaves the FSBO open to possible low ball offers with no one involved to properly educate them about what the home is actually worth.

8. Inspections.. need I say more, this has become nothing short of a nightmare for all parties involved; the buyer, seller, inspector, Realtors, and contractors.

My purpose is certainly not to try to talk anyone out of trying to sell their home on their own as FSBO, I totally understand the idea, concept, and hope to save money and do it themselves. I just truly believe there is simply too much at stake and that it’s best to have a professional handling it on all aspects. A home is in most cases, is one’s single largest investment and to just chance it this way seems quite scary and downright silly to me.

If you are thinking of selling your home and would like our team to meet with you to go over the process, options, and discuss how we can be of support to you, we would love that opportunity. We work with a lot of folks here in the area and have been able to help a total of 17 families buy and sell already this year and are negotiating 6 other offers as I type this. Whether buying or selling we have the expertise and experience you’re looking for with over 50 years combined experience on our team.

We have a full-time professional in each area of the business to ensure all our customers and clients needs are taken care of. Please visit our website at http://www.thecrouchteam.com to meet our team, learn more about our services, see the homes we currently have for sale, and to discover what our past customers and clients had to say about their experience with our team.

What’s My Home Worth In Today’s Market?

What a great question, and one we as Realtors get asked all the time! There are various factors that go into determining what a home is worth and honestly, if you stood 10 Realtor in a line and asked them what a home is worth, you may likely get 10 different answers.

Unfortunately there is no magical exact value for any home. At the end of the day the question becomes, what is a buyer willing to pay and what is a bank willing to loan in most cases. To get to that point there are many factors that come into play including but not limited to the size, condition, location, tax assessed value, and what other homes are currently listed for and have recently sold for.

Generally to determine the value of a home we as Realtors will pull the tax assessed value, look at the home, and then do what’s often referred to as a CMA which stands for comparative market analysis. This is inclusive of other homes that are for sale, pending, and recently closed. Then we discuss with the seller what they’ve recently done to the home that they feel would impact the value, what they owe, and what they’re looking to walk away with. There is generally a range of value and we pull a number from there.

Once the listing price has been set there are three more folks that have to be convinced of the price before a home can successfully close; first is the buyer, second is the agent that represents the buyer, and third is the appraiser that’s working for the bank to determine if the home is worth what the bank is about to loan.

It doesn’t really matter what kind of listing price is set on a home if these other parties aren’t convinced, it won’t close. In fact within the last two years I sold the same house 3 times before it finally closed. The first two times we sold it, it didn’t appraise for the sales price and the contract fell through. When this happens and a home doesn’t appraise there are three options; one the seller can agree to come down to the appraised value which they did not. Two, the buyer can pay the seller the difference in the sales price and the appraised value, in most cases a buyer is not going to be willing to say “sure Mr/Mrs seller, I’ll agree to pay you more than the home is worth, possible yes, but not customary. Third the contract falls through which is what happened twice before this particular seller finally agreed to sell at market value and the third time we actually closed.

Many sellers think Realtors are the ones that determine the value of a home and while we do have some impact and input, we aren’t the ones to really determine the value. If we were we’d get all our sellers top dollar b/c that would make them the most happy and since we’re paid based on a percentage, the more they make, the more we make and the happier everyone would be. Price is one of the hardest things for us as Realtors to discuss with our potential sellers because we know everyone wants more for their home including us 🙂 It’s not easy to go in and tell a seller that their home is worth possibly thousands less than what they had hoped for.

Unfortunately it’s become even harder in recent years to determine that magical price because we have had so many extenuating factors weigh in as a result of the housing market crash. We have distressed properties, stricter lending guidelines, tax assessed values going up and down at the wrong time. By that I mean they should’ve lowered our tax assessments faster to respond to the market drop. Once they finally lowered them the market had starting improving and now it would help if they were what they were before they lowered them to support market value. Really tax assesses value doesn’t hold nearly as much weight as it once did on the market value. Long ago you could add 10-15% to tax assessed value or thereabouts and get a rough idea of what you could sell for. Not necessarily true in today’s market.

