Is your Tamaqua home attractive to burglars?

Interviews with burglars have given researchers some insight into how they choose the homes they’ll enter. Since it’s only common-sense, researchers probably didn’t need to be told that burglars don’t want to be caught and they do want to choose homes that will give them the fastest, easiest way in and out.

 

For that reason, they’re apt to choose a home with an open window – or a window that can easily be opened. They also like flimsy doors with in-knob locks. These are the easiest to kick in. Many burglars say the sight of a deadbolt will make them move on to choose a different target.

 

The best combination: a sturdy steel or wood door with a deadbolt.

 

Nearly 70% of burglars report entering through a door – either a door that was left open, or one that was easy to force. Most don’t use lock picks or keys they had previously acquired. However, some do enter with a key – often with the key left under a rock or a flower pot near the door.

 

If you really do need to leave a key for a forgetful family member, invest in a lock box with a combination and put it in an inconspicuous spot.

 

And, since some do use keys they’ve acquired in other ways, change your locks now and then. Do it first thing when you move into a new home, and then every few years.

 

Even better: Consider using a keypad lock – you can change the combination any time you’ve had occasion to give access to anyone outside your family.

 

Locks on sliding glass doors are notoriously faulty and easy to open. Invest in a thick wooden dowel to lay in the tracks, so the door can’t be opened even if the lock is broken.

 

Burglars also tend to shy away from homes with alarms and/or security cameras. While these devices aren’t cheap, they’re much less expensive than a burglary, and they are effective deterrents. More than half of the burglars interviewed said the presence of alarms or security cameras would make them move on to a different target.

 

Take some basic safety precautions:

 

Don't assume most break-ins occur in the dark. Daytime is when most people are off at work or at school, so a burglar is least likely to be discovered. Lock up tight before you leave in the morning.

But - since some do occur at night, add motion sensor lighting to your yard. Burglars don’t want to be in the spotlight!

 

Trim your hedges. Remove tall hedges and shrubs close to your house, as these are effective “cover” for a burglar. If you really want the look of tall greenery, consider installing thorny shrubs, especially by your windows.

 

Get acquainted with your neighbors. Neighbors who like each other tend to watch out for each other’s homes and to report suspicious activity.

 

Never broadcast your plans to be away from home. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve read about people who told their Facebook friends about their upcoming vacation – or posted travel pictures while they were away – and came home to find their homes ransacked.

 

In one family the parents were careful not to tell anyone, but the teen-age daughters gave their Facebook friends an accounting of their travels every day.

 

Always remember that it is not just your friends who read your social media postings - if it's online, it's there for the world to see.

 

Take your photos – but wait to post them and tell your online friends about the trip until you’ve returned home.

 

Facebook and other social media sites aren’t the only danger. If you want to tell a good friend about your trip, do it in private – not in a busy coffee shop or other public place where anyone might be listening.

 

Remember – here in Tamaqua or anywhere else, burglars prefer easy marks. They want to get in and get out with your belongings as quickly and safely as possible. So don’t make it easy. Take precautions and do your best to make your home unattractive to them.

The Purchase Price is not the bottom line for either buyers or sellers in Tamaqua

While the stated purchase price of a home in Tamaqua is the starting point, it doesn’t represent the buyer’s total outlay, and doesn’t represent the seller’s final income.

 

Many other details determine the true bottom lines for each. Many of these details, along with the purchase price, become points of negotiation.

 

The first – and largest – adjustment is probably the request for the seller to pay some or all the buyer's closing costs. Depending upon the loan program, this could be as much as 6% of the purchase price.

 

On a home valued at $300,000, paying buyer's closing costs would mean a $18,000 reduction in proceeds for the seller – and a $18,000 savings for the buyer. On top of that, there are the real estate commission, deed preparation, and other closing costs which always apply to the seller.

 

Then there are the inspections, the appraisal, and the repair allowances. Buyers usually pay for the inspections and appraisal, but they can ask the seller to pay these costs.

 

Every purchase offer should include a set figure that the seller agrees to spend on repairs, if required. This figure must be mentally deducted when the seller is looking at net proceeds. If more expensive repairs are needed buyers and sellers must either return to negotiations or let the transaction die.

 

On the buyer’s side there are those closing costs, mortgage insurance fees, the first year’s homeowner’s insurance, and escrow reserves for property taxes and insurance.

 

But those aren't the only factors that can affect the buyers' or the sellers' finances.

 

Timing can also play a role. If the buyer is leaving another home or the seller is buying a new home, the closing/possession date can save or cost them dollars. Think of the cost of putting your household furnishings into storage and renting temporary shelter in the interim between closing on one home and moving into another.

 

If you're the seller and you've already moved, think about the cost of making that monthly mortgage payment on a home you no longer occupy.

 

Next, look at what's included in the purchase price. Kitchen and/or laundry appliances may already be included per the listing. If not, the buyers can ask for them. Inclusion saves the buyers money, while it may cost the sellers to replace them in their new home. So even though these items are not given monetary value on the purchase offer, they do have value that both parties do need to consider.

 

The same is true for items like a riding lawn mower or a hot tub. The seller may not need these in their next home, but leaving them behind does add value for the buyer.

 

Whether you're buying or selling a home here in Tamaqua, ask your agent to go over the true costs with you, so instead of the purchase price, you can see the true price.

