A homeowner can improve the home’s curb appeal and save money in the process. Before you start, the most exciting and important part is to take a “before” photo. You will be surprised once you see how your plants can change and grow.

• Plan your bedding on paper. This can come in handy when you buy and place your plants;
• Make a note of how much sun the specific area get and where does the area face;
• Discuss the plants you have in mind with the local nursery. They can tell you which plants will thrive in this area;
• Drive through your neighborhood and get ideas from other gardens;
• Visit more than one nursery and look around for ideas;
• Decide what is the focal point of your garden;
• Play around with flower of different colors e.g. azaleas, daffodils, hydrangea, roses and many more;
• Make sure to read the tags when you buy plants;
• Allow enough space for your plants. We sometimes forget that the little plants grow big. If the tag tells you the plant will grow 2 meters, allow the space;
• When buying the plants for the landscape ensure they are native to the climate and location;
• Make sure that the soil is right for the plants and know when to water the plants. Some plants need watering more often than others.
• Read the planting instructions and follow the directions when you start planting.

Your landscape can be time consuming at first, but the reward will be great. The landscape will give your home a new curb appeal which can add to the value of the property. Plan your garden with care. Remember to take some “after” photos. You will be so proud of what you accomplished.

CREATE A NEW FRONT YARD is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Typically spring and summer are the active months for selling your home. It shows the best with all the plants and trees in full bloom and really showcases your landscape. Getting into late fall and winter is a whole new game. Those lush beautiful trees are bare, the plants have all turned brown and the grass is just dried out and brown. Here are some thoughts, tips and recommendations for Selling in the Off-Season:

For Thought:

• Chances are that folks who are looking in this time-frame are serious buyers.
• Less competition during this time. There are fewer homes on the market.
• Tech Savvy Buyers are on the lookout for homes year-round
• New Tech-Tools allow the buyer to receive emails automatically when new homes go on the market. Yours could be one of them!!

To Help:

• Provide summer photos of your home as well so buyers can see the full picture.
• Decorate inside for the seasons (autumn – winter).
• Take the time you used to spend outside and ORGANIZE for maximum appeal.
• Showcase winter warmth with a fire, scented candles and warm decorations.

When it snows:

• Be sure you shovel all walks and paths
• De-ice paths and the driveway
• Plow or snow blow the entire driveway to showcase the amount of parking space available
• Make sure outside lights work.

We care about you. With the Festive Season around the corner: please drive safely. A road tip to our readers who sometimes have to drive during bad weather conditions:

• Make sure you can see. Replace windshield wiper blades. Clean the inside of your windows thoroughly. Apply a water-shedding material (such as Rain-X) to the outside of all windows, including the mirrors. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Drain older fluid by running the washers until new fluid appears: Switching fluid colors makes this easy.

SELLING YOUR HOME IN THE FESTIVE SEASON is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

When you are considering moving to a new area, there are a number of things you may want to look at before making your decision. You may want to find a job in certain area or move to somewhere that has better schools or more green spaces.

FINDING INFORMATION BEFORE YOU MOVE:

You can find out a lot about a new area to help you decide whether you want to move there or not. You can research about an area by visiting the local council website. The following list will assist you to information you would like to research. Some of the information you can find out includes:

• future planning developments
• council tax bands and charges
• local jobs and careers information
• school admission information
• local parks and recreation areas
• sports facilities
• arts and leisure events and facilities
• facilities for young people

The top five reasons given in the survey for buying a home, in order, are:

• Home ownership provides a stable and safe environment for children and other family members
•  Home ownership means the money you spend on housing goes towards building equity, rather than to a landlord.
• Home ownership creates the opportunity to pay off a mortgage and own your home by the time you retire
•  Home ownership creates the opportunity to live in a neighborhood that you enjoy
•  Home ownership allows you the right to decorate, modify and renovate your home as you see fit

To make certain that your home buying is a joyful experience, we provide our clients with the best service and advice. We have a history for successfully working within our market areas and are known for quality service and professionalism. You will receive client focused approach to buying a home and robust market knowledge and experience.

SIMPLY THE BEST is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

With the pulsing music and vigorous lifestyle Brentwood, Nashville wants to share their hospitality and friendliness with you. It will be a life changing experience like never before. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries and is home to a large number of colleges and universities. It is most notably known as center of the music industry, earning the nickname “Music City”. With a large number of parks and gardens the city offers a lot of entertainment. With a population figure of 635,710 that is quite understandable. Do not miss the great and exciting event coming up at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville on the 19^th of September 2011 at 7.00 pm. Hosted by ACM Award winner Joe Nichols, the evening will be dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 46^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The special evening will include video tributes and musical performances by a prestigious lineup. Honorees expected to attend include John Dorris and Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.

The downtown area of Nashville is easy accessible to enjoy dining and a huge variety of entertainment. Here you can find Honky-tonk bars and numerous music clubs. The Printer’s Alley is often referred to as “the District”. A Large sign marks the entrance to Printer’s Alley on Church Street.

