Many of today’s buyers in the market for a Dallas home are looking for one that is eco-friendly. They want a house that is energy-efficient and combats detriments to the environment. Listed below are some relative easy to do and cost-efficient ways you can appeal to potential eco-conscious buyers.

1. Insulate. Insulate. Insulate. Use pipe insulators to keep hot water hot for a longer time and a hot water heater blanket ($10.00 to $20.00) to both prevent temperature loss and reduce the amount of electricity/gas needed to maintain the water temperature. Be aware that the further heat or air conditioning has to travel, the greater the temperature loss. Insulating your heating and cooling ducts can prevent up to 60% of this loss. Remember that even a small area of inadequate or damaged insulation can greatly reduce efficiency.

2. Reduce heating/cooling expenses. Replace or clean all filters on a regular basis to reduce inefficiency. Eliminate all sources of drafts by checking windows, doors, electrical outlets, fireplaces, and attic floors for leaks (even small cracks lead to energy loss) and by using caulking or weather stripping to seal them. In addition, for a cost of $200 to $400, you can run a blower door test to discover the main, and many times hidden, sources of energy leaks in your home.

It is also important to schedule a HVAC cleaning/checkup every two years and to investigate the need for a programmable thermostat to save energy while you sleep or are away from home. If your windows, aging appliances, furnace, or hot water heater needs to be replaced, you should certainly consider purchasing ENERGY STAR products to save 10% to 30% of the usual operating costs.

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You are selling your Dallas home and the first Open House only a week away. The house is filled with clutter and things you don’t want to throw away. But the clutter is not appealing to potential Dallas home buyers. What do you? Here are staging tips for an Open House. 

8 Staging Tips For A Dallas Open House 

1. Remove the clutter.

Having a garage sale is out when removing clutter because the Open House is only a week away. You don’t want to stuff the garage or closets to the gills either. One solution is to rent an off-site storage facility or stack boxes neatly in a basement or crawlspace. 

2. Stage each room. 

The first thing to do is clean from top to bottom. Make sure windows and light fixtures shine and are in working order. If the room is crowded, put some furniture in the storage facility. Finally, pick a focal point that will attract buyers when they see the room. For example, the focal point of a bedroom is usually the bed, and for a music room, it’s the piano. 

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In today’s competitive housing market, buyers can afford to be selective. It is, therefore, up to the seller to anticipate the demands of the buyer and act accordingly. The ten strategies listed below will help you accommodate the buyer’s needs and make certain the selling process is a successful one.

1. Price sensibly. Listing too high initially is doubly dangerous. Price-savvy potential buyers will simply bypass your home in favor of more realistically priced Dallas real estate, thus limiting your market. In addition, you’ll have to lower your price eventually, possibly below market level, to capture their attention.

2. Utilize professional expertise. Far too many sellers come to regret their attempt to avoid a paying a sales commission when they are unable to generate widespread exposure on their own. To their dismay, they also find that potential buyers expect a far lower price on a FSBO.

3. Make needed repairs. Buyers want a home that is in good condition, up to date, and “move-in ready.” Be sure that all systems, the roof, appliances, etc., are in good working order and replace fixtures that look out-of-date.

4. Simplify the setting. Make room! Too much furniture makes rooms appear smaller, and too many accessories draw the buyer’s attention away from your home’s assets. De-clutter cupboards, counters, and other flat surfaces. Make space in your closets and storage areas, and allow for an open traffic pattern. Put away personal items. Buyers need to be able to visualize their own furniture and belongings in what could be “their” new home

5. Keep it clean! Odors and dirt are real turn-offs to potential buyers.

6. Provide curb appeal. The exterior of your home must invite buyers to come inside. Remove weeds, trim trees and bushes, present a healthy lawn, and maintain an attractive appearance at all times. Don’t forget power washing or repainting, if needed. Add a pot of colorful flowers and a new welcome mat for extra charm and a successful showing.

7. Allow for accessibility. The more showings of your Virginia Beach real estate you have, the greater the chance of a successful sale. Buyers want easy access to the homes they visit. Your realtor will help you make satisfactory arrangements for optimum availability, use of a lock box, advance notification, etc.

8. Stay away during showings. Buyers viewing your home need to take their time to thoroughly it and fee free to voice their reactions to the realtor. Also, if you’re not there, you can’t say anything which might hurt the prospect of a sale.

