Neighbors can be a fantastic addition to your homeowner experience OR they can be a nightmare. What can you do if the latter is the case and they are making your life miserable? One of the most common situations that occurs that should be an easy resolution through courtesy and communication is having a fence directly on the lot line. What happens if your neighbor decides to replace the fence without your consideration (dogs, landscaping, privacy etc.)? Do you have any recourse if it’s their fence even if it is on the lot line. Odds are, yes you do.

Step One: Check with your city or municipal bylaws and codes. Do your research. A local surveying company would know the bylaws very well. Once you know the laws are on your side, contact the city inspector. Typically they will send someone out to ensure the homeowner or his contractor follow the codes. That will probably annoy the heck out of your neighbor but you’re already in conflict and by dealing with it this way, you’re remaining calm and law abiding which if it ever escalates to a lawsuit will work in your favor. Document every call, conversation, text, email, photos etc. just in case you do end up in court.

The law and building codes may be on your side so, again, do your research and if they are, then respectfully contact the city inspector to assist you with the issue. Whether it’s a fence, tree branches, driveways, etc…..take the time to research the facts and remedies so you don’t lose out for lack of knowledge.

During the process remain respectful of your neighbor as well. This may be the most difficult part of the challenge but perhaps by doing so, in the future, this may be something you’ll both look back on as a learning experience and choose to move forward with a friendlier…more neighborly relationship. If not, at least you know that you have resources for remedy.

The holiday seasons are upon us and inevitably, whether selling or buying, you may be asking yourself; “Should I continue to market my home/search for my new home from post-Thanksgiving until post-New Years. Review the pros and cons of both.

SELLING PROS:

• Many other sellers remove their homes from the marketplace during this time which reduces your competition. Lower inventory means that you can stand out to those that are shopping and possibly be rewarded with a higher price.
• The fact is that regardless of the season, there are always buyers in the market to purchase due to job transfers, divorces, end of leases, seasonal closing on their own home that they’ve sold and people who want to take advantage of the current low interest rate before it goes up.
• As long as you don’t go overboard, the sights, sounds and aromas of the season cause buyers to imagine what it will be like to enjoy their own holiday gatherings in front of your roaring fire and beautifully displayed Dining Room table.

SELLING CONS:

• The number of buyers shopping during the holidays is smaller than in the more active spring season.
• If you live in an area that experiences extremes of cold, snow and ice, you have the added task of making sure your exterior areas are clear and safe to travel. You also need to prepare yourself for the frustration of no shows and reschedules in the event of inclement weather.
• If you do a lot of entertaining, you might have to be more diligent with regard to keeping your home “show ready”.
• In many areas affected by the time change, it gets dark a lot earlier making evening appointments more challenging thus you should prepare yourself to be doing more weekend showings.

BUYING PROS:

• The reason someone may have their home on the market during the holidays is because they have a “need to be sold by” deadline ie: starting a new job, moving to help out with a family situation, downsizing due to a job loss or reduction in income, etc. This may provide a great opportunity to purchase your dream home at a reduced price.
• Due to less homes being sold during the holiday season, title companies may have a more open schedule to ensure the closing date you prefer.
• Like the “Greek restaurant dilemma” of a menu that is so large it’s hard to make a decision, by having fewer homes to choose from, your shopping process may be far less stressful and more effective.

BUYING CONS:

• Since many people take their homes off the market at this time, you will have less inventory from with to choose.
• Due to holiday entertaining, viewing appointments may be more difficult to schedule BUT keep in mind if someone is choosing to sell during this season, they will most likely work with you to find a convenient time.
• If you live in an area with inclement weather, getting to and from appointments might be more challenging.
• In many regions, with the time change, it gets dark a lot earlier making evening appointments more difficult (hard to see addresses, hard to see exterior negatives about the home) which means you will most likely want to schedule viewings for the weekend, which can be more difficult. That said, if the seller is motivated, they will understand the local weather impediments and most likely be willing to be accommodating.

Whether you’re selling or buying, you can take advantage of the holiday season to achieve your desired result and toast in your Happiest New Year!!