Potential home buyers should keep in mind that it is always a good thing to carry out a sufficient research when looking for the right home. For example, if you have children, is the school suitable? Is there a park nearby? If you prefer having things close by, make sure of the location of the restaurants, grocery stores etc. How safe is the neighborhood? Let your Real Estate Agent assist you with all the know-how.

Brentwood, Nashville certainly is a welcoming and pleasant city. The environment is stunning. To work and live here will be fantastic. This city can accommodate your family. With high quality schools, many sport facilities and a vast variety of entertainment to choose from, Nashville will welcome you with open arms.

City of Music is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

According to the National Assoc. of Home Builders, 59% of Builders are downsizing. They are building smaller, ‘greener’ homes. Watch the following video for more details…

Builders Downsize the Dream Home JoAnne Staler Nashville REALTOR is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

“This is exciting for Franklin to achieve this status in Southern Living Magazine,” remarked Franklin Mayor John Schroer. “This is a true compliment for the citizens and businesses that serve Franklin visitors, they do a great job of attracting people to this town and making sure they have a pleasurable experience while they are here.”

The top ten “Best Small Town” list includes:

1. Beaufort, SC

2. Fairhope, AL

3. Fredericksburg, TX

4. Blowing Rock, NC

5. Franklin, TN
 
6. Eureka Springs, AR

7. Oxford, MS

8. Grand Rivers, KY

9. Madison, GA

10. Hendersonville, NC

Click here to read about Franklin Tennessee’s goal to become a Top 25 Green City.

Click here for more information on Franklin, Tennessee or Williamson County.  

Click here to read about Franklin’s award winning schools. 

Click here to view demographic reports for Franklin, Tennessee. 

Franklin TN Makes Best Small Town Top 10 List is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life.  Real estate sales are complex transactions in which innumerable snags can occur.  Be prepared with the tools you need to successfully navigate the real estate waters. 

With over 14 years of experience working in the Nashville real estate market I’ve put together an extensive collection of resources to guide homeowners, homebuyers and real estate investors through the process of selling and buying a house, condo or other Nashville TN property.  I hope the following tools will be of assistance to you in your Middle Tennessee real estate dealings.  And remember I can be reached directly by clicking here for one-on-one expert help and advice. That’s my job.

Rent Vs. Buy

Nashville Tennessee Real Estate Tools is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Bargains are everywhere possibly making this the best time ever to buy a home in Middle TN!  Don’t miss out on a great deal…. be prepared by knowing the do’s and dont’s of homebuying.

Your home is probably the biggest purchase your family will ever make, and it involves many decisions that go beyond simply choosing one you like.  The following article has some great information to make sure you get the best deal when buying your Nashville TN home.
Homebuying Dos and Don’ts
Take in these 8 tips for house hunting success

By FrontDoor.com

1. Do research the neighborhood.

Look at the house, but also look at the neighborhood. Location is the most important thing, so it’s critical to look at more than bricks and mortar.

How can you choose the right community? Become a neighborhood detective. Figure out what you’re looking for, do research and find a neighborhood that fits your description.

Find your perfect Nashville Neighborhood

2. Do look at several houses before you buy.

Buying the first house you look at it is kind of like marrying the first person you go on a date with — not necessarily a good idea. If you buy a home without comparing it to other listings in the area, you’re likely to overpay or miss out on a great nearby home. Walk through at least three homes before you choose. If you still love the first one you saw, make an offer!

Find out what a home sold for here.

3. Do invest in a professional inspection.

Sellers don’t always disclose the whole truth to potential buyers, or they might have done a band-aid job to cover up issues until the deal closes. The average home buyer takes 15 minutes or less to choose a home, but many potential problems, like plumbing and wiring trouble, might not be visible to the naked eye.

Home inspectors can look beyond the fresh coat of paint to find costly underlying problems. Splurge on an experience professional — it will save you time, money and house-induced heartache later on.

Read more about the TN Home Inspection process here.

4. Do buy based on needs, not wants.

The average American lives in the same home for about 9 years, so it’s crucial that you think about your long-term needs when buying a home. A 2-bedroom house with a gourmet kitchen may dazzle you today, but will you still be enamored down the road when your family starts to grow? Make a list of your needs and stick to it to avoid buyer’s remorse down the road.

Click here to find your perfect Nashville TN home.

5. Don’t overbid at real estate auctions

While it’s possible to get a deal on your dream home at the auction house, buying a home at auction isn’t always a bargain. The starting price may seem reasonable, but several bidders can force the price well over market value.

Avoid overbidding by doing research. Are any outstanding property taxes or liens that you’d have to pay for upon purchase? What are comparable homes in the area selling for? Is the neighborhood on the way up or on the way out? On auction day, set a strict budget and don’t let emotions take hold of your paddle in a bidding war.

