Grass Lawn Maintenance Tips for Phoenix Home Owners

Whether you are getting ready to sell your home, or getting ready for summer, having a great looking yard can be easy and fun.

 

How To Mow A Lawn Like A Pro

First off if you have grass yards, it is probably time to go out there and mow the grass down.

And of course you want to do that like a pro!

First thing is you need the right equipment to do the job right, so you need a lawn mower with a grass catcher, a weed wacker, then finally you need a leaf blower.

Secondly, you need to the right safety gear, good clothing protection to cover up from the sun’s rays plus sunscreen, good eye safety glasses, proper footwear and ear plugs or ear muffs.

Finally, you need to know what order to mow the lawn to do the job efficiently whether you are doing the job for money or to make the wife happy.

The order of job tasks is as follows: edges & trimming first, then mow, and finally blow away the small debris.

 

 

Lawn Aeration and Overseeding

Next after you get your lawn mowed like a pro, you will want to try and make it look like a golf course, right?

Yes! And what does every golf course superintendent do religiously without exception?  

Aerate and seed!

 

 

How To Plant Grass Seed

If your yard has some bare spots, here are a few tips to fill them in with lush grass.

 

 

The Secret to Killing Weeds

Did the long winter rest bring some unsightly weeds into your grass yard(s)?

What is the secret to killing weeds?

To be honest, there are no secrets.

When dealing with nature you have to formulate a plan based on the seasons.

Here is what to do:

 

 

How to Grow Flowers and Plants from Seed

Next are you wanting to add a new look to your yard(s)

Adding plants and flowers can do the trick.

One of the most cost efficient ways to add beautiful shrubbery to your home is starting with seeds.

Growing flowers from seed opens up the options for your garden and yard.

The steps in the video below will help you successfully grow plants from seeds and bring life and color to your outdoor living space.

 

 

How to Start a Flower Garden

Starting a flower garden is a great landscaping idea to beautify your yard or add to an existing garden.

 

 

Now you have some good ideas to make your grass lawn and yards really shine and make your neighbors jealous.

Plus, if you are getting ready to sell your home, a little extra work in the yards will make the front yard presentation “pop” to all potential buyers see as they roll up to your home for a walk through.

 

 

Are you getting ready to sell your home?

Please put us on your list of agents to interview before making an agent choice.

Having an entire team on your side advising you through the entire home sale process, is better than a single agent!

We look forward to meeting you!
Click here to contact the Mark Gunning Team now 

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Related Stories

• Infographic – Who is Who in a Real Estate Transaction
• When is the Best Time to Sell Your Home?

 

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Infographic – Who is Who in a Real Estate Transaction

Here is an easy to understand infographic explaining who is who in a real estate transaction

Click on the image for full size version.

The post Infographic – Who is Who in a Real Estate Transaction appeared first on The Mark Gunning Team West USA Realty.

      

Related Stories

• When is the Best Time to Sell Your Home?

 

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3018 E Woodland Dr, Phoenix, Az 85048

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Approx SQ FT: 1,594 / County Assessor
Year Built: 1990

Beautiful and Pristine Home Recently Remodeled and Upgraded with Over $50,000 Of Upgrades!

Lush Green Grass with Beautiful Landscaping and Curb Appeal!

Walk Inside to Fresh New Paint, New Tile, New Baseboards and New Carpeting.

With Soaring Ceilings That Make This Home Open and Spacious.

The Kitchen Features Brand New Cabinetry, New Granite Counter-tops and New Stainless Steel Appliances.

All The Electrical Outlets Have Been Replaced by A Licensed Electrician as Well as New Lighting Throughout the Interior and Exterior!

The Bathrooms Features New Cabinets, New Mirrors and Delta Faucets.

Brand New Blinds Throughout.

Walk Out Back to Your Own Backyard Paradise That Features a Beautiful Sparkling Pool and Spa!!

This Quaint Community Includes Biking/Walking Paths, Children’s Playground,

Tennis Courts, Swimming Pool and Spa.

Great Location, Close to I-10 Fwy, the 202 Fwy, Hiking Trails and Quality Restaurants!

Please contact the Mark Gunning Team for more information or to view this home.

Living Room

Back Yard with Pool & Spa

Large Kitchen

Master Bedroom

 

Please contact the Mark Gunning Team for more information or to view this home.

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When is the Best Time to Sell Your Home?

You are getting your home ready to sell.

You have all the repairs done.

New paint and carpet.

Home has been scrubbed inside and out.

Lawns look fantastic.

You are ready to go…

But did you know that there is an optimal time of year to sell your home where you could see as much as $1700 more price and 19 days less selling time?

Consumer reports recently wrote an article showing these stats from the home statistic giant Zillow.

And the winning time of year to sell your home?

The month of May!

 

 

Here are the best times to sell your home for several regions and cities, as measured by Zillow’s data.

May 1-15: Across the U.S. generally, as well as New York and Northern New Jersey; Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth; Philadelphia; Detroit; Riverside, California; Phoenix; Seattle; Minneapolis-St. Paul; Tampa, Florida; Baltimore; Pittsburgh; and Portland, Oregon.

May 16-30: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim; Boston; San Francisco; Denver.

June 1-15: Houston.

The benefit to listing your home at the right time can be significant. Read the rest… 

 

 

The first 2 weeks in May seem to be the best for the Phoenix area, as it is not super-hot yet and people moving here want to do so before the nuclear heat hits us in late May, early June.

It is interesting that even if there is a higher inventory, selling in the month of May typically will bring you a higher price.

However, if the winter months had sales at lower prices, this can affect your home valuation.

You might want to check around your neighborhood, and ask a real estate agent, to see what homes have sold and are currently listed, to give you a better idea of price says Dana Hill, VP of Buyer’s Edge.