Depending on where you’re located, winter might seem like the worst time to put your home up for sale. The air is cold, the ground is covered with snow and daylight hours are shorter. But selling your home during the winter doesn’t have to be an impossible task and in actuality can be the best time to find Your Best Buyer. People who shop for homes in cold, snowy weather are deadly serious buyers who have a strong reason to buy NOW. Perhaps a job change, end of a lease and not wanting to sign on for another year, family necessities,etc. You can use this season as an opportunity to set your home apart from all the others. As an added plus, lots of people take their homes off the market through the winter and holidays so there is also less competition if you do choose to offer your home through this season. Here are a few ideas to help you achieve success!

Create a Safe Environment Free from the Weather

Make sure that walkways and driveways are salted and snow is shoveled. Nothing makes for a worse first impression for potential buyers than if they slip on the ice and injure themselves. They’ll be sure to remember your home, but probably not in the way you want them to. Also keep these areas well lit!

Minimize Your Holiday Decor

For most people, winter is a time for holiday decorations. But while your home should look festive, you will want to keep your decor attractive without becoming without becoming overwhelming. A few well-placed lights will accentuate your home’s natural curb appeal, but maybe you should save the giant blowup doll for next year.

Cleanliness is Crucial

Winter is a difficult time to really show off the exterior of your home, so you should instead concentrate on accentuating the interior. Winter visitors are more likely to notice dirt and clutter because they are not distracted by the exterior of the home, so make sure it is absolutely spotless inside. Kids and adults coming in and out during this time can create messy floors and closets so try to keep a strong focus on those items.

Illuminate

To counter the dreary winter weather,  make your home as bright and airy as possible. Open curtains and blinds to let in natural light, and keep the lights on throughout your entire home (including closets and basement) when showing it to potential buyers. This creates an inviting atmosphere while also highlighting the great features of your home.

Cozy & Comfy

Raising the thermostat a couple notches will set a warm, welcoming atmosphere and provide a great first impression. Serve hot chocolate, hot cider or tea and coffee with holiday cookies if it’s close to Christmas.  A fire burning in the fireplace says, “Ahhh”. You can even play some soft background music to set the mood.

Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words

Displaying either individually or in an album, spring, summer and autumn photos will allow prospective buyers to see the home’s full potential and to visualize themselves living in the home beyond this season. Create a takeaway brochure of photos from all 4 seasons so the buyer will remember your home and all it offers once they have left and are considering all the homes they’ve seen.

With mortgage rates at near historic lows, you may want to consider refinancing your loan, but should you? If you plan on staying in your home for at least 5 more years then depending on your current interest rate, going through the refinance process may be just the thing to reduce your monthly payments and relieve some unnecessary stress from your day to day life. And if you don’t need to use the extra few hundred dollars per month that you may save, you can either use that to make extra principal payments and pay off your mortgage sooner or add to your kid’s education fund or even take that family vacation you’ve been wanting to provide for your family.

With the lower rates offered today, you may be able to switch from your 30 year fixed loan to a 15 year and not see a dramatic change in your monthly payment. The end savings however could be phenomenal!

Fall Festivals can be fun, exciting, family friendly, filled with laughter and perhaps your best way to discover some hidden gems of amenities in your brand new neighborhood. One of the great parts of Autumn is the abundance of festivals…some adult focused and some all about family. Based on your personal situation, this may be your best, informal way to meet new people in your area with shared interests and discover adult and kid activities available in your community.

ADULT focused activities may include: Oktoberfest celebrations, Craft brew festivals and bar crawls, art fairs, evening concert festivals.

FAMILY focused activities may include: Oktoberfest celebrations (many are family friendly with specific kids areas to let them enjoy the weather, music and fun), Pumpkin patches and farms where kids can choose their own pumpkins, ride horses, enjoy hay rides, play games, etc., Apple picking farms allow kids to run in the orchards and choose which apples they want, pick, bag up and then pay for…usually have hay rides out to the orchards, kid focused concerts and plays in the park, church halloween events so the kids don’t have to go door to door.

Check your neighborhood activities by joining facebook groups and sites like nextdoor, an online website that allows you to pinpoint activities in your specific neighborhood or within a chosen perimeter.

The key is using all the abundant Fall activities to acclimate and familiarize yourself with your new community while also meeting new friends for yourself and your kids!

Tip: If you’re selling, be a gracious seller and leave a list of all the community activities available in your area in your home for the new owner. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll feel great for having done such a simple, yet kind gesture for your buyer.