Does Your Tree Need a Trimming?

For some homeowners, trees are a major component of their landscaping. Trees can bring a lot of beauty to your yard while also providing shade and habitats for birds and other animals. Unfortunately, unkempt trees can be kind of ugly and in some cases may even be dangerous. If you’ve got trees on your property that are looking a bit shaggy or that have simply seen better days, here are a few things to consider when trying to decide if they need a trim.

Cosmetic Issues

When you’re trying to decide whether to trim your trees, the first thing that you should do is look at the general appearance of the tree. You can obviously trim off lone branches that stick out at odd angles, but there’s more to cosmetic considerations than just that. You should also look at whether there are many crisscrossing branches, greenery that is too dense and difficult to see through, or branches that are growing too far horizontally compared to the tree’s vertical growth.

Taking care of cosmetic issues like these are important for a number of reasons. They obviously make your trees look nice and improve the overall look of your landscaping, but these cosmetic trimmings serve other purposes as well. Periodic cosmetic trimming helps to prevent future damage to your trees, and also keep them from becoming so dense that other plants nearby have trouble getting enough light. Occasionally thinning out your tree’s branches can also make it easier to notice other problems with your trees as well.

Safety Issues

Beyond just making your trees look better, trimmings can also improve the health of the trees and an prevent potentially dangerous situations. Broken or dead branches can fall and potentially hit someone, so removing them before they have a chance to do so is very important. You should inspect your trees periodically to look for dead material, especially after large storms or heavy winter precipitation. Inspections are also important if you notice anything weird going on with the tree, such as leaves turning brown in certain portions of the greenery or sudden changes to the general shape of the tree.

There are other potential issues that can prompt a tree trimming as well. Missing bark or other signs of disease or insect infestation can be a big red flag, since this can lead to part of the tree dying and becoming a hazard. You should also keep an eye on any trees growing near electrical lines and trim them before they crowd the lines too much, since heavy winds or other severe weather could lead to the tree pulling down the line and creating a major safety hazard.

Trimming Your Trees

If you just have a few wayward branches to trim, you can usually trim your trees yourself with a few specialized cutters. Larger jobs may require bigger tools, and in some cases could even require a ladder or a crane to reach the areas that need to be trimmed. Be sure to wear a hard hat and other protective equipment even for small jobs, since the last thing you want is to end up hurting yourself while trying to make your trees safer!

If the trimming job is too big or you simply don’t have the equipment necessary to get it done, you can also hire professional tree trimmers to come in and do the job for you. These pros already have everything they need to do things right, and they may notice other issues with your tree that you missed during your inspection. If you aren’t sure where to start in finding professional trimmers, HomeKeepr can help. Sign up for a HomeKeepr account today and to find tree-trimming professionals in your area that can take care of your trees without issue. Best of all, your HomeKeepr account is free!

The Truths Young Homebuyers Need To Hear

For many young or first-time homebuyers, purchasing a home can feel intimidating. A recent survey shows some homebuyers ages 25 to 40 may be unsure about the homebuying process and what they can afford. It found:

• 1 in 4 underestimated their buying potential by 150k or more
• 1 in 4 underestimated the increase in value by 100k or more
• 47% don't know what a good interest rate is

Because they feel uncertain, many young homebuyers have given up on their search, or worse, they've decided homebuying isn't for them and never started on their journey to begin with.

If you're interested in buying but aren't sure where to begin, here are three key concepts about homeownership you should understand before you get started.

1. What You Need To Know About Down Payments

Saving for a down payment is sometimes viewed as one of the biggest obstacles for homebuyers, but that doesn't have to be the case. As Freddie Mac says:

The most damaging down payment myth since it stops the homebuying process before it can start is the belief that 20% is necessary.

According to the most recent Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median down payment for homes purchased between July 2019 and June 2020 was only 12%. That number is even lower when we control for age for buyers in the 22 to 30 age range, the median down payment was only 6%.

2. You May Be Able To Afford More Home Than You Think

Working remotely, exercising, and generally spending more time than ever in our homes has changed what many people are looking for in their living space. However, some young homebuyers don't feel they can afford a home that suits their growing needs and have decided to continue renting instead. That means they'll miss out on some of the long-term benefits of owning a home. As an article recently published by NAR points out:

Many young adults are underestimating how much they need for homeownership, the survey finds. Millennials underestimated how much home they can afford right now, how much interest they would pay over a 30-year mortgage, and how much home values appreciate, on average, over 10 years…

Knowing how much home you can afford when starting the buying process is critical and could be the game-changer that gets you from renting to buying.

