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As you know, my wife Teresa and I work quite a bit in the Frisco and Prosper area. We have several clients either under contract or currently searching for properties in the area. Because we are seeing that demand, we decided to launch a new resource, www.BuyProsper.com .
BuyProsper.com is a brand new site devoted to the great Town of Prosper. With so much going on in the area, we thought a dedicated web site would be a great tool for potential buyers of Prosper properties. We’ll keep you updated on the best new home deals in Prosper, the best land deals in Prosper, and general information and statistics on the Town of Prosper.
Check out the site and give us your feedback. Also, keep an eye out for other community specific sites in the near future. Happy house hunting!
Article by W. Cody Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders
Contact Cody at 972.365.0432 or Cody@NorthTexasHomeFinders.com
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information. For community-specific information, also visit www.BuyProsper.com for added content.
Many first time investors are trying to get out of the real estate game. Especially those that over extended themselves and bought homes using little or no money down in the hopes of building instant equity. In a few cases, families had to move due to job transfers or relocations. Finally, some people simply “right-sized” their home and have already moved into their new one. Now they need to sell the old one!
Selling a vacant home is much more difficult than an occupied home or one that has been professionally staged. Here are some minimum things you need to do to make sure the home is in top showing condition.
1. Clean out the cabinets, closet, garage and pantry. Many tenants will leave behind food and or trash. Be sure you go in after the last one has moved out and throw out any left overs. It is easy to drag out a personal move when you don’t have a time crunch. Last time we moved it took us a month to get the stuff out of the garage and attic. This doesn’t make for a good showing environment.
2. Clean out the refrigerator and put a box of baking soda in it to keep it smelling fresh. I was looking at a $400,000 vacant home over the weekend and the sub zero fridge had some sort of science experiment in it with mold growing out of a subway sandwhich no telling how old!
3. Keep the electricity/power on to the home. You need light to see the home. Remember many home buyers look at property after work. It is impossible for a home to be given a fair look if it is too dark.
4. Have the home professionally cleaned every few weeks. You will need to have a deep clean done when you or your tenants move out, then follow up at least every other week with a good vacuum and dusting. This will help your home smelling clean and fresh and not stale. A stale home isn’t very inviting, thus you will lose money on the transaction.
5. If you turn the water off, be sure to post signs in the bathrooms and around the sinks. Remember, you will need to turn it back on for inspections. If you live in Texas, turning off the water is never a good idea. The foundation needs to be watered in many cases to prevent damage. If you home gets foundation problems, that $50 a month you saved by turning off the water can cost you $1000s in repair costs.
6. Finally, keep up with the landscaping. Hire a service to mow, weed and edge once a week. If you can plant flowers and be sure to water the grass. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Make sure your property is making the best one possible.
The above items are the bare minimums you should do when you are trying to sell a vacant home. If you have a little extra cash, you might consider professional staging. Think of a builder’s model home. It looks like you could just change the photos to your family and settle in for the night.
Article by Teresa Robinson, Owner/Buyer Specialist, North Texas Home Finders Contact Teresa at 972.335.0571 or Teresa@Northtexashomefinders.com and she can help you sell your home or find a new one!
Get a Buyer Specialist and rest easy! The builder pays our service charge from their advertising budget which is built into every home they sell. Since these fees do not come out of the home construction budget, you cannot negotiate one penny of a better deal alone. We also work with preowned homes where the seller pays our fees! Visit www.northtexashomefinders.com for more information.
Over the last couple years, I’ve had several clients who wanted lots of room between their house, and their neighbors. Whether on the east side, west side, or to the north or south of Dallas/Fort Worth, there are some fantastic custom homes on acreage lots. The surprising part about these homes are the price points, and their proximity to the heart of the metroplex.
To buy a custom home on acreage you would probably expect to pay upwards of $500,000. Those places exist, and can be found. However, there are also homes on an acre or acre and a half for around half that price. Granted, the closer you get to Dallas or Fort Worth, the higher the price. Real estate has, and always will be, about location, location, location. However, if you are like me, you’re willing to drive a little farther to get a lot more home for the same money. When I say “a little farther” I don’t mean sixty miles out. Many of these home are located within 30 to 40 miles from the downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. Where are these homes you ask?
The best deals I’ve found, surprisingly, have been on the east side of Dallas. West is usually best for affordability, but not in this case. In Rockwall, Collin, and western Hunt county, you can have a brand new home on an acre or acre and a half for $225,000 to $275,000. In one neighborhood in particular, I’ve had two clients buy on an acre and a half, around 2700 sq ft., with an additional two-car detached garage, at $250,000, and at $270,000. One builder out there has homes that resemble homes in the half million dollar range for under $300,000.
To the west, you will find beautiful custom homes from probably a dozen different builders. These homes in western Tarrant, and eastern Parker counties have beautifully finished homes from $250,000 to $400,000. These homes have all the amenities you could ask for, and then some. In my opinion, the homes out west have the nicest features and the prettiest lots of all the acreage communities.
South of Fort Worth there are several areas in southern Tarrant and northern Johnson county. Homes there range from $250,000 to $400,000 as well. Many of the neighborhoods down south feature rolling plains, and beautiful views in all directions.
Finally to the north, in Collin county, you will find homes on an acre or more from $300,000 to $450,000. In the north, you can easily get a lot more expensive in a hurry. However, if you know where to look, great deals can be had. Homes in this area also boast some of the best school districts around.
If you would like to learn more about any or all of these locations, please do not hesitate to contact me at North Texas Home Finders.
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