This is just a test

How to Set a List Price for Your Home Setting the list price for your home involves evaluating various market conditions and financial factors. During this phase of the home selling process, your REALTOR ® will help you set your list price based on: pricing considerations comparable sales market conditions offering incentives estimated net proceeds Pricing Considerations “ Find a Balance Between Too High and Too Low When setting a list price for your home, you should be aware of a buyer™s frame of mind. Consider the following pricing factors: If you set the price too high, your house won™t be picked for viewing, even though it may be much nicer than other homes on the street. You may have told your REALTOR ® to “Bring me any offer. Frankly, I™d take less.” But compared to other houses for sale, your home simply looks too expensive to be considered. If you price too low, you’ll short-change yourself. Your house will sell promptly, yes, but you may make less on the sale than if you had set a higher price and waited for a buyer who was willing to pay it. TIP: Never say “asking” price, which implies you don’t expect to get it.

Regular lawn maintenance gives your home maximum curb appeal and preserves the value of your property.

A healthy, well-maintained lawn is more than just good-looking”it™s a key to preserving the value of your home. Regular lawn maintenance enhances curb appeal, making your home”and neighborhood”attractive to passersby and potential buyers.

According to Su Chi Straka-Phillis, a residential real estate appraiser with Central Appraisal Services of Parma, Ohio, a well-kept lawn preserves a home™s value.

Put off routine maintenance, and you risk devaluing your home. In fact, an unkempt lawn can be a warning sign to buyers of other potential home maintenance issues, explains Cecilia Sherrard, a real estate agent in Rocky River, Ohio. œThe outside of the home is the first thing people see, and if it™s not properly maintained, many will not be interested in scheduling a showing to see the inside.

Know your grass type

There are two main types of lawn grass: cool-season and warm-season. Homeowners living in the Northeast, Midwest, and Northwest should grow cool-season grasses. As depicted on the Plant Heat-Zone Map provided by the American Horticultural Society, the regions for cool-season grasses are approximately zones 1 through 7.

Cool-season grasses do most of their growing in spring and fall, often going dormant in the summer. Cool-season grasses include bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and St. Augustine grass.

Those living in the Southeast and Southwest (zones 8 through 12) will generally have warm-season grasses. Warm-season grasses thrive from late spring to early fall and go dormant in the winter. Varieties include tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass.

If you™re unsure which zone applies to you, check your state extension service.

Mowing

Grass type: All
Maintenance schedule: Spring to fall

œThe taller the grass, the deeper the roots, the fewer the weeds, and the more moisture the soil holds between watering, explains Richard Hentschel of the University of Illinois Extension. Hentschel recommends the mower blade height be permanently set to 3 inches.

In prime growing season (spring and fall for cool-season; summer for warm), homeowners should mow frequently enough so they™re removing no more than one-third of the grass blade. If possible, resist the urge to mow the grass when wet, as the practice can spread diseases that affect lawns.

Mower blades should be sharpened monthly to ensure clean, sharp cuts. A dull blade tears the grass, leaving jagged edges that discolor the lawn and invite pathogens. Consider spending about $20 for a backup blade so that a sharp one is always on hand.

Watering

Grass type: All
Maintenance schedule: Spring to fall

Deep and infrequent watering is better for lawns than frequent sprinkles, which promote shallow root growth, says Hentschel. In general, lawns need about one inch of water per week to maintain green color and active growth.

Lawns that receive less than that will likely go into dormancy. To stay alive, dormant lawns should still receive at least 1 inch of water per month.

To check the output of a sprinkler, scatter some pie tins around the yard to see how much water collects in a specific length of time. Having a rain gauge ($5 to $20) will help you keep track of how much water the lawn receives naturally. Allowing a cool-season lawn to go dormant in the summer can save hundreds of gallons of water, depending on the size of your lawn.

Feeding

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Early fall

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Late spring

œIt used to be common to fertilize a lawn three or four times per year, says Hentschel. œNow we suggest just once a year when it will do the most good. For cool-season grasses, that time is early fall, so the grass enters winter dormancy in a much healthier state.

For warm-season grasses, the best time to fertilize is late spring, just as the grass begins its most active growth. For best results, closely follow the application directions on the product. Cost is around $50 to $75 per application.

People interested in organic fertilizers have never had an easier time finding them at local garden centers. Homeowners who mow regularly with mulching mowers are encouraged to leave the clippings on the ground, where they™ll decompose and recycle nutrients into the soil.

