Warner Robins Home Values Benefit from Spring Ritual

The first day of spring has come and gone, which has made many homeowners start planning their ritual seasonal maintenance. Spring is also the traditional launch of the busy season in real estate, when safeguarding Warner Robins property values can become a less abstract matter.

Because water damage is Public Enemy #1, homeowner checklists should always highlight three points:

First: The Roof

As soon as March’s lion turns a bit more lamb-like, it’s time to get out the ladder to survey roof damage. Leaves, twigs or other storm debris that have clogged gutters during the weather months can allow moisture to penetrate the roofing and below, in the worst case triggering mold or rot. Look for holes or rust in the flashing or metal seals around roof joints, chimneys, skylights or any other structures that penetrate the roof.

Second: Down Under

Now it’s time to go down. While spring rains are still falling, put fresh batteries in your flashlight and head to the furthest reaches of basement or underneath the house to check for puddles. Even when it’s raining outside, the your home’s foundation should remain dry. When it comes time to sell, Middle GA homes’ property values are seriously affected by water damage, some of which might not appear upstairs until later. If you see signs of trouble, it’s time to call an expert.

Third: the Exit Routes

That is— the drains. Backed-up plumbing is a nuisance you can avoid if you clean all the drains two or three times a year. Don’t forget the garbage disposal, either. My trick is to pour in equal parts salt, baking soda and vinegar, followed 30 seconds later by two quarts of boiling water. Then give the mixture a chance to work overnight before running water again.

With the sales market poised for spring action, the protection careful homeowners have given to their own local property values will make a material difference. But you don’t have to be selling your home for this time of year to trigger the maintenance efforts your property may need. Got a property-related question? Give me a call!  478-978-3428

Joe Barbee

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

www.WarnerRobinsRealtor.com

Real Estate Update - Abingdon Green Subdivision 2014 - Warner Robins

Abingdon Green Subdivision - 2014 

Homes sold - 3

Avg List Price - $130,433

Avg Sale Price - $125,716

Avg Days On Market - 130

Foreclosures - 1

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Homes Currently For Sale - 2

Avg List Price - $137,200

Avg Days On Market - 166

Foreclosures - 0

Curious about your home's Current Market Value?

Call Us Today!!

Joe & Jenny Barbee

The Barbee Team @ Elite Realtors of Georgia

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

478-978-3428

478-333-6008

105 Hampton Meadows - Bonaire, GA - $1,275 -Awesome All Brick Home For Rent

* All Brick Home 

* 3 Bedrooms

* 2 Full Baths

* 1,670 Square Feet

* 1/4 acre lot

* Like New Condition

* Large Fenced back yard

* Great Subdivision. 

* Minutes from Robins AFB

* Close to shopping and schools. 

Click Here for ONLINE Pictures and info: 105 Hampton Meadows

Call today before this one gets away!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

Warner Robins Rental Homes Allowing Pets: a Win-Win for Everyone!

Many Middle Ga landlords are automatically less than enthusiastic when they hear a prospective tenant’s question, “Do you allow pets?” Small wonder. The specter of damage from unsupervised four-footed co-inhabitants is a real possibility (despite the assurances of their doting masters). 

Yet that kind of automatic landlord reaction might turn out to actually result in a questionable business decision. Some undeniably real benefits can accrue to those who open their WarnerRobins rental home to tenants who own pets.

Don’t believe it? Here are just some of the reasons why renting a home to a strong applicant with a well-cared-for, healthy pet can benefit both parties:

1.      Widens the Number of Potential Candidates    Allowing pets into a rental home materially increases the eligible applicant pool, giving an area rental home owner more latitude to select the best applicant. How many more become eligible? I checked this, and came up with jaw-dropping numbers. 47% of households own at least one dog (not to mention the 95,000,000 million owned cats). The numbers prove what we know already: a huge number of Americans are ga-ga over their pets.  

2.      Respectful Tenants     A Firepaw.org survey comparing pet owners with non-animal-owning tenants showed that, on average, damage done to rental properties is about equal between the two groups. The takeaway from that is the biggest surprise: just because pets are living in your rental home in Warner Robins doesn’t mean that the property will suffer. It seems that grateful pet-loving renters just try harder to keep the property in good condition. They do the worrying for you.

3.      Higher Rent     Renters with pets can be willing to pay some additional rent for the privilege of keeping their furry loved ones with them. Pet-owning renters are not likely to shy away from Middle Ga rental home listings that specifically allow pets — even when a “pet rent” or other fee is part of the bargain.

If you are considering buying an income property next year, I provide resources for my clients every step of the way. I hope you’ll feel free to contact me anytime with your Warner Robins real estate questions.

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Skilled Warner Robins Property Managers Earn Their Keep!

   You are buying a second home: this will be more than a sizeable investment — by any measure, it’s a considerable personal achievement as well.



   That second home may be a family retreat, a vacation property you will be renting out (at least part time); or a pure income-producing renztal. When a realistic appraisal says that you won’t be able to devote much time and attention to your new holding, the way to fill that gap is to locate an experienced Middle Ga Property Manager. 

   As you will learn, it’s a specialized field. According to the latest studies, the median income for property managers nationwide tops $80,000 per year — a pretty trustworthy real world indicator that what they do has substantial value. If your second home is going to do duty earning additional income, the last thing you want is to face a commitment that competes with your full-time profession. Yet when tenants experience problems, dealing with them right away is a ‘stitch in time’ that does more than fostering good will. It can wind up saving money!



