tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11663122130730586952024-03-05T04:19:12.249-06:00Zatopek Properties - Real Estate NewsJulius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-74546916511807495272019-02-26T11:17:00.002-06:002019-02-26T11:17:22.981-06:00What are the Benefits of Becoming a Homeowner?<h1 class="entry-title " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ba0d1e; font-family: "Roboto Slab", serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 15px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
What are the Benefits of Becoming a Homeowner?</h1>
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Every family has a list of important dates. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, pet adoptions…and the list goes on. For <a href="https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/currenthvspress.pdf" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ba0d1e; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank">64.4 percent</a> of households in the United States, this list includes the day they became a homeowner for the first time!<span id="more-39069" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></span></div>
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Why is this date important? Homeownership is not just a roof over your head! It represents shelter, stability, wealth, and pride! For decades, homeownership has been an important part of the American Dream!</div>
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However, many question if the next generations see the same benefits of homeownership as their predecessors.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">In case we have forgotten, some of those benefits are:</span></h4>
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<a href="https://realtoru.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NAR_RU_JCRES_Vol5No1_WEB.pdf" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #ba0d1e; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;" target="_blank"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Non-Financial Benefits</span></a></h4>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Educational Achievement</span>: Homeownership has a positive impact on academic achievement, including reading and math performance in children 3-12 years old.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Civic Participation:</span> “<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Owning a home means owning a part of the neighborhood.</em>” Homeowners have a stronger connection to their neighborhood and are more committed to volunteer.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Health Benefits:</span> Adjusting for a range of demographic, socioeconomic and housing-related characteristics, homeowners have a substantial health advantage over renters.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Public Assistance:</span> The report shows 47% of homeowners use their home equity credit lines to help pay other debts, diminishing their need for public assistance.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Property Maintenance and Improvement:</span> A well-maintained home not only generates benefits through consumption and safety, but a high-quality structure also raises mental health.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Pride of Ownership:</span> This place is uniquely “yours.” You can customize it according to your likes and personality.</li>
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In addition to financial benefits, homeownership also brings significant social benefits. These not only pertain to the family, but extend to the communities, the state, and the country!</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Financial Benefits</span></h4>
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Buying a home is an investment in your future!</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Appreciation:</span> On average, home prices are appreciating annually at a rate of 3.6%. This helps to create a safety net.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Forced Savings:</span> Your mortgage is like a forced savings plan! With each payment, you are reducing the principal of your loan.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Home Equity:</span> Homeownership builds equity every single month. You can later use that equity to start a business, send your children to college, etc.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Net Worth:</span> A homeowners’ net worth is 44x greater than renters! This gives you the financial freedom to invest.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Stability:</span> Rent prices increase 4% annually! A fixed mortgage payment allows you to save for future projects and guard against inflation.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Tax Benefits:</span> The government has created tax benefits to encourage customers to purchase. (<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Talk to your CPA to see which benefits apply to you</em>).</li>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Bottom Line</span></h3>
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Homeownership is and will always be part of the American Dream! There are many financial and non-financial benefits to take advantage of when owning a home. If owning a home is part of your dream, let’s get together to help you with the process!</div>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Compliments of:</span></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Julius F Zatopek III</span></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Licensed Texas Real Estate Broker</span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span class="c14">Notices:</span></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf"><span style="color: #0b50d2;">Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice</span></a></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="c17"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red; text-decoration-line: none;">Information About Broker Services</span></a></span></u></span></div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-62918273536703740812019-02-18T20:10:00.004-06:002019-02-18T20:10:34.432-06:00It’s the Little Things….Creating the Ultimate Customer Experience!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s the Little Things….Creating the Ultimate
Customer Experience!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><b><br /></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTlRGgTdARgrE9Gpxu3QBthSh932P7PBZzK0TrqPc9_XhDh2IbNGJawR0JkR0qiKotJ6VWpjpXoNqV2SD4-fbiHhk-T9cA9M7EHx07l37_1vbXqr9DV0QR0uvfOb1i044DCIWhaO9/s1600/Restaurant_Food_Cost_Wine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1000" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTlRGgTdARgrE9Gpxu3QBthSh932P7PBZzK0TrqPc9_XhDh2IbNGJawR0JkR0qiKotJ6VWpjpXoNqV2SD4-fbiHhk-T9cA9M7EHx07l37_1vbXqr9DV0QR0uvfOb1i044DCIWhaO9/s320/Restaurant_Food_Cost_Wine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Valentine’s Day - went to a quaint
little Italian Restaurant in the Rice Village area with my bride.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The location was grand, parking was no issue,
and the ambiance of the night started out jut as planned.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We entered the remodeled home that was
transformed into an elegant eatery.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
wood appeared re-purposed and the décor was within the element.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We had reservations, so the host was ready to
seat us as soon as we arrived.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So far,
so good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, it
started falling apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand owners
try to maximize capacity and cram as many table and chairs into the facility, but
we were literally sitting between two other couples, and it felt as if we were
all sitting together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could understand
this seating arrangement in a casual dining restaurant, but this was a
restaurant designed to provide romantic evenings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Luckily, we
asked if we could move outside onto the deck and the host was very accommodating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only problem, I believe she forgot to tell
the wait staff because we sat there for several minutes before a waiter finally
came over and asked if we had been helped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We ordered our drinks and asked for a basket of fresh bread to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several more minutes passed, the server
brought out the bread and drinks, but he gave them to the wrong table!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After several more minutes, our waiter came
by, we told him what happened and it was corrected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We were
enjoying the cool night air on the deck, so the little mishaps were not
spoiling our evening, and in defense of the staff, they corrected things as the
night went along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though, we were
the only table missing the flowers and candles that all the other tables had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something I feel a good waiter, host, or
manager walking around should notice – no one did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to disappoint my bride, I got up and stole
some flowers and a candle off another table, and placed them by my bride!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, not going to let the little things
spoil my evening with the most beautiful girl and my best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We ate,
drank some wine, had dessert and enjoyed our evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My bride couldn’t finish her entrée, so we
asked for a box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The waiter took her
plate and said he’d have it boxed for her – nice touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when he brought it back to the table
it was in a generic white plastic grocery bag!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Overall, we
had a great evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, we
will not be revisiting this quaint little restaurant anytime soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the food was delicious, the atmosphere
was appealing, the location was convenient – it was the little things that will
keep us from referring or revisiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So what
could the little Italian restaurant have done differently to provide the
ultimate experience and earn repeat and referral business?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead
of several very small square tables crammed into the dining rooms, mix it up with
some round tables and spread them out a bit to create a romantic setting.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ensure
ALL wait staff pay attention to the floor – even if it’s not your assigned
area, take note of customers not getting served and take action.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Wait
staff should frequent their assigned tables more often to ensure their customers
are doing okay, even if it means hiring more staff so not to spread them too
thin<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ensure
ALL staff pays attention to details, like the flowers and candle missing on the
table<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And
lastly, spend a little money on a nice gift bag with your restaurant’s name
and/or logo on it for take out<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We can all learn lessons from this
type of experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can have the best
product, the best price, the best location, etc. – but, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if you don’t do the little things
well to create the ultimate customer experience, you may fail to have the repeat
business.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During my days at a
great company in the corporate world, I learned a valuable acronym “ATD”’ –
Attention To Detail. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you pay attention to detail, “the little
things”, the consumer will notice.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Compliments
of:</span></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Julius
F Zatopek III</span></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">Licensed Texas Real Estate Broker</span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Follow
us on </span></u></span><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></a></span></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®, </span></u></span><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Twitter</span></a></span></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®, </span></u></span><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">LinkedIn</span></a></span></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®,
and </span></u></span><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zatopek_properties/"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Instagram</span></a></span></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®</span></u></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span class="c14">Notices:</span></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf"><span style="color: #0b50d2;">Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice</span></a></span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="c17"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Information About
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<br />Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-16929735975822867622019-02-11T11:38:00.001-06:002019-02-11T11:38:28.982-06:00Lessons Learned from the Millennials!<div>
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There have been generations slaving hard at work just waiting for the day they can retire and start having fun. Unfortunately, some never make it to that day. These younger generations, Millennials included, aren’t about to let that happen to them. <b>They believe that life is meant to be enjoyed.</b> They aren’t planning on wasting life working to buy material things, they are going to enjoy every moment of it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E_e_eScQM226LuWRVJ53b8H0baV-AvLbKHV13WyWAFBEofdxheFLXgSjuoZf8Pueq0oxkPyytOot11iU6iFU95bad712gwqXL7xgiYUIWbmAyHvgmMHoleo1lgRV4IL1OpA4WFXe/s1600/fisherman-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5E_e_eScQM226LuWRVJ53b8H0baV-AvLbKHV13WyWAFBEofdxheFLXgSjuoZf8Pueq0oxkPyytOot11iU6iFU95bad712gwqXL7xgiYUIWbmAyHvgmMHoleo1lgRV4IL1OpA4WFXe/s200/fisherman-2.jpg" width="200" /></a>You know, reminds me of a good Kenny Chesney song: <b><a href="https://youtu.be/PGO8MzjBaiw" target="_blank">"The Life"</a></b> </div>
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based on the old parable entitled: <b><a href="https://bemorewithless.com/the-story-of-the-mexican-fisherman/" target="_blank">"The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman" </a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe we could all learn a lesson or two from the Younger Generation (Millenials), or the Mexican Fisherman!</span></b></div>
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<b>Affordable housing is one of the biggest dilemmas for all Americans,</b> especially the younger generation, including the Millennial! The average house in Houston was $294,500 in October 2018, which means the home buyer would need a combined income of roughly $100,000, with a 3.5% down payment, or $10,308, plus closing costs and reserves - and that's if hey have great credit! <b>This eliminates a vast majority of home buyers in all age brackets!</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVQ7HjFVPxuxcdalgWIr9cZCxqJlPCdYn5qLhWapzXM5XGtA1kidDqF3Ff3grpn5Rfiln-XBAwFgNwIe2k-otwBmK4TDbuQiQJ79BGQuw3e_VJqjEctuKzJYUmydv5W0HAL2Zaezt/s1600/RV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVQ7HjFVPxuxcdalgWIr9cZCxqJlPCdYn5qLhWapzXM5XGtA1kidDqF3Ff3grpn5Rfiln-XBAwFgNwIe2k-otwBmK4TDbuQiQJ79BGQuw3e_VJqjEctuKzJYUmydv5W0HAL2Zaezt/s1600/RV.jpg" /></a><b><i>So, what's a home buyer to do? </i>BUY AN RV!!</b></div>
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T<b>he younger folks, especially Millenials, have caught a lot of slack from people</b>. Their generations are stereotyped as being lazy, unmotivated, and having a sense of entitlement. <b>But, that’s because the media attention has been on the wrong group of younger generations & millennials.</b> While there are some still living with their parents and working at low paying jobs with loads of student debt, there are also plenty that are paving their own path.</div>
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For those paving their paths, RV'ing seems to be the perfect fit. This generation has discovered that there is an entire world out there just waiting to be discovered and an RV will help them do just that. Over the past few years, the RV industry has seen a steady incline that they attribute to younger generations, including millennials, jumping into the market.</div>
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<b><u>What they are finding:</u></b></div>
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<b>1. They can make money online from ANYWHERE</b></div>
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They have discovered that they don’t have to pick a city that fits what they are looking for in order to get a job. Thanks to modern technology there are more and more people transitioning to the life of an online freelancer. They work for themselves, create their own schedule, and all they need is a laptop and Wi-Fi. That means they can do as much traveling and exploring as they want.</div>
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<b>2. Buying an RV is more affordable than buying a house and provides freedom</b></div>
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It’s true that they have waited longer than any other generation to enter the housing market. Many claim this is because they are carrying some hefty student loan debt. That makes it hard for them to save enough money for a down payment and then have enough to pay a monthly mortgage payment. But, many have found that RV'ing living is a lot more affordable than buying a starter home, and it allows them to have an adventure.</div>
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<b>3. They don’t have to wait for retirement</b></div>
