Termites. Scary? or Common?

Looking at homes? Are you seeing some with evidence of termites? Does the Seller Property Disclosure Statement provided by the seller show previous infestation?  Selling your home with prior termite problems and afraid to disclose? Home owners are usually reluctant to admit to potential buyers that their homes are damaged by termites. For some people, the mere mention of the words "termite damage" conjures up images of tiny insects with very big teeth dining on weight-bearing wood beams until a home collapses in a heap of sawdust. Thankfully this is not usually the case. (excerpt from the State of Arizona Office of Pest Management)
This past week I showed a rather large custom home with obvious signs of termite tunnels both inside and outside of the home. Termites definitely have a negative connotation. Can the house be treated and you can move on with your purchase? For sure. But who is to say what damage has already been done between the walls of the home. Will the home likely fall down around you in your lifetime? Probably not. But it is still a deterrent for a lot of people. As a seller should you be afraid that no one will buy your home? Definitely not. There are plenty of people out there that do not care and will want your home no matter what. Will the pool of buyers be smaller, most likely. But just as if your home backs a street, backs a 2 story, faces east/west- there are plenty of features a home may have that will limit the amount of buyers interested, someone is out there that is perfect for your home.
 Most termite treatment companies provide an initial 5 year warranty against infestation that can be renewed year after year. If termites appear the company will come out and spot treat or retreat the whole perimeter of the home. In college I worked for a chemical company that sold chemicals to the pest management companies. Termidor was the preferred treatment method as it kills the termites rather than just treating the soil which sends the termites away from your home. Termidor binds tightly to the soil to create the “Termidor Zone.” Since this protective termite treatment zone is undetectable to termites, termites can’t avoid it and will not try to find a way around it (as they can with repellent termite treatments). For more information visit www.termidorhome.com .
My suggestion to buyers- find out all you can about termites, read up on the different kinds you may experience- although Subterranean termites are Arizona's most common species. All homeowners should do a check every several months for any termite tunnels that you may see around your home in order to treat most proactively. Just remember just because you can't see them doesn't mean they are not there. Be comfortable if you are buying a home with definite signs of termite infestation, if you are not then move on and buy a house that makes you feel you are making the right choice.

Here are some common things to watch for that may attract termites in and around your home.

1.  Cracks in foundation walls. It only takes a crack 1/64 of an inch wide to give termites and other wood destroying insects hidden access to a house.
2. Leaking pipes and faucets. Termites as well as other insects, seek out moisture for survival. Leaking pipes can keep wood and soil continually damp and create a perfect home for termites.
3. Wood debris around and under a house. Pieces of scrap lumber or firewood kept next to a structure can support a colony of termites.
4. Sprinkler systems or bubblers placed near the outside wall of a structure. Excessive watering can attract termites to the structure.


5. Flower planters. Planters allow hidden and direct access to unprotected siding and cracked stucco when built in direct contact with a house.
6. Trellises and wooden fences. If a trellis or wood fence touches soil and is in contact with a structure, it provides a direct link between the subterranean termites in the soil and wood in the structure

For the most up-to-date and accurate information please visit: http://www.sb.state.az.us/index.php

Selling Improvements- How do I know what is worth it?

There is no real rule of thumb on what to fix/replace or do to get the most money out of selling your home. This is largely due to a few varying factors. Some markets are great for fix and flip homes, some are not. It depends on the following things.
Time of Year; Where the home is located; What the local market is like; What the recent sold homes reflect; Your current competition. Always consult a local Realtor who can give you an idea of what will be most beneficial to YOU, the seller in your specific market setting before creating your remodel. No one wants to spend $10,000 fixing up their home to get $5,000 more when selling. You want to be able to maximize your profits and get the most out of what you spend.
Here are a few suggestions once you know what works for you:
The top remodel repairs include.
Updated flooring (tile, wood or wood laminate) Vinyl flooring when your only choice should be free of tears or rips.
Kitchen updating- resurfacing cabinets is better than replacing also adding hardware can sometimes help; granite is popular but not always necessary; newer faucets and sparkling sinks go a long way- updated appliances also tend to help a sale.
Bathrooms- think clean, updated flooring, fixtures and lighting when possible. You can get new shiny and inexpensive updates at your local hardware store.
Fresh paint to walls, ceilings and baseboards- a white ceiling and baseboards with a neutral light tan paint is most effective, remove popcorn ceilings when possible and wallpaper- it isn't that everyone hates wallpaper and colored paint- these are just personal choices and what you like may not be someone else's choice, so the more neutral the better.
Caulk windows, doors and around tubs, showers and sinks for a fresh look that is rather inexpensive.
 Curb appeal is a great way to show off your home for sale and make the buyer WANT to step inside. Trimmed bushes, trees and shrubs are important along with manicured lawns. Granite/Rock that is even and level. Planting seasonal flowers can also brighten up the exterior of the home inviting people in.
Whether you are getting ready to sell your home with a Realtor, or wanting to try selling it on your own, you can always contact a local Realtor to come and check out what they suggest would be the best "bang for your buck." Remember, they are the expert in their field and will give you the suggestions that will best help you sell your home for the most cost effective way for you.

Referrals for Life

Think of the last time that you were given or gave a referral. What prompted you to do this? Did you ask for a specific product or service referral from a friend or family member because you were in need of something/someone reliable? Were you looking for the best or most inexpensive route? Did you go out to dinner, have your carpet cleaned,  or your car serviced and have such a great experience you wanted to share it with a friend?
 Some of us give referrals naturally, giving them freely to others whether we are solicited or not. Other people have to have a very strong positive experience not within what we would consider "the norm" to be able to give a recommendation to someone else, without being asked. This experience that you have that can cause you to give a referral to someone whether good or bad, positive or negative can have a huge impact to that product or service. Living in a small community where there are many local and home based businesses many tend to thrive off of the positive experiences they get and want to share this with other local people, or people who are new to the area or interested in relocating here.
Why do we refer other people? It reaffirms our self worth. It makes us feel good to enrich or help someone who is needing a service or experience and we want to give them that great experience that we had, or tell them about the bad one in order for them to avoid any unnecessary hassle that may occur.
Knowing your product or service and your area well you are better able to service and provide the kind of service that breeds loyalty and deserves repeat and referral clients and customers. Giving value to these relationships you build from the clients and customers you encounter without any expectations but with integrity and exceptional service to each and every one as if they were your best friend or family member will naturally have them talking about you to others.
In my 12 year career as a Realtor and living here in San Tan Valley for 11 years,  I have seen many people get undesirable results with the people that they have chosen to work with to help them make one of the most important decisions in buying or selling a home. Yesterday I was speaking with an acquaintance of mine I ran into at the grocery store who bought a home about 3 years ago from another agent.  I asked her about her experience and if she would refer that agent to others, before I gave her my business card. She said that she hasn't and wouldn't refer him to others because she didn't feel that since she was buying a relatively inexpensive home that he gave her the time, dedication or insight that she wanted or needed. Sure he helped her buy a home but could her experience have been better, she said it could have.

When I chose to become a Realtor, I was clear that the industry did not need another typical Realtor,  but what it needed was a person like me.  A person who gives (1) information with clear interpretation, (2) insight that protects, (3) inspiration that encourages (4) judgment rooted in experience, (5) meaning behind each decision, (6) relationship with service and (7) conscious guidance based on integrity.

As a independent contractor who happens to sell homes I provide a service that I want to be recognized as great. I want to provide the service that enable me to give that under promised over delivered sense of "wow, she really cares about my needs/ wants" feeling to each and every client that I encounter, whether I am selling the $19,000 lot or the Million Dollar Home.