At Home With Valerie

You've gone to countless open houses, searched online for months, and have finally found the house of your dreams, but before signing your name on the dotted line there are a few key steps you should not overlook.   When purchasing a home, hiring the right home inspector can be the most important decision you make.   Knowing the condition of the house you are going to purchase cannot be left to appearances or promises, and some undetected problems can be even more costly than the price of the house itself.  Making sure you have the services of a home inspector who knows what he or she is doing can prevent what should be a great investment from becoming a financial disaster.  So what steps can you take to be sure your home inspector is qualified?   Here are a few things to consider. How Long Have They Been In The Business, And What Is Their Professional Background? The housing market has steadily increased over the last several decades, and the home inspection

I like to make sure my clients are protected all the way through the home buying process. This is one reason I insist on the final walk-through. Learn why! When I’m representing buyers in a deal, I always like to be sure a "final walk-through" is included prior to closing.  This is especially true in a market where desperate and less-than-reputable sellers may try and walk out with the fixtures. While that may sound a little extreme, the final walk-through can head-off conflict before closing. The final walk-through allows us to address common issues such as: If the current owner is on schedule to move out That the property is in the same condition it was when shown That any repairs required have been completed In a best-case scenario, a final walk-through is also a good time to have the sellers explain details about the house that the buyer may need to know, especially tricky pool heaters, access to attics, funny light switches, and sprinkler timer

“Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power.” (Clint Eastwood) Pride and confidence in one’s self; a feeling that one is behaving with honor and dignity. That’s one concise definition of self-respect I think we can all understand. What I find interesting about Clint Eastwood’s quote is the connection between self-respect and self-discipline. For entrepreneurs and real estate agents, a tremendous amount of self-discipline is required. Running a business means being a self-starter, and at times the discipline it takes can seem to wane with our energy and our doubts. Self-respect leads to self-discipline, and rigorous self-discipline leads to momentum. We accomplish one thing and it leads to our next accomplishment, and before we know it, the momentum of our action ensures right actions, right thinking, and dignified forward motion in our lives.

Home design is always changing. What may have seemed brilliant a few years ago can quickly fall out of style and leave you wondering, “What were we thinking?” But our homes reflect our habits and hobbies, and the newest trends reflect a new kind of home owner. Re-thinking the kitchen Food doesn’t just come from the grocery store any more. Many homeowners grow food in their gardens and have taken to canning their produce. New kitchen designs often include added space for storing vegetables from your garden and your canning equipment. High-temperature cooking options, induction ovens, and combination ovens are also becoming more and more popular. Be cautious about the connected home The new technology for controlling your HVAC system, home entertainment system, and other electronic features is convenient, but it does come with some risk. Technology moves extremely fast, and what once seemed cutting edge can quickly be abandoned by the manufacturer, leaving you without many

More and more retiring Baby Boomers are looking into relocation as a strategy to stretch those hard-earned dollars.  Here are five things to consider if you’re contemplating a retirement relocation. Unlike earlier generations of retirees who paid off their mortgages and retired in their family home, today's Baby Boomers are looking to capitalize on home equity to enhance their retirement savings.  If you’re thinking how relocating might stretch your retirement dollar, below are a few points you should consider before relocating, downsizing, or trading up: 1. Speak with your spouse or partner first, even if you think you’re both of the same mind.  Don’t assume that you’re in agreement. When the moment to make the leap comes, feelings may change. 2. Consider the cost-of-living in a different part of the country. There’s a pretty big swing between rural Florida and urban San Francisco, for example. This might also mean factoring fuel costs if you’re moving into an

Do you understand what an MLS is?  If you’re searching for a home, an MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is absolutely crucial for discovering homes and marketing homes to agents and potential buyers. Get a clear understanding of the benefits of an MLS!  Odds are you’ve spent a little time online searching for homes. After all, most home searches begin online.  You may have even used a broker’s website or a site like Trulia or Zillow to help you browse listings. But where does listing information come from? Way back in the day, prior to the Information Age revolution, brokers used to gather and exchange information about their properties. The idea was fairly straightforward: I’ll help you sell your properties if you help me sell mine. It’s a “private offer of cooperation and compensation.” Cooperation meant the real estate industry could thrive and buyers and sellers could enjoy smoother transactions. This spirit of cooperation gave rise to Multiple Listing Service(s

A vacation home can be an excellent investment, provided you examine the investment from all angles. Find out the fundamentals you need to plan for when considering a vacation home. With favorable interest rates still at hand, you may be considering the possibility of a vacation home. A vacation home can be an excellent investment, providing you with a tangible asset you can also enjoy when you want to take a little time off. Here are some tips to keep in mind before you start your search for the ideal vacation home: 1. How far do you want to travel? A remote cabin in an unspoiled wilderness might be a lifelong fantasy, but how much fun will it be if it takes half your vacation time to get there? Ask yourself how often you might use this vacation home and how much time you’re willing to spend to get there. 2. Have you spent time there before? Don’t buy before you try. Certain locales may sound romantic or exotic, but if your only experience with the place is on the T