How To Buy Your First House

It’s not uncommon for a first-time home buyer to say to me, "Gosh, just last week I called you about buying a home and now I’m in escrow! How did this happen so fast?" The answer is it didn’t. First-time home buyers start searching long before most even realize it.

Here’s what you can expect from your home shopping experience.

Benefits for a First-Time Home Buyer

You keep hearing from your friends and family that you should buy a home which means that by now you have likely already weighed the benefits and costs and decided that home ownership was the best decision for you. That in and of itself is a major hurdle. You may even be familiar with housing costs and locations. This tells me that you are focused and determined. Good!

Defining Search Parameters for a First-Time Home Buyer

Almost 80% of all home searches today begin on the Internet. With just a few clicks of a mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings, view virtual tours, and sort through dozens of photographs and aerial shots of neighborhoods and homes. You’ve probably defined your goals and have a pretty good idea of the type of home and neighborhood you want. By the time you reach your real estate agent’s office, you are halfway to home ownership.

How Long Should It Take to Buy Your First Home?

I often only show one home in seller’s markets. After all, most families are only looking for one home. Home buyers who search for years usually aren’t very motivated to find a home. A motivated buyer will find a home within two weeks. Most of my buyers find a home within two days. Good real estate agents will listen to your wants and needs and arrange to show only those homes which fit your particular parameters. Your agent should preview homes before showing them to you as well in order to more accurately answer your questions and meet your needs.

It is impossible to say exactly how long it will take though as the markets are always shifting and you should watch out for “bubbles”. If you were to look at the Scottsdale Real Estate market, you’d see that 5 years ago the market was completely different than today. The time it takes to buy a home largely depends on the market and being aware of the market conditions can help you a lot.

How Many Homes Will a Home Buyer See?

Studies show that your memory dramatically improves after consumption of carbohydrates and slows upon consuming sugar. So, lay off the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes! The average number of homes that I show to a buyer in one day is seven. If I show any more than that my buyers will be exhausted. Therefore, don’t expect to see 20 or 30 homes; although it’s physically possible to do so, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them.

The "Red Shoes" Experience for a Home Buyer

Say, you need a new pair of red shoes. You go to the mall and at the first shoe store you find a fabulous pair of red shoes. You try them on and they fit perfectly. They are glamorous and priced just right. Do you buy them? Of course not! You go to every other store in the mall trying on red shoes until you are ready to drop from exhaustion. Then you return to the first store and buy those red shoes. Do not shop for a home this way. When you find the perfect home, buy it! It’s hard for home buyers to find the perfect home and most homes go fast. Don’t miss out on your chance. It is essential that you act fast when you find a home that meets your needs.

Easy Step By Step Instruction ForRating Inventory

• Bring a digital camera and begin each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end.
• Take copious notes of unusual features, colors and design elements.
• Try to imagine your furnishings and pictures in the home.
• Pay attention to the home’s surroundings. What is next door? Do 2-story homes tower over your single story?  
• Do you like the location? Is it near a park or a power plant? Is it near good schools?
• Immediately after leaving, rate each home on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.

View Top Choices a Second Time Before Buying That First Home

After touring homes for a few days, you will probably instinctively know which one or two homes you would like to buy. Ask to see them again. You will see them with different eyes and notice elements that were overlooked the first time around. At this point, your agent should call the listing agents to find out more about how serious the seller is about selling the home. The agent should also double-check that an offer hasn’t come in to make sure these homes are still available.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Making the Selection To Buy a Home

I’ll let you in on a little secret: I generally know which home a buyer is going to choose. I suspect most other agents operate the same way. It’s an intuition. However, I make it a practice not to steer buyers and I insist that buyers choose the home they want without interference from me. It’s not my choice to make. Real estate agents are required, however, to point out defects and should help buyers feel confident that the home selected meets the buyer’s search parameters.

(2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Remove a Bee Hive

A single bee might not be a huge concern, but when you have a newly arrived swarm of bees around your home or you find an established hive up under the eaves, you’re in a bit of a tight spot. Bees are dangerous – especially if you live in an area that has become home to Africanized bees. In Arizona, for example, most bees found outside of established commercial hives are Africanized, and these bees are especially dangerous.

Determine the Problem

If you notice one or two bees, you might have a nice garden that attracts them, but to be on the safe side, check to see where the bees are headed. If you notice multiple bees around your home flying in and out of a particular area, you likely have a problem with a hive or a newly arrived swarm. Don’t get close to the area where the bees seem to be located – bees travel and are established in large numbers. Africanized bees especially will defend their hive with passion, so steer well clear. Watch the area from a distance until you’re sure bees are coming and going. Bees are sluggish in the mornings and evenings, so that is the best time to keep tabs for a bit.

