Lafayette, LA Real Estate

Lafayette, LA real estate news

Why You Should Use a Realtor

It’s a slow Sunday morning. You’ve just brewed your Nespresso and popped open your laptop to check out the latest home listings before you hit the road for a day of open houses.

You’re DIYing this real estate thing, and you think you’re doing pretty well—after all, any info you might need is at your fingertips online, right? That and your own sterling judgment.

Oh, dear home buyer (or seller!)—we know you can do it on your own. But you really, really shouldn’t. This is likely the biggest financial decision of your entire life, and you need a Realtor if you want to do it right. Here’s why.

why use a realtor

1. They have loads of expertise

Want to check the MLS for a 4B/2B with an EIK and a W/D? Real estate has its own language, full of acronyms and semi-arcane jargon, and your Realtor is trained to speak that language fluently.

Plus, buying or selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. Realtors have the expertise to help you prepare a killer deal—while avoiding delays or costly mistakes that can seriously mess you up.

2. They have turbocharged searching power

The Internet is awesome. You can find almost anything—anything! And with online real estate listing sites such as yours truly, you can find up-to-date home listings on your own, any time you want. But guess what? Realtors have access to even more listings. Sometimes properties are available but not actively advertised. A Realtor can help you find those hidden gems.

 

Plus, a good local Realtor is going to know the search area way better than you ever could. Have your eye on a particular neighborhood, but it’s just out of your price range? Your Realtor is equipped to know the ins and outs of every neighborhood, so she can direct you toward a home in your price range that you may have overlooked.

3. They have bullish negotiating chops

Any time you buy or sell a home, you’re going to encounter negotiations—and as today’s housing market heats up, those negotiations are more likely than ever to get a little heated.

You can expect lots of competition, cutthroat tactics, all-cash offers, and bidding wars. Don’t you want a savvy and professional negotiator on your side to seal the best deal for you?

And it’s not just about how much money you end up spending or netting. A Realtor will help draw up a purchase agreement that allows enough time for inspections, contingencies, and anything else that’s crucial to your particular needs.

realtors

4. They’re connected to everyone

Realtors might not know everything, but they make it their mission to know just about everyone who can possibly help in the process of buying or selling a home. Mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, home stagers, interior designers—the list goes on—and they’re all in your Realtor’s network. Use them.

5. They adhere to a strict code of ethics

Not every real estate agent is a Realtor, who is a licensed real estate salesperson who belongs to the National Association of Realtors, the largest trade group in the country.

What difference does it make? Realtors are held to a higher ethical standard than licensed agents and must adhere to a Code of Ethics.

6. They’re your sage parent/data analyst/therapist—all rolled into one

The thing about Realtors: They wear a lot of different hats. Sure, they’re salespeople, but they actually do a whole heck of a lot to earn their commission. They’re constantly driving around, checking out listings for you. They spend their own money on marketing your home (if you’re selling). They’re researching comps to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

And, of course, they’re working for you at nearly all hours of the day and night—whether you need more info on a home or just someone to talk to in order to feel at ease with the offer you just put in. This is the biggest financial (and possibly emotional) decision of your life, and guiding you through it isn’t a responsibility Realtors take lightly.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

A Little Something Extra

motivational monday logo

Happy Leap Day!  And what a special day it is.  What makes it so special, you may ask.  It’s just another day—a Monday, no less.

leap-frogsLeap Day can be a very special day, indeed.  It all depends on how you look at it.  You can treat it as any other day, or you can treat it as an extra day with extra opportunities!  This day only comes once every four years; why not make the best of it?

Put in a little extra effort to smile and be productive.  Spend a little extra time with your loved ones.  Buy a little something extra, just for yourself.  And remember that this day, just like every other day, is a gift!

What will you do with your extra day?

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Buying a House to be Renovated

Renovation-Tips-HERO

With the cost on home renovations increasing year-on-year, when looking for a house to renovate you need to be smart and forward thinking. Otherwise, you may find yourself with more work than you bargained for, sending you broke and over budget.

