Sherry's Austin TX Real Estate Blog

Home Owners Insurance-What you don’t know. Did you know there are different kinds of Home Owners Insurance? Most agents don’t tell you that however. When you call and say you are buying a home and need to get insurance…they give you the basic Home Owners Policy. You are covered for most things you can think of, but they neglect to tell you that they depreciate items over time.

Example: You bought a home, and a hail storm comes through and you need new shingles. You think, I have a $500 deductible and insurance will pay the rest. Think again! You have 20 year shingles in the home, and they are really only good for about 15 years…the singles are 10 years old, so they are only going to pay one third the cost of the roof. So if it is $6000 to install new shingles, you have to pay $4500. HOWEVER! If you had purchased Replacement Value insurance, you would pay your $500 deductible only.

The things we learn in life lessons. My home had been broke into about 15 years ago. They stole jewelry, TV’s, etc. I had receipts, photos and those things that most folks probably don’t have. Well by the time they depreciated out the TV’s and VCR’s, etc. I didn’t get squat! Unless you have a jewelry rider on your policy, there is a small limit of usually $1000 for jewelry and computers and such. I had about $38,000 in property stolen that I had receipts and photos for, and I received a check for $1050.00 from the insurance company.

So I always let my home buyers know to ask about Replacement Value Insurance. It isn’t that much more a year, and believe me it will more than pay for itself if you only ever need it even once.

You still need Jewelry or Computer riders if you have more than the company’s allotted amount.

Also…did you know when you buy a car, and get the life insurance to pay if off if something happens to you…that the insurance company can cancel it within the first two years. So, if something were to happen to you or a spouse, all they have to do is refund the monies you paid to date and they are off the hook. It is true! It’s in the small print! (Another life experience)

Start your search for a home at www.Luxury-Homes-in-Austin.com .

How can people have no pride? Isn’t concept of being clean just common sense? You don’t have to look at too many foreclosure properties to wonder about people. Folks letting their homes get so bad. No… “Bad” doesn’t even cover it…filthy, nasty, disgusting, and unsanitary.

If you can’t afford a vacuum cleaner…Don’t buy a home. If you can’t operate a cleansing pad….Don’t buy a home. If you don’t understand the term “Clean up your mess”…Don’t buy a home! If soap and water isn’t something you use on a daily basis…Don’t buy a home!   And,(sniff) could you stand over there?

Homes require maintenance. You don’t call the super or the owner to fix something….That person is you! If you can’t take care of a home and do the required maintenance…then contact a real estate agent and get it on the market before you let it deteriorate. Don’t expect full price offers either. They buyer is going to have to clean up and fix your mess.

At closing…New home owners are told…You don’t pay….You don’t stay. It’s not like you didn’t have warning. Homeowners who are having money problems, and think they could lose their home, better contact an agent and get it on the market or attempt a short sale. No good comes from denying there is a problem. At this point you can always buy another home when things get back to normal. I am amazed at the denial people go through! But selling off appliances, destroying the property…down to taking off light switch plates and removing light bulbs? The mentality of a person who would do this is just so childish.

I personally believe the people who do this…should be held accountable for what they have done. I was raised to believe that no matter how much or how little you had, you always took care of it.

Start your search for a home at www.Luxury-Homes-in-Austin.com .

Arthur I. Tuss – My new friend I can’t shake….

For anyone who doesn’t know, I was walking a dog, tripped on a sidewalk and fell and broke my elbow last December. I am still dealing with other issues that came from that fall. They recently found I also tore a tendon in my shoulder from that fall, and I have developed arthritis in my shoulder, back, hips, knees, and feet.

You don’t get arthritis just because you are old. They say arthritis can develop after any fall or injury. Symptoms of arthritis may include chronic pain and difficulty with movement. It doesn’t discriminate against age or gender either. Here are 4 symptoms if you are not familiar with them…

  1. You can have swelling and redness of the skin that may get worse as you go through the day. Pain that can get worse during physical activity or from sitting in one position for too long.

  2. Sleeping can be difficult as it is hard to find a comfortable sleeping position that does not worsen your pain. You may be stiff, especially when you first wake up in the morning or after you have been in one position for a long period of time.

  3. Reduced motion and range of movement are symptoms of arthritis in your hips that make it difficult for you to climb stairs, step into a tall vehicle or exercise.

  4. Arthritis can slow down your speed of movement due to inflammation and wearing down of your cartilage.

I may still have to have shots or surgery on my shoulder, but just finding out what was causing my pain has been a relief.  I have tendinitis and bursitis now in that shoulder. But a very small tear, and hoping no surgery.

