Shade-Loving Plants for Your Portland Home

So you have lots of trees shading the grounds of your home. And you’re having a hard time growing a lawn. Be glad! Mowing the grass is one less chore you have to do. Though a shady yard means you can’t grow a vegetable garden, there are many shade-loving landscape plants to choose from. Here are some to consider:

• Hosta. There must be hundreds of varieties of these perennials, grown for their foliage. Leaves are spoon-shaped and come in all shades of green, including variegated. There are dwarf hostas as small as 5 inches high, there are giant hostas that grow to 3 feet high and 6 feet wide, and every size in between.

• Astilbe. Here is a perennial shade lover with finely cut leaves. Feathery plumes of flowers bloom from late spring to early summer. Height is 2-3 feet tall.

• Impatiens. Try this annual that blooms in the shade, in colors ranging from white to pink to red to magenta and orange. Eight to 12 inches in height.

• Ferns. There are many hardy ferns of different species, in several shades of green and various sizes. Their feathery foliage adds interest and drama to the shady landscape.

• Bleeding heart. If you’ve never seen old-fashioned bleeding heart in the spring, you won’t believe what this plant has come up with for a flower! Intricate pink and white blooms in the shape of a dripping heart.

• Dutchman’s breeches. This is a close relative of bleeding heart whose blooms look like tiny white britches. It’s just too bad these two don’t bloom longer, but if you have a shady yard, they deserve a special place at your home.

• Lily of the Valley. Another old-fashioned favorite, these perennials send up their tiny white bells and a wonderful fragrance in spring. They make a nice ground cover and are easy to grow.
So don’t feel bad if you don’t have much sun at your home. There are even more shade-loving plants to choose from, so start exploring your options.

For more tips on beautifying your property and more, subscribe to my blog. It’s free.

Links
hostas

http://www.gardening-tips-perennials.com/hosta-care.html

astilbe

http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/astilbe.htm

Bleeding heart

http://home.howstuffworks.com/define-bleeding-heart.htm

How to Showcase Your Bathroom in your House For Sale

A bathroom renovation is one of the best things you can do for a home for sale. But, remodeling a bathroom is an expensive project, and in today’s market you aren’t likely to get all the money back that you put into it. So, here are a few inexpensive changes you can make to spruce up the bathroom:

Fixtures
Most sellers will notice if the fixtures in the bathroom are old, and it can have a negative effect on their view of your home for sale. Buy a set of bathroom fixtures at a home improvement store. Most stores have matching towel racks and bathroom tissue holders, too. There is a good selection of stainless steel, wood or ceramic fixtures available at most stores.

Paint
A fresh coat of paint is a good way to improve the overall look of the bathroom. Choose paints in a light, neutral color to make the room seem more spacious.

Floors
If your bathroom floor has tiles, it’s a good idea to add fresh grout to brighten it up or at least clean the grout so it looks new. Scratched linoleum will need to be replaced. You can buy rather inexpensive flooring that is easy to install in a variety of patterns and colors.

De-Clutter
You want the prospective buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. It’s easier for them to do that if your home is free of clutter. This is even true in the bathroom.

Clear out your medicine cabinet. (Yes, many buyers will look in there.) Leave only essentials like toothpaste and hairbrushes.

Making a good impression on your prospective buyers can be easier when you’ve redone your bathroom. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to increase the value of your home for sale.

I have many more tips like this to inexpensively prepare your home so that it sells faster and for the most money. I’d love to share them with you. Give me a call today at 503-686-5375 or email me at PortlandRealtor@pobox.com

Thank you for visiting.
Francesca

LINKS:
1. Fixtures:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=Improve/UpdateBathroomFittings.html

2. Paint:
http://www.swatchbox.com/paint-interior.asp

3. Clean the grout:
http://video.about.com/housekeeping/How-to-Clean-Grout.htm

Avoiding Real Estate Mistakes

Take off the rose-colored glasses. The home selling/buying process is often more extensive than you think, from the early planning stages to protracted negotiations to often delayed closings. It can take time before a seller formally accepts a buyer’s offer. Financing typically takes 45 to 60 days, title issues can pop up, rough edges discovered in the final walk-through must be smoothed, etc. Give yourself some extra time to complete the deal.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Exposing your hand. For the Buyer: Never let your love for a house cloud your vision. Contain your enthusiasm, keep a poker face. Otherwise, the sellers and/or their agent will know they’ve hooked you and will be less flexible on price negotiations. You can scream “Yes!” when you get back out in your car. For the Seller: Never let the buyer know how much you want/need to sell. Keep that close to your chest.

