Here is a list of routine maintenance that will need to be done to your home annually to keep it functioning smoothly and to contain any problems before they get out of hand.

Most of these tasks are very simple, but it is important to stay on top of them.

Change out filters. Most heating and air conditioning systems  will need their filters change annually.

Do not let dust and dirt accumulate, it can ruin the finish on blinds, cabinets, countertops, floors, sinks, tubs walls, tile, carpeting and other surfaces.  if it does accumulate, make sure you remove it with a cleanser that will not scratch or harm the finishes.

Clean out gutters and downspout of leaves, dirt and other objects.  By doing this you will prolong the life of your gutters, siding and other exterior surfaces.

Keep in mind that you will receive a warranty from the builder but if you do not perform this necessary maintenance you may void your warranty. For example, if your roof develops a leak due to faulty workmanship that will be covered, but if the leak developed because you have never cleaned out your gutters and they have backed up creating a leak than you will be covering the repairs yourself.

Everything is perfect about your perspective home but how much should you pay for it? Deciding on the amount to offer for a home you are interested can be one of the most difficult facets of real estate purchasing.  Most home buyers, rightfully, rely on their agents to help decide the offering price but you can take steps to educate yourself about this part of the process.

First, compare the asking price of the home you are interested in with other comparable properties in the same neighborhood that have sold recently. Although you can search sale prices for the past six months, in this turbulent market it may be more helpful to focus on the last two to four months.

Another tactic is to hire your own appraiser who will estimate the property’s value. The estimate is impartial and if the appraised price comes in less than the asking price, you would have an excellent excuse to offer less.

After several weeks on the market a seller may be more amiable to lowering the asking price or provide incentives to buyers. But submitting a lower bid or trying to wait may backfire and you could lose a house that you really want.

Although it is smart to educate yourself about your upcoming real estate transaction, there is no substitute to having a professional, experienced agent on your side to help you avoid any pitfalls that may come before you.

The price of the house and the closing costs of your new home are just part of the story.  It is very important to keep in mind how much you home will cost you annually for taxes, utilities and upkeep.

The average cost for maintaining your home is between 4 and 6 percent per year of your current home’s market value.  Real estate taxes are the main cost to homeowners and can vary from less than one-half percent to more than two percent of their market value.

Insurance cost can be another big annual expenditure and can also vary greatly depending on the region in which you live.

Homeowners must also pay attention to their utility costs, the actual cost for basic electricity, gas and water and the additional that is used to keep your lawn green and your home extra comfortable.

If you buy a large and expensive home, you will need an equally large support fund to help maintain the hose and insure its upkeep. A smaller, more modest home may make your pocketbook happier in the short term and in the long run.

Check Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms annually.  This is also a good time to check fire extinguishers.

Keep landscaping under control.  Prune bushes and trees around windows and doors so that burglars don’t have a place to hide.

Install motion detector lights to illuminate basement doorways and stairs.

If you are away on vacation have a neighbor pick up your mail and accept deliveries.  Have newspaper delivery stopped while you are away.  Have your neighbor check on your house once or twice a week.

Install and use window and door locks. Keep all outside gates locked as well.

Never open your door to a stranger and keep your storm doors or screen doors locked as a barrier.

Have gas lines checked regularly.  Natural gas is odorless.

Green homes have lower than historic levels of environmental impact, and believe it or not its easier than you think to go green. Here are some tips to make your Austin home more eco-friendly:

When building your new Austin home make sure you use recycled products.
Install low-flow shower heads and water-saving toilets and taps.
Install high-efficiency, double paned windows with low E-coatings.
 
If you are looking to move into a green community look for the following in your new residential development:
Look for communities that utilize a mass transit system.
Does the community offer bike paths, on- site recreation options and spa services? I shopping and dining found close by?  One of the best ways for a community to be green is by reducing the miles that residents need to travel.

Look for a LEED Certification.  This certification rates buildings and communities on their energy efficiency, consumption as well as earth-friendly features.

