Questions I Am Often Asked

If you’re thinking of selling your home and want to increase its curb appeal, it’s time to do some planting. A small investment of time and money can make a big difference in your home’s appearance, increasing its value.

Spending about $330 — on lawn and wildflower seeds, fertilizer, aerator rental, lime, mulch, pine bark and straw, and shrubs — can increase the value of an average, single-family home more than $19,000, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Still not convinced?

Keep these facts in mind, from the Pennington Seed Company:

* 56 percent of lawn and garden consumers rank a well-kept lawn and landscape as the top eye-catching feature when judging a home’s curb appeal.

* 52 percent consider home pride the greatest benefit of lawn and garden care.

* 55 percent spend only one to five hours per week caring for their lawns and gardens.

* More than 50 percent spend only $500 to $1,000 annually on lawn and garden care.

Need some ideas to get started?

* Test soil pH level before planting grass seed. The optimum growing condition for more varieties is between 6.4 and 7.0. Apply lime if necessary.

* Aerate dense soils with a heavy rake or a rented aerator. De-thatch if grass clippings were not bagged last year.

* Use a slow-release high-nitrogen fertilizer for spring lawn application.

* Plant wildflowers as an easy, affordable way to add color to your lawn.

A View of the Housing Market

Housing stock has been on the rise since 1997, thanks to a decline in mortgage rates that also gave incentive to home builders to increase production. In 2000, though, slightly higher mortgage rates curbed demand for new homes. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® expects that strong personal income gains and a robust job market will keep residential construction activity brisk in 2001. Overall, home sales have grown at a compound annual average rate of 7.6 percent, eclipsing the six million mark in 1999 for the first time ever. The persistent demand has taken a bite out of the supply of overall homes, and, coupled with a general cooling of the U.S. economy, may result in a slight decline in home sales through the next two years, NAR reports.

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Answer: Stick with me and we'll go places!

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Question: What are some tips for first-time buyers to make the process easier?

Answer: Define your wants versus your needs before beginning your home search. It will make the process less overwhelming.

Check your credit rating, especially if you will be applying for a mortgage. Straighten out errors that could hold up loan approval, and postpone large credit purchases.

Investigate the neighborhood to find schools, places of worship, shopping, and other services you may require.

Be an informed buyer and check with your real estate agent about restrictions specific to your neighborhood; deed restrictions, including exterior maintenance, lawn care or fencing may be specified

Insist on a home inspection. Attend property inspections, be aware of environmental concerns and ask questions.

Get help with the details. Choose a REALTOR® like Risa who can coordinate related services and details for your home transaction

Have questions? email Risa at questions@risa.net or call her at 1-800-699-4901

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