Skipping the loan pre-approval step. For buyers, getting pre-approved for a mortgage gives you a clear idea of how much you can safely borrow, plus it addresses credit-rating issues and kick-starts other financial paperwork. What’s more, it identifies you as a serious buyer. Sellers should demand nothing less than proof of pre-approval from the potential buyer’s financial institution. No sense in wasting time on time-wasters. Interest rates are absurdly low right now, but you should still shop for the best deal — remember you are shopping for money.

Assuming the appraisal equals actual value. In theory, appraisals are objective estimates of value. Sellers, before you put your home on the market, have an agent do a comparative market analysis to better indicate the home’s worth. Do not rely on what your friends and neighbors say it is worth. And buyers, get similar “comps” from your agent. But realize the true value of a house is what someone is willing to pay for it.

Timing the market. Sellers and buyers have been have always been playing this game. You can never pick tops or bottoms of any market. Keep in mind, that if the current market is 10 percent down when you sell, you will also be buying at 10 percent down. Real estate is your home as well as an investment.

Hiring the wrong agent. Buyers and sellers should interview several agents, from small and large firms. Get references and success stories. You may not benefit by opting for an agency’s top-volume seller. That top-producing agent may have listed 40 homes last year and sold 30, but another agent may have listed 15 and sold 14. And choosing the agent who suggests the highest listing price is not a recipe for success either — nor is opting for the agent who charges the lowest commission. Remember the SEED qualities in an agent: Smart, Empathetic, Experienced and Dedicated will usually get the job done right. You also need to feel that the agent is someone that you trust as you will be having a close relationship throughout the process, and trust is important.

Missing the big picture. Opting for a dream house that will otherwise negatively affect your quality of life such as longer commutes, distant schools, limited access to services, etc., can cause buyers to question their decisions after a few months. Make sure your dream house is grounded in reality.
Not knowing what you’re signing. Be sure you have everything gone over with a real estate attorney. The sales contract is a legally-binding document. It should address all your concerns and the concerns of the other party, such as who will pay what for closing costs and repairs. A poorly written or incomplete contract can cost you lots of time, money and emotional energy and tie up your deal for weeks or months. If there have been any oral commitments, they should be put in writing.

Hire the right professionals. Be it your realtor, mortgage broker/banker, home inspector or real estate attorney. Pick one that has been recommended, that you are comfortable working with, and that you can trust. Interview more than one. Ask them how they work and what they charge and make an informed decision.

If you’re looking to buy, sell or just need some friendly real estate guidance, please call or text me at 503-686-5375.

Thank you for visiting my Blog.
Francesca

Beware of Bad Real Estate Appraisals

You’ve got a contract in process on your recently listed home. It’s now Pending and have a closing date set. Whether or not everything goes smoothly comes down to the home’s appraisal. The buyer’s lender will usually send the appriaser out to the home as one of the last steps in approving the loan. Waiting to hear that all is well can be frustrating enough, but when the news is unfavorable, it might seem like the end of the world.

Just because your home receives poor marks doesn’t mean that you didn’t take care of it — it could be you received a bad real estate appraisal. While most appraisers are completely competent at their jobs, some might be unfamiliar with an area or use inappropriate comparisons. This has become a concern in the downtown Portland highrise market.

Below are common appraisal problems of which you should be aware.

•Inconsistent appraisals – If the appraiser finds issues that don’t makes sense, like claiming the home needs a new roof when you replaced it last year, or the appraisal comes in absurdly low, saying things are not to “code” when they are, you might want to hav your Realtor do some research. If the appraiser has complaints filed against him or her or a history of inconsistent appraisals, you might want to fight back.

•Inaccurate comparisons – Some appraisers will pull comparables without taking into consideration whether they’re foreclosure, abandoned or short sale properties. All of these types of listings can drive down the value of your home.

•Ignored market conditions – The market can turn around quickly, so this is a common mistake some appraisers make. They need to take into account rising prices, multiple offers and low inventory, and not use outdated information.

•Slow turn-around time – Appraisers know there are time constraints when it comes to purchasing property. They should be familiar with your area and able to give a ballpark estimate. If the buyer’s appraiser is taking an unusually long time to crunch the numbers, it could be a sign that they’re unsure; you might want to double-check their figures. This is has become very common with the new “lottery” laws.

If the appraisal on your home just isn’t sitting right with you, don’t be afraid to do some research with your Realtor and fight back! If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market and would like more information on the selling process, please call or text me at 503-686-5375

You should read your CC&R’s!

Since I specialize in properties that have home owner associations and provide the CC&R’s (covenants, conditions and restrictions) to clients frequently, I felt this was a great article to share.

