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Selling Season

March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Do you remember the excitement as young child when it was almost Christmas and you just couldn’t wait for Santa?

Or perhaps when you were in college you counted the days until Spring Break.  One of my favorite times of year is what I affectionately call the Selling Season. Each spring it comes to Lawrence just as the daffodils begin to bloom.

This selling season is when all the home buyers and sellers emerge. Some are eager, some are gathering information, some are scared, be they all are interested in housing. Since I can always talk housing,homes, trends, market conditions, and more, this is my season!

Here are a few questions I am regularly asked this time of year.

1. What is the busiest time of year for buying? April is historically our number one month for putting homes under contract and July is normally the largest closing month.

2. Is it to soon to put my house on the market? Absolutely not. It is better to have your home on the market the minute the first crocus pops through the ground.

3. I am in a lease until July, should I wait to look. No, most sellers are very well aware that some buyers will not be able to close immediately. The best homes will come and go if you are not ready when the market is the hottest.

4. What is my first step if I want to buy? Talk to a lender and get pre-approved. The most important item in buying is knowing what you can afford.

5. What is the first step if I want to sell? De-clutter, De-clutter, De-clutter.

 

The next step, give me a call and let’s discuss your goals in housing. Whether buying, selling, remodeling,or questioning the market I am always happy to talk Real Estate.

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Home improvements: getting outside on your deck

March 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As the flowers start to bloom, the season is upon us to enjoy meals outside, sit and visit with neighbors
and take in the beautiful evenings. Most of these activities are done from our decks. Combining indoor
and outdoor space has become a very common trend today, which I love.

As all areas of our homes, we need to maintain these great outdoor living and dining rooms.
I am always a bit surprised and a little disappointed to show homes with weathered looking decks (much like
the picture below marked, “Old”). I know that keeping a deck stained is work and a bit
time consuming, but the rewards are plentiful. Stained decks last longer, they look better, are less likely to
splinter, and resell better.


If staining just is not your thing, then a good power washing after harsh winters or before putting a home
on the market is a must. I love how this photo represents the difference a little bit of work will create.

The variety of decks is as varied as every yard. They can be built off a two-story home, surround a pool,
built for entertaining or for enjoying morning coffee. The size and design are really only limited to your
budgetary goals. The do not need to be intricate or large to be useful or enjoyed.

Composition decking has become quite popular over the past several years. Composite decking is as strong as real wood but is made of a variety of materials most commonly wood fibers and plastics.

The reason for this growing trend is they are cost effective to build, the do not need regular maintenance and are considered “green” since most are made from recycled materials.

 

So if you are ready to bring you inside outside it may be time to consider vamping up your deck. If you have questions on decking, materials, sizes of decks or more don’t hesitate to give me a call. I am always happy to help.

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Houzz

March 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am about to go against what I told myself I would do. I am going to use content on my website not created specifically by me.

But hopefully the reason why will become clear if you check out my new favorite App. It is simply called Houzz.
Anyone who wants to get ideas for their home, inside or outside,(which is pretty much all of us) needs to check this out.

Beautiful showcase of homes, rooms, gardens, etc. with information on designers, price of goods, a function to create your own idea book and comments. It has become a huge resource for me.

I am including in this blog post an article on ground cover as we are definitely get close to lawn and garden season.


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2011 Energy Star Tax Credits

February 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 2011 Energy Star Tax Credits:

Did you do a little home remodeling or home improvements in the last year?

Don’t forget to add those energy saving improvements to your tax returns.
Here’s a breakdown on some of the most recognizable improvements and what to expect to receive.

Doors, Windows, Sky lights:  For replacement windows you will be able to deduct 10% of total cost up to $200, Doors up to $500. Primary residence only. Does not include installation. Materials only

Water Heater:  $300 tax credit, must be at least 90% efficient and will include installation cost. Must be installed in primary residence and would include gas, electric, heat pumps and tankless water heaters.

Roofing: 10% of cost up to $500. On materials only and must be on primary residence.

Insulation: 10% of cost up to $500. Must be used to reduce loss of heat or cold, such as insulation in attics and walls. Does not include insulated siding.  Cost of materials only and must be on primary residence.

HVAC: Central Air, up to $300.  Heat Pumps up to $300, Furnace and Boilers up to $300. Does include installation. Not all Energy Star Products Qualify.

All improvements must be made with Energy Star products. Not all Energy Star items automatically apply.  See logo below to identify products that may qualify.

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Can Weather Change the Economy?

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As I have mentioned once or twice I am not a winter person. I have gathered from many of you that winter  is not our favorite season in general. Which brings me to ask the question, since this winter is warmer than the previous 2 are we happier, are we more hopeful, are we spending a little more, doing more and how does that affect our economy?

