Apr
8
It’s EASY Being Green!
Filed under: Enhancing Home Value | Leave a Comment
Often the world’s environmental problems just seem insurmountable, terrifying, and just plain depressing to me. Although I try to recycle, conserve and replace bad bulbs with the new energy efficient ones, I’m often left feeling like I can do more. And we can! Here are 5 simple ways that homeowners can make a big difference in the world, and reduce the negative impact of our developments:
1. Washers that save energy and water.
Whirlpool now makes a steam technology driven washing machine that saves 73% of the water and 77% of the energy of the usual top load washers made just 4 years ago.
2. Toilets that conserve water.
Kohler Dual Force model now offers 2 choices for flushing to help homeowners conserve water: There is a 1.6 gallon “bulk flush” option, and a 0.8 gallon “light waste” flush option.
3. No VOC paints.
When thinking of the environment, our indoor air quality isn’t always the first thing to come to mind, but almost all paints have a low amount of volatile organic compounds, and they can compromise the quality of the air in your home. Home Depot now offers a VOC free line of paints called Freshaire Choice.
4. Smart thermostat applications.
Though digital thermostats have helped control heating and air conditioning costs, they are often not as effective as a homeowner might like. There are now online computer applications that will monitor your heating and cooling systems, consumption and will also control the settings…reducing both your costs, and your carbon footprint.
5. Low flow faucets and showerheads.
Delta Water Efficient Showerheads with H2OKinetic technology now create larger water droplets with a more drenching spray, allowing for less water consumption during a shower.
Every little bit counts - give one of these tips a try and find out how EASY it is to be GREEN!
Mar
13
Recent data about home sales and values in Gilbert reveal a market that is struggling to “find itself” in this changing landscape. Gilbert’s fundamentals are strong - excellent schools, desirable communities, plenty of new construction, upscale retail, brand new freeway, etc. It continues to be one of the most sought after addresses in the Southeast Valley. In February (last month), Gilbert was the only city in the Southeast Valley that had an increased number of homes sold over 2007. Gilbert had 265 sales last month, as compared to 230 in February 2007. But, as with the rest of the Valley, the median price of sales declined to $254,700 from $307,500 last year at this time. One of the major factors for this decline is the number of foreclosures resulting from investors leaving their properties and debts behind, adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) adjusting, and difficulty for homeowners in refinancing due to declining home values. There were 40 foreclosures in Gilbert in 2006, but 2007 showed those numbers up to 550. In January of this year alone, there were 106 foreclosures. There is no doubt that Gilbert’s housing market will (is?) stabilize, and values will increase again in the future. The big question is WHEN? Personally, I think we’re through the worst of it (don’t quote me on that!)…but it’s going to take well into next year to see any measurable gains. Only time will tell! In the meantime, if you don’t HAVE to move, please keep your homes off the market…let’s work on the inventory level first!
Mar
10
Clean That House!
Filed under: Home Staging | Leave a Comment
I spent most of my day yesterday showing properties, and it struck me how the standout of the day (and the one that will receive my client’s offer) wasn’t THAT much better than the other homes we looked at…it was just much MUCH cleaner! It is impossible to describe how valuable cleanliness is to a home when you are showing and staging it to sell. And I don’t mean that your unmentionables are picked up off the floor and your dirty dishes are put away from the sink (though these things are also vital)…I mean your house must SHINE and SPARKLE! Yes, put away the clutter. Yes, clear off the countertops. Yes, put your personal items away. All of that is critical. But, then, get it really REALLY clean!!!
The best investment you could make in the sale of your home is to hire a cleaning crew to come in for what is called a “show clean.” They’ll do things that we normal homeowners never think of doing…wiping baseboards, dusting light fixtures and pot shelves, cleaning blinds. You will be amazed at how far a $150 cleaning will go when it comes to making your house show well. In addition, get your carpets cleaned! Not only will it get up the residual stain from Johnny’s Kool Aid science experiment, but it will also make your house smell much fresher. (Just make sure to open your windows and air out the house as the carpets are drying.) If you can afford it, hire a window washing company to wash all of your windows and screens…inside and out. If you find that prohibitively expensive, then invest in a simple squeegee at Home Depot (sponge and wiper on a pole) and a bucket, and at least wash the outside of your windows to get the dust off. You can also brush your screens with a broom. And, finally, use Windex to clean each window on the inside. A little elbow grease will go a long way…you’ll be appalled at what collects on glass! In addition, don’t underestimate the power of potential buyers to be nosy. EXPECT that they will be opening your cabinets! In your spare time leading up to listing your home, spend some time each day/week cleaning out your cupboards (kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, linen closet, etc.). It will make moving easier in the long run, and in the short run, it will make your storage areas look more spacious, organized, and add a feel of care and attention to detail to the home. It can’t hurt to clean out the old crumbs and balls of dog hair in the back of your pantry either! Finally, as you are looking to sell your home, a magic eraser is your best friend. Homes with marks on the walls look banged up, dingy, and worn. If you don’t want to do a fresh coat of paint, or even do touch up paint, at the very least, get a magic eraser! For $10, your walls will look like new! They work on baseboards, door jams, doors, colored walls, and all types of paint. You’ll be amazed how fresh and “loved” your home will look when you’re done!
