Caution on your... Split Houses!

One thing I have come across recently maybe its just as I am listing or selling homes with it...

On split houses just be careful on putting an upper floor deck it can be a big turn off for a buyer when selling.
Its a nice idea, your upper kitchen and lounge dining room you spend time in and you decide lets put some patio doors on the dining area and kitchen out onto a wooden deck we can have a great view great sunshine and great view on our neighbors.  OK good but just stand back and think about what effect that may have on your lower lounge...darker than a black hole near Saturn if your not careful.
Buyer sees that they see as a light blocker and more so a cost to maintain...
Its a trade of i would say and only you can decide as the home owner, just take care as to resale damage thereby loosing value on your home.


Inspector Clouseau!

Went to an open house with a client/buyer of mine this last weekend.
Was a nice home, a little busy in furniture too many rugs making it look small, price was too high but clean the owners had done some nice modifications.

We went down stairs through the lounge with a walk out onto the rear deck, lovely long garden, nice trees away from the house, good green grass landscaped, paved lights a real summer sun trap of family pleasure.
We walked out on to the grass about 8 feet and then whoops! my client disappeared into a groundhog hole.
The groundhog who dug the hole was a big guy and it was quite near the house.
My client put his foot down the hole and hurt his ankle, was very painful. I went from Agent to Nurse to Taxi to the hospital, poor guy.
Needless to say he recovered OK. but not only did it hurt and effect his day he didn't want the house.

The home owner when they heard they where very embarrassed when told the story.
This could of easily been avoided and sorted by the time the home owner lists and has an open house.

If you decide to list, pick an agent that walks the house and the land.
Was quite obvious to me that the listing agent probably had never been out into the garden the land was full of holes and before listing a proper professional should of been brought in to catch and take away the groundhog moving the adults and the family into the wild.
It gets better...
The agent had also missed something further, he/she had not seen at the end of the yard the water coming from next doors outdoor swimming pool which was venting into this home owners land.
Not only is it wet and muddy but can cause erosion to the land trees etc

So always look for an agent that is thorough takes notes and walks everything taking down details.


Selling your home and it has well water read the following link has the law as far as NJ Well Water.

(( information for homeowners selling a home with well water))

 http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2000/Bills/PL01/40_.PDF