The Way the World Works… A Story I Heard Today About Disclosure.

I sent out a letter asking for blog ideas. I wanted to know what Louisville home owners and buyers are searching for! One of the emails I received was from a friend that had a bad experience with seller’s disclosure. Here’s the story…

“Last year we moved into a new house and shortly after we moved in the shower starting leaking into kitchen below. When the contractor was doing repairs they found evidence of previous repairs. It was not included in the property disclosure report and we actually ended up in small claims court with the previous owner. (It was an interesting experience – took a lot of paperwork and I felt like I was on Jugde Judy!) Ultimately we ended up winning case.

Lesson would be – the property disclosure report is your opportunity to disclose what you know about the property and help protect yourself from future liabilities.”

As I wrote about previously, the seller’s disclosure is important!! Let the new owner of your home know what has happened. It may or may not change the asking price for your Louisville home. But what you know for sure…it fully informs the buyers that will be taking possession of your home.

Your Louisville REALTOR,

Mitch Thomas
Keller Williams Louisville
502.345.5754
mitch@kw.com
SellLouisvilleHomes.com

Louisville KY Homes YouTube Channel

My Mobile Home Search App for Louisville Just Launched!

TEXT KWLOU to 87778 or Click Here

Features

> FREE, local, mobile app customized for your particular phone

> Search homes for sale, recently sold homes, and apartments for
rent

> Search results reveal: pictures, price, sq.ft., estimated mortgage,
taxes, features, interactive map, beds, and baths

> “Call to See” button allows you to connect directly to setup an
appointment to view the property (If you do not already have a
real estate professional to assist you)!

 

Your Louisville REALTOR,

Mitch Thomas
Keller Williams Realty Louisville
502.345.5754
mitch@kw.com
SellLouisvilleHomes.com

 

Part 3 – Get Out of Your Own Way – Be Attentive to Louisville Home Buyer Needs

If you have lived in your Louisville home, you probably have a lot of pride in what you have done and the offering you are making to potential buyers. Your décor is your own style. Everything is the way you like it to be. You believe someone like you will buy!

Now you could get lucky. Right place, right time… RIGHT!

But let’s be realistic. You took time to get your home ready to sell by making sure everything is clean and orderly. You may have staged your home. You disclosed everything you know about your Louisville property. Now, you are ready for buyers to come and buy. Your Louisville Real Estate Agent will post your home on MLS, probably market your home on many internet sites to increase exposure, place a sign in your yard, and use social media to get the word out about your offering. However, none of this matters if you make it too hard to see your property or uncomfortable when they do stop by.

So, let’s talk about making it too difficult. What this means? You want to make your home available to Louisville home buyers! I know…this is difficult. You have children, work, and a social life. But you decided to sell your home. If you are committed, you will be committed to opening your home to those that want to view for potential purchase. You will need to make sure everything stays straight. You will need to change your daily schedule at times. But if you require an extended amount of time for someone to view the property, you could miss out on someone ready to write a contract right now!

Be prepared for someone to walk through your home while you are at work or in the evening. Today our society expects instant gratification. Give it to them!! If they call to schedule a showing…grab your children and go out to eat for the night. Make it a family event and have fun! If they want to see your home while you are at work, give your Louisville REALTOR the needed access to make it happen for you!

Beyond making the property available, you may have another obstacle…extended family (pets). Tom, your family dog, loves you. He protects you and your property. He doesn’t know you are getting ready to move and have people coming by. He doesn’t have you there to introduce him and let him know it’s okay. So, if you have an extended family that involves pets, make sure you have a plan for them. If someone wants to see your property during the day, consider putting them in a cage for the day or send them to stay with a friend. Putting them in the backyard just doesn’t do the job. Potential buyers want full access!! If Tom decides he doesn’t like them, they may not get to walk around the backyard and this limited access may cause them to look at other options. In addition to access, remember that some people have allergies. Keeping things as clean as possible is important! If someone gets into a sneezing episode when they walk into your home, they may not “see” the property they have been looking for!!!

Your Louisville REALTOR,

Mitch Thomas
Keller Williams Realty Louisville
502.345.5754
mitch@kw.com
kwlouisville.com

Part 2 – Louisville Home Buyers Want More

After you have taken care in preparing your Louisville home for sale, there’s a little more to get done. During the process you will need to disclose to a buyer everything you know about your property!

Again, I want you to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. From the moment you took possession of your home to the moment you sell, you have intimate knowledge of YOUR Louisville home. Buyer’s WANT & NEED to know what they are buying.

This is simple. Be honest. Tell what you know. If you don’t know, don’t guess.

If you are working with a Louisville Real Estate Agent, they will ask you to fill out a seller’s disclosure. Even if you are not, you should still reveal these facts. If you were buying a car, wouldn’t you want to know if there is an oil leak or rust under the hood? It may not change the offer you get for what you are selling or it may. At the end of the day though, both parties know exactly what they are getting in the transaction!

