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Winterize Your Home

Monday, November 23, 2015
by Sandi Pressley

Winter is almost upon us and that means the weather is changing quickly. Now is the time to make sure your home is ready for the cold weather that is on its way. Here are some tips on winterizing to save money and be more comfortable when it's cold outside. El Nino is expected to be particularly strong this year. This means there could potentially be plenty of rain, snow and maybe even ice coming. Here are some cost-effective ways to get ready for the worst El Nino might throw your way.

Caulk Doors and Windows

Statistics show that a home can lose up to 33% of its energy to drafts at windows and doors. Experts recommend a gap of no more than a nickel's width to avoid heat escaping in winter. For drafty doors, consider adding weather stripping and a draft stopper for the bottom.

Reverse All Ceiling Fans

Remember that heat rises and you don't want all your heating dollars trapped near the ceiling. Reversing your ceiling fans helps push all that warm air back down into the room.

Get Your Heater Serviced

Having a repairman come out during an emergency is costly and inconvenient. Get your heating unit serviced before the cold hits to avoid most surprises that could end up costing you much more.

Clear Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters and downspouts are made to carry water away from your house, saving it from damage. Having clogged downspouts and blocked gutters gives water the option of backing up where it can then flow into your home causing possible water damage and worse, possibly even mold.

Watch the Weather Report and Prepare Accordingly

Know when winter weather is likely to be at its worst and prepare ahead. Stock up on essentials like water, paper products and firewood. These things are likely to go up in price when weather strikes and in a worst case scenario, you may not be able to travel out during the storm. If you're ready to sell, winter is a great time to put your home on the market. Buyers this time of year are more likely to be serious about moving and there is generally less competition in the market. Call The Sandi Pressley Team today to find out about listing your home.

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

6812 Vista Del Sol Dr, Albuquerque

Price: $339,000 Beds:3 Baths: 2+ Square Feet: 2,650

This spacious & beautiful home located on a cul-de-sac lot in the highly sought after NE Heights Neighborhood. This spacious open concept home showcases a formal dining room, 2 living areas w/fireplace, raised ceilings, plant ledges to name a few!

View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

 

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How do you save money while buying a home?

Wednesday, November 18, 2015
by Sandi Pressley

Buying a home is more than just finding the right home and going to the title company to sign documents. Unless you have cash to make the purchase, you'll need to obtain a home loan or mortgage. This can be an intimidating process. We hear every day about new predatory lending practices and mortgage scams. So how do you protect yourself and get the best loan available for your situation? Here are some tips to help protect you when the time to buy a home comes along.

Ask for referrals

You're likely to have family, friends or coworkers who have recently been through the process of obtaining a home loan. Ask around and find out where they had the best experience. Your real estate broker is also likely to have a preferred lender they like to use. Word of mouth is a great way to find a reputable lender.

If it seems too good to be true...

If it sees too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of rates far below what the market shows. There are plenty of programs available that help with down payment, closings costs and other parts of buying a home. Try not to be wowed by companies offering miracle deals.

Do your homework

Taking the time to research rates, companies and programs, can save you thousands of dollars out of pocket and even more over the term of a conventional mortgage. Being uneducated can cost you the same. Start by:

  • Understanding your credit score and how it relates to interest rate
  • Understanding mortgage terms like amortization, APR and compounding interest
  • Understanding payment and prepayment options

Be careful who you trust

The internet is a smorgasbord of information when it comes to mortgage lending. You have to be careful though as there is a ton of outdated information, deceptive advertising and just plain bad advice.

There are ways to protect yourself and even learn from other peoples’ mistakes. Consumer websites like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are a great place to start. Here you can learn about known scams and read personal experiences from people who have been there already.

When you're ready to buy a home, contact us for a referral to our preferred lender, Legacy Mortgage. The Sandi Pressley team is here to help you have a great experience!

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

6812 Vista Del Sol Dr, Albuquerque

Price: $375,000 Beds:4 Baths: 2+ Square Feet: 3,755

Exquisitely Appointed Home in desired Montecito Estates!With over 3700SF, this open floorplan shows like a model-featuring cozy living area w/fireplace, 4 BDRMS/3BA+loft & computer area!

View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

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Should You Remodel or Move?

Monday, November 9, 2015
by Sandi Pressley

Often, when meeting with prospective sellers, I hear the question, "Should I sell my home or remodel it and stay?" There's even a show on the home and garden channel called Love it or List it where a broker shops for new homes for a couple while a contractor remodels their existing home. At the end of the show, the couple must decide if they love it enough to stay or want to take one of the new homes found by the broker. Most of us don't have access to a TV show who will offer us this option so we have to decide if it is a better investment to remodel and stay in the home or just move out and buy what we want. Here are some tips to help you decide.

