When you are in the process of looking for a home to buy, there are obvious things you look for. Location, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, size of yard, flow of home, etc. If those don’t work for your needs, you check it off the list. But what happens when the house fits your needs perfectly? You need to go a step further to make sure you aren’t getting glossy eyed. Typically, this is the biggest purchase you will ever make and you want to make sure you do your due diligence. Here are seven things to look for when buying a house that you may not think about initially. Is there adequate parking? It may have a two-car garage but will the size of the garage fit your vehicles. I have stood in many garages while my client pulled their oversized truck in or used the measuring tape to make double sure it would work for them. If it’s only a one-car garage and there is more than one driver in your household, make sure there is somewhere else to put a car other than directly behind the other one. You may think it’s not a big deal but having to get someone out of bed in the pouring rain to move their car will get old very fast – for both parties! If there is only driveway or street parking, again, make sure there is ample room for all vehicles. There is a very popular neighborhood in our area where most of the houses do not have off-street parking. During busy times when visitors are going to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and yoga studios, they may find that the closest parking spot is in front of your house and you’re left walking several blocks to get home. If you are looking at condos, make sure there is assigned parking or at least enough spots to accommodate owners as well as visitors. How many steps are there into the house? Check every entry door. If the only way in is by way of many steps, consider who is going to live there and how you live. If there are medical restrictions, that may already be something you are looking for. However, also think about groceries. Do you want to have to walk up 10 stairs with your arms full of groceries and/or make several trips on a weekly basis, just to get in your house? Likewise, if you are purchasing a condo, make sure there are elevators or be aware of how many flights of stairs you will be taking regularly. Look Up! It is easy to get caught up in what’s eye level....

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  Clients are always asking me what needs to be done in order to make their house most appealing for potential buyers. If you follow your nose, and your other senses, the answer is quite easy. Here are some ideas on how the five senses can help you sell your house. Sight The first thing potential buyers will notice is the curb appeal. Make sure the lawn is mowed, weeds are pulled and flowers are not dead. The front door area should be swept and the door and handle clean. When entering, they should immediately notice the house is neat and clean. Don’t have the breakfast dishes in the sink or beds unmade. A dirty or messy house can be very distracting to a potential buyer. It’s a good idea to have the house staged – at least making sure that personal items are down to a minimum, there is a good flow without furniture impeding, and that there are appealing colors throughout the house. Sound I have found that soft jazz or light classical or instrumental music is best for this sense. You will never appeal to everyone but these two are the most widely accepted – even getting lost in the background at times. There are a lot of options in how to play music. Some people have speakers in their house. Others have cable or digital television channels that play music. This is much more welcoming than a quiet, cold house. Touch I like to make a home book for sellers. This book may have photos from another season (when flowers were blooming or when snow was covering the ground), Before/After photos of renovations or home projects, property information, utility information, flyers for buyers to take, business cards or contact information for vendors, HOA documents, etc. This can often keep a potential buyer in the house longer, keeping them engaged, giving their other four senses a chance to work! Smell There is good reason that this is the most powerful of our senses. Just as much as there are good smells that can help, there are definitely some smells that can hurt the sale of your house. Let’s talk about the bad first. If there is a foul smell of any sort, it can be detrimental. A good idea is to have a third party give you an honest answer. You may have pets and you may be used to it. You may cook certain foods regularly that stay in the house for a while. This is one thing that a Realtor can help you with and give an honest opinion. There are solutions for odors and it’s very important to address them. Now, on the...

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  I hate traffic. As a Realtor, I have spent my fair share of time in my vehicle. I live in Franklin TN and my office is in Nashville TN. It used to take me 35 minutes to drive to the office. It now takes close to an hour – or more. If it’s during school drop off or pick up, add 10 minutes. If there is construction, add 15 minutes. If there is an accident – go sit and have a cup of coffee while it clears. The entire Nashville area has traffic, and I admit to needing to attend a 12-step program for slight road rage. I took the “fish” off my car for a reason. I digress. I have learned that there are a lot of things I can do while in traffic that are much more productive than seeing how high my blood pressure can get or making up new words. Listen to podcasts or audio books. I have “read” several business books this way. I always have a few books in the que and I try to have one on audio and a different hard copy at home. I am always reading something for business and something for fun. I find that business books on audio are nice, too, since most of the time I am driving for work so I am in that mindset anyway. I am constantly learning and improving and it’s great to get where I need to go, while getting where I want to be! Learn a new language. Similar to learning something new in business by listening to an audio book, you can learn a new language by listening. Now, you can’t be self-conscious if you do this because you will look like you are talking to yourself in your car. Tinted windows and sunglasses are a must if you are easily embarrassed. You will listen to a word or set of words and then be asked to repeat what you just heard. If you have a foreign trip on your vision board, start learning the language! As a side note, it’s a great conversation starter if it is playing in your car when others get in. Meditate. Now you won’t be able to go full out and close your eyes while sitting cross legged unless you are a passenger, however, this can be very helpful. First off, it helps calm your nerves from the TRAFFIC!!!!! Was that out loud? And secondly, it helps put you in the right mindset for whatever your day has in store. I have learned that everything, I repeat, EVERYTHING is about mindset. You control your mind so make sure you are controlling it...

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  According to Google searches, the top 2017 New Year’s Resolutions have to do with getting healthy, organized, living life to the fullest, learning new hobbies, spending less and saving more, traveling, and reading more. You might wonder how buying a house can help you keep those resolutions. Well, let me tell you.   Save More and Spend Less: When you buy a house, you have to save money for the down payment and a lot of buyers put themselves on a budget in order to save before and after their big purchase. So, buying a house will help you save more and spend less. Get Organized: When you move, you pack up your belongings. This is the perfect time to donate unused items, recycle, and get rid of things you just don’t need anymore. You don’t want to take all that stuff to a new house. Getting organized is a by-product of buying a house. Reading More: If you have ever bought a house, you know there is a ton of paperwork to be completed in order to make an offer to purchase and finalize the sale. Now, it may not be the self-help type books you were thinking of, but I guarantee you will learn something. You can’t buy a house without reading, so check that one off the list, too. Getting Healthy: There are a few ways to get healthy by buying a house. First, you will likely be much more physical than normal, due to packing and unpacking, lifting, moving, etc. Second, many people eat more meals at home after they buy a house which is typically healthier than eating at a restaurant (you’ll also save money). Third, you will be so exhausted from the whole process that you will sleep great. Eating better, exercise and adequate sleep are the main ingredients of getting healthy! Learning New Hobbies: Chances are, there will be things that need to be put together, hooked up, and set up at your new home. You may find that you like being handy. You may also need the perfect art piece or photograph to go in the new living room and instead of buying it, you may paint it or use camera skills you didn’t know you had. And, that bathroom that needs to be re-tiled might be a great opportunity to learn that skill. Arts, crafts, photography, landscape architecture, decorating, and handyman projects are all things you may find you really enjoy. Live Life to the Fullest: Most Americans have a goal of owning their own home at some point. For most, reaching goals is part of living life to the fullest. So go ahead, take the plunge and see...

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