PAM DENT

Jump into Greener Pastures


434-960-0161
[email protected]

Top 5 Golf Course Features Found in Charlottesville Golf Communities

Many who have recently moved into any one of the beautiful and breathtaking Charlottesville Golf Communities continue to discover more reasons why they made the right choice. Whether you are a golf enthusiast or someone new to the sport, the excitement and lifestyle offered by these communities make them a perfect place to find your dream home.

Top 5 Golf Course Features Found in Charlottesville Golf Communities

 

For fervent golfers, these communities are like heaven on earth. Life in a golfing neighborhood allows unlimited access to the fairways, opening a lot of opportunities for players to hone their skills or to meet fellow golfers who will become playing partners. For beginners, living in a Charlottesville golf community will surely make them fall in love with the sport.

Below are 5 of the best features you can find in many of Charlottesville’s golf courses sought after by avid fans of the sport.

Variety of bunkers

Holes are more difficult when there are bunkers in the golf course. Bunkers are areas filled with sand. Others are small depressions in the land. Bunkers are positioned near the fairway or guarding the green.

Fresh air and beautiful views

One of the best features of these Charlottesville golf communities is the refreshing and captivating views that surround the area. Golf is a sport that goes best with clean and refreshing mountain air; and what better place to enjoy the sport than the rolling Central Virginia landscape. The breathtaking countryside that adjoins the fairways promises an enjoyable golfing experience.

Different hole characteristics

Each hole should have different characteristics to add complexity to the game. Features that add characteristics to holes include water hazards, fairway and greenside bunkers, and natural obstructions.  Each green will offer a different set of problems to be solved and this can change daily depending on pin position and speed.

Challenging Rough

Grass in the fairway should be mown carefully and uniformly. Alongside the fairway is the rough with longer grass that can be difficult to hit out of.

Top ranking clubhouses

After a round of golf, players love to have a place to rest and cool down. The clubhouse and its facilities complete the whole golf experience. Lounge areas are perfect for discussions between players after a game. The quality of food and service are also vital factors that keep players coming back for more.  These world-class clubhouses in Charlottesville’s golf communities are also available for other residents to hold private affairs and events like meetings, family gatherings, parties and the like.

There is a lot to love and experience in Charlottesville. If you want to know more about these neighborhoods and other homes for sale in Central Virginia, visit www.CharlottesvilleGolfCommunities.com

Call me, Pam Dent, today at (434) 960-0161. I have the professional and expert knowledge of the local housing market of Charlottesville including horse farms, golf communities, and other homes for sale in Central Virginia. It is my pleasure to guide you through the exciting and fulfilling journey of finding your dream home.

 

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Top Summer Staging Tips for Homes for Sale in Charlottesville VA

Top Summer Staging Tips for Homes for Sale in Charlottesville VA


Summer is a great season for homes for sale in Charlottesville VA. The increase in listings and buyers makes the real estate industry really busy during this season. Don’t let this discourage you if you want to be among the brave sellers hoping to sell their homes this summer. There are plenty of ways to capture the right audience. Your home is your stage and you have all the help you need right here.

Top Summer Staging Tips for Homes for Sale in Charlottesville VA

1. Enhance your “curb appeal”

The first thing that buyers are going to see is the outside of your home. Make sure you get their attention right away. This is what they call “curb appeal.” You’d want to enhance the curb appeal of your home by making sure your driveway is smooth and clean. If needed, have your driveway repaired. Make sure your walkways are clean. Consider repainting or power washing the exterior of your home. Don’t forget your windows! Wash them clean and go further by polishing them for that extra shine. Plants add a lot to the aesthetics of your home as well.

2. Maintain general cleanliness

The size of Charlottesville horse farms can be hard to manage especially if you want to stage it for selling. No matter what the size of your home and property is, with proper planning and time management, you’ll surely make it in time for summer. Cleanliness is easy to understand. Always think about your potential audience. Think of what they might consider as clean. Think of areas that would easily stand out and make sure to get them spic ‘n span and ready for your potential audience. You’d want to carefully clean the floor, furniture, appliances, fixtures and even the sinks in the kitchen and in the bathrooms.  If you are selling a horse farm don’t forget that the stable needs to be clean and neat as well.  You’ll never know what your viewers might see or think so make sure you clean your home to the best of your ability.

3. Utilize the space to your advantage

Just like horse farms, Charlottesville golf communities would definitely have much space you can play with for staging. Different homes come in different sizes and no matter how small or big the space you have, there are always ways for you to utilize the space to your advantage. Consider rearranging your furniture. Is there too much clutter in your home? Try to get rid of things that you haven’t been using. Consider the functionality of every item in your home and see which items you can give up in order to give your home more space.

