Northeast San Antonio Metrocom Edition - July 2022

GUIDE

Local businesses oer home improvement tips

2022 REAL ESTATE EDITION

ASK A REALTOR

MAINTAINING YOUR HOME The National Association of Home Builders oers routine home

BY TRICIA SCHWENNESEN

Jill Whittaker is a Realtor with JB Goodwin Homes, based in Schertz. She oers advice for both buyers and sellers who are considering the Northeast San Antonio metrocom area.

maintenance tips for homeowners looking to maintain their homes’ value and ensure their safety.

paid out of the proceeds. [Another] option if they don’t have the money, but if they did have to invest in just one thing, I would say, like, landscaping you can do yourself, so you can do that more economically, like, pull up a lawn mower and just cut the grass. That doesn’t cost you any money. So, I would probably focus on the ooring, and make sure that the ooring is uniform and clean, and if the carpet needs to be replaced to replace it versus trying to clean it. WHAT HOME CHARACTERISTICS ARE YOU NOTICING HOMEBUYERS ARE MOST INTERESTED IN OR ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM AREA? We have a limited supply, so you would think they would be looking for anything that they can get accepted on, but that is, interestingly enough, not the case. They are still looking for a move-in ready home, so it needs to be clean, it needs to be updated with those things that we just talked about: ooring, paint. Those are the two biggest things, but cleanliness is a big thing to them. The houses that are sitting on the market are typically dirty. And there [are] clearly maintenance issues that need to be addressed so buyers, even with the low inventory, [are] reluctant to invest in that big of an investment—hundreds of thousands of dollars—on a property that kind of looks gross. WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH POTENTIAL BUYERS, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR BUYING A HOUSE? The No. 1 thing they can do is nd a trusted local lender that can sit down with them, going over their nances and giving them a realistic picture of what they’re going to qualify for; getting them started on their application; and making sure that they have the nancial piece of it settled before you even go out and look at a property. And buyers tend to fall in love with properties when they’re in them, and in this market, if you have a contract oered in a timely fashion, really getting that nancial piece of it settled before you even go out and look [at homes is important]. The local mortgage companies that only do home mortgages, that have a loan ocer you can sit down with and talk to them in person, have them review your information, and when you have questions you can reach them and communicate with them.

WHAT PROJECTS SHOULD A HOMEOWNER CONSIDER BEFORE SELLING A HOME? I would give you three areas to focus on; I would say No. 1 [is] landscaping. Obviously, [summer is] not the best time of year to be working on landscaping, but at a minimum things like fresh mulch making sure your ower beds are fresh and not weedy, and your yard looks clean and maintained, so I would say landscaping is probably the No. 1. You want to [have] good curb appeal and [make] a good rst impression. The second area I would recommend is paint. So, when buyers are walking through the home and they’re paying attention to things, blemishes on the paint [can] speak to a maintenance [issue]. If they’ve got chips out of the paint and smudges and dirt and things like that it kind of then says, “Maybe I should look a little deeper, look into the way they take care of their air conditioning, or do they, you know, clean out the sinks very often,” and things like that. And then the third area, I would say, is the ooring. I’ve seen a lot of buyers who are very reluctant to move forward on the purchase of a home because they’ll come into a house with, say, ve dierent [oorings]—tile and carpet and linoleum—and, you know, it’s just overwhelming to them. It’s actually a very simple x. It can be done in a day or two, and it has a huge return on your investment. Or just replacing the carpet, a lot of people want to oer a carpet allowance, but if you actually replace the carpet, as opposed to just trying to clean it or oering allowance, it will move the property a lot quicker. IF YOU HAD TO PICK JUST ONE THING TO INVEST IN TO IMPROVE A HOME FOR SALE, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND? Well, can I oer a third-party option, a Plan B? With the current market the way it is, there’s almost no one unless you bought your home last year or earlier [that doesn’t have equity in their home.] You’ve got equity in your home. The problem is people don’t have access to cash. They don’t want to do that home improvement because they’re like, “I just don’t have the money in the bank right now, but when I sell it, I will,” but then that’s too late. Well, basically, the programs that are available will charge you at closing so you can get all that work done in advance with the bill being

Find other useful homeownership tips at www.nahb.org.

EXTERIOR

INTERIOR

1 Roofs should be inspected by a qualied 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.

SOURCE: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERSCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

WEATHER READY AT HOME In addition to preparing for disasters by stockpiling food and water, homeowners can prepare themselves and their homes for severe weather events through home maintenance and repairs.

Renovations: while updating appliances, ooring, walls and windows

Construction: during

Now: immediately and are renter-friendly

Measures that can be taken:

the design phase of a new home or addition

Windows & doors

R C Plants Trees can protect

Walls & oors

Roofs

N R C

R C

N R C

Weather stripping can protect doors and windows from rain and external moisture.

Insulating pipes with foam sleeves can protect them from extreme temperatures.

Overhanging roofs can shade windows from the sun while still allowing indirect light in.

sunny sides of buildings. Native trees are best adapted to the home’s climate.

R C

N R C

Using mold- resistant insulation can improve air quality, especially in homes that are humid or prone to ooding.

Solar panel installation can be paired with a smart inverter

Thermal curtains can protect against both extreme heat and cold while conserving energy.

for optimal energy use.

Jill Whittaker Realtor, Schertz sales manager JB Goodwin Homes 17305 I-35 N., Ste. 123 210-317-4311 www.jillloveshomes.com

3009

SOURCES: HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER, TEXAS STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • JULY 2022