As the Spring market truly begins to hit the Oklahoma City Metro, staging becomes an important factor in the sale of your home. Staging your home for sale can make a dramatic difference, especially if a flooded market is drowning out your home. First impressions form long lasting opinions & feelings toward a home so you, as a seller, want to make your home as appealing as possible to the largest pool of potential buyers!

Many people who have their home up for sale are needing to upgrade to a larger home for their family. It is common for these people to have children who are involved in the move but who are first involved in all the showings.

Lisa Stitt, Senior Stager for Oklahoma Impressions Home Staging, has shared the following tips with us for help keeping a home show ready in a home with children:

1)  Start out with a family meeting and get excited about the move because everyone will have to help keep the house in tip-top shape.

2)  Clean out excess toys and items. Give the kids an allotted space, (i.e. so many tubs, so many shelves) and box everything else up for storage or giveaway. This cuts down on clutter and makes clean up easier.  It also keeps comfort items or favorite toys close.

3)  Plan on getting everyone up 15 minutes early and divide up chores to make sure the house is in show condition when you leave. These things include loading breakfast dishes into the dishwasher, making beds, picking up bath towels and clothes, and making sure the trash is empty.

4)  Offer a reward system for everyone working together. Do small rewards for extra daily chores and a larger reward for when the house sells.

She also mentions, “Remember: It’s easier to clean lots of small messes often than a huge one once. Often buyers want to see the house immediately, especially if they are from out of town, and you need to be close to show condition at all times. Your hard work will pay off!”

If you have any specific staging questions, feel free to contact Lisa Stitt or if you would like a neighborhood market report, The Allen Group would be glad to evaluate your home!

Thank you for your helpful tips, Lisa!

Anya Taschereau
Licensed Realtor & Assistant

Spring Home Maintenance

Spring has sprung! Even if your home isn’t on the market this spring, here are some friendly reminders for spring cleaning home maintenance. These tips will help you get the most out of your home now and hopefully later when you choose to sell. A well maintained home will shine through even in a flooded market!

Encouraging Energy Efficiency

• Have the AC Inspected

Why wait until the Oklahoma summer heat is sweltering? Call a certified technician to come out to check & clean your air conditioner ahead of time. Proper maintenance extends the life of your unit and ensures maximum efficiency for minimum cost. Ask that the technician check the drains. While cleaning this out could cost some money, it needs to be done periodically.

• Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

While a nice programmable thermostat may cost you up to $150 initially, you can save a lot on energy bills. Utilizing the thermostat’s schedule feature will allow your home to be maintained at an efficient, higher temperature during the day and begin cooling down for you when you are arriving home after work.

• Seal the Gaps

Keep all your energy savings inside! If your caulking is dry & cracked, consider removing it and re-applying to ensure a proper seal. Otherwise, you may be able to get away with merely touching up any places where the caulk has come up or chipped off. If your windows need sealing, you may want to use a window putty to seal the panes as well. A good rule of thumb is that any gaps wider than a nickel should be filled.

Defer Drainage Dilemmas

• Inspect Roof for Damage & Potential Leaks

Doing this before spring’s torrential rains could potentially save you a lot of money, hassle, and water damage. As you may know, Oklahoma’s spring storms can feature flash flooding, torrential downpours, gale force winds, and hail. You want your roof to be in as good of shape as possible beforehand so that it will hopefully not be compromised except in a dire situation.

• Clean Gutters

Get up there and scrape out those gutters (or hire someone else to)! All the seeds from trees could be clogging the spouts, making it difficult for water to drain away from your foundation properly. Consider further investing in corrugated plastic hose attachments to divert water safely away from your foundation.

Outstanding Outsides

• Wash the Windows

Let that beautiful spring sun shine through! You won’t notice how dirty your windows were until you cleared them of all the smudges, dirt, & dust!

• Pressure Wash

Rent or borrow a pressure washer if you don’t own one or hire a company to come clean the exterior of your home for you. Make sure you know what setting to use for the exterior of your home so as to not cause any damage.