Call Local Beekeepers

If you can find one, put in a call to local beekeepers to see if they want to move your bees. Bees can be easily moved from one place to another, especially if they have not yet created a wax hive. It can’t hurt to call and try to save the bees by moving them away from your home and into a new home of their own. If this step doesn’t work, you can certainly call in the Scottsdale bee removal experts.

Call in the Professionals

You can tackle a wasp nest with special sprays, but there aren’t special sprays for bees, plus there’s the sticky problem of the wax left behind. A bee hive is dangerous, and it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between European and Africanized bees. Stay away from the hive and call in a professional for Phoenix bee removal. Explain that you’ve seen bees coming in and out of a particular area and ask them to come out for an inspection and removal.

Protect Others

It’s important to let others in the area know that you have a problem with bees as they can be dangerous not just to you, the home owner, but also to neighbors, deliverymen and pets. Make some quick phone calls or knock on the doors around you to warn off the neighbors – especially children who might think it would be fun to agitate the bees. Be sure to let them know when the professionals are coming to remove the hive so that everyone can stay well away from any danger.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Removing Bee Hives

• Watch the bees around your home to see if and where you have a problem.
• Call local bee keepers to see if they would like to come and take your bees away.
• Call in the professionals to remove the bees, hive and any honey created.
• Be sure to keep neighbors and others in the area aware of the problem and take precaution with pets.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Removing a Bee Hive

Africanized bees are nicknamed killer bees because they are more aggressive in defending their hive. So long as you stay away from their swarm, there isn’t a need to panic over the bees or pay a rushed fee.

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Decorate a Man Cave

Building a Man Cave is easy enough – all you need is a room in your house that’s off-limits to the womenfolk. But unless you’re a man of style, it can be a bit challenging to know what to do once you have your room marked as the man cave.

Add Furniture and Soft Items

If your room isn’t carpeted, your first step is to add a rug and some soft items such as a large fabric sofa. Consider adding manly curtains and even a few bean-bags or chairs to give you something to sit on and a way to keep the room from echoing. You don’t want to crank up a new television in a room that’s empty or you’ll have plenty of feedback.

Add Electronics to the Man Cave

The next step for most men is to add their electronics. Start with a basic entertainment center, even if you’re mounting your television. The entertainment center will house your game systems, DVD player, and even fun specialty items such as a Sansui Receiver that you can show off your friends.

Add Decorative Items

Your room now probably consists of an entertainment center and a television – more than enough to keep most of us happy, but you’ll want to add a bit more to showcase your personal style and your unique taste. Your decorative items might include special bottles you’ve collected or all of your sports memorabilia. If you don’t have a current collection, start one – Frame movie posters for your favorite films or put up a few pictures of your kids. A man cave should be lived in and home-line – not an empty room with a television in it.

Easy Step By Step Instructions for Decorating a Man Cave

• Add furniture and soft items to break up the noise in the room and to make it a comfortable place to sit
• Add electronics including vintage items, speakers, television, DVD players, receivers and anything else you might need
• Add decorative items to make the make the man cave your very own personal place to show off to your friends

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Decorating a Man Cave

If you’re looking for something more unusual than the typical items, seek out antique speakers and other electronics to make the room more of a vintage style than a modern one. Sansui speakers or other high quality items will be stylish and fun as well as functional.

(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
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How to Buy Antiques at an Auction

Buying antiques is always an adventure, but buying them at auction adds an element of excitement and even a feeling of danger as you risk overbidding or buying something you weren’t entirely prepared for. To buy antiques at auction, you want to arrive ready and be prepared to do some prep work before flashing that paddle.

Preview Items at an Antique Auction

If you’re not just stumbling across antique auctions, visit the preview ahead of time to scan the wares and pick up a catalog. Note the items of interest and handle each to check for defects. Be sure to verify details such as seals and hallmarks.

Research Past Auction Prices

Bring your catalog home and start researching past auctions and prices that are typically paid for the sort of items you’re interested in. Make notes about what is reasonable to pay and cement that number into your mind.

Register for the Antique Auction

The day of the auction, register and be ready to swipe your credit card and have picture identification on hand. You’ll get your paddle with a unique number for bidding. Be especially careful with this as you might accidentally buy something if you’re not careful.

