selling a home in ascension parish Archives • Your Real Estate Whisperer

Do You Have Deferred Maintenance Issues When Selling Your Ascension Parish Home?

August 29, 2017

Do You Have Deferred Maintenance Issues When Selling Your Ascension Parish Home?

When I complete a “feedback sheet” after previewing a home, my favorite words to use when describing perceived problems are, “Deferred Maintenance.” Deferred Maintenance means the practice of postponing maintenance activities such as repairs on both real property (i.e. infrastructure) and personal property (i.e. machinery) in order to save costs, meet budget funding levels, or realign available budget monies. In Ascension Parish, most sellers will repair obvious issues while others will not and this may cause their home to stay on the market much longer than the typical home in their Ascension Parish neighborhood.

When I refer to “Deferred Maintenance” I’m talking about things like; hanging unattached gutters, weeds in flower beds, overgrown grass, fencing that is rotten and carpet that is frayed at the thresholds of doorways. Others may include, paint that is chipped on walls with numerous areas of visible dirt, missing appliances, damaged, chipped or cracked tile. Basically, those things that are very obvious, and could be easily repaired at the sellers’ expense. If your home is in a great neighborhood, in a great school district and in a seller’s market, these items, if not addressed, will clearly reduce the value of your home.

If you are unsure if you have “deferred maintenance” issues, you can always take the advice of an Ascension Parish REALTOR®. We as agents know what items need to be addressed immediately before listing your home so you can get your home sold faster and at the best price. I know it can be tempting to say “I’ll leave it for the buyer to do,” but you may be eating those words after you’ve lost a lot of money and time for something could have been addressed beforehand. The payoff is much greater when you do these repairs prior to listing.

I’m telling you this as a possible seller “Because You Matter”

Kristina Smallhorn – Your Real Estate Whisperer

eXp Realty LLC., 2900 Westfork Dr. Suite 401, Baton Rouge LA 70817

225-246-1812

Office (225) 412-9982 ext# 149

https://www.facebook.com/YRRealEstatWhisperer

https://twitter.com/RealEstateWhisp

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Kristina Smallhorn is a licensed REALTOR® with the state of Louisiana

“Because YOU Matter”

Why Do I Need A REALTOR® When I Buy A House?

August 22, 2017

What Should I Do With My Pet’s When I Have A Showing?

July 11, 2017

What Should I Do With My Pet’s When I Have A Showing?

Let me start off by saying I LOVE animals. It doesn’t matter to me, from reptile to bird, dog or cat all of them I think of as a friend some of these animals don’t look at me in the same way. Over the years I have encountered some not so friendly animals. Most recently I tried to enter a home to be greeted by a mid-size mixed breed hound that was showing his teeth as the key slipped into the tumbler. The buyers and I agreed that we wouldn’t be taking a tour of that home that day. Too bad the sellers missed out on an opportunity to sell their home. So that brings me to my point of this blog post. What do you do with your beloved pets in Ascension Parish when you have a showing?

Pet Sitter? Is That Even A Thing?

Yes, Its is. Many veterinarian offices board your animals for the day and some dog grooming places as well. You can also ask around you’d be surprised at how many people know of someone who does this. The best reference to get is from someone who’s used them before.

To Crate or Not To Crate

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If you have an old cat or dog that lazily walks around the house and really doesn’t bother you, you may think it’s ridiculous to put them in a crate but some people are truly frightened by animals and may just walk out of the home as soon as the see your precious fur baby. My best advice if you can’t really shell out the money to board your animal is to crate them during a showing. Most people put the crate in a laundry room or utility room so it doesn’t distract from the showing.

***Keep in mind if your animals are aggressive and can pose a danger to anyone you can be liable if your animal attacks anyone during the showing. It’s up to you the seller to handle your animals prior to confirmed showings.***

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Many of your friends love your animals as much as you do. You can always ask a friend to pick up your pets for the times of the showing. You can always ask your agent for a window of time before the showing so either you or your friend can take care of the animals prior to the showing.

On A Side Note- The Nose Knows Everything

You may not think your home has a pet odor but people who do not like animals or do not have them can smell them immediately. Please clean your cat’s little box daily, the same goes for birdcage liners and the doggy dropping in the yard. Nobody even animal lovers likes having your pet poop on their foot after taking in your large backyard.

One Last Thing

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Before you list your home you may want to check all to see if your fur babies have chewed or scratched any wood or painted areas. Nothing screams deferred maintenance like a backdoor that the door has ruined by an animal that includes the weather stripping as well. (I don’t know why animals love chewing and scratching at it)

Hopefully, these tips will help you out on deciding what to do with your animals.