Contributing Author: Kate Brooke, Lawyer – http://www.brookelawoffice.com

I get calls from property owners asking questions about what a homeowner’s association (HOA) can or cannot do. Very few of the callers recall that they received a copy of the covenants, conditions and restrictions or by-laws governing the HOA when the owners purchased the property.

At the end, our tendency is to put all the real estate related documents in a file or box and store them in the attic or basement. However, if you have an HOA, it is important to keep the by-laws in a place that is accessible.

The HOA bylaws are a contract between the homeowner’s association and each property owner. The by-laws tell you, at least in part, what you can and cannot do with your property. They warn you about fees you can be charged. They make clear what rights you have if you failed to ask about painting the house a nice pastel or a new kind of roof.

Like any contract, the by-laws are enforceable. The HOA can enforce them against you (making you paint that pastel house an earth tone) or you can use them against the HOA (for failing to properly account for money, make necessary repairs, etc.).

Because you may need to refer to them, take the bylaws out of the pile of documents you got when you purchased the property and put them in a file cabinet or drawer, a safe place, in other words. That way, if that emergency roof repair turns into a new roof, you can quickly check to see if you need architectural committee approval before picking a different color or product.

Oh, and read those HOA meeting minutes when you receive them. That way you know what the HOA is up to.

Thanks Kate for this great information.

Enjoy the sprit of the Holidays!
Francesca

Tips for Moving Children to a New Home Over the Holidays

With a few weeks off school and work, it seems like the perfect time to make a move and start the New Year in your new home. However, with all the craziness that the holidays bring, it is important that you do not neglect your children’s emotions, and that you take the time to help them adjust as smoothly as possible.

Before the move:
• Keep a positive attitude. Children often mimic their parents’ behaviors and feed off their emotions. So, instead of complaining and worrying about the move and its effects, talk to your children about it being a new adventure that will be exciting and fun.

• Throw a party. Give your children something to look forward to right before the move. Let them throw a sleeping-bag slumber party in the empty house or invite friends and neighbors over for an outdoor barbecue. You will give everyone a chance to say goodbye and collect email addresses and phone numbers to keep in touch.

• Visit your favorite places. Make your last couple of days special by visiting your family’s favorite establishments and recreating holiday traditions one last time. This will leave your children with positive memories of their old town.

After the move:

• Plan day trips. Take some time out from unpacking to experience what your new city has to offer. Whether it’s going to the zoo or local community center, you’ll get them excited about their new surroundings.

• Create new holiday traditions. Christen the new home with a different holiday tradition you can continue for years to come. Ask for your children’s input and give them something exiting to look forward to, like baking cookies in the new kitchen or watching a festive movie piled in your bedroom.

• Encourage your children to join in. Whether it’s at school, the nearby community center or a local museum, help your children find groups where they’ll meet others who share their interests.

Have a wonderful Holiday with the children and Blessings to you in your new home.

Happy Holidays Everyone!
Francesca

Holiday Cheer Could Help Your Home Sell

A cozy fire, the smell of pine trees and a plate of warm cookies might be all it takes for buyers to envision themselves celebrating many holidays in your Portland home. So take the time this season to channel Mrs. Claus and cheerfully enhance your house for the holidays with these festive tips:

• Deck the Halls – While you want to remind some buyers of their yearly traditions, you don’t want to offend others. If you usually go overboard with decorations, tone it down a little this year and go for a winter nature theme — think pinecones, snowflakes and the smell of cinnamon.

• Spruce Up the Winter Curb Appeal – In the dead of winter, yards can look barren and bleak. Don’t add to the seasonal depression. Be sure you shovel snow, rake fallen leaves and clear dead flowers from their pots. Also, with darkness settling in so early, turn on both indoor and outdoor lights to give your [city] home a cozy glow.

• Host a Holiday Open House – With your house in the season’s spirit, it’s the perfect time to have interested buyers walking through. Offer fresh baked cookies and apple cider to seal the deal. Have the fireplace crackling for a cozy feel.

• Be Flexible – Put in the extra effort to keep your house clean so that buyers can drop in anytime. Property purchasers looking at this busy time of year are your serious buyers — and you might be one of the only houses open to them.

On the side of caution; be sure to keep gifts locked away for safe keeping.

By adding a little holiday cheer to your home, you could remind potential buyers of happy memories and put them in the giving — or hopefully, buying — spirit.

If you would like more tips to get your home sold during the holiday season, please phone me at 503-686-5375 or email me at fnovak@windermere.com

Wishing you a Cheerful Holiday Season!

Francesca