Thomasville Open Houses: How to make the most of the visit

Posted by First Thomasville Realty, Ltd. Wednesday, December 30, 2009 8:47 AM 0 comments
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Thomasville Open houses are a great opportunity for both the buyer and the seller. It gives the seller the chance to showcase their home and the buyer can view the home in all its glory. Buyers love to scope out potential homes and many offers are made at open houses. After all, open houses are really sales presentations. In order to have a successful open house, there are some tasks that should be completed by the seller beforehand.



The most obvious task is cleaning. The house should be spotless, including appliances. If you work full time and don’t have the time to get the house cleaned, hire a house cleaning service. The money spent is well worth it if you are able to sell quickly. It might be hard to keep it clean if you are still living there, but you must make a concentrated effort to try. Your home presentation must be impeccable.



Keep foul and mysterious odors away. The first thing a potential buyer will notice is an offensive odor and you will probably never see them again. Regularly inspect your home for potential odor sources and keep a steady supply of candles and air fresheners on hand. If you have an indoor cat, keep the litter box out of sight and scooped out daily.



Clutter is a major turnoff to potential buyers. It just isn’t comforting to see piles of clutter everywhere. Keep small appliances stored instead of out on the countertops. Remove photographs and knick-knacks. You want people to envision their belongings in the house. Clean out and organize the closets. If there is no reason for something to be displayed, get rid of it.



If you can, remove non-essential furniture to make the rooms appear larger. Spacious rooms are more appealing to the eyes. Keep your boxes of junk stored out of sight. It is a good idea to start figuring out what you need and what you can live without. It would be a good idea to have a garage sale before you put the house on the market. If you can’t bear to part with anything, rent a temporary storage unit.



You cannot ignore the outside of the house either. The outside presentation has a major impact on the buyer. Clean the leaves out of the drain gutter, don’t let garden hoses or other tools pile up outside. Pick them up and store them elsewhere. Make the effort to beautify the front entry. If the door handle is rusty or the whole door looks junky, get a new one. Keep the flower beds neat and free from weeds.



Look at the walls and try to put yourself in the buyers’ shoes. How would you look at the walls in someone else’s house? Is the paint chipping or is the color outdated? It would be well worth your time to give the walls a fresh coat of paint. Nothing makes a room come alive more than a fresh coat of paint. Give the rooms a little bit of a makeover with new décor that compliments the wall colors. If you have a garden, bring in some fresh flowers and put them in attractive vases.



Establish a pleasant atmosphere by baking bread or cookies. Candles add a nice touch along with background music. Classical or jazz music are both good choices. You want to convey style and elegance to your audience. First impressions go a long way.



When trying to sell your house, you should be prepared for a showing at any time. Last minute requests are very common and can turn into offers. You have the option to request 24 hours notice before a showing, but in doing so you limit your home’s exposure. Try to be as flexible as possible. Accommodating the hectic schedules of a potential buyer will make you and your home look that much better.



It is a good idea to not be present for the showing. Buyers might not feel comfortable in your presence or they might be afraid to ask a particular question for fear of offending you. If they can’t view the house fully, they will probably just move on to the next one. You don’t want that. They are supposed to fall in love with your house.


Investment homes in Thomasville: Things to look for

Posted by First Thomasville Realty, Ltd. Wednesday, December 23, 2009 12:28 PM 0 comments
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Investing into real estate can be an expensive lesson. Before deciding to attempt this for a business or hobby there is much research that needs to be done. The type of business this requires is hard work, plenty of time and an abundance of money. However, this type of venture can pay off enormously in the end. The thrill of this type of dealing, buying, fixing and selling is a magnificent step.


As with any endeavor knowing as much as you can before you lay out cash is very beneficial. When looking at the prospective home, look for anything that will need to be fixed or updated. Bring a notepad and a pencil when viewing potential real estate and jot down any problems you see or any questions you have. Inspect the house by flushing toilets, turning on lights, examine the floorboards, look for cracks or drooping ceilings, and check the plumbing and water faucets.


Explore everything plausible. Once you find a Thomasville home you’re interested in, hire a house inspector. The house inspector will give you an idea on how much it will cost you to fix up and resell. Make sure to purchase your real estate in the best location you can afford. Is it in a nice neighborhood, close to schools and shopping malls? Is there highway access nearby? Are homes selling quickly in this neighborhood? Check with the local police department to get local crime rates. Do some research on the housing market. Understanding the type of houses people are looking for will help to have a better experience in what kind of market will sell.