Where your home is located is a very important factor in determining your home’s value both when you buy and when you sell.  If you are comparing similar homes and one is located next to open space and the other is located near a busy street than the home next to the green space will be of greater value.

In an old-fashioned neighborhood of square blocks, a home in the middle of the block would be of much better value than a home located on a corner where there is normally more traffic.  Also a single-family home located in an area with other single family homes will hold its value better than a single-family home surrounded by condominiums or apartments.

A home in a community that is vibrant and growing will demand a higher value than a  home where industry is failing or in decline.

It is usually a smart choice to find a home in a desirable location to increase  and hold your  homes resale value.

The Austin American Stateman, showed that Austin is one of the best markets for buying undervalued real estate. The article went on to say that many of the markets in the rest of country offer overvalued home prices.  Austin however is still showing solid appreciation.

This information was deciphered by Global Insight Inc. and National City Corp.  They looked at the home prices of over 300 metro areas.  Their analysis included a complex model of prices, interest rates, incomes and population densities.

Austin was unique because it did not have the run away home price increase that was seen in the rest of the country.  because of this Austin avoided the real estate bubble disaster that many other areas are facing.

Global Insight Inc. and National City Corp considers that if an area’s housing market is over or undervalued by up to 14 percent than it is within the fair market range anything outside of is considerable under or overvalued.  According to this analysis Austin was rated at -9.1 percent, well within the fair market range while Dallas was at -28.1 percent is overvalued.

When it comes to selling your home here are some tips to think about before the open house.

1.Think Safety-Make sure that your home is not just inviting but safe. Remove all hazards on stairs and in doorways such as extension cords, toys, and low overhead lights. Remove anything that might be in the path of your potential buyer they need to focus on the beauty of your home NOT where to walk.

2.Make sure your bathroom is clean and display your best towels, rugs and unused soaps.

3.Turn on the lights in the evening inside and out for added exciement. Lights add warmth and color and lend an welcoming feel to your home’s atmosphere.

4.Let prospective buyers feel welcome, too many people in a house at one time may cause them to hurry through and not take the time the need to see everything your home has to offer.

5.Keep pets out of the way when showing your home, they may get underfoot and detract from where the buyers attention should be which is on your home.

6. Do not play loud music. Music is a great way to relax buyers and invite them to take their time while looking around your home. Music should be low and soothing, classical or instrumental, nothing intrusive.

7.If possible keep a low profile and let your real estate agent present the open house.  Homeowners have a tendency to be pushy and distract the buyer while they are viewing the home.  Real estate agent are better prepared to deal with potential buyers and illustrating your home many virtues.  Do stay in the background so you can answer any questions or concerns that may come up that your agent does not know about.

These small tips will have a big impact when it comes time to sell your home.

Selling your Austin home, relocating to Austin Texas, Austin real estate, Austin real estate tips

When selling your home, your real estate agent will be the key to your success.  They will help point out aspects that need to be addressed that you may not even be aware of.  The earlier you get a real estate agent involved the better your chances of a successful sale.

Here are some of the key tasks that you should be thinking about before you place your home on the market

1.  Price your home appropriately.  Your real  estate agent knows the market.  A real estate agent will help you set the price to move your home quickly while making sure you get all the money you can out of your investment.  You do not want to overprice your home but also you do not want to under price it either.

2. Remodeling or upgrading a kitchen or bath usually increases the value of your home to prospective buyers but again check with your agent.  If you already have the best kitchen or bathroom on the block remodelling may not be needed and could hinder your chances of a timely sale.

3. Hire a home inspector to make sure that there are no hidden surprises that may come up later in a transaction.  if a buyer’s inspection sees a problem they will recommend to the buyer to ask for it to be repaired, replaced or a price reduction equivalent.

4. Presentation is essential your agent will point out ways to increase your home’s curb appeal.

5. Marketing is also important and to that end your agent will prepare the listing for the MLS as well as the internet and prepare printed material for those who visit your home. They will also host open houses and be available for showings to potential buyers.