Allen Batson

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Jean's August 2019 Newsletter

Posted On: August 1st, 2019 4:37PM

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Remodels: What's Good for Resale?
 
Are you thinking about remodeling/updating?  What's worth the effort? Here are projects worth considering. Even if you're not interested in selling now, consider these areas of improvement for your own enjoyment. 

The kitchen: Kitchens sell homes! Updating your kitchen is a good way to increase the value and appeal of your home. Counters, cabinetry, backsplash, pull-out drawers and updated matching appliances are an excellent investment - and great to enjoy yourself. There are so many great products.  One extremely popular one is the microwave that pulls out like a drawer.  Check model homes for ideas.

Bathrooms: These areas are also high on Buyers' priority lists! Update the counters, sinks, tub/showers and fixtures. Make good use of storage. 

Flooring: Flooring, especially tile or wood, can be very costly so a Buyer looks at that as a major item when considering a purchase.  Today’s Buyers are looking for the same flooring throughout so it flows from room to room.  When multiple types of flooring are used, it makes the home look "chopped up."  In Arizona, a home with all tile or wood is #1 in popularity but that doesn’t mean that some homes don’t have carpeting in the bedrooms.  Many homeowners who do, choose to have the same carpeting in every carpeted area.  If you’re going out to replace carpet, it is recommended that you purchase a Berber vs. plush.  Berber wears like iron and doesn’t show footprints so the care is much less time-consuming.  Spend a little more for good padding.  It’ll make a big difference to the feel of it. 

Wood is always a popular choice - you’d be amazed at the number of Buyers who notice when it is real wood. Wood wears well, is durable and timeless, expensive, and adds value.  There are so many types, colors and patterns. There are several products that give a wood-look such as engineered wood or waterproof vinyl at a savings; the quality of these products has improved over the past few years.

One of the best ways to get an easy-care wood-look floor is porcelain tile – but get one that looks like wood.  So many really don’t look authentic. Wood tiles come in various lengths and widths which can offer a more elegant looking appearance (these two sizes are staggered). The example shown is porcelain wood tile - ours to be accurate.

Smaller tiles (8 – 12") give a dated appearance.  So, select tiles that are at least 18" and have your installer use a different pattern to make it look special.

Particularly if you have a small space – lighter colored flooring makes your home look so much larger.  The same can be said for wall coverings [paint/wallpaper]. Be sure there isn’t too much furniture and it isn’t too large for your space.

Curb appeal: First impressions are important and the front of your home is the first thing buyers see. Boost curb appeal by repainting the exterior, adding plants, and sprucing up the entry with a new door. These projects can often be completed at low cost but offer high return.  The landscaping should be free of weeds and trimmed. First impressions really do matter.



 
 
Protect Your Credit.  It's Important.

It is said that 56% of US citizens have been hacked/exposed by the data breach two-years ago by Equifax which has now been court-ordered to make an enormous settlement.  This is a giant red flag reminding us all to be cognizant of our own credit.   Here are the 5 steps we all should take to protect our credit:

  1. Sign up with the three main credit companies for FRAUD ALERTS [EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN and TRANS UNION] and check your report at least annually (We're all entitled to one free report annually from each bureau).
  2. Pay for a credit monitoring service (we’ve been pleased with LifeLock as we’ve had identity theft issues in the past).
  3. Notify your bank/credit card companies if you’ll be traveling as to where and when.
  4. Freeze your credit so nobody else can access it – you can unfreeze it when you need to make a major purchase. KEEP THE CODE ASSIGNED SO YOU CAN FREEZE or UNFREEZE AS NEEDED.
  5. Place a Fraud Alert on your accounts if you can't freeze them immediately (if you're in the middle of a home purchase, for example). A Fraud Alert lasts for one year and is renewable. You only need to contact one of the 3 Bureaus to ask for an alert; it will notify the others.

