You’re ready to sell your home, you’ve got a buyer lined up, you’re about to make an offer on that great home down the street, and then… everything falls apart.

It’s a problem that’s more common than you’d think with home sales: a buyer has made an offer, the seller accepts, and it seems like the deal is done. But then something comes along to ruin the sale and it’s back to square one.

The good news is there are easy solutions that can help save even the biggest deal breakers.

Bad Appraisals

Industry professionals overwhelmingly named appraisals as the biggest obstacle they face in getting deals to the closing table.

The solution: Gather as much information as possible about your home.

Your agent should be providing comprehensive information about comparable home sales in your area. Anything you can add to that—details about homes that sold, updates you have done—can help.

Credit Mistakes

Boo boos on your credit report from years ago are one thing. Running out to make a big purchase on credit the week before you’re set to close is another.

Your loan preapproval is based off your financial situation at the start of your escrow, and actual loan approval can be impeded by making large purchases (especially ones that cause more debt and monthly payments).

The solution: Wait until after your loan has recorded to make big purchases.

That way you don’t have any chance of derailing your deal. The bonus is that once your mortgage shows up on your credit report, you might also be able to secure interest-free credit lines from retailers like Best Buy or Home Depot.

Bad Home Inspections

When the inspection turns up a few issues, your buyer will probably request you pay for them. Especially with big stuff like roofing problems or water damage. You can choose to say no, which may result in a cancelled contract. And, you’ll have to disclose the issues that were uncovered, which may make it even harder to find another buyer.

The solution: Negotiate.

There may be some wiggle room so you don’t have to cover 100 percent of the costs of repairs. Or, do the necessary repairs with your vendors. You may know people who can get you a deal to save you money.

Unpaid Taxes

So, the inspections looked great (aside from the water damage in the closet, which the seller agreed to replace) and the loan is all set to go. But then it turns out there was something else in that closet. Five years of unpaid property tax bills! And you’re just finding out by running title a few days before closing.

The solution: Do your due diligence to make sure you are protecting your interests. If this had been addressed early enough in the process, there might have been time for a negotiation to save the deal. Make sure you educate yourself to be able to ask the right questions in the escrow process to avoid this kind of tragedy.

Bank Delays

One of the biggest killer of deals these days is time itself. Many deals are falling through not because a buyer isn’t qualified for a mortgage, but because it takes the bank too long to approve it.

The solution: Good ‘ole communication.

A nervous seller may pull the plug on a deal that’s taking too long, especially if they have other options. Keeping the lines of communication open—between buyer’s and seller’s agents, and also between the buyer’s agent and the lender—can help save it.

Tense Negotiations

You have a potential buyer—finally!—who loves your home. Now it’s just a matter of agreeing on a price. But you’re miles away and no one wants to budge. Even though your real estate agent told you from the beginning that your sales price was too high and is encouraging you come down, you just don’t want to take less that what you think your house is worth.

The solution: Listen to your agent

A professional Realtor really does know best when it comes to home prices. If you refuse to negotiate, you’ll probably lose your buyer. And when you find another, you’ll be in the same negotiating situation. If you’ve already found another house and are paying for two mortgages, you’re losing money by not selling, even if the price isn’t exactly what you had in mind.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

We bring our phones with us everywhere we go, including places where a small electronic device may not be safe – namely near water.  No matter how overprotective we are about our precious babies, mistakes are bound to happen; one small slip up and your phone could end up lying at the bottom of a pool, sink, or toilet…  

Water and electronics don’t mix

Water damage can have some deleterious effects on our phones or tablets.  But there may still be hope depending on how long the phone was exposed to water.  That’s why it is critical to remove your phone from the water as quickly as possible.  From here, you can begin the process of saving the phone.  Before we get into that, however, you should know that there are certain things that could worsen the phone’s damage.  If your phone has water damage, under no circumstances should you ever:

• turn it on
• press any buttons or keys
• tap, shake, or bang it
• take it apart (Your device comes with a Liquid Damage Indicator (LDI) which, when activated, could void your warranty, and this could be triggered when you open your phone. Only take it apart if you absolutely need to and you have experience)
• blow on/in it
• heat it up (such as with a blow dryer)
• cool it down (such as placing it in the freezer)

Now, onto saving your phone!

1. Turn it off, if it isn’t already.
2. Remove any protective casing, SIM cards, and microSD cards.  If possible, remove the battery
3. Use a cloth or paper towel to dab the phone dry.  Avoid wiping, as this may spread the liquid, causing it to reach other parts of the phone.
4. Bury the phone in a container full of uncooked rice, which will soak up remaining water.  Let dry for a few days, and do not try to turn it on until after it’s been drying for an appropriate amount of time.
5. When your phone is sufficiently dry, remove it from the rice, insert the battery, and turn it on.
6. If your phone doesn’t turn on, charge it.  If it doesn’t charge, the battery or charging port may be damaged.  Try using a different battery, if you have one.
7. If your phone turns on and appears to run smoothly, test out various functions such as speakers and touch screen to make sure they still work.