Sentiment is a downfall in any business relationship. Having a poker face at the correct time can save considerably in funds. Remember, the end goal of an investment house is resale. Loving the house personally will not make the house easier to sell. Make very sure you have capital for this deal. Invest the time and expertise of an appraiser. What is the house really worth before and after renovation? How much will renovations cost? Decide before hand by research and word of mouth, which would benefit you the most, resale or renting the home. Inquire the help of professionals in this type of enterprise. Find out their thoughts about problems you are facing.


There may be other types of monies involved that you have not thought of. For one, property tax. Before taking that plunge discover how much the yearly taxes are. Different zones in diverse neighborhoods can be a drastic change in prices. Not only should you check for yourself while overhauling the house but also safeguard the ones who will be buying this place in the future. Some people inquire about taxes before they buy a home. If the amount is extremely high they will pass it up for a more reasonable price.


Do you plan on doing intense maintenance to the estate? If so, you must look into building permits. Will you be doing the renovation yourself, or hiring a reliable company to do it for you. The difference in cost may sway your decision. But be prepared, renovation can be hard work and you may need to hire someone in the end after all. This type of investment requires an ample amount of time and patience. This is a very important fact.


You can receive financial aid to help with the purchase of this investment, just as you would with a home you are purchasing for your family. However, you need to think of the amount you are putting into this and how much you will be taking out. If a loan lasts 30 years, can you pay it off and still have profit from the sale? Maybe it would be wise to enlist the help of an accountant if dealing with figures is not your forte. The whole idea of investing is earnings, so make sure that this will turn out to be a money maker. The last thing you want to happen is to lose money. No one enjoys flopping on an investment. Take time and do research before jumping in to a resale home. Once your first investment home is restored and sold, you will be well on your way to making this a profitable business.


If you're looking for investment property in Thomasville, give us a call at First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515.

The search is on: Ways to make the most of your Thomasville house hunting trip

Posted by First Thomasville Realty, Ltd. Wednesday, December 16, 2009 4:24 PM 0 comments
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It has been said that moving and divorce are the two of the most stressful events a person or family can experience. Divorce is a subject for another time. Let’s consider the event of moving and look at some ways to make your Thomasville house hunting trip less stressful and more effective.


Location is the first factor to consider when planning a move. If you have children, or are planning a family, you will want to know about the schools in the area. How about shopping centers, medical facilities, recreational opportunities and of course how far will you be from your place of employment. If you require public transportation, is there any within walking distance of your prospective new home. What about the crime rate? A check with the local law enforcement agency can either put your mind at ease or give you reason to look elsewhere. And finally, try to assess the quality and character of the people who live in the area. This is obviously difficult to do without interviewing them, but you can get a rough impression from the condition of their homes and properties and from the activities you might observe. As an example, if your prospective neighbor has discarded appliances all over the front yard and their son is roaring around the neighborhood on a mini-bike with no muffler, you might want to take all that into consideration. And remember, a poor location will definitely be a negative factor when and if you attempt to resell the home at some later date.


Once you’ve zeroed in on your preferred location, you can start to think seriously about searching for your dream home. Rather than spin your wheels by looking at houses randomly, you should determine what you really want in a house and let those things help you focus your search. Make a list and start with the obvious: how many bedrooms do you need; do you want a garage; must you have a single story home due to your inability to climb stairs; is a fenced yard an absolute necessity? After listing the absolute “must haves”, think about the things you like and dislike about your current residence and factor those things into your wish list. Making a list will not only save you time, it will be a big help to your realtor in planning your viewings.


Most people don’t really know how much house they can afford. Affordability is based upon income, credit status, interest rates, down payment, closing costs and the type of loan selected. By getting pre-qualified by a lending institution, you will know what you can afford to spend. Often, that figure is quite a surprise to prospective home buyers. In any case, pre-qualification will save you time and trouble by establishing your price range.


Typically, house hunting involves seeing as many homes as possible in a short period of time. Both the house hunter and the assisting realtor have busy schedules and want to tour fast and furious. However, after the first two or three houses, they all start to run together. You need to make notes after each viewing. One effective means of qualifying each home is to make multiple copies of your list of priorities and use it as a checklist to grade each home visited. This little tip will eliminate confusion when trying to make mental comparisons at the end of the day.


