How emergency preparedness features in your house affect your property value. After last week's crazy-snow-apocalypse without water and electricity for days on end, we’re all asking ourselves what can we do differently to prepare so we can avoid or mitigate against those kinds of situations in the future? The price tags for some of these features are really really high. So the question is “If we can spend money on these emergency preparedness items, will it increase the property value? For how much?”   3 Factors That Influence Your Property Value:   1 - How people make purchase decisions First I want to explain a dynamic which most everybody can understand. It's a dynamic of how a swimming pool adds value to your property. Ex. You have spent $80k to install a really awesome swimming pool. However, most everybody understands that the entire $80k is not going to be recouped whenever you go resell the house. You might only get $20k out of the value of the swimming pool - the cost of installing the swimming pool exceeds the amount of value that's added to the property by adding the swimming pool. On the same level, that same dynamic exists for a lot of these emergency preparedness items such as a storm cellar, solar panels with batteries, private water wells, or a whole house generator, or the same kind of item will apply to those. You probably won't have as much bank for your buck for these emergency preparedness items as you would in a swimming pool and it all comes down to how people make decisions whenever they buy a house. People, in general, make decisions emotionally, and then they justify logically. Most everybody will begin the home purchase process by setting some parameters in just a simple form.  Ex. They may say they are looking for a house between $350k-$400k, then see all the homes that fit inside the price range. This is the logical process. After that, they will start scrolling through looking at nice photos and when you see a pretty house you say “Oh my gosh, I want that one! Let’s go set up a viewing!” It's the 13 different shower heads, the really nice upgraded countertops, the awesome hardwood floors, and the thing that makes you (from the emotional level) say ooh that is an awesome house! - then you go through and justify it logically. Unfortunately, people are not going to stop and go crazy about solar panels, energy-efficient features. We wanted to work that way but it just doesn't 2 - How real estate is valued in general. Real Estate is valued on a Sales Comparison approach. Appraisers will look at homes and compare what a house sold for vs another house sold for that is similar in some basic features, geographic location, lot area, etc.  Appraisers will then start considering other small details like solar panels, storm cellars, etc. these items will make a difference with the price value and may go up and down within that set of homes. Appraisers are not going to look at the total cost and features installed in a home but will look at the sales prices of the home. If there’s a lot of demand for a house for a certain set of features then the price of that house will be driven up. The demand comes from the people's buying decisions and that doesn't come from solar panels, storm cellars, and that sort of thing.  It comes from nice and pretty, and is an attractive home. You will get a little more out of your home. It will increase the property value but just wouldn't be as much as what you spend on your home. This is just something to justify the decision-making process like preparing for the next emergency.  "This is not the only factor you should consider. Family safety has to come above profit." 3 - Time The demand for houses right now is off the charts. It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Whenever we went through the 2008 financial crisis - the housing bubble issue, we won't hit that hard except for certain little pockets here in DFW metro where builders build way too much and get stuck with inventory and become trigger shot and quit building so many houses. That is the reason why the real estate market is going insane because there’s a lack of inventory and demand is increasing like crazy. Interest rates are super low and so people can afford more houses than ever. And so they are just gobbling up the inventory and that's causing prices to shoot to the roof even if your homes are not fixed up to the 9’s or even if you don't have the features that make people want to buy. The mere fact of the timing of how the market is going to increase property values more than anything ever could.  And so, that is going to weigh much heavier than any of these things that we’re talking about     Q&A with Chandler Crouch How about being on the hospital part of the power grid? Power is never going to be shut off if a property is near a hospital. House values near hospitals are going to increase tremendously this week because we are all driven emotionally from the pain of last week. People will do whatever they can to avoid that and if we can avoid that by making some simple decisions then we’re going to do that. And the emotion of that is really high. I just have a feeling that 3 or 4 weeks of 7-degree weather is not going to have the same emotional impact to drive that decision-making power that will increase your home value substantially. Buying a home near a hospital is a good decision for you and your family. Stay in the logical zone and make sure that you're making logical decisions in your next home purchase. Why does Houston have a huge property tax discount? It goes to the decisions that the City Municipalities are making. They got pretty good tax exemptions themselves. It's just what they voted in, what their city decided that they could survive off. That's going to depend really more on the budgets for the little areas that received that property tax revenue. If they can survive on less then they don't have to generate as much property tax revenue.