For instructions on how to take care of these issues, go to www.FTC.gov (Federal Trade Commission

JUST ANNOUNCED ON JULY 30, 2019 - CAPITAL ONE BREACH

Following the massive Equifax data breach and resulting settlement just discussed, on July 30, 2019, news broke out about Capital One.  Fortunately, the perpetrator has been arrested.

According to MSN news, "a data breach of Capital One, the nation’s 7th largest bank by assets, compromised the personal information of approximately 100 million U.S. consumers and 6 million in Canada, the bank announced on July 29th.  The breach affected the information of two groups of people:

  • Those who applied for Capital One credit cards between 2005 and 2019. The compromised information included names, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers 
  • Existing credit card and secured credit card holders. Data stolen included 140,000 Social Security numbers, 80,000 bank account numbers and information about consumers’ credit scores, credit limits, balances, payment history and transactions.

Capital One said it would provide free credit monitoring and identity protection services to those affected (who they will notify). They also recommended the same course of action (Freezing your credit, placing a Fraud Alert on your credit, checking with the 3 credit bureaus… plus keeping a close eye on your accounts for unfamiliar activities.


Barn Door Bathroom - Hoosier Style

We’ve all seen the Barn Doors utilized – generally in master suites separating bedrooms from bathrooms ...or any other parts of the home.  

New Castle, Indiana is close to where Al grew up.  The photo on the right was on a real estate listing in New Castle.  The owner wanted to turn their hall bath into a powder room for guests to use…so they used a barn door to hide the tub.  Genius!

On the left is a more typical version of the popular barn door.  There are so many ways to utilize this concept.  

Be creative. 


 
What Should We Believe About the Real Estate Industry?
 

In the past couple of years (and months), there has been such a preponderance of new companies who claim to be able to sell your home in 72 hours – or for 2%. Some claim to be highly discounted; others claim they can sell your house in 3-days.  They tell you they have an assigned agent to represent you and using an algorithm will bring dozens of buyers to your door. 

As Realtors, we have loads of competition. which we welcome.  It keeps us all on our toes. Many Realtors are absolutely fantastic at helping their clients; a few are not.  There are varying degrees of competency and experience with any professional. Clients don’t generally know how much time is spent by a Realtor making sure everything is done correctly and efficiently – putting out "fires" that could jeopardize your escrow.  It’s our job to focus on our clients.

Some discount companies claim they can have dozens of buyers who will swoop in to purchase your home at listing, or even better prices, within 3 days.  One claims they don’t need to put their homes on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) because the internet has all the information, so they don’t need to work with them. We wonder where they’re going for their comparable pricing information – the MLS.  If they’re working with Buyers – where are they going to go for properties to show – the MLS.  And advertising often refers to "agents on staff to help you."  

Are they Realtors?  To be called a Realtor, of course you have to be licensed by the State and your  ACTIVE license is to be held by a Broker (in our case, HomeSmart) but to be legally called a Realtor, you must be a dues-paying member of a local Board of Realtors (We belong to the Phoenix Association of Realtors and the Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors). To maintain our license, we are required to take continuing education classes on Contract Law, Agency Law, Disclosures, Commissioner's Standards, Fair Housing, etc. We renew every two-years with our Continuing Education classes verified by the State of Arizona's Department of Real Estate.

If you're tempted into discount service - be sure you ask questions such as all costs associated with the listing, including any repairs or marketing fees that aren't mentioned. Would you be working with a Realtor?  What if your home doesn't sell in 72-hours? What aren't they saying?  

As our mothers always told us – "If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is NOT true." (This is just our musing.)


 
Property Appeal: What Makes a Home Safe?
 
Location. Layout. Landscaping. A host of home features affect a property's appeal. One quality that tops many "must-have" lists is safety. What should buyers look for if they want a home that offers the best safety possible for themselves and their families? 

Several features can improve the safety of a home to make it more desirable. As a bonus, these devices can also reduce the cost to insure a home. If you want to modernize your home with innovative safety measures or are looking for a new home with the latest safety features, consider these list toppers.