 

If you have questions about these costs and how they affect your bottom line, call me at 570-640-8109 or drop me a note at edentroxell@yahoo.com. I'll be happy to speak with you.

 

And, when you're ready to buy or sell a Tamaqua home, it would be my pleasure to guide you through a smooth transaction.

Are you ready to embrace 2018’s color of the year

If you’re offering your Tamaqua home for sale this year, you naturally want to look as fresh and up-to-date as possible. Remodeling the kitchen might not be in your “home readiness” budget, but painting probably is on your list.

 

Should you follow the latest trend in color?

 

Everywhere we turn these days we’re getting news from paint manufacturers and decorators about the season’s trendiest color, and it’s a bit of a surprise.

 

The color: Purple, in it’s many variations. While Royal Purple comes to mind, wine red, plum, violet, and lilac are all being shown as the “In” colors this year.

 

This is a bit extreme for some. If that includes you, you probably won’t want to paint a whole room or even a whole wall. In fact, it would be wise not to do so, as it could limit the number of people who will be attracted to your home.  

 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t be trendy and up-to-date.

 

Consider adding throw rugs, sofa pillows, or a large vase in your favorite shade of purple. You can also incorporate new colors with towels, floral arrangements, or pictures.

 

Adding color through accent pieces allows you to stick with neutrals for wall and floor coverings – which in turn allows home buyers to visualize their own furnishings in your home.

 

Remember that today, neutral doesn’t necessarily mean white or beige. “Newer” neutrals include the many shades and tones of gray, sage green, and even muted blues. All of these could look attractive as a background for some bright purple splashes.

 

If you wonder what Tamaqua buyers are saying about the new trend, call me! I'll be glad to share.

Your transaction has closed, and now…

Whether you’ve just sold a home in Tamaqua or just purchased one, you have a few tasks to complete after the closing.

• First, change all the utilities into or out of your name. This includes cable, electricity, phone service, and HOA records. If you’re the seller and have had newspaper delivery, remember to cancel or move your subscription.
• Next, wait a few days, then check in with the local taxing authority to make sure their changes have been made.
• If you’ve sold a home with a mortgage, and especially a home with a second mortgage, check County records to make sure that the reconveyances have been properly filed. Don’t assume that things will be done properly, because now and then they do miss something.
• Contact all of your accounts and do an address change.  Remember your doctor, your dentist, your veterinarian, your insurance agent, your employer, your banks, and your voter registration. If you had a land line and won’t be keeping the number, remember to update that as well.

If you’re the buyer:

Do a little extra cleaning in the bathrooms and kitchen, and around the switch plates, door knobs, etc. Disinfectant wipes will work for most things. Hydrogen peroxide is a fine disinfectant to use on built-in cutting boards. Clean the dryer vent before installing your own dryer.

 

This isn't any reflection on the seller's housekeeping - you just never know who helped them move and whether or not someone had a cold.

Change all the locks or have them re-keyed. The same goes for access codes to security systems and garage door openers. You don’t know how many other people might have copies of the old keys and codes.

 

Change the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

If the sellers didn’t leave user manuals for all of your appliances, the furnace, etc. go on line and download them for handy reference should they be needed.

 

To save yourself time and hard work - If you plan on repainting or re-carpeting any rooms, do it before you move in.

 

Take pictures of the house as it is at closing time - they’ll be fun to look at after you’ve added your personal touches.

 

Taking care of these tasks will save you time and trouble in the long run - and add to your pleasure in having purchased or sold a Tamaqua home.

How to make your 2018 real estate goals come true

Do you plan to buy or sell a home in Tamaqua in 2018?

 

Perhaps your home is already on the market and hasn’t yet sold. Perhaps you’ve already been searching for just the right house – but so far without success.

 

It could be that something is a bit “off” in your approach. Perhaps you haven’t been paying careful attention to the advice your agent is giving you. Or perhaps your agent forgot to give you good advice!

 

If your Tamaqua house hasn’t sold:

• Take a fresh look at the price. Ask your agent to prepare a new market analysis and advise you on the correct price for your market in January 2018.
• Be sure the house is in top form and ready for every showing: No clutter, no unpleasant smells, no dirty floors or toilet bowls. If you need a refresher on getting the house ready to show, let me know and I’ll share my seller checklist with you.
• Unless you or someone in the family is in bed with the flu, say “Yes” to every showing request. No one will buy a house they can’t see.
• Take the kids and pets and get out of the house when it’s being shown.
• Seriously consider every offer and if necessary, work with your agent to compose a counter offer.
• Ask how you can help spread the word by sharing information your agent has posted on line.

If you’re searching for a home in Tamaqua:

• First, visit a lender and learn what you can afford. Get pre-approved for that mortgage loan.
• Seriously consider what neighborhoods will suit you and your lifestyle. Avoid looking at homes in neighborhoods that just won’t do.
• Give your agent a list of “must-have” features, AND a list of “Must NOT have” features. If you and a spouse or significant other don’t agree, work out those differences before you begin searching.
• Be ready to make an offer when that perfect house appears. In a fast market, to wait is to lose out.
• Make your offer realistic. You may be competing with others for the same house, so if you want the house, don’t try to get the bargain of the century.

If you have not yet begun, but you’re ready to get started, call me!

I’ll be pleased to help you sell your current home or find the home that exactly suits you and yours.

 

If you need to talk it over and get a little advice before deciding if now is the right time, I’ll also be glad to talk with you. So don’t hesitate… call today.