Aug 29, 2014

Preston Hollow's Free Little Library

Drive down Tulip Lane in Preston Hollow and you'll discover this charming Little Free Library in the front yard of residents Jamie and George. Their small sign invites anyone to take a book, return a book and share a book.

What a fabulous concept and inspiring gift to the community. I'd never heard of this simple idea before spotting their free library, but it's actually part of an organized movement. You can find more information about the program, at www.LittleFreeLibrary.org

How wonderful that our kind neighbors have taken on this generous task. Cheers to these library stewards! [where: 75230]

Aug 25, 2014

Loving Preston Hollow Real Estate

Have a question about residential real estate in North Dallas?
Ask an expert! Just email me. I'll publish the answer or send a private response.
[where: 75230]

Aug 22, 2014

10 Things Realtors love to hate

Selling homes can be a tough and competitive business.

Sometimes we have to take a step back, find the humor, and look at the fun and challenging situations that only a Realtor truly understands.
  1. I could make an expert burglar after all the homes I've broken into.
  2. It's great picking your own working hours - except that your clients dictate most of them. And they happen to be weekends and evenings.
  3. Selling homes is a good way to get rich slowly.
  4. One man's junk is another man's treasure? Not really - sometimes it's just junk.
  5. Short sales are not short. They should be called Stress sales.
  6. Why is it the folks who really want granite counter tops don't actually cook?
  7. Half of the visitors to your open house are just looking for decorating ideas - but they won't admit it.
  8. We're able to leap over a garage door sensor in a single bound.
  9. Paying quarterly taxes stinks. But at least it means you made money.
  10. Never open a closed door unannounced. Unless you want a dog bite or to be flashed by someone.
[where: 75230]

Aug 18, 2014

Be wary of internet Realtor ratings

Looking for a Realtor?

The internet is a fantastic resource for finding someone capable and competent. Recommendations from real people are always better than paid advertisements.

But how do you know if the reviews you are reading are from actual consumers or if they were professionally created and paid for to make the agent look good? I get calls and emails every week soliciting my checkbook to help enhance my online image. Lots of folks want to either help get me on the first page of Google, improve my standing on Yelp, find clients from Zillow, ... the list goes on.

Most of them amount to paying for positive reviews on sites that supposedly rank and rate agents. That's where we have a problem.

So how do you know which sites can you trust for honest Realtor ratings? The only really legitimate forums are the ones that agents can't buy their way onto a list or pay for good reviews. To find a recommended agent in Dallas, try:
  • Angie's List
  • D Magazine's list of Best Realtors
  • Texas Monthly Magazine's 5 star agents
  • LinkedIn 
These publications poll actual buyers and sellers and don't require agents to purchase advertising to be recommended. And an agent can't purchase a spot on to the list. Likewise, they don't allow just anyone to post negative information about an agent without checking them out to ensure accuracy.

Aug 15, 2014

How Home Sellers are responding to Multiple Offers

In today's seller's market, multiple offers are becoming par for the course. In the past, a home seller may receive an offer or two over several weeks time.

But in 2014, we're seeing multiple offers within days (or hours) of each other.

If you're trying to buy a home and find that the property is is receiving more than one offer, you need to know how to handle the situation. There are several strategies that a good, experienced agent can guide a buyer through to help ensure they present the most appealing offer without compromising on too many important details.

The California Association of Realtors found that average number of offers received on a property rose from 3.1 in 2012 to 5.9 in 2013. Most of the properties that sold received multiple offers.

They surveyed 2013 home sellers to find the following results (more than 1 reason could be given for selecting the winning offer).

  • 77% took the highest offer
  • 47% took the best mortgage qualified buyer
  • 39% took the offer without contingencies
  • 23% took the all-cash offer
  • 14% took the offer because of the buyer's ability to close the fastest.

These are important to note if you really love the property and want to become the offer that the sellers accept. [where: 75230]

Aug 11, 2014

Dallas Home Sales August 2014

The number of Dallas residential home sales dropped in July 2014 as the number of homes available for sale continues to fall.
Meanwhile sales prices continue to rise. Take a look at the stats for our North Dallas area.
Click on a chart to see more details.
 
 
[where: 75230]

Aug 8, 2014

Safety Tips for Home selling without a Realtor

Safety and security are major issues when selling your home without an agent. A For-Sale-By-Owner sign is an invitation to strangers to wander through your home. Opening your door to a criminal is the last thing you need when selling your property.

The vast majority of lookers are honest. However, there are criminals whose mode of operation is to disguise as a home buyer. Security measures are necessary for the possibility of visitors who see your home as an opportunity for crime and an easy mark for theft.

While I believe that the best way to sell your house is with the assistance of a Realtor, some homeowners prefer to handle it themselves. Here are 9 safety tips. I hope you’ll find them helpful and that you will contact me if you should decide to use a Realtor.

