Blog - The Gove Group Real Estate

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

With lengthening days and milder temperatures in many parts of the country, April is a wonderful time to freshen up the home inside and out. To get sparkling windows, a clutter-free garage and more, here are 16 tasks to make the most of the first full month of spring.

Things to Check Off Your List in an Hour or Less

1. Keep mosquitoes at bay. Having warmer weather and longer days means we’re entering mosquito season. Take preventative measures by regularly checking your property for standing water and emptying it. Any open containers (empty flowerpots and saucers, a wheelbarrow) can become mosquito breeding grounds when filled with rainwater, so store items like these upside down or in a shed.

2. Inspect paths and driveway. Repeated freezing and thawing can take a toll on asphalt and concrete. Check your driveway and paths for cracks, scheduling repairs as needed.

3. Clean out trash cans and recycling bins. Take empty cans outside and spray them with a hose to start. Spritz inside and out with the cleaning spray of your choice. Let the bins sit for a few minutes before scrubbing them with a stiff-bristle brush. Rinse with the hose and leave them upside down to dry.

4. Check safety devices. Test batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing them as needed. It’s also a good idea to periodically check for recalls of your home safety products; you can find up-to-date listings at Recalls.gov.

Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend

5. Clear clutter. Create more space in your home by clearing out unloved items. If you have a lot to get rid of, set a date to hold a yard sale. Or contact a local charity to schedule a pickup — some will send a truck free of charge if you’re donating large items like furniture. If you have a lot of one type of item (for example, books or baby clothes), look for a consignment shop in your town where you may be able to sell them.

6. Schedule cooling-system maintenance. If you have central air conditioning, be sure to schedule professional maintenance before the start of summer. A properly maintained system cools better, uses less energy and lasts longer.

7. Spruce up the front porch. Clean the porch floor, exterior windows, windowsills and front door. Wipe cobwebs from the ceiling and high corners. Lay down a fresh doormat, and plant a pot of flowers. If you have porch furniture, clean it off and wash the cushions.

8. Test sprinklers and irrigation system. Don’t let the first sign of a malfunctioning irrigation system be a drooping garden! Take the time this month to test each part, adjusting or repairing as needed. And if you don’t already have drip irrigation for your garden, consider putting it in — a properly installed system can save time and water.

9. Wash windows. Welcome the spring sunshine by clearing dirt and grime from windows inside and out. After cleaning the glass, take an extra moment to wipe the window frame and sill.

10. Clean and inspect screen doors and windows. Pollen and grime can also build up on window screens, so it’s a good idea to clean them once a year. For a quick cleaning, leave screens in place and vacuum with a dusting attachment. For a deeper cleaning, remove screens (mark which is which if cleaning multiple windows) and gently scrub with warm, soapy water. Rinse and let dry.

Before putting up window screens and screen doors, inspect each one for holes and rips — even small tears can let in mosquitoes. If you find any holes, repair them with a screen patch kit (available at most hardware stores).

11. Clean out the garage. Can you park your car in your garage? If not (or if it’s a tight fit), it may be time to make some more space.

Clear out the junk, and schedule time to take unused paint, motor oil and other hazardous items to a recycling center that accepts them. (If you’re not sure where to go, search Earth911 to find a center near you.) Once your garage is cleaned out, consider adding wall-mounted storage to keep things neat and off the floor.

12. Wash siding. Using a regular garden hose, attach a siding cleaning kit (available at most home improvement stores) to clear away winter grime from your home’s siding. If your siding could use a really deep cleaning, it can be tempting to use a pressure washer to get the job done quickly. But if you do, use it with care: Consumer Reports advises avoiding any pressure washer that comes with a 0-degree nozzle, because it can be too dangerous (to you and your house) and wider nozzles can get the job done just as well.

Maintenance and Extras to Budget for This Month

13. Clean gutters and downspouts. Having your home’s gutters and downspouts cleaned (and repaired if necessary) is one of the first important tasks to schedule this season. Clogged gutters during a rainy spring can cause water to pool, potentially damaging the roof and siding.