This past year, we protested on over 16,800 properties. We helped draft and pass a property tax reform bill with State Representative Matt Krause and we played an integral part in the Tarrant Apprisal District (TAD) Board of Directors Election - all for free. None of these accomplishments would have been possible if it weren't for the clients that chose our team of expert realtors to help them buy or sell their property. We all owe these clients and all our incredible team a debt of gratitude. In this video: 1:27 How to prepare for your tax protest 2:30 Update on TAD election results 6:42 Real Estate Market Update - Past 8:40 Real Estate Market Update - Present 9:37 Real Estate Market Update - Future How to prepare for your tax protest The first step to prepare is to wait until your property tax value notice is received which will happen sometime within the first 2 weeks of April. If we are registered to protest for you this year, it will take us until mid-April to deliver your value notice because we need to digitize them and send them to you through email. If you are not currently registered with us, you may sign up for free at freetaxprotest.com. Update on TAD election results A couple months ago TAD had their Board of Directors Elections and we saw a few issues with the election process. There was a big push to renominate and reelect the current board of directors. There would have been no change over the next two years if this happens. We are thankful that we got involved and we asked for your help. The results were mind-blowing. With your help, 3 new members were elected: Kathryn Wilemon, Rich DeOtte and Gary Losada. We have been to every board meeting since they got elected and they are doing a great job asking tough questions, identifying the truth in every issue, and innovating ways on how to improve the system. Real estate market update If you are waiting for a good time to buy a house because you want real estate prices to fall, historically, we have not seen them fall, even through the worst of times. Interest rates and our strong housing market are keeping our inventory levels low. Inventory levels could be heading even lower. The lower the number gets, the stronger the real estate market is.   Once again, our appreciation would never be enough to repay you for all your support. If you know anybody thinking of buying or selling a house, please send them our way. It is how we fund everything that we do. You can absolutely count on us, it will be an honor to serve you.          

  If you’re looking to boost the resale value of your home, landscaping is a good place to start. While it’s hard to pin down an exact number, studies estimate that landscaping upgrades can increase your home’s value from 5.5 to 12.7%. So what’s hot on the Fort Worth outdoor design scene? Here are a few of the latest trends appearing in backyards near you. Outdoor Living Spaces Outdoor areas for relaxing with family and friends are still hugely popular. Homeowners see these as an outdoor oasis and an extension of their home. The yard can include everything from patios and decks to outdoor kitchens, televisions, and audio systems. Retractable screens and shades are an emerging trend. The screens add privacy and help keep out bugs and summer heat. Fire Pits     These remain a top trend because they add warmth and ambiance to any outdoor space. They also extend the use of your yard through fall and winter. Fire pits are usually less expensive than fireplaces, and they can be built-in or portable. Integrated technology Younger home buyers, in particular, are attracted to “smart landscaping”. A few examples are cell phone-controlled pools, robotic lawn mowers, and apps that control lighting and sprinkler systems remotely. Pergolas     Pergolas are decorative garden structures made of vertical beams and cross beams. They provide shade and protection from the elements. Adding drapes, latticework or screens adds privacy. They’re also affordable and add beauty to your outdoor space. Metals Metals are making a significant mark in landscape design. Iron and steel are especially prominent in water features, furniture, and accessories. While metal will rust, it can be easily painted and restored. Water Features     You can bring a touch of serenity and natural beauty to your yard by adding a water feature. It’ll attract birds and animals, and the sound of flowing water is soothing to the soul. Popular choices are fountains, small brooks or burbling ceramic pots. Low-maintenance Landscapes     Homeowners and homebuyers of all ages don’t have a lot of time to care for their yards. That’s why low maintenance landscaping is a big trend. Replace grass with mulch or stones, use native/drought resistant plants, or consider a hardscape design. Outdoor Lighting     The biggest trends in outdoor lighting involve technology and LED lights. More homeowners are going with lighting systems controlled by smartphone apps (no more timers!). These smart controls allow you to dim or brighten your lights and change the lighting schedule. Outdoor lights make your home safer for nighttime guests, and they tend to discourage intruders. You can even set up distinct lighting areas with individual settings. LED lights are smaller and more energy efficient and have come a long way in the past few years. Even more exciting? They can change colors, which is a fun option for prominent features like fountains or statues. A Well-maintained Lawn No matter how intricate or beautiful your landscaping installations are, they won’t matter if the lawn surrounding them is not lush and green.  A well maintained lawn is not something that happens overnight; rather it takes years of following proper lawn maintenance routine that includes regular mowing of the grass, annual lawn aeration, and regular fertilization.  If you’re short on time and your lawn isn’t quite up to snuff, sod installation is another option, which will yield faster results but will cost a few thousand dollars for most lawns.   Landscaping investments like these are a good bet for upping your home’s resale value. You may like the upgrades so much, you decide to keep the home and enjoy them yourself.   Kath Meryl Johnson is a landscaper and freelance writer who enjoys working on handy projects around the house. She and her children recently helped build a neighborhood gazebo next to the community pool.

