Clarksville Real Estate

Preparing your home for sale.  One of the most frequently overlooked ingredients to a timely sale is the diligent care taken by the homeowner when preparing their property for sale.  Potential buyers are drawn to properties that have been strategically groomed for the marketing process.

Here are some ideas that you might find helpful.

Getting Your Home Ready To Sell:  You would never dream of inviting guests to your house without making certain preparations, so you wouldn't invite potential buyers without first making the necessary updates by preparing your home to sell.  If you are like most sellers, you want to get as much as possible for your home and you want to do it as quickly as possible.

Letting Go:  After you've lived in a house, it becomes much more than four walls and a ceiling.  It's a home and it has a lot of good memories.  Your first step to preparing your home to sell is to realize that you will take these memories with you wherever you go, but you won't be taking the house.  It can be difficult to let go, but the task will be much easier if you start to think of it as a new beginning rather than an ending.

Cleaning House:  An important part of getting your home ready to sell is in staging the decor for potential buyers.  When you stage a home, you create an environment that is free of any personal items, such as photos and/or anything that stands out as being customized for you or your family.  When a potential buyer walks through your home, they need to envision their belongings and decor without being distracted by yours.  While these items may be special to you, they could possibly prevent the buyer from being able to imagine their own style complementing the home.  In addition to removing any personal items, make sure that you remove any clutter from the home.  A clean home seems larger and more inviting, whereas a lot of stuff laying around could give the impression that the home is too small or cramped for storage.  Pack up any knickknacks, remove your children's drawings from the refrigerator, and clean up your counter space in both the kitchen and bathrooms.

Staging Your Home:  Now that your house is clean, it's time to put the finishing touches on the staging process.  A solid, neutral shade in a tablecloth should be selected for the dining room table.  Depending on your decor and wall coloring, a solid white, sand or ivory covering will work well.  In the center of the table, a vase with fresh cut flowers (or silk, if you have allergies) will add a nice accent.  Did you know that the kitchen and bathroom are two of the main selling points to any home?  Keep this in mind when preparing your home for potential buyers.

The living room should have one focal point, whether it be a fireplace or breathtaking view of the outside world.  If you have too many features screaming out at potential buyers, they may feel overwhelmed, so focus on one aspect and make it shine.  If you have a mantle, line it with three candles that match your decor in color.  Place a large candle in the center with one smaller one on each end, which will be reminiscent of a perfectly matched bookend set.  A home with a stunning view should have window dressings that accent the positive, instead of hiding it.  If your furniture has a design of any kind, mask it with a solid slipcover to complement the flooring or wall color.  Some homeowners also add a fresh coat of paint to their home, which will bring life back into a fading color.  Turn on the lights and open the blinds and draperies to create a bright and inviting environment throughout your home.

Where To Store Your Stuff:  Now that you know how important it is to remove any clutter and oversized or bulky furniture, you need to know where to put it.  If you already have a new home, you can simply move it there.  Otherwise, you can put it into storage until you are ready to move.  It's important to leave some essentials in your former home for potential buyers to see, such as a dining room table, a sofa and chairs, bed, etc.  Any additional furnishings that seem to interrupt the flow of your home, or make it feel cramped, should be removed.  You do not want potential buyers to feel as though the house is too small.

Details, Details, Details:   As a final strategy to prepare your home to sell, make sure that you have any carpet stains removed, windows cleaned, fresh linens placed in the bedrooms and bathrooms, etc.  You would be surprised at how many people pay attention to even the smallest of details, so be sure to fix any small repairs that could be a turnoff for buyers.  Last, but not least, make sure your home looks just as good on the outside as it does on the inside.  This means that your lawn should be cared for, flower beds must be maintained, and any outdoor clutter must be removed.

Experience has proven that when homeowners take the time to adequately prepare their home for the market the time it takes to sell their home is reduced significantly.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.  We are happy to consult with you without any obligation regarding the sale of your property.  You can reach us at any time at 931-338-1375 or 931-436-7617.

Clarksville Real Estate Professionals, please join Pam and I for an Agent Open House at 1275 Flagstone Court. 

When:  17 November 2009

Time:  11 to 1

As always there will be door prizes and lunch!

Directions:  From Trenton Rd turn right on Hazelwood Dr. Right on Flagstone to R on Flagstone Ct.

We hope that you can make the time to come view this wonderful property and visit!  We look forward to seeing you.

	Residential	MLS No.1130937
Status Active	Area 76	List Price $185,000
Type Site Built	Er/Ea Exc. Right to Sell	Media
Address 1275 Flagstone Ct	City Clarksville	Zip 37042
County Montgomery	Sub/Dev Autumnwood Farms	MLS Map
Lot Number	Tax ID 018L J 018.00	Deed Book/Page V1081/878
Directions From Trenton Rd turn right on Hazelwood Dr. Right on Flagstone to R on Flagstone Ct.

Operation Rising Star - Thea Agnew.  Many of you have seen blogs on both this contest and on Thea Agnew's singing talents.  Ms. Thea is not only a very talented singer, she is a mother and a Army Spouse.  Also, she is a wonderful friend.

Voting is today, Sunday, 21:30:00 (930pm) to 23:30:00 (1100pm) Eastern Standard Time (America/New York).  The broadcast can be seen at 7 pm central on the pentagon website: www.pentagonchannel.mil clicking on steaming live or if you see Operation Rising Star, click there. Voting is done on www.oprisingstar.com  clicking on VOTE then Thea Agnew.

Please assist Thea is realizing a dream that she has been chasing for many years now!

Clarksville Real Estate Professionals, please join Pam and I for an Agent Open House at 3353 Clearwater Drive.