A day at a real estate auction

6. Don’t buy a house or dismiss a house because of its decor.

A home might have gorgeous furnishings at the showing, but it needs to accommodate your furnishings and lifestyle after the sellers pack up their sofa.  Or a home may be poorly furnished but the perfect spaces lie underneath.  Look past a home’s decor and make sure the space will accommodate your lifestyle and furnishings.

Are the spaces functional and efficient for your daily routine? You might love how a seller has transformed an extra bedroom into a crafting space, but will it be big enough for your twins’ bunk beds? Focus on the floor plan and the square footage to decide if a home is right for you.

What to consider at a showing

7. Don’t buy the most expensive house on the block.

Keep up with the Joneses, but don’t outdo them. You won’t get the same return on investment with the biggest house on the block, and you might have trouble selling later on.

Before you purchase a home, research the neighborhood. Is the house you’re considering overbuilt for the area? Are comparable homes selling in the area? You’ll be glad you gathered the information if you ever decide to sell.

MARKET ANALYSIS
Find out how much a home is worth & see neighboring home sales

With over 14 years of real estate experience assisting home buyers in Middle TN I can make certain your best interests are represented in your search for a home in the Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin area.  As a top Middle TN area real estate agent, I will guide you through the entire home buying process, from viewing homes and mortgage financing, to making sure the final contract is in your best interest.  Click here to find out why TN homebuyers choose me.

Click here for more TN home buyer information and tips.

Do’s and Dont’s of Nashville Homebuying is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

U.S. House Prices Increase – Is This a Good Time to Sell or Buy a Home in Nashville TN? is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate

Spring is a great time to sell your Nashville TN home.  The weather is comfortable for home buyers to tour listings, the foliage is in bloom making your home’s curb appeal optimum, and house prices unexpectedly advanced in January according to a report from the Federal Housing and Finance Administration.   

I came across an article on FrontDoor.com titled Staging Tips for Spring that outlined some ideas to brighten up your home and attract buyers that I thought you would find interesting.  Please see the article below along with some home staging tips I’ve added as well. 

Whip your yard into shape. When you’re selling in the spring, you need to get your yard in shape as quickly as possible. Clear winter yard debris, and get frost-resistant plants that won’t be affected if a late cold spell hits.

Do some spring cleaning. It’s natural to want to spruce up your space in the spring, so scrub away! A sparkling home will impress Nashville buyers and make your home seem even more appealing.

Organize your Closets. Box up your winter wardrobe. Bulky winter clothes take up lots of space, so move them out as you de-clutter your closets. You’ll impress buyers with all that space.

Spruce up the entryway. If your welcome mat is covered with winter dirt, pick up a new one. Wipe down your front door and sweep away cobwebs from light fixtures.  Being greeted with a clean, pretty doorway will help set the tone for the entire showing.

Bring spring aromas indoors. Spring is not only a colorful season in Nashville, but a fragrant one, too. Bring the aroma indoors. Scents have a profound effect on mood, so infusing scent into your decor with fresh flowers or plants not only improves your home visually but aromatically as well and can change the overall feeling of a space.

Bring out the bright colors. Tuck away the heavy, winter flannel comforter and pull out crisp linens and coverlets for color. Bring in the spring with floral-designed spreads or colorful solids. Don’t forget accent pillows for added style and comfort.

Highlight your outdoor living spaces. Clean or paint your decking, and make any necessary outdoor repairs. No deck? Arrange chairs or outdoor furniture in your yard to create the illusion of an outdoor room – see picture above for an idea.

If you currently have your TN home for sale or are thinking of selling your home it better be well coifed and in sparkling condition or other offerings will outshine it in the competitive Nashville real estate market.  You may even consider hiring a professional home stager to make certain your home appeals to a  wide range of buyers.  If you list your Middle TN home for sale with me, I’ll provide the services of a Professional Home Stager !  Click here to see a professional home stager in action.

Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. How much is it REALLY worth? How long will it take to sell? How do you handle buyers making undesirable offers? Get the Straight Facts About What Can Make or Break the Sale of Your Home.

See what your home is worth and what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood

More Nashville TN Home Seller Tips here.

What buyers want!  Click here to find out what Nashville TN buyers are looking for in their home search.

For more specific information about what factors sell homes in TN neighborhoods such as Brentwood, Franklin, Green Hills, or Belle Meade TN call me directly by clicking here or visit my website at www.JoAnneStaler.com

JoAnne Staler, Nashville Tennessee REALTOR with Rochford Realty & Construction Company is providing a unique level of service to home buyers and  home sellers in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, Green Hills, Belle Meade, Bellevue, West Meade, Forest Hills, Oak Hill, Vanderbilt, Belmont, Midtown, Downtown, Historic Areas, Spring Hill, and Thompson Station Tennessee.  Whether Buying or Selling Real Estate locally or Relocating to Middle Tennessee, let a Top Selling Nashville Real Estate Agent help.  To find out more about JoAnne Staler or search for real estate via the Middle Tennessee MLS visit www.JoAnneStaler.com.

Spring Staging Tips That Could Sell Your Nashville TN Home is a post from: Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, Tennessee Real Estate