Buying in Fall

Buying in Fall

With sweatshirt season quickly approaching buyers have to decide whether to continue house hunting or to wait till next year.  There are some pros and cons to buying in fall so to help you make your decision a little easier here are just a few of those. 

Pros

Year-end tax breaks

Home buyers can yield great dividends in tax returns like deducting mortgage interest and property taxes from gross income.

Sellers are serious

Sellers are who put their home on the market in fall usually want it to sell before the holidays and freezing weather of winter so negotiations are a little easier.

Getting ahead of the weather

Buying before it gets really cold is a good idea.  No one wants to move with freezing rain or icy roads.  Buying in autumn you will be moved in and curled up in front of your new fire place before winter sets in.

Cons

School year and holidays

Taking kids out of school to start a new school is never fun nor is having a house full of boxes during the holidays.

Daylight waning

Daylight savings time means leaving work early or only house hunting on the weekends in order to see houses

.

Inventory

Some sellers will take their houses off the market before the holidays which could mean less inventory to choose from.

Now that you know the ups and downs of buying fall happy house hunting.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner 
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR, SRS
RE/MAX Country
Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com
(360) 400-3475
www.cynthia-online.com

Your Home - Fall Tune-Up Checklist

Home-ownership comes with its share of routine seasonal tasks and chores.  But keeping track of what needs to be done - and when - can be a challenge.  To help homeowners stay on top of their maintenance projects, home improvement retailer Lowe's offers easy-to-follow checklists for each season of the year and covers both inside and outside chores.  Get your home ready for fall and winter with these tasks:

Indoor Tasks:

ü  When you turn your clocks back, change the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

ü  Install weather stripping where needed around the windows.

ü  Have the furnace professionally inspected.

ü  If needed, set traps for rodents.

ü  Dust blinds and vacuum curtains throughout the house.

ü  Clean kitchen and bathroom cabinets and throw away outdates food, medicine and cosmetics.

ü  Change or clean furnace filters.  Consult the manufacturer's instructions to determine how frequently the filters should be replaced.

ü  Clean kitchen appliances inside and out, including refrigerator coils.

ü  Maintain clean drains by adding one-half cup of baking soda followed by on-half cup white vinegar.  After 10 minutes, flush with boiling water.

Outdoor Tasks:

ü  Clean gutters and downspouts.

ü  Inspect the roof and chimney for cracks and damage, and have them repaired.

ü  Rake and shred leaves to use as mulch or dispose of them.

ü  Close or install storm windows.

ü  Remove hoses from spigots and drain, store indoors, coiled and flat.

ü  Store outdoor furniture and cushions.

ü  Walk around the house and check for open crawl space vents and close them before cooler temperatures set in.

ü  Cover your central air conditioning unit, and remove and store window air conditioners.

ü  Clean and store garden tools.

Cynthia Schmier, Broker/Owner
CRS, CDPE, CNE, CIAS, MDI, 5-STAR
RE/MAX Country

Cynthia@Cynthia-Online.com

(360) 400-3475

www.cynthia-online.com