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They can enjoy life NOW!!!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to: <a href="https://youtu.be/PGO8MzjBaiw" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://skyriverrv.com/blog/3-new-rv-models-show-millennials-revolutionizing-industry/" target="_blank">Sky River RV</a>, <a href="https://bemorewithless.com/the-story-of-the-mexican-fisherman/" target="_blank">Be More with Less</a>, and <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2018/11/14/houston-home-sales-prices-inventory-rise-in.html" target="_blank">Houston Business Journal</a> for info used in this blog.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Compliments of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Zatopek Properties<span style="font-size: 14px;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Follow us on </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/"><span style="color: #000099;">Facebook</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek"><span style="color: #000099;">Twitter</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/"><span style="color: #000099;">LinkedIn</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, and </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zatopek_properties/"><span style="color: #000099;">Instagram</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Find us at: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.zatopekproperties.com/">www.ZatopekProperties.com</a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red;">Information About Broker Services</span></a></span></span></div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-48567771449990873452019-02-08T15:13:00.003-06:002019-02-08T15:13:53.852-06:00You're being Watched....and Listened to as You Tour Property!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You're being Watched....and Listened to as You Tour Property!</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwIpZ2m-qxAUxtcltBq1DlcBkF32FTyWqOiswZGGyvng781yIUJYL6APZKCk1Pdx5QUVRu3YJWDXIrnv7FiAzaJvfj8t929E6JcAMiWHCivcMD3TL_OXa171zld7W-NLmBzakm4w4/s1600/Smile+your+on+Camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="60" data-original-width="111" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwIpZ2m-qxAUxtcltBq1DlcBkF32FTyWqOiswZGGyvng781yIUJYL6APZKCk1Pdx5QUVRu3YJWDXIrnv7FiAzaJvfj8t929E6JcAMiWHCivcMD3TL_OXa171zld7W-NLmBzakm4w4/s200/Smile+your+on+Camera.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As smart-home technology becomes more common, real estate agents and their clients are increasingly thrown into settings where someone, somewhere, could secretly be observing them tour property listings. And while most people believe such technology is not normally used for nefarious purposes, it does raise a host of questions about ethics, legality, and privacy when it comes to listings that feature surveillance devices. States generally have laws governing recordings but it’s a patchwork of different regulations, and few real estate agents actually know what they are. Some states require both parties must have knowledge they are being recorded; while other states only require that one person has to consent. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Either way, many real estate agents (myself included) believe we have an ethical obligation to disclose the existence of recording technology, regardless of what the law says, to all parties. Agents have a fiduciary duty to their clients, and making everyone involved in a sale aware of cameras is part of that duty; regardless if the law states only one party has to be aware.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is very difficult to ask a seller not to watch or listen in to conversations, because sellers will argue that they have the right to know who is in their property, and what they are saying or doing. And quite frankly, whether you agree or not, that is hard to argue against.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the other hand, buyers will argue that they should be given the opportunity to preview and discuss the property in private. Again, a very hard argument to debate.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMuKqXuldx_fQAoArJvDHta-MI2UkNPUVmjEQT6nrn5G1MiJ3UirxXeRgeaKruU5bHJEe9rykcPGAJOEz5B14-FLI_I_3y5_0gYexpyrYBSDkribeLN1ESB2Nx8JQYPcH3DfMBL5m/s1600/Feedback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMuKqXuldx_fQAoArJvDHta-MI2UkNPUVmjEQT6nrn5G1MiJ3UirxXeRgeaKruU5bHJEe9rykcPGAJOEz5B14-FLI_I_3y5_0gYexpyrYBSDkribeLN1ESB2Nx8JQYPcH3DfMBL5m/s1600/Feedback.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, agents are really in a dilemma. However, I still believe full disclosure is best practice. If sellers wants to watch & listen, so be it - in fact, why not just make it fun! Wave at the cameras and tell the seller(s) <i>Hi! </i> If you're feeling really bold, leave feedback via the video devices for the sellers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With all this said, it's human nature (I guess) to ease drop on conversations or watch what's going on. Heck, before technology advanced to this - sellers were sitting in there cars watching from down the street or their neighbors drive - and using tape recorders in their home. <i>WAIT!!! </i> They still do this!!!</span><br />
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-30091063439268900472019-01-31T11:29:00.001-06:002019-01-31T11:29:22.626-06:00Do You Know How Much Your Home Has Increased in Value?<h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em; letter-spacing: -0.035em; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px 0px 0.2em; outline: none !important; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
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Last year we saw headlines about a possible housing market bubble, and many wondered if Americans still felt confident about the value of their homes. Recently, the <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><a href="http://st.hzcdn.com/static/econ/RoleofSecuredFinancinginHomeImprovementFinal18.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="2018 Houzz &amp; Home Study">2018 Houzz & Home Study</a></em> revealed:</div>
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“<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">Homeowners with mortgages have seen their home equity more than double since 2011, increasing to a record-setting $8.3 trillion in 2017</em>.”</div>
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The average homeowner gained $16,200 in home equity between Q2 2017 and Q2 2018 according to the latest release of <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://www.corelogic.com/insights-download/homeowner-equity-report.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="CoreLogic’s Home Equity Report">CoreLogic’s Home Equity Report</a></em>.</div>
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Since 2011 home values have increased significantly throughout the country, with prices rising by 5.1% in 2018 alone. When <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/insights-download/home-price-index.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="surveyed">surveyed</a>, homeowners revealed the top four reasons why they felt their homes had increased in value.</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">Desirable Location</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">Improved National Economy</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">Improved Local Economy</li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">Low Home Inventory in My Area</li>
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As we can see, not only does the data show that the homes have appreciated, but homeowners also believe they know why. Many have taken advantage of the opportunity to use their newly found equity to sell their current house and move up to their dream home!</div>
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2019 will be a good year for the homeowners that still want to take advantage of their home equity! <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">CoreLogic</em> <a href="https://www.corelogic.com/insights-download/home-price-index.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="forecasts">forecasts</a> that home prices will increase by 4.8% by the end of the year.</div>
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If you are a homeowner who would like to find out your current home value, let’s get together to discuss the hidden opportunities in your home!<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-43970848714680889052019-01-07T08:55:00.002-06:002019-01-07T08:55:44.640-06:00Want to Get the Most Money from The Sale of Your Home? Use These 2 Tips!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="Want to Get the Most Money from The Sale of Your Home? Use These 2 Tips! | MyKCM" src="https://files.mykcm.com/2018/12/21110042/20190107-Share-STM.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" />Every homeowner wants to make sure they maximize their financial reward when selling their home. But how do you guarantee that you receive the maximum value for your house?</div>
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Here are two keys to ensure that you get the highest price possible.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; outline: none !important;">1. Price it a LITTLE LOW </span></div>
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This may seem counterintuitive, but let’s look at this concept for a moment. Many homeowners think that pricing their homes a little OVER market value will leave them with room for negotiation. In actuality, this just dramatically lessens the demand for your house <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">(see chart below).</em></div>
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<a class="use_kcm_lightbox" href="https://files.mykcm.com/2018/12/21110045/20190107-STM-ENG.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Want to Get the Most Money from The Sale of Your Home? Use These 2 Tips! | MyKCM"><img alt="Want to Get the Most Money from The Sale of Your Home? Use These 2 Tips! | MyKCM" class="alignnone wp-image-81059" height="450" src="https://files.mykcm.com/2018/12/21110045/20190107-STM-ENG.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; float: none; height: auto; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important; vertical-align: middle; width: 693.875px;" width="600" /></a></div>
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Instead of the seller trying to ‘win’ the negotiation with one buyer, they should price it so that demand for the home is maximized. By doing this, the <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">seller</em> will not be fighting with a <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">buyer</em> over the price but will instead have <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">multiple buyers</em> fighting with <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">each other</em> over the house.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/pricing-your-home-to-sell" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="HGTV">HGTV</a></u></em> gives this advice:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">“<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; outline: none !important;">First impressions are everything when selling your home</span>. Studies have shown that the first two weeks on the market are the most crucial to your success. During these initial days, your home will be exposed to all active buyers.</em></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; outline: none !important;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">If your price is perceived as too high, you will quickly lose this initial audience and find yourself relying only on the trickle of new buyers entering the market each day</em></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">. Markets are dynamic, and your price has an expiration date. You have one chance to grab attention. Make sure your pricing helps you stand out on the shelf — in a positive way.”</em></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; outline: none !important;">2. Use a Real Estate Professional</span></div>
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This, too, may seem counterintuitive. The seller may believe that he or she will make more money without having to pay a real estate commission, but studies have shown that homes typically sell for more money when handled by a real estate professional.</div>
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Research by the <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">National Association of Realtors</em> in their <em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/highlights-from-the-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00aeff; outline: none !important; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers">2018 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers</a></u></em> revealed that,</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">“the median selling price for all FSBO homes was $200,000 last year. However, homes that were sold with the assistance of an agent had a median selling price of $264,900 – <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; outline: none !important;">nearly $65,000 more for the typical home sale</span>.”</em></div>
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Price your house at or slightly below the current market value and hire a professional. This will guarantee that you maximize the money you get for your house.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-81515889398316923642019-01-03T08:07:00.000-06:002019-01-03T08:07:33.171-06:00Impact of Government Shutdown on Housing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCz0HhJqecxaiCNECJaLQBOq7mETcSX2lX8G7zAn8dXQm399niTDXOiRTCb_C3vO84bmQRcTdoawnPT1IsRGOcHsMrFpKT4SDzEd6QNmZdhgE4Q79-czPjeMEJImisYoAUFntfrfL/s1600/Housing+Market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCz0HhJqecxaiCNECJaLQBOq7mETcSX2lX8G7zAn8dXQm399niTDXOiRTCb_C3vO84bmQRcTdoawnPT1IsRGOcHsMrFpKT4SDzEd6QNmZdhgE4Q79-czPjeMEJImisYoAUFntfrfL/s1600/Housing+Market.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably aware of the ongoing government shutdown. If you are a non-government worker, you may think that this will have little impact on you, but the effects may be more far reaching than you think. The shutdown includes all non-essential government employees and the many departments they represent. Some of these departments are directly related to the mortgage process. If you are selling a home, your buyer could directly be affected. Furthermore, if you are buying, the process may be stalled until there is some resolution. Regardless, <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">the government shutdown will have a negative impact on the real estate market</span>.</div>
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Even if you aren’t applying for a government loan, your application could directly be impacted. Most lenders need verification of income and identity through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Social Security Administration to process the loan. Even though income fraud and identity theft for the purposes of a mortgage application is very rare, it does happen. Lenders that underwrite these loans would be on the hook for the entire loan amount and unable to sell in the secondary market. Because of the shutdown, many lenders are forced to decide if the risk is worth the reward in lending without these important documents. Some lenders are forging on, but at the first sign of fraud, they will no doubt stop lending all together.</div>
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The longer the shutdown continues, the more likely something will come up and cause servicers to stop lending. This will have a trickle-down effect on rate locks, approvals and ultimately closings. A buyer that may have liked the property and the price may not feel the same way in 60 or 90 days. A seller that may have needed to sell to move somewhere else may be in a holding pattern for an undetermined amount of time.</div>
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Markets can adjust for a short term shutdown, but the longer it goes on, the more unstable things get. This may cause mortgage interest rates to fluctuate or shoot up if this lingers past our debt ceiling date. This increase may deter buyers from buying or may increase debt to income ratios and loan approvals. If buyers aren’t buying, then demand is lowered and this would cause a drop in home values. It is uncertain if the economy could withstand another drop in values, considering how much it took to finally get to this point.</div>
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This is not even accounting for buyers or sellers who are directly applying for FHA or VA loans. Those are direct government loans that are underwritten by these departments. For now they are continuing approvals, but the staffs have shrunk to skeleton crews. These loans make up anywhere from 15-30% of all new home purchases. With a decreased staff, this will cause an increase in loan turnaround times. It may make sellers or buyers consider walking away from the deal instead of waiting for 60 days. That will push parties into the holidays or near the first of the year.</div>
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There is no doubt that the sooner this gets worked out, the better it would be for the mortgage and real estate market. There has been no direct impact yet, but with every passing day, there is the risk that the purchase market can stall. If that happens, the government will have its hands full with another mess.</div>
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Article published by & courtesy of: Than Merrill - https://www.thanmerrill.com/impact-government-shutdown-real-estate-market/</div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-73344868928471915052018-12-13T16:30:00.002-06:002018-12-13T16:30:36.550-06:00Millennials are being Penalized for Good Credit Habits!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Millennials’
unconventional credit habits may change scoring models<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because millennials don’t
look at credit the same way generations before them did, lenders are missing
out on thousands of mortgages from well-qualified applicants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to the latest
study by data scientists at VantageScore Solutions, a scoring model still
struggling to gain acceptance by the federal agency that regulates the two
secondary mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, millennials have similar
income and asset levels as most homebuyers, but they think about carrying
credit differently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They are more debt averse and keep their credit balances
lower. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lower, in fact, then older
generations. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But when they do have credit
accounts — and many do not — they often don’t have enough to produce a credit
score.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They have what’s known in
the trade as “thin” credit files, or those with two or less active accounts.
