How to Be a Good Neighbor

I ran across this on WikiHow and thought it had some great advice...

Being on bad terms with your neighbor can make your life frustrating, day after day. But taking the time to establish good terms with your neighbors has numerous benefits. The community will be friendlier, the neighborhood safer, and the area a nicer and more comfortable place to live.
Steps
1.Introduce yourself. Whether you're new in the neighborhood or new residents have just moved in on your block, introduce yourself. Say hello, offer a welcoming gift (the classic homemade pie never fails) and share or ask about the local area: "Where's the nearest pizzeria?" or "The garbage truck comes by on Tuesdays and Fridays, usually around 10 in the morning, but sometimes he sneaks in at 8."
2.Consider your neighbors' lifestyle. Get to know your neighbors--what they do for a living, what their schedules might be like, and so on. Sometimes, you can remedy problems before they even start, for example, if they work nights, quiet mornings will be important for them. If they have young children, quiet evenings will be very important to them. Similarly, give them information that'll help them be more considerate of your lifestyle. If you do a lot of yard work, or if your teenage son plays the drums, let them know in advance and mention that if it's getting too loud, they shouldn't hesitate to let you know.
3.Be aware of shared walls. If you're in a terrace, condominium, semi-detached house or any structure where you and your neighbors share adjacent living spaces, position noisy household appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers - even TVs and speakers - away from partition walls. If you live above someone, consider putting linoleum or rubber matting underneath your appliances to deaden or muffle the noise, and remember that someone downstairs can hear you walking around (so minimize how often you wear high heels indoors, for example).
4.Control your dog. Keep your dog on a leash if it has a habit of running rampant on your neighbors' lawns, especially if they have a cat or a dog of their own, and make sure to clean up after it. If you have a particularly noisy dog, this may also become a source of contention for your neighbor. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how upset you'd be if you or perhaps your newborn was woken from a much-needed nap by the sudden yapping of a nearby dog. If you have problems controlling your dog's barking or whining, consider seeking advice from your local vet or a local animal organization.
5.Practice parking etiquette. When you park your vehicle, be sure not to block anyone's access, or make them have to pull out of a very tight spot. Don't over-rev the engine of your car or motorcycle early in the morning or late at night. Park in front of your home, not theirs. Avoid slamming your doors or shining your headlights into your neighbor’s windows late at night.
6.Alert your neighbor to parties. If you're planning a party, be sure to give your neighbors plenty of warning, letting them know when it's going to start and how long you expect it to go on. Leave them a telephone number to contact if they need to ask you to turn it down. If you get on well with your neighbors, why not invite them too? When it comes to the party itself, stick to your agreed arrangements and ask your guests to be considerate when leaving.
7.Keep your garden tidy. Weed your garden regularly, because the presence of weeds in your yard is not only unsightly but can also spread to your neighbor’s yard. Mow your lawn regularly and keep your flowers, trees and bushes trimmed appropriately. Put equipment away as soon as you're finished with it. Ask if your neighbor has chemical sensitivities, small children or pets before applying pesticides.
8.Control your bonfire, barbecue or backyard fire. Position it where the smoke and smell will least likely blow onto your neighbor’s property. As with parties, notify them in advance of your intentions, since they might have been planning to dry their clothes outside on that very same day!
9.Put rubbish/garbage out on the right day. Only put your rubbish/garbage out on the day it's due for collection. If you accidentally miss the collection, bring it back onto your property immediately and try to contain it well. Garbage can attract vermin, insects, and other pests, and is also unsightly.
10.Communicate with your neighbor. Above all, touch base with your neighbors regularly and keep them in the loop. Remember the golden rule and if anything you are planning to do may affect them, minimize it and let them know in advance. Keep the channels of communication open by reminding them that if you're doing anything which disturbs them, they should feel comfortable approaching you about it.
11.Be aware of your surroundings, as well as theirs. Even if you're not in a "neighborhood watch" community, keep your eye on anyone you don't know acting suspiciously around your neighbor’s property. When in doubt, call the police so they can quickly curtail any criminal activity.
12.Invite them to contribute to your garage sales, have them over for tea, or offer to baby-sit their kids/pets while they're away. They'll do the same for you.
13.If you hear of any neighborhood news (events, crimes, special garbage pickups, special event parking restrictions, etc.) give them a heads-up by e-mail.
14.If you have a snow blower and they don't, spend that extra 60 seconds to clear their walkway. It will save them 60 minutes of hard work and they'll be grateful!
Tips
•Check local regulations regarding fires in your backyard and noise levels. There are laws in most jurisdictions regulating such things.
•If you are experiencing problems with an anti-social neighbor and you are unable to resolve them yourself, then see if your local government has website information on dispute resolution. For example, in the UK there is a website called Respect, which has information on how to tackle anti-social behavior in your community.
•Really good neighbors watch out for each other. They ask each other for advice, and offer to help, especially on matters that impact the larger neighborhood. They respect each others' boundaries but are quick to assist in a crisis. They look for opportunities to collaborate and to socialize. Great neighbors make for great neighborhoods, and it is well worth the effort.

