Listing Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty
615-302-4242
Each office is independently owned and operated.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Great Listing In Wakefield Subdivision - Spring Hill, TN, 37174
Listing Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty
615-302-4242
Each office is independently owned and operated.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Adding Closet Space – What to Consider Before You Start
When you have more items to store than closet space, something's got to give. Building and installing a closet is a fairly low-cost solution that the average adult is capable of doing. In a weekend's time, with a little planning and knowledge, you can transform an unused area into the most useful spot in the room.
Planning a Closet
If you're going to build a closet, you might as well build it right. It's too late, after it's built, to wish you had done something different. Taking time to plan any home improvement project will prevent regrets later.
If you want to skip the DIY process and hire a professional to build your closet, these planning tips will still help you determine exactly what will work for your space and budget.
How will you use the closet? A closet full of linens can be narrow and shallow and still work well, while a walk-in closet for clothes needs to be much deeper. Consider what you want to store and how much space it requires.
How would you like to equip it? Decide whether you want clothes rods, shelves, organizers, drawers, or any special features such as cedar plank walls or wiring for an overhead light.
Where will you build it? Perhaps you have the perfect nook, such as an awkward spot between two walls. Maybe you have a large room that can spare the area you want to use. Either way, armed with a tape measure, map out the closet dimensions exactly where you wish to build the closet. Adjust as needed, adding or taking away closet space to fit the area. Also consider clearance for nearby doors, windows, or traffic movement. If it's awkward to open the closet door, the space won't be as useful and you won't be satisfied.
What is your budget? Take a realistic look at what you can afford to spend, and price the tools and supplies you need as well as any labor cost required. If you want wiring in the closet, you'll probably need to hire a professional. Get estimates for what you need and add about 10 percent extra for a little "wiggle room." It's always better to come in under your budget than above.
Don't forget the cost of a closet door! Decide where you want your door, how big you want it to be, and purchase it before you start. This will make wall construction simpler as you can measure the pre-hung door and build the doorway to fit.
Will you use organizer systems? It's especially important to consider organizers before you build so you don't end up with a closet that won't hold the organizer you purchased. If you're a more advanced DIYer, consider designing and building your own organizer systems. Even beginners can build a simple organizer system that will be functional and much less expensive than most off-the-shelf closet organizers.
Before you begin your closet project, it might be useful to browse the Internet forcloset ideas. Never be afraid to try something new. With basic DIY skills, you can generally install any shelf, paneling, or other detail once you have the bare bones of the closet framing complete.
For More Real Estate Information Visit http://www.HomesInSpringHill.com or http://www.JoeNoga.com
Source Market Leader Insider Tips
Thursday, November 14, 2013
What are HOAs and CCRs?
The acronyms "HOA" and "CCRs," although they are used daily by real estate agents, may be unfamiliar to the average person. Let's break down these acronyms and get you up to speed on what homebuyers should know.
HOA
HOA stands for homeowner association – a nonprofit organization that is funded by all the association's members and overseen by an elected board of directors. In some states, HOAs must be registered with the department of real estate or another state regulatory agency.
Most of the country's HOAs are run by volunteers from within the community, with the remainder run by management companies.
The primary purpose of the HOA is to enforce the policies, procedures, regulations and restrictions agreed to by the members, thereby maintaining property values. Financial support for the HOA comes from each homeowner in the form of monthly dues and occasional assessments.
So, how does one become a member of an HOA? If you purchase a home in a managed community, you don't have a choice about whether to become a member. It is required and automatic. For this reason, when considering the purchase of a home governed by an HOA, reading the HOA documents before you agree to purchase is of critical importance.
CC&Rs
CC&R stands for covenants, conditions and restrictions – the governing documents for the operation of the HOA. These are the rules that homeowners, tenants and guests are obligated to follow.
Want to paint your house psychedelic pink? Check the CC&Rs first. From the number of pets allowed to parking restrictions, the CC&Rs are the laws of the community. Failure to abide by them could mean a hefty fine for the homeowner. Unpaid fines can lead to foreclosure proceedings and the loss of the home to the HOA.
Here are just a few items commonly regulated by CC&Rs, according to the authors of "Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home":
Noise.
Landscaping.
Roofing material.
Fences.
Exterior paint color.
Outdoor play equipment such as swing sets and basketball hoops.
Garages and outbuildings.
Mailboxes.
Window coverings.
Holiday decorations.
Clotheslines.
Garbage and recycling containers.
Pets (size, breed restrictions, etc.).
Parking.
Home businesses.
Purchasing a Home in an HOA-Governed Community
Immediately after your offer is accepted on a home governed by an HOA, your agent will go to work to obtain what is typically referred to as the "HOA docs." This is a large package that contains everything you need to know about the HOA and about life in the community.
Unfortunately, the HOA docs need to be ordered, then compiled by the HOA, and typically don't reach the buyer until late in the process. By this time the buyer has usually paid for a home inspection, not to mention the HOA doc fee, which can be quite hefty.
This is the most critical part of the process, though, and requires extreme due diligence. If you don't understand anything in the HOA documents, ask your real estate agent or attorney to explain it. Never close escrow until you've read every word on every sheet of paper in the HOA documents package.
What to Look for in HOA Documents
Several documents in the HOA package require even closer scrutiny:
Special Assessments
A HOA will levy a special assessment when there is not enough money in the reserve fund to pay for major repairs or improvements to the community resources, such as roofs and major systems.
Check the documents carefully for the number of special assessments imposed over the life of the HOA and the amount that was imposed. Excessive assessments are a bad sign.
While you're at it, check for mention of any major projects planned and whether the HOA reserve fund can cover them. You'll find information about the reserve fund in the HOA's budget. There should be a minimum of 10 percent of the annual budget amount on reserve.