With all this being said it generally boils down as I said in the beginning to what the buyer is willing to pay. And how long a seller is wiling to wait to find that right buyer. If our team can be of assistance to you with selling or buying a home in Roanoke, Virginia and surrounding areas we would love to interview with you and apply for the job.

We have a fully staffed team with a specialist in each area of the business to ensure excellent service to you and with over 40 years combined experience we have the knowledge that you need to navigate the waters of both buying and selling in today’s market. Please visit our website at http://www.thecrouchteam.com to meet our team, discover more about us, see the homes we have for sale, and what our past customers and clients had to say about their experience with buying and selling a home in the Roanoke area with us.

Be Careful Of Frozen Pipes

So over the weekend I got a call from a buyer who was driving by one of my listings and decided to walk around and take a peek in the windows. When he did he found gushing water coming from the dining room ceiling. Busted pipes from the frigid temperatures last week.

Needless to say there was a substantial amount of damage to this property and an insurance claim had to be made. The entire dining room ceiling caved in, there was over an inch of standing water on the hardwood floor, water was seeping through the dining room floor to the basement ceiling. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

It is imperative if your home is vacant during the winter that you keep the heat on or have the home winterized to protect yourself from things like this happening.

The house will now have to be taken off the market for probably months while renovations and repairs are being made to the home thus the seller is losing valuable marketing time and having the stress and headache of dealing with this nightmare from out of town.

You should always cooridnate for a neighbor or family member to check on the home for you several times a week of it’s vacant, especially if your home is on the market. As a Realtor we try to check on vacant properties however we cannot always be there like a neighbor can and anything you can do to prevent something like this from happening is a good idea.

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in the Roanoke, Virginia and surrounding areas our team would love to help. We work with a lot of folks here in the area and have sold 4 houses already this year. We have over 40 years combined experience with buying and selling real estate and our goal is to create customers for life thus we strive to take excellent care of all our customers and clients.

Please visit our website at http://www.thecrouchteam.com to see the homes we currently have for sale and to discover more about our team and how we can be of support to you.

How Did The Year End?

I Wanted to quickly share the year end market statistics with you for The Roanoke, Virginia housing market.

As of December 30, 2013 there are 3,166 homes for sale in Roanoke, Virginia and surrounding areas
The average sales price for 2013 was $193,846
The average days it took a home to sell this year was 222
The average list to sales price ratio was 95.2%
There were 4,244 homes sold in our area this year
There are currently 445 pending sales

The word is 2014 is expected to be an even stronger housing market than 2013, I’m excited to see how it goes as we head into the 1st quarter.

Traditionally the market is a bit slow for the first few weeks of January as everyone gets back into the swing of things and into the new year. In years past I’ve experienced the market really picking up at the end of January / first of February as folks start to get tax return money back or find out how much they’ll have to pay.

The first of the year also brings company transfers, promotions, raises, bonsues, and in many cases new job positions. All of this will help to create movement in the market.

If you are thinking of selling your home, the sooner you get it on the market, the better. The closer we get to the spring market the more homes will be coming on the market as it’s the time of year that everyone thinks is “the” time to sell. If possible, you want to avoid being in the mix of all that saturation. Being one of fewer rather than one of many for buyers to choose from can mean more money in your pocket and less days on market.

We ended up selling a total of 110 homes this year and are negotiating two other contracts now. I am very thanful for such a great year. If you are thinking of either selling or buying, I would love the opportunity for our team to interview with you and apply for the job of helping you. Please visit our website at http://www.thecrouchteam.com to discover more about our team, how we can support you, and to see the homes we currently have for sale.

I hope you have a very safe and happy New Year!

How Was 2013 and What’s 2014 Looking Like?

I just did some research to see how the housing market is ending for this year and what’s in store for 2014 and discovered what I feel is some very encouraging news and stats.

Please see article below from The National Association Of Realtors. If you are thinking of buying, selling, or investing as we head into 2014 we would love to assist you. We have a fully staffed team to support you through the entire process with over 40 years combined experience.

Our goal is to create customers for life and we realize this can only occur by taking excellent care of all our customers and clients the first time around.

We’ve been inducted into the RE/MAX Hall of Fame for our production, are in the top 4% of our marketplace, have sold over 108 homes so far this year, and were awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from RE/MAX International as well.