3. Homeownership Will Become Less Affordable the Longer You Wait

Finally, with mortgage rates starting to rise along with home prices appreciating, putting off buying a home now could cost you much more later. Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac, notes:

As the economy progresses and inflation remains elevated, we expect that rates will continually rise in the second half of the year.

Most experts forecast interest rates will rise in the months ahead, and even the smallest increase can influence your buying power. If you've been on the fence about buying a home, there's no time like the present.

Bottom Line

If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of starting your home search, you're not alone. Lets connect today so we can talk more about the process, what you'll need to start your search, and what to expect.

 

Selling Your House? Make Sure You Price It Right.

There's no denying were in a sellers market. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homes today are selling above the asking price at a record rate. According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index Survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):

• Homes typically sell within 17 days (compared to 26 days one year ago).
• The average home sold has five offers to pick from.
• 54% of offers are over the asking price.

Because so many buyers are competing for so few homes, bidding wars are driving up home prices. According to an average of leading expert projections, existing home prices are expected to increase by 8.9% this year.

Yet even in todays red-hot sellers market, its important to price your house right. While it may be tempting to price your house on the high side to capitalize on this trend, doing so could limit your houses potential.

Why Pricing Your House Right Matters

Here's the thing a high price tag doesn't mean you're going to cash in big on the sale. While you may be trying to maximize your return, the tradeoff may be steep. A high list price is more likely to deter buyers, sit on the market longer, or require a price drop that can raise questions among prospective buyers.

Instead, focus on setting a price that's fair. Real estate professionals know the value of your home. By pricing your house based on its current condition and similar homes that have recently sold in your area, your agent can help you set a price that's realistic and obtainable and that's good news for you and for buyers' When you price your house right, you increase your homes visibility, which drives more buyers to your front door. The more buyers that tour your home, the more likely you'll have a multi-offer scenario to create a bidding war. When multiple buyers compete for your house, that sets you up for a bigger win.

Bottom Line

When it comes to pricing your house, working with a local real estate professional is essential. Lets connect so we can optimize your exposure, your timeline, and the return on your investment, too.

 

 

What’s In Your Toolbox? Plumb Bobs, Levels, and Squares

There are a lot of tools in the world, and some of them have some very specialized uses. Sometimes these uses are pretty obvious; a hammer is used to hammer nails, and a wrench is used to tighten nuts. Even tools that you think you’re familiar with might surprise you, though; a hammer is a hammer, but do you know the difference between claw hammers and ball-peen hammers? What about all the different types of pliers that you might run across? Knowing exactly how specific tools are supposed to be used can help you to avoid errors and make finding the right tool for the job a lot easier.

With that said, here are a few pretty common tools that you might not know enough about to use effectively. Learning a bit more about them will help to ensure that you always have the right tool for the job and know exactly how it should be used (and more importantly, how it shouldn’t).

Plumb Bobs

The humble plumb bob can be a very useful tool. While at first glance it looks like it’s just a weight on a string, a plumb bob can tell you whether your work is truly vertical or if it’s leaning in some other direction. That’s not the only use of this helpful tool, however. If you’re building something that has an irregular shape, you can use a plumb bob to determine where its center of gravity is to make sure that it’s properly supported. When combined with an angular scale or a tool known as an inclinometer, you can also use a plumb bob to determine the slope of a hill or surface by comparing the measured angle to the vertical line created by the plumb bob.

Levels

When you look at a level, figuring out how to use it often seems like a no-brainer. Just line it up so that the bubble appears between the lines on the level, right? Unfortunately, this sort of reasoning is one of the leading causes of people using a level and finding out later that their shelf or other project isn’t actually very level.

Levels come in a lot of different sizes, and that’s not just because manufacturers want to cater to personal preference. When using a level, it’s important to have the level cover as much of the surface that you’re trying to level as possible. For a small picture, using a small level works great. For a large shelf or a storage unit with adjustable legs, that same level isn’t going to give you a complete picture. Using a level that’s close to the same size as the surface that you’re leveling is the best way to use one of these tools effectively, but if that’s not possible then you should check the level at both ends of the surface as well as the middle. You might be surprised at how much of a difference this can make.