New York Parents May Face Jail Over Their Kids' Backyard Noise…. WHAT???

New York Parents May Face Jail Over Their Kids' Backyard Noise…. WHAT??? I was reading the news today and I came across a story on FOXNews.com about some parents who, well you’ve seen already…might end up in jail because of the noise their kids making playing in the backyard. I don’t want to get into the details of whether or not they should or shouldn’t be fined or thrown in jail, or if their neighbors are just being over reactive. I don’t know which it is. It might be both. What I want to get into is, what does this mean to you if you are buying or selling real estate?

You might be wondering to yourself, “What does this have to do with me?” “What does this have to do with the house I’m selling?” or “What does this have to do with the home I’m buying?” Believe it or not, it has a lot to do with it. Let’s go over some scenarios.

1. You are buying a home in a subdivision with covenants and restrictions. You have kids (grandkids, nieces, nephews, cousins…). Is there a noise ordinance? Are there restrictions on the hours you can be outside making any noise (not just kids’ noise)? Can you have a playground in your backyard? If you can, is it allowed to be in view from the street? While some of these may seem extreme, I have heard of them all in various communities.

What’s the lesson? As a buyer you need to be aware of the covenants and restrictions of a community or subdivision you are buying in. Not all areas have them, but it never hurts to ask. If there are some, ask to look over them. The sellers should have a copy.

2. You are trying to sell a home and these are your neighbors. Well maybe not them, but someone like them. You may have a neighbor who fancies himself a handyman and likes to operate a circular saw all day every Saturday starting at 6:00 in the morning working until 10:00 at night. And, he leans all the scraps on the side fence, right next door to you. (You might think this is an exaggeration. I have a neighbor who would use a power saw to cut tile at 11:00, 12:00, and sometimes 1:00 at night. I’m glad he’s done with that project.) Your neighbors may have a house load of kids who have an elaborate play set that can be seen in plain view from your home. Maybe there is a major thoroughfare in close proximity to your home. All of these things can affect the sell of your home.

What’s the lesson? As a home seller you will want to address these issues. Some possible solutions might be erecting a privacy fence or planting some tall and full shrubs to block an undesirable view. Both of these along with a fountain or wind chimes can help mask the hum and rattle of road noise of that road well traveled right around the corner. Whatever the solution, be creative. This can help your home sell faster and for top dollar.

Turbulance in Selling, Buying, or Investing in Real Estate

Selling your home (buying a home, investing in a home...) is like taking an airline flight across country. When you start on your trip you have no idea how the trip will go. Neither does the pilot! You could run into 88 different types of turbulence, or you could have a smooth flight and land on time. Certainly the pilots will try to use their experience to navigate around the storms and go for the smoothest flight plan, but if they’re honest, they can’t promise a turbulent-free trip. Their job is simply to get you to your destination in the least time and with the least aggravation, while keeping you informed throughout the trip.

Turbulance can occur when the lender does not properly pre-qualify the borrower, when the buyer finds another property that is a better deal, when the Title Company does not find liens or any title problems until last minute, when the seller discovers hidden or unknown defects in the property, when the appraiser makes important mistakes on appraisal or brings in value is too low, or when the inspector delays the report. (For the full list, contact me, and I can get it to you)

The job of a real estate consultant (my job as your real estate consultant)is to be your pilot and assist you in getting your home sold for the most money (buy your home for the least amount), in the least amount of time, with the fewest aggravations. No turbulence can't be promised, but experience and expertise can and should be utilized to take you on the smoothest flight possible until the destination is safely reached.

7 More Reasons to Own Your Home

You've probably seen lots of financial arguments about why you should own your own home rather than rent. This includes budgeting (no rent increases) and the tax savings you'll most likely have. Now we're going to give you some reasons you probably haven't heard.

#1: Freedom to pursue other goals in life once the major goal of home ownership is achieved.

Strange as it sounds, many of our first-time buyers have told us that once they bought the house, other things in their life started to fall into place. It's as if not owning took so much of their mental energy that other goals were not worked on until that big goal was reached. So buy a home and get on with your life!

#2: A greater sense of belonging to the community.

Once you own a home, you feel more attached to the city in which you live. You're more interested in what happens in town, to the roads, schools, and shopping areas. Some people even become involved in local politics.

#3: A commitment to something, a sense of stability.

Home ownership is an anchor, something that cannot be pulled out from under you. You'll never get a notice that you have to move. You're kids will never have to change schools. It gives you freedom to plan years ahead.

#4: You can change things, a feeling of being in control.

It's your home. You can add to it, remodel it, change the landscaping, do whatever projects you want. You have a feeling of being in control of something in your life. At work we don't always have control of what happens, but your home is your castle and you have dominion over it. You can see what you're building take shape before your eyes.

