DeSoto County Open Houses: March 3-4, 2018

🏡 Find your dream home this weekend by visiting one of our Open Houses Saturday and Sunday from 12-4PM!

 

 

3668 Beech Tree Cv
Southaven, MS 38672
4 beds 3 baths 2,879 sqft 0.45 acres lot size Single-Family Home

 

 

 

 

Offered by Donnie Chambliss – Crye-Leike, Realtors – 662-349-5550 – licensed in MS

 

[Infographic] The Impact Staging Your Home Has On Sales Price

 

Some Highlights:

  • The National Association of Realtors surveyed their members & released the findings of their Annual Profile of Home Staging.
  • 77% of buyer’s agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the home as their own.
  • 50% of staged homes saw a 1-10% increase in dollar value offers from buyers.
  • The top rooms to stage in order to attract more buyers are the living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and dining room.

18 ways to save money and energy in your household

The key to achieving savings in your home is a whole-house energy efficiency plan; this ensures that the dollars you invest are spent wisely.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical American family spends over $1,600 a year on home utility bills, and a large portion of that energy is wasted. Not to fear: there are several things you can do each month to conserve energy and reduce the strain on your wallet.

Conduct a Home Energy Audit

An energy audit will show you which areas of your home use the most energy. You can conduct this yourself, contact your local utility or call an independent energy auditor. A comprehensive evaluation should include:

  • Checking insulation levels
  • Looking for open fireplace dampers
  • Searching for holes or cracks around doors, light and plumbing fixtures, and other places where air may leak out
  • Ensuring appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained.

Temperature Tips

  • Weatherize your home – caulk and weather-strip any doors and windows that leak air.
  • Install a programmable thermostat that will reduce heating (or turn air conditioning up) at night and when you are not home.
  • Consider replacing single-pane windows with double-pane; they have coatings that reduce heat loss or gain, depending on the season.
  • Keep your thermostat under 70 degrees in the winter and a few degrees cooler than the outside temperature in the summer.

 

Water Use

  • Repair leaky faucets immediately.
  • Use low-flow shower heads.
  • Insulate your hot-water storage tank and pipes.
  • Drain a quart of water from your tank every three months to remove sediment (which impedes heat transfer and lowers efficiency).
  • Lower the hot water heater to 120 degrees.
  • Take short showers instead of baths.
  • Wash only full loads of dishes and/or laundry.
  • Air-dry dishes and line-dry clothes if possible.

Renewable Energy

There are more options than ever to use renewable energy. When building a new home, orient it to avoid overhead summer sun and to benefit from winter sun in cooler climates. Try a solar pool heating system, which can cut costs for heating swimming pools or hot tubs. Under certain conditions, installing solar cells might be right for you.

Energy Star® Products

Whenever you are purchasing new equipment or appliances, look for the Energy Star logo. These products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. For more information, go to http://www.energystar.gov/.

Donnie Chambliss and Margie S. Mays receive The Realty Alliance Sales Award

Donnie Chambliss and Margie S. Mays of the DC Team – Crye-Leike, Realtors were recently recognized for exceptional performance as one of the leading residential real estate sales professionals in North America by The Realty Alliance. This award is presented with the esteem and admiration of The Realty Alliance, a network of North America’s elite residential real estate brokerages. Join us in congratulating Donnie and Margie for their hard work and dedication!

We’d like to also congratulate the other Crye-Leike, Southaven Realtors who were recognized.

 

The Realty Alliance is a network of North America’s largest and most successful real estate firms. Our members serve most every major market on the continent. Through The Realty Alliance our members access the best and latest ideas and solutions.
 On December 31, 2016, The Realty Alliance included 115,176 residential salespeople.

Sold in 3 Days! Too good to be true? Not in today’s market!

sold1Here’s a new real estate theme for the summer:  Hot OFF the Market!

Low inventory and increased demand have created a great opportunity for sellers.  In the last 2 months we’ve seen quick sales (in less than 2 weeks) in both existing and new construction and across a variety of price ranges.  Of course, a quick sale does not happen automatically, and there are some things that Sellers and Realtors can do to reduce time on market.

  • Do your homework – Work with a Realtor who understands the local market and knows how to put your listing in front of buyers.
  • Be Prepared – Get your home in selling shape BEFORE it hits MLS… you only get one chance for a first impression.
  • Price It Right – There is a fine line between priced to sell and overvaluing a home. Make sure your Realtor understands market value and is willing to get you top dollar while making your home attractive to buyers. A win-win is always the goal.
  • Be Ready to Move – Stay ready for showings, be responsive to feedback, help your Realtor spread the word, and demonstrate good faith to interested buyers.  When you follow these steps, expect great results, and start packing! An active seller and a motivated buyer = SOLD!

Just Sold Collage July 2016

DC Team – May News

 

Warmer temperatures and longer days mean the Home Buying season has arrived.