Weed-control herbicide application

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Fall

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Late winter

Homeowners should embrace the idea that an occasional weed is OK, says Hentschel. For minor weed invasions, removal by hand of the entire plant and roots is recommended. When the situation becomes impossible to contain by hand, it might be necessary to apply an herbicide.

For cool-season grasses, the best time to apply a weed killer is in fall, when both old and new weeds can be eliminated before winter. Warm-season grasses often benefit from a late-winter application of a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weeds from growing.

In place of weed and feed products, which are spread over the entire lawn, Hentschel prefers liquid-based herbicides that are applied only where needed. It™s imperative to read and follow all directions on herbicide labels. Cost is around $15 to $45 per application.

Grub control

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Early summer

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Late summer

Grub worms, the larval stage of June, Japanese, and other beetles, feed on the tender root systems of lawns. Affected lawns exhibit browning and wilting patches.

To be certain that the culprits are grubs, Hentschel suggests that homeowners pull back the sod and look for white, C-shaped grubs. If they™re present at a rate exceeding 10 per square foot, they should be treated with a chemical pesticide.

Milky spore is an environmentally friendly way to control some species of grubs. When using insecticides, read and follow all label directions and water the product into the soil immediately. Cost is around $50 to $75 per application.

Patching

Grass type: Cool-season
Maintenance schedule: Early fall

Grass type: Warm-season
Maintenance schedule: Early summer

The best time to patch bare or thin spots in a lawn is at the start of the grass™s most favorable growing period. For cool-season grasses that means waiting until the hot, dry days of summer have given way to cooler fall temps.

Warm-season grasses thrive in summer, so it™s best to sow seeds at the start of that season. Hentschel says to buy only high quality disease-resistant seed with good germination rates, which by law have to be listed on the label. Cost is anywhere from $20 to $75, depending on the size of the areas to be patched.

Cleanup

Grass type: All
Maintenance schedule: Spring to fall

Although small particles of grass are fine to leave on the lawn, large piles that exit a side-discharge mower should be removed. Fallen leaves, twigs, and debris should be raked up regularly. In climates where it snows, it™s best to remove fall leaves before winter. A thick layer of wet leaves can smother a lawn if not immediately removed in early spring.

Download our free PDF worksheet for an easy-to-use seasonal maintenance task chart.

By: Douglas Trattner

Published: February 4, 2010

Douglas Trattner has covered home maintenance and improvement topics for HGTV.com, DIYNetworks, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. During the 10-year stewardship of his 1925 Colonial, he™s upgraded the furnace, added insulation, replaced most appliances, and mowed his lawn every time but once.

Greeting Card
Offers a free change of address notification service. Click Here

Community Reports
Provides your visitors with up-to-date detailed information on local communities and nearby schools. Click Here

Compare Cities
Provides a detailed look at the people, places, and conditions in two areas. Includes information on demographics, finances and economics, real estate, and other factors which may impact the quality of life. Available for US addresses only. Click Here

Provides a detailed look at the people, places, and conditions in an area. Includes information on demographics, finances and economics, real estate, and other factors which may impact the quality of life. Available for US addresses only. Click Here

Elegant, sun-filled colonial on private setting in South Natick on a cul de sac. Granite kitchen with large island, lots of counter space and many cabinets. 4 generous size bedrooms, fabulous master suite with whirlpool and double sinks. Add’l. bedroom w/full bath. Beautifully finished basement w/3 add’l. rms. Meticulously maintained and professionally landscaped w/stone walkway and steps leading to a screened gazebo.

To view the virtual tour of this listng, clcik the link below.

http://tours.bestpics360.com/public/vtour/display/10630?idx=1

If you’re interested in scheduling a private showing for this property please contact

Evan Walsh: evan@walshteam.com

Real Estate, Homes For Sale, South Natick, Property

How did Social Media get me a listing presentation and a buyer client?

From my Facebook business page that’s how. I currently have 164 fans on my Facebook page and thanks to 1 of them, I received an appointment off of my website   for a listing presentation AND we will be working with the client as a buyer as well!

How did it happen?

A fan shared a link that I posted on FB to their friend, which directed them to my website www.walshteam.com. They apparently loved what they saw and they filled out the lead forms that I have available. They are currently receiving our branded listing reports and we have already previewed the property and will be returning with a market analysis this week. Woo Hoo!

Evan Walsh