Luxury without the price! Enjoy the evenings on the balcony or sitting at the table on your private patio. This Town home features 2nd floor laundry, private baths off both bedrooms, upgraded wood floors, two car attached garage and much more. Call me for your private showing.
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Tim Wright
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Why is my house not selling?
Once a house has been on the market for a while, homeowners begin questioning why the house has not sold. Those who are working with a licensed Realtor may be getting frustrated and may feel pressured to drop the price until an offer is made. Take heart – it is NOT the only option!
When a Realtor lists a house, information on other homes for sale in the area is gathered. The Realtor compares location, size, garages, basements, and other aspects of the homes and uses the information to price the house competitively for the area. If this has been done, why are no buyers interested?
The first thing to look at is the house itself. What can be done to spruce it up? A new coat of paint can make each room look cleaner. Floors can be waxed, deep cleaned, or refinished to make them more attractive to buyers. In the kitchen and bath, replacing hardware can update cabinets and totally change the look. Removing personal items will not only make your home look bigger, but will also help potential buyers picture themselves in the space. The easier it is for buyers to visualize themselves living there, the more likely they are to write an offer.
If you’ve taken care of the inside, turn your attention to the exterior of the house. Curb appeal influences the buyer’s opinion before they even enter the house. If the house looks nice outside, buyers will have positive thoughts right from the start. Trim any trees or shrubs. Power-wash the walkway. Paint or stain the deck or patio and wash the outdoor furniture. The exterior of the house itself can be cleaned with a hose and brush, if needed. Pulling weeds, edging the lawn, and fixing dead spots in the grass with patch kits will freshen up the yard.
These simple little projects will give your house a whole new look that will attract buyers without dropping the price. Share any improvements you make with your Realtor so the listing information and pictures can be updated to make your house as attractive as possible!
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Being a professional Realtor and a father of three, I often need to be in two places at once. Having a smart phone helps me stay connected to both of those “jobs” without having to sacrifice my kids for my work. Because I use it so often, many people often ask me my opinions of smart phones.
Years ago I had a Blackberry. It was a love-hate relationship. When it worked, it was great, but I often had to take it in for repairs or call tech support and try solution after solution. After a year, the face of the phone fell right off and my provider wouldn’t replace the phone. I tried a regular phone for a while, but missed having access to my email and the internet when away from the office.
In college I had used a Palm PDA, so I decided to try to Palm PDA Phone. Just like the Blackberry, there were many times it wouldn’t work. After three or four conversations with customer service, they agreed to replace the phone, but with a Samsung instead of a Palm.
The Samsung used Windows software, which was good because I use a PC for work. The phone had a touch screen, full keyboard and never froze up. The part I didn’t like is that a stylus is required to use the touch screen. Trust me on this one – fingers don’t work! Since the touch screen was easier than the keypad to use, this became an issue. My daughter now uses the phone and loves the full keypad for texting. She rarely uses the touch screen and there still hasn’t been an issue with the phone not working.
After the Samsung, I realized that the touch screen is what I need and like the most. I now have an iPhone and love it. Hands down, it is the phone for me! It’s simple to use and has an endless supply of applications available to add. With the touch of an icon, I can send a text or check email while having a conversation on the phone.
I travel two weekends a month and no longer have to pack my laptop. My iPhone is capable of any computer work I might need to do while away. My oldest two kids have downloaded several game applications, which help with the boredom when they come with on the weekends away. The youngest of the three has dietary restrictions, and I can search for places to eat and then map out how to get there, all from the phone.
The one downside of the iPhone is the battery life. I end up charging the phone at least once during the day, more if the kids play a lot of games. I keep a charger with me, either in my briefcase or in the car.
I know many people who swear that the Blackberry or Palm phones are the best. I also know that there are smart phones out there that I haven’t tried. This is just my experience. You will need to do your own trial and error to find the phone that fits your lifestyle best. Ask your service provider if you can do a trial period and try out a couple different phones. Ask the sales representatives for their opinions, too. Those of you who ask me, iPhone is always the one I recommend.
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This first floor condo has it all. Two bedrooms, two baths, walk-in closet, in-unit laundry, attached garage and patio. Seller is including appliances and providing a home warranty.
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Interested in moving to a new community? A great way to decide if it might meet your needs is to attend some community events. Weekend newspapers and community websites can jump-start your investigation and help you get a feel for a new place or fall in love with the community where you already are!
The Kenosha HarborMarket will run Saturday from 9-2 at Kenosha’s lake front between 54 St and 56 St. Stop by with the whole family and check out what these local vendors have to offer!
