Judy Niemeyer

Once your home is listed on the open market and aggressively advertised, an offer can come in at any time. Although that is what you want – to sell your home – it may feel like everything is moving very quickly, especially if you get an offer a day or two after your Mobile Eastern Shore home goes up for sale! It’s important to be prepared to make a decision quickly when the offer meets your criteria, but often sellers have a tendency to wait and see if they receive more or better offers. You will ultimately have to decide what to do, but it is not necessarily safe to assume that there will be a better offer in the future.

If an offer comes in that meets all your requirements, it’s good to remember the old ‘bird in the hand’ saying. Sometimes properties stay on the market for months because a seller has refused a first offer to wait for a higher one that never comes. You should definitely have already set in your mind what would be acceptable to you in terms of price, your desired net, deposit, financing, contingencies, incentives, conveyances, and closing date, and careful review of these elements should be helpful in making your decision. Remember, you have three options: accept the offer, reject the offer, counter the offer.

If you are not fully satisfied with the offer presented to you, you can make a counter offer.

Typically, counter offers will state that the seller has accepted the buyer’s offer subject to the following particulars which can address such items as:

• Total consideration (generally a higher price)
• Increasing the size of the earnest money deposit
• Refusal to pay for certain reports or fees
• Changing service providers
• Altering closing or possession date
• Excluding personal property from the contract
• Modifying contingency time frames

Just as a seller can submit a counter offer to a buyer, a buyer can counter the seller’s counter, which will then become a counter-counter offer . There is no limit to the number of counter offers that can be submitted back and forth, but counter offers do contain time expirations . If the two parties involved in the sale of your Mobile Eastern Shore home finally reach an agreement, make certain that everything is in writing!

What about low-ball offers? Even if you consider the price being offered insulting, keep your emotions in check. Sometimes buyers are simply testing the waters and will respond positively to a counter offer from you, so keep your options open. You can always counter with definite terms that are favorable to you, the seller, but it is valuable to maintain communication with the buyer. Your countering is advantageous in that it keeps the buyer interested and it moves the negotiation forward, thus giving the buyer the opportunity to submit another offer you’ll like better. When it comes to selling your Mobile Eastern Shore home, it can be difficult to remain unemotional and not take low-ball offers personally, but remind yourself that this is a business transaction. By the same token, while it is one thing to attempt to convince a buyer to purchase your home in a down market, you need to make money, too.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

The Judy Niemeyer Team knows that selling or buying a Mobile Eastern Shore home is a major event in your life. It represents one of the largest single investments you may make in your lifetime. It is, therefore, our Goal to make this experience a seamless one. Whether buying Mobile Eastern Shore real estate or marketing Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale, we will provide unparalleled professional, quality service and the most productive approach to achieving your goals.

You can contact Judy by email or by calling 251-990-0569.

Why? How? What? Where?

Let’s start with the why? The most common incentive to clear away clutter occurs when you’re selling your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate and want to stage it for prospective buyers. Real estate agents will tell you that clutter-filled, disorganized homes appear smaller, and every website offering tips for a fast sale includes–and stresses- the need to show a clutter-free home. Another strong reason for eliminating clutter is to lower the stress in your life by having everything in its place ((how nice it would be not to spend valuable time and energy looking through clutter for misplaced items!) and returning home to a serene and neatly organized setting. (Polls and studies have shown that physical surroundings do indeed affect one’s level of stress. ) Other mess-removing motivators include selling unused items to bring in extra money, donating still-good items to people who need them, and joining the green movement by recycling unwanted possessions.

How to begin such a daunting task?

All “experts” in the field strongly advise tackling the job in small steps. Begin with one room at a time, play soothing music, and allocate 20 to 30 minutes a day to the job. Bring to each room boxes or bins labeled keep, toss, donate, and recycle. Be ruthless!! If you haven’t used an item in the past year, remove it from your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate. (Hint: also check expiration dates on foodstuffs when you de-clutter the kitchen.) Assess your storage capacity and discard accordingly.

What should you dispose of?

The most obvious clutter creators seem to be mail, clothing, newspapers and magazines, documents, books, and home décor accessories. Think, too, about furniture, baby items, food, toiletries, appliances, bedding, electronics, and hardware. Have you heard about the “80/20 rule”? It is generally believed that you can safely let go of 80% of the papers you’ve kept.

Where should your unneeded/unwanted treasures go?

For many of them, the answer is, of course, the trash. (You can easily arrange for bulk pickup for large items.) Others may be candidates for recycling. Perhaps you can list some of them under the Free tab on Craig list or search nearly 5000 groups who use discarded materials.

Ask around your community for organizations which would welcome used books and toys–libraries, hospitals, nursery schools, churches. Give old magazines to doctors’ offices. Lions Club groups collect old eyeglasses, and many organizations eagerly accept working but unwanted cell phones. There are innumerable websites which suggest new homes for your discards. Try RecycleNow.com or Earth911.com (supplies locations of local charities by zip code). Many organizations such as Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army, and Disabled Veterans, have handy drop-off boxes or centers or will come to your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate location for pickup. (Extra bonus: in addition to the joy of giving to others, you may also receive a tax deduction for your contributions.)

The fact that much of our clutter reflects our memories, values, and achievements makes it difficult to let go of it, but with strong motivation, resolve, and continued effort, you can free yourself of accumulated “stuff”, give yourself extra time, money, and energy, and lessen your stress level while enhancing the lives of others. How to keep your home this way? That’s another article!

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

The Judy Niemeyer Team knows that selling or buying a Mobile Eastern Shore home is a major event in your life. It represents one of the largest single investments you may make in your lifetime. It is, therefore, our Goal to make this experience a seamless one. Whether buying Mobile Eastern Shore real estate or marketing Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale, we will provide unparalleled professional, quality service and the most productive approach to achieving your goals.

