Join House & Coyne as they welcome Lana Torre from Evergreen Interiors. Lana brings her unique style to the show and talks about the re-birth of the front porch!
Property Source Radio with Steve Hausmann and Pat Coyne is every Saturday on Sportsradio 950AM ESPN. Listen to this show now.
Local home builders are seeing more traffic in their model homes; however consumers are not yet completing the purchase contract.
“There has been an increase in activity the last month or so despite the cold weather.” said Dan Viola, President of Viola Homes in Penfield and 2011 Chairman of the Rochester Home Builders’ Association. “Part of it is the normal spring market; however the poor cold weather has not inspired the “real” buyers in the marketplace yet.” Viola added.
The Rochester Home Builders’ Association reported a decrease in building permits the first quarter of 2011 compared to 2010. Decreases in Monroe and Wayne County were somewhat explained by a surge of building permits in December due to the changes in a new NYS Energy Code and NYS Electrical Code.
“A new code went into effect in January, so a number of builders took out permits prior to the new code to save their buyers money.” said Rick Herman, Chief Executive Officer of the Rochester Home Builders’ Association. “December 2010 was double that of “normal” Decembers due to the new and more expensive NYS code.” Herman said.
“Many of the builders in our area are still optimistic and looking forward to an increase in homebuilding the second quarter. When looking around the country, we are fortunate that we have been able to maintain the permits we have. Rochester is a very stable real estate market, but we will always have these bumps. ” said Viola.
We all have it ! It is one huge case of spring fever. We can’t wait to visit our favorite flower growers. We are excited about power washing the deck and patio, until we uncover our old and mildewy patio furniture.
Think new. There are endless choices in affordable and tasteful outdoor furniture. From tables and chairs to umbrellas and chaises, we can design a new space for your outdoor leisure and entertaining.
Look for resin furniture. It appears to be wicker at first, but this new resin is very outdoor friendly. This furniture cleans quickly with water and soap, and does not hold stains from fallen leaves. Teak furniture is a bit more expensive, but it is ‘green’, renewable and plantation grown. You may have to oil your teak every few years, but as in the case of any natural product, the older it becomes, the more beautiful the patina. Rustproof aluminum is a great choice for a more formal outdoor space. Choose clean and simple designs in powder coated bronze. Chairs, ottomans, coffee tables and sofas can be arranged on the patio to mimic the family room.
After you have selected your base material, the fun part begins. Fabric selection. There are materials made for cushions and pillows that are truly outdoor fabrics. They will not fade or stain and are made of a polyester base. You may know one by the brand name ‘sunbrella’, but there are many more. Available in solids, stripes and many prints from florals to sailboats,.. The choices are endless. You can easily find cushions and pillows made to size on line, as well as furniture covers.
Under your new furniture is the perfect place to use an outdoor rug. These rugs look and feel like wool or cotton. They can be easily hosed down if you should spill your Bloody Mary.
Choose an umbrella. There are new designs that have a freestanding weighted base, so you can move them around the patio, forgetting the table.
And the cardinal rule?? Always remember to accessorize. Purchase lights that can hang from your umbrella. Place votive candles in mason jars filled with sand and hang with strings from the spokes of the umbrella . Use candle lanterns everywhere. If you are hesitant to use real candles, use the imposters, they can even fool a trained designer
[ who me ? ] Pot up flowers and place them in strategic locations. I always like using one color, so go all red or all pink, and prettiest of all is all white with light green foliage.
Whew ! We are done. So grab your favorite catalog, Better Homes and Gardens, and the latest Property Source. Pare up celery sticks or long thin slices of pepperoni and make a savory pitcher of Bloody Mary’s. Shake off your flip flops and oh so enjoy your beautiful, newly decorated patio.
First Quarter statistics released by the Genesee Region Real Estate Information Services (GENRIS), the information subsidiary of the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS® (GRAR), reflect the consistent trend of a stable appreciation in home values within the local housing market in the 11-county region.