9. Avoid misrepresentation. Your realtor will advise you of local disclosure laws, and it is important that you comply with them. Attempts to hide a defect will only result in problems later on and may well derail a potential sale.

10. Be flexible. Selling you home can feel like a personal transaction, and sometimes emotions threaten to overshadow logic. Listen and react to all contract proposals as objectively as possible. Know in advance what your needs are re: price, which items convey, settlement time frame, etc. Try to keep in mind the big picture and resist getting hung up on the small things.

The sale of your home depends on both your realtor and you. By working as a team and utilizing the ten strategies outlined above, the process has a greater chance of being a productive and successful sale.

 For more information about selling Dallas real estate, visit TexasHomeCentral.com.

Find out what your Dallas real estate is worth?

The current economic climate has created an extremely competitive market for Dallas home sellers. High inventories and the abundance of deals on foreclosures puts to pressure on Dallas home sellers to have properties in showing condition and to be priced right. Many sellers want to initially price their property on the high end of the market and underestimate the costs of having a property sit on the market unsold. Maintenance costs, taxes and insurance are ongoing. Another thing to consider is the benefits of having invested the money that can be made with a fast sale vs. the cost of sitting on the market for a long period of time. 

The saying ‘time is money’ is never more true than when selling a Dallas home, For example,

In January, you put your property on the market for $500,000. In February, your agent recommends a price reduction of $10,000 to $490,000, but you decide to wait out the market a little longer. Assuming your monthly payment on the property is $4,000-5,000 per month (including mortgage, property taxes, and insurance), and it hasn’t sold in six months, by June you have spent $24,000-30,000. This $30,000 expense has lowered the property value from $500,000 to $470,000. If you had lowered the selling price in February to $490,000 and obtained a faster sale, you would have had ended up with more money in your pocket. 

Dallas property values recently have been declining 5-10 percent a month. A property that might have sold in January or February for $490,000, will most likely only sell for $440,000-465,000 in June. So how do you sell your Dallas home faster and for more money? 

Selling Dallas Home Fast and For More Money

1. Take a look at comparable home sales in your neighborhood and price at your 5% below the last comparable sale within a three-month prior period. 

2. Work with an experienced real estate agent who has market knowledge in your neighborhood. 

3. Have your home is saleable condition. Have your ‘honey-do list’ complete, your yard ship-shape and your home ready to show at a moments notice. 

Your efforts will be rewarded!

The new and improved home buyer tax credit is official and took effect Nov 9, 2009. The extended and expanded legislation extended the first-time buyer tax credit through May 1, 2010 and includes a tax credit to repeat home buyers.  

Home Buyer Tax Credit Expansion and Extension 

1. The $8,000 tax credit will be extended and available for first-time home buyers through May 1, 2010.
2. A new $6,500 tax credit will be available for repeat buyers who purchase between December 1, 2009, and May 1, 2010. To qualify, buyers must have used the home sold or being sold as a principal residence consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years.
3. Prospective buyers with binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction.
4. Income limits are expanded to $125,000 on a single return and $225,000 on a joint return.
5. Limitation on the cost of a purchased home is $800,000. 

If you know anyone looking to buy their first Dallas home at a time when prices and interest rates are still down, or if you are thinking of buying another Dallas home and getting the new $6,500 credit please contact me today.

Search all Dallas homes for sale.

In today’s real estate market, Dallas home owners trying to sell on their own get discouraged when it comes to getting their Dallas homes sold. What they may not realize is that in the modern market selling a home takes a lot more than just sticking a “for sale” sign in the front yard. Traditional real estate marketing tactics have evolved into a variety of more complex and effective strategies. The internet has become the most popular and successful aid in setting up successful home-selling campaigns. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, almost 90% of home buyers do their house hunting online. The fact that the internet is taking over many traditional methods, makes it imperative for [city] home owners to move their campaigns to the web. Consumers are becoming more independent in the home buying process, relying on the internet for real estate market information and shopping for their perfect home. The quantity of home buyers who ended up purchasing a home they found using the Internet has significantly increased from only 8% in 2001 to a soaring 32% in 2008. However, buyers only account for half of the real estate equation that results in using the internet. 

