Finding and Purchasing an Eco-Friendly Home in Georgia

These days, buying a home in Augusta is about more than finding the right square footage, number of bedrooms, and price range. While these factors almost always make up the primary concerns for any home buyer in GA, the truth is that there is so much more to a home than the numbers and figures you see on an advertisement. In fact, Augusta and Evans are part of a growing trend of buying homes that are not only an investment in your future, but an investment in the future of the planet, as well.

Do-It-Yourself Real Estate Marketing in Augusta

Marketing a Augusta home to make it attractive to buyers isn’t just about staging the house or putting a For Sale sign up in the yard. In today’s real estate market, it’s important to reach out to a larger audience through various types of media. After all, buying and selling a home in the Evans region means tapping into everything that people use on a daily basis: computers, newspapers, magazines, and more traditional real estate routes.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Benefits of a Home Inspection

Although new tax breaks and great housing prices in Augusta, Evans and Fort Gordon make buying a home easier and more cost-effective than ever before, it can still be a daunting task to undertake the path to home ownership. In addition to the stress of moving, you’re probably worrying about things like loan processing fees, down payments, mortgage options, and closing costs. Even with a financial advisor and a realtor at your side, these can add up to quite a bit of hard work!

Buying a Historic Home in Georgia

For many people living in or moving to GA, the best real estate purchase is one that combines the comfort of home with a piece of history. Buying a historic home in Augusta, Evans or Fort Gordon is fairly common in today’s market, thanks to an incredible real estate climate and one of the most dynamic historic districts in the state.

However, if you’re simply looking at the intricate architecture and are thinking how great it would be to own a piece of the city’s history, you might want to take a step back and consider all the work involved in becoming a historic home owner.

Marketing Your Georgia Home: What to Expect during Your Open House

If your GA home is for sale – whether in Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon or surrounding areas – there’s a good chance your real estate agent will discuss the benefits of an open house with you. Open houses have long been a part of the home sale experience, since it allows prospective buyers to take a “low-key” approach while they browse the merchandise. It also gives your real estate agent the chance to network with a large number of potential buyers all at one time. In some cases, it also means you’ll finally sell that home!

Buying a Home in GA: What to Look for in Neighborhoods and Communities

Most prospective homebuyers in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas already know that when it comes to purchasing real estate, location is key. It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to make a profit on your new home or if you simply want a place that will help you raise your family – the neighborhood you choose to call your own is just as important as those details of square footage, number of bathrooms, and central air.

Get the Most Out of Your Square Footage

If you’re getting ready to sell your Augusta, Evans or Fort Gordon home, you know that one of the most important things you can do to increase your sale price is to spend some time staging. After all, the better your home looks, the better the chances are that someone else will love it enough to buy it, too. However, many of the homes for sale in the Georgia area are smaller in size than what’s currently hot on the market. While this doesn’t mean you can’t sell your home, it does mean that it might take a little extra work before you get that figure you’re aiming for.

Buying a Home as an Investment

 

These days, most of the listed homes for sale in Augusta, Evans, or Fort Gordon are all about building a family future. Savvy buyers know that the market is theirs, and they can bargain for things like better school districts, home improvements, and other amenities that make owning real estate in Georgia great. However, when the Augusta real estate market boasts more homes than there are buyers, there’s another advantage: homes for investment opportunities are cheaper and have greater potential than ever before.

Ways to Increase your Home’s Value

When you first purchase a house in Augusta, Evans or Fort Gordon, you’re most likely thinking of ways to build a home for you and your family. A big yard means plenty of room for the children to play. A newly renovated kitchen means you can finally throw the types of dinner parties you’ve always wanted. A master suite, well, that’s just icing on the cake. However, when it comes to sell your Georgia home, it’s important to remember that all those little (and big) changes can also mean big little (and big) changes in your sale price.

While most homeowners should make changes to their houses that suit their lifestyle rather than the eventual sale price of their home five, ten, or even twenty years down the road, there are a few things to keep in mind. After all, if you will someday be selling your Augusta house, you want to be sure you’re maximizing your profit.