The mild temperatures may not be related to the trend I am seeing but I am certain it is not hurting it either. Last January Lawrence had a total of 40 homes that went under contract. This January we will be have already recorded 57 homes under contract but there most likely a few transaction yet to be submitted. I am not jumping up and down declaring that housing or the economy is booming but I can’t help believing that we are starting to feel a little more positive due to the weather.

Instead of staying curled up in our homes we are now spending time outdoors, dreaming of the future and fantasizing about what we can do with our yards in just a few weeks. So why not start house shopping today?  From what I am seeing it appears that many people have.

So if you have been thinking of putting your home on the market now may be the best time. I could really use a few more listingsJ Call or e-mail me to discuss this warming trend in housing.
Remember, I am never to busy to be of help to you or those you know thinking of moving.

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New Standard of Real Estate

January 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The New Standard.

Here is my soap box on the housing market.

We need to Stop comparing the real estate market of today to the market of 7 years ago. It just doesn’t matter what things were like in the mid 2000’s.

I believe that we need to stop expecting it to get better and realize this is what it is. It is important to keep in mind that even during the years of people having the ability to buy a home regardless of employment we still had homes that did not sell quickly. We still had people that lost their homes, and transactions that did not close. I understand we deal with more short sales and foreclosures but this is where we are in today’s economy.

Today we may have to work a little harder. Not every transaction is going to be smooth but we need to look at what caused part of this crisis and realize perhaps it shouldn’t be that easy. Buyers may have to provide additional documentation. And there is no such thing as easy money or large returns on investments, regardless if it is a home or 401K.

We should actually be talking about the opportunities that are boundless to buyers today.

Not only is it still absolutely possible to get a loan, providing you have a job, and you’ve paid your bills on time but the prices are not racing out of proportion with today’s economy and the cost of borrowing is at a historic low. During these times when we are watching gas, food, and services increase in cost we are watching home prices decline.

If you are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the booming days of real estate to return I am 95% certain we will be waiting awhile. And I am pretty sure that we will not continue to have interest rates below 4% for years to come.

THIS IS THE NEW STANDARD OF REAL ESTATE.

You can get on board and reap the benefits or wish you would have. Call today if you would like to discuss the housing opportunities available to you now.

And thanks for taking the time to read my rant. If you want to discuss, complain or take advantage of the market e-mail me at lisaramler@gmail.com, call 785-691-8288 or Tweet me @lisaramler.

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Did you know…..

January 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As a member of the Lawrence Board of Realtors and a Realtor in good standing that I have all listings in Do. Co. that are currently on MLS can be viewed in one place. Simply click here, lawrence listings or on search Lawrence listings on the home page and enter your desired price.

New  homes come on the market every day, prices change, and homes are sold. Keep up on what is happening in one place. Also featured on my website are various home buyer/seller tips. Household maintenance suggestions, and happenings around town. Visit often, tell your friends and always feel free to provide suggestions and feedback.

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Garage door openers.

December 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As a home owner and a Realtor you would think I would know most easy home repairs, but I don’t.

A few weeks ago my garage door stopped working, or better said I could not get the garage door to go up or down using my remote. I replaced the battery in my garage door remote and still nothing. I was ready to call a garage door company to come out and take a look. However before I got around to it I mentioned this little problem to a colleague who mentioned reprogramming my remote.

I had no idea what he was talking about so a quick Google search led me to discover a few options to try.
Much to my surprise all I had to do was unplug and re-plug the garage door to reset it and everything works fine.
Why did I not know this before? I actually had to get into a cold car a few days when this simple trick was all I needed. Seriously. Shouldn’t that be printed somewhere on the opener or remote?

Since this was such a simple fix I thought it best to share a few other garage door repairs just in case someone else runs into these little problems.

 

From Jeff Beneke, former About.com Guide

When your garage door opener suddenly stops operating properly, the explanation and solution are usually pretty easy to deal with. Here are the most common problems, along with the most likely repairs for each. For adjustments and repairs that aren’t self-evident, check the owner’s manual or contact a professional.

Garage door opener does not operate with either the remote or the wall switch.

The power source has probably been disrupted. Make sure the motor unit is plugged in. Check the circuit breaker, fuse or GFCI.

Garage door won’t close all the way.

The close limit switch needs adjusting. If not, see if the door is binding when raised and lowered manually.

Garage door reverses immediately after hitting floor.

The close limit switch probably needs adjusting.

Garage door reverses before hitting floor.

The close force probably needs adjusting.

Garage door does not open completely.