 

 

When your house is being valued, the appraiser will look into data for comparable homes sold in your neighborhood. But if the most recent data is from a home that sold for cheap in the winter, it can hurt your valuation.

Having only bits of comparable housing data “kind of holds you hostage,” said Dana Hill, vice president of Buyer’s Edge Realty in Bethesda, MD.

With more homes selling in the on-season, the comparable data (or “comps”) are more accurate. Hill recommends waiting to be the second or third person in your neighborhood to put your house up for sale to take advantage of those comparable sales.

While you’re at it, be sure your appraiser knows your neighborhood. If a home recently sold for $600,000 but it was a tear-down, while normally prices are $1.2 million, you’ll want an appraiser who understands that, said Hill.

Either way, the more data the better—and the prime season is when the data are most robust. Read more pros and cons of selling right after winter here…

 

 

Your best bet is to research your neighborhood and plan out your sales strategy.

Put in as much effort as you did when you cleaned up your home before listing it for sale.

 

Working with a savvy real estate team can certainly help you make the best choices and sell for the most return.

Please put us on your list of agents to interview before making a choice.

Having an entire team on your side, is better than a single agent!

We look forward to meeting you!
Click here to contact us now

Or Tap to call Mark here 

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Questions to Ask Real Estate Agents at Open Houses

When you are in the market for a home, driving around and walking through open houses is a great start!

Remember that you should always have your own agent as a buyer before entering into negotiations to purchase a home.

Here is a list of good questions to ask the seller’s agent should you find a home that you might be interested in.

Are the owners aware of any problems with the house?

You don’t want to purchase another person’s headache. Of course before you close on your new home you will have it thoroughly inspected and receive a seller’s disclosure statement that will list any problems the owners know about.

 

Is there an HOA?

There have been more than a few times where the seller’s agent forgot to disclose in the MLS listing that the home was in an HOA, Home Owners Association. 

This typically means there is a monthly fee and extra rules to follow.

 

What are the monthly utility costs in the summer?

 

Living in the Phoenix area, we have the largest amount of utility costs during the summer as we keep ourselves cool.

Knowing what the electricity costs are is a good idea especially if you are buying a larger home.

An old, non-efficient AC unit can really rack up the cooling costs if you aren’t careful!

 

Have the owners made any recent improvements to the home?

 

In this DIY age we live in, it is a good idea to know ahead of time as to any remodeling the owners have performed.

This way you can make your home inspector aware of this and he can look for any problems that might arise.

Not everybody is a journeyman plumber or electrician!

Also if the home was freshly remodeled by an Arizona licensed contractor, many times there is a 1 or 2-year warranty on repairs.

 

How long have the owners lived in the home?

When people have lived in their home for a decent amount of time, it tends to make you think that the area is a good place to live in.

Your agent can’t really comment on the goings-on, or crime rates in any particular area. This research is up to you, the internet and local news.

Do your homework if you are unfamiliar with any areas you might want to live in. There are plenty of online resources to scour…

 

Why are the owners selling?

You may or may not get an answer to this question, but you never know what you might discover.

 

How many offers are on this property?

 

Many agents won’t give you an answer to this question, but it never hurts to ask so you can see what the battlefield is shaping up to be.

A home with multiple offers might not be worth your time?

In the end, make sure you have a list of good questions pertaining to things that are important to you and your family.

Open houses are a great time to meet the neighbors and learn more about the home and the area.

That might be a good time at ask question #6 and see what the neighbors know.

Thorough research always pays off in the end.

 

Are you ready to have an agent by your side when you hit the open house circuit?

Please put us on your list of agents to interview before making a choice.

Having an entire team on your side,
is better than a single agent!
And as the buyer,
hiring us doesn’t cost you one penny!

We look forward to meeting you!
Click here to contact us now 

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Are Down Payment Assistance Programs Still Available?

3 Tips for Negotiating Your Next Home Purchase

In a seller’s market, the seller typically has the upper-hand when it comes to things like price, closing costs (who pays what), and home warranties.

In a normal real estate market, being the buyer of a home, you have quite a bit of negotiating power and here are a few tips to help you and your agent get the best deal possible.

1. Price negotiation:

After you have determined your purchasing power, or how much you can afford and what you are comfortable with as a monthly payment, you should have a good idea of the maximum amount you can spend.

With this thought in mind, it pays to start a little on the low side with your offer based on the comparable home sales in the area. You can always come up a little, but never down…

2. Financing contingencies:

One of the smartest ways to approach buying a home with financing, and assuming you might be going up against all cash offers, is to make sure your loan is preapproved and everything is in order.

There are mortgage companies out there that can literally close a loan in 2 weeks, maybe even less.

Having this in place, gives you a decent amount of leverage at the negotiating table.

As an example, maybe you increase your offer price a little & also mention that you can close quickly, so if the buyer is getting cash offers, waiting a few extra days will net them a higher sales price.

3. Closing negotiating:

There is a lot to buying a home and getting it to close.

In most real estate transactions there are closing costs, home warranty costs, home inspection costs and even repair costs.

This gives you a ton of room to either absorb more of these costs as the buyer, or try and get the seller to chip in more.

If the home needs a ton of repairs, then you might be able to ask the seller to pay for some of the repairs, especially if it is a loan approval requirement, or lower the price.

There are home loans you can get where they will include extra funds for repairs.

This could work out well for you as the home should increase in value after repairs are made, of course that depends on the type and amount of repairs needed.

Our best advice is to take a few minutes and familiarize yourself with the different components of a real estate transaction.

Smart buyers tend to get better deals and enjoy their homes more knowing they negotiated everything they possibly could.

Plus, to be honest, it is kind of fun!

We are always happy to help you learn more about how real estate transactions work.

Contact us anytime.

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