I found a great article from Lowe's Home Improvement about getting your home reado to sell and tweaked it a bit. Most of the ideas are right-on and will help you prepare you home for sale. However, it's always wise to talk to a Real Estate Professional in your area about what the latest hot-button items are for Buyers in your area, and what specifically your home is most in need of. You don't want to waste money on listed items that are less important than others a professional may feel need addressing in your home and/or the current real estate environment in your local area. This list will give you a great place to start the home improvement/make-ready though:

Ideas To Help That Home Sell & What You'll Need To Make It Happen

Ideas to Help That Home Sell	What You'll Need
Do a little landscaping. Potential buyers will get their first impression of your home from its exterior. So stand outside and take a few moments to look at your home objectively. Could the grass use some cutting? Do the flowerbeds need a bit of TLC? Trimmed landscaping indicates a home that is well cared for throughout. -Replace mulch. -Pressure wash the house. -Edge sidewalks. -Remove vegetation between concrete and bricks. -Trim tree limbs that are near the roof. -Cut the grass. -Prune hedges. -Freshen flowerbeds. -Clear away dead trees and debris.	Tools: Extension Ladder, Pressure Washer. Mower, Edger, Gardening tools
Make your home more welcoming. Before homebuyers even come into your home, they'll be greeted by the front door. So think of it as another chance to make a good impression. -Install a new door. -Paint your front door. -Add some new house numbers. -Get a new lockset, kickplate and house number combination that coordinates with a new light fixture.	Materials: House Numbers, Kickplate, Lighting Fixtures, Paint, lockset
Refresh your deck. You want your outdoor space to be a place buyers can imagine enjoying during the summer with friends and family. Fuel their imaginations by rejuvenating the deck and furnishings. -Power wash deck clean. -Reseal the deck. -Use a wood lattice to enclose unsightly areas underneath. -Add a bright umbrella. -Replace cushions on furniture. -Decorate with potted plants and flowers. -Accent with a small fountain. -Install wind chimes to create a serene atmosphere buyers are sure to appreciate. -Use citronella candles to deter bugs.	Tools: Pressure Washer Materials: Citronella Candles, Deck Sealer, Fountain, Patio Umbrella, Wind Chimes, Wood Lattice, Pots & Flowers
Repair every imperfection. You probably no longer notice your home's little imperfections. Buyers, however, probably will. These small blemishes may stick out in the buyer's mind, so make sure to fix them. -Patch small cracks. -Repair drywall. -Replace broken tiles. -Replace old fixtures.	Tools: Squeegee or Grout Sponge, Waterproof Gloves Materials: Drywall Patching Plaster, Drywall Scraps for Patches, Drywall Tape, Faucet, Grout Sealant, Indoor Tile, Plumber's Putty, Silicon Caulk
Clean every spot. Even if your house hasn't always been kept immaculate, you can still make it look that way. Whether you clean yourself or hire a professional team, it can really help lead to a sale. -Scrub the bathroom and kitchen floors. -Steam clean rugs or replace if traffic patterns are worn-in. -Polish hardwood floors. -Wash windows inside and out.	Tools: Scrub Brush, Squeegee or Grout Sponge, Steam Cleaner, Waterproof Gloves Materials: Cleaning Agent, Floor Polish, Rags, Window Cleaner
Minimize the clutter. Unique things that make your place more "you" may actually distract buyers from envisioning their own personal touches. Remove them so they can imagine your space as their new home. -Remove all personal items and pictures and place personal items in storage. -Clear clutter from the floor by using a shoe cube organizer. -Store all children's toys. -Add wire shelving / closet shelving for additional storage space. -Add a fresh coat of paint inside closets to make everything look clean and organized. -Place a few cedar blocks in your closet for a great scent.	Materials: Cedar Blocks, Moving Boxes, Paint, Shelving
Improve energy efficiency. Making your home more efficient saves buyer's money over the long haul. Be sure to point out all the upgrades to buyers so your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. -Install a programmable thermostat. -Place weather-stripping on doors and windows. -Wrap pipes to conserve energy. -Insulate your water heater. -Replace furnace filters. -Replace old appliances with energy-efficient ones.	Materials: Filters, Programmable Thermostat, Water Heater Insulation, Weatherstripping
Give your favorite space a makeover. Chances are, you and your family spend the most time in the living room, but the last thing you want when selling is for the space to feel 'lived-in.' Refreshing the room with a few simple changes make the space more inviting to buyers while giving it a fresh feel. -Paint walls in neutral colors like linen, cream and beige. -Use thin drapes in a neutral color to accent. -Switch generic switches with painted or ceramic ones. -Boost the look of natural lighting with daylight bulbs. -Add a throw rug to give a touch of softness to the place.	Materials: Accent rugs, Paint, Switch Covers, Window Drapes
Create a camera-ready kitchen. Buyers want a kitchen that feels open and light. You'll want to repair any signs of wear and tear and replace any items that look dated or aren't working properly. -Paint walls with white or neutral paint that complements the cabinets. -Replace existing hardware with cabinet pulls and knobs for a new look. -Install new lighting under the cabinet for a dramatic effect. -Highlight the island or countertop with a simple fixture. -Replace vinyl blinds with sheer bamboo or linen blinds.	Materials: Blinds, Cabinet Pulls & Knobs, Indoor Lighting, Paint
Design a relaxing space. Bathrooms get a lot of use. You'll want to make yours look fresh to buyers by replacing outdated or overused fixtures and adding a few nice, crisp details. -Paint walls in soft, sedated colors like light blue, pale green or cream. -Install a new faucet, fixtures and towel bars. -Put in a medicine cabinet for added storage. -Buy new towels in a light or neutral color. -Replace the shower curtain and bathmat. A new shower curtain offers that "new car" smell. -Keep the room looking clutter-free by organizing bath accessories in a shower caddy. -Add a new bath mat.	Materials: Bath Mat, Faucet, Medicine Cabinet, Paint, Shower Curtains