Regard your hunt as an excursion. If you were going to the zoo for the day and contemplated a lot of walking, you would dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes. House hunting is no different; you’ll be walking, climbing stairs, quite possibly going into basements and attics and constantly getting in and out of cars. Dressing to impress homeowners or your realtor should not be your top priority. Dress clean and neat of course, but comfortable is the name of the hunting game.


And last but not least, use your own REALTOR. When you call the REALTOR on a “house for sale” sign you’re speaking to the seller’s agent. Keep in mind that he or she represents the seller and will be looking after the seller’s interests. You need your own REALTOR; someone who is working for you and is looking out for your interests.


House hunting can actually be an enjoyable experience if you take your time and do your homework. If you're looking for someone to represent your best interest as your Buyers Agent, give us a call at First Thomasville Realty at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

First Thomasville Realty Ltd. Receives 2009 Best of Thomasville Award

Posted by First Thomasville Realty, Ltd. 5:15 AM 0 comments
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U.S. Commerce Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement


WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- First Thomasville Realty Ltd. has been selected for the 2009 Best of Thomasville Award in the Real Estate Agents category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).


The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.


Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.


About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)


U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.


The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

The Basics of Selling a Home in Thomasville

Posted by First Thomasville Realty, Ltd. Wednesday, December 9, 2009 1:19 PM 0 comments
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The process of selling your home can differ from state to state. Before putting your house in Thomasville on the market, there are some important steps you must take to get the most from your investment and to protect your interests.


Step One
Get pre-approved to buy another house before you sign a contract to sell your own home. If your financial situation changed since your last purchase, it’s possible that you may no longer qualify for another loan. You may also be unable to sell your house for a price that will allow you to buy another house you want. This way, you won’t end up renting or buying a house you don’t really want. When applying for a pre-approval, be sure the lender discloses the estimated costs required for you to purchase a new home, such as: the loan price, down payment, new insurance, title and inspections fees.


Step Two
Call your lender to check the mortgage pay off and calculate the estimated proceeds. First, you will need to subtract the mortgage pay off from the fair market value of your home. Second, you will need to subtract the costs to sell your home from the remainder in order to get an idea of the proceeds you can expect to be paid at closing.


Step Three
Determine your homes fair market value. Most real estate agents will gladly help you determine the market value as a courtesy and may also give you helpful hints to what you can do to increase the value of your house. You may also consider hiring a licensed appraiser, which you will have to pay for out of pocket, to perform an appraisal on the subject property.


Professional appraisers will provide you with a detailed report that will usually include: the neighboring property values in comparison to your own, an evaluation of the real estate market in your area, harmful issues to the property’s value and any defective qualities.


Step Four
Estimate what it will cost you to sell your house. If you are using a real estate agent, you may have to pay their commission. If you are planning to sell by owner, then you must consider the advertising, signs, attorney fees, closing agents and other possible fees involved. These other fees may include: appraisal, inspections, surveys, taxes and home owner association fees. Real estate agents can give you a more precise estimate of the closing costs and any other fees that may be involved. Real estate agents are professionals that deal with these transactions every day and can prove to be a valuable asset to you.


Step Five
Make repairs. Whether these repairs can be done by you or by hiring a contractor, they should be completed. If there are too many repairs that need to be done, your home will be considered a fixer upper. You want to get the most out of your house and dissuade potential buyers from submitting insultingly low offers. These repairs can range from fixing a broken window, adding a fresh coat of paint, replacing or repairing the flooring, to spackling a hole in the wall. The larger repairs may include fixing a damaged roof or repairing damaged siding. Other issues that can deter a potential buyer is mold and mildew stains and odors, leaky basements, lead based paint, broken gutters, location or type of circuit breaker, plumbing problems and old or faulty electrical wiring.


Step Six
Before you show your house, do some spring cleaning, regardless of what season it actually is. Organize your shelves and closets, wash the crayons off the wall, dust off the blinds and window sills, clean away the cob webs and wash all windows and appliances. You will want to make everything as spotless as possible and remove any offensive odors and clear the clutter. You will need to present your home in a clean and appealing way to the potential buyers.


