An agent will do everything she can to protect your assets, but if you have a new agent and a thief that has been a thief for 20 years - who has more experience? Remove the temptation - put it away. After all, they aren't buying your jewelry - they're supposed to be buying your house. You are moving anyway, pack some of your special things a bit early to play it safe. You'll appreciate them more when you unpack at your new house ... and you'll still have them. Well priced homes are selling quickly these days so your security efforts won't mean that you will be without the pleasure of your valuables for very long.
Marketing your home is a very safe endeavor and experienced agents have learned to be aware to protect your assets. The MLS Lockbox systems are now technical marvels that not only record the entry of the agent showing the house, they give your agents the showing date, time and agent information when they update their Lockbox keys so they can follow up for you. The keys must be updated very often so if one is lost it can't be used improperly.
Theft during a home showing is a rare event, but it is not unusua
l for us to show a home and see rings, watches, cameras and cash carelessly left in full view. This always causes us to pause and creates great consternation when there are several people in the viewing party, i.e.- a family with kids running around, two couples looking together, etc. It places an unfair burden on your agent to protect those assets when in fact they should be focused on presenting your home and qualifying the potential buyers as to its fulfilling their wants and needs. The distraction to the agent actually works against you.
Don't leave your watch, rings, and wallet on the dresser. You will be having strangers through your house and it is a distraction to their purpose - the purchase of your house - to be tantalized by vulnerable valuables. You don't put your watch on the dash of your car when you are selling it and you don't give home tours to somebody over to buy your camera. Put your small precious things out of sight. While you're at it ... consider what else might be visible that you wouldn't want publicized. We've seen some very private items left in full display - some legal, some not - that the buyers were uncomfortable viewing. This, too, is detrimental to the sale of your home.
There I was, busy with a Buyer going over the homes we were about to go look at when I am told my wife was calling and must talk to me. She is my team partner, a licensee, and she knew I was with a Buyer so I figured it to be important. I took the call. She starts telling me about the goats a local lender had rescued ... something she had talked about the day before and we kibashed since we already have four goats.
She went on ... another agent is taking the two pygmy goats, but there is a standard goat. Could she 
have it? I could hear the baby browns batting over the phone. I thought/knew I was being set up as I was with a buyer and she knew it. Then came the rest of the story.
Our lender friend found these three goats at a home that was foreclosed on. They had no food or water. He took them and nourished them, but can't keep them. He's looking for a home, and our other friend wanted one to help with the weeds and for her kids (sic) to play with. My wife told her that it was best to take the two pygmies so they would have a buddy, but that left one. I'll be getting a new goat in a day or two and am glad to be part of the rescue.
The animals and children are the innocents in this economic experience and should be protected.
Did you hear about the dog that walked in to the bar?
He walked up to the bar and the bartender asked, "Can I help you?"
The dog replied, "I'm looking for the man who shot my paw."
or...
How about the horse that walked in to the bar.
Walked up to the bar.
Bartender says, "So why the long face?"
Real estate agents have a lot of responsibility during the course of their interaction with a Buyer. They have legal obligations to the Buyer, some very evident, others buried in the law, that mandate what and when they say and do certain things. All real estate transactions in Nevada are legally required to be preceded by the Buyer signing the Duties Owed By A Nevada Licensee form which specifies the licensee's duties. There are, however, aspects of a transaction, or property, that Buyers have a curiosity, or serious interest in, that agents can't delve in to.
NRS 40.770 limits the liability of a seller, seller's agent, or buyer's agent for failure to disclose the fact that the property is or has been the site of certain events or activities by declaring them not material to the transaction. These include the fact that the property was: (a) The site of a homicide, suicide or death by any other cause, except a death that results from a condition of the property; (b) The site of any crime punishable as a felony other than a crime that involves the manufacturing of any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of methamphetamine; or (c) Occupied by a person exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus or suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome or any other disease that is not known to be transmitted through occupancy of the property.
