Staging Your Home-Squeaky Stairs

The most common problems that occur in a staircase is that the horizontal surface of the steps (treads) are coming loose and that causes squeaking.  Another common problem are the spindles or balusters coming loose.  If you can get underneath the staircase fixing the treads is easy.  You will need to attach an L-bracket from the underside of the tread to the stringer (the long piece of wood that connects the treads and runs diagonally up the wall).  If you can't get underneath the staircase, you'll have to make the repair from above.  Squeaky stair kits are available that allow you to make this fix even through the carpet.  Otherwise, you can secure the tread to the stringer with a time screw.



Linda Shank Broker Owner Linda Shank and Company is a 32 year real estate veteran in Phoenix's Southeast Valley.  Contact her at www.ISellAZSunshine.com

Home Showing Hints

Follow these following hints for successful home showings and the Realtors will love you:

Staging - Staging is simply preparing your home as if you were setting a stage for a play.  Make it feel very complete and comfortable for the buyer as they tour the property.


Descriptive Signing - Another specialty technique involves the use of small, professionally printed signs approximately two inches high and two to four inches wide.  The signs can be placed throughout the home pointing out specific highlights of the property.


Should You be there? - It is almost always best that a seller vacates the property when it is being shown.  Many potential buyers feel uncomfortable if the seller is in the home as a buyer will want to look at the property very carefully (ie. storage areas, closets, cabinets, under beds and in the garage).


Children and Pets - If children are present during the showing, you should make every effort to keep them out of certain areas of the home while those portions of the home are being shown.  Also, some buyers are allergic or afraid of pets.  It's a good idea to keep pets out of the home or caged during the showing.


Cards Left at Showings - It is very important for you to provide the listing agent with all of the business cards of agents which have been left each time the property has been shown. The listing agent should receive the information on the cards as soon as possible.  This will allow your agent to make contact with the buyer's agent and receive feedback on the showing. 

Linda Shank Broker Owner Linda Shank and Company is a 32 year real estate veteran in Phoenix's Southeast Valley.  Contact her at www.ISellAZSunshine.com 

FHA Conditions that will Require Automatic Repair for Existing Properties

*Inadequate access/egress from bedrooms to exterior of home
*Leaking or worn out roofs (if 3 or more layers of shingles on leaking or worn out roof, all existing shingles must be removed before re-roofing)
*Evidence of structural problems (such as foundation damage caused by excessive settlement)
*Defective paint surfaces in homes constructed pre-1978
*Defective exterior paint surfaces in homes constructed post-1978 where the finish is otherwise protected.

While not all inclusive, this should give you an idea what issues might concern an FHA appraiser doing an appraisal on your home.


Linda Shank Broker Owner Linda Shank and Company is a 32 year real estate veteran in Phoenix's Southeast Valley.  Contact her at www.ISellAZSunshine.com

Minor Property Conditions that FHA does NOT REQUIRE Automatic Repair

 *Missing Handrails

*Cracked or damaged doors exit doors that are otherwise operable

*Crack Window glass

*Defective paint surfaces in homes constructed post 1978

*Minor plumbing leaks (such as leaky faucets)

*Defective floor finish or covering (worn through the finish, badly soiled      carpeting

*Evidence of previous (non-active) Wood Destroying Insect/Organism damage where there is no evidence of non-repaired structural damage

*Rotten or worn out counter tops

*Damaged plaster, sheet-rock or other wall and ceiling materials in homes constructed post 1978

*Poor workmanship

*Trip hazards (cracked or partially heaving sidewalks, poorly installed 

carpeting)

*Crawl space with debris and trash

*Lack of an all weather driveway surface

While not all inclusive, this should give you an idea what issues might concern an FHA appraiser doing an appraisal on your home.

Linda Shank Broker Owner Linda Shank and Company is a 32 year real estate veteran in Phoenix's Southeast Valley.  Contact her at www.ISellAZSunshine.com

How To Pick Your Wine Like a Pro

First....Prepare, prepare, prepare!  Prior to tasting different wines make sure to avoid coffee, sodas or any other strongly flavored food or drinks!!!  Also avoid any heavy perfume or cologne---it can overpower the wine's aromatic features.  Pour the wine into a glass about 1/3 full and freely swirl to expose it to oxygen which opens up it's aromas and flavors.  Grasping the bowl of the glass can affect its temperature so hold the glass by the stem with your thumb and forefinger.

Second...The Eyes Have It! Color can tell you a lot about a wine.  Hold your glass at angle against a white background.  A young red wine may have deep dark purple colors while an older aged red wine will have brownish or brick colors.  A deep golden white wine may suggest barrel aging or an older wine.

Third...The Nose Knows! Grasp the stem of the glass base while keeping it on the table and give the glass a good swirl. Place your nose in the glass and deeply inhale a couple of whiffs.  You are identifying fruit characteristics...berry or stone fruit; earth...soil, mushrooms; vegetation...herbs, green veggies; nuts...almonds, walnuts; or wood influence...oak, smokiness. "Off" aromas of vinegar, wet paper or nail polish remover are signs that the wine has issues.

Fourth....Sip and Savor! When you sip it's important to let the wine reach all areas of your mouth.  Sweet, salty, sour and bitter taste elements are in different areas of the palate.  Assessing the levels of flavors, tannins, body and acidity should be your goal. Flavors should correspond with the aromas you've evaluated,  Does the flavor disappear quickly or linger?  Faint, rich or bold flavors??? Tannins are astringent and can dry your mouth and gums.  Body is the weight of the wine in your mouth.  Does the Acidity make the wine mouth watering?

Finally....Time to Make a Decision!  This is where your overall impressions come into play.  Think about the balance of acidity, tannin, fruit flavors...are they in balance?   Do any over power the others?  Does the wine feel rich or delicate?  Can you sense the quality?  Once, you've come up with your conclusions, it's purchase time!!  Cheers!!! 


Linda Shank Broker Owner Linda Shank and Company is a 32 year real estate veteran in Phoenix's Southeast Valley.  Contact her at www.ISellAZSunshine.com

FHA Requires Buyer and Seller Signatures to be Live---Not Computerized

In the age of technology, even a signature on a document can be added by a computer program.  HOWEVER, FHA along with many of the large investors requires that the signatures of both buyers and sellers on all initial and final documents such as the contract and final settlement statement be "LIVE" or "WET".  Please keep this requirement in mind, especially when you are dealing with corporate sellers in the case of REO properties.  If you know ahead of time that a live signature is needed, it can help prevent delays to the closing process.

 Information courtesy of Sherri Buttler, Sun American Mortgage, 480-467-1088, Mesa Arizona.