Charleston Home Sellers Bolster Results by Attention to Minor Details

Although the housing market continues to improve, it’s not quite time for the next wave of Charleston home sellers to reserve the moving vans. Especially for home sellers who are on the verge of listing their property, it is time to pay attention to the smaller details that would seem inconsequential, but which can nonetheless determine a prospective buyer’s level of enthusiasm (hence, the size of their offer!).

One of the humblest details that can go unattended is grout. Honestly. A flawlessly tiled shower or kitchen splashboard can go unnoticed if the grout looks as if it has gone bad. The do-it-yourself fixes are relatively easy to handle, so before that first open house is imminent, here is the way DIY experts tell us we can eliminate the issue entirely:

Use a hammer and chisel to chip away at the questionable grout. When doing this, aim the tool directly into the grout so you do not damage the tiles. This is the part where you must take your time: rushing now could mean to re-tile.

Have a vacuum handy. Once grout has been removed, use it to thoroughly clear away the debris. You’ll need a clean area before re-grouting begins.

Always wear gloves during the re-grouting. You should also use a grout float (available at any of our Charleston area hardware stores) to make sure the grout is spread and removed easily. Spread the grout into any gaps where they appear, and press it down firmly into the corners using your fingers.

Finish using a grout sealant, and be sure to give it time to cure. The momentary inconvenience will more than pay off when you see the final result.

As The Wall Street Journal points out, “Deals can fall through at the last minute for a variety of reasons.” While crumbling grout is unlikely to actually cause a deal to fall apart at the last minute, home sellers find that details like sparkling, well cared-for tiling can help land that deal in the first place! Charleston home sellers — it’s time to contact me if you’re ready to list this holiday season!

Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com

Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com

-Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook Real Estate

Charleston, SC

A Charleston Foreclosure Is Often Less Inevitable Than You’d Think

Even though national foreclosure rates have continued to drop, the threat of becoming another Charleston foreclosure statistic is still very real for some homeowners. It’s at least somewhat reassuring to understand that most banks don’t really want a foreclosure — so for homeowners who take an early proactive approach with their lender, losing their home does not have to be inevitable.

Mortgage Restructuring

For anyone who has fallen behind on payments, Job One is to discuss the situation with your banker. If a mortgage restructuring is possible, you may have an opportunity to refinance at a lower rate with more manageable payment amounts. In some cases, it may be possible to alter other terms of your agreement — for example, you might arrange to postpone any delinquent payments to the end of the loan’s term. You have to ask.

Payment Deferral Options

If payment failure has been caused by losing a job, a medical condition one of the other more common causes, some banks will work out payment deferral options. If you have prepared documentation to back up your hardship claim, it is more likely that the lender will be able to offer an agreement to defer your payments while you get back on track.  

Short Sale

If the financial situation is such that you know you can no longer sustain regular payments, it may be best to consider a short sale — the option where the bank agrees to accept sale to a third party for a sum that falls short of the loan’s balance. It means loss of the property, but results in a better credit history than does a Charleston foreclosure.

A foreclosure in Charleston, SC becomes inevitable if the reality of a tough financial situation isn’t recognized and addressed. If you take positive steps as soon as you realize you are going to miss a payment, you put yourself in the best position to open options that are less problematic than full foreclosure. If you find you could benefit from a strictly confidential price evaluation on your home, contact me ­— sometimes a property can be worth more than you think!  

Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com

Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com

-Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook Real Estate

Charleston, SC 

New Home Search Goals Change with Circumstances

As you begin any search for a new home in Charleston, SC, it’s worthwhile to take a step back — to take a momentary time-out to consider widening the range of possibilities.

For many families, the kind of home they are looking for is a foregone conclusion. Either they want a customized house in a new development, or a new home that they will build themselves, or they may be pointed toward an existing house in an established neighborhood.

It’s a worthwhile exercise to look at the assumptions behind those fundamental housing preferences. After all, this is a very basic choice that will greatly affect every family member’s quality of life for a very long time. As you would expect, most of the time such evaluations result in confirming the original direction: people who prefer a sparkling new home will wind up checking out the new developments; those who gravitate toward stately, tree-lined streets will point toward existing homes in established neighborhoods.

