Turn your heat down. We try to keep the temperature at 67 degrees in my house. That’s relatively comfortable for my son and me, but a constant battle with Jacque because she runs colder than we do. She ends up wearing sweaters and barricading herself in her office where she can more easily control the heat. However, reducing the temperature not only saves money but also your consumption of electricity, wood, or natural gas, depending on your heat source.

Reduce, reuse, recycle (and compost). Yes, you have been hearing about this for years. That’s because it can be incredibly impactful. Reducing your consumption not only saves money but it means fewer new products need to be manufactured, reducing the amount of raw materials needed to develop those products. If you already have a product and no longer need it, but it is in usable condition, consider giving it away. I find anything listed for free on NextDoor or Craigslist get picked up almost immediately. If the product is no longer in usable condition, consider how you might repurpose (old socks become rags, egg cartons become seed starters). Finally, if possible try to purchase items that are recyclable and make sure to recycle them.

Replace and turn off your lights. Incandescent lights consume a surprising amount of energy. As they burn out, replace them with LED lights, which last longer, stay cooler, and consume less energy. Whether you are using LED lights or not, keeping the lights off in unused rooms conserves energy.

Conserve water. We are fortunate to live in the Pacific Northwest where water is not yet a problem. But, as the climate changes it will become more of an issue. Conserve water where you can, turning off the tap while you brush your teeth or wash the dishes. Don’t overwater your lawn during the hot season.

Reduce your use of plastics. There seems to be a war on plastic bags in the region. That’s because they are terrible for the environment – it takes petroleum to make them (8-10% of America’s overall oil supply goes to making plastic) and they foul the environment when they are discarded, taking decades to breakdown. Further, there are studies that show reheating food in plastic containers causes chemicals to leach into your food. We switched to glass storage containers at our house to avoid this problem. These are just a few simple methods to reduce your impact on the environment. They may or may not work for you and whether or not you choose to pursue them, I encourage you to think about how you are impacting the environment in make changes to reduce your footprint.

The post Five tips to go green at home appeared first on Tim Ritchie Homes.

Lenders are going to take a hard look at your history and finances when considering how much to loan you. Here’s a list of what lenders will take a look at:

• Credit scores and credit history
• Down payment amount
• List of assets
• Income and employment history
• Tax returns
• Bank, credit and investment statements for the last three months
• Amount of your loan compared to the value of the home
• Total debt versus your income
• Your rental or mortgage payment history

To get the best interest rates, get your debt to income ratio below 43% and, if possible, your credit score above 738.

My favorite strategy to pay off debt is to focus on paying down the account with the lowest balance while continuing to pay at least the minimum amount on all others. Once the initial account is paid off, roll everything you were paying on that account to the next lowest balance and so forth until they are all paid off. If you have two accounts with similar balances, start with the account that has the highest interest rate. If you have an outstanding same as cash account that has an interest-adjusting balloon payment, make sure you pay that off before the balloon payment is due. Those adjustments can be brutal.

Credit scores don’t change overnight, but to give yourself the best chance at a high credit score, pay all of your bills on time; pay down existing debt and use less of your available credit; don’t open any new credit accounts (including same as cash deals); and maintain a mix of credit accounts. Ironically, closing your oldest credit accounts also negatively impacts your credit score, so keep those cards in a drawer but don’t use them unless the terms are favorable. FICO provides a fantastic loan savings calculator that shows the impact of your credit score on interest rate and it’s knock-on impact on monthly payments and total interest paid over the life of a loan.

Once you have your financial house in order and the required documentation together, identify a lender and get pre-approved for a loan. This is a fully documented process, is different than getting pre-qualified, and will put you in the best position to win the home you pursue. I work with a number of lenders that can provide a pre-approval letter. Let me know if you would like a referral.

Check out this post for information to determine how much home you can afford.

I’m happy to provide more ideas to help you present your best self to lenders when the time comes. Contact me if I can help you strategize for your loan application, or if I can help you land your dream home.

The post Financially Preparing to Buy a Home appeared first on Tim Ritchie Homes.

Prioritizing this list will help you get your home on the market fast. Cleaning, packing up & de-cluttering should be your top priority as you work through the checklist. Your goal is to get the most money out of your home sale in the least amount of time, with minimal effort.

Objectively Evaluate Every Room

Homebuyers are going to be more critical of your home than they are of their own. Most people don’t dust their house from top to bottom weekly, but they will notice if yours isn’t. When your home is on the market, it needs to stay in show condition, similar to what you would find in a new model home.

Open up the floor space by removing excess furniture, de-personalizing, and de-cluttering. This step will invite prospective home buyers to imagine themselves in your home. You want them to feel welcomed and relaxed. They’ll start imagining where they might put their things and become emotionally attached.