Home inspections by a licensed property inspector are well worth the money.  They have tools to test various components (eg hvac), and experience of seeing hundreds of houses. You can't replace an expert with a checklist.   You can, however, use a checklist like this to prepare your house for sale, eliminate issues to avoid an overly negative inspection report, and help to find issues for your property tax protest. Here is a link to the home inspection checklist.   

If you need to get your home in "market-ready" condition or you need to find everything wrong with your house to serve as evidence in a property tax protest, this checklist will be your best friend.     Scroll down or click here: Property Condition Checklist

Real Estate Commissions Aren't Cheap, But Are They Worth It? A new independent study by Collateral Analytics shows that Realtors are indeed worth their commission, generally speaking. The study concludes that successful "For Sale By Owner" (FSBO) sellers achieve prices significantly below those from similar properties sold by a Realtor. The study does not take into account sales that were first attempted as FSBO then switched to a Realtor due to an unsuccessful FSBO attempt. Something that doesn't appear to be taken into consideration by the study is the extra benefit of having someone deal with contracts, negotiate, and field dozens of interactions with inspectors, title company, lender, and the opposing party to the transaction. It's important to acknowledge that not every agent provides a service as valuable as what they charge, however, they do on average. This means that if you do your homework and hire an above average agent, you are likely to get a better than average return on your money hiring a Realtor. Several cities were studied. The conclusions were the same in every location. See below for the graph showing the findings of the Pheonix area study. The study can be seen in its entirety here: http://collateralanalytics.com/saving-real-estate-commissions-at-any-price/

Exciting times at Chandler Crouch Realtors! We've been featured in a number of recent stories via local news outlets. We're happy to be in a position to help so many people.   Lauren Zakalik with WFAA Channel 8 interviewed Chandler on May 17th about the tax increases in Tarrant County, and what Chandler Crouch Realtors is doing to help the local community. You can read that story in its entirety and watch Chandler's interview with Lauren by clicking here.   When some folks found out that their homestead exemptions dropped from their TAD appraisal without warning, CBS's Jason Allen stepped in to help get the story out. Click here to read more and watch Chandler's interview.   In a follow up to WFAA's story on what Chandler Crouch Realtors is doing to help out local homeowners, Jason Wheeler invited Chandler to do a live interview on WFAA Channel 8 to discuss what homeowners should do to get their taxes lowered. To view that video, click here and scroll to the bottom of the page, and play the last video on the page titled "Is it worth it: How to fight your property taxes assessment."   We're thrilled to be able to provide a service like this to our local community!

