Condo Living + Going Green

7 Ways Condos Can Go Green

Want to go green but afraid it won’t work for condos in Dallas? Get rid of your worries, because it’s definitely possible. It just takes a little thought!

1. Go Energy Star – Anytime you get a chance, use Energy Star appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment. When it’s time to replace something, look for the Energy Star option.

2. Use a power strip – Many people have a slew of chargers and electronics. Instead of plugging them directly into an outlet, use a power strip and then turn the power strip off when the electronics aren’t in use.

3. Get an energy audit – If you get an energy audit you can find out how your insulation and heating and cooling equipment is working compared to the condos in Dallas. If it’s not up to par, you can find out where you need to start.

4. Check your seals – If you have windows and doors with poor seals, air can leak out, wasting the energy to heat or cool your condo.

5. Recycle – It’s cheaper than trash collection and helps the environment.

6. Rain catchers – Many condos in Dallas have balconies with flowerpots and small beds. As well, many owners use potted plants inside as accents. If you’re one of them, use rain catchers on your balcony to reduce water usage instead of watering each plant with fresh water.

7. Low flow toilets and leaks - If your association allows it, install a low flow toilet in your unit to help conserve water. As well, check the toilet for leaks by putting food coloring in the tank and see if it moves to the bowel without flushing. If it does, you have a leak.

If you’re looking for a condo that’s already green, I can help. Call me at 972-639-8187 or email me at matt@hretexas.com for more information.

Your Dallas Realtor,

Matt Twomey

Thinking About Remodeling Your Home?

6 Reasons Why Now Is The Best Time For Dallas Home Remodels

Cash in your pocket and equity in your home? If you’ve been thinking about making changes to your house but thought you couldn’t afford a remodel, it’s time to rethink the possibilities. The payback on renovations in cost versus higher home value, should you decide to sell your house later, can be better than you thought.

Reason #1: Lower bids from the contractors. The home renovation business is falling with the current housing market, leading to lower bids for the homeowner’s remodeling project. In addition, most contractors are willing to negotiate with you for a better price, leaving you with a beautiful remodel for an excellent price.

Reason #2: Higher number of contractors to choose from. Although homeowners are still making repairs and working on their houses, the number of bigger additions and fancy remodels is going down. More contractors are competing against each other for your project.

Reason #3: Lower financing costs. If you have good credit and a steady economic foundation, you can get lower financing costs. This, in turn, makes the project that much more affordable.

Reason #4: Lower cost of materials. Because the number of major remodels is dropping, the demand for materials (and thus the cost) is also dropping.

Reason #5: Less waiting time for a top-rated remodeling contractor. With a lower number of people wanting to remodel their home, even top-rated professionals have a shorter waiting list.

Reason #6: Better service. With more competition, contractors are definitely giving “service with a smile.” Calls are being returned faster; jobs are starting on time (or before!).

If you looked into remodeling your home more than a year ago, now is definitely the time to do something about it. However, even in this sweet time for remodeling, be aware of shady companies and shoddy work. Do your research before accepting any contractor.

Want more tips like this? Subscribe to our blog. It's easy, fast and free.

Matt Twomey Won Best Realtor 2010, D Magazine!

Huge Congratulations to Highlands Real Estates Matt Twomey for all of his hard work! This is such an honor and we are all so proud of him for being voted on D Magazine's Best Realtor List 2010.

Keep it up,

Everyone at Highlands Real Estate

4 Things to Know Before Selling Your House

4 Things to Know Before Putting Up Your Home for Sale in East Dallas

The real estate industry is full of numbers and metrics that can influence your home for sale in Dallas. Here are just a few you need to know before putting your house on the market:

1. Pricing – Is your home for sale in Dallas worth more than you bought it for? Even now, it’s a possibility. Check the average sales prices for the homes in your area, neighborhood and street. You might be pleasantly surprised. Contact your local agent for the information.

2. DOM – Days on Market is the time period a home sits on the market before closing. Currently, the average days on market in almost any area are rather high, but the actual metric may change depending on the price of your home. If you’re faced with a timeline and have a set goal for the sale, the average days on market for your area is a number you need to know. Again, you can ask your local real estate agent.

3. List Pricing – The average list price tells you how much your competition is going for. If you’re trying to sell your house way above the average list price, it probably won’t leave the market.

4. Competition – How much competition do you really have? How many “For Sale” signs are up? The higher the inventory, the lower your chances of selling the home quickly.

Of all the numbers to know, these are at the top. As every agent knows, the best way to sell your home for sale in Dallas is to do the research – and then hire a proven real estate agent! Matt Twomey was just voted as one of D-Magazines BEST REALTORS 2010.

If you want to sell your home and need current information, Matt can help! Call him now at 214-699-1340 or email him at matt@hretexas.com for more information.

Why FSBO Is Not The Way To Go

Why FSBO Isn’t the Way to Go When Selling Dallas Homes
For Sale by Owner (FSBO) sales aren’t near as successful as those sold by real estate agents. In fact, by 2006, the average price for a FSBO home was at least $50,000 less than agent-run sales.

Why is that? Are real estate agents just naturally better at it? Although I’d love to say yes, the reality is that there are just some things FSBOs don’t know. Because they don’t know it, they make mistakes. Some of the most common are:

1. Incorrect pricing – The market can only bear so much. By pricing their Dallas homes too high, many FSBOs fail to sell. If your home isn’t selling, this may be the reason.

2. Not understanding everything involved – Selling a home, whatever the type, takes a lot of time, energy, ability, effort and know-how. For instance, accessibility is especially important, and a lot of FSBOs can’t be available to show the property when a buyer wants to see it.

3. Screening – You can waste a lot of time on unqualified buyers. You can also lose money by taking an offer that’s lower than it should be. Screening buyers can take a lot of time and effort, especially if you don’t have the experience to spot them.

4. Financing questions – The prospective buyer wants to know their financing options. As a FSBO, you need to be able to answer financing questions and explain their options. To do this, you’ll need to build a network of financial experts.

5. Knowing contracts – You need to be well versed in legal jargon, so you can handle contracts, agreements and disputes. Make sure everything – the negotiations and the agreements – is in writing.

These five points are just a few of the things you need to know to sell Dallas single-family homes on your own. If you’re not prepared to do it all, hire an agent to do it all for you!

If you’re trying to sell your home or condo and need someone who knows the ropes, I can help. Call me today at 214-695-2258 or email me at kathy.hretexas@yahoo.com for more information.

Kathy Lacey
Highlands Real Estate