14. Boost curb appeal. Spring is a wonderful time to make upgrades to your home’s exterior, and even small changes — like putting up bold house numbers and a shiny new mailbox — can make a big impact.

If you’re planning to put your house on the market this spring, increasing curb appeal can help lure in potential buyers, making it especially important.

15. Maintain wood decks and fences. Keep outdoor woodwork in top shape by staining or resealing it each spring. Check gates, fencing, decks, railings, pergolas and other outdoor structures, and make repairs as needed.

16. Keep an eye out for termites. From now through May or June, be on the lookout for these winged insects. “Termites swarm in the spring,” says Victor Sedinger, certified home inspector and owner of House Exam Inspection and Consulting. “If there’s a bunch of winged insects flying out of a hole in the woodwork, that’s probably termites.” If you notice any, call a licensed professional pest-control company.

BLog Credit: Laura Gaskill

Current Marketing Trends

The Spring Market got off to a fast start in March with sales in Rockingham & Strafford County increasing 45% from February to March which is well above the normal bump that we have seen in the past several years. Year over year sales for March were also up significantly as they also increased by 8.5%. Inventory in Rockingham & Strafford Country rose modestly at 5.1% but still continues to remain hovering around historic lows.

Average home sales price for Rockingham & Strafford County also took a big jump in March coming in at $353,478 which represents a 7.8% increase over February and a 5% increase over March of 2017. Active inventory increased slightly over the past month but current inventory still remains historically low at a 1.8 month’s supply. Even with the increasing inventory we expect prices to remain in the low to mid $300,000 range due to pent up demand currently in the market.

Gardening 101: What to Know About Propagating Succulents

There are plenty of things to love about succulents: Their charming shapes, their variety of colors and their easygoing nature are a few. And as potted plants go, they’re downright collectible. If you’re looking to expand your collection or swap a few with a friend, the good news is that propagating succulents from your existing plants couldn’t be easier — or more budget-friendly.

Read on to learn how to propagate succulents, from harvesting the new succulents to planting them and taking care of them long-term.

1. Choose Your Method for Propagating Succulents

There are two main methods for propagating succulents: with cuttings and with pups, or offsets. Unlike plants that are grown from a seed or a bulb, succulents can be grown by taking pieces of a mature plant to form new plants. It might sound a bit Frankensteinian, but it is a natural way that these plants spread, and it makes it easy for gardeners to cultivate new succulents.

How to grow succulents from cuttings. A cutting is a section of plant, either a single leaf or a section of stem, removed from the parent plant for the purpose of propagating. Whether a succulent can be propagated through a single leaf or a proper cutting of a section of stem depends on the plant type. Echeveria and Sedum, for example, can be propagated by either method. Aeonium, however, requires a section of stem for propagation.

Use a sharp, clean knife to cut off a few fleshy leaves (with a bit of stem attached) or a stem that’s getting leggy. The leaf or section of stem you’ve removed is called a “cutting.”

For leaf harvesting, you can skip using a knife and carefully snap off succulent leaves with your fingers. To do so, take a leaf and wiggle it gently back and forth until it pops off the main plant, making sure you’re getting a little chunk of stem as well. It’s from the portion where the stem meets a leaf that the plant cells can differentiate to form roots rather than leaves.

Tip: Don’t remove too many leaves or sections of stem from a single plant.

How to grow succulents from pups, or offsets. Another method of succulent propagation is to harvest plant pups from the base of the parent plant. This can be done for many rosette-forming succulents, including aloe, echeveria, zebra plant and others.

To harvest a pup, use a clean, sharp knife to remove the small plant offset from the parent plant (or gently twist with your fingers), retaining as many roots that have may have already started growing on the offset (there may also be no roots). Unlike removing leaves or sections of stems from a plant through cuttings, removing plant pups actually improves the health of the parent plant.

2. Allow Succulent Cuttings or Pups to Form a Callus

Once you’ve taken cuttings or removed plant pups, find a shaded spot outside or indoors where you can let the plant pieces rest. You can lay them on a tray of dry potting soil or gravel, or just leave them on an empty tray or windowsill. Avoid setting them on damp soil, where they can rot.