One final note and then I’ll stop my longwinded sermon on cleaning! Please DON’T use air fresheners! I know you think you’re doing your home a favor by making it smell “nice”…but the reality of it is that most potential buyers hate those scents. Each person’s favorite smells will vary, and often, air fresheners will mix in with normal everyday odors like cooking, pets, laundry detergents, etc…and the result isn’t pretty! Your best bet is to change your air filters, open your windows and doors daily to air out the house (yes, I do know that summer is coming - but do it for just a few minutes at least!), keep your home clean, and take care of those pets! If you must do something, then burn a plain vanilla, sugar, or cookie scented candle in the kitchen. Stay away from floral scents. Or, better yet…bake some cookies!!! Time and again, this has proven to be an excellent way to invite guests into your home, make the house smell great, create a wonderful ambiance, and give visitors a little “treat” on the counter. Good luck, and good housekeeping!
Feb
29
Super Hot Housing Segment
Filed under: Home Values, Real Estate Agents | Leave a Comment
A recent article this week in the Arizona Republic echoed something that we have been experiencing alot lately, especially in Gilbert. The housing market for homes priced under $200,000 has become SUPER hot! A segment of the market that hasn’t been seen at all in the past couple of years in Gilbert, there are now single family homes that are selling just under $200K. It’s still very difficult to find anything below $175K, but if you can stretch to the upper 200s, you have alot of choice today in Gilbert, as well as the rest of the Southeast Valley.
Sub-prime financing market forces and challenges, foreclosures, short sales, and other market conditions are making it more and more common to find these bargains, and help first time home buyers and others to obtain a new single family dwelling in the very desirable Gilbert area. The crazy thing about this segment of the market, though, is that the competition is fierce! You might think that it is an easy thing to get a contract accepted these days…well, that may be true in most parts of the housing market in metro Phoenix, but under $200,000, it’s tough out there! There is stiff competition from investors who are looking to capitalize on low housing values in a growing market. Bidding wars on “short sale” homes are quite common, often resulting in buyers needing to make several offers before finally getting a house that they want to buy. And lenders for foreclosure and short sale properties are making these waters tough to traverse, very competitive, and trying for anyone’s patience.
The best suggestion that this Arizona Republic article made (and, we agree, of course!) is that a team of qualified individuals working on your behalf is the best way to find success in getting a great deal in this segment of the market in Gilbert and throughout the Southeast Valley. You’ll need a strong, smart, savvy and professional real estate agent to represent you, analyze pricing, show you homes, and negotiate the offers…especially when dealing with lenders as sellers in short sale and foreclosure situations. Your real estate agent can also connect you with other excellent professionals such as title companies and lenders to create a team working on your behalf. It’ll still be tough work, but with a great team in place, some patience, and some excitement…a great deal awaits you in Gilbert today!
Feb
27
Gateway is Growing!
Filed under: Communities, Transportation | Leave a Comment
The area on the border of Gilbert and East Mesa near the new 202 freeway has come to be known as Williams Gateway. This environment is ready for development, and planning is in the works for what will become a brand new city in the coming decades. The Arizona Republic has run several articles lately outlining this growth, including one fantastic outline on February 18th, highlighted below.
In this article, the Arizona Republic highlights 6 reasons why Gateway is exploding with growth! First of all, the airport…what has formerly been known as the Williams Gateway Air Force Base is a private airport expanding rapidly with passenger and cargo services. Secondly, education is another reason why this area is so dynamic. ASU’s Polytechnic campus opened in 1995, and is now almost 9,000 students who are focusing their studies in technology, specifically aeronautics and aviation. ASU East is also an active partner with Mesa Community College and Chandler Gilbert Community College.
Next, Superstition Vistas is another exciting reason why the Gateway area is slated for such tremendous development. This 275 square mile swath of state trust land is expected to be home to approximately 1.3 million individuals in the next 50 years. It extends from Mesa and Apache Junction in the north to Florence in the south. In addition to the release of this state trust land, GM has finally scheduled its departure from their proving grounds in the same area. DMB will begin developing the land as soon as GM finishes its departure…expected to be sometime in 2009.