Sellers are relying on the internet to create effective online selling campaigns that catch the mouse click of potential buyers. Whether selling by owner or using a real estate agent, anyone trying to attract the attention of a buyer for their Dallas home  should take full advantage of online marketing strategies. Listing agents advertise client’s homes on their company websites, the Multiple Listing Service and Realtor.com, and by other professional tools. Home owners choosing the for sale by owner route or just simply looking for more ways to expose their home on the market, now have access to many of the same professional tools real estate agents use and more. For example ForSaleByOwner.com now allows their clients to list their homes on the Multiple Listing Service and Realtor.com too. In addition, homes are also popularly advertised on websites such as, Craigslist, Google Base, Yahoo Real Estate, and Facebook. 

Regardless of who is selling your Dallas home, it is important to establish and maintain a successful home-selling Internet campaign. Here are a few tips to get you on the right track:

• It is crucial to give the home as much exposure as possible, especially on popular websites like local MLS sites.
• Use comprehensive and professional quality descriptions of the property.
• Be sure to include details such as room sizes, total square footage, key selling points and neighborhood or community assets.
• Display a variety of multiple, high-quality color pictures and, if possible, video tours of the home.
• Provide convenient, simple, quick and easy methods of contact for people requesting more information or pursuing a showing.
• Make scheduling a showing as convenient as possible for the prospective buyers.
• Set a competitive asking price based on the selling prices of comparable homes in the area.

Learn how my marketing strategies can get your Dallas home sold in a shorter period of time and for more money by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com.

What is yourDallas home worth?

In today’s rapidly changing economy, many Dallas home owners wonder or worry about selling their home for the best price, and terms in the shortest period of time. 

Here are 9 helpful hints if you are considering selling your Dallas home: 

• Be realistic, and price your home right by using market comparisons.
• Know your true bottom line for both price and time.
• As the market shifts, be prepared to evaluate your price.
• Advertising your property with yard signs, local MLS and newspapers.
• Get rid of the clutter! It makes your house appear smaller.
• Clean your walls, floors, baseboards, stove and refrigerator. Buyers will know your house is well cared for.
• Clean up outdoors! Remove tools, toys and be sure lawn and shrubs are neatly trimmed.
• Have the carpets cleaned to eliminate odors, smoke, and pet smells.
• Make minor repairs such as leaky faucets, sticky doors, etc.

Learn more about selling your Dallas home by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com. 

What’s your Dallas home worth?

Something to consider when selling your Dallas home is the Capital Gains ramifications. Will you owe Uncle Sam money after the sale of your Dallas home? Capital Gains are calculated as the difference between what you paid for your property and what you sell it for. Here is how you calculate your Capital Gains. 

Calculating Capital Gains

(+) PURCHASE PRICE – Price paid for property

(+) COST OF PURCHASE – Transfer fees, attorney fees, inspections

(+) COST OF SALE – Repairs, commissions, attorney fees, inspections

(+) COST OF IMPROVEMENT – Room additions, deck, for example, though not replacing existing

(=) ADJUSTED COST BASIS OF YOUR HOME

(-) AMOUNT YOU SELL YOUR HOME

(=) CAPITAL GAIN 

A Special Real Estate Exemption for Capital Gains

Even though the above calculation may indicate you owe Capital Gains, there is a special real estate exemption. Since 1997, up to $250,000 in capital gains ($500,000 for a married couple) on the sale of a Dallas home is exempt from taxation if you meet the following criteria: 

• You have lived in the home as your principal residence for two out of the last five years. 
• You have not sold or exchanged another home during the two years preceding the sale. 

NOTE: As of 2003, you may also qualify for this exemption if you meet what the IRS calls “unforeseen circumstances” such as job loss, divorce, or family medical emergency. 

Learn more about selling your Dallas home by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com.

Search all Dallas homes for sale. 

Always consult a tax attorney regarding current tax laws.

Installing a new insulated garage door is a simple home improvement project that has many benefits. This simple change adds desirable curb appeal and increases the value of your Dallas home. The best part is, it also saves energy and tax credits are given to homeowners who install approved garage doors. 

There is a list of manufactures of approved insulated garage doors that make homeowners eligible for a federal tax credit, which is more valuable than a tax deduction. Homeowners who purchase and install one of the garage doors on their Dallas home in 2009 or 2010 could receive up to a $1,500 federal tax credit. However, this is not a new idea. The legislation to award homeowners for installing specific garage doors was originally passed in 2008. Then, the maximum amount possible for homeowners to receive from the tax credit was $500 or 10 percent of the product’s cost. The new federal stimulus plan put in to action in February 2009 made installing a new garage door even more worth while. The new legislation promises triple the amount the original legislation offered. The maximum federal tax credit is now 30 percent of the product’s cost, or up to a maximum of $1,500. 