I have had to change the way I show homes. If the house is owner occupied, I will go upstairs with clients. However, if it is a vacant home…My client can take the stairs, I will wait down stairs. I showed 30 homes one day, 27 were 2 story homes. I could not move the next day! But, I am learning to deal with it! I have been given an anti-inflammatory drug for arthritis, so I can make it through the day much easier, and feel like I am getting more back to normal. I absolutely love what I do, and can’t let mean ole Arthur I. Tuss hold me back.

We are being short sheeted! Anyone besides me happen to notice what they are doing with toilet paper? They are cutting the rolls narrower. Oh, we have just as many sheets per roll…they are just about 1 inch narrower than they used to be.

We have had to put up with all most everything being made smaller at the same cost to us so companies could save money. It was bad enough when hamburger patties were smaller than before. Then candy bars were smaller (however they didn’t make my backside any smaller). My 5 lb. bag of sugar is not 5 lbs. anymore…I think they are more like 4 lbs. But when they make toilet paper smaller….what is next? Is nothing sacred anymore?

PS: One of my most appreciated little house warming gifts, that is always at the home before they arrive…It is a fly swatter, a plunger, a roll of paper towels and at least a 4 pack of toilet paper. I usually get a phone call the following day thanking me…especially for the TP!

I need sellers who really want to sell their home. I have some first time home buyers who are so anxious to purchase a home and hope to do so while they can still get the First Time Homes Buyers Credit… You wouldn’t think it would be that hard…Wrong!

After hearing several agents who have short sales tell me they have offers after offers turned in to the banks, it has been months and the bank has still not made a decision yet….So we have moved on…. We have submitted offers on homes that are a bit over priced, but the home owners want their price….and after already have 3 homes not appraise that should have…I am really scared to have them do that, and they look at the comps and agree…the home owner is asking too much.

We had a home owner verbally agree to our offer….Finally!!! The agent was going over that evening to get her signatures….I contacted him the next day…(hadn’t heard from him…)….Well…..she is re-thinking it. She has had her home on the market for 3 months, and she thinks she would like to wait till next spring before she sells… But, don’t worry, he is going to get her to sign…have your client lock in their rate…let them give a 30 day notice…she is going to sign….. Well….She didn’t! 

Since my clients are doing a VA loan…the home they will have to buy has to practically be move in ready. The VA is obviously against anyone getting a deal on home that needs a stove and carpet and paint. I am not sure exactly what VA requires because I can’t get an appraiser to talk to me for love or money.They don't return calls and they don't answer emails.

It is amazing that we have that many homes on the market in their price range…but banks can’t make a decision.home owners that really don’t want to sell, agents are letting the homeowners overprice these listings for the sake of a listing. ….Don’t even get me started on HUD homes…I just hate that process!

I have a qualified buyer….ready to go….wanting to close as fast as they can…who is willing to do a little work if the right home needs it...but we can’t find a seller who wants to really sell a home. We are looking at 4 different cities and still can’t find one. But I will be out every day trying to help this young couple find a home.

I am not man bashing. (That will come in perhaps the next post!) ...

I get so frustrated in the things that I know a man has designed. I just know some guy was sitting around thinking…what could I create that I would never want to use, and would totally suck the life out of women? A Vacuum cleaner! A large heavy bulky thing…that will kill her back…and will take 5 passes to suck up a thread! Then after deciding he could use one, he invents one with a longer hose (go figure!) …that not only picks up dirt but liquids! And it has the suction to suck a dog out of a house.

I know that men are usually the architects and home builders. Only through years of women pleading for more closet room has that upgrade evolved. Women, we need you to design homes! Obviously, men do not understand the concept of storage. Since most men don’t cook, they are designing kitchens? Remember the saying, “Those who can’t …teach.” Well, they don’t have a clue…and they are designing homes!

Women, it is time to step up to the plate. You know my motto….If you want a job done right, get a woman to do it! I know most women like to decorate a home, but let’s encourage our young women to take it a step further.

We need more women architects.  More women to design floor plans!

Women need to know that when we walk into the home of the future…there is a spot for the vacuum cleaner, a place to apply makeup with great lighting, storage for the Christmas tree and decorations, linen closets in every bath, no more washer and dryers in dirty garages, the ability to change the a/c filter without having to climb a ladder, pantries in every kitchen that will actually hold big box store quantities of items, a drawer deep enough in the kitchen for dish towels and pot holders….and not in just high end homes either!

Personally, I would like his and her master bathrooms…but maybe that is pushing it. (But I want that in my next house!)

My husband’s idea of a healthy meal has always been anything deep fried. Fried vegetables, anything covered in gravy or cheese. Comfort food basically. Vegetable…not on his plate! Who has whole wheat when you can have good ole non-nutritional white bread? Fruit…not even in a dessert! I don’t like hamburgers and French fries, but he could eat them everyday! But, he was my Chocoholic soul mate… The only food we could agree on.