Make a list of your wants and needs.

When buying a house there is the obvious advice such as, don’t rush, do your homework, look around and don’t buy the first house you fall in love with.

Before you set out on the house hunt create a brief, outlining what you are looking for, a wish list so to speak but be realistic.

Be wary of already-renovated houses.

You also want to be careful not to buy something that has undergone previous work where you will be paying a premium for a renovation that isn’t to your taste and that you will want to change at a later date.

Consider how much work you really want to sign up for.

Structural work is when the bills start rolling in, you need a house that just needs a face lift and doesn’t require moving the stairs, knocking out structural walls or large additions in the form of another story.

We suggest finding a house that already has character as it will be generous, enabling you to create an interesting aesthetic with less effort and expense.

Weigh up the pros and cons of each house you view.

At the open house take photos and notes so you can return to them when comparing the properties you have viewed to weigh up the pros and cons of each. Compare all potential properties against your initial brief.

Create a budget that includes costings for each renovation.

Be realistic when identifying the extra costs involved, such as maintenance, aspects that will need replacing and possible structural changes you may intend to do in your renovation. Calculate these proposed costs.

Your Inspection Checklist

Be aware of how to identify possible issues that may be expensive. Here are some things to look out for:

  • Are there cracks in the interior and exterior? Cracks in the walls are usually a sign of subsidence.
  • Did you notice any damaged walls? Bubbling or peeling paint is a sign of a damp area.
  • Are there signs of water penetration that can be identified by water stains or corrosion around wet areas such as the bathroom and laundry?
  • If there is mould in the bathroom there could be a ventilation problem.
  • What is the condition of the floor e.g. what is under the carpet? Does it need replacing?
  • Are the windows and doors in good condition and working order?
  • Does the house have heating and cooling? What condition is it in?
  • Has the house been recently painted? If so, be careful of what the paint could be masking.
  • Is the ceiling sagging? What do the rooflines look like from an external perspective? Are they straight or deflecting?

The Final Step

Before signing any contract it is wise to obtain a professional termite check and to contact a qualified building inspector to provide you with a full report on the property, ensuring you are not biting off more than you can chew.

Have your builder provide you with quotes for all the work and renovations you want to make – you may choose to do some yourself but it’s good to compare how much it will cost to do it yourself or get a professional to do it.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Caprese Stuffed Garlic Butter Portobellos

Wine Down Wednesday Logo New
Caprese is one of my all time favorite Italian dishes—one of my favorite dishes, period!  Creamy mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fresh basil are a flavor trifecta.  The sharp, refreshing taste of caprese salad and its striking simplicity are incomparable.
 
You can see why I get excited any time I see a caprese recipe.  Naturally, I was just as equally excited when I stumbled upon this caprese stuffed garlic butter portobello recipe.  My goodness, the name alone made my stomach growl!
 
This dish is delicious on its own, but it can easily be eaten as a side dish as well.  It’s so incredibly easy to make and only takes minutes to broil in the oven!  It’s the perfect busy weeknight dinner, and it pairs beautifully with a Pinot Noir.
 
caprese stuffed garlic butter portobellosINGREDIENTS
Garlic butter:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
Mushrooms:
  • 5 large Portobello Mushrooms, stem removed, washed and dried with a paper towel
  • 5 fresh mozzarella cheese balls, sliced thinly
  • 1 cup grape (or cherry) tomatoes, sliced thinly
  • fresh basil, shredded to garnish
Balsamic Glaze: (you can use store bought, or this recipe)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
 
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to grill/broil settings on high heat. Arrange oven shelf to the middle of your oven.
  2. Combine all of the Garlic Butter ingredients together in a small saucepan (or microwave safe bowl), and melt until garlic is fragrant. Brush the bottoms of each mushroom and place them, buttered side down, on a baking tray.
  3. Fill each mushroom with the mozzarella slices and tomatoes, and grill/broil until cheese has melted and golden in color (about 8 minutes).
  4. (If making from scratch, prepare while mushrooms are in the oven.) Combine sugar and vinegar in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low; allow to simmer for 5-8 minutes or until mixture has thickened and reduced to a glaze.
  5. To serve, top with the basil, drizzle with the balsamic glaze and sprinkle with salt to taste.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

How to Grow Mushrooms

growing mushrooms

There’s no need to be in the dark about growing mushrooms. These tasty chameleons of the food world are fat-free, low in calories, and filled with vitamins, antioxidants, and other nutrients.