The median sale price for the First Quarter of $114,900 reflected a 1.7 percent increase compared to last year at this time. Transactions for the First Quarter 2011 showed a 9.3 percent decrease over First Quarter 2010, with 1,634 homes sold, which is most likely due to a more traditional First Quarter this year matched against one spurred by the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit last year. The number of homes listed was down significantly, 24.5 percent over First Quarter 2010.
“Despite the 9 percent decline in transactions this quarter when compared to same time last year, I am very optimistic of where our market is currently coming off the Tax Credit,” stated Carolyn Stiffler, president of the GRAR Board of Directors. “While we were wondering how much influence the Tax Credit would have on buyers, looking at this past quarter’s inventory, it is abundantly clear that people looking to sell took advantage of listing their home in the closing months of the Credit.”
“Prices have shown growth from 2009, and are at realistic and sustainable levels. Our market remains very affordable and favorable for qualified buyers, aided by low mortgage rates,” said Ryan Tucholski, chief executive officer of the GRAR. “Locally, REALTORS® remain optimistic about the 2011 housing market, especially if both consumer confidence in the economy and access to mortgages for those with good credit improve.”
There were several towns within the region that experienced sales gains this past quarter from the same time a year ago, they include: Gates, Hamlin, Henrietta, Ogden (Spencerport Village), Perinton (Fairport Village) and Pittsford (Pittsford Village). Also, the Town of Victor in Ontario County realized increases in both number of sales and in home values over the same timeframe.
GRAR will continue to support the local residential real estate industry by focusing on the benefits of owning a home and using the services of a REALTOR® when buying and selling a home.
First Things First
The majority of open house Guests are Buyers. There are some neighbors and others. Those open house Guests that are Buyers come in the door already loyal to another Agent..or not. We completely respect those that are committed to another Agent.
A listing Agent has a fiduciary responsibility to the Seller. An Agent holding an open house that is not their listing does not have the same fiduciary responsibility. Either way, to be fair to the Seller, the Agent must determine whether the Guest is interested in the house. This is as simple as asking, “Does this house interest you?” Or, “I promised the Sellers to ask each Guest whether you are interested in the house. Are you?”
Give Them What They Want
The Guests want to be comfortable and they want information. Greet each Guest with a gracious smile. Welcome them to the house. Offer to answer all their questions. Provide them with more information than they were expecting. On the dining room or kitchen table provide information on the community, and the neighborhood, a fully filled out sample purchase offer and addendums, financing recommendations with advantages of each, and detailed closing cost estimates.Have printouts or preselected switch properties on your laptop that are in the same geographic area, same price range, same size or same style. These are properties that the Guests are likely to be interested in if they showed up at this open.
Ask Questions That Interest Them
As Buyers there are only a few reasons they chose that open house; location, price, size, or a particular feature. So, ask, “This house is in Brighton. Are you looking exclusively in Brighton or also in Penfield, Pittsford and the other eastern suburbs?” Or, “This one is $279,900 is that your price range or are you looking higher or lower than that?” Or, “This one is 2,500 square feet with four bedrooms and three baths may I ask is that the size home you were looking for or did you want something larger or smaller than that? Or, “This one is adjacent to the golf course. Were you looking for a property on a golf course or did you just like this location?”
You will immediately discover those Guests that are loyal to other Agents because they will identify themselves as such. The unattached or loosely attached Buyers will answer you. They will immediately begin to like you and trust you; because you are asking questions that interest them. These questions demonstrate that you know about other properties that have similar characteristics which mean you can help them. If they answer one of the above questions, follow with the others, taking time to listen, and ask more details if appropriate.
Show Sincere Interest
Then ask, “Why don’t you tell me all the things you would like in a house and I’ll make a note.” Once they have answered the questions above about location, price, and size they will answer this question. Their trust toward you deepens. Loyalty is yours as long as you continue to show truly, sincere interest in them and what they want to accomplish.
Offer Education and Information
Ask if they have reviewed the current paperwork that is used to buy a home in the area. “Has anyone given you a copy of the contract that you will sign to purchase a home so that you can become familiar with it? I like for people to be familiar with it before you are in the middle of making a $200,000 decision.”