Every home for sale in Charlottesville VA is surely unique. You can also come up with your personalized staging methods. If you want to know more, you can visit this site www.JumpIntoGreenerPastures.com.

Call me, Pam Dent today at (434) 960-0161. I can assure you of the best quality service. I have the professional and expert knowledge on Charlottesville real estate, the local housing market, horse farms and golf communities that will guide you through the exciting and fulfilling journey of finding your dream home.

Charlottesville Homes For Sale – How Do Interest Rates Affect Price?

Charlottesville Homes For Sale | How Do Interest Rates Affect Price?

Buyers and sellers alike have been keeping a close eye on interest rates.  Rates are still low by historic standards, but the reality is that they are slowly creeping up and many experts predict that they will  be up one to one and a half percent  by the end of the year.  What does this really mean to you if you are considering purchasing a home?

Rate Payment Relationship 2 small.png

A ½% increase in interest rate may not sound like much but it is roughly equivalent to a 5% increase in price.  It becomes obvious when you compare the payments.

If you financed 100% of the cost of a $250,000 home at 4.5% interest for 30 years, the payment would be $1,266.71 per month.  If the mortgage rate went up to 5%, the payment would be $1,342.05.  If the home increased 5% in value, the $262,250 loan at the lower 4.5% rate would have payments of $1,330.05.

The two payments are close enough to justify the statement that a ½% change in interest is approximately equal to 5% change in price.

Each time interest rates go up, fewer people can qualify to buy a seller’s home.  The mortgage rules that went into effect this year require buyers to meet specific payment to income ratios.  As demand picks up for the seasonal market, most experts expect rates to increase.

Buyers will be doubly challenged in the current market because prices are rising (NAR reports 11% last year) along with the anticipated mortgage rates.  Buyers who wait will inevitably be paying more to live in the same home had they acted sooner.

Check out on how Interest Affects Price for a home in your price range.

If you have a Charlottesville home for sale, the increase in interest rates will also affect you.  It may mean that you will have a smaller pool of buyers who can qualify to purchase your home.  Also many sellers are waiting for prices to rise before putting their home on the market.  But the reality may be that a rise in home prices in tandom with rising interest rates will price many buyers out of the market.

If you are considering buying or selling a Charlottesville home, it may be a good strategy to to act now, if you are able to, rather than waiting for later in the year.

How Should I Prepare My Charlottesville Home For Winter?

How Should I Prepare My Charlottesville Home For Winter

home maintenance 250.jpg

With winter storms and bitter cold affecting much of the country, there are plenty of Charlottesville home owners who wish they were better prepared.  Even when you live in warm climates, some of these things are important to check periodically, and tthis year we have just seen snow stoms in areas that never get snow.

Preparing for the change of seasons can make your home more comfortable and protect your investment.  Regular maintenance extends the various components of a home and can generate savings in operating costs while avoiding expensive replacements.  Plus if you are offering your home for sale, buyers will pay attention to the maintenance that has been performed.  A well maintained home will sell more quickly and for more money.

Below are some actvities you can do to make sure that your home is ready for winter:

  • Weather strips around doors and windows should be checked for possible air leaks.
  • Caulking around windows and doors should seal out moisture and air leaks.
  • HVAC should be inspected and serviced by a professional annually.
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be tested regularly.
  • Ductwork and supply lines from water heaters should be insulated.
  • Fireplace chimneys should be cleaned regularly and fireplaces should be inspected for cracks in mortar and to see if the damper closes properly.
  • Gutters should be free of leaves and debris to prevent rainwater build-up.
  • Tree branches touching or hanging over your roof should be trimmed

Please contact me if you would like recommendations for service providers.

We still have a lot of winter left, so its still not to late to prepare your Charlottesville home for winter, and we have a couple of warm days coming up this weekend that would be perfect to get outside and do some exterior work.

My Charlottesville Home is Sold But How Do I Choose A Moving Company?

My Charlottesville Home is Sold But How Do I Choose a Moving Company?

Your home is sold, the closing date is coming up and you still have to choose a moving company.  Do you know what questions to ask or do you hire the first company that you find in the yellow pages or online?  All moving companies do not offer the same services.  Here are some factors that you should consider before you contract with a particular mover.

Moving to a Charlottesville Home

Moving to a Charlottesville Home

Fees

  • What is the charge for packing?
  • Does it include boxes? If  not, what do they cost and will you deliver them?
  • Is there an additional charge to deliver some items to a storage unit?