Litigation
Your lender will find out about this, so you may as well check to see if there is any ongoing or pending litigation on behalf of or against the HOA. If the litigation is over construction defects, the lender won't approve your loan until the litigation is complete.
Meeting Minutes
The HOA holds meetings and someone is responsible for keeping track of what occurs during the meetings. Look through the minutes for homeowner complaints, especially repeated complaints. This is an indication of an unresponsive HOA - another red flag. Some associations are striking homeowner comments from their minutes. If you see no comments, ask your real estate agent to find out why.
While other documents, such as the insurance policy, are important, the ones mentioned above are those that the layperson can most easily understand. Again, if you don't know how to read an insurance policy (and who does?) run it by your attorney.
No matter how much you love that adorable condo, it's not worth purchasing if the CC&Rs impact your lifestyle and restrict your freedom. Read HOA docs carefully before signing an offer to purchase.
For More Real Estate Information, Please Visit My Website. www.JoeNoga.com or Search For A Home At: www.HomesInSpringHill.com
Source:Market Leader Insider Tips
Friday, November 8, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
The Local Real Estate Market Is Still Hot In The Spring Hill TN Area
Everyone thinks that the real estate market slows down before the holidays. To some extent it does, but with the shortage of homes for sale in Spring Hill, TN right now, there are no signs of slowing down. Spring Hill and Thompson's Station are highly sought after places to live and there just aren't enough homes for sale. Housing inventory has come up a little, but it cannot keep up with the demand. New construction is also up and this is helping the situation. Neighborhoods like, Wades Grove, Benevento, Spring Hill Place, and Benevento East still have available lots and vacant newly constructed homes for sale.
If you or anyone you know is thinking of selling, we need to talk. Also if you are looking at buying in the area and need help, I would be happy to assist you in finding your new home.
Please contact me through my web sites:
Monday, October 28, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Home Buyer Tips!
Furnish Your Home For Less
Starting out with a "blank slate" can be both a blessing and a curse. The blessing comes if you have enough money to furnish your home with whatever you want from wherever you choose. Furnishing a home on a shoestring, though, takes creativity, an eye for a good value, and possibly some elbow grease.
While some discount stores, such as Ikea, sell inexpensive new furnishings, careful shoppers can find better quality for less money with used furnishings. Here are a few ideas for getting what you need at dramatically discounted prices.
Inspiration
Whether you are furnishing one room or a whole house, it's important to have an idea of how you want the room to look before you go shopping. Once you have the design in mind, it's easier to shop for the components.
Model homes in new home communities are great places to get decorating ideas. These homes are carefully decorated to appeal to a broad range of homebuyers' emotions. Color schemes, accessories, and furniture choice and placement all play to the shopper's emotions.
Interior design and decorating websites may also be good sources of inspiration. Check out Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, Real Simple and Southern Living for budget project ideas to get your household furnished for less.
Used is Good
One of the hardest things to learn is how to look beyond the obvious wear and tear to the actual "bones" of used furniture. Look beyond the fact that the upholstery is ratty or the legs are scuffed – look at style.
If you like the lines of the coffee table, buy it. Scratches and dings are easy to fix. Hate the ugly green upholstery on the otherwise perfect Chesterfield-style sofa? Buy it. Have it recovered in a yummy fabric of your choice.
Once you've mastered the technique of not judging furniture by its cover, it's time to go shopping.
Garage and Estate Sales
Yes, there are differences between garage sales and estate sales. The latter is the disposition of goods of a person's estate. The garage sale, on the other hand, is the sale of a person's extra belongings or things they no longer need. Both sales offer used items, but estate sales typically have a better variety, and the items are usually in better condition.
Expect to pay more for estate sale items than garage sale items, and prices are typically not negotiable. In both cases you'll need to supply your own moving labor and transportation, so factor that cost into the cost of the items you want to purchase.
You can find garage and estate sales advertised on Craigslist, in newspaper classified ads, and by following directional signs in neighborhoods.
Consignment Stores
Furniture prices tend to be a bit higher in consignment stores than if you were to purchase the items directly from the owner's home, but you can occasionally find some bargains.
Thrift Stores
Salvation Army, Goodwill, Deseret Industries (in the western U.S.) and hospital auxiliary thrift stores are sources of deeply discounted used household items. Finding something decent is a bit challenging, but once in a while you'll find just the piece you've been searching for, so don't disregard these sources.
Online Shopping
Craigslist is the best online site for inexpensive home furnishings – mainly because it's local. The first place to navigate once you arrive on your local Craigslist page is the "For Sale" section, where you'll find a link named "Free." Everybody loves free, right? Within this category you'll see ads that are headlined: "Curb Alert." These ads contain free items that the owners place at their curb, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Directly beneath the "Free" section is a link to the furniture section. Here you can find everything from new furniture to gently used designer pieces and ratty junk. Craigslist gives you the opportunity to search by owner or by dealer and to use keywords, which saves you from having to scroll through hundreds of ads for headboards when you're looking for a dining room table.
You may also want to peruse the "Household" and "Antique" sections, also located under "For Sale."
Another website where you can search for furniture is eBay. You can find some bargains here, but keep in mind that shipping charges may just destroy any savings you realize on the items themselves. One way around this is to click the down arrow next to "Sort." At the bottom of the list you'll find "Nearest First." Click on that link to re-sort items according to geographic location.
Etsy is an interesting website for perusing handmade items, such as artwork, containers, planters and pillows suitable for accessorizing.
Finally, join the freecycling group in your area at Freecycle.org. Membership is free, and so are all the items posted.
Shopping frugally allows you to make big, dramatic changes to your home décor without breaking the bank.
Source Market Leader Insider Tips For More Insider Tips Visit http://www.HomesInSpringHill.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)