  • Repair all the little things – now. Most of the time, homeowners are willing to overlook the little idiosyncrasies like a broken step on the porch or chipping paint on the kitchen cabinets while they live in their house. These small repair needs are a bit like a knee that acts up in the rain or a car that always requires you to turn the key three times to the right before starting; they just become part of the everyday backdrop of your life. However, for someone buying a home in Augusta, Evans or considering real estate in Fort Gordon, these things can become glaring problems. By fixing issues as they arise (rather than waiting until you’re ready to sell your GA home), you not only avoid making major repairs all at once, but you actually get to enjoy the repairs while you live there.
  • Know your neighborhood. If you live in one of Augusta’s family-friendly neighborhoods, chances are things like well-maintained yards, large family rooms, and spacious kitchens will be worth more in the long run. If you live in a Evans condo, you might find that built-in bookshelves and jacuzzi bathtubs are more appropriate. While you don’t have to tailor every change to your eventual sales audience, you can choose to make the types of changes that will translate into the highest returns.
  • Don’t ignore the less visible changes. Almost all of the houses for sale in Augusta go through cosmetic changes before they hit the market. Fresh paint, new kitchen appliances, and good landscaping are fairly common. Less common are things like a new roof, updated plumbing, or even a newly-installed automatic sprinkler system. However, these things show up in a home inspection evaluation, and when you put your trust in a GA real estate agent like Clara Outler, these types of changes will always get the focus and attention they deserve.

The most important thing you can do to your Augusta home is enjoy the time you’re going to spend there. However, by keeping its eventual sale at the back of your mind, you’ll be able to get the most out of your life – and your investment.

Guide to Buying a Fixer-Upper in Georgia

In the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia real estate market, buying a home with the intent to fix it up is one of the best investments you can make. There’s no better way to take control over your home ownership than to customize the design, floorplan, and landscaping of everything from a single story rancher to a charming Victorian – especially if you’re looking to use the current Georgia real estate economic climate as a way to get the home of your dreams without breaking the bank.

The Importance of Curb Appeal

Most real estate agents will tell you that the best time to sell a home in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas is during the late spring and early summer months. When the weather turns warm, the vibrant growing season commences, and children can be seen playing happily in the yard, potential homebuyers really begin to connect with a house – even before they set foot across the threshold.

In real estate lingo, this is known as curb appeal.

Staging Your Home

Staging your home is a great way to prepare your home to sale and to make it look alluring to buyers in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas. Staging your home has become popular during the last decade. Read this article to find out some great ideas on how to get your home ready for potential buyers and get it sold sooner, rather than later.

Within the first minute, people decide if they could live in your home. The problem is that there are so many homes on the market right now, that if yours doesn’t catch their eye immediately, then they have other choices. The struggling housing market is forcing people to take more drastic measures to sell their homes. Many homeowners say they need all the help they can get. With the market not being so good, there are ways you can make your house stand out. Staging your home is the way to make your house stand out in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas.

The idea of home staging is to highlight your home’s best attributes and positively affect potential buyers. Staging your home isn’t about your own tastes. It is about making the home appealing to the general population. Whether you go at it alone or use a stager, you need to have the attitude that your home is no longer your home.

Following are some tips to consider:

What buyers look for, or look out for when purchasing a home.

What should buyers look for, or look out for when purchasing a home in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas? This article will help sellers look into some important aspects of selling their home and what potential buyers look out for as well.

The way you live in your house is not the way to sell your house. So, what makes a house a home for sale on the market, and one that soon has a “SOLD” sign out on the front lawn? And what aspects are important to look at because potential buyers will ask the question, “How much work are we going to need to do prior to moving in and beyond?” The appearance and cleanliness of the home are significant. Always have your home ready to be shown at a moment’s notice with me, your agent, Clara Outler because this is what buyers are looking for. And a tip- burned out lights need to be replaced; classy lighting and upgraded fixtures can ameliorate the value of a home. Also, buyers said they would be willing to pay more for a home with a renovated kitchen.