Dave Ramsey Real Estate ELP and Advice | Fort Worth Texas If you're thinking about buying or selling a home, it would be smart to do your homework and make the best decision you can for your finances. Any real estate transaction you have is going to be among the largest financial transactions of your entire life. The funny thing is, some people actually put more time into thining about what they're going to have for dinner than they do about planning to enter the real estate transaction with a smart financial plan.  There are plenty of financial advisors that will give you advice on how to buy a house. From Suze Orman, Clark Howard, David Bach, Robert Kiyosake, to Dave Ramsey. Everybody has an opinion. I've studied them all. These people are full of wisdom. I tend to think, if you are the kind of person that is going to research and submit yourself to the authroity of a set of guiding principles, you're going to probably be ok no matter who you listen to. The folks that really get themselves into trouble are the ones that don't seek any kind of guidance whatsoever. With that being said, I am quite partial to Dave Ramsey. He teaches based on Biblical principles, which is important to me, and he just doesn't give advice that is questionable. He is very conservative, and for this reason, it's difficult to fault him for anything except being too conservative. I'm ok with this. In December 2007 I found myself in a position, as a result of paying a LOT of dummy tax, in debt up to $300,000, much of which was revolving credit (business unsecured lines of credit). It is only because of adhearing to the principles that Dave Ramsey teaches that I can now say I'm on baby step #7 and I'm DEEEEEEEEEEEEEBBBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! (he features callers on his radio show yelling "I'm debt free." That was my version of yelling in text). Where to begin? The best first step would be to just call my office. There is far too much to share on a blog post. We can tailer a plan of action according to Dave's principles as demanded by your specific uniqe situation. Our number is 817-381-3800 or email at hello@chandlercrouch.com If you'd like to self study, these are good resources to begin with:   Dave Ramsey Mortgage Do's and Don'ts  You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to financing the purchase of your home. Dave doesn’t recommend most of them, but it’s a good idea to know what’s out there and why you need to avoid some of the more popular mortgage options. Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) ARMs hook homebuyers with a low initial rate, then, after a designated period, the rate fluctuates for the remainder of the life of the loan. This kind of loan actually transfers the risk of rising interest rates to you, the homeowner. Right now, interest rates are incredibly low, and they have been for some time. But once rates start to adjust, there’s only one direction they can go: up! This risk makes an ARM one of the worst mortgage options available. Do not finance your home with an ARM. Federal Housing Administration Loan (FHA) FHA mortgages are backed by the government, which means the government insures the bank so it won’t lose its money if you don’t make your payments. You can qualify for an FHA loan with a down payment as low as 3%. But new regulations require you to keep private mortgage insurance (PMI) for the life of the loan. PMI can cost around $100 a month per $100,000 borrowed.   Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Loans designed to make it easier for our country’s military veterans to purchase homes are a great idea in theory, but the program falls short in practice. VA loans are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and allow veterans to purchase a home with practically no down payment. VA loans also have lot of fees, and interest rates are usually higher than those for conventional loans. Buying the Right Way The best way to buy a home is to pay cash for it—the 100% down plan. It sounds unrealistic, but people do it every day. And not just those with super-deep pockets. Many save for years to achieve their goal. If you’re going to buy a home with a mortgage, you need to be on Baby Step 3, debt-free with a three- to six-month emergency fund in place. In Baby Step 3b, save up your down payment—at least 10%, but 20% will allow you to avoid PMI payments. Your home loan should be a conventional, fixed-rate mortgage with a 15-year (or less) term. Do not get a 30-year mortgage! A $175,000, 30-year mortgage with a 4% interest rate will cost you $68,000 more over the life of the loan than a 15-year mortgage will. That’s a lot of money you could use to build up your retirement fund or save for your kids’ college.   Your monthly payment should not exceed 25% of your take-home pay. Any more than that will tie up too much of your income and slow your progress through the remaining Baby Steps. House Hunt With a Pro Once you have your bases covered financially, it’s time to start house hunting. Talk with a professional agent about your financial goals so they can help you find a home that fits your budget. (Call Chandler Crouch Realtors at 817-381-3800)   Take Control of Your Money One Step at a Time Building a new future with money is a lot like building a home. You don't add the roof until you've finished framing, and you don't frame until the foundation is secure. Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps are designed to help you out of debt and stress and into a life of saving and giving. We're all in different places with money. Start right where you are and get where you want to be. Know-how is 20% of the equation. Behavior change and self-discipline make up the other 80%. You can do it! Just follow the steps. Here's The Process: $1,000 to Start an Emergency Fund An emergency fund is for those unexpected events in life you can't plan for. Whether there's a plumbing issue and everything but the kitchen sink is draining, or your brakes are squealing at every stop sign, you can be ready! Pay Off All Debt but the House List all debts but the house in order. The smallest balance should be your number one priority. Don't worry about interest rates unless two debts have similar payoffs. If that's the case, then list the higher interest rate debt first. 3 to 6 Months of Expenses in Savings This step is all about building a full emergency fund. It's time to kick debt for good, with 3–6 months' worth of emergency savings. Sit down and calculate how much you need to live on for 3–6 months (for most that's between $10,000–15,000) and start saving to protect yourself against life's bigger surprises like the loss of a job. You'll never be in debt again—no matter what comes your way. Invest 15% of Household Income Into Retirement Now it's time to get serious about retirement. With no payments and a full emergency fund, put 15% toward the retirement of your dreams. Between your 401(k), Roth IRA, and Traditional IRA, you have a lot of options. Find the fit that is right for you. The money you were using to attack debt can now help build your future. College Funding for Children College tuitions and housing expenses continue to rise. Don't let college sneak up on you. Saving now will put you ahead of the game when your kids graduate from high school. Two smart ways to save for your kids' college are a 529 college savings fund or an ESA (education savings account). These are both tax-advantaged savings vehicles that let you save money for your kids' education expenses. Pay Off Home Early It takes the average family five to seven years to pay their home off early. Just imagine life with no mortgage. There's only one more debt standing in the way of freedom from all debt! Apply all the extra money toward paying off your home. Not only are you paying off your home early, you'll be saving tens of thousands of dollars in interest fees. Build Wealth and Give This is the last step and by far the most fun. It's time to live and give like no one else! Build wealth, become insanely generous, and leave an inheritance for future generations. You know what people with no debt and no payments can do? Anything they want! Now that's leaving a legacy. Great, So Where Do I Start? The first step in taking control of your money is to create some cushion between you and life's little emergencies. Start by getting $1,000 in savings. It's easier than you think, and it's absolutely worth it. Most people can do it in a month or less, and these tools can help you get started.   Dave Ramsey Background and Bio - Dave's Story   