How to prevent water damage

Obviously, the best way to avoid water damage to any electronic devices is to keep them away from water!  If you’re at the pool, keep your phone in a purse or water resistant bag as far away from the pool as possible.  Splashing happens!  When doing dishes, place your phone on the kitchen table.  And if you find it necessary to bring your phone into the bathroom (which is a very bad idea), put it on a shelf.

Waterproof phone cases are generally a great way to protect your phone from water.  If you go this route, don’t simply pick whatever’s cheapest.  You want the case to actually work, right?  Brands such as Otter Box, Survivor, and Catalyst have a great selection of reliable, good quality waterproof cases.

Water resistant phones are sometimes severely misunderstood by consumers.  When a phone manufacturer advertises its product as water resistant, it only applies to a specific set of conditions, such as the clarity of the water, the depth of the submersion, and the length of time the phone is submerged.  Remember, water resistant DOES NOT equal waterproof.  

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Acadiana’s biggest and most anticipated music festival is finally here – the 2016 installment of Festival International de Louisiane will be held next week from Wednesday, April 20 to Sunday, April 24 in Downtown Lafayette.  This family-oriented event is free for all to attend!

Since 1986, Festival International has aimed to enrich the community with a celebration of its native cultures through performing arts, educate the public of the historical achievements and artistic expressions of related global cultures, and develop culture and tourism, as well as enhance economic development by expanding Louisiana’s reputation as an arts center and a destination for artistic events.

The Festival brings a variety of unique and emerging performers from across the globe to Southwest Louisiana.  Each year, artists from Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and the Americas are invited to share their talents with the community.  In addition to music, the event also features workshops, theater, and other forms of performance arts.

Music lovers, foodies, and art aficionados alike will be pleasantly surprised by just how much Festival International has to offer.  This year’s food vendors include some of Lafayette’s most prestigious local eateries, such as Fezzo’s, Bon Temps Grill, Blue Dog Cafe, Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn, and over a dozen regional brewing companies.  More than 150 artists’ booths will display unique artwork from around the world.

Head over to festivalinternational.org to check out the full music lineup and other experiences such as Cirque de la Rue and Rhythms and Roots series.  Be sure to head Downtown next weekend to help celebrate 30 years of Festival International de Louisiane!

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Why Thin Vegetable Seedlings?

Vegetables need space to grow, but many times it’s just not practical to start seeds off with the desired final spacing. Plants started in pots are usually not a problem. You can separate them when it’s time to transplant outdoors. Plants that are direct seeded in the ground and especially seeds of root vegetables, are another matter. These plants will need to be thinned out.

Thinning seedlings produces healthier plants and higher yields by:

1. Allowing room for proper growth
2. Reducing competition for water and nutrients from nearby plants
3. Allowing for good air circulation between plants

Some larger seeds, like radishes and parsnips, can be spaced at planting, but you don’t always get 100% germination and you could wind up with spaces within your rows. Some seeds may look large, like beets, but they are actually little clusters of seeds. Even spacing these out will result in overcrowded seedlings.

When to Thin Vegetable Seedlings

• Seedlings are usually thinned once they have 1-2 sets of true leaves. Most will be 2-3″ tall by then and easy enough to grasp and pull.
• Thinning while the soil is damp will help you pull just the excess plants while leaving the ones you want to keep.
• Thinning in the evening gives the remaining plants a chance to adjust before being exposed to heat and sunlight.

How To Thin Vegetable Seedlings

Plants like flowers and leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach can be thinned by gently pulling the unwanted plants. If you are growing in blocks, not rows, you can try simply running a flexible rake through the seedlings. Plants won’t be perfectly spaced, but it will open more space for them to grow.

Root vegetables, like onions, beets and carrots, can be more sensitive to thinning because disturbing the roots while young can cause deformation. Transplanting long rooted vegetables, like carrots and turnips, will cause them to fork. You’ll want to pull one seedling at a time or try cutting the unwanted seedlings at the soil line, instead of pulling. Spacing will vary by varieties and whether you want your vegetables to grow to full size, but in general, leave the anticipated size of the mature vegetable plus a couple of inches on either side. Your seed packet will list optimal spacing.

Vegetable plants that need thinning include:

Beets (3-6″ spacing)
Carrots (2-3″ spacing)
Lettuce (18-24″ spacing)
Onions (3-5″ spacing)
Parsnips (3-6″ spacing)
Radishes (2-3″ spacing)
Rutabagas (8″ spacing)
Spinach (2-6″ spacing)
Turnips (2-4″ spacing)

It can be rough to sacrifice so many vegetable plants. Some seedlings, like lettuce, beets and spinach, can be harvested and tossed into you salad at anytime, so all is not lost.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News