I mention this only because I want you to know we have what it takes to provide you with excellent service, experience and results whether you’re looking to buy or sell a home. To put one of the highest recognized teams to work for you today, call us at 540-725-7727 or email me at christycrouch@aol.com.

To see the homes we currently have for sale and to learn more about our team please visit our website at http://www.thecrouchteam.com.

As 2013 comes to a close and real estate experts predict where the housing market is headed in 2014, a look back reveals several trends.

“In 2012 we saw the housing market recover and, going into 2013, we expected continuing recovery,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors. “Instead, the recovery accelerated a lot faster than we anticipated, which was great for sellers and for the 75 million homeowners who saw their home values appreciate.”

1. Housing Prices Rose Faster Than Expected

The national median listing price was $179,900 in January 2012 and rose to $180,000 by December 2012, according to realtor.com research. The pace of price appreciation accelerated quickly over the year to reach a median list price of $199,500 by September 2013.

2. Mortgage Rates Rose but Remained Low

“We expected mortgage rates to rise in 2013, and they started to increase in the late spring, but they’re still very affordable when you look at rates on a historical basis,” Yun said. “They just aren’t at the super-low point we saw earlier.” According to Freddie Mac, 30-year fixed-rate loans were as low as 3.45 percent in December 2012 and rose to 4.49 in September 2013. Barry Habib, co-owner and chief market strategist for Residential Finance Corp., said mortgage rates are likely to stay low and perhaps even drop between now and March 2014.

3. Bidding Wars Returned

The combination of rising prices, low mortgage rates and low inventory led to a sense of urgency among buyers and the return of bidding wars, said Don Frommeyer, president of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers. According to realtor.com research, inventory in 2012 reached a high of 2,083,710 homes on the market, then steadily declined to a low of 1,583,497 homes in February 2013. At the end of September 2013, 2,210,000 homes were for sale, approximately a five-month supply.

4. Housing Affordability Remained High

“Housing affordability has come down a little this year because of double-digit home value appreciation and the fact that income isn’t rising in comparable amounts,” Yun said. “Rising mortgage rates, even though they’re still low, also have an impact. While affordability right now is at a five-year low, it’s still the fifth highest for the past 30 years.”

5. All-Cash Buyers Continued to Be a Strong Market Segment

Yun said a continuing surprise is that about one-third of all home purchases were made with cash, a market share that has been consistent for the past three years. While some of these cash buyers are from overseas and some are institutional investors, others are “mom and pop” investors who have had trouble getting financing. “Even some owner-occupant buyers are cash buyers because of the excessively tight underwriting standards for loans,” Yun said. “Some people are getting help from relatives to buy, and then they plan to take out a home equity loan later to repay them.”

6. Mobile Apps Accelerated Connections Between Buyers, Sellers and REALTORS

Nearly every realtor and brokerage in the country introduced a mobile app this year to make it easier for buyers and sellers to access information from their smartphones and tablets. “Everyone realizes that it’s inconvenient to be tied to a desktop when you’re looking for housing-market information and homes,” Yun said. A recent study by Google and the National Association of Realtors found that 68 percent of homebuyers used a mobile app during their home search and 89 percent used a mobile search engine at the onset of the home-buying process and throughout their research

7. Rising Rents and Pent-Up Demand Pulled More First-Time Buyers Into the Market

“Right now we’re seeing replenishment of renters who want to buy homes,” Habib said. “At the peak in 2002, nearly 70 percent of people owned homes and 30 percent were renters; now 65 percent of people are homeowners and 35 percent rent. Not only are rents rising faster than home prices in many markets, but there’s pent-up demand from people who don’t want to live at home with their parents and who want to buy a home.”

Getting Your Home Ready For Winter

Here are some tips on preparing your home for the colder temperatures coming our way in Ronaoke Virginia: I found this on a website and thought it would be worthy information to share.

If we can be of support to you with buying or selling a home in Roanoke, Virginia, we would love the opportunity to interview with you and apply for the job ov helping you.

We work with a lot of folks in the area and have been able to sell 108 homes already this year. We will take excellent care of you, and I am confident we have the experience and expertise you’re looking for. Please visit our website for more information on our team and discover how we can help you with all your real estate needs at http://www.thecrouchteam.com.

