Cynthia Hash’s Blog

Check out this new Single-family property that I just posted on my Web site. It is at 3255 Presidents Rd in Scottsville. This Single-family property has 3 bedrooms and 1 baths. Country Living only 15 min. to Cville! Upgrades: 2009 heat pump; 2008 stove/oven; 2007 underground utilities, vinyl siding, gutters & gutter guards, well pump, water filter system rebuilt, pressure tank in crawl; 1998 paneling in kitchen & hall, replaced doors, 1997 replacement vinyl windows tilt sash double pane.  Click here to see details about this listing.

Click here for a visual tour

Check out this new Single-family property that I just posted on my Web site. It is at 5435 Ames Gap Lane in Covesville. This Single-family property has 3 bedrooms and 1 baths. A real bargain in Albemarle County! Ranch style with mountain views & tons of potential. Sold as-is with $5500 repair allowance offered.  Click here to see details about this listing.

Click here for a visual tour.

Do you have questions about whether you qualify for the 2009 Tax Credit for Homebuyers?  For an overview, watch the brief videos on the Market Watch page of my website.  For more home buying and home selling tips, community information or to search for properties locally or nationwide, please visit my website at www.FindHomesInCharlottesville.com.

THANK YOU!

Cynthia Hash, Realtor Licensed in VA, Keller Williams Realty
Cell: (434) 531-5351 ~ Fax: (801) 681-0286 ~ Email: hash@kw.com
FULL SERVICE REALTOR .. www.findhomesincharlottesville.com
GET HELP THRU CAREGIVERS LIBRARY .. www.agingyourway.org
ALWAYS WANTED A LOG HOME? .. www.cedarlogstructures.net
WANT TO PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE? .. www.payoffyourhome.org
Ofc: 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22901
Matthew 7:12 is NAR Golden Rule

Check out this new Duplex property that I just posted on my Web site. It is at 1314 Carlton Ave in Charlottesville. This Duplex property has 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. This beautiful Hampton model features rear mountain views, parking in front & rear, 131 square foot raised rear deck, 30 sq ft attached outdoor utility room, large eat-in kitchen, 3 plush carpeted bedrooms, 2.5 spic & span bathrooms. Convenient city location near everything! Walk to Meade Park’s New Aquatic Center for tons of fun in the sun! Bike to the Historic Downtown Mall! Walk to grocery store! Right side of duplex. Priced nearly 20% below tax assessment. Also offered for rent MLS 473173.  Click here to see details about this listing.

Click here for a visual tour.

Check out this new property that I just posted on my Web site. It is in Charlottesville. Popular neighborhood, convenient to shopping, historic downtown, more! Each bedroom has bathroom - share expenses w/a roommate! Patio & garden area 16×8 & ready for BBQs! Trash compactor & breakfast bar in kitchen! Wood fireplace. Also for rent $1150/mo. MLS 471144.  Click here to see details on my listings.
 
See a Visual Tour of this property!

Before you make your final buying or selling decision, you should have the home inspected by a professional. An inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make an informed decision. Ask these questions to prospective home inspectors:

1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.ashi.org or www.nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations

2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.

3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.

4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.

6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.

7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.

8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector’s reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector’s refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag.

Source: Rob Paterkiewicz, executive director, American Society of Home Inspectors, Des Plaines, Ill., www.ashi.org.

THANK YOU!

Cynthia Hash, Realtor Licensed in VA, Keller Williams Realty

Cell: (434) 531-5351 ~ Fax: (801) 681-0286 ~ Email: hash@kw.com

FULL SERVICE REALTOR .. www.FindHomesInCharlottesville.com

GET HELP THRU CAREGIVERS LIBRARY .. www.AgingYourWay.org

ALWAYS WANTED A LOG HOME? .. www.CedarLogStructures.net

WANT TO PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE? .. www.PayOffYourHome.org

Ofc: 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22901

Matthew 7:12 is NAR Golden Rule

AUSTIN, TEXAS (December 21, 2009) — Keller Williams Realty joined the ranks of the top franchises in the world last week, when the company was ranked as the No. 1 real estate franchise on the 31st Annual Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur magazine. During the same week, the company was also voted the Most Recognizable Brand of Real Estate Franchises for 2009 in an industry-wide survey for the Swanepoel TRENDS Report.“The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is a respected source for the real estate industry and beyond, as is Entrepreneur magazine, and we are excited to see our agents honored in this way for all of their hard work,” said Mark Willis, CEO, Keller Williams Realty. “We certainly wouldn’t have been included on either list without the dedication and resolve of our agents.”According to the ranking in Entrepreneur magazine, the most important criteria to determine the top franchises included financial strength and stability, as well as growth rate and size of the franchise system. The magazine also looked at the number of years the company has been in business and the length of time it’s been franchising, in addition to start-up costs and financial data. Additionally, Keller Williams Realty made an impressive showing on the overall list, placing higher than any other real estate franchise.The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is published by Stefan Swanepoel, a real estate industry speaker and insider. The survey was crafted to determine the Most Recognizable Brand for Real Estate Franchises for his report out in February 2010. The survey included votes cast by 11,000 plus real estate agents, who cast 390,000 votes to select the top 10.Earlier in the year,Keller Williams Realty also received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms from J.D. Power and Associates for the second year in a row.“We are extremely proud that our associates and company are being recognized for our strength and stability during this time in our industry,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO, Keller Williams Realty. “We attribute our success to being in business with phenomenal people and to our core business models, which have allowed our franchises to thrive during any market.”About Keller Williams Realty Inc.: Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 679 offices and 73,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners.THANK YOU! Cynthia Hash, Realtor Licensed in VA, Keller Williams Realty Cell: (434) 531-5351 ~ Fax: (801) 681-0286 ~ Email: hash@kw.com FULL SERVICE REALTOR .. www.FindHomesInCharlottesville.com GET HELP THRU CAREGIVERS LIBRARY .. www.AgingYourWay.org ALWAYS WANTED A LOG HOME? .. www.CedarLogStructures.net WANT TO PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE? .. www.PayOffYourHome.org Ofc: 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22901 Matthew 7:12 is NAR Golden Rule

