1)What are 5 Things I can Do before I Sell?

Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

Get a pre-sale home inspection so you’ll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don’t forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.
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2)How can I make my House More Sellable?

Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

Clean your gutters.

Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
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3)How can I Speed up my Sale?

Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.

Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a seller.

Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.
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4)What causes Assessed Values to change?

The property tax is “ad valorem”. This means your property tax is based upon the value of your property. When the market value of your property changes, so does your appraised value.

A property’s value can change for many reasons. For instance, if you were to increase the total market value of your property by adding a bedroom, garage, or swimming pool, the appraised value would increase proportionately. Similarly, should your property’s value be decreased by flood or fire, the appraised value would decrease to show the downward effect of this damage on the market value of your property.

Collection and updating of information is very important in the appraisal process. Properties on which building permits are issued are inspected annually. In addition, our field appraisers make physical inspections or properties in order to review the condition, quality and size of structures.

The most frequent cause of a change in a value is a change in the market. As older neighborhoods with good housing stock are discovered by homebuyers, prices gradually rise as the neighborhood becomes fashionable. A shortage of detached houses in a desirable city neighborhood can also raise values. In a recession, larger homes may stay on the market for a long time, but more affordable homes are in demand, so their prices rise. In a stable neighborhood, with no extraordinary pressure from the market, inflation may increase property values.

Buyers and Sellers in the market affect value. The Property Appraiser’s office analyzes the market and collects information about the market to estimate value.

A zoning change or use variance, requested by property owner and approved by the county or municipal commission, may also increase the value of your property.

Need further help please don't hesitate to call.
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Helpful House Tips:
                     
Inside Tasks: 
    1-Change your furnace filters monthly.
            Easy! Clogged filters decrease furnace efficiency and can 
            cause breakdowns.
    2-Drain your water heater at least once a year.
            Sediment will drain out along with the water from the water tank. 
            Removing sediment can prolong the heater's useful life.
    3-Clean the coils
            Baseboard heating units: clear dust from the coils in tje the units
            Hot water boiler/furnace: oil the pump inside the furnace 
            2x a year.  Look for 3 spots on the pump designated for
            oiling.  These tips will maximize heating efficiency.
    4-Check your circuits
            Test the performance of the circuit breakers 2x a year by flipping
             them off and back on.
    5-Watch out for drips
            Check under sinks periodically to look for leaks or water stains
            that might indicate leaks.  Catching a small problem early can 
            prevent water damage.
    6-Replace regularly
           Water heaters, furnaces, roofs, and other key components of
           your home should be replaced before they fail, based on their
           average useful lives.      
        Schedule for Replacement (average life span)
            Exterior painting                 5-10 yrs.
            Furnace                             5-50 yrs.
            Roof                                  13-15 yrs.   
            Water                                7-15 yrs.
            Wood deck staining            4-7 yrs.

Outside Tasks:
    1-Keep the wet out
            Water is a major enemy of your house. Flashing, the metal pieces
            used to seal the areas between roofs and chimneys and around 
            doors and windows, are vulnerable to damage by wind or age.
            If flashing gets loose it can let water seep under a roof or inside 
            walls, which in turn can cause mold.
    2-Check your foundation
            Check foundation for cracks or gaps that could let water or pests
            in.  Homes gradually sink slightly as they age.  This settling lets
            water puddle against the foundation and possibly damage it.  Be
            careful of major landscaping also.  This can cause changes to the
            ground's pitch that allows the water to flow towards the house.
    3-Look up the chimney
            Chimneys take a great deal of weather abuse.  Inspect them each
            year for signs of loose mortar or loose or missing bricks.  Have the
            inside of the chimneys cleaned every 2-3 years. 
            Also check your roof for loose shingles and check gutters that may
            be clogged or dangling.


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