What To Do About A Neighbors Tree

For more Real Estate Information Contact: Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-572-7244, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, www.LouisEisenberg.com

5 Tips for Creating An Outdoor Space

NORFOLK, VA, Feb 27, 2014—With Spring somewhere on the horizon, many homeowners are beginning to dream of warmer weather, and accompanying home improvement projects. Whether you want to up your home value for sale, or are just looking to luxuriate outdoors this year, you may be thinking about creating an outdoor living space.

“From outdoor sitting areas to full-on kitchens, outdoor living spaces are becoming increasingly popular home additions,” says Louis Eisenberg, Associate Broker REALTOR ABR SFR of Prudential Towne Realty. Below are five tips for planning your ideal outdoor living space.
1. Tour similar spaces. If you think you want a livable outdoor space, visit other homes with similar spaces for ideas about what you would and wouldn't like. “Luckily, with Internet access being what it is these days, you can get thousands of ideas from the web,” explains Eisenberg. But you shouldn't stop there, Eisenberg notes. “Try and do in-person research as well.” Have a friend or neighbor with a covetable deck or bath house? Invite yourself over to check it out in detail.
2. Plan ahead. Take your time while planning your outdoor space, and think about how you can best compliment your interior design. Find the right contractor, if you're using one, and take time to consider the cost effectiveness of your materials. “You should never rush a building project,” says Eisenberg. “You will hardly ever be happy with the results.”
“How will your new deck affect your inside spaces?” Eisenberg asks. “From darkening a room with a covered deck, to changing the view of the yard from the bedroom, don't forget to figure out all of the logistics before you begin building,” says Eisenberg.
3. Think about water access. Outdoor living spaces need to be weatherized, winterized and water-proofed, Eisenberg reminds us. “This may seem like a no brainer, but if done wrong, it can lead to costly repairs down the road,” explains Eisenberg.
4. Bring in a professional. If you're new to landscaping and home design, bring in a professional to give you advice, even if it's just a one-time consultation. “A professional designer can give you advice about things you may be overlooking, so it's important to get that expert opinion before you finalize your plans or break ground,” Eisenberg notes.
5. Do your research. Are those deck railings you're interested in up to code in your county? What are the laws about open pool plans in your area? “As building codes vary by location, before you open your wallet, make sure your plans are up to code,” warns Eisenberg.
For more information creating an outdoor space, please contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, 757-572-7244, or www.LouisEisenberg.com

Contracting Your Home Contractor

NORFOLK, VA, Feb 26, 2014—Choosing a contractor for your home building or remodeling can be a big decision. In order to choose the right bid, it's important to be educated, says Louis Eisenberg, Associate Broker REALTOR ABR SFR of Prudential Towne Realty. It's a good idea to shop aggressively for the most reasonable bid, not necessarily the cheapest. “Inexpensive, but shoddy, work will only cost you more money in the long run,” Eisenberg reminds us.

However, once you've chosen who to go with, the decision making doesn't stop there – you still have to draft a contract. Many things should be covered in a contractor's contract, and not all contracts are outlined the same, says Eisenberg.

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, a well-written contract should contain the following information:

• The contractor’s name, address, telephone and license number, if applicable
• Details about what will and will not be done
• A detailed list of materials for the project, including model, brand name and color
• The approximate start date and substantial completion dates
• A written notice of your right to cancel a contract within three business days of signing, without penalty – provided the contract was solicited at some place other than the contractor’s place of business or appropriate trade premise
• Financial terms that are spelled out clearly, including payment schedules and any cancellation penalties
• A one-year minimum warranty identified as either “full” or “limited” to cover materials and workmanship, as well as the name and address of the party who will honor the warranty
• A binding arbitration clause, in the event a disagreement occurs

“You may also want to include a statement that you will not be responsible if payment to the contractors’ subcontractors and suppliers are not made,” suggests Eisenberg. Another tip? Eisenberg says you should consider establishing that the contractor should obtain all the necessary permits. In order to cover your bases, it's also smart to have your contractor fill in all blank spots in the contract with phrases like “does not apply.”


For more real estate information, please contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, 757-572-7244, or www.LouisEisenberg.com

Number of DIstressed Properties Declining

Distressed Properties ( Short Sales and Foreclosures) have declined from 35% of existing home sales in January of 2012 to just 14% of existing home sales in January 2014.For more information on distressed properties contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA, 757-572-7244, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, www.LouisEisenberg.com

Home Sales And Prices Are On The Upswing In Virginia

Existing home sales and prices are on the upswing in Virginia. For more information contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty-Chesapeake & Norfolk Offices 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk , VA 757-572-7244 www.LouisEisenberg.com

Why Now Is A Good Time To Buy A Home

With home prices and mortgage interest rates rising, now is a good time to buy a home.