No surprise there. But there is value in understanding the root causes why one direction has more appeal than another. Understanding those reasons can tell you what qualities are really most important in your new home. It can clarify what you should be looking for in your search.

 If you have become a true do-it-yourselfer who takes satisfaction in presenting a distinctly individualistic personality to the world, a model home in a sparkling new development might now hold less appeal than it did previously. But if your new promotion has made for a more high-energy, career-centered lifestyle, time factors alone might make the advantages of a turnkey new home in a development decisive.

What turns out to be as important as anything else is whether your current living situation has changed enough that a new kind of home choice might be worth considering. Especially when you are about to embark on as important a project as finding a new home in Charleston, SC, take a moment to be sure that more than momentum lies behind your basic direction. Then I’ll be ready, willing and able to help you find a Charleston new home that fills the bill!

Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com

Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com

-Jeff Cook

Charleston Vacation Home Makes Sense When You Add It All Up

Deciding to buy a vacation home in Charleston, SC can be one of the smartest investments there is. Or it can turn into an irksome drain on time and pocketbook. As much as with any real estate transaction, buying a vacation home that fulfills its upside potential takes thoughtful weighing of all the advantages and drawbacks a second home entails.

There’s nothing better than having your own place to escape to when it’s time to get away… and if the same sanctuary can be rented out now and again, that extra income only adds appeal. Especially when you find a place that strikes an emotional cord, it can be hard to resist the impulse to just make an offer and work out the kinks later. All the same, it pays to keep an eye on some of the issues that don’t leap to mind when you think “vacation.” 

Even if it’s only a part-time venue, that Charleston vacation home will need ongoing maintenance attention.  If you are a dedicated DIY hobbyist, that may not be a large issue; but if not, part of your due diligence will be verifying the availability and price of professional help.

For a second home to make financial sense, all expense items should be part of the budget calculations. A vacation home might be near enough to the water to warrant flood insurance (or extra work done to prepare it for floods), just as a cabin in a wildfire-prone area might be at greater risk of fire and need extra coverage. If your vacation home will involve a home loan, be prepared to pencil in a higher interest rate than what’s expected for a primary residence. Even if it’s just a bit higher, the total amount will add up over the life of the loan. Taking all expenses fully into account from the beginning means there will be no surprises later on.  

A Charleston area vacation home should be a place that lowers everyday stress levels — not adds to them. There are plenty of properties available; one of them might be just right for you!

Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com

Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com

-Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook Real Estate

Charleston, SC 

On Selling Your Home in Charleston, SC…When It’s Not Even Listed!

It’s the kind of “problem” many would like to have: a buyer has just made an offer on your home — and you hadn’t even listed it for sale!

 Turns out, it’s not all that uncommon for “house-stalkers” (or their determined agents) to slip notes into owner’s mailboxes or just knock on the door and ask to buy the house. It’s a house-hunting strategy that has worked for all kinds of buyers who are unimpressed by the homes they find on the market.

For anyone up in the air about selling your home in Charleston, SC, here are some questions that can lead to a rational decision:

Were you planning to sell in the future?

If so, how far into the future? 20 years? If that’s the case, unless it’s an astounding offer, better stay put. But if you were considering selling your Charleston areahome within the coming 5 years, seriously entertain the offer! Making the most of unexpected happenstances is a calling card of successful people from time immemorial.

  Is the return on your investment substantial?

Except in a financial emergencies, selling your home in Charleston, SC is never a good idea unless you are getting a solid return on your initial investment. (Not just the initial price: include renovations, additions and your own sweat equity). If the offer qualifies on this dimension, it’s time to engage a professional home appraiser to give you an expert view of what your property is really worth in the current market.

Are you ready to move?

We all have emotional connections to our homes, especially after we’ve invested much effort into shaping its look and feel. Part of your decision that’s as important as the financial side comes with considering where you would live after the sale. Gauge whether your excitement over a new house, neighborhood and even a new city outweigh the feelings you have for your current home.

If opportunity comes knocking at your door, it never hurts to consider! And if you are thinking of selling your home in town in any case, contact me to go over the numbers!

Interested in selling your Charleston area home? Visit: www.jeffcookrealestate.com

Interested in buying a Charleston area home? Visit: www.discovercharlestonareahomes.com

-Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook Real Estate