• Touch Up Paint

Whether you need to paint the whole exterior or simply touch up, nothing will spruce up the outside like a slick, fresh coat of paint!

• Fill In Cracks

Find some Quickrete or hire someone to fill in the cracks in your driveway, garage, sidewalks and walk-ways. Cracks are distracting to the eye and will detract from all the work you have put on the curb appeal of your home!

We hope you found these tips helpful! Adding a few tasks to your spring cleaning routine will not only help you keep your home thoroughly cleaned inside and out but ensure that its proper maintenance will give you a good return in the future!

If you’re thinking about selling your home this Spring, visit our website at http://www.SellingOklahoma.com to sign up for a Free Home Evaluation! We would be glad to assess your neighborhood and send you a Neighborhood Report with all the homes on the market and even a Comparative Market Analysis to show you what similar homes are selling for currently.

Give us a call at 405-509-9350 to request one today!

Anya Taschereau
The Allen Group

In life, there are a few small actions that you can do that will have a tremendous benefit for you.  The biggest is to start and grow your own successful business.  But whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, everyone needs a roof over their head.  And how you finance that roof can put over $500,000 in your pocket or someone else’s.

The average renter in Oklahoma pays about $750 per month in rent.  Property values and rent typically rise about 3% per year in Oklahoma, and over the 30 years that typically make up your working life, you would have spent $435,019 in rent, and have not even on cent of equity.  That’s what I call a terrible deal.

By buying a home with a similar monthly payment, not only would you own a paid-for home worth $327,680, but you would have saved $53,640 on your taxes as well.  By year five in your home, you would have received more back on your tax returns than you put down for the down payment.  The IRS pays you back for your investment, you make the same monthly payment for a house that pays YOU back.  That’s what I call a smart deal.

Let’s look at the math:

Renting:

Costs                                             $-488,659.00

Benefits                                                      $0.00

Total                                             $-488,659.00

Owning a home:

Costs:                                            $-237,172.00

Benefits, equity                            $327,680.00

Benefits, tax savings                      $53,640.00

Total                                                $144,148.00

So you can pay almost $1/2 Million to a landlord for no benefits, or you can pay yourself and come out over $1/2 Million ahead.  It’s your choice.  And when you’re ready to make a smart choice for you, I’d like to help you.

Wilhelm Koenig

wkoenig@capital-mortgage.com

405.249.5993 cell

A Dozen Holiday Staging Do’s & Don’ts

While many home stagers (and Realtors!) recommend removing excess clutter from a home on the market, this doesn’t have to strip you of your Christmas spirit! If your home is for sale this holiday season, you may still decorate! However, you should keep it tasteful by following these helpful holiday home staging tips:

Do’s

1. Be Subtle. Trade bright banners or religious symbols for simple & natural winter pieces such as holly, poinsettias, pinecones, mistletoe and evergreens. The subtlety of these natural pieces is less likely to distract buyers from the details of your home. The Stager’s Mantra: Less is more!
2. Make Compromises. Instead of using your towering tree, swap it out for a slimmer, shorter tree. You are trying to make your home look as wide, open, and spacious as possible. If you need to rearrange furniture to accommodate the tree, you may need to remove pieces such as end tables to avoid crowding.
3. Choose Complementary Colors. If your walls are painted a khaki shade, traditional colors such as green, gold, and red will look nice.  However, if turquoise is a dominant color in the room of your tree, swap out clashing red ornaments for soothing and subtle silver. Complement, don’t clash!
4. Capture the Buyer’s Attention. This is a great time to use décor to your advantage. Accentuate an arched doorway with mistletoe or string lights and evergreen garland on the pergola in the backyard. Draw attention to your home’s best details without covering them up.
5. Cozy Up. If you have a gas fireplace, leave it burning for the showing if you will be coming back home. If you do not have a fireplace or will not be home to check on it, adjust the thermostat just a couple degrees higher than usual instead. When buyers walk in from the chilly winter wind into your home, it will instantly feel welcoming and warm.
6. Stimulate Senses. Instrumental music played softly in the background, sugar cookie Scentsy or simmering cider on the stove, silky or velvety fabrics used in décor…these are all great ideas to get started on staging for the senses! Remember to be subtle, you may love the smell of cinnamon but a buyer may find it overpowering. The more comforting your home feels to buyers, the longer they may linger and note your home’s key features.