Bid on Antiques

The excitement of the auction begins when your desired auction is up. Wait to be sure the auctioneer doesn’t drop the starting price if nobody bids initially and then start bidding by holding up your paddle. As the price increases, be sure to pay attention to where the number is going. Avoid getting invested emotionally and buying the item for more than you’re willing to pay or more than it’s truly worth.

Pay Up for Your Antiques

After winning the bid, you’ll have to pay for the item plus a Buyers Premium and taxes on the premium. This can add quite a bit to the cost of the item, so be ready to pay up on all fronts. Once you’ve paid, however, you’re free to take the item home and enjoy it!

Easy Step By Step Instructions on Buying Antiques at Auction

• Preview items beforehand to scope out objects of interest
• Research items at home to set reasonable rates and determine what you want to spend.
• Register for the auction
• Bid on the items without getting overly emotional.
• Pay for your antiques and take the item home.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Buying Antiques

Buyers premiums can be as high as 35% on an item, so be sure to budget ahead of time for this additional cost. Check the terms and conditions of the auction to determine what the premium is at your antique auction.

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Clean Gutters

If you’re facing an afternoon cleaning gutters, you’re not the envy of your neighbors, and you’re most likely not looking forward to the task. Cleaning gutters isn’t much fun, but it’s certainly not rocket science either.

Find a Safe Ladder

Unless you’re of unusual height or have low gutters, you’ll need a ladder to help you reach the gutters you’re looking to clean. Using a ladder requires a bit of safety training. Always position the ladder so that the feet of the ladder are planted firmly on the ground at the same height. A rocking ladder is bad news. Use an appropriate angle and ask a friend or partner to come and spot you while you work on the ladder. Never use the top step and never lean out over the side of a ladder as you can pull the ladder over with your weight.

Put on Work Gloves

There can be some nasty critters in a clogged gutter and you’ll want to protect your hands from anything that might be lurking there. Put on heavy work gloves and you might even stick a garden trowel or hand rake in your back pocket to use on particularly sticky spots. Wear sensitive work clothing as well and sturdy shoes to give you better traction on the ladder you’ll be climbing over and over again.

Scoop Out Debris

Clean the gutters by scooping out and depositing the debris that gets wedged inside. Use your hand rake or trowel to scoop it up. You can deposit the junk in a trash bag or drop it directly onto the yard and landscaping where it might blend in or can be used for firewood later. Get everything out of each gutter to reduce the number of Saturday mornings you’ll be doing this every year.

Check Gutters and Wood for Damage

While you’re at eyelevel with your gutters and the wood behind them, check for potential damage. It is not uncommon for wood behind gutters to rot and need to be replaced. When it is time to replace your gutters, given the choice, you might consider installing a gutter cover to help keep leaves and other amounts of debris out.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Cleaning Your Gutters

• Find a safe ladder to work with
• Find heavy duty work gloves and correct eyewear for the project
• Use a garden trowel or rake to help you scoop out and dispose of the trash and debris found inside the gutters

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Cleaning Gutters

You can put your gutters to use for you by using rainwater recycling. Collect the water from the gutters to use in watering plants and landscaping.

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)
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How to Create a Net Zero Home

A net zero home is one that is invisible from the electric or other utility grids. A net zero house is powered under its own steam, wind or sunshine and leave no carbon footprint. Building a net zero home is becoming increasing popular, and others are transitioning their homes into net zero houses in an attempt to help the environment.

Build a Small Home – Save More

The smaller your building, the less you have to heat or cool. Using space wisely is a huge consideration in a net zero home. When building a net zero home from the ground up, it is easy to design a home that is small yet flows easily. When attempting to convert a home, this can be a huge stumbling block.

Create an Efficient Home

The better your space is designed, the more efficient your home will be. Your goal is to keep the hot inside during the winter and out during the summer. The better protected you are from the elements, the less your expensive heating and cooling systems will have to do. Limit windows on a east or west view and instead use windows on a southern exposure. Thick walls and layers of insulation will help create energy barriers as well.

Use Energy Efficient Appliance and Systems in Your Net Zero Home

Use the highest quality and most efficient systems you can afford. The goal is to use as little energy as possible for your air conditioning system, hot water heater, heating costs, lighting, and appliances. Energy Star and other energy efficient systems will make a huge impact in the amount of energy used in the home.

