Kathleen Finnegan

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natural ways to make your home critter-free

Items you most likely already have around the house can ward off pesky critters. Block Flies with Basil Flies hate the smell of basil. To discourage them, place pots of basil at doorways and windowsills and on the kitchen counter. Don't have enough sun for potted basil? Put dried basil in a small muslin pouch, rubbing it occasionally to keep the scent strong. Scare Off Spiders with Citrus Spiders are not fond of citrus. In a spray bottle, mix water and unsweetened lemon or... Continue Reading >

full disclosure : what to tell buyers about your home

Whether you have owned your home for a few years or a few decades, you know its quirks, best features and flaws. When you morph from homeowner to home seller you need to be aware that your experience with your home is something you may have to share with potential buyers. Most buyers opt to have a home inspection before they finalize their purchase, but you as the seller must also follow state and federal regulations regarding disclosure of known facts... Continue Reading >

staying prepared – emergency kits

I found this list really helpful. You can’t prevent disasters, but you can take charge of how you respond if you’re prepared. The first step is putting together an emergency preparedness kit.           What should go in an emergency kit? Here are the basics: Your Most Important Papers If disaster strikes, you could spend weeks or even months just trying to re-create the essential documents you’ll need to get back on track. That’s why it’s critical to have backups of important papers, such as: ◾The... Continue Reading >

understanding title insurance

The purchase of a home is one of the most expensive and important purchases a homebuyer will ever make. The buyer and mortgage lender will want to make sure that no one else has any lien, claim or encumbrance on your property. Title insurance protects the buyer’s interests and the interests of the lender, should a claim be made against your property. What is title insurance? Title insurance offers protection against claims resulting from various defects (as set out in the policy)... Continue Reading >

tips to prepare for home inspection

  When you get to the point of the inspection, you're nearing the finish line! Hopefully, the pointers mentioned below will help you cross it with ease! Home Inspection Tips to prepare your Home. 1) Make sure all interior and exterior light fixtures work. If an outdoor fixture bulb is out, the inspector has to note that the fixture does not operate correctly. 2) Provide access to the furnace, water heater and electrical panel. Also, the inspector must be able to remove the electrical panel... Continue Reading >

is there a season to sell?

  Many homeowners want to know, "When is the best time of year to sell my house?" The conventional wisdom is that spring and summer are best. However, there are exceptions, and there are advantages and disadvantages to selling in any season. Here's the information you need to improve your chances of selling your property for a good price in any season. Spring Advantages of Selling in Spring From late spring through mid-summer, home sales are generally highest. Many homes come on the market... Continue Reading >

building a family budget, that works!

  As distasteful as the task may seem, it really is important to map out your expenses and purchases so you can see just where your money is going. The following tips can help you build a budget that actually works. 1. Opt for simplicity. You can harness the power of Excel spreadsheets, Quicken and other software programs, but there’s also nothing wrong with using an old-fashioned pencil and piece of paper. The main objective is to figure out whether you need or... Continue Reading >

property taxes – avoiding reassessment

This is a question that my clients bring up a lot. How to transfer property taxes and/or avoid reassessment. This post should help to shed a little light on, what tends to be, a confusing matter. Prior to the passage of Proposition 13, the county assessor in each county would reassess the value of property every four years or so. During times of high appreciation, property taxes often quadrupled, leaving those on a fixed income unable to afford the taxes, and being... Continue Reading >

getting prepared for pre-approval

What is a pre-approval? A pre-approval is a commitment in writing from a lender that a borrower would qualify for a particular loan amount based on income and credit information. Most pre-approval letters are good for 60 to 90 days. Why you should get pre-approved? There are many reasons why you should get pre-approved. The most important reason you should get pre-approved early in the process of purchasing a home is that you will get an accurate idea of how much you can... Continue Reading >

home buyer tech tools

Home buyers are increasingly depending on the internet when beginning their search. Here are a few sites that are sure to lend a hand. Google Maps Real Estate Google Maps has grown enormously as a service since its launch in 2005, adding features like walking directions and Street View [source: Google]. Type in an address in any populated area, and Google Maps can likely pinpoint local businesses and give you a good look at it with satellite imagery. But there's another feature... Continue Reading >