Don’ts

1. Don’t Display Your Family. Frequently, stagers will request that you take down family photos all times of the year and this rule of thumb carries over into holiday keepsakes. Don’t display family Christmas ornaments on the tree or put up the stockings with family names on them. This not only protects the privacy of your family but will help the Buyer imagine their holidays in the home.
2. Don’t Distract the Buyer. Set Christmas lights steadily on, not flashing. Leave your dancing and singing Santa collection in the attic this year. The buyers are trying to assess your house, not gauge how thorough you can decorate for the holidays. The Buyer needs to be able to picture your home as their new home and imagine how they would decorate it for their own holidays.
3. Don’t Hide your House. If every inch is covered in lights, tinsel, and garland, are the features of your home still evident? Be realistic with yourself with what is or is not “overdoing it.” Always remember, less is more!
4. Don’t Leave Gifts Out. This is a good idea not only for protecting your private property, but presents under the tree are taking up valuable floor space and adding clutter. Store the presents creatively: under beds, stacked in closets, trunks of cars etc. A few beautifully wrapped, empty, decorative boxes under the tree are acceptable.
5. Don’t Go Crazy with Lights. Say no to flashing lights, music synchronization, and giant inflatable lawn ornaments. Cut back on lawn decorations and instead highlight the architectural qualities of your house by outlining the roof with string lights or hanging icicle lights around the wrap-around porch.
6. Don’t Keep Christmas Until July. Promptly remove your holiday decorations on or before New Years! If you’re planning on listing your home during the holidays, allow your Realtor to come snap photos before you decorate so the photos will not be outdated in a few weeks.

You may not be able to go all out this year while your home is on the market, but think about how compromising your decorations this year may speed up your home selling process. Remember your end goal and focus on how you will decorate your new home next year!

If you need help selling a home or buying a home in the OKC Metro, we’d love to help! Call The Allen Group and “Let Us Open Doors for You!”

Anya Taschereau
Licensed Realtor & Assistant
The Allen Group Real Estate
http://www.SellingOklahoma.com

Here’s Why:

• Did you know floods are the number one natural disaster in the U.S.? There are many sources of flooding in a home, including flash floods, snow and ice melting, appliance and plumbing issues, and storms. According to floodsmart.gov (the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program), this area of concern for homeowners is often overlooked until it is too late. And since it usually takes 30 days after purchase for a policy to take effect, waiting to get flood insurance is not a good idea. When purchasing your new home in Oklahoma, you are eligible to purchase flood insurance as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. See: www.fema.gov/cis/ok.html. For more information about how to obtain flood insurance as well as statistics in your area, see www.floodsmart.gov or www.fema.gov.

Renter’s Insurance: A Good Idea? YES!

Here’s Why:

• Although, renting is not always the recommended choice over owning your own home, there are times when it becomes necessary.  Fire, theft, storms, leaks, water damage, and other sources can all cause damage to your personal property within your home. If you are renting, your landlord’s insurance policy likely does NOT cover your personal losses in these devastating events. To protect yourself and your valuables, renters insurance is a wise investment, and is not as expensive as you might think. To avoid any complications with renters insurance, it is helpful to keep an active record of your belongings. Some renters even take pictures or video of the home and store them in a safe place (other than the home itself).

