David Matney, CRS ~ Omaha NE Real Estate ~ (402) 490-6771

Alliance Real Estate is proud to have partnered with ServiceOne Home Warranty to offer sellers a FREE home warranty during the listing period. Our company has offered this program with ServiceOne for several years and it has been well received by our agents and our clients. The warranty is free and it also comes with free evaluation conducted by ServiceOne of the major mechanical systems of the home. For more information or to sign up for the program please contact your friendly Alliance Realtor.

Thanks,

David Matney, CRS,GRI

Alliance Real Estate

Have you ever been in a home and noticed a crack in the wall of the foundation in the garage? This is typically caused by a phenomenon known as "street creep." What is street creep? Street creep is when the concrete expands and pushes on the driveway which subsequently pushes the floor of the garage against the wall of the garage which then causes causes the wall to crack.

Are some homes more prone to street creep? Yes, homes that are located on the bottom of a hill on a curve or homes at the bottom of a T intersection. Why do these homes see street creep? Concrete is just like anything else it flows downhill. It is also important to remember that concrete expands and contracts with the weather and this also can effect the amount of street creep.

Can you prevent street creep? Sometimes, if the home does not properly installed expansion joints in the driveway then street creep is more prone to happen. This expansion joint is a gap that allows for movement of the concrete. You can hire a professional contractor to cut the concrete with the proper depth. Unless the expansion joint is the appropriate depth then the movement will still occur.

Sometimes, when selling a home you run across structural issues that are beyond the scope of a typical home inspection. If you have a question in those situations you would want to consult a structural engineer. A structural inspection typically costs approximately $200. This is money well spent and a professional Realtor will strongly suggest this type of inspection if the situation warrants.

Thanks,

David Matney, CRS,GRI

Alliance Real Estate

This is an example of what happens when your home is not priced correctly. This example involves a property that is in near my neighborhood and I am good friends with one of the neighbors so I could see this example play out over the course of time.

Background

I personally listed this property on May 24, 2006. This home is a 3 bedroom/2bath/2car garage split-entry home with approximately 1500 finished sqare feet. This home was originally a "For Sale by Owner" and they had marketed the home for several weeks at $148,000. When I first met with these sellers we discussed three critical issues; price, condition and the true market value of the home. At the time of the listing, I felt that $148,000 was very aggressive in terms of price and I felt that the home would sell for perhaps the low 140's. The sellers of course did not want to "give it away" and we listed at $147,000. 44 days later the home SOLD for $144,000 with $4500 in seller concessions. Thus netting the seller $139,500.

This price established a market value of the home at $139,500 in July of 2006.

Fast Forward to February of 2007

The buyers who purchased the home in July of 2006 were now transferred out of state and listed the home in February of 2007 with a competitor for $150,000. The home was vacant and clearly overpriced. This home that sold 7 months earlier did not appreciate to $150,000. They did not make any marked improvements to the home and were instead trying to "break even."

What is the result?

After 337 days on the market and finally reducing the price to $131,500 this home SOLD for $128,000 in a short sale. The home sat vacant for nearly a year, the yard was unkept in the summer and the snow was not shoveled in the winter. The neighbor was of course upset with the new listing company. Is it the real estate company's fault the snow was not shoveled? No, real estate companies market a property, not care for it. However, in the eyes of the neighbor it was the real estate company's fault. Is that fair? No, but perception is reality.

*** Lesson Learned ***

If you are a seller and you overprice your home - it will not sell. If you are a seller, the buyers do not care about what your current situation or what it takes for you to "break even." The longer the property sits on the market the more likely it will sell at a lower price. This could have been avoided. If the sellers would have realized the market value was $139,000 in February of '07 they probably would have sold their home in less time and for more money. In the end it is best to price your home at market value. Ultimately, the market determines market value. Market value has nothing to do with what you NEED or WANT from a property. Trying to "break even" usually ends up costing YOU money and you end up digging yourself deeper in the hole. The best option is to stop digging and to sell your home AT market value.

Thanks,

David Matney, CRS,GRI

Alliance Real Estate

One of the most important items to consider in selling a vacant home in winter is to have the home properly winterized. Not winterizing a home could spell disaster for a home seller. Even if you have insurance some insurance companies have clauses that will NOT cover a vacant home if it has been vacant for more than 30 days.

It is also important to have it winterized by a PROFESSIONAL plumber or qualified contractor. Having the thermostat set at 60 degrees is not the solution. What if the furnace goes out? Believe me, that can happen even on a NEW home! If you are a seller and the home is vacant, please have the home winterized. It is well worth the peace of mind.

Thanks,

David Matney, CRS,GRI

Alliance Real Estate

Considering selling your home? CLICK HERE for a list of questions to ask your Realtor.

In Omaha ice dams are a very common occurrence. Basicly ice dams are caused be uneven heating on the roof's surface. If left unchecked ice dams can cause significant water damage.

In a nutshell, an ice dam is formed when snow melts on the roof, the water runs down the roof until it hits a part of the roof where the temperture is below freezing. The water backs up and seaps under the shingles and then enters the home. Some indications of prior ice dams are water stains on the ceiling or peeling paint along the wall.

The best protection to prevent ice dams is to remove snow from the roof or to have adequate insulation in the addict to maintain a constant roof temperature. If removing snow it is best not to get up on the roof because a broken neck if far worse than a ice dam.

Other removal techniques involve heating the roof surface in order to prevent the water from freezing. When buying a home it is best to have a thorough home inspection to see if your roof might have had ice dam issues in the past or if your roof might be prone to ice dams.

One example of ice dam prevention

Example of a potential ice dam

For more information on ice dam prevention it is best to contact a qualified roofing contractor.

Thanks,

David Matney, CRS,GRI

Alliance Real Estate