Tommy Sibiga

How Much Value Does Fencing Add to Your Home?

One of the top five things that I hear most buyers tell me are “must haves” while shopping for a new home is a FENCE. Sure they could always install one themselves but most buyers in most markets desire to have it built and ready prior to purchase. So the next logical question might be, how much value does fencing add to your home? Although there may not be a calculated monetary value, here’s a few ways that a fence increases the salability and benefits homeowners.The most pressing reason for a fence is traditionally for the dogs. A large majority of buyers either have dogs or may have a dog in the near future. Sure, they can add a fence but most buyers are particularly attracted to homes that already have the fence installed and ready to go. The style of the fence doesn’t necessarily matter for dog owners but the height of the fence may be of importance. Knowing that a new fence could costs thousands of dollars, a purchaser is likely to pay more for a house with a fence than one without. Additionally, a homeowner will enjoy that added benefit of not having to take their dog for an early morning walk and carry around loads of plastic bags.Ironically, sometimes the second most pressing need for a fence is to help contain children. Buyers with small children (or the possibility of children and grandchildren down the road), want to make sure that they are as safe as possible. A home that is already fenced-in is of huge benefit to a purchaser worried about the safety of children. A fence provides a peace of mind that can sometimes be more valuable than money.Another large benefit of a fenced in yard is granting privacy between your home and the environment surrounding. Perhaps it's to screen you from a neighbor's home or perhaps it’s to block out traffic. Either way, a fence is an instant man-made form of isolating your backyard from the things around your property. Depending on how you plan to use your property the sense of privacy can be all the more important to you. For example, if you have a pool or a hot tub, you may find privacy being extra appealing. Or if you plan to build a pool, a fence may be required in your city or county so that we be an avoided extra expense. You often can’t put a price on a privacy.Lastly, a fence can be used to define a space. A fence is a quick way to define the yard and give it shape and purpose. This can make the yard feel larger if done correctly. It also helps give buyers a vision for how the space can be used. Purchaser's can get excited to dream and plan of how they’ll use the yard to entertain guests, play with children, toss the ball with the dog, and/or other activities. Often times, a wide open vast land stifles the creativity of how it can be used. Whether it’s for yourself or for a future buyer, there’s great value in having a clearly defined yard.So, can a fence add value to your home? Absolutely. How much? That’ll be different for every individual and may not be monetarily defined. There’s tremendous benefit for dog owners and those with children. Most everybody sees and appreciates the added value of having privacy from others. And a clearly defined yard space will allow for folks to get excited and set the stage for great entertaining opportunities. Certainly, if all other things considered were the same a fence would cause for a higher purchase price but it’ll also allow for a quicker sale which often equates to higher contract price. For other home improvements that increase the value of your home, be sure to read up on other improvements that increase the value of your home.

January 1, 2025

How Long Does It Take to Buy a House?

The Search

January 1, 2025

Pros and Cons of Selling Your Home on Your Own

If you're thinking about listing your home for sale by owner (FSBO), you may want to consider carefully all the advantages and disadvantages before sticking the sign in the yard. While saving on real estate commissions can be immediately appealing it can be a lengthy and complex process. The more you can educate yourself on the front-end, the better you'll be prepared to handle the transaction and/or decide to enlist the assistance of a real estate professional.The primary reason why most sellers will decide to sell their home on their own is to save themselves from the traditional 5-7% real estate commissions. The median existing-home price for all housing types right now is $208,300. So a FSBO has the potential of saving $10,400-$14,500 in commissions. Sellers pay the commission, so the owner can retain the commission amount. On average, most FSBO's will still offer a commission to the buyer's agent (if represented). The amount offered to the buyer's agent is at the seller's discretion. Some sellers do not offer a buyer's agent commission and thus pass the responsibility onto the buyer.Rather than retaining 100% of the unpaid real estate commissions, a FSBO can use that amount to their advantage by being more competitively priced. In a market with several similar listings, a $5,000-$10,000 price difference can make your home really standout. Almost all buyers of all ages are beginning their home searches online, and a competitive price may position your home to appear just below popular search parameters. Another tactic could be to use that savings and offer to contribute towards the purchaser's closing costs, prepaids, and/or discount points.Another advantage of selling your home yourself is that you remain in control throughout the entire transaction. You'll be able to decide the price of your home, when it's available for showings, when to put it on the market, when to take it off the market, and more. You'll also be able to screen potential purchasers prior to showing your home. When it gets into the negotiating, you'll be directly involved, and can set all terms/conditions.One other main advantage is that you have direct and complete knowledge of the property. Buyers can ask questions easily and get immediate answers. They won't have to speculate on maintenance items. As the owner, you'll be able to speak from the point of view of why you love your home. It'll be easy and natural for you to highlight all the attributes that appealed to you at the time of purchase.Selling a property is a difficult endeavor and can take time, energy, and a lot of patience. One main disadvantage of selling it on your own is the sacrifice of time. You will need to research the market, learn legal and financial details surrounding the transaction, advertise the property, create marketing materials for the home, schedule/show the house, negotiate contracts, and more. FSBOs tend to attract buyers that are "just looking" and those appointments also can soak up valuable time.Statistically, FSBOs sell for significantly less than agent-assisted home sales. According to NAR, in 2013 the average FSBO sold for $184,000 compared to $230,000 for agent-assisted sales. Generating an accurate list price is of utmost importance and can be one of the major disadvantages to selling your home yourself. Real estate professionals are experts in the field; they constantly look at comparable properties, and they have a keen sense of what the market is doing. Agents have been inside similar homes, and they have access to a multiple listing service to research past sales. Individual owners may not know the most accurate price to start at, when to reduce the price, and/or an appropriate price to accept during negotiations.Another disadvantage is your emotional investment. Often times, a realtor can mediate throughout the whole transaction. They can screen feedback, offer suggestions, play hardball during negotiations, conceal motivation, and share about reasonable terms/conditions. Routine elements of the selling process can upset For Sale By Owners, and prolong negotiations before closing.For Sale By Owners also expose themselves to a higher level of risk associated with security and safety. The majority of buyers have a genuine interest in your home; however, your home may be an easy target for theft and burglaries. Extra security measures should be taken.

January 1, 2025

Five Impactful Tips for Selling Your Home in the Winter

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, there will always be someone who needs to buy a home and someone who needs to sell a home. Winter can actually be one of the best times to list your home for sale. Typically, the housing inventory is at it’s lowest during the winter months, which means that the buyers who are out shopping have a very limited amount of choices. And although there may be less choices, it is still critical for your home to stand apart from the rest. Below are five quick tips to help your home stand out (for all the right reasons) in the winter.1. One of the most neglected areas of a home during the cold and dreary winter months is the outdoor living and entertaining space. A typical homeowner will put the patio furniture in storage, turn off the lights, and forget about it until spring; however, if you’re trying to sell your home, buyers are going to want to envision how the home might be used in the warmer months. Perhaps consider staging the yard with patio furniture, a firepit, heat lamps, spot lights on the front of your home, or sidewalk lighting. Fun and bright colors may also living up a bland outdoor space.

January 1, 2025

What To Do About Abandoned Properties In Your Neighborhood

Abandoned homes can be both an eyesore and a potential source of lowering values within a neighborhood or location. A vacant home can also attribute to vandalism or health concerns to homes nearby. Regardless of why the home has been vacated, there are a few things that you can do to make the best of the situation. Here’s a quick look at a few actions you can take to hedge against the negative side effects of an empty home.

January 1, 2025