Those with what are considered “thick” files have three or more accounts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Recent data produced by
Vantage Score, a rival to the various and more popular FICO score most lenders
use to approve or reject borrowers wanting to finance a home purchase, “shows
(millennials) are writing their own story when it comes to using credit,” says
the company’s president, Barrett Burns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Conventional wisdom has
it that those with more assets and higher incomes make more use of credit and
have higher incomes than those with thin files. Some lenders don’t even make
loans to would-be borrowers with little credit histories, while others offer
them more expensive subprime-like products.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But the VantageScore research found that millennials “are
anything but conventional.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indeed, unlike other
generations, those with thin files generally have similar income and asset
levels as persons with thicker files.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And in what the study calls “prudent credit management,”</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> those with student loans “appear
reluctant” to add any more debt on top of what they already are carrying. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“This is smart credit behavior, not
riskier,” the report maintains. And since their income and asset levels don’t
translate to greater uses of credit, “they likely have the capacity to handle
new credit accounts.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, according to
VantageScore, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">“older models and lending strategies penalize them simply because they
haven’t opened new loan accounts.”</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Among millennials with
revolving accounts, the analysts also found, balances are low, about a third
less than their full-file counterparts. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Thin-file
millennials either cannot or will not charge up high balances on revolving
accounts,” the study also concluded.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For these and other
reasons, VantageScore’s Burns says conventional scoring models such as the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FICO scores used by mortgage lenders</b> —
FICO has developed a score for each of the three main credit repositories,
Equifax, TransUnion and Experian — <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">may
be shortchanging otherwise credit-worthy young wanna-be homebuyers.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Burns believes scoring
models need to be updated periodically to “maintain their peak level of
predictiveness,” he wrote in a recent company newsletter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Not only does the data
available to modelers get better and model building techniques improve, but the
mix of credit products changes, as do consumer behaviors and the way the treat
their finances.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">VantageScore, which
tracks rent payments, utility bills, cell phone bills and other types of credit
FICO doesn’t, has some skin in this game, of course. It has been trying since
2006, when it was created by the three big repositories to compete with FICO,
to get its nose in the door at Fannie and Freddie. If the two
government-sponsored enterprises say they’ll accept aVantageScore score, then
lenders will start using it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But this summer, the
Federal Housing Finance Agency, which not only regulates the GSEs but also has
had them under conservatorship for a decade, suspended its review of new and
alternative scoring models. Instead, it said it would create a regulatory
framework for providers of such models to apply and be evaluated by Fannie and
Freddie, themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“After careful
evaluation, we have determined that proceeding with efforts to reach a decision
based on our Conservatorship Scorecard Initiative process and timetable would
be duplicative of, and in some respects inconsistent with, the work we are
mandated to do under Sec. 310 of the Act,” FHFA Director Mel Watt said in a
press release at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Sec. 310 refers to a
section of the regulatory reform bill signed by President Trump in May
requiring the FHFA to define, through rule-making, the standards and criteria
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will use to validate new and alternative credit
scoring models.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To say that Burns and his
crew were rocked by the decision is an understatement. After all, 12 years and
counting is a long time to try to gain approval. But Even FICO was let down. It
has a new score — UltraFICO — that counts a consumer’s cash flow right
alongside his score that it says promises to expand access to credit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">FICO is testing Ultra
with Experian and data aggregator Fincity that draws on several month’s worth
of data from people’s bank accounts, the idea being to create a “second chance”
score, so to speak, that would give those who have been denied credit under a
traditional scoring model another shot at the brass ring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before the regulatory
reform measure passed, the FHFA had given itself a 2018 year-end deadline to
decide on new scores. Now, it’s anyone’s guess when the framework under which
Fannie and Freddie can test new scoring models, let alone when a new model or
two will finally win approval.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As for VantageScore, it
is hoping “we’ll finally get there” in 2021, if then, says spokesman Jeff
Richardson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meanwhile, Burns, while
saying his firm “looks forward” to working with the FHFA and the GSEs, could
not hide his disappointment. “With every day that passes,” he said, “mortgage
applicants are mispriced, locked out and discouraged from pursuing
homeownership.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Article
written by: <a href="https://www.inman.com/author/lew-sichelman/">LEW SICHELMAN</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Published
December 11, 2018 in <a href="https://www.inman.com/2018/12/11/millennials-unconventional-credit-habits-may-change-scoring-models/">INMAN
NEWS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lew
Sichelman is a seasoned writer with 50 years of covering the housing and
mortgage markets under his belt. His biweekly Inman column publishes on
Tuesdays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-align: center;">
<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Compliments
of:</span></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span font-size:="" new="" times=""><span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Julius F Zatopek III</span></span></span><span style="color: #0b50d2; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span class="c13"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><span font-size:="" new="" times="">Licensed
Texas Real Estate Broker</span></span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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us on </span></u></span><span new="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" times=""></span><span class="c16"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/" style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Facebook</span></span></a></span></span><span new="" times=""></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®, </span></u></span><span new="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" times=""></span><span class="c16"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek" style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Twitter</span></span></a></span></span><span new="" times=""></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®, </span></u></span><span new="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;" times=""></span><span class="c16"><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/" style="outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15"><span style="color: #000099; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">LinkedIn</span></span></a></span></span><span new="" times=""></span><span class="c14"><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal;">®,
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><br />
<span new="" times=""><span class="c14"></span>Notices:</span></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf" style="outline: 0px !important; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="color: #0b50d2;">Texas Real Estate
Commission Consumer Protection Notice</span></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;"><a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span class="c17"><span style="color: red;">Information About Broker Services</span></span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-28832772496201448012018-12-10T10:20:00.004-06:002018-12-10T10:20:54.842-06:00Experience Matters! - "Exceeding Expectations - Results with Integrity"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw38I5rEEWIxKa-a8L18X0oyTXGo0hSyzdVkCBzfO-R_c1hjMl3ihOX-js4zdMyWy93ibHvN021KG6Pf4EamvJFZj5dBKdrJVybTTKjd6ZquZjMznR2auZbh1JDrTjGPTWmqOP8Ps/s1600/5-Star+Service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw38I5rEEWIxKa-a8L18X0oyTXGo0hSyzdVkCBzfO-R_c1hjMl3ihOX-js4zdMyWy93ibHvN021KG6Pf4EamvJFZj5dBKdrJVybTTKjd6ZquZjMznR2auZbh1JDrTjGPTWmqOP8Ps/s400/5-Star+Service.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>When it comes to one of the largest financial decisions you will most likely make - wouldn't you rather put your fate into someone who has experience and is highly rated & recommended by past clients?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>When it comes to selling or buying a home, you need someone who is on your side. Someone who will put their personal financial gain second to your best interest.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Sure, everyone needs a start. New agents have the opportunity to team up with experienced agents to learn and gain the knowledge needed to handle a legal binding agreement that involves several thousands or your dollars!</li>
</ul>
<br />
Click here to see my <b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.har.com/julius-zatopek/ratings_471355" target="_blank">ratings & reviews</a> </span></b>as an experienced broker for 20+ years!<br />
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Please give me a call (281) 342-1997 or send me an <a href="mailto:julius@zatopekproperties.com" target="_blank">email </a>if I can help in any way!<br />
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<h3 class="entry-title c2" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0b50d2; font-family: quattrocento, serif; font-size: 22.4pt; font-weight: 500; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0.375em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Compliments of:</span></h3>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III</span></h3>
<div style="font-size: 14px;">
<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Licensed Texas Real Estate Broker</span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<br />Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-61228379579133181122018-11-26T13:04:00.000-06:002018-12-10T10:18:18.164-06:00How to Price Your Home like the Savviest Sellers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v-93XBEVIwuiCUcyuNyllCNPiJx6FIxXETI6TQpphB2ep2jujlWd0mYtL_DVmkAWk-k9e7PwXhXhM_LGLaLhbuYOVpxtTNs6J2XQSuo9o0MDkDUYbmvm_A9MCDFkKMfX4Qoap_VM/s1600/House+with+Dollar+Sign.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v-93XBEVIwuiCUcyuNyllCNPiJx6FIxXETI6TQpphB2ep2jujlWd0mYtL_DVmkAWk-k9e7PwXhXhM_LGLaLhbuYOVpxtTNs6J2XQSuo9o0MDkDUYbmvm_A9MCDFkKMfX4Qoap_VM/s200/House+with+Dollar+Sign.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 20.25pt; mso-outline-level: 2; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">4 things savvy home
sellers do when pricing their homes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Home pricing is more
of a science than an art, but many homeowners price with their heartstrings
instead of cold, hard data. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Smart sellers know
that crunching the numbers is always the better route to an accurate home
price. Here’s how they do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="section-673"></a><b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 30.0pt;">#1
They Avoid Overpricing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Homeowners often think
that it’s OK to overprice at first, because — who knows? — maybe you’ll just
get what you’re asking for. Although you can certainly lower an inflated price
later, you’ll sacrifice a lot in the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Just ask Candace. She originally
listed her home for $529,000, but “eventually had to accept the market reality”
and chop $40,000 off the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
home’s location proved challenging: Buyers were either turned off by the area or
unable to afford the home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">The most obvious
pitfall: A house that remains on the market for months can prevent you from
moving into your dream home. Already purchased that next home? You might saddle
yourself with two mortgages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">You lose a lot of time
and money if you don’t price it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
worse: Continually lowering the price could turn off potential buyers who might
start wondering just </span><i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">what</span></i><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"> is wrong with
your home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Today’s Buyers are
smart and educated, if you’re not priced right in the beginning you’re probably
going to lose them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="section-674"></a><b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 30.0pt;">#2
They Don't Expect Dollar-for-Dollar Returns<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">It’s easy for
homeowners to stumble into two common traps:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">Conflating
actual value with </span></b><b><i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">sentimental</span></i></b><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;"> value</span></b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"> — how much they assume their
home’s worth because they lived there and loved the time they spent there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">Assuming
renovations should result in a dollar-for-dollar increase in the selling price</span></b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"> — or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Many homeowners think
if they put in a few thousand dollars worth of new flooring, for example, they
might overestimate the upgrade’s impact on the home’s value into the tens of
thousands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candace’s Texas home came
with a built-in renovation trap: It was already the nicest home in the area,
making it harder to sell. Major additions had inflated the square footage — and
the price, according to one appraiser — without accounting for the surrounding
neighborhood. That created a disconnect for buyers: Wealthier ones who might be
interested in the upgraded home disliked the neighborhood, and less affluent
buyers couldn’t afford the asking price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t buy the largest or nicest home on the block is common real estate
advice for this reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">That’s not to say that
renovations aren’t worth it. You want to enjoy your home while you’re in it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smart renovations make your home more
comfortable and functional but should typically reflect the neighborhood. A
REALTOR® can help you </span><span style="border: none 1.0pt; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">understand what certain
upgrades can recoup when you sell and which appeal to buyers</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">.<span style="color: #343c3c;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Another culprit for
many a mispriced home is online tools, like Zillow’s “Zestimate,” that
prescribe an estimated market value based on local data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">The estimate is often
wildly inaccurate. A Virginia-area real estate company, McEnearney &
Associates, has compared actual sold prices with predicted online estimates for
several hundred homes in the area for the past few years and concluded the
predictions failed half of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="section-675"></a><b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 30.0pt;">#3
They Use Comparable Sales (also Known as "Comps")<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">The best pricing
strategy? Consult a real estate agent, who will use something called comps
(also known as “comparable sales”) to determine the appropriate listing price.
They’re not just looking at your neighbors; they’re seeking out near-identical
homes with similar floor plans, square footage, and amenities that sold in the
last few months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Once they’ve assembled
a list of similar homes (and the real prices buyers paid), they can make an
accurate estimate of what you can expect to receive for your home. If a
three-bedroom bungalow with granite countertops down the block sold for
$359,000, expecting more from your </span><i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">own</span></i><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;"> three-bedroom bungalow with granite
countertops is a pipe dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">After crunching the
data, they’ll work with you to determine a fair price that’ll entice buyers.
The number might be less than you hoped for and expect, but listing your home
correctly — not idealistically — is a sure way to avoid the aches and pains of
a long, drawn-out listing that </span><i><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #343c3c; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 13.0pt; padding: 0in;">just won’t sell</span></i><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="section-1493"></a><b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 30.0pt;">#4
They Adjust the Price When Needed<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Once your home is on
the market, you’ll start accumulating another set of data that will serve as
the ultimate price test: </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“how buyers react”</span></b><span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">There’s an easy way to
tell if you’ve priced too high: “If we have no showings, it’s way too high.