Finally, freeways are another exciting reason why Gateway is slated for such growth. The new 202 freeway has brought tremendous connectivity to the area, and another freeway (the 802) is expected to begin in the immediate area (Warner and 202 freeway) and extend into Pinal County by 2020. And, as with many areas these days, globalization is breathing new life into the Gateway area. A program called Arizona Direct is allowing international shippers to bypass California, and use the duty free zone at Gateway.
It will be interesting and intriguing to watch what can and will happen with the Gateway area. There is such potential, and an almost daunting task for planners to make the most of this incredible intersection of opportunities. I look forward to watching it all unfold!
Feb
18
Gilbert has gone to the dogs!
Filed under: Parks | Leave a Comment
When looking for a great place to live, one needs to not only think of themselves, but also their pets! Gilbert has it all for our furry friends, including Dog Fancy Magazine’s 2007 Best Dog Park - Cosmo Dog Park! Located at the northeast corner of Ray Rd. and the San Tan Freeway (202), all of our smallest family members love to go to this park…Scout, Dakota (the furry ones), and even our 2 year old daughter, Julia! We laugh, run around, get some exercise, meet new friends (those with 2 feet and 4 feet), and have a great time! It’s become a weekly outing for all of us…one that we truly enjoy. People are friendly, and like all dog owners, everyone loves to stand around and talk about their “kids” as they play together!
The park is amazing…really a masterpiece of planning spread over 17 acres in all. There are ramadas, tables, benches and a basketball court and tot lot for family fun and picnics, and dogs are allowed on leash throughout the entire area. Then…the best part…4 acres of fenced yard for Fido and FiFi to go NUTS! (There is also a separate fenced yard for active or timid dogs that don’t “play well with others”.) The fenced area has obstacle courses, Mutt Mitt waste disposal stations (so you don’t have those embarrassing moments where you have to pretend that you have a bag!), trash receptacles, and pet drinking and washing stations. The fenced area is complete with a dog beach and swimming lake (Scout loves it!) with a dock for jumping. At any time of day you can find chihuahuas to great danes, all having a good time together. The park is open from 6am to 10pm, and it is completely lit at night. There is a 3 dog maximum per visit.
Feb
14
Business Development Booms in Gilbert
Filed under: Communities, Economics, Enhancing Home Value, Recreation | Leave a Comment
As a real estate agent and investor, and certainly as a resident of Gilbert, I am ecstatic at the news contained in an article put out today by the Arizona Republic entitled “Business Development Picking Up Pace in Gilbert.” Any sort of growth in this real estate market is excellent news (or maybe I’ve just been working in residential for too long!)…and to see Gilbert start to develop as we’ve known for so long that it would is exciting!
In January 2008, there were nearly 4 times the number of permits pulled for commercial development than in January 2007 in Gilbert. There were 257,000 industrial permits pulled, and 195,000 retail permits pulled. The article goes on to describe this explosive growth as “businesses following residential rooftops.” Gilbert is finally going to become the retail destination that they’ve been talking about forever!
There are several high profile projects already under development including the Greer Towne Center that is expected to be completed in 2010 at Riggs and Higley. There will be over 450,000 sf of retail and restaurant space there. The Forum at Val Vista and Williams Field is set to start leasing in 60-90 days, and features over 30,000 sf of retail and 90,000 sf of office space. Finally, the Promenade at San Tan (also at the same intersection) will open in 2009 with over 400,000 sf of retail and office space.
These sorts of projects, while not immediately impacting properties, will continue to preserve and add value to Gilbert homes for years to come as our city develops into more and more of a destination. Very exciting!
Feb
12
Don’t you want to sell your house?