Squares

The handy-dandy square (which ironically is often a triangle) is a very useful tool if you know how to use it. Its most obvious function is to show you whether a corner is 90 degrees or not, but that’s not all that it can do. Depending on the type of square you have and its size you can also use the square to make measurements, mark 45-degree angles (and often other angles) for cuts, determine whether a segment of a surface is flat or warped, and more. It’s also important to remember that just because a corner seems to be 90 degrees, that’s not always the case; using a longer square or checking multiple corners is the best way to ensure that your work is actually square.

While it’s always nice to get more comfortable with your tools, it’s also important to realize that some jobs are a bit too big to DIY. If you run into a problem that you can’t tackle on your own, HomeKeepr is here to help. Whether you need a plumber, electrician, or just a general contractor to get some work done on your house, HomeKeepr can help you connect with pros in your area who will get the job done right. Best of all, creating a HomeKeepr account is free. Sign up today so that you’ll be ready for whatever home repair problems tomorrow might bring.

Save Time and Effort by Selling with an Agent

Selling a house is a time-consuming process especially if you decide to do it on your own, known as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). From conducting market research to reviewing legal documents, handling negotiations, and more, its an involved and highly detailed process that requires a lot of expertise to navigate effectively. That's one of the reasons why the percentage of people selling their own house has declined from 19% to 8% (See graph below):To help you understand just how much time and effort it takes to sell on your own, here's a look at a few of the things you need to think about before putting that For Sale sign up in your yard.

1. Making a Good First Impression

While it may sound simple, there are a lot of proven best practices to consider when prepping a house for sale.

• Do you need to take down your personal art?
• What's the right amount of landscaping to boost your curb appeal?
• What wall colors are most appealing to buyers?

If you do this work on your own, you may invest capital and many hours into the wrong things. Your time is money don't waste it. An agent can help steer you in the right direction based on current market conditions to save you time and effort. Since were in a hot sellers’ market, you don't want to delay listing your house by focusing on things that wont change your bottom line. These market conditions may not last, so lean on an agent to capitalize on today’s low inventory while you can.

2. Pricing It Right

Real estate professionals have mission-critical information on what sells and how to maximize your profit. They're experienced when it comes to looking at recent comparable homes that have sold in your area and understanding what price is right for your neighborhood. They use that data to price your house appropriately, maximizing your return.

In a FSBO, you're operating without this expertise, so you'll have to do your own homework on how to set a price that's appropriate for your area and the condition of your home. Even with your own research, you may not find the most up-to-date information and could risk setting a price that's inaccurate or unrealistic. If you price your house too high, you could turn buyers away before they're even in the front door, or run into problems when it comes time for the appraisal.

3. Maximizing Your Buyer Pool (and Profit)

Contrary to popular belief, FSBOs may actually net less profit than sellers who use an agent. One of the factors that can drive profit up is effective exposure. Simply put, real estate professionals can get your house in front of more buyers via their social media followers, agency resources, and proven sales strategies. The more buyers that view a home, the more likely a bidding war becomes. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average house for sale today gets 5 offers. Using an agent to boost your exposure may help boost your sale price too.

4. Navigating Negotiations

When it comes to selling your house as a FSBO, you'll have to handle all of the negotiations. Here are just a few of the people you'll work with:

• The buyer, who wants the best deal possible
• The buyers agent, who will use their expertise to advocate for the buyer
• The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find concerns with the house
• The appraiser, who assesses the property's value to protect the lender

As part of their training, agents are taught how to negotiate every aspect of the real estate transaction and how to mediate potential snags that may pop up. When appraisals come in low and in countless other situations, they know what levers to pull, how to address the buyer and seller emotions that come with it, and when to ask for second opinions. Navigating all of this on your own takes time a lot of it.

5. Juggling Legal Documentation

Speaking of time, consider how much free time you have to review the fine print. Just in terms of documentation, more disclosures and regulations are now mandatory. That means the stack of legal documents you need to handle as the seller is growing. It can be hard to know and truly understand all the terms and requirements. Instead of going at it alone, use an agent as your shield and advisor to help you avoid potential legal missteps.

Bottom Line

Selling your house on your own is a lot of responsibility. Its time consuming and requires an immense amount of effort and expertise. Before you decide to sell your house yourself, lets discuss your options so we can make sure you get the most out of the sale.