You may also need to work on the exterior part of the house by scraping and painting porches and windows or maintaining an appealing lawn. You can also add low maintenance decorative flowering plants and shrubs to dress up your yard.


Now that your home is ready to show, make it accessible to real estate agents with potential buyers at all times. Most buyers feel more comfortable being shown a house when the owner is not present. If you decide to take a walk while your house is being showed, make a note to the agent if there are any pets on the premises. You will want to be sure that your cat doesn’t get out the door or that your dog is securely locked up in a crate or in the back yard. You want everything to go as smoothly as possible.


For more information on getting your Thomasville home ready to put on the market, give First Thomasville Realty a call at 229-226-6515 or email us at info@FTRealty.com .

The Basics of Buying a Thomasville Home

Posted by First Thomasville Realty, Ltd. Wednesday, December 2, 2009 7:31 AM 0 comments
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Buying a home in Thomasville can be one of the biggest and most important investments you can make. The process of buying the home that you want can be a long and tedious process, taking up most of your time. It’s up to you, as the consumer, to ask any questions, pay attention to details and to learn about the real estate market in the area in which you intend to buy.


Step One
You must know what your wants and needs are before embarking on the long journey of house hunting. Taking a piece of paper, sit down and write down all the features that are most important to you:


Are you looking for a house in a specific city, neighborhood or school district?
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want or need?
Do you want off street parking, or a one or two car garage?
If you operate a home based business, are there any restrictions in the area you intend to buy in?
Do you want a finished basement or attic space?
Do you want a ranch style home or two story house?
Do you want a central air unit?
Do your want a furnace or a boiler for heat?
Now, on a separate piece of paper, write down all the features that you absolutely do not want in a house:
Living in a congested part of town.
Living next to an airport, train station or highway.
A home that is in great need of repair.
A home with too many stairs.
Keep this list in mind as you look at houses. This list may also change from time to time as you look at houses. You may choose to add or remove certain features you do not want or are willing to make compromises on. Don’t be disappointed if you can not find the “perfect” home. Most homes do not come “perfect,” they can only be made that way through time and patience.


Step Two
Before you begin looking at properties, you will need to get your finances in order. This will be a good time to review your credit report and possibly clean it up a bit to improve your credit score. It’s important to check your credit report to make sure there are no discrepancies. Any past due amounts should be paid in full or most companies will be willing to negotiate a settlement price to close the debt.


For example: If you have a past due credit card debt you no longer use and that has been entered into collections at an amount of $900. You may be able to offer the company a settlement of $500 to settle that debt and have the debt stricken from your records. Before paying this settlement, have this agreement in writing. Be sure to keep all of the receipts to the items you settle on your credit report because it may take weeks or even months for the settled debt to be removed from your credit report.


Step Three
Now decide what kind of property you are interested in buying. Are you interested in a HUD, foreclosure, real estate or for sale by owner property? There are many web sites on line where you can find homes by city, state, or price range. On these sites, you can see the picture of the home, many with virtual tours, and review the listing features and details.


Step Four
Now is the time to find a lender and get pre-approved for the loan. This will give you a better understanding of what price range you can look into. Being pre-approved also serves a great advantage for when you find the home that you want, so that you can move ahead and place an offer on the house without having to wait on a pre-approval while someone else steps in and takes the house right from under you.


Lenders may offer special programs on loans, such as the FHA or Ameri-Dream, that can save you extra money in the closing process. Before deciding on a loan, ask the lender about any of these special programs and what would work to your advantage.


Step Five
Most first time home buyers prefer to work closely with a reputable real estate agent, regardless of the type of property you wish to buy. Real estate agents are very knowledgeable and can give you many helpful tips and information that can benefit you. They are also great negotiators and will help explain the complicated paperwork involved when placing an offer on the house or when closing a deal. Be certain that your real estate agent is working for you as the buyer and not for the seller of the house you would like to purchase. This can lead to a conflict of interests and cause many problems.


Choosing a real estate agent to work with should take more than picking a number out of the phone book. Talk to your friends and neighbors and ask them for any recommendations. You should only work with an agent you feel comfortable with.


When you're ready to buy your new home, First Thomasville Realty is ready to be there for you through the entire process. With over 50 years of experience in all types of markets, our agents would love to have the opportunity to show you why First Thomasville Realty should be your FIRST CHOICE!

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