Another way installing an insulated garage door can help pay for itself is through energy savings. More than often people find that rooms next to or above the garage are the coldest rooms of the house in the winter and the hottest in the summer. This is because old garage doors that are not insulated allow brisk winter and scorching summer air to flow in to the house. The inefficient garage doors can also allow heated and air conditioned air to escape, like money flying out a window. Installing a new qualified, insulated garage door will help reduce energy bills year round and make your Dallas home more comfortable. 

The new and improved garage doors are more attractive to the eye, which increases the curb appeal and value of your Dallas home. Garage doors take up a considerable amount of space on the front of a home. The front of the home is the first thing homeowners, guests, and people passing by get to see when approaching the house. A typical white or almond colored garage door can make a house look plain and boring. It also makes the home blend in with every other house on the street. New garage doors found on the approved list offer a variety of the latest styles, including a carriage house or country look, sleek and contemporary, steel doors with real wood grain panels. No matter what the style of your home, there is sure to be a garage door that compliments and completes the picture.

Learn more about Dallas home ownership at TexasHomeCentral.com.

What’s your Dallas home worth?

Selling your Dallas TX home should be a smooth profitable transaction. But it could end up being an unsuccessful, draining experience, especially if the appropriate precautions and preparations are not observed. A majority of the time, the chance for success lies within the hands of the hired real estate expert. In order to guarantee optimal results, the sellers must be willing to cooperate and consider the professional advice of their real estate agent. Agonizing over a listing price, making the property presentable, rushing for last minute showings, answering inconvenient calls, and frazzling thoughts of not being able to sell are all stressful components of selling your Dallas TX home. If you and your Dallas TX home are not properly prepared there is a great risk of losing thousands of dollars in an unsuccessful transaction. Included in the following section are five of the most common, costly mistakes homeowners can easily avoid when selling their Dallas TX home. 

Do not believe all real estate professionals are the same, choose wisely

The process of selling your home involves many tedious details and critical decisions. Real estate professionals are experts in handling these situations and offering knowledgeable guidance to sellers. It is crucial to research several professionals in order to find a suitable match with experience selling homes similar to yours. Real estate agents use different methods to sell their listings. Innovative professionals who promote listings with newer techniques to attract buyers are always more successful than professionals relying on traditional strategies. 24-7 advertising, excessive exposure and lead generation are important services agents offer to aid in selling your home. Hiring and utilizing the right real estate professional can significantly maximize the chances for a smooth, profitable transaction. 

Effects of ignoring cosmetic upkeep

The potential buyer’s first impression of your Dallas TX home is crucial. Dirty dishes piled in the sink, unkempt lawns, cluttered rooms, stained carpets, scattered soiled laundry, and disgusting odors may seem like little things, but they are big turn-offs to prospective buyers. Ignoring cosmetic upkeep leads to loosing home sales. It also never hurts to hire a staging company to assist in making the home more appealing to buyers. 

Refusing to make repairs

Another major cause in loosing home sales is the seller’s refusal to make necessary repairs. In the long run, it is not beneficial to sell “as is”. Instead, making needed repairs or improvements will increase the home’s value. A real estate agent can decide what repairs will boost the home’s value. 

Picking a price that is not too high or too low

When properties get priced too high they tend to sit on the market and eventually develop a label of a problem property. When priced too low a home could fly off the market, allowing the buyer to get a great deal and the seller with lost potential profits. Listing the home at the appropriate price could make or break a successful sale. Real estate professionals use their market knowledge and special tactics to appropriately price the property and ensure a timely and profitable sale.

Making things convenient for prospective buyers

Providing easy access to the property for showings is the key to finding the right buyer. Appointment-only showings take away from the buyer’s convenience because a specific time has to be set to fit the schedules of multiple people. Using a lock box is the best way to provide easy access for showings. You are less likely to miss out on a sale when buyers are never denied a chance to view the property. 

Learn more about how to successfully sell your Dallas TX home by visiting TexasHomeCentral.com. 

What’s your Dallas TX home worth?