Carolyn Shipp Mineral Wells Texas Real Estate

Most of us love our homes and feel that each has a special worth that no other has and rightly so. But when it comes time to sell that special home, you need to decide if you are going to listen to your real estate agent and what the market is telling you or are you going to listen to your heart? You may have done a lot of work to your home over the years and you have a lot of wonderful memories, but some of those are not things that can put a monetary value on your home. And since a buyer won't have that emotional attachment to your home, he or she will not place the same value as you will. You want to remember that your property is only worth what someone is willing to pay, no matter what a piece of paper may say your home is worth.

A great way to help you determine what to price your home for (this is the key to selling your home quickly or having it sit for several months) is to have a real estate agent prepare a comparative market analysis on your property so that you can see what other homes like yours are selling for. Another great thing to do is go and see your competition! Get a list of similar homes on the market in your neighborhood and preview each one. What do you notice about each home that shows better or worse than yours? Look at each house as if you were going to buy it. Is the home comparable to yours? Does it have more amenities? Less? Is it more cluttered or does it look clean and bright? How does your home compare to them?

If homes in the neighborhood are selling for $175,000.00, you do not want to price your house at $200,000. People have a price range in their mind of what they are willing to spend. If a buyer has told his agent that he won't go higher than $185,000.00 then his agent is only going to to him homes up to that price. If you home is priced out at $200,000.00 it will not be shown much because it will be priced out of the market for your neighborhood. On the other hand, if homes for $200,000.00 are larger and have more amenities for the money, your property won't get seen either because people will feel that they are getting less home for the value. You would not pay $200,000.00 for a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with only 1600 square feet if you can get a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with 1800 square feet for the same price. This is one of the reasons why a market analysis is so important. It will help you make an educated decision on how much you should sell your home for.

Also it is good to know that even if you and a buyer agree to a higher amount, if the home won't appraise for that amount, a lender will not give the buyer a loan and your deal will fall through. An appraisal is based on what homes similar to yours have sold for within the last six months. If they have only been selling for $180,000.00 then your home at $200,000.00 will be considered over-valued and as it will only appraise out for around $180,000.00, that will not be enough to allow the lender to finance the home for the buyer.

We love our homes and we feel that they are worth a lot of money, but remember that ultimately a property is only worth what someone is willing to pay.

You have your home on the market and feel that you have it listed for a fair price. You keep the house clean, the yard mowed and the trees and bushes trimmed. But, is that all you need to do to help your agent sell your home?

Have you looked at your home as a buyer? Have you walked through your home and been as critical as a buyer can be? One of the easiest things to do (yet frequently not done) is to go through your home, room by room as if you are going to purchase it for yourself. Ask yourself questions that you'd be asking if you were buying the house. Do the walls look bright and cheerful, do the carpets look fresh and clean, do the draperies look light and airy?

When buyers come through your home, they need to be able to see themselves living there, so remember to take a majority of your personal pictures and knick-knacks and put them away. Things will have to be packed away eventually, so why not get a head start? As you clear items off counters, walls and furniture, wrap and pack them. Make sure you are attracting your buyers to the best features of each room. In the living room it may be the fireplace, the kitchen might have a fabulous island and the bathrooms may have great vanities...whatever the best feature of each room, focus on it!

Another great thing about starting your packing early is that you will enable buyers to picture their own appliances and knick-knacks on counter tops and tables; allowing them to mentally make the house their own. If you haven't used an item in 3 - 6 months, pack it away. Allow your buyers to see themselves living in your home.

Also remember light and bright! Dark areas can make a buyer feel closed in and depressed. Open your draperies and blinds for daytime showings and have your lamps lit. You want your buyers to feel happy and energized as they walk through each room. You might even add some clear lights to your bushes and trees out front to give a warm and welcoming feeling to people during nighttime showings.

How are your bathrooms? Do you have a new shower curtain up? Fresh towels out and maybe some plants or flowers on your counter tops for a spa-like feel? A few lit candles in each bathroom is always a nice touch. Whenever you are in someone's bathroom, don't you notice if it feels fresh and clean or kind of dirty? You want your buyers to have that fresh and clean feeling.

These are just a few things you can do for the interior of your home, but we can't forget about the outside as that will be everyone's first impression. Buyers often drive by homes first to see if they like an area, and if they see garbage cans, overflowing gutters and weeds in the flower beds, they won't feel a sense of pride of ownership. They may knock a great house off of their list because of how it looks on the outside. Keep garbage cans located by the garage, gutters cleared and flower beds freshly mulched and weeded. You want your sidewalks clear of clutter and nicely trimmed.

Remember what attracted you to your house and focus on those features for your buyers. See your house through their eyes. Once you are able to do this it will be easier to get your home sold. People frequently make a decision on whether the are going to purchase your home within 5 minutes or less, so make those first few minutes memorable!

