GUIDE
Local businesses o er home improvement tips
HOME IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE
the market for the public to look at, it needs to be depersonalized. It is a product; it has to look its very best … so that another person can see themselves in it. WHAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN EITHER THE HOMEBUYING OR HOME SELLING PROCESS? [You need to] know how much you can spend, know how much you are going to get. You need to tell everybody you know. People are quiet a lot of times when they are going to sell their house or buy one. It is a good thing to ask people who are going to sell a house [about their experience]. Conversely, if somebody bought a house or is in the process of buying a house, ask them what it is like for them. Or speak up and tell your friends, ‘I am about to buy a house; does anybody have any thoughts? Do you know anybody who is selling a house?’ Sometimes you can nd a house that way. It can be a year out, even. Don’t be afraid to talk with friends, family and coworkers.
more careful because they are going to have to pay more for their loan. Sellers are going to have to be realistic with setting their price. Listen to the professional Realtor. Although real estate is not completely a science, there is a whole lot of emotion that goes into it. You might perceive that your home is the best one in the neighborhood, and a Realtor will look at your home and some others that sold and [compare]. So you need to have a professional evaluate your house. And I do not recommend [making upgrades]; if you are ready to put it on the market, do not just start doing things. Ask a Realtor what they think you should do. Some people will spend a whole lot of money doing things that they expect to get back. There is not a direct correlation between how much you spend and how much you are going to get when you sell a property. Be ready to turn your house into a product. That is a hard one for a lot of people because their house is so personal to them. Once you put it on
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & ERIC WEILBACHER
ASK A REALTOR
With more than 20 years of experience, Realtor Mae Watts Parrish shares some of her top tips for buyers and sellers in the current market. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP
someone who has been referred to you or somebody you choose because of their advertisements. You want to pick somebody who communicates well with you and feels like they could be a casual friend because you are going to spend a lot of time with them. Then, get their advice on how long it is going to take to nd this property. You need to talk to a professional Realtor and get a realistic timeline on how quickly you can actually move into a property. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOME SELLERS RIGHT NOW? Right now, we are in a seller’s market; at least, we have been. Sellers are going to get, generally, what they are asking. That may have changed [recently] whenever the interest rates went up. It is a little bit of a di erent market now because buyers are going to be
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOMEBUYERS RIGHT NOW?
The rst thing to do is get quali ed. That’s really important. You have to talk to a bank or a loan company of some sort and nd out what you are quali ed to spend; that way you can tell your Realtor where you want to go and what to show you. Have an idea of what, realistically, what you like best in a property. Don’t say, ‘I want a pool,’ and then really know the truth that you are not going to [maintain] the pool. Be realistic about what your wants and needs are. It is probably a good idea to gure out your timeline; knowing when you need to have this property, when you want to have this house. You want to have a sense of [a timeline]. Find yourself a Realtor; whether it is MAINTAINING YOUR HOME The National Association of Home Builders o ers routine home maintenance tips for homeowners looking to maintain their homes’ value and ensure their
Mae Watts Parrish Realtor The Damron Group Realtors 102 Wonder World Dr., Ste. 301, San Marcos • 512-392-7653 www.thedamrongroup.com
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EXTERIOR
INTERIOR
1 Roofs should be inspected by a quali ed roofer every three years, and skylights should be inspected so leaks do not develop. 2 Ensure downspouts and gutters do not get clogged with leaves and other debris. 3 Inspect siding each year to see if it needs repainting, and trim shrubs away so they do not touch the siding. 4 Check for split or cracked caulking on windows and doors annually, and replace the caulk as necessary. 5 Moving parts of garage doors need to be oiled once every three months.
6 Air lters require regular replacement, generally once every three months. 7 Regularly check security alarms and circuit breakers . Check batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 8 Clean each faucet’s aerator every three to four months. Maintain garbage disposals by running cold water through them. 9 Masonry walls can develop a white powder that can be scrubbed o with water and a sti brush. 10 Hardwood oors without polyurethane need to be waxed with a liquid or paste “spirit” wax. Use emulsion wax on vinyl.
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safety. Find other useful homeownership tips at www.nahb.org.
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SOURCE: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Thank you for voting for us Hays County! Best Audiologist/Hearing Specialist
Medpark Hearing Center & San Marcos Ear, Nose and Throat
• Clean & check of your current hearing devices • Hearing screening FREE
512-353-8899 MedparkHearingCenter.com 2000 B&C Medical Parkway • San Marcos, TX 78666
Not to be combined with any other offer. Exp: 8/15/2022
Edward Tomaneng, MD Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist
Anthony Atencio, HIS Hearing Instrument Specialist
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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