Selling Your Southern NH Home: 4 Purchasing Points to Ponder

When you receive an offer for your Southern New Hampshire home for sale, you need to look in the actual print for a few things before you sign on the dotted line. Your real estate agent and/or lawyer will be able to point out glaring deficiencies, inconsistencies or other things not in your best interest. However, the more you know about the purchase contract yourself, the better chances you have of getting a good deal on your Southern New Hampshire home for sale.  (Note: in New Hampshire, the offer form becomes the purchase contract once all parties have signed and initialed all pages and any changes.)

Here are four points to ponder in your purchase and sales agreement:

Closing Date
Sometimes a buyer may want to wait a month or two before taking over the title. You want to check the closing date against your own schedule and make sure it’s acceptable. Don’t be inflexible.  In this highly competitive real estate market, be willing to negotiate on the closing date – unless, of course, you don’t have a choice.

Remaining Property
Contracts range in terms of what fixtures and personal property will remain with the home. In a few cases, the contract entitles the buyer to everything on the property. In other cases, the contract entitles them to nothing more than attached (ceiling) light fixtures and electrical socket covers. Carefully read over what the buyer expects to remain with the home and make sure you agree.

Contingencies
The factors a buyer may want in place before the contract is finalized may be more than you’re willing to deal with. For example, the buyer may want an inspection before signing, or they may want to sell their own home. They may want the contract reviewed by their lawyer and they will likely still be waiting for their mortgage to be approved.

The problem with contingencies is they can drag on much longer than you expect them to. To be safe – even if you’re okay with the contingencies – set a time limit for them to be accomplished. This way, your sale won’t drag on forever without ever closing.

Expiration Date
Finally, pay attention to the expiration date of the offer. You may have eight hours or eight days to accept, reject or counter the contract. Pay attention to how long you have to consider the offer for your Southern New Hampshire home for sale.

If you’re trying to sell your home and need a knowledgeable agent on your side, I can help. Call me at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@daveheeter.com for more information.

7 Ways to Save Money and the Environment in your Southern New Hampshire Home this Thanksgiving

If you’re looking for ways to save money this Thanksgiving, I have a few tips for you.  As an added benefit, you’ll also be helping the environment when you implement these ideas.

1. Bring in the outside:  A lot of people in your Southern NH home, plus the heat from the oven, can make even a November day uncomfortably hot.  Instead of turning on the A/C, open some windows to cool your home down.
 
2. Buy only a few organic foods:  Organic food is usually more expensive than conventionally grown food.  Instead of buying a lot of organic groceries, purchase only key organic items that are most likely to be wearing pesticides.  Check out the Dirty Dozen list to discover the produce you should consider purchasing from the organic section for your holiday meal.
 
3. Compost:  Add your Thanksgiving fruit and vegetable trimmings to your Southern New Hampshire home’s compost bin, or start one if you don’t already have one. Next year’s garden will thank you.
 
4. Eat locally grown food:  Depending on where you live, there may not be much locally grown produce available in November, but there are other foods you can purchase locally.  Apples and apple butter top my list of things to buy locally this fall.  Purchase turkeys and chickens grown by local farmers.  Buy delicious homemade pies and bread at your local farmer’s market.
 
5. Plan a potluck:  Instead of doing all the work yourself, make this turkey day a potluck.  It’s easier and cheaper for you, and allows family and friends to feel more a part of the event.  This is a wonderful new tradition you can start, which others may well continue for years (and generations) to come.
 
6. Save leftovers in glass jars:  Instead of putting leftovers in plastic bags or Styrofoam containers, use glass jars.  Save glass jam jars or spaghetti sauce jars and reuse them to package leftovers.
 
7. Wash and reuse:  Use cloth napkins and tablecloths that can be washed and used again.  If you don’t already have some, consider making your own cloth napkins out of material you already have in your Southern New Hampshire home.  Not only are they eco-friendly and inexpensive, they’re also elegant and attractive.