Lots of showings and no offer means you’ve marketed well — but it’s overpriced
once people get inside.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve heard it
put another way:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No showings = Agents
think it’s priced too high” & “Lots of Showings with no offers = Buyers
think it’s priced too high”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 21.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">When it comes to
finding a buyer, pricing your home according to data — and the right data, at
that — is crucial to making the sale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #343c3c; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt;">Source: </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; text-transform: uppercase;">JAMIE WIEBE</span> of Houselogic<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Compliments of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Zatopek Properties</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Follow us on </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/"><span style="color: #000099;">Facebook</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek"><span style="color: #000099;">Twitter</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/"><span style="color: #000099;">LinkedIn</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, and </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zatopek_properties/"><span style="color: #000099;">Instagram</span></a></span></u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Find us at: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.zatopekproperties.com/">www.ZatopekProperties.com</a></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="background: white; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf">Texas
Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice</a></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red;">Information About Broker Services</span></a></span></span><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<br />Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-35065243313085271812018-11-05T11:46:00.001-06:002018-11-05T11:46:37.530-06:00Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays<div class="parbase smartbody section text customRTE" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font-family: "Gotham SSm", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<section class="o-CustomRTE" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="o-AssetTitle__a-Headline" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 38px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 200; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays</span></div>
<span class="o-AssetTitle__a-HeadlineText" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiSKP8O_pji6F4dT6DucpnbxJkWWokWbD0o3B-JQnpbHsk2S5Opaipgc8gB6DHMgfwl5E6YQg4CBYXKPo8hX8utjiJckmnPrKo3ch6mrwBCyixwaw5WmlaXPhmXCqpsh8AQ-MNLfZ/s1600/Holiday+Mantle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiSKP8O_pji6F4dT6DucpnbxJkWWokWbD0o3B-JQnpbHsk2S5Opaipgc8gB6DHMgfwl5E6YQg4CBYXKPo8hX8utjiJckmnPrKo3ch6mrwBCyixwaw5WmlaXPhmXCqpsh8AQ-MNLfZ/s320/Holiday+Mantle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">The holiday season from November through January is often considered a less favorable time to put a home on the market. However, selling during the holiday season does have its advantages: </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><b><i>holiday buyers tend to be more serious and competition is less fierce with fewer homes being actively marketed.</i></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Once you've committed to the challenge, don your gay apparel and follow these tips:</span></div>
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<div class="parbase smartbody section text customRTE" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Gotham SSm", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<section class="o-CustomRTE" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><ol style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: outside; margin: 14px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 28px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Deck the halls, but don’t go overboard.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Homes often look their best during the holidays, but sellers should be careful not to overdo it on the decor. Adornments that are too large or too many can crowd your home and distract buyers. Also, avoid offending buyers by opting for general fall and winter decorations rather than items with religious themes.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3b4143;">Hire a reliable real estate agent - </span><span style="color: red;">Zatopek Properties Realty Group, of course! </span></span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="color: #3b4143;">That means someone who will work hard for you and won't disappear during Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's. Ask your friends and family if they can recommend a listing agent who will go above and beyond to get your home sold. This will ease your stress and give you more time to enjoy the season.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Seek out motivated buyers.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Anyone house hunting during the holidays must have a good reason for doing so. Work with your agent to target buyers on a deadline, including people relocating for jobs in your area, investors on tax deadlines, college students and staff, and military personnel, if you live near a military base.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Price it to sell.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><i><span style="color: red;">No matter what time of year, a home that’s priced right will make buyers feel merry. </span></i><span style="color: #3b4143; font-style: inherit;">Rather than gradually making small price reductions, many real estate agents advise sellers to slash their prices <i style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">before</i> putting a home on the market.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make curb appeal a top priority.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />When autumn rolls around and the trees start to lose their leaves, maintaining the exterior of your home becomes even more important. Bare trees equal a more exposed home, so touch up the paint, clean the gutters and spruce up the yard. Keep buyers’ safety in mind as well by making sure stairs and walkways are free of ice and leaves.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Take top-notch real estate photos.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />When the weather outside is frightful, homebuyers are likely to start their house hunt from the comfort of their homes by browsing listings on the Internet. Make a good first impression by offering lots of flattering, high-quality photos of your home. If possible, have a summer or spring photo of your home available so buyers can see how it looks year-round.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Create a video tour for the Web.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />You'll get less foot traffic during the holidays thanks to inclement weather and vacation plans. But shooting a video tour and posting it on the Web may attract house hunters who don't have time to physically see your home or would rather not drive in a snowstorm. </li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Give house hunters a place to escape from the cold.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Make your home feel cozy and inviting during showings by cranking up the heat, playing soft classical music and offering homemade holiday treats. When you encourage buyers to spend more time in your home, you also give them more time to admire its best features.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Offer holiday cheer in the form of financing.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Bah, humbug! Lenders are scrooges these days, but if you've got the means, then why not offer a home loan to a serious buyer? You could get a good rate of return on your money.</li>
<li style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #3b4143; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 7px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Relax — the new year is just around the corner.</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />The holidays are stressful enough with gifts to buy, dinners to prepare and relatives to entertain. Take a moment to remind yourself that if you don't sell now, there's always next year, which, luckily, is only a few days away.</li>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: HGTV - <a href="https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/top-10-tips-for-selling-your-home-during-the-holidays">https://www.hgtv.com/design/real-estate/top-10-tips-for-selling-your-home-during-the-holidays</a></span></div>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III</span></h3>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-10495063901115892992018-10-29T15:30:00.001-05:002018-10-29T15:30:47.161-05:00Setting a Price for Your Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Setting a Price for Your Home</h2>
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<span style="color: #505050; font-size: 14px;">You've always heard the main thing in real estate is Location, Location, Location. I'm here to argue that </span><b style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #505050;">the most important factor in real estate is </span><i><span style="color: red;">PRICE, PRICE, PRICE!</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #505050; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Every home will eventually sell - at the right price. Determining that price is the most crucial aspect of anything you do while preparing your home to sell.</span></span></div>
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Assigning a price to your home is complicated. You made memories there. You’ve got a major financial interest in the place. You give your home "value" for things that mattered to you. However, buyers are only concerned with price, without giving value to many of the things a seller might. </div>
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Your home’s price is one of its most attractive, or unattractive, features. The right price can attract buyers, quickly. The wrong price may mean the house sits on the market, which can create the vibe among buyers that there’s something wrong it.</div>
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It’s your agent’s job, as the real estate expert, mining his or her expertise and knowledge of the market to determine the best price for your home. But it’s your house. You need to have your own idea of how much your property is worth. Here’s how to get it. </div>
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Work With Your Agent</h2>
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This is crucial. Your agent brings the right mix of industry expertise and knowledge of your local market to the table. You’re a team. It’s in both of your interests to price your home correctly. A timely, profitable sale is win for everyone. Sure, your agent wants to sell it for as much as possible just like you do; however, they also do not need inventory sitting on the shelf that will not sell - so overpriced is a no-win for everyone. You get frustrated with the lack of showings, or showings with no offers, etc. and blame marketing. Yes, marketing is the reason - but it's the product's price that is typically the marketing problem!</div>
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Check the Internet estimates</h2>
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Take advantage of online estimating tools — but only to an extent. Property websites like Zillow, Realtor.com®, Redfin, etc. enable you to plug in your home’s address to see <u><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">approximately</em> </u>how much your house is worth. They base their estimates on your home’s square footage and real estate data they’ve collected, such as recent home sales in your local market. But those results are <i><u>estimates </u></i>based on generalized factors, not your unique situation. If at any point the price you see in an online calculator doesn’t align with what your agent suggests, prioritize the agent’s advice. Online estimators also have a reputation among real estate professionals for misleading buyers and sellers alike with less-than-optimal pricing information. But as a starting point, they have their utility. </div>
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<span style="font-size: 22px;"><b>Know Your Local History - Comps!</b></span></div>
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What your home’s listing price should be largely depends on what similar homes, or “comps,” recently sold for in your area. To price your home, your agent will run the average sales prices of at least three comps to assess your home’s value.</div>
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What constitutes a comp? A number of factors, including a home’s: </div>
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<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Age </li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Location</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; list-style: disc; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Square footage </li>
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Agents will look into the difference between each comp’s listing price, and the price it sold for. He or she will consider price reductions and why they happened, if relevant. All the while, your agent will also rely on inside knowledge of housing stock and the local market. That nuanced understanding is invaluable, particularly when measuring the unique aspects of your home with raw data about comps.</div>
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When selecting comps, agents generally look for properties that sold within a one-mile radius of your home, and in the past 90 days. They find these homes using the multiple listing service (MLS), a regional database of homes that agents pay dues to access.</div>
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Size Up the Competition</h2>
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In addition to recently sold homes, your agent will also look at properties that are currently for sale in your area. These listings will be your competition. But because listing photos don’t always tell the full story, a good agent will check out these homes in person to see what condition they’re in and to assess how your home sizes up. They may also ask you to go with them so you can see first hand what your competition is and how its doing.</div>
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Understand the Market You’re In</h2>
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The housing market where you live can greatly impact your pricing strategy. If you’re in a seller’s market, where demand from buyers outpaces the number of homes for sale, you may be able to price your home slightly <em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">higher</em> than market value. But if you’re in a buyer’s market, where buyers have the advantage, you may have to price your home slightly below market value to get people interested. Your agent should be able to share what type of market your area is currently experiencing and how it will influence your home's price.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 22px;"><b>Put Your Feelings Aside</b></span></div>
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Most sellers think their home is worth more than it is. Why? Because of memories, sentiment, pride, etc. But you have to stay objective when assessing your home’s value. Buyers, after all, won’t know your home’s personal history. What makes your home special to you may not be something that entices them. As much as possible, set aside your emotional attachment to your home. It will make it easier to accept your agent’s realistic, clear-eyed calculation of its price.</div>
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Keep Your Head in the Game</h2>
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You’ve considered your agent’s advice, and the two of you have agreed on the right price for your home. Your house is on the market! Even after the listing date, price should be an ongoing discussion between you and your agent. Markets are fluid, so it’s possible that you’ll have to make tweaks. In any case, it’s important to to stay in continuous dialogue with your agent and together, keep your eyes on the price.</div>
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<span style="color: #7f7e7e; font-size: 11px;">Source: </span><a href="https://members.houselogic.com/articles/how-to-price-your-home/preview/" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #16a8d3; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">HouseLogic</a></div>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Compliments of:</span></h3>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III</span></h3>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Licensed Texas Real Estate Broker</span></div>
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<span class="c7" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Follow us on </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">Facebook</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®, </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">Twitter</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®, </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">LinkedIn</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®, and </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zatopek_properties/" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">Instagram</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®</span></span></h3>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-79444399320719298212018-10-29T07:00:00.000-05:002018-10-29T07:00:04.687-05:007 Inspiring Ideas To Make The Most of Autumn Weekends!<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #888888; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: Quattrocento, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
7 Inspiring Ideas To Make The Most of Autumn Weekends</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/09/27/7-inspiring-ideas-to-make-the-most-of-autumn-weekends/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-09-27T12:05:18+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">September 27, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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As you plan for Halloween and winter travels, <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/93751003" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">remember to savor today’s pleasures</a> before they flicker by.</div>
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We’re thick into fall now — it’s a good weekend to rake leaves, and then curl up with an engrossing book and a mug of something warm to drink. Here are seven weekend could-dos, including watching monarch butterflies and getting ready for trick-or-treaters.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">1. Put fall leaves to good use. </span>Spy some beautiful fall foliage outside your door? Before you rake and bag it, consider other uses for the leaves. They would make good mulch for your lawn or garden. Or, if the leaves are still more on the trees than on the ground, cut a bundle and bring it inside for a long-lasting display</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">2. Plan a winter trip. </span>Let the chill in the air be a reminder to book that winter getaway you’ve been thinking of. Lodging in popular destinations fills up early for holiday travel, so it pays to book early. Not planning any big trips? Make a date with your calendar and a mug of hot cider to plan some fun weekend jaunts instead.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">3. Get inspired with a new design book. </span>Peruse the shelves of your local bookstore and bring home a new tome for your coffee table. Looking for a recommendation? <i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">The New Bohemians Handbook: Come Home to Good Vibes</i>, sounds like just the thing to curl up with on a chilly fall afternoon.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">4. Add warm, cozy layers and flickering light. </span>Bring autumnal warmth and coziness to your living room with candlelight, extra-soft blankets and cushy pillows galore. Layer beds with thicker quilts, turn on the twinkle lights, and set out bowls of apples and nuts in the shell. It doesn’t take much effort, and your home will instantly feel more fall-like.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">5. Help storm victims. </span>Hearing news reports of natural disasters can leave those not in harm’s way feeling powerless to help. But the truth is, even small amounts of aid are very much needed and appreciated. If you decide to donate money, just be sure you are giving to a legitimate relief organization — sites like Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau’s Give.org can help.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">6. Say hello to migrating monarchs. </span>Every fall, monarch butterflies make their way back to the same overwintering grounds — monarchs from the eastern coast of the United States migrate to Mexico, and butterflies from west of the Rocky Mountains return to coastal California. This month, those along the migratory paths may be able to spot monarchs on their way to warmer climates. If you’re lucky enough to live within driving distance of Santa Cruz, California, you can visit the monarchs at Natural Bridges State Beach. Guided tours of the habitat are available on weekends starting in mid-October.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">7. Prep for Halloween. </span>Candy corn? Fake spiderwebs? Check and check. If you plan to pass out candy or host a party on Halloween night, this weekend is a good time to stock up on supplies.</div>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Compliments of:</span></h3>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner</span></h3>