Our observations from the Real Estate market in the last 60 days…

  • High demand for homes under $200,000
  • Inventory of available homes for sale remains very low
  • Great homes are in short supply, and will go under contract within 3 weeks
  • Buyers are finding themselves in multiple offer situations
  • Increasing demand for homes with pools and homes on large lots

Buyers are looking for… open floor plans, big kitchens, entertaining space, and large, and updated master baths.  Buyers continue to bring their high expectations to the market.  This translates into buyers selecting new construction homes or homes that have already been updated with features like granite counters, wood floors, and stainless appliances.  If buyers can’t find what they are looking for, they are choosing to wait (delay the decision to buy) until better homes become available.

Therefore, Sellers who do anything in their power to improve curb appeal, de-clutter, stage, and deep clean their homes have a distinct advantage in the market.  Sellers who neglect these improvements and who price their homes above the market will be surprised when their home stays on the market with no offers.  Buyers are also starting to pay more attention to ‘days on market’.  They know that supply is low and demand is high and that good homes will sell fast.  Therefore, if buyers see days on market of 90 or more, they assume something must be wrong with the home.

Seeking Sellers
There are simply not enough great home options for buyers.  The DC Team is aggressively seeking sellers who wish to take advantage of this opportunity.  Our unsurpassed strategic marketing program will deliver by selling your home faster and for more money.

For more information on buying/selling a home, please contact us. Our team would love to assist you.

Download our DC Team Newsletter May 2016 and visit the Our Listings page to see this home and other available homes for sale in DeSoto County.

Home for Sale ~ Southaven, Mississippi

 

 

First Full Marathon ~ Running for Their Lives

st-jude-logo1Through 3 St. Jude 1/2 Marathons, I’ve experienced a growing conviction to support this noble, faith-based children’s research hospital.  To that end, I’m running my first FULL MARATHON (that’s 26.2 miles!) THIS SUNDAY, February 28 in New Orleans, LA.  I’ll be running again as a St. Jude HERO, and I’d love for you to join me in the battle to fight pediatric cancer.

Further, I’ve pledged $75 to St. Jude from every Real Estate sale I make this year.  I’ve begun making contributions on behalf of my clients.  You can see my commitment on my fundraising page: Donnie’s St. Jude Hero Page

Will you join me in raising funds for St. Jude?  Did you know it costs $2 million per day to operate St. Jude?  Over 70% of that amount is given by people like you and me.  I’ve committed to raise $1000 by Sunday, and I’m almost there.

Look for a page on our DC Team Website coming soon dedicated to our St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital commitment.  St. Jude has helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% 50 years ago to 80% today.  It truly is one of the biggest blessings in our area, and we are happy to support their efforts.

I appreciate your prayers and support! Heb 12:1

~Donnie

St. Jude Half Marathon 2014
Heather & Donnie ~ St. Jude Half Marathon 2014 ~ Memphis, TN

 

3 Things to Consider when Purchasing a Home with “In-Law” Options

pa-and-granddaughterMore families are taking the option of “in-law” quarters sooner in life than ever before. We work with some buyers looking at “in-law” options when their parents are only in their 60’s.  There are many benefits to a “sooner than later” approach including reducing living expenses, sharing home responsibilities, and spending time with family. Your realtor can assist you in prioritizing specific needs for your family situation, but here are 3 general tips to consider.

  1.  Start planning before it is time. Ideally, families will begin the discussion of combining households with ample time to agree on needs and priorities. When buying a home to accommodate the future possibility of an aging parent, be sure that your new home has a minimum of two large bedrooms and two full bathrooms downstairs.  The second bedroom can be used as a guest room or office prior to being an “in-law” space.  You may also want to consider aging in place features such as wide halls and doorways, easy home entry, and bathrooms that could be handicap accessible.
  2.  Base budget on your income alone. A benefit of combining households is certainly cost savings by sharing expenses, but be certain of affordability for you and your family without using in-law funds.  It is attractive to combine households to allow greater affordability of amenities with two income contributors vs. one.  However, be sure you can afford the home on your own if it does not work out or if income (or health status) changes.
  3.  Make personal space a priority and be sure gathering spaces are generous. Everyone needs their own personal space even if it is just a bedroom retreat.  There has to be an understanding that sharing a home does not result in the loss of independence.  Family members must to be able to “do their own thing,” or the arrangement will become burdensome.  In addition, gathering spaces, including the kitchen, should be able to accommodate the entire family comfortably.

 

Friends Entrance
A split plan layout and friends’ entrance are options to consider when planning in-law space.

As with any home search, there is not a “one home fits all” option. Location, floor plans, features, and budget will vary widely based on your family’s situation. Your realtor will be able to help you think through the numerous options that can be made more complicated when combining households.

 

 by Margie Mays, DC Team and Crye-Leike, Realtors Southaven Broker

Margie knows first-hand about the blessings and challenges of combining households. She shares a home with her sister and mother in Olive Branch, which is often filled with extended family for dinners, card games, and grandchildren sleepovers.