Don’t stress about doing everything perfectly.  Putting just a few of these ideas into practice saves money and the environment. 

I wish you and your loved ones a very warm and happy Thanksgiving!

Southern New Hampshire Homes Become More Affordable

Don’t you just love it when the evening news finally shares some good news?  I do too!  So, I want to do my part and share some good news with you today:  Southern New Hampshire homes and homes nationwide are becoming more affordable.   In fact, according to the National Association of REALTORS®, housing affordability is close to reaching an all-time high. 

Big Benefit to Buyers

Exactly how does this benefit the buyers of Southern New Hampshire homes?  A typical buyer can pay much less in mortgage costs for the same home, or buy a better home without increasing their monthly payment.

Reasons for Improvement

There are several reasons housing affordability is improving:

1. Lower mortgage rates.  The primary reason Southern New Hampshire homes are now more affordable is that we have the lowest mortgage rates in history.
 
2. Declining house prices.  As with all things real estate, local markets dictate housing prices, but, overall, prices of homes have dropped across the nation.  Some markets encountered only minimal price declines while others experienced major declines.
 
3. Higher wages.  You probably don’t feel like there’s been an increase in wages, but there has been a small one.  In 2009, the average wage rate rose 3 percent and is up an additional 1.2 percent so far this year.

The Bottom Line

If you’d like to buy a home, have good credit and a steady job, the real estate market has never looked more favorable.

Ready to buy a home?  Let me help you find the home of your dreams and get it at a great price.  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.

Is a Southern New Hampshire Condo Right for You?

Cannongate in Nashua

A home doesn’t have to be a house. It can also be a condominium. Condos can be townhouses, apartments, or even separate structures as long as you only own the space between the walls. For some people, single family homes may be too large or cost too much money. They can still enjoy the benefits of home ownership through a condo. How do you know if a Southern New Hampshire condo is right for you?

Pros of Owning a Southern NH Condo
   

Woodbury in Merrimack

* Maintenance. With a condominium, you are only responsible for the interior of your unit. You don’t have to mow the yard or paint the exterior. If you have a busy lifestyle or don’t have the ability or desire to maintain the outside of your property, a condo may be a good choice for you.
    * Location. Many condos are built in popular areas surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Homes in these areas may be out of your price range, but you can still live there in a condo and have the same neighborhood amenities.

Cons of Owning a Southern NH Condo
  

Bluestone in Nashua

* Condo Fees. Most condominiums have monthly fees that go toward the maintenance of the property. These fees are in addition to your mortgage payment and can raise your monthly payment considerably.
    * Condo Associations. Condominium owners serve on boards that decide how condo fees are spent. They may even decide to use fees for something you will never use.

Need more help deciding if a condo is right for you?  Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com.  I’m happy to help!

6 Tips for Selling Your Southern New Hampshire Home During the Holidays

Selling your Southern New Hampshire home is a stressful experience for most people. It’s certainly not easier during the holidays, but selling your home during the holidays doesn’t have to be the end of the world.

Here are 6 tips to help you sell your Southern NH home during the holidays:

   1. Decorate. Holiday decorations are beautiful and make your home look inviting, especially traditional decorations displayed tastefully throughout your home. Just keep the decorations simple and uncluttered.

   2. Bake. Go ahead and bake your own pies this year. You’ll have your pies ready and fill your house with the welcoming scents of spices to entice buyers.

   3. Create warmth. Keep the thermostat set at a comfortable heating level. Buyers won't stay in a house if it's cold.

   4. Brighten it up. Winter days are often dark and gray. Bring in all available natural light by keeping curtains open during daytime showings. Turn on lamps and other lighting in your home or use automatic timers.

   5. Share some holiday spirit. Buyers may want to see your home at inconvenient times, but keep in mind that everyone is busy at this time of year. Buying a home during the holidays is no easier than selling a home during the holidays, so be gracious.