Insurance

  • How is a damage claim handled?
  • What insurance do you provide and is there a cost?
  • Does the insurance cover  items packed by the owner?
  • Can additional insurance be purchased and what will it cost?
  • If items are covered by my Homeowner’s insurance, whose insurance pays first?

Unusual Items 

  • Can you ship my car(s)? Will  they be in the moving van or towed?
  • What are the charges for shipping cars, lawn tractors, etc?
  • What items cannot be shipped?
  • If a shuttle truck is needed  because of the location of my house or size of the drive way, is there an additional charge?
  • If packing and loading are on  different days, can you leave the beds and other basics out for us to use?

Dates 

  • What dates are available for our move?
  • What date will you pack and how long will this take?
  • What date will you load the  van?
  • What date will the van arrive at my new location?
  • If my new home is not ready for delivery, how many days can it be delayed before there is a charge?
  • What is the charge for additional days or weeks?

Terms 

  • Are there any additional fees  that I’m responsible for that have not been discussed?
  • What are the terms of  payment?
  • Is a down payment required?
  • When will the balance be due  and who is authorized to accept it?

As you can see there is a lot to consider, but getting these things straight ahead of time will save headaches later.  When you know what questions to ask, you will have the ability to select the best mover and the final step of selling your Charlottesville home will be a breeze.

Should I Have A Home Inspection Before I List My Home For Sale?

Should I have a home inspection before I list my home for sale?

Home inspection.jpg

One of the anxiety highpoints during the sale of a home is waiting for the buyer’s home inspection report.  Most sellers willingly disclose what they know about their home to any potential buyers.  The concern stems from the inspector finding something that they’re totally unaware of and that it will either cost them a lot of money to correct or the buyer will simply use it to void the contract.

If the inspection does reveal some unknown problem with the home, it’s probably as big a surprise to the buyer who is not as emotionally or financially invested as the seller.  It is human nature to fear what you don’t understand and when a report identifies defects, they may simply opt-out of the home.

The solution to the situation may be for the seller to have the home inspected prior to putting it on the market.  There is still a risk of becoming surprised by an unknown defect which at that point, would have to be disclosed to potential buyers or repaired by the seller.  The advantage is that it creates a baseline to compare discrepancies that may arise when a future buyer has the home inspected.

If the seller’s inspection report is made available during the marketing process, it could give buyers a sense of confidence about the home even though they may still choose to have the home checked by their own inspector.

The cost of the inspection, possibly $500, keeps some sellers from taking this initiative when selling their home.  In an effort to minimize their expenses, they forego getting valuable, disinterested 3rd party advice that could help sell their home.  On a $175,000 home, the fee for the inspection will probably be less than 3/10 of one percent of the sales price.

Another option to the seller to increase marketability of the property and bolster buyer confidence in the home would be to offer a buyers home warranty.  Generally, the seller doesn’t incur cost for this coverage until the home is sold.  The benefit to the buyer is avoiding unanticipated expenses for specific items that are covered during their first year of ownership.  Another option for the seller is a seller’s home warranty which will cover the home during the listing period.  Under the seller’s home warranty many of the repair items found in the inspection report will be covered under the warranty which translates to less money out of pocket for the seller and a happier buyer since their list of requested repairs are being addressed.

Contact me for recommendations of home inspectors or home protection plans. 

5 Questions To Ask Before You List Your Home For Sale

5 Questions To Ask Before You List Your Home For Sale

The first step in placing your Charlottesville home on the market for sale will be deciding on a listing agent.  You will probably interview several real estate agents before you make your decision, but do you know what questions to ask?

Here are 5 questions to ask an agent before you hire them to list your Charlottesville home for sale.

  1. Are you a full time real estate agent?  It goes without saying that someone who is juggling two jobs won’t have the time necessary to succeed in today’s competitive market.
  2. How many photographs will you take of my home and what kind of photographic equipment do you use?  The internet is the new open house and today’s buyer spends a lot of time looking at properties on line.  They want to see pictures of all of the rooms.  Also the pictures of your home will determine whether they want to actually visit the home in person.  It is crucial that the pictures are of excellent quality, taken with a wide angle lens so that the rooms appear as large as possible.
  3. Do you use video or visual tours?  Statistically listings with visual tours get more views than listings that don’t have them.
  4. What internet sites will my home be listed on?  The majority of home buyers begin their search for a home on line.  It is crucial that your home be there.
  5. How can I communicate with you?  Your real estate agent should be easy for you to get in touch with.  He should return your calls and emails promptly and should communnicate with you via whichever method you prefer.  You should have an agent who has a smart phone and tablet so that he can do business wherever he is.

In addition to being tech savvy, you will want an agent who has lived in the area for a long time.  If you choose a full time, tech savvy agent with local market knowledge you will have made a good first step toward getting your Charlottesville home sold.

