hOuse TOP view

Q & A

Q.  I want to plant some trees in my yard.  What and where to your recommend I plant them so they provide the best curb appeal on my house?

A.  Great question.  If you are planting in the front of the house, smaller, ornamental trees (redbud, japanese maple, or river birch) placed toward the outer edge of your property are the best.  They provide small patches of shade, compliment the home with color, and make the home appear larger by their placement.

For the back of the house, larger trees are best as they provide a backdrop for your home.  Stay away from fast growing "soft wood" trees if you are in a climate where you receive wind or ice damage as those trees will break too easily.  Stick with hardwood maple, non-fruit bearing oak, or ash. 

Question of the Day

Q.  I have wood floors underneath carpet.  The home stager our realtor hired to prepare our home for showings recommended we remove the carpet because it makes the house appear dreary.  The carpet is probably 20 years old and is brownish.  Our dilemma is that we don't know the condition of the wood floors because the carpet was here when we purchased the home.  Should we go ahead and remove the carpet and take our chances?

A. Yes.  There may be some staining, scratches, and even old termite damage, but the home will show better, bigger and brighter.  In addition, most potential buyers will want to know what the condition of the flooring is if there is carpet over it.  By removing it, it alleviates any concern they may have.  Let me know how it turns out - anita@yourhomeconsultingteam.com.

Question of the Day . . .

Q.  What color should I paint the exterior of my house in order to get it ready for selling?  All of my neighbors homes are boring beige, white or some variation of the two.  I really think it would stand out if I painted it a bright color, like a bright yellow or blue, maybe even salmon.  What do you think?

A.  If you want to sell your home, then stick with the boring beige - please!  Bright colors will indeed make the home stand out, just like wearing a purple wig to work will make you stand out.  If you chose a specific bold color, then you are promising yourself to seeking only buyers who are interested in that specific bold color, therefore narrowing your field of prospective buyers.

A great idea is to check out a few of your neighbors home color choices for the over all paint and the trim, pick a combo that looks nice and is not right next door, and then go and ask that neighbor where they got the paint and the paint number.  Your home will be a shoe-in for "fitting into the neighborhood."  And please, if you hear anything from this, please please please stay away from Reflex blue!  It's that bright blue the color of the Kansas City recycle bins and is usually on sale!  That is, unless you really don't want to sell your home, then it's a perfect color!

Will New School Boundaries Effect My Property?

Q.  I live in the Kansas City Northland in Gladstone and I just read in the Sun Tribune that the North Kansas City School District is defining new boundaries.  How will this effect my property values?

A.  Great question.  The NKCSD board is not taking these changes lightly and are working with the end in mind.  I believe that their goal is to analyze population trends and develop boundaries that will benefit both the students and the community.  Here is a link to the article referenced above - please check it out:  http://www.kansascity.com/144/story/85320.html. 

I don't think the minor changes that effect the 240 Winnetonka High School and 380 NKC High School students will have any effect on property values.  I do believe that the homes that are north of Highway 152 will see a pretty significant rise in their home values over the next two years because these homes are slated to be within new Staley High School boundary.  Consumers want their children to attend new schools, especially high schools.  This is great news for home owners in this area.  I also believe that we will see commercial development along Highway 169 between Highway 152 and Smithville, as well as along I-435 from 169 east due to the influx of people in this area.

What we will see once the new boundaries are official is a lot of home sales and purchases by households who are effected who do not want to move their children out of their current school.  So, overall, the new school boundaries will shoot a little increase in the real estate market.

Question of the Day: Should I sell my house on my own?

Q.  With so many homes on the market, wouldn't it be better to sell my house on my own?

A.  You may be successful in selling your home on your own, but would you perform surgery on yourself if there were a lot of surgeons available?  Doesn't make sense, does it?  Because of the fact that there are so many homes on the market underscores the neccesity of having a professional represent you.  Making sure it is the right realtor is the key.  For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) fly under the radar of mainstream buyers, so they are over looked by the majority of prospective buyers. 

Question of the Day

Q.  Should I have my home inspected before I put it on the market?

A.  Yes.  This is a good idea for several reasons. 

1. You will identify any problems with the home now instead of after a buyer has a contract on your home.  This is important because sometimes the smallest of issues can scare buyers into canceling the contract.
2. You can market your home as already having the inspection, and even offer a copy of the inspection report to prospective buyers, saving them two to three hundred dollars - nice incentive for them to purchase your home.
3. I allows you to present your home to consumers in the best possible condition, earning you the highest possible price.

Question of the Day

Q.  What should I do about my pet dogs when I put my house on the market?  They bark a lot.

A.  Let me ask you this:  are you comfortable when you are visiting a friends home and their dog barks all the time?  I know you love your pet, but you will need to find either a temporary home for your dog, or make arrangements to remove the dog when the home is shown.  And no, you can not just put the dog outside in the backyard because then they buyer can not go into the backyard.  If your dog does not bark and is used to a kennel, then just put him/her in it. 

Question of the Day

Q.  We own a home in Harbor View and are thinking about putting in an above ground pool for the kids this summer.  A friend told us that this will actually hurt our property value - is this true?  I thought it would increase the value of it by the amount of the cost of the pool.

A.  In some parts of the U.S., a pool is a great addition to a home, but not here in the midwest. Due to our weather patterns, the time you can use a pool is very limited compared to the south, southwest and the west.  In the Kansas City area, a pool is, in most cases, a deterent to a buyer, whether it is above or below ground.  If you are planning on staying in the home for a long period, and your kids are young, go for it.  But keep in mind that when it's time to sell your home, it will benefit you to take down the pool, regrade the yard, and put in some sod before you put it on the market.

Question of the Day . . .

Q:  My friend told me if I replaced all the wood windows in my 40 year old ranch home here in Briarcliff, that when I sell it next year, I will get more money for my house. Is this true?

A: Great question.  As with most home  improvement projects, the  main reason you do them is to use them.  Seeing as you are moving within a year, and assuming the windows are in good working order, I would recommend leave them be.  If you were planning on staying in the home for several years, then I'd recommend you go forward - you will re-cap your investment in ease of use and utility savings.  New windows will help maintain the value of your home, and will make it much more attractive to potential buyers, but do not expect to add the total cost of the project to the top of the market value.