Other potential disclosure discrepancies that are deemed not material to the transaction include disclosing the fact that a sex offender resides or is expected to reside in the community, or that a transitional living facility for released offenders is nearby the subject property. The manufacturing of methamphetamine can be a problem unless: (a) All materials and substances involving methamphetamine have been removed from or remediated on the property by an entity certified or licensed to do so; or (b) The property has been deemed safe for habitation by a governmental entity.
Almost every residential sale these days involves a physical inspection. Agents often review and work with the Buyer in evaluating the inspection report, but NRS 645.252 provides that unless it is otherwise agreed in writing the agent owes no duty to independently verify the accuracy of a statement made by a certified inspector or expert. It goes on the say that they have no duty to conduct an investigation of the condition of the property that is the subject of the real estate transaction.
Our Advice: If it is important to you for spiritual, religious, or other reasons to know if somebody passed away in the home you are contemplating buying understand there are limits as to what your agent can disclose. You can, however, gain information about the home and neighborhood by visiting with some of your potential neighbors. They know what's going on in the neighborhood - stop by and get acquainted. If your Physical Inspection reflects property deficiencies understand that your agent may assist you to the best of their ability, but they have no obligation to verify the accuracy of the report. The inspector has specific knowledge that he is licensed for, as does your real estate licensee... real estate, not construction!
Your agent has legal and practical limitations on the "extra" services she can provide to you. If your needs exceed those limitations then consider other means to garner the information you desire, i.e. - hiring a specialist, or doing your own research. Use your agent as a real estate professional, not a private detective. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs... Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781-5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com
Spring is a time of transition, especially in how you live in your home. You've been buttoned up all winter, but now you can break out of your "winter cocoon". Open the windows and let this fresh spring air circulate through your house. Clean out the debris gathered around the your home, inside and out. Flower gardens, ditches, nooks and crannies all seem to be gathering places of "stuff" all winter.
Winter has a way of causing dirt to accumulate in a house. Tracking in mud and snow doesn't show much at the time, but the potential for damage is realistic. Dirt granules in a carpet that chafe on the fibers will dramatically reduce the life expectancy of your carpet. Even if you don't see discoloration it's a good idea to clean them for the maintenance factor. Wood cabinets and furniture can also be affected by winter. The closed up house can cause the wood to dry out excessively - treat each item appropriately.
Spring is also a good time to change your furnace air filter. You've been recycling the air in your closed environment all winter, and the filters worked overtime all that while. You will soon be deluged by pollen and other environmental "pollutants" that will readily enter your domain because your home will be open more as you begin sleeping with the windows open, and leaving your windows and sliders open.
Windows ... yes, you'll need to do windows! Clean the fog off and enjoy the clarity of Spring. Can't get the fog off? You might have a broken seal. This will need to be replaced to sell your home so you might as well fix your broken windows now so your home will show better and build confidence in prospective Buyers. Open your window coverings - you are between summer heat and winter cold insulation needs - let the light in. Clean the blinds and drapes.
The days are getting warmer so be sure to get your watering going. Show the green of your lawn - most Bank Owned properties won't be able to compete with that. Keep up with your weeds - it is essential for a groomed inviting look. Surely, we have a freeze or two still coming so be careful how soon you add your flowerful colors.
Our Advice: If you are considering selling your home, the above should be considered minimum standards for preparing your home for market. Consider this "Staging 101", the basic essentials. A Buyer will be naturally put off by driving up to a home with weeds all around it, or trying to look at the beautiful views through a foggy veil. The stale winter air should be moved out and the house generally freshened up in the natural spirit of Spring. You can get good separation in your market from Bank Owned and Short Sale properties by cleaning, freshening, and making your home appealing as a home that a Buyer will relate to and want to live in. Not moving? Do it anyway and enjoy the results!
Have you ever washed your car and fixed the brakes so you could sell it ... and wondered why you didn't do it for yourself? This time is just like that time! Do it and enjoy the results ... whatever your ownership future or fate. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs... Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781- 5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com
 |
|
|
Call us for today for Northern Nevada Homes, Vacant Land & Commercial & Investment Property. We specialize in Carson Valley, Carson City, Dayton Valley, and surrounding communities.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
