You are currently browsing the Thomasville Georgia Real Estate Blog blog archives for November, 2010.
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What a great start to the Christmas Season! Downtown Thomasville was filled with people, even as the skies overhead swirled with the threat of rain. There were a few drops to begin with, but nothing that would stop this annual event. This years parade seemed to have more participation, more floats, and more bands.
Tags: Christmas Parade Highlights
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Thomasville Georgia will welcome in the Holiday Season this evening with the annual Christmas Parade featuring Santa Clause! The parade begins at 6:30 pm and will march through downtown Thomasville on Broad street! The parade features floats, marching bands, and other walking groups! It’s always a great way to kick off the holiday and we look forward to seeing you tonight in Downtown Thomasville!
Tags: Thomasville Christmas Parade
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The national and Thomasville real estate markets are constantly fluctuating, falling somewhere between more inventory and lower prices and less inventory and higher prices. People are often frightened when the home inventory rises, but a declining real estate market may just be the perfect time to find your next home.
Here are 4 reasons why you should consider buying Thomasville real estate in a down market.
1. Inventory. When the market is down, more homes are for sale. This means you have more homes to choose from, which makes it easier to find a home in your dream neighborhood or closer to work or school.
2. Negotiation. There’s a reason down markets are called “buyers’ markets.” Sellers want to sell their homes, and they are often willing to do whatever it takes. This means you have the advantage and can buy a home for a great price. You can also ask the seller for other incentives like paying all or a portion of your closing costs.
3. Mortgage Rates. When the real estate market begins falling, interest rates get cut. This can mean considerable savings for you over the course of your mortgage. You can even buy a larger home within your price range than you can when the market is booming.
4. Investment. Even though doom and gloom is forecasted in a down market, your home will still most likely go up in value or at least retain its value. Keep in mind that your home is your most personal investment. It’s a place where you will create memories and maybe even raise a family.
If you’re considering buying a home, let First Thomasville Realty help you find a wonderful Thomasville home at a great price. Call us today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Home Buyers Tips
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De-cluttering your Thomasville home is an important part of preparing it for sale. Buyers want to be able to imagine themselves and their belongings inside your home. However, this idea isn’t limited to the inside of your home. It also applies to your garage.
Cluttered, over-crowded garages turn buyers away. Fortunately, sprucing up your garage is easier than you think. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Start with a list. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t even know what’s inside your garage. Take a pencil and paper and walk through your garage, writing down everything you see. You don’t need a detailed list. For example, screws, bolts, and nails can be listed together as hardware.
2. Reduce the list. Cleaning your garage means getting rid of anything you no longer need or want. Just like inside your Thomasville home, the general rule is that you can toss any item you haven’t used in 1 year. If you don’t use it, it’s only taking up space. Give it away, trash it, or recycle it.
3. Group related items. It just makes sense to store items together. If all your camping supplies are stored in one place, you won’t waste time anymore looking for them. Place each item on your list in a group, like painting supplies, home repairs, winter blankets, etc.
4. Create zones. Decide what you want to do with your garage. If you want to park a car inside, designate a parking zone and don’t let anything but your car in that zone. Choose a work area where you can place a workbench or household projects. Garage storage zones should be at different heights throughout the garage.
5. Give it some personality. Once your garage is organized and clean, make it more attractive with some decorative touches. Paint the garage floor. Decorate it with an automotive theme. Upgrade to an automatic garage door.
With a little work, your Thomasville home will be ready to sell in no time. Let First Thomasville Realty help you prepare your home to sell. Call us today at 229-226-6515 or email info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Garage, Home Sellers Tips
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I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, the fall is a great time to sell homes for sale in Thomasville. Nostalgia runs rampant in potential buyers. That “nesting” feeling pushes them to look harder for the perfect home. After all, who wouldn’t want Thanksgiving or Christmas to be the day their friends and family see the gorgeous new home?
With this in mind, many sellers hold open houses in the fall. It gives potential buyers the opportunity to walk through homes for sale in Thomasville looking for that dream home they can call their own. Agents, homeowners or both smile, nod, and graciously offer drinks and snacks. It’s a beautiful thing.