After a visit to the HarborMarket, go north a bit to Kennedy Park for the Outta Sight Kite Flight! Food, fun and kites-galore make this event worthwhile from young and old alike!
There are several reasons to head out to Bong State Park on Sunday, including a free fishing day. No license or gear needed! Come out for the fishing or the Family Nature Faire which will include a plant sale, raffles, games, food, animals, and more!
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Interested in moving to a new community? A great way to decide if it might meet your needs is to attend some community events. Weekend newspapers and community websites can jump-start your investigation and help you get a feel for a new place or fall in love with the community where you already are!
Memorial Weekend in Southeastern Wisconsin always means CHOCOLATE!!! The Burlington Chocolate Fest runs May 28 – 31 this year. Fantastic music acts, eating contests, chocolate sculpting and more ensure that the weekend will be as sweet as can be! For more information, visit the Fest’s website: www.chocolatefest.com
Bong State Park is hosting Tree-rific Art on May 29 from 10-noon. All ages are welcome to come by and create tree-inspired art. www.bongnaturalistassociation.org
Dozens more activities will be taking place across the area. The Kenosha Area Convention & Visitors Bureau has an Event Calendar - Check it out at www.kenoshacvb.com!
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For years location was the buzzword in the real estate market. Today, more than
ever, location is an important consideration. How do you know where to start looking? What if your favorite neighborhood is out of your price range? A good way to start looking is to drive around. Find a few neighborhoods that you are interested in. Make note of community services you may want to be close to: schools, shops, and churches. Determine how far from work each place is. If a neighborhood is far from amenities and adds significant time to your commute, you have to decide if the location is worth the extra drive time and gas costs.
If you have your heart set on one neighborhood but can’t find an affordable or available house there, think about why you like the area. Is it the schools? The style of homes? The size of the lots? Make a list of the attractive features and start asking around for similar neighborhoods. A good realtor will be able to make suggestions, as well. You may be surprised and find an area that you like even more!
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The name of the game when preparing your home for sale is Imagination. You want potential buyers to be able to imagine themselves – and their stuff – in the house and you have to help them out. Following these 4 tips will help buyers imagine what a great home your house can be!
Store It: If you are moving because you have more stuff than space, get some space! Rent storage somewhere. If you suffer from separation anxiety, there are many storage rental options that you can have delivered to your home. Hide It: Most people have shelves, counters and walls featuring things that aren’t necessary for everyday life. You want buyers to picture their things in those spots, so hide away all of yours. CAUTION – Don’t throw everything in a closet or c
upboard! Buyers want to know what kind of storage you have and they will open every door in the place. Keep storage spaces uncluttered, too. Depersonalize It: Your children are adorable, but unless they come with the house, buyers don’t need to know what they look like. Take down pictures and religious items. Neutralize rooms that have personal themes – like the picket fence in your daughter’s room or the powder room that you wallpapered with pictures from your trip to Europe.
Clean It: Once you have your house in order, make sure it is clean! Buyers can’t imagine themselves in your house if they are focused on the dust bunnies in the corner and the grease on the range hood.
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Owning a home is the American Dream. Unfortunately, being in debt has become the American way of life, especially with so many people affected by the current recession.
If you are looking to buy a home in the next year or three, take action now to get your credit in order. The better your credit score, the better rate you will get, allowing you to purchase the best house for your needs.
The first step is to evaluate your spending habits and make a household budget. Pay every bill on time every month. If needed, stop using credit cards in order to pay down those high interest-charging balances.
Credit consolidation programs are usually not a good way to boost your credit score. Instead, check out a credit recovery seminar or program in your area. There you will learn how to take charge of your credit and make positive, lasting habits. Contact me for more information on finding a credit recovery program that can get you on track for home ownership
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Considering to short sale a house can be a scary thought for many homeowners. For some, though, it is the best option to avoid financial disaster. If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payments or are struggling to make the payments, selling your house is a smart decision.
Afraid that you can’t get enough from a sale to pay off what you owe? That’s what a short sale is … the bank agrees to accept less than what is owed. If you have a hardship, such as loss of income, unemployment, divorce, illness, or job transfer, the bank is more likely to consider a short sale and get you out from under an oppressive mortgage.
If you put your house up for sale and a short sale is needed, the bank will have you fill out some paperwork. You will be asked to provide copies of financial statements, pay stubs, and tax forms. You will also be asked to write a hardship letter , explaining why your situation requires the short sale. If you have more than one mortgage, you will have to do this for each one.
