Seattle's I Got Smart Real Estate Podcast with Josh Pemberton

6 Essential Tips for Selling a Home With Pets

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:15:00 -0800

If you own a pet or two, there are a few things you need to do to sell your home. Today, I’ll go over six essential tips for selling a home with pets.

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Renee and I have been pet lovers for a long time. We’ve had many dogs, cats, and birds over the years; Renee even breeds Andalusian horses! We are keenly aware of how tricky it can be to sell your home and keep your pets happy. Today, I thought I’d go over six essential tips for home sellers with pets.

1. Check your home insurance. Although you know that your pets would never hurt anyone, they may scratch or bite potential buyers whom they mistake for intruders in their home. Make sure that your homeowners insurance covers you, just in case this happens. However, some insurers don’t cover anyone who owns what they consider a vicious breed, such as a pit bull. If they do provide coverage, it could be more expensive for certain breeds. Ultimately, it’s best to keep dogs out of the house during showings, but if you can’t, make sure you’re covered.

2. Prepare your yard. Buyers will walk around your yard and their stroll could be ruined if they see or step in dog poop. Make sure to clean up before each showing, and double-bag that waste so that buyers don’t encounter any unpleasant smells. If your dog is a digger, make sure to fill up any holes in the yard. Replace ugly patches with new sod or grass seed and walk your dogs around the block to keep your yard in pristine condition.

3. Remove odors. This is one of the biggest challenges that pet owners face. It can be difficult to erase years of piddle from rugs or hardwood floors. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to take care of your carpets, rugs, and flooring. Since you live there, you might not think your home smells, but ask someone you trust to tell you the truth.

A professional cleaning service can remove pet odors from your home.

4. Clean up the hair. Pet hair looks messy and can trigger allergies, sending potential buyers sneezing and wheezing out the door. Vacuum and dust your home before showings. Consider investing in a Roomba. We have one scheduled to go out and pick up all the hair a couple of times a day, and it works pretty well.

5. Hide the evidence. Pets tend to come with a lot of stuff. Put away leashes, water bowls, sweaters, toys, and chew bones. Stow everything in a cupboard or closet. Move the dry food container to the laundry room or mudroom, and put pet beds away.

6. Take your pets with you or crate train them. If you leave dogs and cats at home during showings, you need to either crate them or confine them to a special area of the house. Give them an interactive or long-lasting chew toy to pass the time. Let the listing agent know so they can make a note in the MLS alerting buyers' agents that pets will be in the home during showings. If you can, though, set a playdate for your pets and get them out of the house during showings. Check out the dog park or visit a friend’s house.

Now, pets can get anxious and confused when their daily routines are changed. Talk to your vet so they can help you ease that transition for the pets. Not only can they help your pets while you sell your home, they can also prepare your pets for moving to a new home.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How We Helped Larry and Ruth Avery by Giving Good Suggestions to Get Their Home Ready for the Market

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:12:00 -0700

They helped us an unbelievable amount. They had good suggestions, they had good ideas, they got our house listed, and got it sold so we happy. It was just ongoing. They would stop by and if we had a question they would give us good answers. They had us for dinner a couple times. They were very helpful with suggestions and ideas. Like ways to fix the house up and different ideas in how to get people come and look at the house. What I really liked was they recommended that we use Shane, a handyman. He had a friend named Bob and they were outstanding. They would come and repair and go above and beyond.

Larry and Ruth Avery - Home Sellers

The Difference Between a Buyer’s Agent & a Seller’s Agent

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:17:00 -0700

When you buy a home, don’t work with the real estate agent selling the house. You need to work with a buyer’s agent for a successful transaction.

If you were getting a divorce, would you go to your spouse’s attorney for advice and counsel? Of course not, that would be ridiculous!

The same principle applies if you’re a buyer looking for a home. You shouldn’t take counsel and advice from the seller’s agent, who has a statutory duty to suck as much money out of your wallet as possible.

Here's how you know the difference between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent: you hire the buyer’s agent before you ever start going out and looking for homes. Consider everyone else your competition.

A buyer’s agent will protect your best interests during the transaction.

To learn more about the home buying process, visit IGotSmart.com and click on home buyer seminars. If you have any other questions for us, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Think Hard Before Choosing A Career In Real Estate

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 11:26:00 -0700

Two decades ago, I left a six-figure, Fortune 500 company position and started a career in real estate. I needed a change because I was heading in a direction I didn’t really want to go down. I wasn’t happy, but I was afraid to make the change because of certain things I would be losing—benefits, paid vacation, tenure, etc. As I looked back at the various jobs I’d held over my lifetime, though, I realized that each one was better than the one that came before it, and between each transition I had felt the exact same anxiety.