It’s amazing what a little extra touch can do to spice up an open house. A cider wassail bowl may be just the extra touch that could help sell your home this fall.
This wassail bowl is a hot and spicy cider punch. Traditionally, it’s made with ale or wine, but you never want to overdo it with the alcohol at an open house. You can make it hours before, and put it in a slow cooker on very low to keep it warm. This recipe makes 12 servings.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
3 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
5 small red cooking apples
2 quarts apple cider
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 stick cinnamon
4 whole cloves
Directions
Heat corn syrup in a small pan; combine sugar and ¼ tsp. cinnamon in a shallow dish. Roll each apple in hot syrup, then in the sugar. Arrange on a baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes (apples shouldn’t lose their shape).
In a large pan, slowly heat the apple cider, lemon, stick of cinnamon and cloves over a very low heat. Don’t let it boil; boiled apple cider gets a bitter taste. Before serving, strain out the spices and add the roasted apples. Serve piping hot.
This is my favorite cider recipe to use, but this wassail bowl recipe is equally tasty.
When you have multiple homes for sale in Thomasville, like we do, you quickly learn the things that work and the things that don’t. Whether you serve apple cider, cider wassail or just a plain fruit punch, the little things can make all the difference.
If you’d like to get your home sold over the holiday season, First Thomasville Realty can help. Call us at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com for more information.
Tags: Cider Wassail Recipe
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If you’re looking for a Thomasville home for sale and you’ve never bought a home before, you might think, “This won’t take much time.” Typically, just the opposite is true. Buying a home frequently takes quite a bit of time.
Of course, the whole home buying process will go much faster (and smoother) if you do things the right way. If you’re a first time buyer looking for a Thomasville home for sale, take some lessons from the pros. The following tips will help make the buying process fly:
1. Weigh the Benefits – Before you actually go house hunting, weigh the pros and cons of buying a home. Can you really afford it? Is it a good idea, or are you caving under pressure from family, friends, your doctor and the next-door neighbor?
Make sure that you’ve actually considered the alternatives and decided home ownership is the best move for you. In my experience, homebuyers who are sure they’re ready to buy not only enjoy the process more, but also are more likely to enjoy the home they buy.
2. Define What You’re Looking For – Before you walk out the door to look at homes, figure out your goals. How do you do this? Begin on the internet. Between virtual home tours, online listings, photographs and aerial shots, you’ll be able to build a much stronger idea of the type of home and neighborhood in which you want to live.
Once you go through this process, you’ll have clearly defined goals you can then pass on to the buyer’s agent you hire. You are now halfway to home ownership!
3. Lay Off the Sugar – Before going to look at houses, lay off the sugars. Research shows sugar can inhibit your short-term memory. You want to be able to remember the homes you’ve seen.
Having said that, your agent probably won’t show you 15 or 20 homes in a day. At the most, you might see 8 or 9. You see, a good agent pays attention to the goals you told him or her on the first day. The only homes you need to see are those that fit your goals.
4. See Your Favorites Before Buying – Okay, you’ve looked at 14 homes, and you’re torn between houses 2, 5 and 6. Since you’re only buying one house, you want to make sure you get the home you want. Therefore, before signing or making any kind of commitment, look over the ones you like the most again. You’ll see things you may have missed before, which will help narrow the choice down to one.
Buying a Thomasville home for sale is one of the biggest steps you’ll ever take. It’s a big investment, and the process can be time consuming. However, following the above steps can make owning the home of your dreams less of a hassle and more of a dream come true!
If you’re looking for a professional buyer’s agent who can help you find the home of your dreams, give us a call at First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com.
Tags: Home Buyers Tips
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Thanksgiving is coming soon to Thomasville homes near you. It may even be coming to your home, bringing friends, family, good food and happy memories. In the midst of all the activity, take time to think about what you’re thankful for this year.
