Life...Fun and Kentucky Real Estate

2013 Long Meadow Ct., Richmond,KY

$335,000 - Beautiful open unique floorplan. Beautiful views from every window. 5 bedrooms with 1 bonus rooms upstairs. 1st floor master, Full walkout basement w/ roughed in bath. Located on a secluded wooded lot on a cul-de-sac. Backs to farm. Quick access to I-75 on exit 97 located in Shiloh Pointe. 

Call me today to take a tour...

Yesterday morning I had a chance to get out and have my coffee out in some of the prettiest scenery in Kentucky. My girlfriend called and invited me to go over near the Kentucky River on some property she owns. It is very close to Raven Run Wildlife Sanctuary...maybe a few miles.

The woods and creek there are drop dead gorgeous. I only had my camera phone with me, so I wasn't really prepared to take pics so early in the morning. I thought this one of the moss covered tree trunks on the ground looked like a wishbone.                                                                                                            

There were many delicate wildflowers just starting to bloom. There was a white one was interesting that looked like a parachute. I do plan to make it a weekly trip to see what is blooming next. It's simply amazing and peaceful there.

Hey, even my cell phone won't work there! Imagine that! What a vacation spot.

A long time ago (in the late 60's) my Grandmother Elizabeth was visiting our farm at White Hall in Richmond, Kentucky. What a beautiful place that was!

A beautiful old 2 story home with 2 staircases inside sitting in between numerous maple trees. We had  two barns for horses on 33 acres also. We had just moved in but Dad wanted to plant our garden so we would have veggies all summer.

That was when I first heard of the "other seasons" we have here in Kentucky. She said we had 4 extra winters before summer would be here. I'm not quite sure of the order but I think they are: Redbud Winter, Dogwood Winter, Locust Winter and Blackberry Winter.

Somehow winter shows up each time as each one blooms and hopefully it doesn't get cold enough to freeze. If we are lucky this year everything with the spring weather will be perfect and all the new buds will not freeze and die!!!

Every creek in Kentucky has a road beside it. Well not all but most of them do.

Kentucky is second behind Alaska for the state with the most waterways. How did the roads develop? I have to wonder if they first had Indians and settlers walking along them to get to the next settlement. The paths became wider over time with wagons and carriages. Later were paved in asphalt to become our modern day roads.

One of my favorite ones is Tates Creek Road between Richmond and Lexington. The trees are a green tunnel that has a leafy ceiling in the spring and summer. Later in the fall turns into a multi-color petals that swirl around your car as you drive through. What is wonderful about this road is that it stops at the Kentucky River at a little place called Valley View. To get across the river you will need to drive your car aboard a ferry that holds 3 cars. The Valley View Ferry was established in 1792 and now owned by the state. It is the oldest continuest business in Kentucky. It's free of charge to use. 

Last Christmas, I surprised the captain with a pretty wrapped box of chocolate truffles. I'm sure he will remember me the next time I drive across. He probably thinks I was the only paying customer last year!

I'm always amazed how beautiful it is here. I feel a sense of pride in showing out-of-towners around before they purchase property. Just sharing a bit of paradise is fun!

1.Find a REALTOR whom you can relate to. Buying a home is an emotional commitment. It's critical that the agent you choose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality. Have your own agent show you homes, not the listing agent. Call your agent if you see a home you want to tour. Your Realtor will make all the appointments and represent YOU in the offer. The listing agent represents the seller and cannot disclose all that you will need to know about the property & the seller. Find an agent that makes his or her career full time in real estate. Agents usually know one another so if you are unhappy working with an agent and want to change to another please let them know that you will be doing so. This alleviates miscommunications and it's just the right thing to do. An agent will work hard for you if you are loyal.

2. The right house is waiting for you. Sometimes deals just don't work out. You will know as soon as you walk into the perfect home. Everything will fall into place perfectly if it is meant to be. If not...keep looking and stay open to new ideas. If it feels right then make an offer...don't procrastinate.

3. Commission is paid by the sellers. This is how your agent gets paid. Basically, the seller has agreed with his listing agent an amount to pay the buyer's agent at closing. Your agent may show you homes for a long time or it might only be a few homes. All negotiated commission is divided among the agents at closing. The buyer will not have to pay for this.

4. Don't ask for too many opinions from friends and family. It's natural to want reassurance for a big decision, but too many ideas will make it harder to make a decision. If Grandpa is not going to live in the house he isn't going to like all those steep stairs, pool, etc. Negative opinions can spoil all your excitement.