Once an offer is made on the property, you must accept the offer and then the lender must accept it. Approval from the bank can come in various ways and might take months, depending on the situation and the lender.
If you think a short sale is needed to sell your house, use a Realtor who is educated in short sales. Work with an agent who has a Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource Certification from the National Association of Realtors.
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I see it all the time … Buyers don’t know what to focus on when they look at a house. Paint color, window treatments, carpeting and light fixtures are easy to change. A purple bedroom can be repainted and an ugly ceiling fan can be replaced with something suitable to your style. So just what IS important?
Part 4: The Kitchen: No one wants an outdated kitchen. No one wants to spend the money to remodel a kitchen, either. Kitchens can be VERY expensive to remodel and a house with a new kitchen probably has a much higher price tag. Sometimes you can save money by renovating the kitchen on your own after closing, especially if you are able 
to do some of the work yourself. Plus you will then know that the work is done right and that everything is done to your liking!
Even if a complete remodel isn’t in the near future for your budget, there are many ways to dress up a dated kitchen without breaking the bank. Painting cabinets, new wall color and window treatments, and sometimes even a new countertop are inexpensive ways to make a kitchen tolerable until you are able to make major changes.
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I see it all the time … Buyers don’t know what to focus on when they look at a house. Paint color, window treatments, carpeting and light fixtures are easy to change. A purple bedroom can be repainted and an ugly ceiling fan can be replaced with something suitable to your style. So just what IS important?
Part 3: The Foundation A poor foundation can be a deal breaker! Rarely are basements in Southeastern Wisconsin totally dry, but there is a big difference between a basement that leaks once a year and one that leaks every time the neighbor waters the flowers! The current homeowner should have system to deal with the water, like a sump pump. Note how the water is being dealt with now; the same solution might work for you.
Cracks in the foundation are another concern. Some are of little consequence, but larger cracks could be a red flag that there is a structural issue. Have a professional look at the areas. You will then be informed enough to decide if the house is worth the potential headache.
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I see it all the time … Buyers don’t know what to focus on when they look at a house. Paint color, window treatments, carpeting and light fixtures are easy to change. A purple bedroom can be repainted and an ugly ceiling fan can be replaced with something suitable to your style. So just what IS important?
Part 2: Windows and Doors
If the windows and doors in a home are older, they may waste energy and cost money year round. Heat escapes in the winter and enters in the summer through windows and doors that need to be replaced. When considering a house, examine door seals and feel around windows for drafts. Look closely; if a room has been remodeled, the windows in that room probably have been replaced even if the others haven’t.
A great house shouldn’t be out of the running just because it needs doors and windows. You have bargaining power and financing options that can help off set the cost of replacing doors and windows. Talk to your Realtor and put an expert’s knowledge to work for you!
Posted by: Tim Wright
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I see it all the time … Buyers don’t know what to focus on when they look at a house. Paint color, window treatments, carpeting and light fixtures are easy to change. A purple bedroom can be repainted and an ugly ceiling fan can be replaced with something suitable to your style.
So just what IS important?
Part 1: The Roof
An older roof will probably need to be replaced after not too long. Look for shingles that are curling up or missing. If there are several layers, the roof might need to be torn off totally and replaced. Inside, look at the ceilings and in the attic for signs of leaking. Peeling paint and watermarks could be indications of a leak that might require immediate attention.
While the roof can be a big expense, replacing it after you buy the house can be a bonus. It gives you the opportunity to add skylights, change the color of the shingles, and more. If you are concerned about the cost, you can negotiate with the seller and ask for a new roof to be installed or for an allotment so you can do it after closing.
Check back soon for part 2.
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Looking to buy a home? Be wary of these “good deal” myths.
#1: Full price is too much
Homes are already listed at “discount” prices. Paying the full list price can still be a good deal. The large selection of homes in SE WI show adjusted prices on all listings.
#2: Short sale and foreclosures are bargains
Short sale and Foreclosures are the “hot topics” but not always the best deal. Short sale listings take a long time to get accepted. Foreclosures often require major repairs, which raise the end price above other listings.
#3: Cut out the middle man and reduce the cost Realtors® charge commission because they work for you. T hey are experts in the market. Take advantage of their knowledge. It is to the buyer’s advantage to work with a local Realtor® .
#4: Shop around for the best rate
Every time your credit is pulled, it is also negatively affected. Also, the best rate often comes with the highest fees. Just partner with a mortgage broker that you trust and are comfortable with.
The BEST advice is to look for the home that is BEST for YOU!
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Shorewest - Kenosha
5708 75th Street
Kenosha, WI 53142
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