Click here to get a home repair checklist or scroll down for brick repair secrets.     Brick Mortar Crack Repair   The Problem If you're selling your home and have a crack in your brick, buyers will assume the worst and go buy another house. They don't assume they can fix the issue. They just move on. This can cost you thousands.  What to Buy   Use pre-mixed sanded tile grout, not mortar repair. Mortar repair usually has only 3 different color options. Sanded tile grout usually offers 20+ color options, which allows you to color match to near perfection. Also, sanded tile grout is suitable for swimming pools, showers, and exterior uses because it is highly weather resistant, and the texture is virtually identical. Brand doesn’t matter much. Any home improvement store will have a nice selection, however each store will carry different color selections due to available inventory. They come in quart or gallon size buckets. Get quart size. See the image below for colors we have found work well on most homes. The colors below with arrows are ones that work well on most homes. Purchase a few good colors. The biggest time waste is driving to the store. If you see all the ones I marked, buy them all. If you don’t see them all but you see something else that looks close (linen, earth, or another), by all means grab it too. Home Depot and Lowes have excellent return policies.   Application Instructions Put your artist hat on. Get an empty shallow sturdy container to serve as your palette. Scoop a spoonful of a brownish color and grey color onto the palette. Next mix the colors together in portions that would help you achieve the best match. Keep mixing the colors until it matches to 80% perfection. The color will appear slightly different after it has dried. Effective blending will mitigate any color match imperfections. Next, begin a test area by finding an inconspicuous area of the house, dip your finger in the mixed solution then run it along the mortar area (between the bricks). If you have several cracks, you may need gloves. As you drag your finger down the mortar line, the mix will naturally taper off and blend really well with the existing mortar color.   Cracks Running Through the Middle of a Brick Most of the time the thing that makes a crack stand out is the shadow inside the crack. If there is a small crack in the brick, fill the crack with a very small amount of the mortar solution. Just use a minimal amount so its not caked on. Then wipe off any excess. It’s always best to test a little area to see how it looks before covering a large area. Keep in mind, you know where the cracks were before you attempted to fix them, so you’ll always know exactly where to look to find the patch job. Someone that didn’t know where the crack was before your repair job likely won’t be able to find the repaired area if you did a good job matching colors and blending. Other Solutions: Sell As-Is - Get a Free Cash Offer on your Home Today: call or text 817-381-3800 Get our checklists and strategy on how to invest a little to get top dollar: call or text 817-381-3800 Plan ahead by getting an instant free home valuation      

When should you list your home for sale? Most people believe that summer is the best time to list your home because that is when the real estate market is busy and active. We can see it moving quickly—yard signs pop up all over the place! And it’s true, more homes sell in the summer than they do in the fall or winter. That’s because more sellers decide to sell during those months, so naturally, more homes are sold! BUT does that actually mean that your ODDS of selling are higher during those months? What we really need to be looking at are the ODDS of your home selling. Even though more homes are being listed in the summer, a higher PERCENTAGE of homes are selling in the fall and winter months.As the data indicates, the percentage of homes that sell in the summer months isn’t always greater than the percentage of homes sold during the rest of the year. On the graph, the dark line represents homes listed during the month. The light line shows that homes don’t always sell at the same rate as they list.On the chart, you can see that the percentage of homes sold in fall and winter months are often better than in the summer months.       Luckily for us, we are in a great market to be selling homes. People are always looking to buy homes in the Heritage area. Businesses have been moving to this area for years now and more are planning to come. This dynamic has created a housing demand that is stronger than any seasonal trend. Buyers are looking to buy right NOW.Don’t wait to list your home at the same time your competition is listing theirs. It’s important to lead the market and not follow it. For additional reading, check out 7 reasons to not sell your home to try and time the market.