Here are some things a buyer will look out for when dealing with the purchase of a home. The buyer will consider the following:

Relocation and Moving Tips in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas

Want the secret to an easy move? Whether you’re relocating just around the corner, renting a moving truck or are packing up the family for cross-country relocation, you’ll get the tips you need to survive. Here are some great moving tips to save you time and money.

The key is to stay organized, so check out moving checklists online to help you with your move to the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas. Make a list of questions to ask for either your local moving truck rental business or decide if you need to go with actually hiring a moving company.

Experts in the moving and storage industry say that, you should plan six to eight weeks in advance to book a reputable moving company. Finding that reputable company can be a challenge, however, and a little research should be done before you entrust all of your worldly possessions to professional care. Check out listings online of moving companies that allow you to compare movers and interview moving companies to find just the right one. On interstate moves, charges are based on the weight of the items to be moved, the distance to be moved, packing, and other services. Get two or three estimates well in advance of your move. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau about any moving company you are considering.

Renting a moving vehicle or a portable on demand moving crate can be your best and easiest option to make sure your stuff gets moved to the new place the way you want them to. If you choose to rent a moving vehicle, you can rent it the day of the move or the day before. If you really want a lot of time to make sure you can arrange your furniture and household goods in your moving vehicle, then you might consider an on demand storage unit. These units get delivered to your driveway and you have as long as you need to fill it up. Then, when it is full, you call the company and they will come and pick the container up and deliver it to storage or to your new home.

No matter which moving option you choose, you will make things a lot easier on yourself if you weed out all the “stuff” that you haven’t used in a long time and donate it or throw it out. Start packing the items you want to keep but don’t use everyday away well before the moving day. Think about this tip: get wardrobe boxes to pack clothes. By simply hanging clothes inside these boxes, you’ll save time both packing and unpacking.

Facing relocation can be scary. Let your Real Estate agent, Clara Outler, ease the pain with packing tips, relocation advice and moving companies that specialize in relocation near and far.

Unclutter Your Home and Get It Ready to Sell

It is very important to make a great first impression to the potential buyers of your home. Every seller wants their home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it’s not luck that makes that happen. It’s careful planning and knowing how to efficiently unclutter your home that will excite buyers. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an appealing and marketable home.

Get rid of those items that have been sitting around for years without being used or even handled. This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Buyers and real estate agents should see your house in its best condition from the very first day it’s on the market.

Here are a few approaches to take to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”

Another way to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell is to make those minor repairs and best of all, make the house sparkle! Only do one room, or even one small area, at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Your best friend is the trash bag; when in doubt, throw it out. Many find it easier to use boxes to sort items, so you don’t have to find a home for everything as you unclutter. Most important, be quick and decisive when sorting. Tell yourself:
• If you don’t need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

If you are getting your house ready to sell in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas, then take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas where you can unclutter your home and let myself, Clara Outler, your agent help you to get your house ready to sell.

New Year brings optimism for the 2010 Real Estate Market

What better way to start the New Year, then to bring confidence to our 2010 Real Estate Market. Ringing in the New Year being hopeful and optimistic will allow us to decide what we can do to improve our way of thinking about what is currently going on in the market. The New Year begins with us having a positive outlook and is a promising time for those of us looking to buy a home in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas.

Here are a few reasons to make a real estate investment in 2010:

The Value of Homeownership

Homeownership may be the most important asset-building strategy for individuals. The value of homeownership gives homeowners a feeling of control, a greater sense of security and stability.

Homeownership is typically given a lot of importance and homeowners are generally allowed to do whatever they wish in their homes. Homeowners have the right to make choices and decisions regarding changes to their homes that renters may not be able to make.