Filed under: Home Staging, Home Values, Parks | Leave a Comment
So, you have gone through all of the trouble of evaluating the decision to make a move, pack up your belongings, uproot your family, etc. You have made the decision to move. Then, you went through the exhausting process of identifying, locating, interviewing, and finally, selecting a real estate agent. Finally, after this grueling process, you have staged your home to perfection, packed away unwanted clutter, and you’re ready to go. So, after all of this hard work, WHY oh WHY would you NOT let someone show your home??? I have encountered way too many reluctant sellers these days! I do what we’re supposed to do as a buyer’s agent…call ahead of time, make an appointment, etc. And STILL, I have found several sellers in the past few weeks that have not let me into their home to show their property. The reasons range from sick children and barking dogs to messy clothes and just getting home from work. The question is…don’t you want to sell your house? In any market, let alone this challenging one, you NEVER want to turn away potential buyers. It’s just too hard to get them to your front door! So, if you want to sell your house, SHOW your home!Real estate agents understand that it’s not always convenient to show your home, and buyers are surprisingly forgiving SHOW your home! As listing agents, we provide our sellers with a short list of items to take care of if you are asked to show your home unexpectedly. First, ask the buyer’s agent if you can have 5 minutes to freshen up the house. No one will say no. Take those 5 minutes to pick up clothes and toys on the floor, open blinds and windows, throw dirty dishes in the dishwasher, pull up comforters and bedspreads on unmade beds, and turn on the lights. The house doesn’t need to look perfect or immaculate…it just needs to be presentable. Buyers will understand…trust me! Then, pick up your favorite book, your small dog, and possibly your child, and step outside. Go into your backyard, the garage, or take a walk around the block. Give the buyers a few minutes to view your home undisturbed. You won’t be disappointed with the results! about a little bit of clutter and dirty dishes. But, it’s tough to get out to see homes for buyers, and when they are in your neighborhood, chances are good that they won’t be back through in another hour, another day, or 20 more minutes. So, when you have buyers there, KEEP them there, and
Feb
11
The Power of Paint and Personalization
Filed under: Home Staging | Leave a Comment
After a few years of showing properties to potential buyers, agents generally think they’ve seen it all…attack dogs, screaming alarm systems, missing appliances, crying babies…you name it. But, this week, after almost 5 years in the real estate business in the Southeast Valley, I can truly say that I have seen it all! I visited almost 25 properties this week with 2 separate clients throughout the Gilbert area, and I saw the most diverse range of showing and staging mistakes ever! In homes ranging in price from the low $200s to the high $500s, we saw darkened rooms with drawn shades, dirty dishes, mildewed bathrooms, intense religious artifacts and art, smelly closets, baby pictures, bright orange walls (to say nothing of the dark burgundy!), overgrown weeds…and the list goes on. It is quite common for most listing agents to provide advice on how to neutralize and stage a home for sale (our team goes a step further by providing a professional stager), but words were obviously lost on these homeowners! It is hard enough in this market to gain the attention of a buyer, let alone get them to write an offer! The best thing that sellers can do is make a positive, clean, fresh first impression. Don’t underestimate the power of paint and personalization!
Buyers must be allowed to envision themselves and their personal possessions in your home. They must be greeted with a light, bright, airy home that smells fresh and clean. Dog hair and crumbs must be vacumned. Dishes must be cleaned and put away. Window coverings should be opened, and lights should be on. Bathrooms must be fresh and clean. This level of cleanliness is a necessity. But, to sell a home in today’s market, sellers must go a step further…they must neutralize their home! Remove all clutter and box it away. Put away all personal photos, collections, memorabilia, religious art and artifacts, and knick knacks. Leave only a few select items that would have broad appeal for staging purposes. Store extra furniture in a storage unit or friend’s garage to open up rooms and make them seem larger. Put on fresh, clean sheets, bedding and towels in neutral tones. Paint over bright or uniquely colored walls with white, or some other neutral (a.k.a. boring) tone that would appeal to large groups of people. The idea is to not have this home reflect your personal life or expression…it must be a clean, fresh, blank canvas that others can step into and make their own.
Jan
30
Gilbert Real Estate Blog Launched by The Carvalho Real Estate Group
Filed under: Carvalho Group News | Leave a Comment
The Carvalho Real Estate Group of Keller Williams Integrity First Realty is pleased to announce hot off the presses the launch of GilbertRealEstatePress.com, an on-line real estate news blog, as a service to home buyers and sellers interested in the Gilbert, Arizona real estate market.
The mission of GilbertRealEstatePress.com according to Mark and Kristin Carvalho, the creators of GilbertRealEstatePress.com, is to “to provide real-time, in-depth, Gilbert-specific real estate information that will enable Phoenix Valley residents and those thinking about relocating to Gilbert to really understand what’s happening in the Gilbert housing market at a very local level. Our blog is the real estate consumer’s eyes, ears, and feet on the street because we live, work, eat, sleep, and play in Gilbert everyday as residents.”
It’s often said that, “all real estate is local.” We couldn’t agree more with that wisdom. That’s why we’ve created this resource to share what we know, when we know it, with others who wish to get to know this vibrant community and to better understand Gilbert’s home buying and selling market dynamics.
Thanks for dropping by, and we look forward to hearing from you in the comments sections of our blog posts. All feedback, requests, and comments are encouraged and welcomed. We’d love to hear from you, and look forward to seeing you again soon!