The keys to growing mushrooms at home are establishing the right growing conditions and acquiring or making mushroom spawn, which is the material used to propagate mushrooms.

How Mushrooms Grow

Mushrooms grow from spores — not seeds — that are so tiny you can’t see individual spores with the naked eye.

Because the spores don’t contain chlorophyll to begin germinating (as seeds do), they rely on substances such as sawdust, grain, wooden plugs, straw, wood chips, or liquid for nourishment. A blend of the spores and these nutrients is called spawn. Spawn performs a bit like the starter needed to make sourdough bread.

The spawn supports the growth of mushrooms’ tiny, white, threadlike roots, called mycelium. The mycelium grows first, before anything that resembles a mushroom pushes through the growing medium.

The spawn itself could grow mushrooms, but you’ll get a lot better mushroom harvest when the spawn is applied to a substrate, or growing medium. Depending on the mushroom type, the substrate might be straw, cardboard, logs, wood chips, or compost with a blend of materials such as straw, corncobs, cotton and cocoa seed hulls, gypsum, and nitrogen supplements.

Where to Grow Mushrooms

Mushrooms prefer dark, cool, moist, and humid growing environments. In a house, a basement is often ideal, but a spot under the sink may be all you need.

Test the proposed location by checking the temperature. Most mushrooms grow best in temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees F, away from drying, direct heat and drafts. Enoki mushrooms prefer cooler temperatures, about 45 degrees F. Many basements are too warm in summer to grow mushrooms, so you might consider growing mushrooms as a winter project.

Mushrooms can tolerate some light, but the spot you choose should stay relatively dark or in low light.

Some mushroom types grow outdoors in prepared ground or logs, a process that takes much longer (six months to three years) than in controlled environments inside.

Types of Mushrooms to Grow

There are many kinds of mushrooms. One of the beauties of growing your own instead of wild-harvesting them is that you can be sure you’re not picking a poisonous mushroom.

mushroom types

These mushrooms are the types most commonly grown at home:

  • Crimini
  • Enoki
  • Maitake
  • Portobello
  • Oyster
  • Shiitake
  • White button

Each type has specific growing needs. Grow white button mushrooms on composted manure, shiitakes on wood or hardwood sawdust, and oyster mushrooms on straw, for example.

Growing Mushrooms

If you are growing mushrooms in your home, you have a couple of options for materials.

You can buy mushroom kits already packed with a growing medium that’s inoculated with mushroom spawn. Buying a kit is a good way to begin your knowledge of mushroom growing. If you start without a kit, the type of mushroom you choose to grow determines the substrate you grow the mushrooms on. Research each mushroom’s needs.

button mushrooms

Button mushrooms are among the easiest types to grow. Use 14 x 16 inch trays about 6 inches deep that resemble seed flats. Fill the trays with the mushroom compost material and inoculate with spawn.

Use a heating pad to raise the soil temperature to about 70 degrees F for about three weeks or until you see the mycelium — the tiny, threadlike roots. At this point, drop the temperature to 55 to 60 degrees F. Cover the spawn with an inch or so of potting soil.

Keep the soil moist by spritzing it with water and covering it with a damp cloth that you can spritz with water as it dries.

Button mushrooms should appear within three to four weeks. Harvest them when the caps open and the stalk can be cut with a sharp knife from the stem. Avoid pulling up the mushrooms, or you risk damage to surrounding fungi that are still developing. Harvesting every day should result in a continuous crop for about six months.

Originally posted at: Lafayette Real Estate News

Contact Us

Trumps Elite

Call/Text: 337-739-2791

Email Us