Produce Energy of Your Own

The final step is to produce your own energy. You do this though solar panels or a wind turbine, depending on your area. The basic idea is to create the same amount of energy that you need to cancel out the energy you’re using in the home. Doing this will create a true net zero home.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Creating a Net Zero Home

• Build a small home that utilizes space well
• Design your home to be especially energy efficient
• Use energy efficient appliances and systems to reduce energy requirements
• Produce energy of your own through solar or wind power

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Creating a Net Zero Home

When calculating energy usage, be sure to include the ghost energy of leaving computers and televisions on during the day and night.

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Repair Hurricane Damage

Recent years have shown the world the kind of damage hurricanes can bring. Cleaning up after a hurricane can be almost as devastating as finding the damage. When you’re home has been damaged, it is best to begin repairs as quickly as possible to prevent further damage.

Contact Your Insurance Company

As soon as you know the state of your property following the hurricane call your insurance company to open a claim and begin reporting items. Make a detailed list of damage including items in the house, refrigerator, freezer, cabinets, closet and garage or storage sheds. All property damage should be photographed and detailed notes written down for future reference.

Begin Immediate Demolition

As soon as you have photographed the evidence, immediately remove wet carpet and other wet items that are susceptible to mold. Cut away wet drywall left after standing water including an extra six inches to reduce the likelihood of mold. Rotten and warped wood flooring should be removed as well. Wet furnishing, drapes, clothing and bed linens should be taken outside the home.

Handle the Claim Details

Your insurance company will come to inspect your claim and once your claim is processed will release funds to cover the costs of all items. If your claim is substantial, the funds might be released to both you and your mortgage holder to ensure the job is well supervised. Once you have funds available and your claim is dealt with, it will be time to do major repairs.

Hire a Contractor

Once the basic demolition is complete, or you’ve removed as much as you’re physically able to do, call in a contractor to aid in your repairs. Insurance money should pay for all damages if you’re properly insured. Regardless, be sure to hire a reputable contractor. Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama or Louisiana contractors are numerous, but finding a quality contractor means calling references and checking for licenses and insurance.

Work Quickly to Fix Your Hurricane Damage

Work quickly once you know your claim is being processed correctly. New Orleans contractors were swept up immediately after Katrina and the same is true for any storm-hit areas. Don’t settle for a bad contractor, but don’t wait around waiting for one to find you. Be proactive and get your repairs completed as quickly as possible.

Save Documents

Save all documents related to the repairs. Invoices, receipts and payment records may be required by your insurance company if recoverable depreciation was held back for major repairs. Having proper documentation should make it easy to show what was done when and how much it cost. This is required for the insurance company to release funds held back initially.

Easy Step By Step Instructions To Repair Hurricane Damage

• Immediately document damage and file a claim
• Remove items that could cause further damage including mold
• Follow up on the claim to see it processed
• Hire a quality contractor to handle repairs
• Keep and submit all documents to release any recoverable depreciation

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Repairing Hurricane Damage

Never pay a contractor all funds upfront. Any solid contractor will have credit for supplies and will not require more than 50% initially. If you pay the full cost upfront, the contractor has very little incentive to finish the job correctly with so many other hurricane damaged homes.

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Pick the Best Floor Plan

Picking floor plans when building a new home is exciting. However it can get a bit confusing when presented with multiple options and an overwhelming number of potential upgrades.

Look for Energy Efficient Homes

Energy costs are going up, so if you’re able to cut costs considerably for the future while building your home, you’ll be in a far better position down the road. Look for energy efficient floor plans or Energy Star house plans to better understand what these plans offer. In most cases, it is the more technical details of the plan that make a difference in your future energy costs – the layout of the home will remain the same or similar to non energy efficient plans.

Look For the Right Size Floor Plan

It’s easy to get swept up in excitement and max out your budget buying house, but look instead for the size of house you realistically need and can maintain. You might plan ahead to the future, but do that through rooms rather than simply square footage. Giant rooms look grand but can be more difficult to keep clean. An open floor plan with plenty of smaller bedrooms and office space would provide more usable space.

Choose the Right Amenities

When looking at house plans, be sure you pick the right amenities for your family. With a limited budget, you might opt out of fireplace you might use once a year and include a build-in computer niche or separate sinks. Add bathrooms when able as these will add value to your home and be indispensable for children and guests. Consider the use of stairs every day and how a two-story home might affect your lifestyle differently than a one-story house.

Choose the Right Flow

When looking at floor plans, imagine yourself walking through the home. Look for problems that would present themselves later, such as the nursery being next to the automatic garage door or the back door opening into a living room rather than kitchen. Find the flow that would work best for your family. In some cases, flow is better in smaller homes than larger ones with more unusable space.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Picking a Floor Plan

• Look for an energy efficient home that will pay off down the road
• Consider floor plans that are the right size for your family
• Choose the right amenities in the plan
• Imagine the flow of the home and how it would accommodate your lifestyle

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Deciding on a Floor Plan

When looking at floor plans, always remember that options shown will be expensive additions to your total cost. Plan your budget accordingly.