“Are you familiar with the variety of inspections you might want to choose for homes in this area and the roles of the attorneys and other professionals involved in making sure things go well?”
“May I suggest that we get together? I don’t bite. I promise. I’ll go over all of that with you. Give you copies and other information that will protect your interests and make the process enjoyable. No obligation, if we hit it off, and it looks like we will, I’ll help you find a great house. If we don’t, you’ll just be better prepared. Would it be best to meet this afternoon after the open house or early next week?” The words contract, sign, and decision are used purposely in a way that may make the Buyers realize that they need someone that they can trust to protect them.
Go All the Way or Don’t Go At All
Harold is one of hundreds of Agents who have said to me, “Rich, I do something similar to that and it doesn’t work.” Similar doesn’t work. Part of this language and approach will not work. Go all the way. Work with it until you have it all. Be like Jennifer who builds loyalty through the use of this approach and this language exactly the way it is described above. Jennifer said to me, “That is so easy. It is so comfortable for me and for them. It makes so much sense to them that they answer the questions and just naturally evolve into Clients.”
A True Story
One more reason this approach works is because the experience of most Buyers is being abused or ignored in open houses. A house was open on my street. The door was open. I walked in. I walked into the living room, the dining room and in the kitchen the Agent holding it open was reading something on the counter with her back to me. I purposely didn’t say anything and headed into the basement. Came up, she was still reading with her back to me. I walked past her up the stairs, through the bedrooms, came down, and walked out the door. This is such an unprofessional disservice to the Owners, the Guests, and a clear example of why professionalism and good service will make you stand out.
The approach in this article is proven. It works for many reasons. The main reason is that serious Buyers want to work with an Agent that thinks and acts in the way described. Be different simply by being attentive, sincerely interested, and committed to the success of each Guest.
Rich Levin is a Master Coach and Real Agent Productivity Expert. He resides in the Rochester area and works with Real Estate Professional across North America. You can hear him live every weekday on his free Daily webinars. Register at www.FreeCoachingWebinars.com. For coaching information you can contact him at 585-244-2700 or Rich@RichLevin.com. If you live in the Rochester area or are willing to travel he will meet with you in person.
House and Coyne have a full plate on Property Source Radio this Saturday with 2 guests. Rich Levin, a real estate “success” coach, and Joel Kunkler from the Rochester Housing Council.
Rich Levin is a nationally recognized real estate coach and shares some of his insights on both the Real Estate profession and the local real estate market. Even if you are not a real estate agent, you can apply a lot of his teachings to your own profession. If you would like more information about Rich Levin Success Corp – visit his website: RichLevin.com.
Joel Kunkler from The Housing Council talks about the upcoming Landlord Expo on May 7th at MCC Conference Center. The expo is filled with useful info for the Seasoned landlord to those looking to get into the business.
• Attend workshops with experts in their fields.
• Explore the exposition hall filled with a wide variety of products and services for your business.
• Meet Scott Mcgillivray from Home & Garden Television’s “Income Property”.
• Get the latest news to help you do business.
For more information and to pre-register for the expo – visit their website.
Listen to this show now!
This is Property Source Nation!
With Pat Coyne off this week on assignment, House and Haley bring in Lana Torre of Evergreen Interiors. Lana is an interior decorator with TONS of knowledge. Lana can be seen on WHAM TV 13 as the designer for “Room in a Rush” and other programs. Lana writes design articles for the Property Source. You can read her monthly articles on this Blog.
One of the hottest color trends these days is Greige which is a combination of both Grey and Beige. Weigh in on your thoughts!
Listen to this show now!
Have you heard our funny commercials yet? Click here to listen.
I know we are all pondering the same question. Where do we have Aunt Frannie stay when she comes to visit this summer? Do we have her sleep on the sofa in the family room, or do we break the budget and put her up at the nearest econo-motel?
The answer is pure and simple and you will love it! Why not make over the spare room or enclosed porch to accomplish a number of tasks. Your guests will have almost everything they need, and you, hostess warrior, will have a space to do all those tasks that demand extra space.