1. Clean those gutters

Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters — by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse — so that winter’s rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house, the Insurance Information Institute says.
As you’re hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house’s foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.

“The rule of thumb is that water should be at least 10 feet away from the house,” says Michael Broili, the director of the Well Home Program for the Phinney Neighborhood Association, a nationally recognized neighborhood group in Seattle.

2. Block those leaks
One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out, experts say. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group.

First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.

Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots, says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show “Today’s Homeowner.” Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home’s outer walls, where cold air often enters.

Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing. “Even if it’s a small crack, it’s worth sealing up,” Lipford says. “It also discourages any insects from entering your home.”

3. Insulate yourself

“Another thing that does cost a little money — but boy, you do get the money back quick — is adding insulation to the existing insulation in the attic,” says Lipford. “Regardless of the climate conditions you live in, in the (U.S.) you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.”

Don’t clutter your brain with R-values or measuring tape, though. Here’s Lipford’s rule of thumb on whether you need to add insulation: “If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don’t have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches.”

A related tip: If you’re layering insulation atop other insulation, don’t use the kind that has “kraft face” finish (i.e., a paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier, Lipford explains, and therefore can cause moisture problems in the insulation.

4. Check the furnace
First, turn your furnace on now, to make sure it’s even working, before the coldest weather descends. A strong, odd, short-lasting smell is natural when firing up the furnace in the autumn; simply open windows to dissipate it. But if the smell lasts a long time, shut down the furnace and call a professional.

It’s a good idea to have furnaces cleaned and tuned annually. Costs will often run about $100-$125. An inspector should do the following, among other things:

Throughout the winter you should change the furnace filters regularly (check them monthly). A dirty filter impedes air flow, reduces efficiency and could even cause a fire in an extreme case. Toss out the dirty fiberglass filters; reusable electrostatic or electronic filters can be washed.

5. Get your ducts in a row

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. That’s a huge amount of wasted money, not to mention a chilly house. (Check out this audit tool for other ideas on how to save on your energy bills this winter.)

What’s your home worth?

Ducts aren’t always easy to see, but you can often find them exposed in the attic, the basement and crawlspaces. Repair places where pipes are pinched, which impedes flow of heated air to the house, and fix gaps with a metal-backed tape (duct tape actually doesn’t stand up to the job over time).

Ducts also should be vacuumed once every few years, to clean out the abundant dust, animal hair and other gunk that can gather in them and cause respiratory problems.

6. Face your windows

Now, of course, is the time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. Storm windows are particularly helpful if you have old, single-pane glass windows. But if you don’t have storm windows, and your windows are leaky or drafty, “They need to be updated to a more efficient window,” says Lipford.

Of course, windows are pricey. Budget to replace them a few at a time, and in the meantime, buy a window insulator kit, Lipford and Broili recommend. Basically, the kit is plastic sheeting that’s affixed to a window’s interior with double-stick tape. A hair dryer is then used to shrink-wrap the sheeting onto the window. (It can be removed in the spring.) “It’s temporary and it’s not pretty, but it’s inexpensive (about $4 a window) and it’s extremely effective,” says Lipford.

7. Don’t forget the chimney

Ideally, spring is the time to think about your chimney, because “chimney sweeps are going crazy right now, as you might have guessed,” says Ashley Eldridge, director of education for the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

That said, don’t put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace, Eldridge advises. “A common myth is that a chimney needs to be swept every year,” says Eldridge. Not true. But a chimney should at least be inspected before use each year, he adds. “I’ve seen tennis balls and ducks in chimneys,” he says.

Ask for a Level 1 inspection, in which the professional examines the readily accessible portions of the chimney, Eldridge says. “Most certified chimney sweeps include a Level 1 service with a sweep,” he adds.

Woodstoves are a different beast, however, cautions Eldridge. They should be swept more than once a year. A general rule of thumb is that a cleaning should be performed for every ¼ inch of creosote, “anywhere that it’s found.” Why? “If it’s ash, then it’s primarily lye — the same stuff that was once used to make soap, and it’s very acidic.” It can cause mortar and the metal damper to rot, Eldridge says.

