Posts in category 'Homeownership'

Owning a home means there will always be something that needs attention. Some repairs are large, expensive, and absolutely require a trained professional. Others are much smaller than they first appear. The difficult part is often figuring out which is which. Recently, Terry and I had one of those experiences at my daughter's house.

One room in her home was not cooling as well as the others. We discovered that a section of ductwork in the attic had lost much of its insulation. I asked about having that particular section repaired, but the answer I received was that the ductwork would need to be redone instead of simply rewrapping the damaged area. There may have been valid reasons for that recommendation, including warranty, liability, or workmanship concerns, but it was a much larger solution than the problem we were trying to solve.

So we started asking more questions....

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If you own a home in Tall Pines Plantation and have found yourself wondering why some homes sell quickly while others sit on the market, the current activity gives us a few useful clues. July was especially quiet, with no new ratified contracts or closed sales between July 10 and July 20. Since then, however, we have seen movement. The important lesson is not that every home needs to be inexpensive or completely renovated. Instead, buyers appear to be responding when the price, condition, and overall value of a property make sense together.

One of the clearest examples is the home on Foxtail Pine Road that was listed for $275,000 and went under contract within just a few days. I personally went through that house. It was not completely updated, and I noticed some cracking around a few doorways that a buyer would reasonably want to investigate during due diligence. At the same time, the house had a lot going for i...

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Every so often, a past client calls and says, "Bonnie, I think we might want to move."

My first question usually isn't, "What do you want to buy?" It is why do you want to move?

Sometimes there is a very real reason. The house is too small. The stairs have become a problem. The commute is exhausting. The family has changed, the neighborhood no longer fits, or the monthly expenses simply do not make sense anymore.

But sometimes, after living in the same house for years, people are simply ready for something to feel different.

Before giving up a mortgage payment you may never see again, I think it is worth looking at the whole picture. What are you paying now for your mortgage, taxes and HOA? What would those expenses look like in another home? Would your com...

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You drive into your neighborhood, pass a small camera near the entrance and probably never give it another thought. But what if you suddenly wonder: Is that camera recording my license plate? Where does that information go? And who can see it?

Those are reasonable questions.

Some HOAs and communities use automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras as part of their security systems. Flock Safety is one well-known provider, although it is not the only company offering this technology.

What does a license plate camera actually record?

An ALPR camera is different from an ordinary security camera.

According to Flock Safety, its cameras can capture a vehicle's license plate, vehicle characteristics, the time and date, and the location of...

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When homeowners think about improving their homes, they often focus on kitchens and bathrooms. Those updates can certainly add appeal, but many of the smartest investments are the ones that quietly make a home safer, more comfortable, less expensive to own, and easier to maintain. Some may not dramatically increase an appraisal, but they often make a noticeable difference in daily life.

An insulated garage door can help regulate temperatures in the garage, reduce outside noise, and improve curb appeal. Adding a garage door reinforcement strut helps prevent the door from flexing over time, especially on wider doors with automatic openers. A smart garage door opener let...

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