When someone rings the doorbell, you need to be prepared and take precautions to maintain safety for you and your family.
  1. Make all your showings, by appointment only. Get some information and check out the prospective buyer before you let them in your house. Always get a name and number and call them back to verify. Simply say, "let me check with my spouse for the best time and I will call you back."
  2. Don’t be home alone when a stranger visits. This ‘truth’ hurts. Yet, being robbed, raped, or even worse – hurts a whole lot more.
  3. Have visitors sign a guest book and ask to see identification. You are inviting strangers into your home and you have a right to know something about them. If possible, jot down a license plate number. Put the information in a safe place so if something happens, the police have a lead on a suspect.
  4. Hide all valuables. Jewelry, credit cards, guns, silverware, and collections. Anything of value needs to be well hidden. Hide ALL prescription drugs.
  5. Eliminate displays of personal information, such as which schools children attend.
  6. Never leave a message on your answering machine informing callers that you are not home. Don’t let strangers know your schedule, such as when you or your spouse are not home, when you pick up kids, when you work, when you will be on vacation, ...
  7. Request that visitors enter and exit through one door only. Have quick and easy access to all of your exits.
  8. Never leave a stranger alone and watch everything they do while in your house. Keep a reasonable distance between you and your visitor. Never enter a bedroom, den or other room with a visitor. You could be trapped inside. Stay in the doorway and don't be distracted.
  9. If you have a flyer about your house, do not put information on the flyer which would compromise security.
Seemingly innocent questions by a “potential buyer” may be designed to case your home. Beware of casual questions like “Do you have a security system?”. If you feel uncomfortable, tell the person you have another appointment and show them to the door.

These Dallas thieves also work in teams. A friendly, clean cut couple makes an appointment to view your house. When they get inside one of them asks to use the bathroom. While in the bathroom they search for prescription drugs. There is a big market for these.

Or they may be planning to rob you later. A nicely-dressed, well-spoken woman comes to see your home. She loves it and asks to take some digital photos so her husband, who is away on business, can see the pictures. You have no objections. In fact, the imposter has just taken pictures of your most valuable possessions and documented the location of the rooms. If you have a home security system, she may have taken a picture of the motion detectors and the security key pad.

I watch out for my personal safety and screen all prospects before showing them a home. As a licensed real estate agent, I and my clients, benefit from a security system managed by our MLS. The security key box records every entry and identifies all agents that have entered a property. The seller’s agent can access the information not only for safety reasons but to get feed-back from agents that have visited the home.
[where: 75230]

Aug 6, 2014

Beware of Thief posing as a Home Buyer

He's back. The notorious thief who poses as a home buyer is back in Dallas and "working" the area. I get several calls a year from the victims of Stan Tucker because I posted information about him back in 2008.

His mode of operation is to pose as a potential home buyer. He claims to be looking for a property for his son, or himself or something like that. Currently it looks like he is targeting homes that are for sale by owner. Security is a major issue when selling a home without an agent and he is proof. Letting a stranger in your home is risky business for a homeowner.

Based on the calls and emails I've gotten, he has robbed homes from Waco to Stillwater, Oklahoma. This slippery snake is good at what he does and seems to always avoid getting caught in the act. Yesterday, I got a call from a homeowner in Lake Highlands where he did his usual routine.

He is currently driving a newer, silver pick up truck. It's the shorter style truck and the front license plate is turned up. For more information go to my past stories about him here:
http://lydiaplayer.blogspot.com/2008/09/thief-targeting-realtors-their-listings.html
and here
http://lydiaplayer.blogspot.com/2012/01/theives-still-target-dallas-open-houses.html

Or check out this Oklahoma news report about him that even gives his phone number as 214-505-9955. If he appears at your property or you discover that he's robbed you, please contact the police.

[where: 75230]

Aug 4, 2014

I've Adopted! You can too.

He may be big, but he doesn't need much attention. Meet my 2 mile section of Preston Road near Campbell. Isn't it beautiful?

Adoption is easy with the Texas Adopt-a-Highway program. This litter-prevention effort saves taxpayers’ dollars and helps keep our rights of way clean.
All it takes is a minimum 2 year commitment to agree to pick up litter at least four times per year (more in some areas). Anyone can adopt a 2 mile stretch of road.

Join me in adopting a highway and go the extra 2 miles to help keep Texas beautiful!
[where: 75230]

Aug 1, 2014

Dallas Home Sellers - when in doubt, disclose!

The 3 most important legal words for a home seller are disclose, disclose, disclose. When selling your property, do yourself a favor and stay out the courtroom by disclosing all known defects and repairs to potential buyers.

If you don't disclose problems, the inspector will likely find them and then you may be faced with making the repairs, renegotiating the contract or losing the deal. Go ahead and air the dirty laundry. Unless the house is brand new, we expect that you've fixed something. A 25 year old home that has never had a repair invites suspicion. Often we can tell that work has been done on a house, but the seller hasn't listed it on any of their disclosures.

So list the plumbing, roof, ac, ... repairs. List previous termite treatments, water damage, foundation issues. If it isn't visible to the average person walking through your house, then you need to ensure you've disclosed it in writing.

Full disclosure can actually help a buyer feel more comfortable about what they're buying. And you'd be surprised how often the neighbors will let the new buyers know about the regular visits from the plumbing company or the previous flood.

What do you need to disclose so that you don't blow a sale or invite a lawsuit? Disclose anything you know about that could affect the value of the property. That includes:
  • Completing a standard seller's disclosure form.
  • Relay all repairs done to the property.
  • Share information about any current or ongoing defects.
  • If you know the age of the systems (including the roof), then disclose them.
Still not sure what you should disclose? When in doubt, disclose it.
[where: 75230]