The last year has been hard for hundreds of thousands of individuals and families. Some who, at the beginning of the year, had a good job, nice house they could afford, 2.5 kids – you know, living the American dream – are now trying to figure out where their next meal is coming from. Some are trying to figure out where to sleep tonight.
Many homeowners – those with Thomasville homes and homes elsewhere across the nation – seem to think these people must have “done something” to be in their current situation. They believe that as long as they don’t “do something,” they won’t experience similar problems.
This belief is far from the truth. Not all, but most, Americans struggling today paid their bills on time, went to work every day and were just regular, responsible people. Their place of employment closed or their jobs were cut and, with hiring freezes, they couldn’t find new jobs. They could no longer afford their mortgages. The banks foreclosed. This is the true story of all too many people across the U.S.
Did they really do anything? Could they have stopped the companies from letting them go or closing? Could they have forced someone else to hire them?
As Thanksgiving draws near, we urge you to take a look at your own situation. Whether you hate or love your job, be thankful you still have one, when thousands don’t. Look around your warm, safe home and be thankful you can still afford it – even if it’s underwater and/or losing equity. You know where your next meal is coming from – even if you can’t decide whether it’s chicken or burgers tonight.
Be thankful for your Thomasville homes, your jobs, your families and your good, full life. we know we are. This Thanksgiving, take time to let go of the cares of the world; just enjoy what you have and with whom you have to share it.
Finally, We’d love to hear what you’re especially thankful for this year, so please feel free to add your comments below. First Thomasville Realty would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving for many years to come!
Tags: Thanksgiving
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If your Thomasville home for sale has a big kitchen and you haven’t marketed this feature, you may be in luck, thanks to a recently noted trend.
With the staggering economy, the national unemployment rate is still sitting above 9%. Many young adults just out of college are having trouble find jobs. In fact, the age group hardest hit seems to be between 16 and 24. As well, there are a number of people without homes due to foreclosure. How are Americans weathering the economic fallout? Many are doing so by consolidating multiple generations into one home.
A Pew Research Center study on living conditions and an Associated Press – iVillage poll on dinner habits may change how you market your home.
The Pew study, based on information gained from the Census, shows that over 16% of U.S. households had multiple generations living together by 2008. Although the results of 2009 and 2010 aren’t in yet, you can assume with reasonable surety that this trend continues to rise.
The iVillage poll shows that over 60% of families – no matter how big or small – still eat together. Granted, dinner may be full of texting, phone calls and TV, but it’s also full of home cooked meals most of the time.
A larger family in one household, eating home cooked meals together, equals the need for a bigger kitchen. According to several surveys through the years, dinnertime is one tradition that’s held on – despite both parents working. Also, keep in mind that the cost of eating out may have many more people eating at home.
Lastly, buying bulk food, which also needs bigger kitchens, is fast becoming another trend. According to the Bulk is Green Council, bulk buying is one of the biggest money-saving trends for this year.
The next potential buyer may just be looking for a big kitchen. If you have one, it may be the number one benefit of your home. Don’t sell it short. Make sure the large kitchen and/or dining area is highlighted in the marketing material for your Thomasville home for sale. With the above-mentioned trends, big kitchens are – well, big!
If you’re looking for a home with enough room to make and sit down to a home-cooked meal, we can help. Call First Thomasville Realty today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com for more information.
Tags: Home Sellers Tips, Large Kitchens
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A trend is slowly spreading through the nation, starting in cities such as Rockville, Maryland and Sacramento, California. This trend may bring hope for Thomasville homes for sale. These cities are reviving, after seeing years of decline. Why? Because of a shift toward urban-style living.
The trend, if it persists (and many expect it will), is moving towards compact, walkable neighborhoods. In fact, walkability, as it’s called, is one of the fastest growing demands in real estate. Buyers want the ability to travel around a neighborhood without ever getting in their cars. Bike paths, walking paths and beautiful, tree-lined sidewalks are some of today’s high selling points.