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<span class="c7" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Follow us on </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">Facebook</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">®, </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">Twitter</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">®, </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">LinkedIn</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">®, and </span><span class="c16" style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman", serif; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zatopek_properties/" style="color: #0b50d2; outline: 0px !important; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out 0s;"><span class="c15" style="color: #000099;">Instagram</span></a></span><span class="c14" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">®</span></span></h3>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-80871140925941972172018-10-22T07:00:00.000-05:002018-10-22T07:00:05.432-05:00Bathroom Color Designs!<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #888888; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: Quattrocento, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
9 Splash of Color Bathroom Designs</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/10/10/9-splash-of-color-bathroom-designs/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-10-10T12:09:11+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">October 10, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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Bright yellow, bold green and sea blue are a <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/89381573" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">few of the colors</a> that give these bathrooms pizazz.</div>
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While bathrooms decked out in neutrals such as black, white, gray and taupe are trending these days, plenty of spaces are taking a different approach and inserting a shot of color into the bathroom.</div>
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There are many examples among the 50 most popular new bathroom photos uploaded to Houzz from April through June this year, as measured by the number of people who saved them to ideabooks. Here are nine bathrooms with a hit of color — from a single shot of a bold hue to multiple colors applied in this small space.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">1. Yellow and gray. </span>This bathroom marries the of-the-moment neutral palette of gray, wood and Carrara marble with an unexpected shock: happy yellow cabinetry. The contrast between the centered pulls on the drawers and the offset one for the center door panel gives this piece a quirky look.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Vanity: custom by Joe Worland of H & J Cabinets; cabinet hardware: Flute reveal knob, Rocky Mountain Hardware; mirror: custom by Bonesteel Trout Hall; light fixtures: Small Bluff City pendants, Design Within Reach; faucet: Waterworks; tile and countertop material: <a href="http://www.conceptstudioinc.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Concept Studio</a></i></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">2. Watery blue. </span>The blue and green tile paving the walls of this shower reflect its location, a marina dock in the seaside town of Sausalito, California. Multilevel glazing gives the tiles their rich variation.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">3. Orange alert. </span>Colorful blue, orange and yellow wallpaper lend a tailored look to this farmhouse-style bathroom designed by Alison Kandler, but the bright clawfoot tub is what draws the eye. A checkered, painted wood floor in aqua and avocado green balances out the busy wallpaper.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">4. Fuchsia funs it up. </span>A bathroom finished in classic gray and white gets added interest from the fuchsia rug, hand towel and orchid. Note in the reflection of the mirror that the fuchsia complements the accent color in the adjacent master bedroom.<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Floor: French Quarter Azul stone, </i><i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Materials Marketing; bathtub, </i><i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Michelangelo, Hydro Systems, Rampart Supply; rug: Surya; cabinet hardware: Martello collection, Schaub & Co.</i><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></i></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">5. Green energy. </span>Everything in this bathroom in an Atlanta townhouse is understated except for the vanity — and, of course, the cheeky bath mat.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Vanity: refinished in milk paint; countertop: acrylic blend cement, custom</i></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">6. Blue skies ahead. </span>A bright blue ceiling sets a cheery mood for this San Antonio bathroom designed by Shea Pumarejo of Younique Designs for two growing teenage boys. The colorful backsplash is composed of wooden tiles that mirror the tailored farmhouse feel of the shiplap walls.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Vanity: Pottery Barn; sconce and mirrors: Restoration Hardware; wood tile backsplash: Moonish</i></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">7. Unabashed pink and blue. </span>Textured blue wall tile pairs with hexagonal floor tile in a similar tone, creating a soft blue bathroom oasis in the 2017 Pasadena Showcase House. In this light, the walls read a pale blush color. The window treatments add a sweet note to the room.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">8. Nautical time. </span>This children’s bath designed by Rhona Chartouni of Eclipse Designs has a nautical blue and white theme, with stripes made up of hexagonal tiles that should still be appealing as the children get older.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">9. Deep teal accent wall. </span>This bathroom designed by SGS International, also in the Pasadena Showcase House, has many of the elements popular in neutral bathrooms today: a marble vanity, faux wood tile accents, a chevron pattern and hexagonal tiles. But the dark teal accent wall to the left of the vanity sets this space apart from so many bathrooms that stick with a color palette of pure neutrals.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Shower and sink faucets and accessories: Newport Brass; tile and countertop: Walker Zanger; pendant lights: Rejuvenation; wall sconce and mirror: CB2; toilet: Toto</i></div>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner</span></h3>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-26328388344622313792018-10-18T09:01:00.000-05:002018-10-18T09:01:08.730-05:00Cattle Ranch - Dream Home!<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Quattrocento, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
Dream Limestone & Wood Home Cattle Ranch</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/10/17/dream-limestone-wood-home-cattle-ranch/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-10-17T12:08:27+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">October 17, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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For this working ranch in Spicewood, Texas, architects from Furman + Keil broke down a new-build house and outbuildings into discrete, Charles W. Moore-influenced spaces that take advantage of landscape and views.</div>
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The entryway to what the architects call Dogrun Ranch is a hinge point between the children’s quarters, at right, and the main living area, at left. Stone quarried from Granbury, Texas, covers the exterior, and a Spanish cedar front door, designed by the architects, greets visitors.</div>
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The main house’s living room ceiling features exposed trusses and purlins and rough-top longleaf pine flooring that lend a slightly rugged feel to an otherwise contemporary ranch design.</div>
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The architects specified standard-size, off-the-shelf windows where possible, using on-site butt glazing for the corner. Monopoint light fixtures provide additional illumination when daylight fades.</div>
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In the living room, the same exterior Granbury stone is carried through to the hearth, which features a modified fireplace made with fire-clay brick.</div>
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Conceived as a building within a building, the kitchen is wrapped in <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2554558/list/tongue-and-groove" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">tongue-and-groove</a>wood paneling painted in Benjamin Moore’s Dry Sage.</div>
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The kitchen island is topped in mesquite, and countertops and backsplash are basaltina. A custom gun-blued steel hood covers the stove’s exhaust system. Island task lighting is from a trio of pendants by Visual Comfort.</div>
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Ripsawn white oak cabinetry and a built-in wet bar form the back side of the kitchen space.</div>
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A recess in the tall master bedroom helps bring a more intimate scale to the space.</div>
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A marble countertop in the master bathroom echoes marble in the shower and bathtub surround. Clerestory windows above the mirrored wall and custom teak cabinetry allow daylight to reach the toilet room behind it, and the bathroom opens to a screened-in porch beyond.</div>
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The owners can take evening refuge on a custom hanging bed in the screened-in porch.</div>
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Dogrun Ranch features a detached guesthouse with a clean, contemporary feel. A central living, dining and kitchen area lighted with a George Nelson ball pendant anchors the guesthouse and is flanked by bedrooms on each end.</div>
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The guesthouse also serves as a pool cabana for the owners. The deep porch overhang shades the house’s full-height glass to reduce sun exposure and help keep temperatures down inside.</div>
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The property also includes a kennel for the family’s cattle dogs. The outbuilding is designed in the same style as the main house, with galvanized steel supporting wood framing and roof.</div>
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<span class="c13" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner</span></h3>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-79838254767401331272018-09-27T14:11:00.002-05:002018-09-27T14:12:39.888-05:00Button Up Your Home For Fall<br />
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Button Up Your Home For Fall</h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We all know the drill: You wake up on a Saturday with every intention of doing some pre-winter maintenance but ditch your best-laid plans as soon as you feel the late-summer sun on your shoulders. <a href="http://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/button-your-house-fall" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">Take a tip from the experts</a> and avoid putting off till next Saturday (or next year) what you can do in a snap today—whether it’s replacing old weather-stripping or adjusting the pitch of the gutters. You can always put your feet up late, when it’s time to rake the leaves.</span></div>
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1. Weatherproof Windows and Doors</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Seal gaps larger than ⅛ inch around windows and doors to cut your winter heating bill by up to 15 percent. On windows, press adhesive-backed closed-cell foam onto the bottom of the sash. Secure a loose sash by applying a strip of plastic V-channel </span><span style="font-family: "fanwood text" , serif;">weather</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> stripping in the groove the sash slides in, securing it with finish nails. Use foam strips on the sides and tops of doors, and install a door sweep on the bottom.</span></div>
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2. Check Your Gutters</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">When gutters aren’t pitched at the right angle, they overflow—and can threaten your once dry . Properly pitched gutters slope between 1/16 inch and ⅛ inch per foot, directing water to the leader and out the downspout. Check the pitch by holding a level even with the gutter; on longer runs, pour in water from a hose and check the flow’s direction. Get <a href="https://www.thisoldhouse.com/node/4964" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">instructions for keeping your gutters in good working order</a>.</span></div>
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3. Find and Fix Cracked Concrete</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Cracks in your driveway, walkway, or steps are a big-time trip hazard, and they’ll only get worse if water seeps in and freezes. Luckily, if you can caulk, you can fix concrete—just make sure it’s clean and dry to start. For cracks less than a half-inch wide, squeeze a bead of acrylic latex concrete repair compound deep into the crack, smoothing excess with a putty knife. For larger cracks, trowel on a vinyl concrete patching compound, and let it cure one day before walking on it, three days before driving over it.</span></div>
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4. Clean Cooling Devices</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you have ceiling fans, change their rotation to clockwise to push warm air down (usually accomplished by flicking a switch on the base), and while you’re at it, wipe down the blades with a microfiber cloth that traps dust. At month’s end or when the temps drop, remove window AC units. Vacuum the coils and filters, and store them in a cool, dry place, preferably covered to keep out dust and bugs.</span></div>
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5. Check for Holes in The Attic</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">During the brightest part of the day or a steady rain, look for streams of light or water entering the attic through the roof or sheathing, which can lead to more serious damage (and critter invasions) if left unfixed. (Another sign of holes is black staining on insulation.) From inside, fill sheathing gaps with closed-cell polyurethane foam. Fix small roof leaks by caulking with tripolymer elastomeric sealant, which is compatible with asphalt shingles and resists UV rays. But don’t caulk large leaks, which tend to develop around chimneys or vent stacks. For now, place a bucket underneath to catch drips and stuff an old towel in the crevices to absorb moisture. Then do a more serious repair before the first winter storm hits.</span></div>
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6. Check Your Insulation</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;">How do you know if your attic is properly protected? It’s simple: If you can see the tops of the joists, you’ve got a problem. If the existing insulation is roughly even with the tops of the joists, add a new layer of unfaced batt insulation perpendicular to the old one, pushing the pieces together so they fit snugly side by side. On the other hand, if the existing layers are more than an inch above (or below) the joists, blown-in cellulose or fiberglass does a better job of filling the crevices. To find out how much you need, depending on where you live, type your ZIP code into the ZIP-Code Insulation Program at the <a href="http://ornl.gov/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Oak Ridge National Laboratory</a>. And give yourself a pat on the back for keeping up with fall upkeep.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</header>Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-2913103450066149492018-09-24T10:13:00.001-05:002018-09-24T10:16:11.005-05:00Adapt Your Home To Its Selling Season<div class="parbase smartbody section text customRTE" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px;">
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Fall Selling Tips</h2>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Keep your lawn in shape.</span> Just because summer is over doesn’t mean you should abandon your lawn. Patch up any brown spots in the grass, and keep falling leaves at bay with frequent raking.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Get a fall garden.</span> As your summer plants start to fade, replace them with vibrant mums or other colorful plants. Tasteful fall decorations, like pumpkins or tri-colored corn, can also add to your home’s curb appeal.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Get indoor fall decorations, too.</span> Without breaking the bank, get a few fall-colored decorations, like inexpensive window treatments or seasonal dinnerware. Fresh decor will make your space seem current and well-maintained.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Repair outside lights.</span> As the days get shorter, you may end up showing your home in the dark. Make sure your outdoor lights are clean and working — if they’re dirty or broken, buyers will get a bad feeling before they even come inside.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Keep exterior photos of your home up-to-date.</span> If you listed your home in the summer, update your online photos with brand new fall shots. Pictures from the previous season make your listing seem dated.</li>
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Winter Selling Tips</h2>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Clear snow and ice away from walkways and stairs.</span> If you live in an area with lots of snow and ice, keep walking areas salted and shoveled. Buyers and agents want to see that your home is well maintained, and, of course, you’re not likely to wow a house hunter if they fall on the way in and break a leg. Learn more about boosting your winter curb appeal.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Stage it outside.</span> Even if the grass is brown and the patio is snow-covered, you can still do some outdoor staging. Tasteful winter wreaths and garlands can make your home seem welcoming. Just like inside the house, pick decorations that will appeal to a wide variety of buyers — blow-up snow globes and giant plastic Santas are probably no-nos. Learn more about staging for the holidays.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Make it cozy.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Clean up your windows.</span></li>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-20911401820594565222018-09-12T16:31:00.001-05:002018-09-12T16:31:08.645-05:00How To Hang A Porch Swing<br />