I am talking duplicity and multiplicity. By that I mean, having and using your furniture for one or more purposes.
Let’s start with the bed. If you or your better half needs an alone spot to watch football, we could purchase a futon. This will give your guy a huge space to relax, lie down, and view his sports thing, while you have control in the family room to watch HGTV. When guests arrive, simply pull down the futon to bed position and grab the linens. It is the perfect bed and sofa, all in one. Remember to have that extra tv on top of a dresser here.
Do you have an extra table in the garage? Use a small kitchen table in the guest room for needed lap top space. When guests leave, you can use this table for crafts, a wrapping station, or your own computer space. Available now is a new round, high-low kitchen table or round coffee table. It is a super product made by Harden Furniture [made here just north of Syracuse], use it lowered in your family room as a coffee table or raise it to 30” kitchen height. Bring it into your guest room as that extra table space, make it pretty, add a vase of fresh flowers and an iron base lamp. Make it charming by adding a wooden chair with a plump cushion. If you just can’t find that extra table, open up the closet, push all the clothes to one side and slide in your child’s old desk. It will probably be a great fit, and you have just created an office nook.
Remember to supply all the needed toiletries for Aunt Frannie, soaps, bath gels, tissues and towels. Any local magazines are perfect accessory to put next to the bed, noting local museums and wine trails.
Make Aunt Frannie’s stay comfortable and short, and at the end of the day, you will have your own quiet and alone space, I am sure you will need it.
Ladies lets face it, most of your husbands, or as they say “significant others,” what ever that means, aren’t getting it done when it comes to maintaining your home. What does it take to get people to do proactive maintenance? A step by step blueprint? Ok here it is. Follow the steps as laid out below and you can’t go wrong. Pay attention!
Quarterly: that’s every three months.
Plumbing:
• Faucets and shower heads: Check all faucets for leaks and mineral deposit build-up. Replace washers and aerators as needed.
• Drains: Poor water down unused drains, including drains in the basement floor. Unclog slow drains by removing traps can cleaning by hand. Inspect all plumbing pipes for leaks. Check under all vanities for leaks.
• Toilets: Check for movement on the floor. Check for a good voracious flush.
• Water Heater: Check for leaks and corrosion at supply pipes. Drain 5 gallons from the bottom of a new water heater every three months.
Inside your home:
• Seal wood cabinets with a water proofing sealer.
• Lubricate squeaky door hinges.
• Inspect garage door for free movement and lube as needed.
• Inspect and lubricate window latches and rollers. Use spray silicone on hard to operate window sashes.
• Inspect your basement and / or crawlspace for cracks, leaks, and signs of wood destroying insects. Learn to identify carpenter ants, termites, and powder post beetles.
• Check and clean your ceramic tile grout while checking for cracks.
• Check the refrigerator drain pan and clean. Check refrigerator lights, and proper temperature in the freezer and refrigeration area.. Wipe the door gaskets clean of mold and dirt. Put the unit out from the wall and vacuum the rear coils and top.
• Check the dishwasher for leaks. Remove the bottom panel and inspect while running.
• Check and test all smoke alarms. Replace batteries if needed.
• Check all electrical plugs and extension cords for wear and tear. Replace if any abnormalities are noticed.
• Remove grease for the kitchen vent fan blades and motor. Clean the range hood filter.
• Test all GFCI outlets in your home. If they do not trip, replace them.
• Look up into your fireplace chimney. Check for creosote build-up, blockages, and cracks in the chimney liner.
• Check bathtub surround and kitchen countertop tile grout for cracks, voids, and signs of water damage. Re-grout or re-caulk as needed.
• Take a trip to your attic to search for leaks, broken framing, and any signs of fire hazards.
• Replace all non-working light bulbs.
Outside your home:
• Inspect for cracks, holes, and signs of water damage.
• Check for a proper slope away from the foundation.
• Wash and clean your deck. Remove all mildew.
• Check your roof for missing shingles, signs of lifted or raised shingles.
• Check your chimney for signs of spalling, frost damage, and signs of a worn or cracked crown.
