Things to do to Prevent Burglaries

Here are a few things you can do right now to help prevent your home or apartment from being broken into.

• Be Smart. People who are casing neighborhoods often look in the trash or at least drive by and look at it. If you have a box from your latest large purchase like a flat screen TV or computer, you are asking someone to rob you. Don’t do it! Be aware of what you are signaling to the world.
• Use Locks. This sounds simple but I have several friends who do not lock their houses for some reason. Unfortunately, the time when you could leave the doors open and unlocked are gone. If you provide an easy entry then you will one day get an unwanted visitor. In fact, you should secure ALL points of entry and that includes windows.
• Think Ahead. Get a timer for your lights if you will be out of town; hire a house sitter; turn your phones down or off so know one can hear the phones rings and you not answer, keep a TV or music on when you’re gone. The idea is to look like you are home even though you may not be.
• Light Up the Perimeter. There are some great motion sensor lights that you can install outside of your doors and windows that will light up if anyone or anything passes by. If you have a separate garage or shed, place these lights on them as well and if you have shrubs that are close to windows and doors, keep them trimmed down so no one can hide behind them.
• Use a Security System. If you can afford it, have a professional security system installed so your doors and windows are protected. Many also have motion sensors that are used inside as well.
• Have someone pick up your newspapers and mail. An easy way to know you are out of town is by simply watching the driveway and mailbox. Don’t let someone know you are gone when it can be prevented by asking a neighbor to help or just stopping the delivery at the post office and local paper.

If you take these precautions and use then consistently, you will not be a sitting target for a professional burglar and are well on your way to protecting you and your family.

Deciding When to Paint

It has been a tough spring for painting in the Nashville Area. All the rain and moisture in the air can make it very difficult to do any type of outside painting as well as painting the interior of your home. When there is this kind of damp weather you will need twice as long for the paint to dry indoors before replacing furniture or hanging pictures and other wall decorations. Just because paint does not come off on your fingers does not mean it is ready. If you touch it and is feels “sticky” or “tacky” then it is not yet completely dry.

Of course, when you pain outside you need to use a good outdoor paint that will last more than a few years. This may cost you a little bit more up front but it is well worth it in time spent painting down the line. It really needs to be above 70 degrees and sunny for several days; the first day or so to get the painting completed and another one to two days for it to dry and adhere to the surface. We have not had a string of sunny days in several weeks but I’m sure they are coming. If you are ready to paint, just wait on the weather a little bit longer.

Why Attitude is Everything

Having a great attitude is the beginning of having a great life. It is the people who have a good positive attitude that draw good things to them and I know why. No one wants to be around someone who is down on everything from themselves to others or who won’t take responsibility for their own actions. If you want good things to happen you must be the kind of person that good people want to be around!

I’ve lived on this earth too long and have seen first hand how a person’s attitude can drag them to the depths of despair or take them to the highest mountain tops. Some believe that means money and that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the kind of success that a person brings to themselves through good thoughts and deeds. It may be the lady that has more friends than you could ever imagine or the man that everyone in town know as a good man.

There are many things that money can’t buy and that a good attitude just attracts. So does your attitude need adjusting these days. Listen to what you’re saying and decide what kind of attitude you want to have.

Using a Local Lender

I am now a believer in using a local lender! Sometimes I have a client that insist on using a lender from other areas of the country and that is their right. However, I have again experienced how difficult it is to get a loan closed on time using someone in another state. In fact, the loan that was supposed to have closed at the beginning of May and is still not completed and closed. Though I had told my client the perils of using someone who is not familiar with the areas costs and appraisers, they insisted until it started to hit them in the pocketbook.

Once they realized and saw the added fees and other “extras” that were placed on top of the normal fees they had to pay, they decided to change lenders and use someone in our local community. It is really easy for someone to mislead you with a great GFE then shoot you an updated one that is totally different. Please be careful to use someone you can talk to regularly, who will return your phone calls and answer your questions. It makes the process go smoother and take a tremendous stress off of you and your Realtor!

The Power of a Referral

It is amazing how easy it is to do business when you receive a referral. At the same time getting that referral may be one of the hardest things to do if you don’t have a systematic way to bring them in on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This is always the paradox in a business: do you work on marketing your business or doing your business. I have learned that if you don’t market your business, there is no doing and the best way to market is through a referral system.

A referral is a warm fuzzy lead that comes from someone you know. Realtors live and die by their referrals. If we have a circle of influence that is built on trust and integrity then we will succeed if we continue to work and produce good results. If we do not have that circle of influence we either have to build it or eventually we will go do other things. With a referral I sold my first house; many houses in between and my latest house. My largest sale was also from a referral. Without the power of referrals, many small businesses would be hard pressed for business today. Thank you to all who have trusted me with your referrals and to those who will do so in the future; they will be returned in time.