“Because YOU matter

Kristina Smallhorn
Your Real Estate Whisperer
eXp Realty LLC
LAKE CHARLES, LA 70601
225-246-1812
Office (225) 412-9982 ext# 149
https://www.facebook.com/YRRealEstatWhisperer/
https://twitter.com/RealEstateWhisp
https://www.instagram.com/prairievillerealestate/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0LUzFvtwb5B8EfVCF5uwg

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Take A Tip Tuesday- Things You Need To Know When Buying Your First Home

May 31, 2017

5 ways to get started with the home buying process in Ascension Parish (or anywhere for that matter)

When you make the decision to buy your first home it can be a daunting task. There are a million people that want to give you advice, including people who haven’t bought a home since 1976 and ones that have never bought a home in Louisiana. All states have different rules, disclosures, and addenda that are required. When getting advice, I strongly suggest interviewing a REALTOR® in your immediate area. Below are 5 tips that can help you get started before you jump on the internet to buy your dream home:

The very first thing you need to do is get your paperwork together so you can talk with a lender. I know it’s so tempting to get on a website to start looking up homes for sale, but you can certainly save yourself a lot of heartache by speaking to a lender first. Nothing crushes a new or even seasoned buyer than finding out the home of their dreams is out of financial reach.Now that you have spoken to a lender and know what your budget will be now you can start combing the internet. There are many great websites including my own that will not only give you great information but can give you the most accurate home listings. Some of the big chain websites do not update their websites often, so just because Trulia says it’s for sale, it was actually for sale over a year ago. It’s best to check with your REALTOR® on any home listing before getting your mind set on it.

You found the house, but now who do you call to show it to you. If you have a REALTOR® chosen you call them first ALWAYS! No REALTOR® is too busy to help out their clients. If they are then it’s time to shop for a new one. If you call from the number on the For Sale sign in the front yard, know that the agent showing you may be the one who represents the seller’s interests only. It’s best to call several offices and talk with a few REALTORS® before you find the one who matches your needs. (or you can just call me)Now you have found your agent and the home you want, and it’s in your price range. What’s next? Now is the time for your agent to prepare an offer. They will guide you through the contract and show you what other homes in the area have sold for so you can make an offer that will work for you and the sellers.

Let the negotiations begin- Just because you present a good offer doesn’t mean the sellers will accept your conditions the first time around. You may get a counter offer with a new price. They can change closing dates and various others stipulations. You are not fully under contract until ALL parties have signed on the dotted line, and the deposit check has been presented to the listing company’s office. So don’t drag your feet when negotiating because someone else can come in and get your dream home.
The home buying process is very exciting but can be stressful if not handled by a seasoned REALTOR®. Please take your time to pick your agent as carefully as picking your next home, It can make the experience so much more pleasant when someone truly cares about you and your needs in a home.

“Because YOU Matter”
Kristina Smallhorn
Your Real Estate Whisperer
http://kristinasmallhorn.brl.exprealty.com/
eXp Realty LLC
LAKE CHARLES, LA 70601
225-246-1812
Office (225) 412-9982 ext# 149
https://www.facebook.com/YRRealEstatWhisperer/
https://twitter.com/RealEstateWhisp
https://www.instagram.com/prairievillerealestate/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH0LUzFvtwb5B8EfVCF5uwg

Top 5 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Ascension Parish Realtor When Listing Your Home.

May 4, 2017

Sellers in Ascension Parish can be nervous and/ or excited when listing their homes. It’s no wonder many sellers have been disappointed with the sale of their home, and the disappointment might have been avoided if they had asked more key questions. Below I’ve listed the top 5 that I believe will help you, the seller, in making the decision in selecting your realtor.

How’d Did You Come Up With That Price?

There are many ways that an agent comes up with a price. It’s not just the papers that say CMA (Cost Market Analysis). Time on the market, your neighbors next door, the condition of the home and how your exterior looks are all things that should be taken into consideration. The hard numbers are not the only way price should be established.

How Do You Plan To Market The Home?

If the Ascension Parish Realtor® that you are interviewing states that they plan to add a sign to your yard, put it on the MLS and hold a few open houses, then you may want to speak to some others. In today’s market, it takes a lot more to get your listing in front of people. If they don’t have a clear multi-faceted plan for marketing your home, or if you’re confused, it’s clearly time to seek another agent! Don’t be fooled by old time marketing routines! It just isn’t the way marketing works anymore, no matter how hot the seller’s market is currently.

What Are We Paying For?

You should really know where your money is going. You should also ask how much of the commission break down goes to the buyer’s agent. A low commission split on the buyer’s agent side could make your listing sit a little longer. It’s not supposed to be this way, I just know that it does happen.

Do You Have Any Reviews?

In years past, an Ascension Parish Realtor could easily hand you raving reviews of past clients leaving out the not so glowing reviews. Fast forward to current reviews online. It’s very difficult to filter out the “bad” reviews. I know, as a Realtor®, you can’t make every client happy, but if you recognize a negative pattern in online reviews or read the responses from agents, you will get a clearer picture of what the issue could have been. I recently read a review of a brokerage and I was horrified of the response to the client! It’s sitting out there on Google for the world to read, so definitely “Google” the Ascension Parish Realtor® and the brokerage before you make your final decision.

Many sellers like having their agent represent both sides, knowing they have one point of contact on the transaction of their home. Some seller’s don’t like that idea at all. Be sure to discuss this prior to signing any listing agreement. You don’t want to be surprised after the fact or feel deceived in any way.

If you like to discuss with me about marketing your home here in Ascension Parish, please feel free to reach out to me @ 225-246-1812. I look forward to speaking with you and answering any questions you may have on listing your Ascension Parish home.

“Because YOU Matter”

Your Real Estate Whisperer

Kristina Smallhorn

225-246-1812

eXp Realty llc.