Copyright 2012 by Pam Dent all rights reserved “5 Questions To Ask Before You List Your Home For Sale“.

Selling A Charlottesville Home – Open Houses

Selling A Charlottesville Home – Open Houses

Open houses have been one of the staples for maketing in home for sale.  On Sundays we still see many open houses advertised in the local paper.  However how effective are open houses in today’s real estate market?  If you have a Charlottesville home for sale, is it necessary for your real estate agent to hold an open house?  Well the answer is yes…and no.

With the avalibility of all of the homes that are for sale on line, the internet has become the new open house.  If the home is properly market, consumers will be able to go on line and see pictures of every room in the home.  In addition there may be a visual tour or video tour.  House hunters can view all of the homes for sale from the commfort of their living room.  Then they can ask their agents to take them through their favorites.

If your home for sale is in a Charlottesville neighborhood that gets a lot of driveby or walking traffic, an open house may still get a lot of visitors.  However if your home is in a more out of the way, or even rural location, an open house may not be effective.

 

You will want to be sure to hire an agent who is an internet marketing specialist.  And remember that lots of excellent pictures are crucial!  With that recipe your online Charlottesville open house will be a winner.

Copyright by Pam Dent, all rights reserved “Selling A Charlottesville Home – Open Houses“.

A Charlottesville Seniors Real Estate Specialist Can Assist Equestrians

A Charlottesville Seniors Real Estate Specialist Can Assist Equestrians

You may have heard of using the services of a seniors real estate specialist to help seniors with their transition as they downsize or move to an age restricted home.  However an equestrian may not feel that a real estate agent with a SRES designation would be a good choice to help them.  But  what about if you could find a seniors residential specialist who was also a horse property specialist?

Helping Equestrian Seniors Move

Downsizing with horses has its own challenges.  It may be a difficult transition if you are used to totally caring for your horses yourself.   Or you may be used to having a large farm with many horses and are faced with whittling down the numbers to just a few.  Your seniors real estate specialist – horse property specialist will guide you through your options.  He will be able to assist you with the sale of your farm and find professionals who can help with packing and also the sale or donation of extra farm equipment.

Equestrian seniors may still wish to maintain their equestrian activity at some level.  They may just wish to find a smaller farm with less acreage to take care of and an easier barn to work out of.  Or a home in an equestrian community could be a good choice.  Another option would be boarding your horses and letting someone else be responsible for the care.  If you are from out of the area, a horse property specialist can help you find the barn that is closest to where you want to live that would be a good fit for you and your horses.

Downsizing with horses is a transition in an equestrian’s life and a Charlottesville seniors real estate specialist can help, especially if they are an equestrian property specialist as well.

Copyright 2011 all rights reserved by Pam Dent  “A Charlottesville Seniors Real Estate Specialist Can Assist Equestrians“.   Written by Pam Dent.

Charlottesville Country Home – Well Priced Homes Are Selling

Charlottesville Country Homes – Well Priced Homes Are Selling

This well priced Charlottesville home  went under contract in one week.

65 Turkey Lane, Faber, VA
3 bedroom, 2 baths, 5.0 acre, log home $270,000

 

Stunning log home

 

Even with all of the inventory on the Charlottesville real estate market well priced homes are selling.  The key word here is price.  Buyers are savvy; they know the available inventory and are looking for a deal.  In order to sell quickly it is important for a home to be in perfect condition.  Todays buyers do not want to have to fix up their new home.  They want it to be in move in condition.  Therefore it pays to fix all of those little items before the home goes on the market.  However the main thing that today’s buyer is shopping is price.  They have been conditioned by the media to expect a great deal.  As a result of searching the internet, buyers know what is out there and how the homes are priced.  If you want to get an offer, you will need to make sure that not only is your home in the best condition but also that it is priced competitively.  If your home is well maintained and is priced aggressively showings and offers will come.

If you are considering putting your home on the market, it is important to get the advice of a real estate professional.  He will be able to go through your home and tell you what you will need to do to ensure that your property shows its best.  He will also prepare a comparative market analysis of homes that are on the market now and also homes that have recently sold so that your home can be properly priced to enable a quick sale.

Your Charlottesville courtry home too could go from list to under contract in 1 week.

Copyright 2011 by Pam Dent, all rights reserved “Charlottesville Country Home – Well Priced Homes Are Selling“.

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Contact Pam

Pam Dent
Phone: (434) 960-0161
Email: [email protected]
Gayle Harvey Real Estate Inc.
154 Hansen Rd. suite 102B
Charlottesville, VA 22911


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