Earthquake insurance: A Good Idea? It’s iffy…

Here’s Why:

• Here in the great state of Oklahoma, homeowners are accustomed to a variety of exciting weather:  tornadoes, drought, extreme heat, snow, wind, hail, ice, and now earthquakes?  As anyone living in Oklahoma in 2010 knows, the recent outbreak of seismic activity in the homeland state has some people a little shaken. According to the Oklahoma Geological Survey, the number of earthquakes felt in 2010 was unusually high. The largest occurred near Norman on October 13 and was of a 4.7 magnitude. The organization has not yet determined a cause for the dramatic increase in local seismic activity. Keep in mind also, that the most costly single earthquake in the U.S. was centered in the Midwest, near New Madrid, MO. This 7.7 magnitude earthquake caused $100 billion in damage in 1812. Oklahoma homeowners are now left wondering whether earthquake insurance is a good investment. Deductibles can be sky-high, although the policy itself is usually fairly inexpensive. Your best bet is to contact your current homeowner’s insurance company and get a quote. Then, you can make an informed decision about whether this insurance is right for you and your family. For more information about earthquakes in Oklahoma, visit www.okgeosurvey1.gov.

Amanda Hull, The Allen Group

Check us out:

I was watching “Flip That House” the other day and on this particular episode, during the renovation, they discovered that the house had horrific damage from wood destroying insects. They ended up reframing the whole area and essentially re-building part of the house just to fix the damage. Of course the “flippers” came out on top because it’s TV and they have all those contractors at their disposal. But what about you?

“Ew, bugs!” may be running through your head thinking about termites. I know my skin in crawling! But termites are more than bugs, they are serious pests and a threat to your home investment! In fact, a termite inspection is required if you are not paying cash for your home. If you have a mortgage, lenders and their investors will not approve your home purchase until a termite certificate is produced. Why should they if they can’t be certain that those little buggers aren’t tunneling their way through the house?

Termite Inspections are usually at the cost of the buyer, but fall under $100. It provides peace of mind for you as well as the investors backing your mortgage. In order to maintain your termite-free status, we recommend getting a yearly termite inspection as well as following some tips on avoiding termite infestation.

If you need further recommendations, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Anya Taschereau
The Allen Group

If this seems familiar, you need to reconsider.

So what does a good buyer’s agent do?
A good buyer’s agent will CARE!

Communicate

A buyer’s agent represents you and your interests, but they can’t read your mind! Be clear to your agent what role you expect them to play in your home purchase. Do you want them to send you suggested listings? Or would you rather look through listings on your own and simply have them there to answer questions and show the property? A good agent will stay in touch with you. When you’re both on the same page, your agent will be able to understand your needs.

Act in Your Interest

Your real estate agent should be working for you and ensuring that you are satisfied with your home purchase. If you feel that your agent is pushing you into something that may be more representative of their best interests (such as a bonus offered on a certain home), it may be time to walk away and find someone else.

Respectfully Guide You

Your agent should be able to offer you constructive criticism while you’re looking at houses as well as during the inspection period. They are the professional and it is their job to be available and honest with any questions you may have. Sometimes, buyers get excited and may be in over their heads on what they can afford or what they are willing to repair and update. A good buyer’s agent will be aware of these needs and should remind you in a respectful manner.

Empower You

A good agent will empower you with the resources and tools you need to be a confident buyer. One of the benefits of looking with a good buyer’s agent is that they will utilize all kinds of resources such as school reports, crime statistics, and pull comparable properties that have sold and what they sold for. Buying a house is a big decision but a good agent will make sure that you are comfortable with your decision and satisfied with your home transaction.

There you have it! A Buyer’s Agent should CARE and if they don’t, it may be time to call us!
405-509-9350 or 1-877-Buy-Okla!

Anya Taschereau
The Allen Group

Everyone knows how to look at houses. You may have been looking to get an idea of an area that you are interested in either by driving around or checking out various websites. Maybe you’ve found a neighborhood with a couple houses for sale that is in a great school district, near your job or favorite restaurant, and it’s just the right square footage! But now what?

Have you gone to a bank and been pre-qualified or pre-approved? Wait, there’s a difference? Don’t worry, we’re here to clarify!