#5: More control over the children than in an apartment complex

In a neighborhood, kids usually play in the yards or go to friend's houses a few doors away. Our clients have told us that in an apartment complex they never knew where the kids were. They could be in any of hundreds of apartments, doing who knows what. In a home you get to know the neighbors and watch out for each other's kids.

#6: Children do better in school and feel more secure.

This one surprised us, but buyers have reported to us that their kids calmed down in school after they bought a house. We don't know why, but it seems to work that way. We remember a single mom watching her son play in the yard, making steps in the slope and building things. She didn't have to tell him to leave everything alone, like she did at the apartment complex. I guess kids feel the same need for control we adults do.

#7: Time and money saved by not going to the Laundromat.

A small point, but if you have kids, you know the value of this one. You gain a whole evening a week when you buy a house! The wash gets done in between other things, or while you're at work. What would you do with the extra evening you'll have? How about going out for dessert with your spouse with all those quarters?

Ways to Make Home Buyers Hate Your House

If you are selling a home, did you know that you have the power to make home buyers with all different kinds of needs, wants, and desires to not just walk, but run out of your house? If you try hard enough, you might even be able to get some of them just to keep on driving as they approach your home.

1. Odors
The number one, most effective way to shorten their stay is to have home odors. Now I’m not talking about fresh cookies, scented candles and the like. They might give the impression you actually care about your home’s first impression. What we are looking for here are those pungent odors like cigarette smoke, pets, and mildew. Odors like these are sure to get them out holding their nose, covering their mouth, and wiping those watering eyes. The last thing we want to do is give a fresh, clean first impression.

2. Inadequate lighting
A man’s home is his castle right? I don’t recall any medieval castles being well lit, do you? Isn’t too much light bad for your eyes? I mean, really, can’t you find better things to do than trimming limbs on the tree outside, repainting rooms with brighter more reflective paint, taking down heavy curtains, cleaning windows, or putting in more light fixtures or lamps. You might get hurt doing some of these.

3. Busy Wallpaper
Keep it up! It’s retro! It’s a reminder of all the good times you have had since you moved in here 15 years ago. Grandma had some just like it in her house while she was raising mom. If someone really wants this house they can take it down themselves! You live here now, not them. You probably don’t have time to take it down and replace it with something tasteful or paint anyway. You’re concentrating on finding your new home.

4. Loose dogs
Now, we all know that dogs are a mans' best friend. This is the reason why you should have them waiting in the driveway, or even better, hiding behind the front door. There’s nothing better than that big surprise to reveal some agent’s or potential buyers fears than to have a dog yapping and growling at them. Besides, isn’t it cruel to crate them or take them from their home to another environment?

5. The Unclean Bathroom
You do actually live here right? Don’t people realize what you do in bathrooms? That little spot of mildew in the corner of the shower just serves as a reminder that the shampoo goes here. Besides, who would ever see it anyway? A scrubbed, freshly painted bathroom with a new shower curtain, rug, or towels just seems unused and unloved.

6. Damp Basements
Isn’t a basement kind of like a dungeon? People will need to just take your word that it doesn’t leak. You do live here. They ought to expect those damp smells in the basement and not just automatically assume that foundation leaks.

7. Unattractive Curb Appeal
This is the way you can get those home invaders to just to keep on driving and not even bother to step out of the car. If you’re spending all your weekends looking at houses then your yard just might be unkempt, and those plants growing in the gutter are just giving homage to your favorite restaurant Carrabba’s. It costs a lot of time and money to clean and paint the house. If you do this those shoppers may have to pay more for your house.

8. Insects and Bugs
Don’t people realize that roaches, spiders, and insect can get in your house? It’s nearly impossible to really get rid of them. Isn’t it cruel to kill animals? Won’t it disrupt the food chain?

9. Stick Around for Showings
Who knows your house better than you? Yes, the home buyers may feel a little awkward about opening closet doors and staying for a really good look at the house, but you can do this for them on a quick personalized tour of the home. Make sure you listen for any comments they make and give them the opportunity for questions. They should really appreciate the extra effort and time you are taking to show your own home.

Final Thoughts
If you are careful and sure to follow all of this advice you are sure never to sell your home, and if you do, you definitely won’t get top dollar. Yes, most of these “problems” can be corrected without spending a lot of money, but who really wants to do them. Your agent may tell you to do address these issues now, before you put the house on the market. If you work really hard your house can earn a reputation among agents as the smelly house, the dog house, or the house where the owner gives personal tours. And I guarantee that your house will be last on every agents list to show to their potential buyers.

Finally, I will hope that you see the irony in all of these suggestions. If you want your home to sell and sell quickly yielding a top dollar price address these issues immediately. Also, ask your agent what all needs to be done. If you are looking to sell your home anywhere in the Greater Birmingham Area you can link to Sell Your Home With Stephen on the right and request a copy of our Home Sellers E-Book How To Sell Your Home For Top Dollar Fast and we can get one to you right away.