Home Tip - Green ways To Save Some Green

What You Should Know About Home Improvements

NORFOLK, VA, Feb 17, 2014—Many potential first-time homebuyers list “home improvement costs” as a reason they're wary about making the switch from renting to owning. While it's true that being your own landlord means you will be doing a lot more work on your property, home improvement doesn't need to be a time and money suck. In the following article, Louis Eisenberg, Associate Broker REALTOR ABR SFR of Prudential Towne Realty takes us through some home improvement basics.

How often will you need to repair?

“From the day you move in to the day you sell your home, there will always be something that will need to be repaired or remodeled,” says Eisenberg. “You may want to undertake some changes simply to elevate your comfort level – like installing central air conditioning – or spruce up the home’s aesthetics, such as adding a few stained-glass windows.”

But other work will need to be done to maintain the property and minimize problems later on. For example, replacing a hazardous roof, fixing broken windows, and repairing leaky pipes. These are all necessities. Left undone, they can lead to major problems and damages within the home.

“But this doesn't mean home improvement needs to be exhausting or daunting,” says Eisenberg. “If you keep on top of your home's condition, it's possible to stay ahead of your improvements.”

How can you stay ahead of your home?

From the very beginning, get in the habit of taking an inventory at least once every year of every nook and cranny of your home to check for potential problems, suggests Eisenberg. Examine the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical wiring – basically everything. Try to fix trouble spots as soon as you uncover them. This proactive approach will help you avoid larger expenses later on, so leave no stone unturned when taking your inventory.

How expensive will home improvements be?

It's hard to project a price tag, but Eisenberg suggests you can expect to spend one percent of the purchase price of your home every year to handle a myriad of tasks, including painting, tree trimming, repairing gutters, caulking windows, and routine system repairs and maintenance.

“An older home will usually require more maintenance, although a lot will depend on how well it has been maintained over the years,” explains Eisenberg.

Tell yourself that the upkeep of your home is mandatory, and budget accordingly. Otherwise, your home’s value will suffer if you allow it to fall into a state of disrepair. “Remember,” cautions Eisenberg. “There is usually a direct link between a property’s condition and its market value: The better its condition, the more a buyer will likely pay for it down the road.

Also, adopt the attitude that the cost of good home maintenance is usually minor compared to what it will cost to remedy a situation that you allowed to get out of hand. For example, unclogging and sealing gutters may cost a few hundred dollars. But repairing damage to a corner of your home where gutters have leaked can potentially cost several thousands dollars.

For more information on home improvements, please contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, 757-572-7244 or www.LouisEisenberg.com

How To Buy A House

How to Buy a House – As Told by Real Estate Memes

3 Home Buying Tips For 2014

NORFOLK, VA, Feb 05, 2014—As the market makes steady moves toward a solid recovery, more and more hopeful homeowners are entering the playing field. If you're looking to buy a new home this year, be it a downsize, vacation home, or your very first house purchase, follow these three tips, offered by Louis Eisenberg, Associate Broker REALTOR ABR SFR of Prudential Towne Realty.

Check into reality

Instead of daydreaming your ideal home, make a list of what things are absolutely essential: a specific number of bedrooms, close proximity to work or your child's school, a decent-sized yard. “Once you know what you need, but before you begin your actual house hunt, start looking at what sold in the last six months that fits your bill,” says Eisenberg. See what the selling prices are looking like, and figure out if you can afford a similar price tag. If you can't, it might mean waiting a bit, or reassessing your needs.

Get pre-approved, not pre-qualified

Many people get confused between “pre-approved” and “pre-qualified” when it comes to obtaining a loan. “Getting pre-approved means a bank has qualified you for a mortgage based on information you provided, but they have not actually checked up on your credentials,” says Eisenberg. A letter of pre-approval means the bank has thoroughly checked out your financial status, and is ready to give you a loan. “This holds more weight in terms of buying quickly, and can act as leverage should it come to beating out other buyers,” explains Eisenberg.

Don't lowball

“When it was a buyer's market, lowballing was often a good way to start negotiating price,” notes Eisenberg. However, now that we're seeing inventory shortages across the country and more and more buyers entering the fold, lowballing most likely means you won't land a deal. Instead, present a fair offer that's in your price range but still leaves some negotiation room on both ends.
For more information on buying a home, please contact Louis Eisenberg, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510, leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, 757-572-7244, or www.LouisEisenberg.com

Home Buying In A Competive Market

For more information on Home Buying, please contact Louis Eisenberg, REALTOR, Associate Broker, Prudential Towne Realty, 109 E. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510 leisenberg@prudentialtownerealty.com, 757-572-7244, www.LouisEisenberg.com