Take Rockville, for example. A town square was built in Rockville. As a result, the dying town of Rockville is now a bustling place lined with shops, apartments, restaurants and vibrant street life. The same has happened in Sacramento, where neighbors feel comfortable going over to one another’s house to sit on the porch and chat.
What’s driving this trend? Among other things, it’s green living. Many homebuyers, including buyers of Thomasville homes for sale, don’t seem to mind paying a little extra for a home that’s close to work with shops within walking distance.
So what’s the lesson in all this? As real estate agents have been warning for a few years now, green is in. Location, comfort and economical savings are also in. While money was good and spending was easy, we wanted to be far away from the city and the rat race.
Now that money’s tight, however, the Thomasville homes for sale with convenient, walkable locations, green appliances and economical utilities seem to have the handle on the market. If you have any of these selling points, make sure you’re marketing them!
If you’re looking for a green home or a home in a convenient neighborhood, we can help. Call First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Home Buyers Tips, Walkable Neighborhoods
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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 Thomasville 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 transmit pesticides to you. 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 Thomasville 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 Thomasville 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.
First Thomasville Realty would like to wish you and your loved ones a very warm and happy Thanksgiving!
Tags: Eco Friendly, Thanksgiving
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Many real estate agents say, “Stage your Thomasville homes for sale!” If you have no idea what that means, you might Google it, read a few articles and get the idea that you throw a little rented furniture into your home and call it done. If you read a little bit more, you might add a mirror or potted plant here and there. However, if you really dig into it, you’ll find that staging Thomasville homes for sale take a whole lot more than that.
Test Your Knowledge
Did you know…
♦ Smaller furniture in small areas makes the space appear bigger.
♦ Carefully arranged plants bring warmth to a living area.
♦ Rugs and artwork add depth and dimension to a room.
♦ Sunlight shining through a window makes a room feel warm and inviting.
♦ A staged bedroom is as important as the bathroom and kitchen.
♦ The colors you choose can make the difference between a sale and a flop.
If you didn’t know any of the above, it’s time to do your learn how to stage or hire a professional stager. Why? Home staging has been proven time and again to be one of the best steps to take to sell a home quickly and for more money.
Find Home Staging Resources
There are tons of online resources available to help you stage your home, if you’d rather do it yourself. Here are just a few, in no particular order:
1. Field Guide to Preparing and Staging a House
3. Staging to Sell: The Secret to Selling Homes in a Down Market
Hire a Professional Stager
Does this mean you can’t do it yourself? Not at all. You just need to ask yourself two questions:
1. Can you afford to wait to sell your house while you’re learning how to stage your home?
2. Even after researching and studying, will you be able to do a quality staging job?
If you can’t afford to wait or you’ll never be great at staging, hire a professional.
What’s the moral of the story? If you have one of the Thomasville homes for sale and you’ve been considering home staging, stop considering. Do it!
Need help preparing your home for sale? First Thomasville Realty can help. Call us today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com for more information.
Tags: Home Sellers Tips, Home Staging
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Of the homes for sale in Thomasville, at least of few of them are model homes. Not “model” as in the perfect house for anyone, but “model” as in the builder’s showcase. They’re beautiful, generally include higher-end options and often contain excellent examples of cabinetry and architecture.
If you come across one of the model homes for sale in Thomasville, should you consider buying it or pass it up all together? Well, like everything else, there are pros and cons:
Pro: More for your money
Eventually, the builder has to sell the model home, and at that point, he or she is a motivated seller. The chances are more likely that you’ll end up paying less than the listing price. As well, since it is a model home, it will have bells and whistles you might not get from the same type of house down the street.
Pro: Bells and whistles
What are bells and whistles? Well, it depends on the area and the builder, but model homes have many add-ons to show the capabilities of the builder, architect and other companies involved in building the homes. Those bells and whistles can include anything from expensive landscaping and a finished basement to window seats.
As well, most builders are willing to sell the furnishings, giving the buyer of the model first dibs. Quite simply, you could very well end up with the best house, the newest appliances and the nicest furniture.