Look at Market Conditions in your area

Market statistics, the ones that really matter, should be hyper-local. Numbers in your county or city can vary greatly from the national ones put out by NAR and other organizations. Home prices can even vary from one neighborhood to another, depending on amenities, condition and crime in the area.

Look at your purchasing options

Living in an area where you can fetch a good price for your home might also mean it will be difficult to find a new home that is affordable. Look at your purchase options before making a decision to list. If you sell, will you have enough for a down payment? Will your payments go up in your new home?

Consider the costs

Statistics show that an average home renovation is less expensive now, around $4,000 down from over $6,000 in 2010. Looking at the cost, it's obviously less expensive to renovate than to move. However, most average families don't have that kind of money lying around and would need to take out a loan to cover the costs. This additional debt may offset the expense of moving in the long run.

Make the upgrades count

If you decide to update your home instead of moving, make sure your upgrades add value to your home. Talk with a professional to find out if the upgrades you're considering have a good ROI or return on investment. Thinking about moving in 5 years? A pool might not be the best use of those renovation dollars. Upgrading your home with Green features, like energy efficient windows, that save money and add value are a great place to start.

Take a look at the future

It's a good idea to stay on top of city projects, especially those close to your existing home. Homes near schools, retail centers and other amenities, tend to hold their value better than those that require a drive for those things. Look at what your neighborhood has planned before making your decision. The decision to love it or list it is a personal one. Do your homework and make the decision that is best for you and your family and you won't regret it. If you've already decided to sell, give The Sandi Pressley Team a call today to learn about our marketing plan.

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

7300 Eagle View Ave, Albuquerque

Price: $239,000 Beds:4 Baths: 3 Square Feet: 1,755

Four bedroom home in La Cueva School District. Main floor has a bedroom and a convenient 3/4 bath. This floor plan features a nice size family room with raised ceiling and open to dining room. Lovely Master Suite with walk-in closet and viewing balcony.

View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

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Let the Sunshine In!

Sunday, November 1, 2015
by Sandi Pressley

Unless you're in Arizona or a few other US locations, you probably got up today and set your clocks back one hour. We may get an extra hour of daylight in the morning but the sun is still setting around dinner time in most places. So how do you keep the darkness from wearing down your spirits? Here are some tips to help you let the sunshine in when fall and winter arrive.

  • Change your dark curtains out for lighter colors or even better, throw them open during the day, especially in the morning.
  • Add more lighting. This can add brightness to your home but the heat from the lights can also add warmth and mean savings on your heating bill
  • Max out the watts. Don't use bulbs not intended for your light fixtures. That can cause higher fire risk. Just put in the highest wattage allowable in your lamps. Again, this adds warmth and can help with those winter heating bills. The new bulbs allow for more light without the increase in electricity usage.
  • Consider adding skylights to your home. Solatubes and other skylight options can add a lot of natural light to your home.
  • Lighter surfaces reflect light. You might consider painting rooms with lighter paint colors during the fall and winter months. Don't feel like repainting that often? Think about changing out dark colored decorations for lighter colored ones.
  • Mirrors are another great option for reflecting light in an otherwise darker room. Hang your mirror on a wall across the room from a window and double the light.
  • Clean the windows. That's right, just cleaning the windows can allow more light to enter the room.

Need a home with more light? Call The Sandi Pressley Team today and let us help you find the home of your dreams.

Have An Awesome Week!

Sandi's Hot Home Listing

13201 Canyon Edge Trail, Albuquerque

Price: $680,000 Beds:5 Baths: 4 Square Feet: 3,265

A Rare find - Oversized Lot at the Canyons featuring two homes and a 3 Car Garage.Perfect Multigenerational Home- Numerous recent upgrades to main home- Beautiful New Kitchen, New Wood Floors, Heating System Upgrade, Living Room Remodel. Open and Bright- High Ceilings.

View This Listing

AND HERE'S YOUR MONDAY MORNING COFFEE!!

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The Sandi Pressley Team
Coldwell Banker Legacy
10400 Academy Rd. NE Suite 100
Albuquerque NM 87111
505-980-2999
505-263-2173 / 505 293-3700
Fax: 505-212-0729
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Quick links to this site are also SandiSells.net or SandiSellsHomes.com