Mineral Wells Optimist Football and Cheerleader Sign Ups

When: May 29 and 31 and June 5, 6 and 7

Where: Mineral Wells Optimist Field from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on weekday signups and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Football Costs: $100 Tackle Football and $60 Flag Football

Cheerleading Costs: $180

$30.00 will be due at the time of sign ups for both sports.

Please call Amy Shirley (940) 445-1480 or Rosie Ralls (940) 452-3818 with any questions.

Tai Chi Classes

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Where: Calvary Baptist Church located at 708 SE 5th Street @ 7:00 p.m.

Costs: Free

Please call (940) 328-1128 with any questions.

11th Annual Ranch Rodeo and Cowboy Gathering

When: Saturday, May 31

Where: Palo Pinto County Livestock Association Areana and Grounds

Costs: Chuckwagon Lunch and competition (12:00 p.m.) $10.00 for adults $5.00 for children

Costs: Rodeo Tickets $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children

Costs: Dance Tickets $10.00 per person at door

The first rodeo performace will be at 1:30 p.m. and the second performance will be at 5:30 p.m. The dance will be held at the Sheriff's Posse Building at 9:00 p.m.

American Legion Post No. 75 Steak Night

When: Saturday, May 31 @ 7:00 p.m.

Where: American Legion Post No. 75

Costs: Advance tickets and reserved tables $10.00 each

Costs: Tickets at the door $12.00 each

Johnny Johnson will be playing.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway Night Sounds

When: Saturday, May 31 @ 8:30 p.m.

Where: Lake Mineral Wells State Park

Costs: Free with paid admission to park

Admission to Park: $5.00 per person Children 12 and under are Free

Listen to the sounds of a Texas summer night. Actual and recorded sounds of insects, birds, frogs and mammals will be heard and identified with slides of the animals. Bring a lawn chair.

Dodson Prairie Cemetery Association Annual Meeting

When: June 1 @ 2:00 p.m.

Where: Dodson Prairie Community Center

A Cry for Destiny Ministries

Support groups for survivors of sexual abuse

When: Monday nights @ 7:00 p.m. for Adults

When: Tuesday nights @ 7:00 p.m. for Teens

Call (940) 682-2193 for more information. All calls are confidential.

My Friends

Faith based support group for women who have a spouse who is incarcerated.

When: Every Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Call Debra at (940) 325-2416 for more information.

Moms are needed!

When: Wednesdays (7:00 - 8:00 p.m.) and Sundays (4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.)

Where: Wednesdays at First Baptist Church and Sundays at Indian Creek Baptist Church

Please join with other moms in to pray for students, staff and administrators in the MWISD. Contact Malenda Pugh at (940) 452-2159 with questions.

Mineral Wells High School 1998 Graduates 10 year Reunion

When: June 6-7

Call Robin at (940) 682-6302 for more information.

The Double J Art Ranch Brown Paper Koozie Doozie Songrwriter Festival

When: Saturday, June 7 @ 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Where: Double J Art Ranch

Costs: Tickets are $15 and $20 day of the show.

Friday night pre-festival event will be Chicken Pooh Bingo. For festival tickets and hacienda rooms call (940) 325-1813.

Name that Bird

When: Saturday, June 7 @ 8:30 p.m.

Where: Lone Star Amphitheater

Costs: Free with paid admission to Lake Mineral Wells State Park

Admission to State Park: $5.00 per person Children 12 and under are free.

A fun game of Texas bird identification. Teams will be put together to test skills of identification calls and photos of birds that can be found in the park.

PTSD Counseling

When: First Thursday of Each Month

Where: VFW Post 2399, 1400 SE Veterans of Foreign Wars St.

Group sessions are 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Individual sessions are by appointment only between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. by the Fort Worth VA's Readjustment Counseling Service. Call Mike Coulter @ (817) 921-9095 for an appointment.

Palo Pinto County Human Society Monthly Meeting

When: Tuesday, June 10 @ 6:30 p.m.

Where: Mineral Wells Chamber of Commerce

Call Debbie @ (940) 445-0144 or Crystal @ (940) 664-5149 for more information.

Mineral Wells Heritage Monthly Meeting

When: Thursday, June 12 @ 7:00 p.m.

Where: Little Rock School House

Visitors are welcome.

Texas Democratic Women of Palo Pinto County Meeting

When: Friday, June 13 @ 12:00 p.m.

Where: Nancy's Italian-Texan Grill located at 2805 Hwy 180 West

Speakers will be Lanie Wright and Betty Ringo. Bring your best campaign idea for a chance on a door prize. Public may attend.

Mineral Wells High School 50 Year Club 32nd Reunion

When: Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14

Where: Mineral Wells High School

Strawn Homecoming 2008

When: Friday and Saturday, June 13 and 14

Where: Downtown Strawn

Poker Tournament: 6:00 p.m. @ Legion Hall

Parade organization/registration: 9:00 a.m. at the Gazebo downtown.

