Kansas City Real Estate Podcast with James Hern and Michael Hern

Here’s why you should have a real estate resolution this year. We have a question for you: What is your real estate resolution for 2020?  Are you considering buying or selling this year? It may be the best time to do so. Are you looking to invest or continue investing in real estate? This is the year to do it.  If you aren’t ready to do any of those things, but you own a home, you may be surprised at the equity you have in your home at this very moment. Now may be the time to capitalize on that. Should you refinance? You could pull that equity out, use it to pay off bills, or invest in other things.  “You may be surprised at the equity you have in your home at this very moment.” We would love to help and counsel you in all of these areas, so please contact us; we’d be glad to sit down and have a consultation to discuss your real estate resolutions this year. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us—we’d love to help you with your goals. In the meantime, have an excellent year!

If you’ve ever wondered why you should hire a real estate agent to help you sell your home, there are a few key reasons. For starters, how do you know how much your property is worth? If you’re basing your home’s worth on what a neighbor sold their home for, it doesn’t mean that’s what you’ll get for your house. By finding your home’s true value based on market data and not strictly opinion or hearsay, you’ll learn where you stand. “Just asking a real estate professional about whether and where you should spend your money will prevent that loss.” Sellers also commonly make the mistake of doing unnecessary repairs. They’ll often make improvements that won’t bring them a valuable return upon the sale of their home. Just asking a real estate professional about whether and where you should spend your money will prevent that loss. We’re here to help you get the most money from your home sale. Isn’t that what selling your home is all about? If you have any questions about hiring an agent or about selling your home, reach out to us. We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

How important is a home warranty? If you’re purchasing a new home, it’s not too important because you’ve already got a lot of warranties built in by the home builder and the appliance manufacturers. New construction home purchases make up a small percentage of all home sales, though, which means there are a lot of other homebuyers out there dealing with old appliances and the like.  “For just $500 to $600, you can buy peace of mind.” This is where home warranties become very valuable. For just $500 to $600, you can buy peace of mind. Your warranty will not only cover your most important appliances (furnace, water heater, refrigerator, etc.), but it will also cover your plumbing and electrical systems.  Not to mention, your home warranty is renewable every year, so you can keep having that peace of mind until however long you like.  Whether you want to get a home warranty or not is your decision, but I highly suggest you do so.  If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be happy to help you.

Whether big or small, your budget should allow for certain renovations to be made when it comes time to sell your home. Here are a few renovation tips to think about:  One lower-cost renovation you can make is increasing your curb appeal. Something as simple as doing a little landscaping, mulching, or sprucing up your yard’s overall appearance by cleaning up yard waste can make a big difference. Also a simple fix, replacing the hardware on your cabinet doors and any other door in your home can totally transform the look of your home.  The next one on the list should come as no surprise: painting. Especially if you have young children, your home’s walls probably aren’t exactly in pristine condition. Over time, the walls of a lived-in home tend to have scuffs, nicks, and maybe even fingerprints. Whether it’s your walls or cabinets, applying some new paint can add a great deal of buyer appeal. “Something as simple as doing a little landscaping, mulching, or sprucing up your yard’s overall appearance by cleaning up yard waste can make a big difference.” Let’s shift our attention to bigger-budget renovation items that will give you the greatest bang for your buck. While you can opt for a minor remodel, a full kitchen remodel usually returns a whopping 110% of the money you’ve spent.      The same goes for a bathroom remodel, but it’s important to note that this depends on how many bathrooms are in your home. It would probably be unwise to add, say, six bathrooms when your home already has two.   In any case, smaller items like new tile or light fixtures will give your home a nice value boost and are likely to put every dollar you spend back into your pocket.  From simple to difficult and cheap to expensive, these are just a few of the great renovation options you can try in your home that will prove to be money well spent.  Should you have any additional questions or if need input on what you can do to add value to your home before you sell, don’t hesitate to contact us by phone at 816-875-1744 or by email at [email protected]. We at The Hern Group would be happy to help!

Today I’m here to answer the question, “Why is a home inspection so important?”  As far as homebuyers are concerned, a home inspection gives you the most honest, accurate picture of a home’s condition. Sellers don’t always know about everything that is wrong with their property until an inspector actually comes in and takes a look. An inspection gives you peace of mind about what you’re buying. While no one can predict how long certain systems and appliances will last, home inspectors can point to factors that you’ll have to take under consideration when buying a home. If you know that the home’s furnace is on its last leg, a good agent will make sure that information is factored into the offer. “Have an inspector look at any property you’re considering purchasing.” If you’re like me and need a little help, it’s a smart move to have an inspector take a look at any home that you seriously consider purchasing, either for your family or as an investment. They will be able to tell you, or direct you to someone who can tell you, every imperfection in the home. If you have any questions about home inspections or about real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.