Homeownership is a financial goal most families share. There are significant community benefits to homeownership as well. Owning a home gives residents a stake in the community and a sense of “rootedness” in their neighborhoods. Enjoying the privacy that a home brings, making long lasting friendships with neighbors and best of all taking pride in your home. The pride you’ll feel in owning and improving your home is an emotional value that cannot be expressed in dollars and cents. The value of homeownership has been thought to pro-mote thrift, stability, and neighborliness.

Homeownership is thought to be an important element in achieving personal fulfillment. When asked to define the good life, polls have shown that many Americans value owning a home over such factors as an automobile, a happy marriage, an interesting or high-paying job, and good health. The value of homeownership is credited with increasing self-esteem, life satisfaction, and an overall feeling of worth. Owning a home embodies the promise of individual independence but there are also many responsibilities that come with owning a home. The value of homeownership has been thought to pro-mote thrift, stability, and neighborliness.

If you are looking to buy your own home in Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas, these are some points to consider when seeing the value of homeownership. Allow me, your Real Estate agent, Clara Outler to help you see the value of homeownership.

Going Green in Georgia

Have you heard the news! Green real estate is getting lots of buzz. More and more homebuyers are looking for ways to increase their green footprint. They are looking for that perfect home and yard that will give them eco-luxury. Going Green in Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia is happening as we know it.

Not only are we worried about our cleaning supplies being green, but now we want our homes to be green also. Homes with amenities like Gammpar floors, LEED-certified building materials, double-paned windows and even docking stations for electric cars! Also, homes that boast features like rainwater harvesting, passive air ventilation, reclaimed fixtures and recycled content tile and flooring.

This may all seem very over-whelming, but there are a lot of sites on the web that will help you fully understand just what finding a “green” home entails. It will be worth the research and will make your life more comfortable in the long run. Just “Google” the words “green real estate”, for starters. Enjoy the search and learn what makes a “green” home; a home that you want to be a part of. We all want to do our part and so let’s enjoy all of the eco-luxury that we can.

Just a side note – there’s no denying that the mortgage meltdown has meant tragedy for many home owners. But take a look around. You’ll see there’s very positive activity in many vibrant markets throughout the US especially in Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas. By focusing on the good news and passing the message around, we can help speed up the market recovery. Don’t panic, let’s all do our part!

Real Estate – it’s not going away!

The oldest use of the term “Real Estate” that has been preserved in historical records was in 1666. In other words, real estate has been around for a very long time. However, it is not going away! It will be around until the end of time. What a comfort that is. With the slump that is happening, it is a reassurance to know that even if the economy gets bad, real estate is here to stay.

Real Estate is a legal term, according to Wikipedia, that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings, specifically property that is stationary, or fixed in location. The word “fixed” is the keyword here, meaning unmovable. Real Estate is here to stay!

Wikipedia also states that it has been argued that the word Real is derived from “royal”. For hundreds of years the Royal family and/or King owned the land, and the peasants paid rent or property taxes to be on the Royal’s land. Today, just like hundreds of years in the past, we pay property taxes, or rent to be on the government’s land or the Royal Estate. Isn’t it great to know that even though we do have to pay property taxes our homes are owned by us and not a king or government or royal family!

This article has been a little bit about the history of Real Estate, but thankfully there is a great future for real estate. Make your own future and invest in “Real” estate.

If you are looking for a home or selling real estate in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas then we can help!

Find your Dream Home in Georgia

Is your dream home etched in your mind? Are you just waiting for the perfect time to bring it to reality? Now is the time! The market is slow at this time, which makes it a buyer’s market. With the interest rates low and many homes available, there is no better time than the present especially if you are looking for a home in the Augusta, Evans, Fort Gordon Georgia areas.

Owning a Home: The American Dream

Have you ever desired the house of your dreams whether it was in another state or right here in the Augusta, Evans, or Fort Gordon Georgia area? We call it “The American Dream.”

Wikipedia describes the American Dream as a belief in freedom that allows all citizens and residents of the United States of America to achieve their goals in life through hard work. A part of that American Dream is to own our own home, you know, that proverbial house with the white picket fence and all.