Leave them alone for about a week, until the cut sections have formed a callus — basically a plant scab or hardened piece of tissue that will protect the cut section from rot and disease. Do not water cuttings that are forming a callus.

3. Spread Plant Pieces on Potting Soil

Once the cuttings or plant pups have formed a callus, spread a tray with cactus and succulent potting mix. Position the tray in a lightly shaded area outdoors or by a bright window out of direct sun, and arrange the cuttings or pups on top of the soil. Let them sit for a few weeks, until tiny roots begin to form, watering very lightly about once a week.

If you’re propagating succulents from leaves, eventually a tiny rosette of new baby leaves will form at the stem end of the leaf, and the parent leaf will begin to shrivel. Once the parent leaf is entirely withered, you can remove it or just let it be.

4. Pot Up Rooted Cuttings

After each cutting or plant pup has formed tiny roots, pot each in a small pot (with a drainage hole) filled with fresh cactus and succulent potting mix. Position the pot in an area that receives bright, indirect light for at least six hours a day, avoiding direct sunlight. Water lightly, but consistently, about once a week.

Long-term care. Give your baby succulents a few weeks to settle after potting them up, allowing them to become properly rooted. Continue watering lightly, but consistently, about once a week.

Once plants feel well-rooted (won’t easily move if nudged), you can pot them up in container combinations or plant them out in garden beds.

Long-term light requirements vary by succulent species, from partial shade to full sun. Almost all require light water and are happiest when the soil dries out between waterings.

Blog Credit: https://www.houzz.com/user/laurendunec

Get Organized: Tips for an Organized Bedroom

There’s nothing worse than getting up in the morning, your eyes still glazed over, reaching for your phone on the nightstand and knocking over a dozen things before your phone hits the floor.

Worse yet are those times when you can’t find a thing to wear because there’s a pile of clothes taller than you and you can’t tell what’s clean and what’s dirty.

Your bedroom should be a haven for peace and tranquility. Unfortunately, more often than not, it’s a catch-all for those things you intend to “do later,” because, typically, you and your family members are the only ones who see it.

The biggest offenders making your bedroom a cluttered mess fall into four categories:

● Clothes
● Makeup
● Shoes
● Miscellaneous stuff that belongs somewhere else in the house
● Miscellaneous stuff that belongs to someone else

It’s time, then, to get your bedroom under control and organized. We’ve done our research and found some of the best ways to achieve an organized bedroom.

The One-Touch Rule

How many times do you pick up the same thing to put it away and something gets in the way? It seems to be never-ending cycle. The best way to put a stop to it is to employ the one-touch rule.

Simply put, the One-Touch rule goes like this: pick something up, put it away. Do not set it back down again until you’ve taken care of whatever needs to be done with that item. If it’s a shirt that needs ironing, iron it. If it needs to be hung up, hang it up. If it needs to go in the laundry, put it in the laundry basket.

It sounds simple enough, right? It comes to a screeching halt, though, when you don’t know what to do with something. The solution to that is, if you can’t figure out what to do with something, you don’t need it. Get rid of it. Always have on hand a bag destined for your local thrift store or charitable organization and use it frequently. More about that later.

Your Clothes: Do You Love It?

We all have sections of our closet for clothes we’re hoping to get back into after we lose 20, 30 pounds, or so. And what about the clothes we’re hanging onto until they go back in style? Trust me — those bell bottoms may come back, but by the time they do, you won’t be able to get into the ones you wore in high school.

There are several ways of organizing your closet, each of which has its own advantages.

1. Hanging Out in the Closet

This organizational method goes like this: Group your clothes by item, so shirts with shirts, pants with pants, suits with suits, and so on. Items you wear regularly go on the hangars in their normal way. Clothes you haven’t worn, but want to hang onto, go on the hangars backward. In six months, check to see which you’ve worn and which hangars are still backward. Anything remaining on a backward hangar goes into your donation bag.