• ·Pre-Qualification : This is the first step, but it’s not necessary. If you want to shop around for houses but you aren’t sure how much you can get approved for on a loan, this is a fairly hassle-free way to get a price range. This option doesn’t check your credit but a loan officer will go over your income, debts, assets, and any money you have saved for a down payment in order to determine what you can afford. If you know your allowance, you know your options. We also have a loan calculator for you on our website which is another non-invasive way to get a general idea.

• ·Pre-Approval : This step is for when you’re serious! Maybe you’ve already been pre-qualified and you’re ready to make an offer. Your dream house in your dream neighborhood just entered the real estate market and you’re ready for step two! You will have to call your loan officer and set up an appointment. Pre-approval is a little more extensive than pre-qualification since the loan officer will go over your credit report and they may charge you a fee. You will also need to bring some documents with you such as bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, driver’s license, and any other assets you may hold such as stocks or mutual funds. Your loan officer should tell you exactly what you need to bring. They will then peruse these documents and let you know exactly how much you qualify for. After this step…

• ·Good Faith Estimate : If the bank is going to pre-approve you, they will give you a Good Faith Estimate which just lets you know what the terms and interest of the loan would be. It doesn’t commit you to anything, but gives you an idea of what that bank is willing to offer you. Just like anything else you may buy, it’s a good idea to shop around and see what other rates may be available to you if you aren’t satisfied with the GFE that you have already received. While this may seem time consuming, it is definitely a step that is necessary for comparison shopping. You may be paying this mortgage off for a while, so you want to make sure you have one that is the best deal you can have!

So after you’ve received a GFE that you’re confident in, try to maintain your credit line! A Good Faith Estimate or pre-approval is NOT a guarantee for your loan. If you were also thinking about buying a new car, WAIT!! Loans and mortgages are based off of your credit and if that credit line changes or if more debts are added, your loan amount may decrease or the bank may not even be able to approve you.

We have local loan officers we can refer you to if you don’t know where to start.
Feel free to call us at 405-509-9350 or email us at theallengroup@sellingoklahoma.com.

Good luck and happy house hunting!

Anya Taschereau
The Allen Group

While I have laughed in the face of danger and I have been that person fearlessly watching the incredible forces of nature, I have also had to be that person taking shelter and terrified of not making it out alive.

I think that we all need some friendly reminders of appropriate tornado safety measures as the season approaches.

Before the Storm

1. Register Your Shelter

Did you know that if you have a storm shelter, you can register it? Call the Action Center at 405-297-2535 to do this. This way, if a disaster occurs the rescue team will know to look for you and where your shelter is located within the house if it is covered with debris. This doesn’t have to be an underground shelter, you may have a certain closet that you have designated as your shelter. Be sure that people will know where to look for you by registering it as well.

2. Be Prepared

Designate an area in your home as a shelter whether it is an underground structure, a closet, or a room that is in the center of your house.
If you have children, run tornado drills as the storm season approaches. Clarify the differences between “tornado watch” and “tornado warning.”
Have a meeting point  in case your family is separated during the tornado.
Always have your designated shelter area stocked with recommended supplies such as:

• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Portable radio that runs on batteries (include extra batteries!) or uses a crank mechanism.
• First aid kit
• Emergency food and bottled water (don’t forget your manual can opener)
• Essential medicines or prescriptions
• Comfortable and sturdy closed toed shoes
• A set of spare keys to vehicles
• Personal identification
• A disposable camera (for insurance purposes)
• Pillows and blankets for cushioning

During the Storm

1. Take Cover!!

If you are at home, go to the the lowest level of your home. If you do not have a storm cellar or basement, choose a room that is central in your house and away from any windows. This may be a closet or even a bathroom. You should already have your tornado kit prepared.

2. Stay Covered

Don’t run back and forth from the window to your shelter to see what’s going on outside. I know it’s tempting, but remain in your shelter and use your radio to stay up to date with the storm’s location. Have everyone put their emergency shoes on. If the tornado strikes, protect your head and neck with pillows, blankets, and your arms.