Con: You may have to wait months
If you buy a showcase home before the builder has sold all the other homes in the development, the builder may not be willing to close. Most want to wait until the showcase house has done its job. Especially in the current economy, this could take quite awhile. If you go this route, make sure your contract gives a specific closing date – and always read the fine print.
Con: It’s old and new
While a model home has never been lived in, it could very well have sat on the lot for three years while the development was being sold. While the appliances may never have been used, the warranties are wearing out; the walls and floors show wear and tear as well. For this reason, you want to make sure the builder includes a little maintenance in the contract. New carpeting and fresh paint are bargaining points for you as the homebuyer, among others.
Should you buy one of the showcase homes for sale in Thomasville? Well, it’s really up to you, but always do your homework first. How long the house has been there, what the contract includes and other questions should be answered – before you sign on the dotted line.
If you’re looking for a dream home with all the bells and whistles, we can help. First Thomasville Realty can even help you get the best price and terms on a model home, if you call us before you start visiting them. Call us at 229-226-6515 or email info@FTRealty.com for more information.
Tags: Home Buyers Tips, Model Homes
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Trying to sell your Thomasville home in a slow market can be frustrating. You may find that it takes longer to sell and you can’t get as much money as you could during a booming market. However, you can’t believe all the hype about a sluggish real estate market. Do your research and separate the facts from the fiction.
Here are 3 myths and the facts behind the fiction:
1. You won’t get a decent price. Your Thomasville home will sell for whatever a buyer is willing to pay. A comparative market analysis shows you what other buyers spent on property like yours. Of course, if you bought your home when values were up, you may not get the return on your investment you’d hoped for. However, most sellers get a fair price and even make a profit in a slow market.
2. Your Thomasville home will stay on the market too long. While it’s true that real estate tends to take longer to sell during a slow market, it’s not impossible to sell. People still buy in slower markets. If your home is priced right, prepared for sale and marketed professionally, it will sell.
3. Buyers only want foreclosures and short sales. The truth is that buyers want good deals, and this can be in the form of money or time. The price of a foreclosure or short sale may certainly be attractive, but they can take a considerable amount of time to close while the banks negotiate their terms. Paying slightly more for a traditional sale is sometimes well worth the time they can save.
Using our proven marketing plan, First Thomasville Realty can help you sell your home whether it’s a slow market or a booming market. Call us today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Home Sellers Tips
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Happy Veterans Day to all who have served our great nation.
Thank you for your courage and dedication.
Thank you for our freedom.
We can’t say it enough.
Tags: Veterans Day, Veterans of the USA
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Is a home warranty necessary when you buy a Thomasville home? Isn’t it just an extra expense added on to an already expensive purchase? Not exactly. There are a few things to consider before deciding yes or no.
Type of Home
For example, the type of home you plan to buy makes a difference:
* Are you buying a newly constructed Thomasville home? Any newly built home should already be covered by the builder warranty, at least for a specific timeframe.
* Are you buying an older home? If so, a warranty might be the right thing to have.
* Are you buying a foreclosure? In this case, a home warranty is an excellent idea.
Homeowners Insurance vs. Home Warranty
Homeowners insurance is different from a home warranty. Insurance covers the home if there’s a natural disaster, fire or theft. On the other hand, a home warranty typically covers:
* Air conditioning
* Plumbing
* Heating
* Wiring
* Dishwashers
* Stoves
As with most contracts, it’s important to read the fine print of any home warranty before buying. Some may only cover an appliance if you pay an extra premium. As well, things like air conditioners may be pro-rated, where the payable amount is based on how old the unit is.
To Buy or Not to Buy
First, consider asking the seller to include a home warranty as a buyer’s incentive. If not, then take into account whether you’re an experienced handyman. If you aren’t, buying a policy may be the best choice.
On the other hand, if you do get a home warranty, make sure you know exactly what that policy covers and provides. Like any other company, home warranty companies range from good to bad. And note that, for the most part, they’ll try to repair rather than replace.
Only you can determine whether a home warranty policy for your new Thomasville home is best for you. For many, however, it gives a certain sense of safety and security from unexpected expenses.
