Oak Cliff is truly unique. We love learning more about how our clients fell in love with the neighborhood and their home. The sellers of 503 S Ravinia share their story below and come see this home for yourself this Sunday from 1-3p.
Our 20-year Impulse buy
Who buys a home on impulse? We did! In 1998, we had decided we wanted to move to Oak Cliff, but didn’t know much about it yet. We wanted to rent for a year to learn more about the area before buying our home. We previewed a potential rental on Oak Cliff Blvd. We weren’t crazy about the rental, but instantly felt at home with the vibe that emanates throughout Oak Cliff. With nothing better to do on a Saturday afternoon in November, we decided to take up the owner’s offer to meet her husband who also did all of the maintenance on the rental. He was prepping this house to sell. When we stepped onto the property, the fall trees grabbed our attention. We immediately fell in love with the big front windows, hardwood floors and charming 1940s details. We told the owners to stop all their prep work so we could take over and make it our own. 20 years later, it’s time to pass it to a new owner to love as much as we have.
Selling a home can be frustrating to homeowners. They’re asked to allow strangers into their home. They may never receive feedback and are left to wonder, “Why didn’t that last buyer bite?” What do anxious sellers do? They get an extra set of ears. Many homeowners have installed security cameras and smart-home devices. These installations can be an ultra high-tech security system or a simple baby monitor, and they all can be abused. A number of notable cases have emerged where sellers listened to a potential buyer’s showing. Sometimes it’s to gain advantage in negotiations, while other times it’s simply to better stage the property. So, can a seller covertly record or monitor a buyer’s showing?
Whenever you are selling a home that is sitting vacant, it
is critically important to be sure that it’s being properly maintained
regularly. Here are some suggestions:
The house should be cleaned at least every 2
weeks, even if it’s just a thorough dusting/sweeping.
The yard should be maintained weekly. Sprinklers
should be kept at their settings. A yard left alone for more than 2 weeks can
become unruly quickly. Dead plants are a red flag item for criminals and are
unattractive to buyers, renters, appraisers, inspectors, neighbors, etc.
Maintain an even temperature. It can be slightly
above or below the ‘comfort level’ of around 72 degrees to allow
10-15-minute-pre-showing adjustments. Keeping the temperature even is not just
about viewing comfort. Do so even after a contract is signed and the home
awaits closing. The walk-through inspection or appraisals should be equally
comfortable. And homes can experience shifts when temperatures are at extremes.
Collect mail/deliveries and store it neatly in a
secure area or forward it.
Flush toilets and run all faucets once a week at
least. Water that remains sitting in p-traps can dry out and cause bad odors.
Open curtains/blinds at least once a week to let
light in.
Install motion detector lights outside to
discourage intruders. Keep all windows and doors securely locked. Consider
lights on timers to give the impression someone is occupying the property.
Be certain the home is insured while vacant.
There is vacant home insurance.
Consider parking a car in front of a house.
Keep
a security system activated. Internal and external security cameras help to
monitor the house from afar.
Have
a list of resources related to the home on standby for quick access: a plumber,
electrician, handyman as a minimum.
Remove
all valuables and food from the house.
Where
the climate is appropriate, open windows for 30 minutes or more to circulate
new, fresh air once a week.
Watch
out for critters. They are attracted to vacant homes.
Be
especially careful of a vacant home in extreme cold. All exterior plumbing must
be drained.
