What You Need to Know About Underground Storage Tanks

Having an underground storage tank could cause some major issues when listing your property. Be sure you know the signs of contamination and how to tackle potential issues.

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If you are someone with an underground storage tank (UST), you may be wondering what to do with it. Traditionally in our area, we’ve used home heating oil as a resource for keeping homes warm, which requires a UST. 

If you have a UST on your property and are wondering what to do right now, know that it is exempt from regulation. But, if your tank has a leak or spill, regulations will apply. This means you will have to go through the process of sampling and testing your property to make sure you meet those regulations. 

If you no longer use your UST, my best advice is to remove all the remaining oil from it in order to avoid contamination. Additionally, if you suspect contamination, it never hurts to check.

Remember, when you fill your tank, do not fill it with water. Instead, opt for a solid and inert material, like sand, to fill up the tank. 

You may also, instead of filling the tank, hire a professional environmental company to remove the tank.

It's important that you address any issues with your UST as quickly as possible.

All of these points are especially important if you are looking to list your home. Buyers could potentially be concerned by the presence of a UST. 

However, whether you are selling your home in the near future or down the road, it’s important that you address any issues with your UST as quickly as possible. 

Some indicators of contamination from your UST include a strong smell of petroleum, a puddle of oil, and/or visible stains in the soil. So, if you notice any, don’t hesitate to act. Contact your local waste management program or the North Carolina Division of Waste Management Underground Storage Tank Section. 

To learn more about this topic, or to ask any other questions you may have, feel free to call or email me. I look forward to hearing from you. 

6 Ways Sellers Can Take Advantage of Our Exciting Market

There are six tasks you need to remember to get a great offer on your home in today’s exciting, fast-paced market.

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The other day I was reading an email that a lender sent me titled “Fear Has Returned to the Market” and thought to myself, seriously? In today’s exciting, fast-paced, competitive market, it’s a lot different than it was from 2008 to 2011.

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, now is a critical time to take advantage of our market and get your best offer as quickly as possible. How can you accomplish this if you’re a seller, though? Pay attention to the basics. There are six keys to remember:

• Price your home to sell. Be competitive in your pricing. Buyers are shopping on the Internet 24/7, and they know what’s being sold and what’s under contract. Do what it takes to get them in your door.
• Consider doing a pre-listing home inspection. If you have a problem, find it and fix it now. Don’t let it come up during the inspection process. If you can avoid a contract falling through over inspection issues getting fixed, it behooves you to do so.
• Declutter. Get rid of all that old stuff sitting around that you don’t use and/or move the furniture around. Pack it up and put it in storage or just get rid of it. You want your home to look as big as possible, and decluttering accomplishes this effect.

Today’s market is nothing like how it was after the crash, and opportunity is there for you to take advantage of it.

• Pay attention to the yard. First impressions are critical to buyers, and your home’s first impression starts with the yard. Let them know that your yard reflects how great your home looks on the inside too.
• Make your home easy to show. Buyer’s agents have ready, willing, and able buyers, and they want to get into your home as soon as possible. Make it easy for them to get into your home, get it shown, and be able to explain its benefits and features. 
• Take advantage of the help of a full-time real estate professional. They can help walk you through the process of listing your home and getting it on the market, getting a contract signed, and making sure you go to closing with money in your pocket.

If you have any questions about our current market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What If Other Buyers Try to Get Your Dream Home?

Multiple offer situations are incredibly common in our current market. As a buyer, how can you win your dream home?

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How do you make sure that you win your dream home when other buyers want to buy it?

We are seeing a lot of multiple offers in today’s market, so it’s not uncommon to face some competition for your dream home. So, what do you do?

First, you need to make an offer. Don’t sit and wait to see if others are going to make one. You should also keep in mind that you’re not going to know what those other offers are. The listing agent won’t reveal that information. After all, they are working for the seller to make sure that they get the best offer.  

When you make your offer, what can you do to make sure that your offer is the one that gets accepted? You need to make sure that you are pre-qualified. You might need to ask your lender if you could possibly make a higher offer than the asking price, so you need to know about your finances right off the bat.

Don’t wait around to see if anyone else will make an offer.

You also have to consider how much earnest money you are willing to put down. After all, money talks.

In addition to earnest money, consider due diligence money. Do you have some money that you are willing to put down to show your sincerity in buying that property?

Another thing you can do to make your offer stand out is to write a letter to the seller. Tell them why you want to buy their house and let them know that you love their home, that you will take care of it, and explain why you’re making your offer.

Do you need a real estate professional to help you? In this market, the answer is an absolute yes. A professional real estate agent can help you maneuver these multiple offer situations successfully.

If you have any questions about winning in a multiple offer situation or about our current market, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!