Again, you should consult a Real Estate Professional before jumping into any major/expensive projects, but preparing a home to look it's best and appeal to a broad base of Buyers is a big part of getting it sold. Marketing, Pricing, Condition, and Location are the four critical factors in selling any home. The items listed above can help with the Condition and help maximize your Agent's Marketing efforts. Let me know if I can help with any questions about your area or preparing your home!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com

After a Lost Creek Ranch (LCR) resident asked me a good question about our HOA dues, she thanked me for my response and suggested that I post it for all to read. The resident bought a home in Lost Creek Ranch when the neighborhood was new and small (2001-2002). Today, there are over 1,100 homes in Lost Creek Ranch and no more new homes being built. So, her question was about HOA dues for LCR residents. Specifically, why they didn't go down as the neighborhood grew and more homes were built? It's a good question, as more homeowners mean more dues collected. One would think that this would mean that less was needed from each home. So HOA dues should have gone down as the neighborhood grew, right? Unfortunately, no... here is the explanation of why not, in case you were unaware of this information:

It was never the intention or design of the LCR long-term budget (designed by the community developer/builders) for dues to be reduced. In fact, for the first few years/phases of LCR, the dues were subsidized by the builders in the community. This was because there weren't enough homes for dues alone to pay for all of our wonderful amenities. From our parks, ponds, fountains, jogging trails, fencing, signage, management and more... their cost required subsidizing for the first few years. This kept our dues from being unbelievably high; the builders didn't want high dues to keep homeowners from buying here so they subsidized them... or helped pay the shortfall. This is very common in new neighborhoods; and as with most new communities, the long-term budget was designed so that the more homes the builders sold, the less they had to subsidize the HOA dues. They looked at it as an investment in the neighborhood. Eventually, the design allowed for the builders to completely stop subsidizing the HOA dues as they sold out of homes in the (then) self-sufficient community. At that time, there would be enough homeowners to pay for the amenities while paying around the same dues they always had (with no more help from the builders). That's exactly what happened a few years ago and where we are still today.

The good news: While most HOAs have dues increases every year or two (as the cost to maintain amenities goes up each year due to inflation), Lost Creek Ranch has only had one increase since taking ownership from the builders several years ago. This is mainly because our board sends most expenses out for bid (i.e. we got bids on maintaining our common landscaping and have saved thousands). More good news: LCR HOA dues remain low relative to the amazing amenities we have. Just compare LCR to some of the neighborhoods around Allen, Plano, McKinney and Frisco. This is why most consider LCR such a great place to live (even at $460/year). If you want to help make this community even better, or you want to know more about the LCR HOA, please feel free to contact me. And remember that we always need more volunteers (for committees like: pool, parks, yard/decoration, social, etc.). Serving as a volunteer here in Lost Creek Ranch has been a rewarding experience for me that I have enjoyed for many years now. So, even though dues aren't going down, I'm thankful for all of the amenities that we have and how (relatively) little we pay for them.

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com
 

In the current economic climate, I know we are all looking to save a little here and there. So, I have compiled a short list of restaurants that let KIDS EAT FREE (or for really cheap). This list is not totally inclusive, so if you have a favorite that I have not mentioned (or find one that is no longer valid) please let me know and I will add (or remove) them:

Cici’s 972-727-2424
Where: 204 N Greenville Ave., Allen
What: Kids 3 and under eat free
When: Every Day! 

Dickey’s Barbeque Pit 214-495-8877
Where: 405 Central Expressway South, Allen
What: Get a free kids meal (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult’s meal
When: Every Day! 

Jason’s Deli 972-727-3440
Where: 906 W. McDermott
What: Kids 10 & under eat free
When: Tuesdays from 4pm-10pm

Texas Land & Cattle 972-578-8707
Where: 3945 Central Expwy., Plano
What: Free kids meal (12 & under) with the purchase of an adult’s meal
When: Every Saturday 

GattiTown 214-618-9800
Where: 3251 Preston Rd., Frisco
What: Free kid’s buffet (10 & under) with the purchase of a regular adult’s buffet
When: Every Wednesday 

Joe’s Crab Shack 972-423-2800
Where: 3320 Central Expwy., Plano
What: $2 kids meals (12 & under)
When: Every Tuesday 

NOTE: It's always a good idea to call ahead and verify that these offers are still valid as they could end at any time. If you have more to add, please send me the Name of the place plus the Where, What & When by clicking "Email Me" under "Links" to the right of this page. The same goes if you find that one or more of these are no longer valid; please let us know. Thanks!

Ryan Cave, The "Caveman"
Truth, Honor & Personal Integrity
214-789-9366
www.CaveRealty.com