About Roanoke County, VA

I was looking at some sites and came across one today that really bothered me. About 16 months ago someone by the name of Rusty Phillips submitted an article on Hubpages entitled, "Home Staging Changed My Life". She/he says that you don't need any certification or training to become a Home Stager. After reading the many comments that followed, I decided to go ahead and submit a comment of my own. I'm sure you will agree that this article needs more comments submitted to uphold the intregrity and standards of this industry. Even though this article is over a year old, people like myself are still going to run across it and possibly get the wrong opinion if they don't read further through all the comments.

Please read this article and feel free to express your own opinion so those who want to get into the industry, have a clearer idea of what to expect and what will be expected of them. I'm sure I didn't cover all the points (it's been a long tiring day), so I hope you will fill in the gaps that I may have overlooked. It's articles like these that hinders accurate education for homeowners. It's no wonder we must continue to educate, educate, and educate the public.

The link is as follows: Home Staging Changed My Life http://hubpages.com/hub/homestagingbusiness

Please let me know your thoughts.

Cathy Dick

http://www.final-touchdesigns.com

Fixtures can turn an easy closing into a nightmare!

A fixture is something that would automatically pass with the property by manner of attachment, adaptation, or intent.The first one is easy. If it is nailed, screwed, or bolted to the property, it automatically passes with the property. We will leave the other two to attorneys.

When I list a property, I take a lot of time going through the house with the sellers to ask about fixtures. Here is a list of some of the things I ask about.

1- Light fixtures. Ask about them even if they are ugly!

2- Bookcases and shelves.

3- Stained glass.

4- Pot racks and other items attached to the walls or counters in a kitchen.

5- Art Work. Sometimes they screw the stuff to the walls.

6- Curtain rods and valances-should pass, but you never know!

7- Door knockers, outdoor decorative accessories, and mailboxes. I know this sounds crazy.

8- Plants in the yard. Many sellers just don't get this. They try to rape the yard before closing!

I have many stories about plants. I once listed a home for an attorney. She wanted to take a tree she had planted at the birth of her son and 2 rosebushes. I made sure that exclusion was in all documents and especially in the sales contract.

The second plant story was a little tougher. I listed the property in winter. The seller showed me spring pictures. She had an incredible collection of prize Irises. She was willing to leave some, but others were worth a fortune. We physically went out and tagged all the Irises that did not pass.

It is also very important to ask if anything in the property is leased. Propane tanks, satellite equipment are the two things that immediately come to mind.

I am sure that you have other items that have caused a fixture fuss. Now is a good time to share your stories!

A real estate friend told me this story in the early ‘80's when he had his great Aunt's house on the market. He had the house listed at the time. I have listed it several times thereafter. The house is located in Old Southwest, Roanoke's Premier Historic District.

His Aunt and Uncle bought the house sometime in the 1950's. I am assuming that no agents were involved. Right before closing, they decided to do a quick walk-through with the seller. The seller said, "By the way, the front door is leased. It doesn't pass with the property." The door was owned by a museum. It was a door taken from one of Napoleon's country homes.

Naturally, there was a problem! The buyers and sellers went to the attorney's office to seek advice.

The attorney, who must have been a very wise man, said that he had never encountered a problem like this. His solution was to call a custom lumber company. They crafted an exact replica of the door. When it was installed, Napoleon's door was returned to the museum.

This door has passed with the property through all successive sales. Buyers love to hear the story. Owners love to tell the story!

This home is NOT for sale!

There has been much speculation surrounding the topic of the $8,000 Tax Credit for 1st Time Homebuyers. Let's set the record straight:

2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
$8000 Tax Credit

A refundable first-time homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000 is the centerpiece of housing incentives found in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The new credit is designed to boost sales in the nation's sagging housing market by offering a strong incentive to first-time homebuyers. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, predicts 300,000 home purchases will be made in 2009 as a result of the tax credit.

The new credit improves on a first-time homebuyer credit passed in 2008. That credit had to be paid back over a period of 15 years, making it more of a loan than a true credit.
The greatest part of this tax credit is that homebuyers can take the credit on their 2008 tax return even when they have purchased the home in 2009. Homebuyers can take advantage of this filing exception in one of three ways:

1. Closing on the home prior to April 15, 2009
2. Getting an extension to file taxes later in the year or
3. Filing an amended return.

Specifics are below:

· The Tax Credit is for up to 10 percent of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $8,000.

· For example, a buyer of a $150,000 home could receive a tax credit of a maximum of $8,000, while a first-time buyer of a $70,000 home would be eligible for a tax credit of $7,000.

· The Tax Credit does not have to be repaid unless the home is sold within three years.

· Applies only to first-time homebuyers, defined as those who have not owned a home within the previous three tax years.

· The Tax Credit is available only for homes purchased between Jan. 1, 2009, and Dec. 1, 2009.

· Restricted by income; The Tax Credit phases out for individuals with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or above and for married couples with a combined adjusted gross income of $150,000 or above.

· The credit can be taken on 2008 taxes even when the purchase is made in 2009.

Until next time...

Josh Perrington
540.598.7985

PS: We work with many of the Roanoke area's most credible Realtors. If you need help finding a Realtor - feel free to let us know & we can help suggest a few we would recommend...

This is a small shrub, or perennial. It blooms very early in the year. In Roanoke, Virginia, it often starts blooming in February. It often blooms unnoticed--nothing flashy about this plant! It is a very old-fashioned plant. It took me about a year to track down its name!

Do you know what it is? I took this photo. Please feel free to use it! Barbara Delaney, Roanoke, Virginia