The limit switch may need to be moved toward motor unit.

The garage door opens, but the motor won’t stop running.

The limit switch probably needs to be moved away from the motor unit.

The garage door won’t open or close with remote control.

There are several possible solutions: (1) Move closer to the door (you might be out of range); (2) Make sure that the antenna on the motor unit is hanging down; (3) If the door functions fine with the wall switch, replace the battery in the remote; (4) Reprogram the remote.

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Market Update, November 2011

November 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Is winter the best time to buy?                                                                                                                                                                                   Should I take my house off the market?                                                                                                                                                                         What will 2012 look like?                                                                                                                                                                                                       Is the market getting better?

There is no doubt in my mind that winter, regardless of the economy, has always been the best time to buy. A simple run down of reason include the following.
1. Realistic and motivated Sellers. Most sellers do not just randomly put their homes on the market in Nov. or Dec. unless there is a reason to sell. Also those that may have been on the market for some months are ready to start the new year off without said house.

2.Low interest rates. Similar in pricing and demand interest almost always will be higher in spring and summer.

3. Less competition with other buyers. Most perfect homes are perfect for more than one person. Also many people fear moving during the winter months but from someone who has done this. It is actually easier than moving when it is 100 degrees outside.

So, should the inventory of homes change during the winter. For the same reason I recommend buying I recommend keeping your home on the market during winter months.

1. Lots of sellers take their homes off the market so stay put. It’s all about supply and demand. We may not have as much demand and you can’t be in demand if your not out there at all. There are always someone looking and you don’t want to miss any opportunity.

2. People have more time to look as they are off work during the holidays. It is a known statistic that web sites for real estate web sites hit the winter peak between Christmas and New Year’s.

3. Some people transfer jobs and locations at semester, especially in a college town.

Speculation of 2012 is hopeful.
We are hopeful. According to economic forecasting firm Fiserv, who accurately predicted what housing would look like in 2011, is speculating that 95% of  the major metro areas they track will have a slight increase in 2012. Fallen prices, low interest rates and the lack of new construction will help us see a small increase. My thoughts on Lawrence, I believe we will sell more homes, but I don’t think they will be at higher prices.

Is the market getting better?
The market has changed. Better is relative. Statistically we are seeing home prices stay steady but number of homes sold are less. Would you rather see more homes selling at lower prices or our prices staying high and inventory sitting for countless months. I think we will see a decrease in average pricing in 2012 but that may encourage more people to buy.

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The One Feature That Will Make You Buy a Home.

November 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment


When I began my career in real estate I was eager to learn everything I could. I took classes; spoke to top agents, worked many nights and weekends because I wanted to be the best.

I was a bit perplexed about a year into my career as I heard multiple agents say. “There is one thing that will sell a house.” When I pressed further to discover that one thing I was told, “That’s what we do, we find what it is for each person. It is different for every client.”

It took a little while for me to process this information as I was hoping that there truly was only one thing I needed to learn and I would magically turn into a real estate genius. It took a little more than this and genius is term best used for those curing disease and saving people’s lives but let me explain what I learned.

Not long after this my husband and I began discussing building a home and as we compiled the list of wants and needs we decided on the best home for us.  It would include a master on the main level, 3 bedrooms upstairs, a daylight basement, formal dining room, etc. As this was during the boom years and I having access to homes and builders this should be simple, right?

Lesson #1. (Which was a good lesson for a realtor.) It is much harder finding the perfect home than I thought. Then one evening as we were enjoying a bike ride with our daughters we decided to wander through a home being built. Nice open floor plan, formal dining, daylight basement, but all bedrooms were upstairs. The master on the main was a big deal to me so we thought nothing about the home UNTIL I strolled through the laundry room. Yes the laundry room, which is conveniently located off the garage and right by the kitchen. This laundry room was special because it was big. We could leave all the shoes and coats here when coming in from outdoors; I can hang the laundry, perfect place to store additional kitchen items if needed. I was smitten and the thought of the master on the main level never crossed my mind again. Lesson #2. You don’t always know what you want until you see it.

A week later we had signed the contract to build our home. There were small changes made, such as an extended kitchen island and a jetting bathtub. And then there were changes we didn’t have a say on as our daylight basement became a walk-out basement. Lesson #3. Something’s are just out of our control and they can turn out just fine. I have always loved my house and as we see our needs change throughout the past decade one space I continue to be thankful for is that of the laundry room.

Although the laundry room is NOT the only reason I choose this home it was the tipping point.

Often we do not know what that one feature is but all good agents know how to find the clues while we are looking.  Remember, there are no perfect homes, but I will do my part to help you find the closest one possible.

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