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Build a New Home

Unless you’re unusually handy, building a new home truly means hiring someone else to act as the general contractor and build it for you. In most cases, your general contactor will be the building company you choose to use. When you decide it’s time for a new home, perhaps to cash in on the First-Time Homebuyer’s Tax Credit for $8000, many individuals consider new construction first. Who doesn’t want a brand new home to live in?

Research the Area

The first thing to do before starting construction with a home builder is to scout out the areas. From Fargo to New Orleans home builders, you can bet that the areas being developed are as different as night and day. Most often, new construction takes place outside of existing neighborhoods, pushing the city limits out. Look at all the factors of the location including commute times, local services and restaurants, road conditions and, of course, potential neighbors.

Look at Available Homes

Many builders have model homes available to tour to give you an idea of design. Walk through model homes and speak to the sales agent about important factors such as how long the company takes to build, how many upgrades are included in the price, and the plans for the neighborhood – will it have a community swimming pool, for example?

Choose the Right Plan

Building a home truly starts when you choose the right plan. Most home plans today by energy efficient home builders are attractive and less expensive to own long-term than the traditional alternative. Choose a plan that has the right amount of space and cost. Leave room in your budget for the design portion of the process where you’ll be sure to spend too much.

Select Your Home Design

Once the basics of your home are selected, you’ll be invited to make decisions regarding colors, tile, carpet, fixtures, radiant barrier and any number of other upgrades. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, so be mindful of your budget and how much you can realistically spend.

Put Down Earnest Money for Your Home

Once you put down earnest money on the contract, usually $1000-2000, you’ll be locked in to the purchase. Some builders require payment unfront for certain upgrades, but other than that you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy watching your home go up from the ground to the brand new chimney.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Building a New Home

• Research the areas you’re considering
• Look at available builders and plans
• Select the right plan
• Choose upgrades and other options
• Put down earnest money and sign a contract

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Building a New Home

Visit the building site as often as you can. This will give you an idea of how things are progressing and it might also let you catch potential problems ahead of time.

(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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How to Get Energy-Efficient Windows

When a window becomes fogged or broken, you have the choice in most cases of replacing the affected panes of glass or of replacing the entire window. While replacing a pane of glass is less expensive, taking advantage of the opportunity to install a more energy efficient window might pay off substantially in the long run.

Examine Your Windows

Small gaps and cracks in window casing and around panes of glass let in air and weather. Water can seep through the cracks and cause damage and cold air can come gusting through loose window panes making your home colder and more expensive to heat. Go through your home and examine each window. Look for gaps and cracks and on a cold day, feel for cool air coming through areas around your windows.

Seal Small Cracks

A sealing foam or caulking can seal up many of the smaller cracks around the outside edge of windows, but some windows are made to where the sealants don’t block much of the air that comes in around the glass itself. To make this form of window energy efficient, you’ll have to replace the whole window – not just the panes.

Research Windows

There are many companies offering replacement windows. Atlanta might have hundreds of dealers specializing in energy efficient window products and this is the time to do your homework. Research Atlanta replacement windows online and through magazines to find the most effective brands. You want your windows to be a blend of long-term effectiveness and reasonable price.

Measure Windows

Once you have a brand in mind, you’ll need to start measuring your windows to gauge the amount you’ll be paying for each. After completing your measurements, an official installation measurer will likely come out to double-check your numbers – this is great to prevent problems during installation from a hole that isn’t as square as the window, for example.

Buy and Install Windows

Visit with a representative who can help you make the final decisions about the new windows. Once you have your energy efficient windows selected, you’ll need to arrange payment and set up a time for installation as well. The more windows you order and install, the longer you can expect the process to take, but it will be well worth it.

Easy Step By Step Instructions For Getting Energy Efficient Windows

• Examine your windows for small leaks and cracks
• Seal as many windows as possible to block cracks and leaks.
• Begin researching new windows for those that can’t be sealed.
• Measure your windows to complete an order or to comparison shop specific products and pricing.
• Buy and install the new windows.

Warnings, Advice, and Suggestions When Getting New Windows

Be sure you keep your recipes and paperwork from your efforts to make your home more energy efficient. Your efforts will usually be tax deductible.

(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
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