Parade @ 10:00 a.m.

Ex-president's meeting: 10:45 a.m. at City Hall

Carnival, Horseshoes and Old Movies: 11:00 a.m. at the Community Center

Barbeque: Community Center @ 12:00 p.m.

Viewing of Strawn State Football Game: Community Center @ 1:00 p.m.

Class get-togethers: Hound Community Center @ 2:00 p.m.

Street Dance: 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. Band to be announced. Drawing for gun during street dance.

Please call Trey or Mindy Hodgkins @ (254) 672-5206 for more information.

Cross Timbers Nature Hike

When: Saturday, June 14 @ 8:30 a.m.

Where: Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway

Costs: Free with paid admission to the park

Park Admission: $5.00 per person, Children 12 and under free

The hike is limited to 30 people. Please call and make reservations at (940) 328-1171.

Join Park Interpreter David Owens on a nature hike down the water trail that leads into the Penitentiary Hollow. You will learn about the natural feature of the Western Cross Timbers of Texas.

Cowboy Campfire

When: Saturday, June 21 @ 8:00 p.m.

Where: Lone Star Amphitheatre at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway

Costs: Free with paid admission to the park

Park Admission Costs: $5.00 per person, Children under 12 are free.

Experience the cow camp lifestyle and local historical treasures through the music and poetry of the old time cowboys. Bring a lawn chair. For more information please call (940) 328-1171.

Kid's Wilderness Survival

When: Saturday, June 28 @ 8:30 a.m.

Where: Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway

Costs: Free with paid admission to the park

Park Admission Costs: $5.00 per person, Children 12 and under are free.

2 1/2 hour course to teach children what to do if they become lost. Includes interactive games, demonstrations and a hike on the nature trail. Children must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or youth group leader. Call (940) 328-1171 for reservations.

Disabled American Veterans

The group is trying to start a chapter in the Mineral Wells area. 30 new individuals are needed to start the chapter. Please contact Ralph Lister @ (940) 452-0722 or e-mail him at listerrw@cox.net for more information.

Big Brother/Sister Classes

Call Palo Pinto General Hospital @ (940) 328-6238 or (940) 325-7891 for schedules and information.

AARP Tax-Aide: Free tax help each Wednesday morning beginning February 6 through April 9.

Time: 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Location: Mineral Wells Senior Center

102 NW 6th Avenue

What do you need to bring with you? Last year's tax return, Social Security Card, your SSA-1099 if you receive social security payments, yearly statements for all income, yearly statements for all interest and dividends

Appointments are not necessary.

The Board of Adjustment and the Housing Authority Board of Directors are looking for Volunteers:

If you are interested in serving on either board, applications are available at the City Clerk's office at City Hall Annex, 115 SW 1st Street

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament: March 8, 2008 at the City Gym

Painted Post County Tour: Goes on throughout the month of February

Location: Boyce Ditto Public Library

For Information: 940-328-1486

Houston Elementary Annual Garage Sale: March 1

Items in need include: clothes, shoes, purses, pictures, kitchen items, toys, bedding, books, small furniture

The school will be pre-selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Adult Spring Softball Signups: Continue through March 2

Play begins the week of March 10. Cost is $310 per team for a 10 game season. Coed leagues play on Monday nights and the men's league plays on Thursday nights. Contact the City of Mineral Wells' Parks and Recreation Department at (940) 328-7803.

Project Graduation Meetings: Mondays - March 3, April 7 and May 5 at 7 p.m. in the teacher's lounge at Mineral Wells High School. To get involved and help you can attend one of the meetings or e-mail Gwen Jones at kbmd1@suddenlink.net

Early Voting Begins Tuesday February 19 and goes through March 29:

Locations: Weekdays at Palo Pinto County Courthouse (basement floor) at 520 Oak Street, Palo Pinto from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

or

County Courthouse Annex (Poston Building in Judge Bobby Hart's office) at 109 N Oak Street, Mineral Wells from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Mineral Wells Senior Center Annual Gigantic Sale: March 7 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with a bake sale from 9:00 a.m. until they run out of baked goods. The sale continues on March 8 from 9:00 a.m. until noon

From 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. there will be a bag sale on March 8. You purchase a bag for $1.00 and can take whatever you can fit in the bag. Shoppers can purchase more than one bag.

The Senior Center is accepting donations of clean, usable items on March 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and March 4 and 5 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and again from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

You can call for more information: (940) 325-6470

Mineral Wells Animal Shelter:

Open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Temporarily closed on Saturdays and Sundays. You may also see a selection of adoptable cats at Petsense in Mineral Wells. Contact: 940-328-7752 for more information.