Five Areas That Can Hurt Your Home's Appraisal

When you're listing your home for sale, one of the things that is very vital is the appraisal. Yet, this is an area that can be significantly positively or negatively influenced by what you do or don't do to your home before it is appraised.

Knowing which areas to pay particular attention to can help you increase your home's value. Here are five areas that can hurt your appraisal.

Unkept exterior/interior

Having a messy home from the outside in, not only can cause potential buyers to turn away from your home but it can also cause an appraiser to shave a little off your appraisal. If the exterior has lots of overgrown and unkept bushes and the house is dilapidated, this could cause the appraiser to take "as much as 3 percent off", according to CNNMoney.

Curb appeal doesn't just help entice buyers to come in and see more of your home, it can actually increase your appraisal value. Also, If neighboring homes are meticulously kept up and yours isn't, this could cause your appraisal to be even more severely downgraded. A carefully maintained yard is a sign that the home is also likely kept up.

Trendy Remodels

Remodeling can certainly add value to your home, especially if ....CLICK HERE TO READ MORE in my Monthly Newsletter

Credit: Phoebe Chongchua

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The Featured Home of the Week is a three bedroom, three bath home on 1.24 acres on  4 Highwood lane in Westport  for just  $700,000. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Use That Space Heater Safely in Your Connecticut Home

Space heaters provide welcome warmth in chilly rooms, but that warmth comes with a big warning label: Each year space heaters cause more than 25,000 residential fires and send 6,000 people to the ER for treatment of burns, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Help stay safe with these recommendations:

    Give the heater some space
    Use wall plug-ins
    Opt for quality
    Never run a space heater in an unoccupied room
    Size matters
    Keep electric heaters away from dampness
    Safety first

Learn more about safe space heater use from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Savers website.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. Nor is it intended to effect coverage under any policy. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.

Article submitted by Brennan Purdy of State Farm Insurance

My vision is to be an insurance professional whose actions are driven by keeping the customer's best interest as my primary goal. My staff will treat all my customers in a caring, friendly, and professional manner. My office will provide warm, efficient, and seamless services to our customers at all times. I expect my business to be comprised of knowledgeable, multiple-line customers who see my office as their first and best choice for all their insurance and financial service needs

For more information on these and other home safety tips, stop by my office or visit www.brennanpurdy.com. My office is conveniently located in downtown Bethel. 203-798-7300.                   211 Greenwood Avenue , Bethel, CT 06801

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The Featured Home of the Week is a three bedroom, three bath home on 1.24 acres on  4 Highwood lane in Westport  for just  $700,000. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

National Real Estate News from TheCTrealtyBlog- Week of 9/17/12 (Video)

This week's national real estate news update highlight - Market time has fallen nearly 30 percent over last year at this time. Click here for more- about current sales trends,  how credit scores are figured,  fall maintenance tips and interest rates.

Click here for this months newsletter and our video news channel.

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The Featured Home of the Week is a three bedroom, three bath home on 1.24 acres on  4 Highwood lane in Westport  for just  $700,000. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Judy | Post a Comment | Share Article

Happy New Year 5773

As you gather in private homes and synagogues to  usher in the year 5773 in the Jewish calendar, you have our best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Connecticut Financing Update and Today's Mortgage Rates 9/17/2012

Looks like a perfect time to purchase a home and/or refinance your existing mortgages.  Treasury prices are lower this morning as markets are giving back some of yesterday's gains. Yesterday the Federal Open Market Committee statement was a major market mover.  On top of promising to keep interest rates at "exceptionally low levels" until mid-2015, the Fed will buy at least $40 billion a month in mortgage-backed securities to ensure that rates stay low.  The US economic calendar remains busy today with data that has not disappointed on consumer prices, retail sales, industrial production, and consumer sentiment.  Retail sales in the U.S. increased by 0.9% in August, the most in six months, boosted by demand for autos and higher gasoline prices, as well as back-to-school sales. U.S. consumer prices increased by 0.6% in August, in line with economists' expectations.  Excluding food and energy costs, which tend to be volatile, the core price index rose 0.1%, slightly below the 0.2% increase economists had expected.  Industrial production fell 1.2% in August, its biggest monthly percentage drop in more than three years, in part because of Hurricane Isaac but also because of a big drop in car output.  And finally, Consumer sentiment climbed higher in September to 79.2, the highest level since May. Economists had expected the index to decline to 73.5 from the final August reading of 74.3. Currently, the 10 year yield is at 1.796% and mortgages are roughly an 0.125 to 0.25 worse in price from yesterday morning.

Today's Mortgage Rates

Conventional 30 year fixed          3.5%                      APR 3.546%

Conventional 15 year fixed          2.875%                 APR 2.956%

Conventional 5/1 ARM                  2.5%                      APR 3.036%

Conventional 7/1 ARM                  2.75%                    APR 3.065%

The above rates are based on a loan amount of $417,000 for a single family home, a borrower’s middle credit score of 740 and a 20% down payment.

This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. All loans must satisfy company underwriting guidelines. Information and pricing are subject to change at any time and without notice. This is not an offer to enter into a rate lock agreement under any applicable law.

 

As a lending professional, Nima Rezvan meets a wide range of real estate lending needs, whether it be a first time purchase, second home purchase, or refinance. He welcomes the opportunity to serve your needs with quick and accurate real estate financing advice. With his expertise and knowledge, he will make sure you understand the features associated with the loan program you choose and that it meets your unique financial situation.

With more than 10 years of mortgage lending experience, Nima specializes in  Conventional Mortgages,  Jumbo Loan Financing, Refinance, First Time Home Buyers and Federal Housing Administration/Veterans' Administration (FHA/VA)

 NMLS #110681

send Nima an email

Mobile: 203-913-6016
Fax: 877-804-5752

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The Featured Home of the Week is a three bedroom, three bath home on 1.24 acres on  4 Highwood lane in Westport  for just  $700,000. See the virtual tour HERE

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY