Take the Stress out of your Home buying Experience

Good Morning Everyone,

The home buying process is an exciting experience, but can often leave a buyer feeling uneasy and stressed.  There are many tips to keep in mind if you are already under contract or just plotting the idea of searching for a new home.

• Take your time, but don’t hold back– Your personality will dictate your pace.  Some people are analytical or emotional, while others want to get to the point and get answers.  Searching for homes can take time and you want to make sure you are buying the right home for you, but don’t be scared to fall in love with the first home you see.  I have found in my experience, my clients always end up purchasing one of the 1^st three homes they view.  Everyone wants to buy at the lowest price and when interest rates are at their best, but if you wait until that moment, your home might just be sold to another person who wanted it a little bit more.
• It’s OK to get advice, but YOU make the decision– It’s natural to ask for opinions and want to please everyone, but you are the one buying this home.  You are the one who will live in it, pay the mortgage, and call it HOME.  It’s great to listen to family and friends and get their feedback, but don’t get caught up trying to please everyone or you will just make this experience more difficult.
• You will not find a home that is 100% perfect– I always meet with my buyers ahead of time before we look at houses.  This gives me a chance to clearly understand want they want in their new home.  I suggest writing down the Top 5 Likes and Top 5 Dislikes.  Unless you are building a home that you designed, it is nearly impossible to find a home that has exactly the right colors, room dimensions, and window treatments that you want.  Don’t get caught up on the little things and focus on what is really important for your new home.
• Make sure it’s a DEAL, and not a STEAL– Negotiating is all part of the process when purchasing a home.  Be aware not to insult the seller.  Sometimes a “low-ball” offer can actually hurt you when negotiating.  Not only will the seller not take you seriously, but another buyer with a reasonable offer might win out.  Completing a competitive market analysis is the best way to determine what a FAIR price is.
• You can change cosmetics, but not the roots– Try not to get caught up on the colors of the walls or the light hanging over the bathroom sink.  Your location, floor plan, amenities, and outside noise level are the important things and what cannot be changed.  Make sure you are purchasing a house that is going to accommodate your lifestyle and have resale value.
• Financing– Do not waste your time searching for homes until you know your budget.  Speak with a lender and get prequalified so you know your price range.
• Create a budget– Make sure you set aside money for minor repairs and if a problem should arise.  This is your home and you will be held accountable for fixing the problems.  If you plan ahead and have savings, you won’t be in a bind when a repair is needed. 
• Buy a home because you LOVE it– Investors are buying for the sole purpose of cash flow.  You are buying for the comfort, a place to raise your family, a safe place to live, or a place to call “home”.  Yes, resale value is important, but focus on why you wanted to own in the first place and don’t get caught up on making money in the future.
• HIRE A REALTOR!!!- Buyer representation is FREE!!  I am here to be your consultant from start to finish.  I eliminate the time spent in your car by clearly identifying what you want in your new home and finding homes that fit your needs.  I negotiate for you, save you money, set up inspections and closing.  I take the stress out of the home buying process and make it an exciting and seamless experience.   

Give us a call to schedule an appointment with one of our Agents today!

Sincerely,

Scott Myers, Century 21 Scott Myers, Realtors

(210) 479-1222

(210) 479-1222

Tips to stay cool without touching the Air Conditioner

Hello Everyone,

We are now in the dog days of summer and staying cool can sometimes be tough without a huge electric bill. I came across a few tips that might help stay cool with this summer heat that is not expected to let up any time soon.

1. Keep your blinds closed. As simple as it may seem, the Family Handyman notes that up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on your bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. In other words, it essentially prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse, which is especially the case for south- and west-facing windows

2. And be smart about your doors. Closing off unused rooms will prevent the cool air from permeating these areas during the hottest part of the day. You’ll want to capitalize on the cooler night hours, however (see tip #7), and let air flow naturally through your home.

3. Swap your sheets. Not only does switching up your bedding seasonally freshen up a room, it’s a great way to keep your bedroom cool. While textiles like flannel sheets and fleece blankets are fantastic for insulation, cotton is a smarter move this time of year as it breathes easier and stays cooler. And as an added bonus, buy yourself a buckwheat pillow or two. Because buckwheat hulls have a naturally occurring air space between them, they won’t hold on to your body heat like conventional pillows, even when packed together inside a pillow case.

4. Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter-clockwise. Whether you know it or not, your ceiling fan needs to be adjusted seasonally. By setting them counter-clockwise in the summer at a higher speed, the airflow produced will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will make you and your guests “feel” cooler.

5. Worry about the person, not the house. If your ancestors survived without air conditioning, so can you. From sipping tasty iced drinks to applying a cold cloth to strong-pulsed areas like your neck and wrists, doing the cooling from the inside out is not a bad idea. Other tricks include being smart about your clothing choices and telling your partner you won’t be cuddling until the leaves start changing color.

6. Turn on your bathroom fans, or your exhaust fan in the kitchen for that matter. Both of these pull the hot air that rises after you cook or take a steamy shower out of your apartment. That being said, you don’t want to let the cooler air escape, so be sure windows, doors and cracks are caulked before things start really heating up.

7. Let the night air in. During the summer months, temperatures tend to drop during the night. If this is the case where you live, make the most of these refreshing hours by cracking the windows before you go to bed. You can even create a wind tunnel by strategically setting up your fans to force the perfect cross breeze. Just be sure to close the windows (and the blinds) before things get too hot in the morning.

8. Ditch the incandescent lights. If you ever needed motivation to make the switch to CFLs, this is it. Incandescent bulbs waste about 90 percent of their energy in the heat they emit, so throwing them to the curb will make a small difference in cooling your home while lowering your electric bill.

9. Start grilling. It’s obvious, but we’re going to say it anyway: Using your oven or stove in the summer will make your house hotter. If it already feels like 100+ degrees in your home, the last thing you want to do is turn on a 400 degree oven. Besides, who doesn’t want to get more mileage out of their outdoor furniture and seasonal accessories?

10. Make a few long-term improvements. If you’re really, really committed to the whole no-AC thing, you can make a couple changes to your home that will keep it cooler for seasons to come. Insulated window films, for example, are a smart purchase as they work similarly to blinds. And additions like awnings and planted trees or vines on or in front of light-facing windows will shield your home from the sun’s rays, reduce the amount of heat your home absorbs and make your investment nothing but worthwhile.

Please stay safe this summer and remember to stay Hydrated!

Happy house hunting & Please call one of our agents today to get your buying process started!

Sincerely,

Scott Myers, Century 21 Scott Myers, Realtors  (210) 479-1222

(210) 479-1222