Home Maintenance Tips.

Maintaining your home isn't easy but a little prevention can spare you some big repairs! Deferred maintenance can also effect you when you go to sell your home! When buyers see things that are broken, they take a closer look at your home!

1. Give your home a good scrub down! Clean everything, even windows! A good place to keep clean is under sinks, buyers and inspectors look there for water damage. Clean homes just present well and generally have a neutral smell!

2. Keep up on minor repairs. Don't let that loose faucet or door handle get any worse. Change burnt out lightbulbs and double check smoke alarms. Also change your air filters!

3. File away major repair invoices. If you get a new water heater, A/C unit, or even an appliance, keep them all. Maintain a file with these invoice in your home, that way you're prepared for any service calls or warranty fixes. Plus, you can leave it for the next owners of your home!

4. Double check your home's systems. Make sure your A/C unit isn't wobbling or making noise. Check to make sure your hot water heater is operational and set at the right temperature. Look under sinks for leaks and check your toilets too! 

5. Look at your home like you're about to sell it. If you were touring this house, like a buyer, what would make you frown? Fix those. What would make you smile? Do more of that. Keeping this perspective will keep you from having to fix everything up before you sell it!

6. Check pool equipment and water levels. It's peak summer and your pool has probably been working extra hard to stay clean. Look over the equipment for any leaks or plugs. Grab a pumice stone and have the kids work on that water line, calcium build up!

7. Purge your storage spaces. If you have stuff in the attic or in the garage, do a small purge session and get rid of some things. Not only will it make some more room, it will keep stuff from building up. Termites and other critters can cause damage in places your stuff is building up!

8. Be aware of moisture build up. Our houses are sealed up tight during the summer and that helps keep us cool, but it may also keep bad stuff inside too. Check your bathrooms for moisture build up and make sure your exhaust fan is working. You may need to give it a little vacuum so it can breathe better. 

9. Secure gates and access points. Part of home maintenance is safety. So check your gates, add locks if needed, and fix any weak entry points to your home. Double check that your pet doesn't have any escape points either. 

10. Sweep the perimeter of your home. Are there plants touching your home? Bushes or moisture near the foundation? These things can be invitations for critters like termites and roof rats. Not good! Trim and remove as needed. Monitor the moisture at the foundation to prevent bigger problems. 

Those are your home maintenance tips! What are some things you suggest?

These items will not only keep your home looking great and performing well! It will also keep you prepared for that day when it comes to sell your home. Your home will already be inspection ready!

Selling Your House in The Summer

Summertime means businesses in general are seeing increased sales. The days are longer, people are going on summer vacations, and maximizing their time outdoors before it's too hot. So now may be the perfect time for you to sell your house! Here's some tips:

More Buyers: Typically, people start looking for houses in March and the search for the perfect home can take quite a few months. So by the time summer rolls around they're ready to buy! That means more eyes on the market and if you sell in the summer, you could get a lot more traffic!

Keep it Cool: If buyers are out and about  during the heat of the day, a cool house will feel like a refuge! Pair that with a house that shows well and you'll stand out in their minds. Make sure to turn the A/C down a little lower than normal, so they can cool off while they tour your home. 

Longer Days: Even in Arizona, the longer days help more buyers search for houses. If you work until 5 pm, during the summer you have daylight until almost 8 pm! That leaves so much more time to see as many houses as possible. 

Outdoor Space: It may be getting too hot out, but buyer's still want that outdoor living space. They may be looking for a house during the summer but they'll be living in a home as the temperatures start cooling down. Keep the grass green, trim all the bushes, and create some seating areas. Bonus: add some seasonal flowers to brighten it up!

Trust a Professional: Whether you're buying a new home or on the resale market. Trust a full-time REALTOR® to help you because in a highly competitive market, you need that experience. Ask them how many transactions they do each year and then ask them how close to list price is their average sales price. That will tell you a lot about their experience. If they have the answers, that's a good sign.  

Have any questions? Let me know! I am happy to help you in any way I can!

Let's connect on Facebook!

What to Know About Real Estate Startups

They say things like, 'no hassle' and talk about taking the stress away when you sell a home. Real Estate Startups are popping up around town and while they may be good for some Sellers. However, here is some important information to know:

Profit Motive: these companies are backed by a lot of Venture Capital money, which means one thing: Buy Low and Sell High. The Startup may purchase your home but it will be for low market value because in order to make a profit, they have to sell your home for a higher price. That's your money being left on the table. 

