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.

We're blown away... Realtor.com featured us again in one of their articles. This time Chandler is quoted about savvy buyer negotiation techniques.  http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/craziest-tactics-to-buy-a-home/

Top negotiators focus on how the other party will perceive their offer and understand the negotiating process is just a very formal conversation between two people to expressing their wants and needs.  Obtaining information about the other party’s situation, needs, wants, and mindset is crucial to determine how to best appeal to the other party. One of the biggest mistakes a Realtor can make is to limit their information source solely to the black and white terms printed on the offer (contract). I have found one of the best ways to learn about the other party is to pick up the phone and call the other Realtor.  When representing a seller, these are a few of my favorite revealing questions to ask the buyer’s Realtor over the phone: How soon do you need a response to your offer? How did you arrive at this price? Do they have another house to sell? How long have you been looking for a house? How important is the closing date? Have you studied what percentage of list price homes are selling for in this area?   Representing a buyer involves a whole other set of questions. Buying a home is a HUGE investment and it’s important to have as much information possible to make a smart decision. Do all the research you can to get the facts about the home for your client. Then, the best thing you can do for the buyer is to call the selling agent. Ask as many questions as you can. The answers to these questions can help your buyer make a strong offer that works with their budget. Good Questions to Consider: What is an acceptable offer? How long has it been on the market? Have they had a price drop? How much did they reduce the price? What percentage? Learn the situation of the seller – how much money do they need to get out of it and how quickly do they want to sell? Is it occupied or vacant? Why the seller is selling? When does your buyer need to move? When does the buyer need to close? What repairs need to be done? How many people own it? (in the case of an estate/dividing up profit) What is the Fair Market Value? What will it appraise for? What time of the week will you place the offer? Should you ask the seller to pay closing costs? Will the seller consider paying closing costs? Consider the net to the seller Does the buyer have cash on hand to pay for the closing costs? What repairs/changes can/will you ask for? What have the sellers done to the house to improve it? Who is the builder? What is the average utility cost? (ask the seller) What % of LP are homes selling for in the area?   After you have all the answers you need and you’re getting ready to place the offer, consider these final two questions!   If you don’t get the house – would you have wished you would have offered more? If you do get the house – would you wish you would have tried to get it for less?   For additional market information or more negotiating tips, call or email today.