2. Applying One Touch to Your Closet

Applying the One Touch rule to your closet goes like this: Take things out of your closet, one item at a time. As it’s coming out, ask yourself:

a. Do you love it?
b. Do you need it?
c. Does it fit?

If the item doesn’t fit into one of those categories, it goes into the donation bag. Donate things that don’t fit. The chances of losing the weight needed to get into things two sizes too small are slim to none (no pun intended). Besides, if you do get down to that size again, it’s a great opportunity to go shopping!

Stepping Out

Shoes are another cause of your bedroom being cluttered. In some homes, shoes come off at the front door, leaving a pile of shoes right in the entryway. In others, shoes are discarded anywhere, any time, leading to a mad rush to find matching pairs in the morning.

There are several ways to corral shoes at the front door. Pinterest has great ideas for DIY shoe storage, as simple as a regular bookshelf with wicker bins and more elaborate options. Of course, Amazon and other major retailers have options, as well. Whether you DIY a solution or you buy one, making sure shoes left at the front door are kept at bay is important, not only to make sure no one trips over them, but also for the health of your shoes. Better yet, when you build a home, ask your builder about including a mud room where everyone can store shoes the minute they walk in the door.

The shoe problem in your bedroom can be an even bigger issue. You may have a shoe rack in your closet, but there’s nothing in it, because shoes are strewn all over the bedroom or the floor of the closet. One big reason for the clutter is you have too many shoes and not enough storage space.

Before you buy more shoe storage, go through all your shoes and make sure they fall into the same categories as your clothes. Do you love those shoes? Do you need them (do they fill a specific purpose)? Do they fit? And add one more question — do you have a matching pair? Once you get started, you might be surprised by how many single shoes you have without a matching shoe. Whatever doesn’t fit into one of those categories goes into your donation bag as well.

Dressing the Dresser

The top of your dresser and nightstand are the main catch alls in your bedroom, where things tend to pile up or are thrown instead of being put away. While it’s true you can’t put things away if there’s no place to put them, it’s also true that you won’t use an organization system that doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Having a beautiful jewelry box is wonderful, but it is useless if all your jewelry ends up in a pile on the top of your dresser or thrown into the drawer of your nightstand.

Most major retailers have storage solutions for the top of your dresser or nightstand. Just make sure you’re choosing something you’ll actually use. If your jewelry ends up thrown on the top of your furniture, find a catch-all solution that fits your style and still looks organized. For example, Amazon has everything from a faux leather valet tray for a man’s dresser to a set of fabric organizer blocks that are interchangeable, depending on where you’re putting them.

You can use the same systems to organize the nightstand drawers and your one bedroom junk drawer in your dresser. Stackable inserts are especially helpful, as they keep your most-used items handy. When building a new home, ask your builder about walk-in closets in the bedrooms, which can help you keep clothes, shoes and accessories organized and your bedroom tidy.

There’s no question — our bedrooms get a lot of use and abuse, despite our wish to have a clean, clear oasis from the hassle and jumble of this world. Make your own oasis by getting organized, getting rid of things you’ll never use again and generally cleaning things up.

Blog Credit: Laurie Leiker

Here’s Why Millennials Should Build a New Home

You’ve probably heard that Millennials aren’t buying homes.

In fact, Millennial homeownership rates are at all-time lows: according to the Pew Research Center, 2014 marked the first time in more than 130 years that young adults were more likely to be living with their parents than in their own home.

“For the Millennial population, many of the trigger moments that would typically impact purchasing a home are delayed,” says Amy Alexander, sales and marketing director for Sublime Homes, an Indiana homebuilder. “Many Millennials are choosing to live at home longer because of high college debt. Many Millennials live in an urban setting and think it is easier to rent because their lives are nomadic, changing jobs and cities more frequently than their parents’ generation. They are also getting married later and having children later, which often prevents the need to buy a home.”

If you’re a Millennial, you should know that buying a home isn’t a long-lost idea. You can — and should — buy a home. Building one is even better. Here’s more on why Millennials should build a new home:

Done Right, From the Start

“Why would you want to live with someone else’s problems or with someone else’s décor?” asks Amy Alexander. “For about the same amount of money, you can build a home with your own style and have better energy efficiency, saving you money in the long run.”