Another tip: Buy a protective cap for your chimney, with a screen, advises Eldridge. “It’s probably the single easiest protection” because it keeps out foreign objects (birds, tennis balls) as well as rain that can mix with the ash and eat away at the fireplace’s walls. He advises buying based on durability, not appearance.

One other reminder: To keep out cold air, fireplace owners should keep their chimney’s damper closed when the fireplace isn’t in use. And for the same reason, woodstove owners should have glass doors on their stoves, and keep them closed when the stove isn’t in use.

Check out CSIA’S Web site for a list of certified chimney sweeps in your area.

8. Reverse that fan

“Reversing your ceiling fan is a small tip that people don’t often think of,” says Lipford. By reversing its direction from the summer operation, the fan will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. (Here’s how you know the fan is ready for winter: As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise, says Lipford.)

9. Wrap those pipes

A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained, says Broili. In climes such as Portland, Ore., or Seattle, where freezing nights aren’t commonplace, you can install Styrofoam cups with a screw attachment to help insulate spigots, says Broili.

Next, go looking for other pipes that aren’t insulated, or that pass through unheated spaces — pipes that run through crawlspaces, basements or garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation, available at hardware stores. If you’re really worried about a pipe freezing, you can first wrap it with heating tape, which is basically an electrical cord that emits heat.

10. Finally, check those alarms

This is a great time to check the operation — and change the batteries — on your home’s smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say. Test them — older ones in particular — with a small bit of actual smoke, and not just by pressing the “test” button. Check to see that your fire extinguisher is still where it should be, and still works.

Also, invest in a carbon-monoxide detector; every home should have at least one.

Home For Sale For The Holidays?

If your home is on the market then you will want to read this article I just received from The Real Estate Book on do’s and don’ts for holiday decorating.

If our team can be of assistance to you with buying a home, selling a home, purchasing an investment property, or anything else with regard to the housing market, please feel free to call us at
540-725-7727 or email me at christycrouch@aol.com.

We’ve sold 106 homes so far this year and I mention this only because I want you to know we have the experience, knowledge, and expertise you deserve when buying or selling a home. To learn more about our team please visit our website at http://www.thecrouchteam.com. Here is the holiday decorating article:

by Monica Perdue

Just because your house is on the market doesn’t mean you have to be Scrooge this holiday season. Sharing your holiday cheer can actually be advantageous this time of the year. Check out these DO’s and DON’Ts for holiday home staging.

DO’s:

•White holiday lights are always in style. Accent your home’s positives with minimal string lighting along the lines of your home. And stick with white lights. Yes it may be simple, but it is classy. Candle light accents in the windows also add to the design. Families driving around during the holidays will notice your home over others and may even grab a brochure when they realize it’s for sale!

•Share your cheer and don’t be afraid to celebrate. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or another holiday, it is ok to show your cheer. Put up your tree, it may accentuate the high ceilings, display your Menorah in a big window to add ambiance, and light the Kinara candles and celebrate. A home is a place where families gather and celebrate many occasions. This is no exception. Don’t put your beliefs and celebration on hold for the sale.

•Decorate with colors that compliment. Holiday colors can clash, so be aware of color schemes that fit well together. If your house has earth tones, your color options are pretty open from red and green to silver and gold. But if you have a cool color pallet in your home, try sticking with complimentary accents like white and gold or silver.

•Think Martha Stewart. Holiday decorating can be a great and inexpensive way to spruce up your living space without too much trouble or cost. Check out some great ideas on marthastewart.com, BetterHomesandGardens.com, and hgtv.com. Setting out a bowl of pine cones sprinkled with glitter, a homemade ornament wreath, or a simple garland can all add a simple “wow” factor.

•And definitely add to the ambiance of the holidays with scented candles, oils, potpourri, freshly baked cookies and more. This time of the year has so many yummy smells from pumpkin pie (and bread) to cinnamon and cranberry, not to mention holiday cookies. Who wouldn’t want to come in from the cold to the scent of warm cookies or hot coco?