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How To Hang A Porch Swing</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/09/11/how-to-hang-a-porch-swing/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-09-11T12:01:52+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">September 11, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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Warm summer evenings are meant for <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/110433738" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">porch swings</a>. Hanging one from a porch or an arbor is a fairly easy weekend project.</div>
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There’s hardly anything more relaxing on a warm evening than swaying on a porch swing and watching the world go by. Hanging a porch swing is easier than it might seem: It requires only a few tools, some careful measurements and a little homeowner handiness (or the right professional).</div>
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Get started this weekend, and soon you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy what may be your new favorite seat inside or outside the house. Keep reading to learn how to hang a porch swing or daybed from your porch or an arbor.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Tools and Materials</span></div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Porch swing of your choice</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Pencil or painters tape</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tape measure</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Metal chains or sturdy rope (up to four sections, each at least 7 feet long, depending on setup)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Heavy-duty metal screw eyes (up to 8, depending on setup)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Heavy-duty S-hooks (up to 6, depending on setup)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Drill</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ladder</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Stud finder</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Level (optional)</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">Comfort swing springs (optional)</li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Note: </span>Many porch swings come with a hanging kit that includes all hanging materials needed. If you purchase a swing chair that includes a hanging kit, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mounting.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Before You Start</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Check that your porch can support a porch swing. </span>Before the fun part of picking out a porch swing, make sure your porch is strong enough to support one. Use a stud finder to look for <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2462509/list/joist" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">ceiling joists</a>, the thick overhead beams that support a ceiling, to which you can anchor the swing. If you’re unsure, hire an experienced <a href="https://www.houzz.com/professionals/home-builders" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">home builder</a> or <a href="https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractor/" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">contractor</a> to take a look.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Choose a porch swing. </span>There are plenty of porch swings on the market, in styles that range from classic wooden benches to backless, platform-like seats and 4-foot-deep daybeds. Look for swings made of durable outdoor-friendly materials like coated metal or rot-resistant woods like redwood and teak for a long-lasting swing. Choose a style that complements your porch and the architecture of your home.</div>
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You can also turn a bench you already have into a porch swing — as long as it’s sturdy enough to be suspended by the corners — by drilling eye bolts into the sides and hanging it. The owners of this porch swing used a vintage Indian teak bench as a porch swing outside <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/7579446/list/My-Houzz--Eye-Candy-Colors-Fill-an-1800s-New-Orleans-Victorian?hz_ref=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91enouY29tL3xkMDZjY2U1Yy1hODkzLTQ1ZmUtYmY2OC1iYjcyN2JjZDk2YmR8MTUzMjAxOTUxNzA3NA=" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">their New Orleans home</a>.</div>
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How much space you’ll need for a porch swing depends on the size and style of swing you select. In general, you’ll want to have at least 4 feet of space for a standard bench swing to swing back and forth, and more space as needed. Leave at least 14 to 16 inches on either side of the swing for clearance.</div>
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Swings mounted on two chains, rather than four, require a larger space for the arc of their swing (add 2 to 4 more feet of clearance). Swings mounted on four widely set chains (a common setup for daybeds) don’t swing in an arc as much as move back and forth. Therefore, they require less additional space to account for movement.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Tip: </span>When planning, it can be helpful to mark a swing clearance box on the porch floor using painters tape.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Decide to hang with chains or rope. </span>Galvanized steel chains or thick marine-grade rope are the most common methods for hanging a porch swing. Select whichever material you prefer based on look, feel and durability, or use the chain or rope included with a porch swing.</div>
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Many porch swing chains come with two long chains and two short chains. The short chains attach to the arms and back of the swing and then come up about 2 feet above the chair to form a triangle. The longer chain attaches to the ceiling.Chains offer the advantage of being completely weatherproof and friction-proof and will not fray over time as a natural fiber rope does.</div>
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Ropes, however, feel nicer to the touch. If using ropes, you’ll usually need four 7-foot-long sections to attach to each arm and the back corners of the bench.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">How to Hang a Porch Swing</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">1. </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Attach hooks to the swing. </span>If your porch swing doesn’t come with pre-installed hardware, attach your own. Where to install the screw eyes depends on the style of your swing. In general, install hooks on the outer sides of the swing in even, opposite points where the swing will then hang in a balanced way.</div>
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For daybeds and deep platform-style seats, attach four screw eyes (two on each side) to the swing base, setting them back about 3 inches from the corners.</div>
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For classic bench swings, attach two screw eyes to the outsides of the arms, set back a few inches from the end, or to the bench seat below the end of the armrest (as pictured here) and two more on the backrest, a few inches above where the armrest meets the backrest.</div>
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For either setup, drill a pilot hole first and then screw in the screw eyes by hand.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">2. Locate ceiling joists. </span>It’s best to anchor into a joist when hanging a porch swing. <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/2462509/list/joist" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">Joists</a> are the structural beams (usually either a two-by-six or a two-by-eight) that support the ceiling of a porch. Use a stud finder to locate ceiling joists and mark both sides of the beam and the approximate center of the beam, which is the ideal spot to mount the anchor.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Don’t have joists in the right spot for your swing? </span>If thick ceiling beams don’t happen to fall where you need them, install short beams (four-by-four) to span multiple joists. Position the short beam so it’s where you need it for hanging the swing, and then use 3-inch screws to secure the short beam to multiple joists. Proceed with the next steps, attaching the hanging hardware directly into the short beam.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">3. </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Measure and mark where you’ll hang your swing</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">. </span>Set the spots for the hanging hardware between 2 and 4 inches wider than the length of the swing. For example, space the hanging hardware 62 to 64 inches apart on the ceiling for a swing that is 60 inches wide. This prevents the chains or ropes from rubbing against the sides of the swing.</div>
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Do a final check on your measurements for mounting the swing to the porch, lining up where the center of the swing would fall and marking ceiling joists.</div>
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You can choose to have either four ceiling anchors or two, depending on your swing style and setup.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">4. Attach hanging hardware to porch. </span>Once you’re set with measuring and marking where you’ll hang the porch swing, pre-drill holes for the screw eyes into the ceiling and screw them in by hand. If you’re anchoring onto a short beam between joists, you can also drill all the way through the beam, screw in a bolt and anchor the other side with a washer and nut.</div>
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Add comfort swing springs, if using. Comfort swing springs add some bounce to a swing and can make for smoother swinging. If using, attach to each ceiling anchor, between the screw eye and the chain or rope.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">5. Hang porch swing. </span>It’s optimum to hang your swing 17 to 19 inches off the ground. If you’re using 7-foot-long chains or sections of rope and hanging a porch swing from a standard 8-foot-tall ceiling, it will fall somewhere in this optimum height range.</div>
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For both hanging methods listed, it’s helpful to have a friend hold up the swing while you’re working on mounting.</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Chains: </span>For chain hanging systems that use two ceiling anchors, you’ll use a short chain and a long chain on each side of the swing. (Swing chains usually come this way). On each side of the swing, attach the end of one short chain to the screw eyes in the arm and back of the chair, bringing the chain up to form a small triangle. Use an S-hook to attach the longer chain to the middle of the short chain (at the point of the triangle). Then, attach the long chain to the screw eye in the ceiling with another S-hook. Check that the swing is level by using a level or by counting chain loops.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Rope: </span>Loop four sections of at least 7-foot-long ropes through the four screw eyes on the corners of the swing and connect to the corresponding screw eyes in the ceiling. Knot the rope to hold the swing in place. Use a level to check that the swing is even. Wait to trim the ends of the rope until after you’ve tested the swing.</li>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Add a slight tilt. </span>Porch swings and daybeds with a seat back are often more comfortable if the back of the seat hangs slightly lower than the front of the seat.</div>
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In four-rope or chain setups, before tying off ropes or anchoring the chains, you may want to consider adding 1 inch or one chain link to the two back ropes or chains.<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span></div>
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If you’re using the triangle chain setup (long chain combined with smaller chain), attach the long chain one or two chain links off-center on the smaller chain, placing it closer to the front of the chair to tilt the seat back.<br />
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Give it a swing. </span>Once the swing is mounted, sit down and give it a go. Adjust the chains or wires as necessary if one side feels slightly lower than the other, and adjust the height of the swing as desired. Once you’re happy, trim the excess ends from the bottom of the ropes or knot them up the sides. Excess chains can either be cut with a bolt cutter or hooked into a loop.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">How to Hang a Porch Swing From an Arbor</span></div>
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You can follow the same general steps to hang a swinging seat from an arbor, pergola or under a deck, providing that the structure is strong enough to support a swing.<br />
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-78221967962996525482018-09-05T08:12:00.003-05:002018-09-05T08:12:50.315-05:00To Stage or Not To Stage<br />
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To Stage or Not To Stage</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/08/09/to-stage-or-not-to-stage/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-08-09T12:06:48+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">August 9, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-2058332" height="425" src="https://d3sj2vq3d2xms.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/17115422/To-Stage-KCM.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="550" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2017/08/18/to-stage-or-not-to-stage-that-is-the-question-infographic/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;"><span style="color: black;">Some Highlights:</span></a></h3>
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<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">The <em style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">National Association of Realtors</em> surveyed their members & released the findings of their <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/reports/profile-of-home-staging" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Annual Profile of Home Staging</em></a>.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">50% of staged homes saw a 1-10% increase in dollar value offers from buyers.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">77% of buyer’s agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the home as their own.</li>
<li style="box-sizing: inherit;">The top rooms to stage to attract more buyers are the living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and dining room.</li>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Compliments of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Follow us on </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/"><span style="color: #000099;">Facebook</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek"><span style="color: #000099;">Twitter</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/"><span style="color: #000099;">LinkedIn</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®, and </span><u><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/zatopek_properties/"><span style="color: #000099;">Instagram</span></a></span></u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">®<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Find us at: </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.zatopekproperties.com/">www.ZatopekProperties.com</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf">Texas Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice</a></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 14.98px;"><a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red;">Information About Broker Services</span></a></span></span></div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-35073632317172907572018-09-04T08:18:00.001-05:002018-09-04T08:18:07.678-05:0010 Surefire Ways To Boost Your Curb Appeal<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Quattrocento, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
10 Surefire Ways To Boost Your Curb Appeal</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/08/23/10-surefire-ways-to-boost-your-curb-appeal/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-08-23T12:04:44+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">August 23, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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There’s no need to buy a new house or take on an extensive remodel to get the curb appeal you want. There are many ways to approach your exterior to give it a serious update without a serious overhaul. These are my <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/76558784" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">10 favorite tips</a> for you to boost your house’s first impression.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">1. Stairs.</span> If you update the stairs leading up to your front door, it’s amazing how much of a statement you can make. To beef up the entrance without building a whole new porch, consider a tiered stair design like this one in Boston to give your entrance more presence.<span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"></i></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto;"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="510" src="https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/7191027c022651b4_8305-w400-h510-b0-p0--farmhouse-entry.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="400" /></span><div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">2. Railings.</span> A new railing at the front of your house can really transform its look. Choose a style that reflects your taste. It doesn’t necessarily have to match the style of your house, as eclectic-style homes are the norm these days. Besides, none of us is truly 100 percent one type of style.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">3. Overhangs. </span>By adding a stylish overhang above your front door, not only are you adding something functional to shield you from the sun and rain, you are adding character to the front of your house. Get creative with your overhang and incorporate some architectural screens like this home in Denver.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">4. Materials.</span> Covering your house in a new veneer and siding can breathe fresh life into your exterior. You can layer on brick or stone veneer to bring substance to the front of your home. Also, consider the underside of your overhang — adding tongue and groove cedar can raise your front porch to a new level.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">5. Pathways.</span> You don’t need to spend a fortune on all new landscaping. Start with an interesting walkway to your house and slowly work on the surrounding landscape to get it to where you want it to be.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">6. Soft and hard landscaping. </span>If you want to take on a bigger project, adding soft and hard landscaping is one of the most effective ways to transform the front of your home. It’s best if you work with a landscape designer to come up with a cohesive plan for your walkway, stairs, plants and flowers. This takes some planning and it can be costly, but it’s satisfying to witness the transformation.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">7. Paint.</span> A simple paint job for the front of your home can work wonders. There are a lot of computer programs that let you see the exterior of your house in various color combinations. Find the combo you love most and go for it. If you grow tired of it, you can always change it.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">8. House numbers</span>. Adding new house numbers is a simple way to make an instant impact on the exterior of your home. Besides just picking out new numbers, consider where they will work and look the best. It might be a different location than your current house numbers.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">9. Front doors.</span> If your budget lets you update just one thing at a time, you may want to start with your front door. Consider choosing something that lets light into the interior of your house. That serves dual purposes, by changing the feel of the outside of your home and altering the inside too.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">10. Lighting.</span> It’s amazing how much lighting can transform a space, even on the outside. Consider wall sconces, overhead lighting and path lights for maximum impact.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf">Texas