When you build a new home, you can choose the floor plan that’s right for you, the options that will personalize the space to your tastes and you can make changes right from the start. There’s no need for renovations down the road, since you can anticipate any changes to your life and choose a floor plan accordingly. You won’t get that with a resale home, which you and your family must adjust to.

“An existing home may not lend itself to a young buyer that may not be able to see the potential in a 1970-s or 1980s-era shabby chic fixer upper,” says Michael Alexander, president of Infiniti Financial Group, a mortgage brokerage in Deerfield, Ill. “Along those same lines, renovating takes time and money — most of the time this money either comes in the form of cash, which may be in short supply or in high-interest credit cards, which may make some families house poor.”

Building a new home also means Millennials can live in a home that’s much more energy efficient that older homes. Builders are using the latest building techniques to ensure a more efficient home and Millennials can also choose materials that are greener, and healthier, than resale homes.

When you build a new home, you can choose the floor plan that’s right for you, the options that will personalize the space to your tastes and you can make ‘changes’ right from the start.The Money Factor

It’s understandable that many Millennials aren’t buying homes. Doing so requires money. Good credit, saving enough for a down payment and having a decent DTI (debt-to-income ratio) with school loan debt are all hurdles that Millennials face.

“I think (Millennials) are nervous about making such a large investment and have not been taught what it means to own a home,” says Amy Alexander. “Additionally, they think that with large outstanding debt-to-school loans, for example, that they won’t qualify. It’s really important to connect with an informative and smart mortgage broker that will spend the time with his or her clients and explain the buying and finance process. Oftentimes, it is much more affordable than they think.”

Michael Alexander agrees. “From a financial point of view, once a plan is laid out and all of the benefits, as well as tax savings are explained, it is much more prudent to own versus rent. For almost every family, real estate is the single biggest investment that they make. Looking at your home as not only as a place where you live, but as well as a savings plan, make homeownership a clear choice.”

So, it’s likely many Millennials do want to own, rather than rent, but simply can’t come up with a down payment. This is the tricky part. To build a home in November 2016, the median price was $304,500. That means even a 3.5 percent down payment is $10,657.50. That’s not chump change. Luckily, there are many programs out there to help — it just takes investigating.

Down payment assistance programs can help buyers with down payments and closing costs, down payment grants, low-interest loans and more. Check out DownPaymentResource.com to find programs in your area and eligibility requirements.

It’s also important to find a mortgage broker who can help you navigate the financial process. Even if you don’t have the available funds, they can help you get started with a savings plan or help you clean up your credit.

Building a new home doesn’t just mean homeownership; it means freedom: financial freedom and stability, freedom to choose a home that’s perfect for you and the freedom to make a house a home.

Blog Credit: Patricia L Garcia

Early Spring 2018 Market Trends

Home sales in Rockingham & Strafford County fell 18% from January to February coming in at 318. February sales were essentially flat year over year with a slight downtick of less than 1%. Active inventory rose only slightly this month going up by 1.3%. At only 1.7 months supply we are currently at the lowest level since 1986 which is weighing heavily on sales pace. The lack of inventory combined with the increase in interest rates has caused affordability to become a major issue and will continue to dampen sales.

Average homes sales price for Rockingham & Strafford County fell 8.3% in February coming in at $328,004 which is slightly above where we were last February ($323,004). With inventory levels remaining at their historic lows it appears that the current floor for sales price is the low $300k range. The increase in interest rates has started to affect affordability for many buyers which will lead them towards lower priced homes or keep them out of the market altogether.

Introducing Our New 360 Virtual Tour Technology!

We are happy to announce our newest technology… 360 degree virtual tours! This new tool will allow potential buyers to virtually walk through the home at any time of the day or night that they find themselves searching for real estate online. This camera captures each room at every angle, no matter the size or shape and we can “show” it at anytime, without physically being there. Regardless if you want to see a particular room more than once, or take a glance out the backdoor into the back yard, this technology has that covered for your endless viewing. These tours just might change the face of searching for real estate and according to a recent study, 84% of consumers want to see a virtual tour prior to seeing it in person. In addition, clients would prefer to use a Real Estate Agent that has this technology, readily available to them.