Take your time navigating through the home seller’s checklist below. While you prepare your house for the market, think through the essential items you’ll want in your listing description. Be strategic about the ways that you direct me to market your home.

Clean / Replace as needed

Light Switch Covers
Fireplace
Light Bulbs
Front door
Carpets
Blinds
Doors and Door Knobs
Interior & Exterior Paint
AC/Heater vents

Dust everything

Walls
Blinds
Baseboards
A/C Intake Vents
Ceiling Fans

Make it inviting

Rearrange furniture to maximize visual floor space.
Pack up all knick-knacks and figurines.
Prune and nurture all house plants.
Reduce or add house plants to a balanced number.
Remove all but a few decorative books from bookshelves.
Pack away personal family photos to de-personalize the home.
Reduce the amount of wall art to one or two items per room.
Add lamps to any dark spaces to brighten the room.
Leave your home smelling fresh and clean with an essential oil diffuser.

Living and family rooms

Keep coffee tables clear.
Remove any ashtrays.
Keep furniture at a minimum.
Toys should be stored out of sight.
Use pillows and throws to soften the space.

Dining rooms

The bottom of the Chandelier should be 60” from the floor minimum.
Keep the dining table clear except for one nice centerpiece.
Remove extra chairs from the table and dining room.
Remove extra leaves from the table.
The table should seat 4 to 6 chairs max.

Kitchen

Clear all items from kitchen countertops.
Clean tile grout; bleach if needed.
Clean the stove, oven, and microwave.
Clear the refrigerator of magnets, pictures, and messages.
Repair broken or loose corners on Formica countertops.
Replace burner pans on the stove if worn.
Keep all mops, brooms, vacuums, etc., put away.
Empty the garbage before each showing.
Remove any pet food and water dishes before showings.
Organize the pantry to look nice and neat.
Box up any dishes & cooking supplies you can live without.
Scrub/polish the sink to make it look new again.

Bedrooms

Make beds daily.
Invest in new bedspreads if necessary (consult stager first).
Clear off bedside tables, dressers, etc.
Store daily necessities in drawers or closets.
Organize closets to be nice and neat.
Keep closet doors closed.
Keep all the floors clear and vacuum regularly.
Remove all wall decor, other than an elegant piece of art.
Repair any holes or damage to walls.

Laundry

Put soap and supplies in cupboards.
Keep all surfaces and sink clean and empty.
Use high watt bulbs to make it look brighter.
Remove any clothing, dirty or clean.
Keep floors cleared of clutter and mop regularly.

Bath

Clear and clean ALL surfaces.
Display a bottle of hand soap or a clean bar of soap.
Purchase new towels if necessary (consult stager first).
Coordinate all linens in one or two colors.
Fold towels in thirds on the towel rack.
Remove all unnecessary items out of shower stalls and tubs.
Clean or replace all shower curtains.
Clean any moldy areas in the showers and baths.
Replace caulking to make it look new again.
Take off all cloth toilet lids and keep lids closed.
Hide garbage cans and cleaning supplies.
Organize cabinets to be nice and neat.

Exterior

Look at your house objectively from your neighbor’s yard.
Clean or repaint the front door if needed.
Repaint the exterior and trim if needed.
Replace any rotten wood on the exterior.
Sweep all walkways, patios, porches, and decks.
Pressure wash any dirty/stained concrete.
Re-stain the deck wood as needed.
Wash windows, inside and out.
Use outdoor furniture to show the use of space.
Outdoor drapes, pillows, and throws create an inviting retreat.

Garage

Clean and sweep out the garage.
Keep storage nice and neat.
Repaint dirty areas.
Pack anything you can live without.

Yard

Prune bushes and plants to look healthy.
Do not allow shrubs or plants to block windows.
Weed all planting areas.
Put down fresh mulch to restore color contrast.
Keep the lawn freshly mowed, edged, and fertilized.
Remove any dead plants.
Add a few flowers for a splash of color if needed.

Summary

This home seller checklist may seem overwhelming at first but you’ll be surprised at how quickly the items on the list dwindle as you work through them. Once you get into a groove and start working down the checklist, it goes fast. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Don’t make the costly mistake of listing your home before you have had time to complete this process.

You don’t need to do this alone. I have a number of referrals I can provide to help you with cleaning, painting, repairs, and landscaping. Contact me here if you would like me to put you in touch with one of my trusted providers.

Your goal is to make home buyers question whether anyone lives in the home when they’re viewing it. Your home should stand out above the rest because you have gone above what the average home seller would do. Rest Assured, all your hard work will pay off at the closing table.

The post Home Seller Checklist appeared first on Tim Ritchie Homes.