Real Estate Commission Consumer Protection Notice</a></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-33235133963542370472018-08-31T08:31:00.000-05:002018-08-31T08:31:01.631-05:00Jump Start Your Dazzling Fall Garden!<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #888888; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: Quattrocento, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
Jump Start Your Dazzling Fall Garden With Just 1 Simple Plant</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/08/30/jump-start-your-dazzling-fall-garden-with-just-1-simple-plant/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-08-30T21:19:53+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">August 30, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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Imagine the impact of a pot of brightly blooming flowers set on your doorstep. The eye is immediately drawn to the color, skimming over other areas of the porch, perhaps not noticing details like peeling paint or steps in need of a sweep. In the same way, adding just one colorful perennial or a shimmering ornamental grass can <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/90378130" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">rejuvenate </a><a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/90378130" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">tired</a><a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/90378130" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">, </a><a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/90378130" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">end of season borders</a>. Give them a boost with one of these high-impact plants that cross over from summer to fall.</div>
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Take a look at how planting a single fall favorite, such as gold-petaled black-eyed Susan or purple fountain grass, can gracefully transition beds from summer to fall.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">‘Autumn Joy’ Stonecrop </span></div>
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(<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Sedum </i>‘Autumn Joy’)</div>
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This easy-care plant is a popular choice for fall gardens, with good reason. Its standout blooms come into their own in September, turning from pale green to rosy pink and then to deep pomegranate, just as many other summer flowers are beginning to fade. Sticking just one of these clumping perennials into a garden bed will immediately draw the eye and the attention of butterflies and other pollinators.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop with fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides)</i></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Pair it with:</span> Ornamental grasses and fine-leaved perennials, such as artemisia or thyme. The contrast in textures between stonecrop’s succulent leaves and chunky flowers and feathery grasses or small-leaved plants makes for a standout combination.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Where it will grow:</span> Hardy to minus 35<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 10; <a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/" rel="nofollow noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">find your zone</a>)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Water requirement:</span> Moderate; low once established<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Light requirement:</span> Full sun to partial shade<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mature size: </span>1½ to 2 feet tall and wide</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Black-Eyed Susan</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />(<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Rudbeckia hirta</i>)The cheerful golden-petaled and dark-centered blooms of black-eyed Susan, also called gloriosa daisy, enliven late-summer and fall borders. The plants, native to prairies of the central United States, are much beloved by butterflies. Cultivars may be available at your local nursery, producing flowers in shades of red, bronze and orange and with bicolored petals.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Pair it with:</span> For a fall bouquet garden, pair black-eyed Susan with other late-summer blooms that work well as cut flowers, such as shasta daisy (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Leucanthemum x superbum</i>; shown here with black-eyed Susan), annual sunflowers, chrysanthemums and coneflowers (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Echinacea </i>spp.).</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Where it will grow:</span> Hardy to minus 35<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 7)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Water requirement:</span> Moderate; low once established<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Light requirement:</span> Full sun<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mature size: </span>2 to 3 feet tall and 1 foot to 2 feet wide</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mardigras Sneezeweed</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />(<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Helenium </i>spp.)Look past the unattractive common name for what is a gorgeous late-summer bloomer. Flowers bloom from August to October, with petals in yellow, orange, red and striped variations that grow from the center like rays of the <span class="skimlinks-unlinked" style="box-sizing: inherit;">sun.The</span> plants grow in clumps that can mature to be about 3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. To refresh borders this season, remove tired-looking summer annuals and fill in the gaps with budding sneezeweed.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Pair it with:</span> The chocolate centers of sneezeweed flowers play well with plants that have brown or deep bronze hues. In <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/13099560/list/great-garden-combo-5-high-intensity-plants-for-high-intensity-sun" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">this border</a>, sneezeweed is combined with the brown seed heads of a rush (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Juncus</i> sp.), purple-bronze leaves of ‘Grace’ smoke tree (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Cotinus </i>‘Grace’) and dark-centered black-eyed Susans to make a stunning quartet.<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Where it will grow:</span> Hardy to minus 35<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 9)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Water requirement:</span> Moderate<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Light requirement:</span> Full sun<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mature size: </span>3 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, depending on variety</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Purple fountain grass and lion’s ear (Leonotis leonurus) line a Southern California pathway.</i><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Purple Fountain Grass </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />(<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Pennisetum setaceum </i>‘Rubrum’)The grande dame of ornamental grasses, purple fountain grass can grow up to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide in a single season, with arching purple leaves and fuzzy, caterpillar-like seed heads. The commonly available ‘Rubrum’ cultivar does not reseed as other Pennisetums do, making it a good variety to plant in the home garden.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Pair it with:</span> While purple fountain grass is often added to planting beds studded with other deeply saturated hues of red, orange and gold, it can be paired with silver and blue-green foliage to create a subtle, elegant vignette that looks particularly fresh in fall.</div>
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A few silver-leaved plants to consider: <i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">C</i><i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">hamaecyparis lawsoniana</i> ‘Blue Surprise’ and dusty miller (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Senecio cineraria</i>), as pictured in this combination, varieties of stonecrop (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Sedum </i>spp.) or variegated<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </i>‘Marjorie Channon’ kōhūhū (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Pittosporum tenuifolium</i> ‘Marjorie Channon’).<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Where it will grow:</span> Hardy to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 3.9<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"></span>degrees Celsius (zones 9 to 10)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Water requirement:</span> Moderate<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Light requirement:</span> Full sun to partial shade<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mature size: </span>3 to 4 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), dense blazing star (Liatris spicata) and ‘Phantom’ Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium ‘Phantom’)</i></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Coneflower </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />(<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Echinacea </i>spp.)</div>
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Another fall garden favorite, coneflower is easy to grow, drought-tolerant once established and consistently in bloom from June to late August or September. Pollinators adore the blooms, which can be left to go to seed, providing a food source for birds and seeding new plants in garden beds.</div>
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<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">White and pink coneflowers surround <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4822053/list/great-design-plant-blue-oat-grass" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">blue oat grass</a>(Helictotrichon sempervirens).</i><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Pair it with:</span> For a naturalistic meadow look, plant coneflowers blooming in shades of pink, white and pale yellow in beds with mixed ornamental grasses or lavender-blue-flowering Russian sage (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Perovskia atriplicifolia</i>).<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Where it will grow:</span> Hardy to minus 35<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"> </span>degrees Celsius (zones 3 to 8)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Water requirement:</span> Moderate; low once established<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Light requirement:</span> Full sun to partial shade<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mature size: </span>2 to 5 feet tall and 1½ to 2 feet wide</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">New Zealand Wind Grass </span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />(<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Anemanthele lessoniana</i>)This cool-season grass is a medium olive green for much of the year, but come fall the wiry blades turn a brilliant orange. Once the color change occurs, the grass appears to burn like a fire in planting beds —particularly when backlit. New Zealand wind grass has the added benefit of being resistant to deer and tolerant of difficult growing conditions, like rocky and windy slopes. It does, however, need excellent drainage; if you have clay soil, amend heavily before planting.<img alt="" class="alignnone" height="464" src="https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/5a91f0ea0e6146dc_2220-w400-h464-b0-p0--home-design.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Pair it with:</span> Given its fiery golden orange color and distinctive texture, New Zealand wind grass stands out next to most other plants. Play with subtle combinations of it and plants with gray-green and silver foliage, such as silver carpet (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Dymondia margaretae</i>), shown here, or low-growing stonecrop. For more drama, combine it with purple-leaved plants, such as spurge (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Euphorbia</i> ‘Blackbird’) or dark purple smoke tree (<i style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Cotinus </i>spp.).<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Where it will grow: </span>Hardy to 20<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"></span>degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 6.7 degrees Celsius (zones 8 to 10)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Water requirement:</span> Moderate<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Light requirement:</span> Full sun to partial shade<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Mature size: </span>3 feet tall and wide</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Planting Tips</span></div>
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For instant results, look for semimature to mature plants at the nursery. For perennials, pick plants that look vigorous and are in bud; for ornamental grasses, choose ones that look full in their containers.</div>
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As always, pay attention to the growing conditions each plant needs to thrive: Does it need full sun or partial shade? How much water? Choose the placement in your garden accordingly.</div>
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Once you bring the plants home, get them in the ground as soon as you can. More mature plants run the risk of being root-bound in their nursery containers, so it’s best to carefully loosen roots before planting and to plant your choices relatively quickly.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Bonus: </span>While you may be planting now to refresh your late-summer garden, you’re actually getting a jump-start on next year’s spring garden as well. Perennials and ornamental grasses planted in fall make use of the cool winter months to establish their root systems. Come spring, they’ll be ready to burst into growth, giving your garden a head start.</div>
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-73386879837155837002018-08-30T07:52:00.000-05:002018-08-30T07:52:17.980-05:00Ultimate Lounging For All Patios<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #888888; font-family: "Fanwood Text", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #666666; font-family: Quattrocento, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
Ultimate Lounging For All Patios</h3>
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<span class="posted-on" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Posted on <a href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/2018/08/28/ultimate-lounging-for-all-patios/" rel="bookmark" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2018-08-28T21:16:42+00:00" style="box-sizing: inherit;">August 28, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: inline;"> by <span class="author vcard" style="border: none; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="url fn n" href="https://zatopekproperties.home.blog/author/zatopekpropertiesblog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;">zatopekpropertiesblog</a></span></span></div>
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Many of us aren’t able to change the sizes and layouts of our patios or decks. We’re left to choose furniture and its arrangement, decide what to plant, and select other outdoor elements to make the space our own. Make tiny terraces feel larger and expansive decks more inviting with these tricks for <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/90377566" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;">styling your outdoor lounge.</a></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Small Bistro </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Approximate size: </span>48 square feet (4.5 square meters) or smaller<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Great for: </span>Hanging out on your own or with one or two other people<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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If you’re starting with a deck, patio or balcony with a small footprint, most design challenges center on how to maximize the space. Steal a design trick from this contemporary terrace in London and stick to a light and bright color palette to visually open the space and make it feel larger than it actually is.</div>
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This cozy balcony in Stockholm makes an argument for getting the largest outdoor lounge your small patio will support. The homeowners squeezed a sectional sofa into their postage stamp-size terrace, creating enough seating to host a small group. Piles of pillows, a soft throw, a bistro table for drinks and a chevron outdoor rug make the space even more inviting.</div>
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<u style="box-sizing: inherit;">Hanging chairs</u> can be a great option if you have an awning or covered porch. They make a bold design statement and keep the floor clear. A single cloud-gray egg-shaped chair hung in the corner of a covered porch looks almost irresistible, encouraging one to curl up with a good book.</div>
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There are a few ways to approach a small, narrow space such as a skinny rooftop terrace or a <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/Side-Yard-Ideas" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">side yard</a> patio. This rooftop deck in New York uses wall-mounted planters to save floor space and adds lounge chair seating that is long but narrow. A hammock with a floor stand may not be practical to walk around, but it sure looks like a dreamy destination for an afternoon nap.Another strategy for narrow spaces is to use furniture, screens or medium-size plants to divide the space. For example, placing a bench seat running across the shorter side of a patio can help the space feel wider and less like a corridor.<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Medium-Size Outdoor Living Room </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Approximate size: </span>120 square feet (11 square meters)<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Great for: </span>Kicking back with a small group<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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Combinations of furniture, such as a built-in bench paired with outdoor chairs or a sofa, often work well to allow flexibility, expand seating and open up more room for planting on medium-size patios or decks.</div>
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The designer of this southwest London backyard built bench seating into the planter to save space and create a cozy nook for a couple of people. A folding table and a pair of bright Acapulco chairs can be moved in to allow seating for additional guests.<u style="box-sizing: inherit;"></u><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="439" src="https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/f1e161d303905374_6327-w660-h439-b0-p0--contemporary-deck.jpg" style="box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="660" /><div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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This medium-size roof deck in London’s Kensington neighborhood also uses a combination of seating options to comfortably accommodate up to seven people. The designer included four cushy ottomans instead of a second outdoor sofa. This keeps the seating arrangement flexible and views of the garden and rooftops uninterrupted. The low-lying ottomans also open up space for a row of boxwoods potted in tall planters, a pleasing design feature of the terrace.</div>
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Decks that are 12 by 12 feet, plus or minus a foot or so, can be ideal for hosting a small group in a space that feels intimate rather than too spread out. If your existing hardscape feels larger than what you can use for a lounge, consider quartering off a section of it as a small group seating <span class="skimlinks-unlinked" style="box-sizing: inherit;">area.For</span> example, this San Francisco backyard uses an L-shaped bench seat to define a lounge area around an outdoor table. The space feels cozy and inviting for four or five people to share a conversation.<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Larger Entertaining Spot</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Approximate size: </span>168 square feet (15.6 square meters) or larger<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;">Great for: </span>Hosting a backyard party for six or more<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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One of the challenges of choosing the furniture layout and planting design for a large patio is making an expansive space feel more human-scale. For example, arranging large-scale outdoor seating in U-shaped or semicircular layouts, around a coffee table or fire pit, can make the space feel like a cozy, more inviting gathering place.</div>