   Your new property is a business, and like any, needs cash flow supervision. A vacation home, for instance, may from time to time incur unforeseen end-of-stay housekeeping costs which could require an extra payment. Your Warner Robins Property Manager will handle this kind of problem for you (in fact, he or she probably made sure your rental contract foresaw this in the first place!).



   Whether or not you buy your second home for profit, you want it to be more of a joy than a burden. A professional property manager delivers insulation from the smaller details, and corresponding relief from the stress of  2 am phone calls, maintenance worker noshows, and all the other day-to-day management details.
If you are fortunate enough to be in a position to buy or sell a second home in the Warner Robins area, I offer the kind of first-tier real estate service that will get you what you are looking for. Contact me anytime for reliable Property Management Services.

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Landing Residential Rentals When Credit Scores Intrude

Would-be tenants for the best Middle Ga residential rentals can find it tough going when a tarnished credit report is part of their financial profile. As the economy continues its slow-mo bounce-back, many individuals and families who have weathered the worst of the downturn find themselves saddled with credit scores that are unpleasant reminders of lost jobs, cutbacks, and the rest.


Even if some of the most desirable residential rentals in Warner Robins are plainly within your ability to pay, earlier credit slipups can create a roadblock. A low score is a problem for landlords. They may sympathize, but still must decide between you and other applicants who, by the numbers, present a more prudent choice

.


There is no shortcut that will guarantee that a credit-challenged applicant will land his or her choice of residential rentals 100% of the time, but I can offer some insights into the traits that most often reward others in the same boat. They’re pretty straightforward:


Unblinking honesty. Address your credit history — and the reasons it’s still disappointing — in a personal discussion with the decision-maker (landlord or agent). Just about everyone understands that life isn’t always fair, that everyone has made some bad judgments, and that success usually requires learning from a failure or two. Since your credit score will never go unnoticed, take the issue on directly and without embarrassment.

Persistence. Be willing to comb through the available Middle Ga residential rentals for as long as it takes to land one that you are happy to call “home.” It really is true that toughing your way through multiple rejections builds character. When you feel discouraged, take the day off — but then bounce right back and go at it again!

Maturity. Rebuilding a strong credit score doesn’t just take time, it takes the ability to delay gratification. Even if it turns out that some of the best Warner Robins residential rentals are out of reach right now, if you are willing to forego the temptations of a charge card lifestyle, eventually you will succeed. And if I can be helpful anywhere in the process, do give me a call!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Warner Robins Property Ownership: Retirement ‘Ace in the Hole’

The other day I ran across some eyebrow-raising financial trivia. There’s a takeaway that should be encouraging for everyone who already own property in town.

The undeniable value of home ownership is pretty clear when you take a look at some of these financial facts

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, 56% of workers report that they haven’t even attempted to calculate how much money they will need for a comfortable retirement. That should get them thinking (although it looks like it hasn’t). If the Center for Retirement Research is right that only 42% of private sector workers have any retirement savings at all, it might explain why they don’t want to think about it.

I believe we can safely ignore Fidelity Investments’ finding that a 65-year-old couple retiring last year would require an estimated $240,000 for retirement medical expenses. Not that they will require more or less, but with the Affordable Care Act currently being eyed suspiciously by politicians in both parties, who knows how much (or what proportion) of care will be provided by…who knows?

On the brighter side, a certain degree of realism seems to have crept into the general populace. That is, if the Employee Benefit Research Institute is right that only 14% of American workers are very confident they will have enough money to live ‘comfortably’ in retirement. It’s undoubtedly why more and more Americans are planning on working well past the former retirement age.

What you can deduce from these facts is how much brighter your own future is if you have owned your own local property for a while. Owning your property free and clear puts that shelter expense money back in your pocket. From the moment you make the final mortgage payment, the likelihood of having a ‘comfortable’ retirement goes up dramatically.

It’s why the American Dream of owning property is such a great wealth-building tool: one that forces long-term saving regardless of how daily living pulls in the opposite direction. If you haven’t started building your own property ownership yet, I’m here to show you how to make it happen!

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

“High rental occupancy and rising rents”

“High rental occupancy and rising rents” was how economic trend-watcher Kiplinger.com summed up 2012 – and as the nation counts down to the New Year, owners and future owners of local rental property are clearly anticipating more of the same. Experienced managers have some timely advice for first-time Mid GA rental property owners as they prepare to lease in the coming year.

    Rule #1 for attracting quality tenants, they say, is to be hard-nosed about offering a quality product.  Rentals are hot, but that doesn't mean a property will rent itself – especially when the goal is to attract the kind of conscientious tenant who means a trouble-free income stream.

     Touch-up and trim renewal can be a quick, cost-conscious way to add appeal to any rental property. Restoration Hardware’s neutral palate (and Benjamin Moore’s counter-offering) are excellent sources for trim colors which breathe new life and visual interest into just about any décor.

     Replacing older carpet is a more costly (though eventually inevitable) way to make a big difference in key first impressions; while simply polishing middle-aged hardware can revitalize an otherwise aged look.

    Most Property Managers also suggest replacing older appliances in the kitchen before they become failure-prone.  Even where there is no budget for new cabinets and counter tops, a little stainless steel can command a higher rent – and literally pay for itself.

     Rental properties have been a hot topic for more than a year – but opportunities remain.  Whether you are preparing to rent property you already own, or are simply weighing the prospects, the New Year promises to be a propitious time to look into our current Mid Ga rental property offerings. Sound interesting? Call me 478-978-3428 or visit my website at www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com