DON’Ts

•Inflatable Explosions are BAD. Yes they may be appealing to the kids, but they are truly eye sores and not something that will prove positive to prospective buyers. They are even worse when not inflated, and generally during daylight hours they are not… it actually looks like they died all over your lawn. ”I’m melting. I’m melting… ahhhhhh”

•Don’t hide your home. Too many decorations can lead buyers astray. Cluttered rooms full of decorations can hide the positive elements of your house. Decorate the mantel with simple garland and avoid personalized stockings. Make sure the tree isn’t too big for the space, and avoid doing multiple trees.

•Don’t over-emphasize your religion. While it’s important you are comfortable and able to enjoy the season, you don’t want to offend anyone. Avoid showcasing over sized nativity scenes or other religious symbols.

Decorations or no decorations, we hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

Search homes now on RealEstateBook.com

Appreciation

I wanted to take a moment as we head into the holiday season to express appreciation. I was on a coaching call the other day with a Realtor that I coach in AZ and she was saying that she felt her job had no meaning.

I told her to think about all the lives that we impact by selling just one house. There are our clients, the other Realtor involved, the lender, their employees, the closing company, their employees, the inspectors, their employees and probably a few others I’ve missed. For every home we sell we bring business and job security to so many people other than just ourselves.

We help our clients close one door and open another not only to houses, but to their lives. I am sincerely thankful for having the opportunity to sell homes and make a difference in other’s lives.

I am thankful for the clients that choose our team and allow us to be a part of their world. I am thankful for the other Realtors that help us sell the homes we do, and for the associates we have that help each closing go a little smoother for everyone.

I am amazed that despite the time of year we are still selling a couple homes a week and am really looking forward to what the housing market has in store for 2014.

If you are thinking of selling your home, it’s not the wrong time of year. In fact, it’s the perfect time of year to get a jump start on all the competition that will be out there after the first of the year. Most people think the spring market is the pefect time of year to sell so there will be thousands of homes coming on the market after the holidays as consumers prepare to move during the spring season next year.

To get more information on selling your home now, please call me at 540-725-7727 or email me at christycrouch@aol.com.

If you are thinking of buying a home, then you will definitely not want to wait. As the housing market continues to improve, undoubtedly interest rates will rise and market values will continue to go up meaning you will pay much more for your home. To discuss buying a home and how our team can help please call or email us as well.

I am working on business planning for next year and am looking for content to blog about. If there is information you’d like to learn more about with regarding to buying a home, selling a home, financing, investment properties, or the housing market in general please email me your requests and I’ll write about it 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving

As I sit here at my desk looking out my office window watching the snow lightly fall, I am humbled and thankful for many many things.

Most of all God, my health, my family, their health, great friends who are like family to me, and my customers and clients.

My team and I have sold over 100 homes this year and I am truly grateful for those of you that have allowed us to help with your largest single investment. I realize the trust and confidence it takes and know there are hundreds of other Realtors that you could’ve chosen.

Despite the holiday season and now winter weather setting in, we sold 2 homes over the last week, are negotiating another, and are expecting contracts on two other listings within the next few days!

I am super excited about what the housing market has in store for 2014. I am in the midst of bringing things to a close for this year and preparing for next and looking at what’s worked and what hasn’t inside and outside of the business.

I am doing a few survey’s and would love your help. If you’re willing please answer the following questions by emailing me at christycrouch@aol.com or posting on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Christy-Crouch-The-Crouch-Team/277919182241225

1. If you were looking to buy a home what’s the 1st source you would look to in order to find access to all homes that are for sale based on what you’re looking for? What would be the 2nd and 3rd source you would use?

2. What’s your favorite real estate website?

3. When looking for a Realtor to represent you on the buying side, what’s most important to you?

4. When looking for a Realtor to represent you on the listing side, what’s most important to you?

5. What type of information would be helpful for you in the blog posts that I write next year regaring the housing market, and real estate in general?

6. When making the final decision to buy a home what are the top three most important factors in which home you choose?

7. What are you looking for in a lender?

8. With customer service, what are the top 3 to 5 things you look for in your sales representative?

Thank you in advance if you take the time to respond to me on this as it will be a huge help in my business planning for next year and more importantly with the marketing, advertising, and service I bring to my customers and clients.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!