Smart Devices

The internet has taken home security and convenience to a new level. Homeowners are empowered with a host of tools and systems to keep their homes safe. In fact, technology has become so prevalent that few items aren't equipped with smart features. Appliances offer improved safety and efficiency. Garage doors offer additional security. High-tech lawn systems prevent overwatering and flooding. A few devices are particularly desirable for homeowners interested in boosting the safety of their surroundings. These include:

Water alerts: Did you know one of the most common homeowners insurance claims is water damage? Smart leak-detection sensors can now prevent these calamities. They alert homeowners of leaks so they can take immediate action to prevent damage. In some cases, the household water is turned off by these devices until you investigate.

Fire detection: What happens if no one is home to hear the smoke detector? A smart fire detector will alert a homeowner via a Wi-Fi-connected device anywhere in the world. This can improve emergency response times and minimize damage.

Burglar deterrents: Smart technology has enhanced security on many fronts. Homeowners can deter thieves with timed lighting, access smart door locks to maintain tighter security, and monitor video surveillance from anywhere.

Interesting thoughts to ponder.
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ADOT - Arizona Department of Transportation:

With all of the current road repairs work going on all over the Valley - it's hard to remember which on/off ramps are open.  You can copy this link to check on a regular basis.
 
You don't want to find yourself heading to an event that you can't get to without detours and delays.

https://azdot.gov/projects/central-district-projects/loop-101-(pima-freeway)-improvement-project-i-17-to-pima-road/traffic-alerts
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On a hot summer day - do you ever just feel liking crawling into a space to take a nap?  This pup has taken that goal to the maximum. Perfect fit!  Cozy!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Batson Team HomeSmart
Jean Batson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home Smart
 
 
 
What's Happening in your neighborhood:
 
We know the internet has all sorts of real estate information available to you...but if you need current/accurate information on your neighborhood or areas you're like to investigate, we can help.
 
Just call us and we'll send it right out to you.

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Quick Quiz
 
Each month I'll give you a new question.

Just call me for the answer.

What is didaskaleinophobia?
 

Ann's Chinese Cole Slaw/Entree Salad
 
We went to a delightful summer luncheon with my old Clear Channel Outdoor pals. Our hostess served this - delicious.  It may require some ingredients you don't always have but its well worth the trip to the grocery store.
 
Serves 8-10
 
  4 chicken breasts, cooked/cubed OR...use a COSTCO roast chicken.
+   1 large head of cabbage, shedded
  Sliced green onions (4)
  1 can sliced water chestnuts
  2 pkg.Ramen noodles {oriental flavor)
  4 TBS Sesame Seeds
  4 TBS chopped almonds
    For the Dressing:
    4 TBS Sugar
3 TBS Soy Sauce
3 TBS.Vinegar
1 cup oil
1 Tsp. pepper
2 pkg. Raman flavoring
 
Directions
  • Toast the noodles, sesame seeds and almonds briefly (5 minutes) in the oven at 375 degrees. Put aside until a couple of hours before serving.
  • Mix dressing – add to salad at least several hours ahead (overnight OK).
  • Add the noodles, seeds and almonds to the salad about 2-3 hours in advance.

It's great alone or add a couple of Chinese sides...Egg Rolls, Wontons?  We had some leftover the next day - it was still fresh - we added a little extra soy sauce as a boost.


Ask the Agent: This Month's Question
 
How do I know if I've found the right house?

Buying a house is probably the most significant purchase you'll ever make. With so many options, it can be challenging to choose just one. To determine whether a home is right for you, ask yourself a couple of key questions about each property.

Does the home meet my must-haves? Write down a few deal breakers that a property must offer, and stick to these priorities to determine if a home is a good fit.

Does the home offer potential? Consider your future needs. If you're planning any life changes, keep these in mind. As you weigh its potential, also consider any "wants" that the home doesn't have. If it meets all your must-haves but is lacking a few wants, does it have potential? For example, paint colors and carpeting can be changed. The number of bedrooms is harder to adjust. 

What are YOUR most important needs.  It's hard to find everything on the list but your priority items should be met.
 
 
   
 
 
  This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale.  
 
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