• Commence cleaning, maintenance, and adjustment of all gutters.
• Clean windows.
• Check for loose, cracked siding panels, peeling paint and general condition of the siding. Check vinyl siding for cracks and impact damage.
• Inspect all incoming power, phone, and cables lines on the exterior of your home.
• Check all door and window weather-stripping. Replace as needed.
In conclusion: Did you detect a trend? Yup, check and inspect! If you spend quality time walking around and observing your home you will find the items that need to be addressed before they turn into a nightmare.
Tool Time
Sometimes, we just need to remember what the rules of life really are: You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn’t move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn’t move and does, use the duct tape. Anything else is just unnecessary stuff to make you feel good! Let’s Get ‘er done!
Ladder Safety
Oh, Just another boring lecture from Jim you might be thinking. Ladder safety is no laughing matter. You can be seriously hurt falling off of a ladder and from only the first or second steps up! This time of year is even worse. An extension ladder leaned up against the gutters trying to chop away an ice build-up can be life threatening. Make sure you place the bottom of the ladder securely into something. The ground is best and asphalt is the most dangerous. A blacktop driveway can be extremely slippery and even more so if it’s covered with a driveway sealer. Plant that ladder on something you know will not move. Be safe!
Expert Craftsmanship
Use the Right Wire ! It occurred to me one day that the only reason I know which type and size of electrical wire to use on a particular project it that I did the trial and error method. Over the years I have had the occasion to wire just about everything that one would find him or her re-wiring in their home. If you are wiring outlets, lights, and any other basic household branch circuits then 12/2 with ground with the letters NM stamped on the side is the all purpose wire for you. When in doubt use 12-gage wire. If you are wiring lighting circuits sometimes you can use a 14-gage wire. Beware the price of copper wire has gone up dramatically in the past few months. I just paid $80 for a 250’ roll of 12/2 with ground. UF wire is rated for direct burial in the ground. UF is much harder to strip and work with, however it allows you to run a wire to the garage underground with out running conduit. Your 30-amp dryer would use a 10/3 with ground and your 50-amp range would use a 6/3 wire. Your electric water heater also uses a 10/3 with ground and any appliance with a motor like the garbage disposal, dishwasher, or microwave uses the 12-gage wire. The object is not to burn your house to the ground!
Hopefully it’s getting safe to say that it’s stopped snowing in Rochester. Use these tips and ideas to make your house outshine all the others on the real estate market. The warmer weather has brought everybody outside including home buyers. As soon as a listing comes up, perspective buyers are going to drive by homes to decide which ones they’re interested in. It is a particularly difficult time of year to make your yard look beautiful. Here are some ideas to help your home look appealing and well cared for by both realtors and buyers.
1. Be certain your house can be clearly seen from every direction of the yard. If there are bushes or trees blocking windows trim them back.
2. Have your curtains/blinds all uniform in color from the outside.
3. Wash your windows.
4. Power wash the exterior of your home and all decks and sidewalks.
5. Schedule your driveway to be sealed as soon as weather permits. If you have a stone driveway, put down a new fresh layer of stone.
6. Paint your front door.
7. Add new mulch and edge your yard.
8. Repair all cracked and chipping paint on the exterior of your house. A buyer may look past this defect. A mortgage appraiser particularly for VA and FHA loans will demand that the deteriorating paint is repaired or they will not give your buyer a mortgage.
9. Clean the gutters.
10. Rake your yard to remove all dead leaves and debris
11. Cut back all the dead brown remains from last season’s perennials.
12. If you have a front porch highlight it with a pair of chairs to sit on.
13. Display an American flag. All other decorative flags should be avoided.
14. Remove lawn ornaments.
15. Replace your mailbox if it is not in mint condition.
16. Make sure your house number is large and clearly visible.
17. Park in your garage with the garage door/s shut. Your home will appear bigger.
18. Buy a simple new front door mat.
19. As long as it is safe, add new light bulbs with a brighter wattage to your porch lights.
Keep your yard as clean as if it was another room in your house