One Sided Representation: when it comes to them buying your home, it's you and the Startup (a corporation). No one has your back in price or fee negotiations. (There's no negotiation when it comes to fees.) When the repair requests come in, are they negotiating on your behalf or their's? When you don't have representation it can cost you not only money but more importantly, time.

Higher Fees: if you think hiring a REALTOR® is expensive, wait until you see what these Startups charge. They are anywhere from 3%-6% higher than a traditional REALTOR®. Plus, if you buy and sell with one REALTOR®, they may give you a commission discount.

These are just 3 really important reasons to consider using a REALTOR® when you sell your home. Not only that, you're helping a small business and that agent's family. You have a relationship with that real estate agent and can call them if something is wrong. Do you think that startup is going to take your call after the deal is done? Not unless you have another house to sell. 

Team Clayton is committed to building relationships with our clients. So much so, that we have 5 free events every year ,that you can attend with your family. Movies, Pizza Parties, Happy Hours, and more. Once you sell with Team Clayton, you're our friend!

So, if you're thinking of selling, give me a call 623-334-5144 or email me, Kyle@TeamClayton.com

The Process of Selling Your Home

The process of selling your home can seem daunting but with Team Clayton, it won't be! That doesn't mean you shouldn't know what's going on, so here's what you can expect when you decide to sell your home. 

1. Interview Agents: Make sure they can not only list your home but get it sold. Professional photos? Transaction Coordinator? Make sure they can get the job done. 
2. Price Your Home: A real estate agent should tour your home, to see the finishes and upgrades you may have made to the property. Then they can do a comparative analysis to determine your home's value.
3. Prepare Your Home: You may have some homework to get ready for photos, to pack up personal items, or even some minor repairs. The goal is to help the buyers envision themselves in you home. Your REALTOR® should give you tips. 
4. Time for Showings: Now is the stressful part. However, your agent should have set up the showing instructions to make it as easy on you and your pets as possible. So make sure your input on how you want your home shown, is heard. 
5. Time for Offers: After about 10 showings, we should expect an offer. If not, we'll want to look at the feedback on your home and adjust accordingly. This is when you listen to the market, so be open to change!
6. SOLD!: Once you get an offer, the process isn't complete. This is where you negotiate price, who pays closing costs, and a closing date. So having an experienced REALTOR® with good negotiation skills, actually pays!

Phase two of selling your home involves fulfilling the contractual obligations and getting to the close of escrow date. Here's what that involves:

1. Inspection Period: From the date you accept the contract, the buyer has 10 days to complete inspections. This could involves any number of inspectors so be patient and don't worry. They will do their best work with you away, so plan a day out of the house. *During this period, the buyer can walk at any time.
2. Repairs: Once the inspection period is complete, you will have a list of repairs that the seller wants you to complete, based on the inspections. This is where more negotiation begins, so decide what you're willing to repair and what you wont. *Depending on what you decide, you may have 5 more days of inspection period. 
3. Appraisal: The lender orders an appraisal after the inspection and he will determine your homes values. If it comes in too high, more negotiations! Just right, then the deal moves forward. This may be the most crucial point to have good negotiator on your side.
4. Close of Escrow: Most agents will think it's smooth sailing from here, but not us! We make sure to maintain contact with the buyer's lender to ensure the loan process stays on track.
5. Signing Day: Finally, the day to go down to the Title Company and sign all the paperwork is here. This completes the transaction and the Title Company will do the rest. Once they record the paperwork at the County Recorder's Office, it's official. You have to be moved out by that time, no exceptions! 

Talk about a lot to handle! So, ask your REALTOR® how many transactions they do a year. That will tell you how experienced they are at getting deals done! It's one thing to list a home for sale, it's another task to get it sold! So give us a call and put our team to work for you!

Have any questions? Email me at Kyle@teamclayton.com or on Facebook!

Why Homes Sell.

Did you know that homes sell for 3 reasons? 

Price: Pricing your home is important, too high and you lose the enthusiasm of buyers when you put it on the market. Buyers are educated in today's market and with home value estimators, they know what a home is worth, and they expect it to be priced right. Also, with low inventory of homes for sale, buyers will be flocking to new homes, but if you over price your home, they won't even waste time viewing it. 

