Search results for: “feed”

  • Eight unwanted small mammals that break into your home

      Dear Monty: My dad needs help with the tax map for his property. There is a term that no one can tell him what it means. The word is fisher. Someone told him he has that on his property. Could you help us with this question? Monty’s Answer: I have been unable the find…

  • Does extended market time reduce a home’s value?

    Reader Question: We have a real estate agent telling us not to list our home for more than ten-percent above her recommended price. She claims that if we do, it will ultimately cause us to accept an offer that is lower than any offer we would get if we listed at her suggested price. She…

  • Timing your real estate transaction

    Reader Question: ​Our home has been on the market for one month. We started at $698,500 and reduced it to $685,000 after two weeks. The house is 3564 square feet in a desirable older neighborhood. We’ve had two showings and much positive feedback. The only negative is that we have no backyard. Our agent now…

  • Will a zoning change cause our property value to drop?

    Reader Question: We own a small, well cared for, older home in a moderate neighborhood in a small midwestern city of about 30,000. We are one block off off of a feeder street near downtown that has both similar single-family homes plus a few apartments and small medical offices. The zoning allows for a medical…

  • Four money traps with home additions or remodeling

      Reader Question: We have enjoyed our home for over five years. In addition to great neighbors, we like the neighborhood amenities, the convenience, and proximity to work. However, we need more room as our family has grown. We are well situated financially, but we do not want to have wasted capital when we sell…

  • Ten Money-Saving Tips Many Homeowners Overlook

    Reader Question: Do you have a list of things that homeowners tend to forget in caring for their home where they could save money? Monty’s Answer: Your question inspired the production of a list based upon my experiences of owning a home. Full disclosure: You asked someone whose wife rolled her eyes when she caught…

  • Listing agent fumbles – can I cancel the contract?

    seller picked a poor agent and is seeking advice on how to cancel the listing agreement.

  • Inheritance creates multiple choice decision

    Reader Question: ​My wife is selling a home she inherited. It has been shown multiple time with no results. The house needs updating, and it has a bowed basement wall. It was listed for $69,900 which was below the market value. We’ve had several offers, but they are flippers who have offered $20 – $25…

  • Do listing tactics bring the best price?

      Reader Question: We will be listing our home for sale soon. We received three estimates from agents on our home’s value, and they are all different. Also, each of the agents has different tactics about how the listed price is presented to get the best price. For example, one agent suggested we use “market…

  • Five tips to buying and sharing a personal residence

    Reader Question: My friend and I are thinking about buying and sharing a personal residence. We each have saved enough to pay twenty percent down on a $150,000 home, but by pooling our down payment, we could buy a $300,000 house. We may even invite a third person to join us. We live in a…

  • One of real estate’s biggest myths

      Reader Question: The relo counselor is telling me I will lose the relocation benefits if I list my home for more than ten percent above the average of two appraisals. This seems like one of real estate’s biggest myths. Their argument is this rule will ultimately help the home sell at a higher price, which…

  • Two big reasons why home sellers shop agents

    Reader Question: We put up a “for sale by owner ” sign over a year ago. We had a couple of low offers. We then contracted with an agent for six months, in which we had showings and critiques. We were one of the finalists with three interested buyers. They all chose other homes. We…

  • Ten advantages for considering Aging In Place

    Reader Question: We are considering aging in place. We are in our late seventies and both in pretty good health. Our children keep hinting to us that we should sell our house and move into some age-based community. We have checked out some different options, of which there are many, and it seems they all have…

  • Five tips to protect your home from chipmunk damage

    Reader Question: We own a townhome, and our paver patio is collapsing due to chipmunk damage. We have seen the chipmunks and their tunnels, so we know that is the issue. We installed the patio with homeowner association (HOA) approval. We don’t wish to do any repairs until we are aware who is liable for…

  • Listing agent flip-flops on price

      Reader Question: Our agent flip-flops on price. We listed our home two weeks ago for three hundred fifty-nine thousand nine hundred dollars. Our agent recommended this price and showed comparable sales that supported the recommendation. Yesterday they presented an offer for three hundred five thousand dollars and suggested we accept it. We are stunned and…