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This expansive rooftop terrace in London, also shown in the previous photo, uses a U-shaped arrangement of sectional outdoor sofas to form an inviting lounge for a large group. The surrounding planters — filled with trimmed <a href="https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/3433091/list/great-design-plant-boxwood" rel="noopener" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; color: #e8554e; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">boxwood</a>, pale pink and white geraniums, fragrant confederate jasmine and a small tree — encircle the seating area, enhancing the pleasant feeling of enclosure.</div>
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This garden in Sheffield, England, achieves a similarly intimate feeling in a large space with two semicircular sectional sofas arranged to face each other across a small table. This is a great spot to entertain guests on warm summer evenings.</div>
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Lowering the ceiling of an outdoor room can make an open area feel less exposed. In this backyard in Marin County in Northern California, a movable shade sail set on wires provides cover from the sun and makes the space feel more <span class="skimlinks-unlinked" style="box-sizing: inherit;">intimate.Other</span> ways to lower the ceiling of your outdoor room: Build a pergola, plant trees to provide a leafy canopy or hang crisscrossing string lights overhead.<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.7; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
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Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-33011053383505642582018-04-03T08:59:00.003-05:002018-04-03T08:59:58.331-05:00Ugly Truth: Unprofessionalism in Real Estate! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG02to-6nz6ZMepuivl1VUjjDWUSOaNePghWSChb1xLktUeyDEasbIa03DTnlg_diGI4Z82ZqfXgkQ-XkNm0xSdADV2fYqU8A0d07IwbjDLbXAcnZv0sGtgpB3nYvsJ79dQAcNgG-/s1600/Professionalism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQG02to-6nz6ZMepuivl1VUjjDWUSOaNePghWSChb1xLktUeyDEasbIa03DTnlg_diGI4Z82ZqfXgkQ-XkNm0xSdADV2fYqU8A0d07IwbjDLbXAcnZv0sGtgpB3nYvsJ79dQAcNgG-/s1600/Professionalism.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ugly Truth: Unprofessionalism in Real
Estate!</span></b><br />
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Unfortunately, the real estate industry is not immune from the
unprofessionalism of many agents and brokers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After spending nearly 20 years in the industry, it still disappoints me every
time I witness the unprofessionalism of a fellow real estate agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about the “dress for success”
that has changed from business suits to jeans and untucked shirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This I can deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking about the lack of courtesy and
decency, the blatant lack of respect for others.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The two unprofessional acts that I witness more often than
most have to deal with agents lack of respect for home sellers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first, and biggest unprofessional action in my opinion,
is not showing a property they have scheduled to show, or showing up after the scheduled
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not showing up at all is probably
the rudest & most disrespectful thing an agent or broker can do to a
seller.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seller has prepared
the home for the showing, maybe removed a pet or two, and vacated their home so
a potential buyer could comfortably view their property as their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only to come home an hour or two later to
find out it was all for naught.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I understand there are times when a potential buyer changes
their mind and decides they no longer want to see a property, or maybe running
late, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I feel the buyer
would be perfectly fine if their agent simply pulled over and took a minute or
two to cancel or reschedule the appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The buyer would probably compliment the professionalism of their agent and
feel more confident about their choice of a buyer’s agent. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would most likely think, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“if
their agent shows this kind of decency and professionalism to sellers whom they
don’t represent; how much more professionalism do you think they will show us, their
client?”</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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The second most common act that shows lack of respect and professionalism
is not telling sellers what the they and their buyers thought of the property –
good or back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our industry terminology
we call it “providing feedback”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
heard many agents’ excuses for not providing feedback, such as: “I showed so
many properties I can’t remember them all” – my translation:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I do
a horrible job of listening to my buyers and I don’t take good notes</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, “I am just so busy I don’t have time to
provide feedback” – my translation: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I do an extremely poor job of time
management, so I would prefer to relay my lack of skills as being
unprofessional and disrespectful.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And my favorite, “I don’t remember, but obviously my buyers didn’t like
it or we would have written on offer” – my translation: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am so full of myself and have
an uncontrollable ego, therefore you and your sellers just need to deal with it!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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At the end of every day, or most times in between showings,
I take the time to enter constructive feedback of all my buyer showings &
my personal previews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the
day, it could take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just the right thing to do, showing
respect and professionalism to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
have zero tolerance for agents or brokers that would rather give excuses for
their lack of professionalism, than practice it.</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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So how do we fix it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not sure we can ever fix it entirely, but I think we could all make an
impact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It starts with the brokerages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every brokerage is required to have a Policy
& Procedures Manual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have a policy
regarding showing appointments and feedback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe the real estate associations could provide more training on
professional behaviors in the industry and maybe the Texas Real Estate Commission
could make it mandatory to take a class regarding professionalism when applying
for a license, and when taking continuing education requirements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know, but until then I hope the few
agents that do the majority of the transactions, and show the most
professionalism in our industry, continue to be a beacon of light to those that
don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in light of the few bad apples –
there are a ton of GREAT AGENTS and BROKERS that show the utmost
professionalism to all!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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I’d love to hear your comments, opinions, or personal
experiences.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Compliments of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facebook</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">®, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">®, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LinkedIn</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">®,
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Find us at: </span><a href="http://www.zatopekproperties.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.ZatopekProperties.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf"><span style="background: white; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Texas Real Estate Commission
Consumer Protection Notice</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Information About Broker
Services</span></a><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-85032637826697224252018-03-07T09:12:00.000-06:002018-03-07T09:12:36.343-06:00Spring is Home Selling Season!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuiiUXFCpJUZnxANOlvNYyMrhrdqyigkfNL6tMs6pjKLR_JE1Jc6fnLAD5grUgf71_LQtTOFCGH652ASW074b9ltwa1lPt9NNEbr6JJiPLFmNGmXlZiq19bW_6C0RQTRlOQLKGyDW/s1600/For+Sale+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuiiUXFCpJUZnxANOlvNYyMrhrdqyigkfNL6tMs6pjKLR_JE1Jc6fnLAD5grUgf71_LQtTOFCGH652ASW074b9ltwa1lPt9NNEbr6JJiPLFmNGmXlZiq19bW_6C0RQTRlOQLKGyDW/s1600/For+Sale+House.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Spring is Home Selling
Season!</span></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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To maximize your price and minimize your DOM (Days on Market)
there are some tasks you may want to complete before you place that “For Sale”
sign in your yard. Many of the suggestions are simple, common-sense items,
others will require some time and investment; however, you will reap the
rewards when a buyer proclaims, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“This is the one!”</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Eight Simple Tips when preparing your
home when selling:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Curb Appeal:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Take a long,
hard look from the street. Does it have curb appeal? Is it warm, inviting and
well-kept? Keeping the lawn mowed, weeding garden areas, trimming unruly
bushes, resealing the driveway and sweeping the porch will maximize the appeal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Many researchers claim 60% - 80% of the buyer’s
decision is made immediately upon curb appeal!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Front Door:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Pay special attention to your front
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repaint or refinish, polish the
doorknobs and locks, clean the glass, oil the hinges, and definitely make sure
it opens/closes with ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nothing
sends up a red flag faster than a front door that needs attention or is hard to
open!</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Paint:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>If your home
needs to be painted, this is the time to do it. The interior paint job should
be fresh and clean and in a single, neutral color throughout. This is not the
time to experiment with different colors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same goes for the exterior. Don’t forget shutters
and windows. If your home has cement-board, vinyl, or aluminum siding, be sure
it’s clean and in good repair. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tell
a potential buyer you took exceptional care of your property!</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Flooring:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Old, worn, or
stained carpeting needs to be replaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you have hardwood floors under old carpet that is in fair condition, tear up
the carpet and refinish them; today’s buyers love hardwood floors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professionally clean the grout in tile floors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not fall for the old myth “Oh, I’ll just
give an allowance, so the buyer can make their own selections!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></b>Just do it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Minor Repair
Items:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span>Make a list of all those little repairs you’ve been putting off,
then fix each one. The hole in the screen, the loose doorknob, the doorbell
that doesn’t work, the leaky faucet all should be repaired before buyers start
looking at your home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Don’t
wait until you have a potential buyer, because you may be waiting a lot longer
if you don’t fix them first!</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Appliances:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>If your appliances
are old and outdated, replace them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buyers
don’t want to be faced with replacing appliances as soon as they move in, unless
they get a HUGE discount on sales price! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New stainless steel or black appliances
already in place will reap a greater ROI!</i></b> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Declutter &
De-Personalize:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Clear
your house of clutter and personal photos, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove as much as possible from counters,
shelves, and closets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clean, open spaces
make your home look bigger to prospective buyers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You’ve already made the decision to move, so
start packing now!</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red;">Clean, Clean,
and Clean some more:</span></u></b><span style="color: red;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Your
house should pass the “white-glove” test, daily!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hire a professional cleaning service to come for
an initial deep cleaning, and then have them come back at least once a week
while your house in on the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
forget blinds, ceiling fans, the top of the fridge, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everything should be exceptionally clean
& smell good when a buyer makes that all-important first impression visit.</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Compliments of;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Follow us on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZatopekProperties/"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Facebook</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_Zatopek"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliuszatopek/"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">LinkedIn</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">®,
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Find us at: </span><a href="http://www.zatopekproperties.com/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">www.ZatopekProperties.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf"><span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">Texas Real Estate Commission
Consumer Protection Notice</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://members.har.com/mhf/terms/dispBrokerInfo.cfm?sitetype=aws&cid=471355"><span style="color: red; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Information About Broker
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<br />Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1166312213073058695.post-5427837812089526532018-02-19T16:24:00.000-06:002018-02-19T16:24:20.398-06:00What came first, the Chicken or the Egg?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb5zxoiexHotVy5Pl_TqPHiXauG8UG3EO9LauN8S29LfZ3EkhZJ7voF18tcTgHEtxwEdjWLGha3i5q44iddVA7yONcw6KpZT3yWRYuF8XlH63pfJEP9TCihkMIk8JvXrYfnQiHVN2/s1600/chicken-or-egg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="477" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFb5zxoiexHotVy5Pl_TqPHiXauG8UG3EO9LauN8S29LfZ3EkhZJ7voF18tcTgHEtxwEdjWLGha3i5q44iddVA7yONcw6KpZT3yWRYuF8XlH63pfJEP9TCihkMIk8JvXrYfnQiHVN2/s320/chicken-or-egg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We are all just “RENTERS!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Heard an interesting analogy
of </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">home-ownership</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> the other day, or one could say it was a great rebuttal to the
American Dream of “owning” your home.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The speaker stated no
one actually “owns” their home, or property of any kind for that matter,
outright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His rational stated that if
you actually “owned” something, then it could not be taken away from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You would have to be willing to rid yourself
of ownership by either selling or giving it away to someone else who would then
gain ownership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A participant in the
audience argued that since he occupied his home without a mortgage or any other
lien, then he did in fact “own” his home!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The speaker calmly asked if he lived in a state or municipality that levies
property taxes on his home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
participant answered yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The speaker asked
if he lived in a neighborhood that had a home owner association (HOA) and if so,
do they access homeowner association dues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The participant again answered yes to both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The speaker then asked
the gentleman if he did not pay his taxes or his HOA dues, did either authority
have the right to foreclose on his property; thereby forcibly & legally
taking it from the so called “owner” without mutual consent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And therefore, making the “owner” a “renter”
and the authorities “landlords”!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The participant thought
for a moment and realized the point the speaker was making, as he walked away
wondering if he did in fact “own” his home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Personally,
I still like to think a person “owns” their home if they hold the deed to the
property and the authorities mentioned only have an interest in the property allowing
them to take action if the “owner” defaults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But an interesting take on the subject, nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did make me stop and think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe there’s merit to the argument, maybe
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have concluded that it is not
worthy of time well spent – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">similar to caring
if the chicken or egg came first!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Compliments of;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Julius F Zatopek III – Broker/Owner<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notices:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<a href="https://www.trec.texas.gov/sites/default/files/pdf-forms/CN%201-2.pdf"><span style="background: white; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Texas Real Estate Commission
Consumer Protection Notice</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Julius F. Zatopek, IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14304238323170006921noreply@blogger.com0