5. Accept that no house is perfect. Focus in on the things that are most important to you and let the minor ones go.

6. Don't try to be a killer negotiator. Trying to "win" by getting an extra-low price may lose you the home you love. Angry sellers do not try to be helpful if you need special considerations later before closing like extra time to get the financing right. Don't be stubborn over the small stuff.

7. Get approved for a mortgage before you find a home. A good lender will see your credit report and offer help in disputing items that need to be removed. This will raise your score and possibly get you a lower interest rate. Not all lenders are skilled in this. Same as with your agent the lender needs to fit with your personality and return your calls promptly. The best ones stay in close contact with your agent also. You can bet that your agent has a good idea of the best lenders to work with to get a successful closing. It can all fall apart by closing time if you don't have the right lender.

8.Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-home buying budget. Even in a new home there will be some costs. Homes are not perfect and even though you have had many repairs made after a home inspection sellers are not going to patch every hole in the walls and leave it
spotless. You may have to shampoo carpet and upgrade fixtures to your liking. It's all a part of buying a home.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and it's members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Lizette Fitzpatrick and Prudential Don Foster Realtors. Lizette Fitzpatrick and Prudential Don Foster Realtors are not responsible for the accuracy or content provided by The Community.

The past few years have been great to get houses sold for a good price. There were even multiple offers everywhere. What I noticed overall was just HOW houses sold faster. It wasn't because: the agent was brilliant, the marketing was spot on, open houses were held every weekend or even that there was more than one prospective buyer. What sold the house fast was that sellers took out unnecessary stuff and added paint then cleaned it up!

For most of you this is just everyday stuff. I am cleaning ZEN kind of person and I just like my house clean and fresh. I do have a little dog with mountains of hair but you would never know it when you come inside. I enjoy cleaning. Some people hate it!Many houses I listed that sold lighting fast had pro-active sellers. They had done their homework by checking out new homes to see how they could compete... and it worked!

The number one pet peeve of buyers when looking at homes was wallpaper. When you look at new homes it just isn't there. Not even a border.If you want to get your house sold take out every inch of wallpaper or border. I know you thought it matched your decor, but the next buyer will probably hate it. Not only that, but he will not even want to take the time to take it off the wall. This is when he will roll his eyes and look at his agent and say..."Next". Borders and wallpaper date your home and designers rarely suggest it. Get to work and take it down.

The next in line is paint color. Again take a look at some new homes and pick out neutral earth tone colors. Stay away from pinks, purples, blues, and tutti-frutti tones. Freshen your baseboards by cleaning them and paint. Doors too if needed. Most times all the trim just needs cleaning. You know it's the one thing you never do!

Another peeve is knick-knacks and collections. Keep in mind at all times...you want to move! Pack all that stuff like dolls, angels, toys, religious icons, stuffed animals, glass figurines, deer antlers, gun racks, china, family pictures, stacks of books and magazines, pill bottles, etc. The goal is to make surfaces look a little empty. Don't leave placemats and china on the table either. Replace it with a nice centerpiece like a bowl of fresh green apples or vase of cut flowers. Take off appliances (Blenders,can openers, etc.) rarely used and old towels and sponges on kitchen counters and sink. Survey every room and pack up unnecessary objects. Less is more!

I started to put this at number one but it is SMELL. Your house needs to smell nice when buyers arrive. It is the first impression they will have. I'm not talking about air freshener (that will turn them off fast too!). It should be a "CLEAN" smell. Almost no smell at all. Get carpets and floors professionally cleaned to start. Clean dead bugs and cobwebs out of windows and blinds, dust off ceiling fans and light fixtures.

ANIMALS - Take them with you when the house is being shown. Cute pets in the house or yard do not help you sell your home. Litter boxes are a BIG YUCK! Stick it out in the garage on your way to the car. Put away dirty dog bowls. Some people will not even look at a house that has had dogs or cats. I don't blame them. To sell a home with pets you will have to work harder than the average homeowner just to keep it clean and hair picked up. Have a friend who doesn't have pets come by to take a front door sniff test. Take it from there on how much cleaning will get rid of the odor.

O.K. that's a BIG start on what can get your house sold. Look at it like it is a part time job you have taken to make more money. You won't have to lower your asking price. Really, I'm not kidding. I want more than anything to see your home sell fast. Sometimes it's hard to say these things to clients. That's why I wrote it all down here...so I don't have to hurt your feelings. I spend long hours taking clients through house after house and see them turn their nose up at all this stuff.

Bottom line is you are ready to move, start packing it up and concentrate on the prize...a new home!