 

 

Matching Cabinet Hardware

Whether it’s with knobs, pulls, handles, or some other hardware, you need to have some way to access your cabinets. If your cabinets are relatively new, that hardware is probably fairly modern. But for older cabinets, you may need to replace the hardware, and it might be kind of tricky to figure how to get it. This can make replacing old cabinet hardware stressful, especially if you’re not sure where to start. While your success will depend on the specific pieces that you’re looking for and how recently they were manufactured, here’s some info that will hopefully point you in the right direction if you find yourself on a hardware hunt.

The Need to Match Hardware

Why do you need to match old cabinet hardware, anyway? There are a few reasons. The most common is that handles and knobs sometimes become damaged or break over time, especially if the cabinets see frequent use. You may also find yourself adding new cabinets or other fixtures that you want to match as closely to the older cabinets as possible, including similar finishes and hardware. In some cases it may even be a matter of hardware being removed to repair or replace cabinet doors and then getting lost or accidentally tossed out. Whatever the reason, you want matching hardware, and it doesn’t seem to be available in stores anymore.

Sources for Older Hardware

When trying to match old hardware, it’s important to start by checking if it’s actually available. Visit cabinet or woodworking shops in your area with pictures of the hardware you need (or the actual hardware itself) to see if anyone can recognize it and know where to order it. If that doesn’t pan out, check the internet; there are a lot of stores online that specialize in older items, and this can include out-of-production hardware and other materials. Even if you can’t find the specific hardware from its original manufacturing run, you may be able to locate visually similar reproductions that will at least match the look of your existing hardware.

If that doesn’t work, spend some time searching online auction sites to see if you can find the hardware that you’re looking for there. While online auctions can be a mixed bag, there are a lot of people who post used or out-of-production items that they have a surplus of to make some money off things that they no longer need. It may be worth checking a few times on different days, as new items are listed all the time, and you never know when someone is going to list that handle or knob that you need for a few dollars.

Unable to Find a Match?

Unfortunately, there may be some cases where you simply can’t find a match for your old cabinet hardware no matter how hard you try. If this happens, you typically have two options: You can upgrade all your hardware to a new style, or you can find something that complements your existing hardware to create a mix-and-match arrangement. It basically comes down to whether you want to upgrade some of your existing hardware or all of it with something a bit newer. You can choose pieces that complement your cabinets, hardware that goes well with sinks and other fixtures in the room, or even something significantly more modern than the cabinets to create a visual contrast between the cabinets and the hardware. Regardless of what you choose, be sure to pick something that you enjoy.

Of course, if you decide that the cabinets themselves could use an upgrade too, then HomeKeepr is here to help. We can help you find contractors and other pros who can give your rooms the new cabinets or other solutions that you need. Best of all, signing up for a HomeKeepr account is free. Create your account today and be on your way to the new cabinets of your dreams.

What To Expect as Appraisal Gaps Grow

In todays real estate market, low inventory and high demand are driving up home prices. As many as 54% of homes are getting offers over the listing price, based on the latest Realtors Confidence Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Shawn Telford, Chief Appraiser at CoreLogic, elaborates:

The frequency of buyers being willing to pay more than the market data supports is increasing.

While this is great news for todays sellers, it can be tricky to navigate if the price of your contract doesn't match up with the appraisal for the house. Its called an appraisal gap, and its happening more in todays market than the norm.

According to recent data from CoreLogic, 19% of homes had their appraised value come in below the contract price in April of this year. That's more than double the percentage in each of the two previous Aprils.

The chart below uses the latest insights from NARs Realtors Confidence Index to showcase how often an issue with an appraisal slowed or stalled the momentum of a house sale in May of this year compared to May of last year.If an appraisal comes in below the contract price, the buyers lender wont loan them more than the houses appraised value. That means there's going to be a gap between the amount of loan the buyer can secure and the contract price on the house.

In this situation, both the buyer and seller have a vested interest in making sure the sale moves forward with little to no delay. The seller will want to make sure the deal closes, and the buyer wont want to risk losing the home. That's why its common for sellers to ask the buyer to make up the difference themselves in todays competitive market.

Bottom Line

Whether you're buying or selling, lets connect so you have an ally throughout the process to help you navigate the unexpected, including appraisal gaps.