You can contact Judy by email or by calling 251-990-0569.

Given the number and severity of natural disasters world-wide this year, it is no wonder that owners of Mobile Eastern Shore real estate are becoming increasingly concerned about their insurance coverage for damages caused by these disasters, especially floods. According to FEMA, flooding is the number one natural disaster across the United States, and this spring brings with it the probability of extremely high water and flooding.

Since your basic homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover damage due to rising water, (i.e. water that collects as a result of an overflow of a body of water or surface water runoff), you would be well advised to research flood insurance policies for your Mobile Eastern Shore real estate. Think you’re safe because you live in a moderate-to-low-risk flood area? Think again. About 25% of all flood insurance claims come from areas with just such a designation!

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is a federal program that offers flood insurance to homeowners who reside in an NFIP community. It is a good idea to determine your community’s flood risk. There are three types of policies available to owners of Mobile Eastern Shore real estate: the standard dwelling; general property (for businesses and apartments); and residential condominium building association, and each can be purchased through most leading insurance companies (you can call NFIP at 888-379-9531 for a referral) for a relatively low fee paid once a year. Average residential premiums cost about $570 a year, but a low-risk policy can be had for as little as $129 and covers the foundation of your home and the equipment needed for the home’s normal function (i.e. furnace, water heater, and electrical system). You can also purchase additional coverage for furniture, appliances, and personal possessions

As with other types of insurance, it’s important to know exactly what your policy covers, information about deductibles, rates, payment, and claim procedures. One area not covered is the basement, so finished walls, floors, and personal belongings found there are not claimable. For residential policies the maximum coverage is $250, 000 for the structure and $100, 000 for personal property. For businesses and commercial properties the limits are increased to $500, 000 for both. Rates are set, do not vary from agent to agent, and depend on factors such as your home’s age, type of construction, and location. Like other policies, having a higher deductible lowers the amount of the premium but will reduce your claim payment. Be advised that unless flood insurance is required by your lender, there will typically be a 30-day waiting period before your policy goes into effect.

Insurers urge homeowners to inventory all of their belongings, estimate their value, and keep a copy of the list in a waterproofed spot or even in a location away from the residence. Some property owners rely on videotapes to catalog their possessions. Websites such as KnowYourStuff.com make easy-to-use inventory checklists and planners available to you free of charge.

Lest you are thinking of foregoing flood insurance to save money, consider this: just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands in damage. During the past decade the average flood claim has amounted to over $33, 000! Best not to be penny-wise but pound foolish.

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

The Judy Niemeyer Team knows that selling or buying a Mobile Eastern Shore home is a major event in your life. It represents one of the largest single investments you may make in your lifetime. It is, therefore, our Goal to make this experience a seamless one. Whether buying Mobile Eastern Shore real estate or marketing Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale, we will provide unparalleled professional, quality service and the most productive approach to achieving your goals.

You can contact Judy by email or by calling 251-990-0569.

Far too many consumers hold beliefs, supposedly based on conventional wisdom, that simply are not true and may actually be costing them money. So, it’s time to debunk these theories and set the record straight!

HOUSEHOLD MYTHS:

1. You must rinse dirty dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

Your dishes won’t get any cleaner, according to tests by Consumer Reports. Just scrape off excess food into the trash or garbage disposal. Another reason not to pre-rinse is that by doing so, the detergent doesn’t have any grease or grime to stick to, so detergents attack dishes instead, making them appear cloudy, scratched or etched, according to the Whirlpool Institute of Kitchen Science. Rinsing in the sink wastes both water and energy because you’re probably using heated water to do so.

2. Ceiling fans help cool a room.

Ceiling fans don’t actually cool the air in your Mobile Eastern Shore home. They create a wind chill that keeps skin cool, so don’t bother using a fan in an empty room, says the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Star program. Using fans is a cheaper way to keep you cool only if it allows you to use less air conditioning.

3. More coils means a better mattress;

A queen-size mattress with at least 390 coils has plenty, says Consumer Reports. Even mattress companies say the most important buying tip is to actually lie on the mattress to determine if it’s comfortable.

4. Store batteries in the freezer to prolong their life.

Not required or recommended for batteries produced today. In fact, humidity from cold temperature storage can harm batteries. To maximize performance and shelf life, store batteries at normal room temperatures with moderate humidity levels.

5. Freshen your garbage disposal with lemons.

No! Citric acid from lemons will corrode the metal inside the disposal in your Mobile Eastern Shore home.

6. In-tank cleaners for toilets are fast, easy, and efficient.

Fast? Yes. Easy? Yes. Not efficient, however. They don’t get completely rid of buildup which can ruin the toilet. It’s better to pour vinegar down the overflow tube of the toilet in your Mobile Eastern Shore home. It’s more efficient and much cheaper!

7. It’s better to keep the AC on all day than to try to cool down a hot house at the end of the day.

No! Cooling a hot house uses less energy than leaving the AC on all day, even at a high setting.

8. Turning a computer back on uses a great deal of electricity.

No again. There is no meaningful power surge when you turn on a computer. Turning it off when you’re not using it always saves energy!

More expensive myths coming in Installment II!

Search all Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale.

The Judy Niemeyer Team knows that selling or buying a Mobile Eastern Shore home is a major event in your life. It represents one of the largest single investments you may make in your lifetime. It is, therefore, our Goal to make this experience a seamless one. Whether buying Mobile Eastern Shore real estate or marketing Mobile Eastern Shore homes for sale, we will provide unparalleled professional, quality service and the most productive approach to achieving your goals.

You can contact Judy by email or by calling 251-990-0569.