Condition: Once a buyer decides to see your home, it's all about condition! They're walking around your home not only to look at the layout but also to inspect the condition. They're looking for signs of deferred maintenance and other potential problems, that would cost them more money in the future. So if you're home is in good condition, keep it that way! If not, you may be able to do some cheap things to fix it up, in order to prevent those types of problems. When your property is in good condition, it reduces the friction of getting buyers to make an offer!

Exposure: When you list your home for sale, it's published on the Multiple Listing System (MLS), where all the real estate agents in your area can see the property and it's information. Zillow pulls their data from the MLS, along with tens of thousands of other sites, put your best food forward with amazing images. So having good photos and good data, is key to good exposure. However, that's not enough! A good REALTOR® is going to have a marketing plan and things they do to further market your home to find buyers. Good marketing exposure is key to getting people to see your home and hopefully to want a tour. 

When you price your home correctly, it's in good condition, and has the exposure of the MLS and my Team's marketing, it will sell fast and for what it's actually worth!

Have any questions? Email me at Kyle@TeamClayton.com!

The Benefits of Owning a Home.

We all need a place to call home and feel comfortable. It may be a house, apartment, condo, or townhouse. We all know that finding a place to call home can be a complicated and even become an emotional decision. Especially after the downturn, young people  may be hesitant to buy a home. The good news is homeownership is still beneficial in many ways. 

Health Benefits: Homeowners and their families are generally more engaged in the community surrounding their home. That makes for healthier individuals, mentally and physically, according to Mark Lindblad, research director at the University of North Carolina’s Center for Community Capital. Children who's parents own a home also do better academically. Having a consistent home and a consistent school, helps kids thrive.

Tax Benefits: If you're single or married, without any children, you probably don't have many tax deductions to help lower your overall tax burden. Owning a home automatically allows you to deduct taxes and interest paid that year, up to 10,000 dollars. Make sure you speak with an Accountant to make sure your deductions are correct. 

Stable Costs: Rents are rising in today's market and owning a home, with a fixed rate loan, makes your housing costs predictable. As you pay down the loan amount, your mortgage will cost you even less. Rent is always cheaper in the short term, but owning a home stabilizes that cost and lowers it in the long term. A rental will never do that. 

Build Wealth: Homes typically go up in value. Although that can fluctuate in the short term, home values in the long term are stable. Real Estate is a long term investment so be patient. Even better, there are monthly gains in equity as you continue to pay your mortgage down. The bottom line is that real estate is still a great way to build wealth for you and your family. 

Capital Gains Exclusion: When you sell your primary residence for a profit, you get to keep $250,000 if your single and $500,000 if you're married. You'll pay $0.00 in capital gains taxes. ZERO! You just have to live in the home for five of the last 8 years.

The financial benefits are clear but the social benefits are based on stability. So when thinking of buying a home, make sure you're going to stay there for the long term. Then get a fixed rate mortgage and look for down payment assistance, if needed. That, along with a stable job, will ensure that you reap the financial and social benefits of owning a home.

Need help making those housing decisions? Know someone buying or selling? Please contact me, I'd love to help! Visit: www.teamclayton.com or email kyle@teamclayton.com

What's My House Worth in Today's Market?

Are you confused about your home's value? There is a chance that you may have more options than you thought. Home values continue to rise in Maricopa County and across the country. Let's find out more:

When did you buy? If you bought between 2007 and 2012, you could be sitting on as much as $100,000 in equity. Of course that depends on your home, location, and upgrades. However, most people in Maricopa County saw an 87.9% increase in their home's value. (ARMLS stats, median sales price)

If you bought before then, you may have more options then you thought. If you bought after 2012, your options may be limited depending on your financial goals. 

So, check your homes value now and get the data you need, to make the right choice for your family. 

Now that you have an estimate of the value, it's time to think about your goals. Do you need more space? Less space? Is liquidating the ROI most important? How much? Once you know, prioritize that list and find a REALTOR® that can accomplish those goals. 

I hope this helped and at least gave you some more information. I know your home is one of your biggest asset but it's also your families home. My goal, as a REALTOR®, is to listen to your priorities and make them happen to the best of my abilities. So if you're ready to explore your options for selling, let me know. 

Email me at Kyle@TeamClayton.com or connect with me on Facebook!

P.S. Inventory is low and it's a sellers market!