If you’re looking for a home to buy (with or without a home warranty), we can help. Call First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com for more information.
Tags: Home Buyers Tips, Home Warranty
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You can do many simple repairs around your home to save money. Whether you are making repairs around your Thomasville real estate to prepare it for sale or repairing items after buying a home, having the right tools for the job makes everything much easier.
Here are our top 10 must have tools to complete most Thomasville real estate repairs:
1. Cordless drill. A cordless drill gives you a quick way to put screws in walls, put together furniture or to remove screws effortlessly.
2. Hammer. You should have a medium weight hammer on hand for tapping pieces into place, installing nails or even removing wall sections or nails you no longer need.
3. Level. If you want to hang anything evenly, you need a level. Use a level to measure holes for hanging cabinets, towel bars and pictures.
4. Pencils. You will use pencils to mark studs or drill holes or to make notes while you’re working.
5. Pliers. Pliers are essential for removing staples and nails. You can also use them to remove screws. Keep an assortment of different sized pliers on hand.
6. Putty knife. If you are covering nail holes or wall cracks, you need a putty knife to spread the spackling. You can also use a putty knife to remove wall paper, adhesives or spilled paint or caulk.
7. Screwdrivers. At the very least, you need a regular screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver with a medium tip. You should also have a set of small screwdrivers on hand.
8. Tape measure. A good tape measure will come in handy any time you need to measure.
9. Utility knife. This knife is basically a razor blade with a handle. You can use it to remove wallpaper, scrape paint or remove tape after painting.
10. Vice grip. Vice grips help you hold items, and they are especially useful if you are removing screws, untwisting something with sticky adhesive or just need to hold something while you work.
Let First Thomasville Realty help you prepare your Thomasville real estate for a fast sale. Give us a call today at 229-226-6515 or email info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Homeowners Tips, Tools
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This Saturday night is the time to adjust your clocks and “Fall Back” to Standard Time!
The Following Explaination comes from the Website coolquiz.com and answers Why Do We Have Daylight Savings Time?
Fall back, spring ahead…
Daylight saving time, the brainchild of Benjamin Franklin during his 18th century Parisian days, seems to increase the number of productive daylight hours we have, during the seasons when the sun sounds revile early. Today, the additional hour of sunlight we gain, by setting our clocks one hour ahead of time, allows us to close up shop an hour early, and to enjoy play time after the work day is done while the sun still beams high above us.
The extra daylight hour we now enjoy, by altering our circadian rhythms by one hour, did not immediately gain acceptance during Benjamin Franklin’s time. Instead, the practice was born of necessity during World War I and II. The practicality of his idea came into play during these wars, when scarcity and rationing were the operative words. By following their normal routines, and by going to bed hours after sundown, people relied upon artificially generated light, which depleted the scarce reserves of fuel in its generation. Germany realized that this precious commodity could better be used to serve the war effort, and instituted the first daylight saving laws in 1915. Those who refused to comply with the lights out curfew faced punishment.
England followed suit in 1916, and, finally, the United States, in 1918. The United States reinstated the daylight saving laws on a national basis during World War II. The close of the war ended the law’s necessity, but the national habit continued on a voluntary basis. Daylight saving time had taken root in our society, and was now the norm. Of course, daylight saving time never effected the farmer, whose livelihood dictates that he adheres to the old adage “Early to bed, early to rise.”
Tags: Standard Time Adjustment
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You have a for sale sign in front of your Thomasville home. Even though the real estate market is slow, you still see other houses being bought. What’s the matter with yours? Why is your home still sitting on the market? Is it you? Is it your home? Is it your agent? It may just be your online marketing (or lack of it).