We are ecstatic about using this impressive tool that allows us to showcase our properties with an abundance of detail, ultimately leading to our main goal of overall successful transactions!

See our Jasper’s Corner Virtual Tour and let us know what you think!

Most House Hunters Have Been Searching for 3 Months or More

How tough is the housing market?

Most Americans – 61% – who intend to buy a home in the next 12 months have been searching for a whopping three months.

Or more.

That finding comes from a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, and includes people who are searching for both new and previously-owned homes.

What’s making the house-hunt take so long?

On Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors said that home purchase contracts signed in January had been on the market for only 42 days, one of the shortest periods for any January since NAR started keeping track in 2011.

Sales were down in January even though Realtors are reporting stronger buyer traffic. “It’s very clear that too many markets right now are becoming less affordable and desperately need more new listings to calm the speedy price growth,” NAR said in a release.

Blog By: Andrea Riquier

5 Facts About Selling a Home in the Winter

Can’t wait until spring to sell your home? Winter can be a tough time to attract buyers, particularly if you live in a region where there’s going to be ice and snow all around. Your home may not show as well in bad weather; however, it is possible. Here are some winter real estate facts to keep in mind:
People Like an Orderly Property

In the winter, all visitors may see is a blanket of snow (depending on where you live). Do your best to keep the driveway and walkways neatly cleared and free of ice. Even if there’s just a light dusting of snow, sweep it away. Spread some sand over walkways to avoid slips and falls. Try to keep the roof clear of snow, as well, as a good roof is important to selling any home. You can always call in a roofing company if yours isn’t up to par.

Bright Light Is Cheery

There’s nothing that makes a house more cheery than sunlight. Wash the windows inside and out so they sparkle. Pull up the blinds and throw back the drapes for some warming illumination. In darker corners and niches where the sun won’t reach, place a lamp and keep it on. You could also use spotlighting to illuminate major features of the kitchen, living room or bathroom.

Warmth Is Comfort

People coming in from the cold will be pleased to find your home is warm and toasty. As a retreat from winter cold, your buyers will have more of a reason to feel comfortable and take their time. You might consider lighting a small fire in the fireplace or wood stove to keep things toasty. Try to keep indoor humidity between 40-60 percent to avoid that dry, stuffy feeling.

Everyone Appreciates Mood

Create a cozy feel by adding extra pillows or afghans to the sofa and beds, or some plush throw rugs on the floor. Leave the dining room table set for dinner, along with a champagne bucket and a couple of glasses. Add some extra-fluffy towels or robes in the bathrooms. In short, make everything look comfortable and inviting.

Winter Can Be the Ideal Season

You’re more likely to get bids faster in the wintertime because you’re dealing with motivated buyers. They need to move, and soon, or they’d be waiting for the balmier temperatures of spring. You may get fewer visitors, but they’ll be serious buyers, not just frivolous house-shoppers. Stage your home well for the season and you may very well sell faster, and for a higher price, than you expected.

You always want to keep your home clean and in good repair, but the trick to selling in winter is creating the effect of a warm, sunny retreat from the elements.

By Dixie Somers

Market Trends November 2017

Average home sales price for Rockingham & Strafford County remained relatively flat in November settling at $351,436 compared to $349,847 in October but is 10.4% higher year over year. With the 15% drop in active inventory over the past month the current month’s supply has dipped down to 2.2 which is keeping sales prices up in the mid $300,000 range where it has been for the past 6 months and where we expect it to remain in the near term.

Home sales in Rockingham & Strafford County dipped down to 572 in November which was a 3.7% decline year over year. Sales fell 14.5% from October which is not uncommon this time of year as active inventory decreases greatly, falling 15% from November to December. Year to date sales continue to outpace 2016, currently 6.6% higher than at the same time in 2016.