When:  12 November 2009

Time:  11 to 1

As always there will be door prizes and lunch!

Directions:  From I-24 take Exit 1, turn right onto Tiny Town Road; Right on Clearwater Drive; Home is on the right. 

We hope that you can make the time to come view this wonderful property and visit!  We look forward to seeing you.

	Residential	MLS No.1130043
Status Active	Area 75	List Price $187,500
Type Site Built	Er/Ea Exc. Right to Sell	Media
Address 3353 Clearwater Dr	City Clarksville	Zip 37042
County Montgomery	Sub/Dev Marymont	MLS Map
Lot Number	Tax ID 007O B 002.00	Deed Book/Page V523/1588
Directions I-24 @ Exit 1* turn Right on Tiny TownRoad* Right on Clearwater Drive . House is on right.

Lot 46 Farmington, Clarksville TN Real Estate.  Custom Built Home by Prestige Builders.  You will not find this home plan anywhere else in the subdivision.  Prestige prides themselves on building one of a kind custom homes with all the amenities at a great value to you. 

Brick and stone front with hardyboard on the sides (not vinyl).  This home is just over 2400 square feet and you still have the option to pick your carpet and hardwood.

The home offers a unique layout with an open main level and a gorgeous master suit also on the main level.  There are four total bedrooms with an office (could be a 5th bedroom)

Large kitchen complete with stainless appliances, tile floors and granite countertops.

Note the magnificient trimwork that is going into this showplace.

Located in a cul-de-sac toward the back of the subdivision, this property is a must see.  Farmington is one of the hottest subdivisions in the Clarksville TN Real Estate market.

Contact The Cash Team today for more information about this home or any other homes in Farmington Subdivision.

Regards,

Tim and Pam Cash

Crye-Leike Realtors

931-648-2112 (office)

931-338-1375 (cell)

www.cashsofclarksville.com

www.myclarskvillerealestate.com

Blog post approved by builder.

Imagine letting your dog out early in the morning and seeing bambi up close and personal.... Who said there are no deer in Clarksville TN?

Great News on the New Tax Credit.  The House passed the unemployment extension bill today after Senate did yesterday which includes the extension and expansion of the tax credit.  The President signed the bill today!  The tax credit provision remains the same.

• First-time home buyers will continue at $8,000
• Tax credit for "move up" purchasers will be up to $6,500
• Must have used previous home as a principal residence for 5 consecutive years of the previous 8.
• Income limits increased and are the same for first-time and "move up" purchasers: $125,000 for    single filers/$225,000 for joint filers
• Limitation on eligible home prices has been increased to $800,000
• Time Frame:    December 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 plus 60 day extension if binding contract is in place by April 30, 2010
• Anti-fraud measures have been added

Below are the NAR Frequently Asked Questions in regards to the Home buyer Tax Credit Changes:

Question: Existing homeowner credit: Must the new house cost more than the old house?

Answer: No. Thus, for example, individuals who move from a high cost area to a lower cost area who meet all eligibility requirements will qualify for the $6500 credit.

Question: I am an existing homeowner. On October 25, 2009, I signed a contract to purchase a new home. I have lived in my current home for more than 5 consecutive years and am within the new income limits. I will go to settlement on November 20. If President Obama has signed the bill by the time I go to settlement, will I qualify for the new $6500 tax credit? 

Answer: Yes. The existing homeowner credit goes into effect for purchases after the date of enactment (when the bill is signed). There is no reference to the date of contract for the new credit. The provision looks solely to the date of purchase, which is generally the date of settlement.

Question: I am a first time home buyer but was not within the prior income limits at the time I entered into my contract to purchase on October 30, 2009. I will be covered, however, by the new income limits. If the new rules have been signed into law by the time I go to settlement, will I be eligible for a credit?

Answer: Yes. The new income limitations go into effect as soon as the President has signed the bill.  The income limit and other eligibility rules will look to your status as of the date of purchase, which is the settlement date. So if the new rules have been signed when you go to settlement, you should be eligible for the credit (or a portion of the credit if you're within the phaseout range).

Question: I am an eligible existing homeowner. I have a fair amount of equity in my home. I have found a home with a nonnegotiable price of $825,000. Will I be able to use any of the $6500 tax credit?

Answer: No. The $800,000 cap on the cost of the purchased home is firm at $800,000. Any amount above $800,000 makes the home ineligible for any portion of the credit. The $800,000 is an absolute ceiling.

Question: I owned my home for 10 years, but sold it two years ago year and have been renting since. If I purchase a home, will I be eligible for the $6500 tax credit if I meet all the other eligibility tests?

Answer: Yes. Because you lived in the home for more than 5 consecutive years of the previous 8, you will qualify for the $6500 credit. For example, Say John and his wife bought a home in 2000 and lived there until 2008 when he got a divorce. Whether John has been renting or bought in the interim, he WOULD INDEED be eligible for the credit because he owned a home and occupied it as his principal residence for 5 consecutive years out of the last 8 years. The keyword here is "consecutive." As long as he lived in that house for 5 years straight what he did since 3 years doesn't impact eligibility.

Question: I am an eligible first time home-buyer. I entered into a contract to purchase on November 1, 2009. Do I have to go to closing before December 1? How does the extension date affect me?

 Answer: You do not have to close before December 1. Once the legislation has been signed, it will be as if the Nov 30 date had never existed. Therefore, so long as the contract settles before April 30 (or July 1, worst case), the purchaser will be eligible for the credit.

This fellow is storing up for the winter months.  We gave up trying to keep them out of the bird feeders a while back.