The Louisville housing market presents many options. It can be confusing to buyers. Make the choice easy by going above and beyond! In addition to the seller’s disclosure, collect all documents that outline transferrable warranties and major work that has been done on your home. Make these documents available for all potential purchasers.

Your Louisville REALTOR,

Mitch Thomas
Keller Williams Realty Louisville
502.345.5754
mitch@kw.com
kwlouisville.com

Breaking Down Barriers for Louisville Home Buyers

If you are looking to sell your home, get prepared! In this update we will be reviewing what maintenance you need to perform on your property to prepare it for viewing by potential buyers.

First, lets get you in the right mindset. If you were purchasing a property in Louisville, would you want to clean out the gutters or repair door hardware immediately after moving into your NEW home? Probably Not! Would you want to paint the outdoor trim or seal the driveway to prepare your property for winter after just moving in? Doubt It! Now, you are seeing this from a buyer’s perspective.

Below I have listed multiple items you need to care for when preparing your home for sale. This list may seem overwhelming, but most of this just requires a little time and elbow grease.

Stepping up the curb appeal
1) Make sure your lawn is cut every week
2) Trim trees and shrubs
3) Weed flower beds
4) Edge your lawn & beds
5) Ensure your property is litter free
6) Clean walks & driveways
7) Clean & repair gutters
8)  Touch up gutter boards and exterior trim
9) Make sure all exterior lights work properly

General Maintenance of the Property
1) Oil squeaky doors
2) Ensure all lights work properly
3) Tighten doorknobs
4) Clean & repair windows
5) Touch up worn/aged paint
6) Repair cracked drywall & plaster
7) Repair leaky taps & toilets

Overall Cleanliness
1) Shampoo carpets
2) Clean all floors & surfaces
3) Eliminate cobwebs
4) Get furnace & air serviced
5) Clean cabinets & under the kitchen sink
6) Clean fridge, microwave, stove & dishwasher
7) Clean bathrooms thoroughly
8) Make sure clean linens are placed in bathrooms
9) Make the beds
10) Fluff pillows on beds and couches

Additional Touches
1) Be absent during showings (if you are using an agent)
2) Turn on all lights
3) Open drapes and blinds
4) Make sure the house smells good
5) If you have an older home, place a dehumidifier in the basement
6) Make sure no pets are in the home during showings
7) Ensure no pet hair is on couches, beds or floors
8) Clean pet areas twice a day
9) Store excess furniture & items on counters
10) Tidy closets & put away all clutter

Seems excessive? Maybe. But, you want to give the best presentation possible! Put in the time. Plus, you’ve probably been putting these things off anyway!
.
Your Louisville REALTOR,

Mitch Thomas
Keller Williams Realty Louisville
502.345.5754
mitch@kw.com
SellLouisvilleHomes.com

Replacing Your Concrete Driveway or Sidewalk? A Technology You May Not Know About…

Have you noticed that your concrete driveway or sidewalk has started to sink creating an uneven surface? Has this become a hazard and an eyesore at your Louisville home? Are you ready to find a solution?

Completely replacing concrete is an option and if you haven’t been introduced to concrete leveling, you may feel it is your only option. Replacement is expensive! Not to mention, where do you park your cars while they are tearing out the old concrete, placing forms, pouring the new concrete, and then waiting for it to cure?…

Well, if your concrete isn’t badly damaged, concrete leveling may be the solution you’ve been looking for! I spoke with Pete Easton of A-1 Concrete Leveling to get some basic information about this technology.

The application…

Concrete leveling is a pressure injection application in which 1” diameter holes are drilled through sunken slabs which are lifted back into original position when limestone grout is pumped beneath.

Why level instead of replace?

1) 50% to 70% less than the cost of replacement

2) Ready to use same day

Want to know more to decide if leveling is right for you?

I suggest checking with a specialist! Visit www.a1concreteraising.com or call Louisville A-1 Concrete Leveling Inc. @ 812.246.2550.

For Sale By Owner Update

I have spent the first part of this week updating my FSBO list. I keep this list for buyers in the Louisville area… to make sure they know all the options available to them. There are several FSBO homes on the market and some are very difficult to find! As an added community resource, I just created a dynamic website for FSBOs to use when marketing property on their own…

http://LouisvilleHomesForSaleByOwner.com – Create an account and list your Louisville home free! Add your open house too!

If you have decided to sell your home yourself, you will need to spend time marketing that property to the Louisville community. One of the best ways is to list your property online!

Lead With Love

This morning I woke with one phrase in my mind.. LEAD WITH LOVE! As I started examing this, I recognized how it applied to all facets of my life from personal interaction to daily business.

What would happen if we decided to always lead with love? Think of the impact on your daily interaction! A customer service representative might go above and beyond to help you… You could make someone smile that hadn’t had anything to smile about in days… You could make somone’s day better, easier, more rewarding…

So, here’s my challenge. Lead with love Louisville! Place this phrase in the forefront of your mind today. Before you say or do anything… Remind yourself, “Lead with Love”. You might just make someone’s day! I dare you!