Do Upload Photos
The internet is one of most popular places for homebuyers to do their initial shopping. If your Thomasville home isn’t online, it needs to be there. If it is online, it needs pictures. If it has pictures, pay attention to the following issues:
* Dark or grainy pictures
* Images with closed windows, drapes and/or blinds
* Photos of rooms with clutter
* Only one photo, and it’s of the front of the house
* Images that haven’t been adjusted to look their best online
Finally, ask yourself, if a picture says a thousand words, what are the photos of my home saying? If your pictures don’t look friendly and inviting, and if they don’t make your home look its very best, you might as well take your home off the market.
Do Add Data
Don’t forget to add important information. Think about it. How many other homes are being sold online? What makes yours better/different? In other words, why should a buyer take the time to look at your house in person?
Buyers aren’t mind readers. They can’t look at a picture and see that your home has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. You have to tell them that. If your house also has a large backyard, walking paths nearby or green home features, by all means, brag about it.
Don’t Restrict Showings
People need to see your home in person before they’ll decide to buy it. Unfortunately, many sellers make the mistake of having restricted showing hours, needing appointments for a showing and not being available when they have a prospective buyer. Instead…
* Do use a lockbox, so you don’t have to be there for an agent to show the house.
* Don’t set restricted hours. This makes showing the home at the buyer’s convenience difficult, and you definitely want it to be convenient for your potential buyer.
There are several areas where marketing can go bad and become a missed opportunity for selling your Thomasville home. However, if you make it convenient, show your home at its best and don’t overprice, you’re well on your way to changing “for sale” to “sold.”
If you want an agent who will market your home to its best advantage, give First Thomasville Realty a call today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Home Sellers Tips, Marketing Online
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First Thomasville Realty is pleased to congratulate our October 2010 Agents of the Month.
Len Powell has been named our Listing Agent of the Month and Colleen Phelps has been named our Selling Agent of the Month for October 2010.
Now more than ever, it’s important to work with a real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhood where you’d like to live. As specialists in Thomasville real estate, First Thomasville Realty can give you the insider’s scoop on that neighborhood. Contact us today at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .
Tags: Agents of the Month, Colleen Phelps, Len Powell
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Are you buying Thomasville real estate chiefly as an investment or as your primary residence? Does it need a little updating or a big overhaul? When you consider that buying Thomasville real estate is a major purchase, no matter what the reason, it’s always a good idea to look at the potential pros and cons.
Pros of Buying a Fixer Upper
Location – The fixer upper you’re considering could be in a great neighborhood. It might even be on the best street. But, because it needs work, you could get a home in a location you might otherwise not be able to afford.
Cost – It’s almost always cheaper to buy something broken than to buy something that works. Well, the same can be true for any kind of real estate investment. Buying a fixer upper may be a good alternative, if you want to own a home but can’t afford a high mortgage payment.
Style – It’s your home. When you remodel, redecorate or renovate, you get to choose what you want it to look like. Maybe it has a big picture window just dying for a window seat. Maybe you like soft mauve walls instead of the institutional green currently there. That’s okay, because you can fix it up to fit your personal style.
Cons of Buying a Fixer Upper
Cost – You may be able to save money on the selling price of a fixer upper, true. However, the savings could be totally lost once you start looking at the cost of renovations. Before you sign on the dotted line, do what any homebuyer should do and get a home inspection. Figure out how much you’ll be spending all together instead of basing your costs exclusively on the selling price.
Location – Often, fixer uppers are in less than pleasant neighborhoods or on streets with other homes in equal disrepair. Especially if you’re flipping houses, the chance of getting your investment back isn’t very likely. When buying a fixer upper – for any reason – make sure you weigh it’s location against the cost.
Style – Quite simply, your personal style might take more energy and knowledge than you have available. For instance, if you don’t know anything about drywall, plasterwork or woodwork, that window seat you want so badly may not be possible. As well, if you only have an hour or so a day to work on the home, it could be in a state of disrepair for a long time before it’s finished.
If you’re thinking about buying fixer-upper Thomasville real estate, always look at the pros and cons of the specific house. You could make a great investment or end up with a money pit.
If you’re looking for a fixer upper that needs some tender loving care, First Thomasville Realty can help. Call us at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com for more information.
Tags: Buyers Tips, Fixer Upper
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