   6. Continue your usual life. Don’t neglect your family or obligations during this time. This will only add to your stress.  Just keep the holidays as stress free as possible this year, so you don’t add to your overall stress level.

Selling your Southern New Hampshire home during the holidays can be done. Follow these tips to use the holidays to your advantage.

Ready to sell your home?  I’m ready to help!  Give me a call today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com. 

Re-laminate Your Southern New Hampshire Home’s Countertops

If you want to freshen up your Southern New Hampshire home’s kitchen, redoing the countertops might be a good choice.  It’s quick and easy to install new laminate, and you’ll have almost limitless styles to choose from.  Here’s how to install new laminate on your kitchen countertop:

Measure Countertop
Measure the existing countertop in your Southern New Hampshire home’s kitchen and total the results.  Add a few inches to the side and bottom measurements to give you a little wiggle room.  You’ll need to buy contact cement, a putty knife and a utility knife at the home improvement store at the same time as the laminate.

Prepare the Area
First, you’ll have to remove the old laminate.  Leftover laminate and adhesives can make it hard for the new laminate to properly attach to the countertop.  Use a three to four inch putty knife to scrape off the old laminate.

After you’ve removed it all, sand the surface underneath to make sure that any left over adhesive has been completely removed.  Work carefully from one end of the counter to the other and double check your work.  Then wipe the area down with a clean cloth and dry it.

Cut the Laminate and Apply the Cement
Next, you’ll measure and cut the new laminate to the correct size with the utility knife.  Apply the contact cement to the edge of the countertop and press the laminate into place.  Then spread the cement on top of the counter, and press down evenly on the laminate to properly adhere it to the surface.

Go over the entire counter again with equal pressure to seal the contact cement.  Trim the excess laminate with the utility knife.  Then clean the work area with a damp cloth.

You’ll be able to use the countertop shortly after the contact cement dries.  Re-doing the laminate can breathe new life into your Southern New Hampshire home’s kitchen without emptying your wallet.

Top 10 Reasons People Sell Their Southern New Hampshire Homes

Selling a home is never an easy decision.  If you’ve ever wondered how most people make this decision, you’ll enjoy this top 10 list.  Here are the top 10 reasons people sell their Southern New Hampshire homes.

1. Death or divorce. Death and divorce can cause major changes to a family’s financial situation. Homeowners are often unable to cover the maintenance and cost of the home on a single income and are forced to sell their home.
2. School district. People move to certain neighborhoods to be in the school district. They also leave neighborhoods because the schools have changed or to be in a district that better meets their child’s needs.
3. Job. A very common reason for selling a home is a job change. The family may need to move to a new area because of a new job. A job loss may mean the owners can no longer afford their home.
4. Marriage. When a couple with separate homes marries, they often choose to live in one home and sell the other or sell both and buy a joint home.  Marriage can also mean a change in finances.
5. Too much debt. Sometimes medical bills or consumer debt can become so overwhelming that homeowners have no recourse but to sell their Southern New Hampshire homes. Homeowners may sell their homes to avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy.
6. Need more space. Growing families need more space. A couple may discover that their cozy bungalow does not meet the needs of their small children. They may sell their home so they can upgrade.
7. Need less space. As children move out, some owners may find they need less space. They may no longer want to be responsible for cleaning and maintaining a large home.
8. Neighborhood. Neighborhoods change as people move in and out. What seemed like the perfect area of Southern New Hampshire when the owners bought their home may no longer fit their lifestyle.
9. Climate. People living in the north may decide they want a break from the snow. Residents of the south sometimes want to be in a cooler climate.
10. Home defects. Homeowners may find themselves faced with major repairs that they don’t have the time or money to fix. Selling their home and moving is sometimes a better option.

Trying to decide if you’re ready to sell?  I can help. Call me today at 603-821-1134 or email me at Dave@DaveHeeter.com for more information.