When You Feel Like Doing it Yourself

For most of us, do-it-yourself projects are few and far between. Sometimes it’s because we just don’t have the time and other times it’s because we just don’t know enough about the project to do it. Though there’s not much you can do about not having time; there is something you can do to learn enough about a project to get it done. One of the best places I have found to learn the skills you need for a do-it-yourself project is at one of the hardware stores in town; Lowe’s or Home Depot.

I know there are some people that like one over the other but we have used both and have received valuable information from the classes that each has offered. You get to choose the call based on your project needs so you can learn how to build a deck; lay carpet or tile; reface cabinets and a number of other great handyman or woman things.  This comes in real handy when you need to do some touch ups and simple repairs before listing a house or before deciding to purchase a home that needs a little tender loving care. If nothing else, you have fun, make some great friends and get some good advice.

Gone Sailing

Every once in a while we all need to take a break from our busy work and family schedules and just get away. It has been reported that too much work and stress will cause you to go to an early grave and who wants to do that! It is because I do believe in getting away that I feel I have ha as much success as I have had in my lifetime and career.  My husband and I find time to relax and de stress as much as possible by sailing.

There is nothing like getting on a boat and letting the wind carry you away.  It’s as if your cares and worries are picked up and taken as the wind catches the sails and moves you swiftly along. I understood when Senator Ted Kennedy went sailing right after finding out about his cancer and every chance he gets.  It unlocks your soul and sets you free; if only for a short time. So you will understand if one day you call me and you hear a recording that says, “Gone Sailing”. I will call you back when I’m done and be ready to serve once again!

What Lenders will expect from you when applying for a Loan

Since there are so many first time home owners looking to purchase a home right now due to the advantages of the tax credit and low interest rates, I thought I would let you know the basic information you will need to have in order to qualify for a loan.  This is what the lender will look at to determine if you can be qualified.  The more accurate the information you give them the very first time you talk to them the better they can determine if you can be pre-approved for a loan.

You will need the following:

• A two year work or college history
• A two year address history
• Copies of W-2’s for the past 2 years
• If self employed, copies of the last 2 years tax returns
• Copy of your drivers license
• Copy of last 2 months bank statements (all of them and all the pages)
• Copy of the last statement on retirement accounts (all pages)
• Copy of divorce decree if this will affect or impact your financial situation
• Copy of child support documents if you pay or receive child support
• Be prepared to either write a check for your appraisal or have a credit card ready
• Credit will be pulled so you will need to provide a social security number and birth date
• If applicable, proof of discharged bankruptcy
• If applicable, deferred student loans (must be 12 months or more) or show where another person pays the student loans

There may be a few other things but this is the most basic items you should be prepared to provide information on or documentation for. If you need to be pre-approved for a loan, I call me and I can point you to some good lenders in the area.

The Latest Stats for the Nashville Housing Market

Comparing April of last year to April of this year, sales are down about 25% overall and the median sales price is down $15,000.  While that’s not very good news for sellers, it’s great news for buyers!  In fact, if you believe in perfect alignments, this is just about the best time I have ever seen for first time home buyers.  Consider the following:

• Prices are lower than they have been in the recent past
• Get up to $8,000 for a first time home buyer credit
• Sellers are willing negotiate closing costs in order to sell their home
• Interest rates are still some of the lowest in history
• There is a loan that you can borrow against the buyer credit to help you with your down payment

Since there are so many homes on the market, many organizations, including the US Government are making it as easy as possible to purchase a home.  That does not mean they will simply give it to you though!  You will have to qualify, which means a good job history of 2 or more years, good credit history, either a down payment or able to qualify for a second loan to help with the down payment (this ends November 30^th) and anything else that an underwriter might require in relation to all the above.  If you don’t know if you qualify or not, give me a call and I can hook you up with a lender who can help you.  If you do, then what are you waiting for; perfect alignments only happen so often!

Create Interesting Planters for Spring and Summer

Most people think they have to run down to the nearest nursery and pick out pots or some kind of wonderful pre-made planter to put out on the deck or porch to enjoy your favorite flowers.  I have a much better idea and it can also be a fun and exciting project for the entire family; create your own planters out of used containers around your house or from a junkyard.

I recently saw a beautiful raised bed made of the front end of a truck!  It was beautifully done and added an amazing amount of character to the backyard.  I have also seen flowerpots made of old fishing boxes, coffee camping pots and old display units that a friend of mine got out of a store going out of business!  What I have realized is you have to look at things differently.  We are so used to an item functioning the way it was originally intended that we miss out on the possibilities of what it could be.

Challenge yourself, your kids and your friends to make the most interesting planter of the season.  Who knows, you may just find something that everyone will want to have!