After the Storm

1. Calm Down

Take a deep breath. Remember when you made that safety plan? Now’s the time to use it! Meet up with everyone if you were separated. If anyone is seriously injured, do not move them unless they are in danger of further injury and call 911. Help your neighbors that may be trapped or in need of assistance such as families with small children, people with disabilities, or the elderly.

2. Be Careful

If you smell gas or other chemical odors, LEAVE. Do not go into a building if it has been damaged. Once you’ve had a second to breathe and shake the jitters out, use your disposable camera to take pictures of the damage for your home owner’s insurance.

Stay safe this storm season!

Anya Taschereau
The Allen Group

Buying your first home is scary. Working in real estate, we see a lot of people who are first time home buyers and typically have a lot of uncertainties, doubts, and questions. Rightfully so! Buying a home is complicated enough but when you’ve never done it before, it’s even more intimidating. We’re here to give you some pointers!

1. Are you financially ready to buy a home?

Here in Oklahoma, we are lucky that our cost of living is so affordable. Forbes rated Oklahoma City as the #1 most affordable city to live in for 2010. Having said that, though, there are a lot of payments relevant to home ownership that you would not encounter as a renter. This may include additional utilities such as garbage pick-up and water. You will need to pay property taxes as well as insurance. Before you buy, it’s helpful to clear up any debts that you have and build up an emergency fund just in case.

2. Go shopping!

Loan shopping, that is. It’s still too soon to go shopping for houses! Go to a lender or two…or five. Get pre-approved by giving a lender some brief information about your employment and any debts you may be carrying. They will crunch some numbers and get an idea of how much you can afford. Remember that this is the absolute most you can afford, not what you should buy!

3. Start planning

Budget, budget, budget!! When you talk with a lender, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask them what current interest rates are and what loan option will be the best for you. This is their job and they know how to help you figure out which payment plan will be best for you. You may also consider increasing your down payment amount. This may drastically change the amount that you pay! Maybe you want to wait to buy and save up a hefty down payment to build immediate equity. A good illustration of this can be found here.

5. Find a Realtor

A good Realtor, like the ones on our team, can help you find areas with great value that meet your requirements such as a certain number of bedrooms or to advise you on neighborhood safety or school ratings. Express to them what is important to you and it will become important to them as well. Realtors are here to represent you and your best interests, always.

6. Be Realistic

While you may get approved for a higher loan amount than you thought, this doesn’t mean you should go for that maximum home price. A good rule of thumb is to keep your entire home payment (including your mortgage, taxes, and insurance) between 25% and 30% of your income.  Some people will even give you the rule that your home should be no more than two and a half times your annual salary. If you get caught with a mortgage payment that is beyond what you can afford, you won’t be able to enjoy life in your home! Give yourself some allowance in your budget to meet your daily obligations and save for things you need.

7. For Your Protection, Get a Home Inspection!

This is one of our favorite sayings! Once you and your Realtor have found your dream home and you’ve submitted your offer on it, we always recommend that you have a home inspection done on your home. You will need to pay for this, but a thorough home inspection will teach you about the home and will give you a heads up and make you aware of any issues the home may have, such as foundation issues. Additionally, with this professional proof of any defects, a lower price may be negotiated. Or, if you really want to, you can change your mind altogether. You may be out the cost of the inspection, but that’s a whole lot cheaper than buying a home you aren’t satisfied with or that costs you more in repairs than you can afford.

8. Closing Time

Once the offer is accepted, the home will go into escrow meaning that you are almost finished! The escrow processors will gather all the necessary paperwork from both parties Realtors, lenders, etc. to get everything legally and financially ready for close. Then the big day comes when you sign the closing papers, get your key, and move in!

Confused? There’s no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it’s a question about something as serious as home ownership. We’d like to make everything clear to you, we will promptly return your email if you would like some advice on buying your first home!

Anya Taschereau
The Allen Group