Home inspections will vary depending on the type of property you are purchasing. A large historic home, for example, will require a more specialized inspection than a small condominium. However, the following are the basic elements that a home inspector will check. You can also use this list to help you evaluate properties you might purchase.

For more information, try the virtual home inspection at www.ASHI.org, the Web site of the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Structure: A home’s skeleton impacts how the property stands up to weather, gravity, and the earth. Structural components, including the foundation and the framing, should be inspected.

Exterior: The inspector should look at sidewalks, driveways, steps, windows, and doors. A home’s siding, trim, and surface drainage also are part of an exterior inspection.

·         Doors and windows

·         Siding (brick, stone, stucco, vinyl, wood, etc.)

·         Driveways/sidewalks

·         Attached porches, decks, and balconies

Roofing: A well-maintained roof protects you from rain, snow, and other forces of nature. Take note of the roof’s age, conditions of flashing, roof draining systems (pooling water), buckled shingles, loose gutters and downspouts, skylight, and chimneys.

Plumbing: Thoroughly examine the water supply and drainage systems, water heating equipment, and fuel storage systems. Drainage pumps and sump pumps also fall under this category. Poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots, or corrosion can indicate problems.

Electrical: Safe electrical wiring is essential. Look for the condition of service entrance wires, service panels, breakers and fuses, and disconnects. Also take note of the number of outlets in each room.

Heating: The home’s heating system, vent system, flues, and chimneys should be inspected. Look for age of water heater, whether the size is adequate for the house, speed of recovery, and energy rating.

Air Conditioning: Your inspector should describe your home cooling system, its energy source, and inspect the central and through-wall cooling equipment. Consider the age and energy rating of the system.

Interiors: An inspection of the inside of the home can reveal plumbing leaks, insect damage, rot, construction defects, and other issues. An inspector should take a close look at:

·         Walls, ceilings and floors

·         Steps, stairways, and railings

·         Countertops and cabinets

·         Garage doors and garage door systems

Ventilation/insulation: To prevent energy loss, check for adequate insulation and ventilation in the attic and in unfinished areas such as crawlspaces. Also look for proper, secured insulation in walls. Insulation should be appropriate for the climate. Excess moisture in the home can lead to mold and water damage.

Fireplaces: They’re charming, but they could be dangerous if not properly installed. Inspectors should examine the system, including the vent and flue, and describe solid fuel burning appliances.

Source: American Society of Home Inspectors (www.AHSI.org)

THANK YOU!

Cynthia Hash, Realtor Licensed in VA, Keller Williams Realty

Cell: (434) 531-5351 ~ Fax: (801) 681-0286 ~ Email: hash@kw.com

FULL SERVICE REALTOR .. www.FindHomesInCharlottesville.com

GET HELP THRU CAREGIVERS LIBRARY .. www.AgingYourWay.org

ALWAYS WANTED A LOG HOME? .. www.CedarLogStructures.net

WANT TO PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE? .. www.PayOffYourHome.org

Ofc: 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22901

Matthew 7:12 is NAR Golden Rule

Keller Williams Realty ranks “Highest in Overall Satisfaction For Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms, Two Years in a Row!”

Keller Williams Realty received the highest numerical score among full service real estate firms for home buyers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008-2009 Home Buyer/Seller Study (SM). 2009 Study based on 3,138 total evaluations measuring 7 firms and measures opinions of individuals who bought a home between March 2008 and April 2009. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed April-June 2009.

Realtor Magazine (January 2010)

THANK YOU!

Cynthia Hash, Realtor Licensed in VA, Keller Williams Realty

Cell: (434) 531-5351 ~ Fax: (801) 681-0286 ~ Email: hash@kw.com

FULL SERVICE REALTOR .. www.FindHomesInCharlottesville.com

GET HELP THRU CAREGIVERS LIBRARY .. www.AgingYourWay.org

ALWAYS WANTED A LOG HOME? .. www.CedarLogStructures.net

WANT TO PAY OFF YOUR HOUSE? .. www.PayOffYourHome.org

Ofc: 1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100, Charlottesville, VA 22901

Matthew 7:12 is NAR Golden Rule