As many of you know, we have been through about 8 episodes of kidney stones with him. Well, the last time…he ended up having to have surgery. That was followed up with a promise to find out what was causing them. We were told it is usually one of 4 things. Well, it was 3 out of the 4 things. Plus, all the testing came up with the news he also has Type 2 Diabetes.

Now, I know we are not the first or last to get this kind of news. But it is life altering. I quit cooking over 10 years ago! I am now in charge of healthy, low carb, low fat, non dairy, no salt, no sugar, low protein diet. He is going to be kicking and screaming after the first day. I had to start pulling recipes out of my butt and quick! He won’t live on apples and peanut butter like I do. His only input…no beets or carrots! He will eat any vegetable except those. Oh, great...my two favorites!

So, instead of my normal real estate stuff, I am now researching diabetes, what he can and can’t eat, reading recipe after recipe. Not only do we have to follow the diabetic diet, he also has to eliminate dairy, salt, and cut back on protein, due to the kidney stones. What’s left?

(This is part of that “for better or worse, sickness and health” line…right?)

So, I have managed in the last couple months to keep him fed and happy. And even though I don’t have diabetes, I have to eat like I do. Plus, having to go back to cooking everyday! Ugh! No convenient drive through for him anymore after a long day. We can’t have anything in the house that he can’t eat. So, I am on the diet too. Although, I have been on a diet for years anyway…it is just even more restrictive now.

My husband has lost 40 lbs as of last week…. The only thing I have lost is my temper! I told him…You may be my husband….but at this point….we can’t even be friends! He just grins…..

I wanted to say something about one of my favorite builders here in the Austin area. I believe they offer exceptional value, quality and comfortable designs that fit the way you live.

Bob Perry recognized a need for quality homes at reasonable prices. With an uncompromising commitment to quality, Perry Homes has become one of the largest and most respected builders in Texas. They have been around over 42 years. They have offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio.

Most buyers, over 50 years old, are looking for a single story home. And with land being prime here in Texas, the majority of homes are 2 stories. Perry has more single story plans than any builder I have dealt with in this area.

Most of Perry Home's Standard Features are expensive add on and upgrades with other builders. I hate showing a model home and having to tell my clients that everything they are seeing is an upgrade. It is not that way when I show a Perry Home. There are generally very few upgrades in the model homes. The other thing I like about Perry is the build time. They are quality-built homes, completed on time, usually within 82 days, not the typical six months or more from other builders.

Three areas they are currently building in-

In Georgetown:       Georgetown Village 55' home sites-From the $190s

                             Georgetown Village 62' home sites From the $280s

In Round Rock:       Star Ranch From the $200s

In Leander:             The Highlands at Crystal Falls From the $260s

                             The Highlands Estates at Crystal Falls From the $430s

                             Grand Mesa at Crystal Falls From the $700s

Please contact me about other areas they are building in. I love looking at their homes! So don’t even think about looking at one without me!   I love to show them off~ Call me soon!   Buyer incentives are available on some of the inventory homes.

Here is the Buzz… It is critter time! Spring is here and time to beware of bees. Especially be aware around the Foreclosure properties. Be careful when approaching the front door. They are making their nests and especially in vacant homes, no one is there to keep them sprayed or knocked down when the nests are being started.

Here in Texas we do have killer bees. A nest was found the size of a bowling ball at a foreclosure property here in Austin hanging from a tree in the yard. I know it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep a can of wasp spray around. They generally spray around 20 feet away. But a nest that size can not be dealt with by you. Call in the professionals!

We always hear things are bigger in Texas…so when someone asks if we have mosquito’s and how big do they get…I will tell them yes, and they are the size of buzzards! At least it feels that way when you get bitten!  So keep those bird baths and area’s that collect water dry. Check on your foreclosure vacant properties to keep them safe. And ask owners of vacant properties to do the same.

Enjoy the beautiful weather that is approaching…but stay safe. The wild flowers are blooming and that draws the bee's.  Let’s keep everyone safe!

www.Luxury-Homes-in-Austin.com  to Search for available homes in Austin and the surrounding areas.

Truth in Advertising.

Are you being totally truthful in your advertising? Are you doing everything you say you do? I know we try to be everything to everyone at times. But better to understate your services and overwhelm than visa versa.

We have all seen the ad for some kind of hamburger or sandwich that is a mile high and has your mouth watering… Only to order one, and feel like they short changed you. The one in the ad…you can see the meat! You can see each vegetable! On the one you got, you have to take the sandwich apart to see anything! 

The one that currently has me frustrated with their marketing is a new Mascara commercial. Promising long beautiful lashes like the model on TV. She is wearing false eyelashes!  How do they get by with it?

I am constantly reminded of this as I watch TV commercials and print ads. Don’t promise anything you can’t deliver. Remember, you are only as good as your word. Understate and Overwhelm.