It was scary, but for me, do you know what was even scarier? Regret. It’s not your job circumstance that defines your future—it’s your choices. What you choose is what you get.

A mentor of mine named Nido Qubein once said, “For the timid in our society, change is always, always frightening. For the comfortable in our society, change is always threatening. For the confident among us, change is opportunity.” He taught me that all meaningful change comes from within. Most of us don’t want to change until the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain of changing.

What you choose is what you get.

He wasn’t advocating change for the sake of change because that doesn’t ensure improvement. Improvement, though, is always the result of something that you change. Statistics show that 60% of Americans are just one paycheck away from bankruptcy. This means that most people are merely enduring the job they have instead of doing what they love. They’re trapped by fear, as I once was. Whether you’re in a job that pays well and makes you unhappy job that’s or a job that pays poorly and makes you unhappy, it’s not your current circumstances that define your future. It’s your choices. What you choose is what you get.

When you have a job, you have a ceiling. When you have a career, such as in real estate, you have unlimited income potential. Not only that, but you have more time to do the things you want to do. Real estate isn’t for everybody; it’s hard work. In fact, 85% of the people who get into real estate get right back out within 18 months. I believe, though, that there are tens of thousands of people out there that would really be successful in real estate- they just don’t know it.

While you might assume that the majority of the real estate business revolves around showing homes and sitting inside open houses, most of the discipline involves learning and knowing legal stuff. Once you master that, it’s all a matter of marketing yourself and marketing the inventory you have access to. The difference between a successful real estate professional and an unsuccessful real estate professional usually lies in how they were trained and mentored at the very beginning. That’s the secret to the success of my own team.

Kick some of these thoughts around in your mind. When you’re ready to give me a call, we’ll find a time so that we can chat and find out if a career in real estate is really for you.

How We Helped Davey Carson by Working Hard With Knowledge We Knew

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 11:25:00 -0700

They were fantastic. Both Renee and Sam worked very hard on our sale. We sold the house through them and we also bought another house using them. They are very professional people. We’ve known them for several years and from other transactions with them. They are just very professional people, and very knowledgeable people, and they put their heart and soul into getting the project done that we’ve hired them to do. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. They helped us prep the house, they helped put on the open houses, and they worked with us closely on a couple of different offers on the house. We had some things to update in the house that they guided us through. Actually when the house was on the market we made a few little changes in the house. Any questions we had they were always there to answer them and just guided us through the whole process.

Davey Carson - Home Seller

Meet Aaron Wilder, Our Newest Team Member

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 12:41:00 -0700

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Today we’re proud to introduce the newest member of the DiBello Real Estate Group, Aaron Wilder.

Before coming on board with us, Aaron had been looking to make a change for quite some time because he wanted to get out from behind the desk and start working directly with people. After considering a number of options, he chose real estate. As luck would have it, he and his wife Cindy were clients of ours and had been discussing the possibility of getting into real estate.

That very night, he received an email from our own Sam DiBello asking if he’d ever considered getting into real estate. They then got together over the next few weeks, and Aaron was put through a series of interviews and tests to ensure that he would be successful.

He’s already working with 22 clients...and having a ball!

Now, after much education and training, his business is exploding. The average Realtor sells less than five homes per year. He’s already working with 22 clients . . . and having a ball!

If you have any questions for Aaron or would like him to contact you regarding all your real estate needs, send an email to aaron@igotsmart.com or call (425) 466-4663.

Meet Aaron Wilder, Our Newest Team Member

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 12:41:00 -0700

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search

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Today we’re proud to introduce the newest member of the DiBello Real Estate Group, Aaron Wilder.

“

He’s already working with 22 clients
. . . and having a ball!

”

Now, after much education and training, his business is exploding. The average Realtor sells less than five homes per year. He’s already working with 22 clients . . . and having a ball!

If you have any questions for Aaron or would like him to contact you regarding all your real estate needs, send an email to aaron@igotsmart.com or call (425) 466-4663.

How The DiBello Group made the process of buying a house smooth and simple.

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:35:00 -0700

“It was pretty smooth and very simple. They kept me really informed with everything they were doing.”

-Aaron Johnson

What Will Our Market Look Like in 5 Years?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 10:39:00 -0700

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Many real estate conversations these days center on housing prices and where they might be headed. That is why we like the home price expectations survey. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of more than 100 economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists about where they believe home prices are headed over the next five years. They then average these projections from their experts into one single number. The results of the latest surveys are in, and here’s what they are saying.

“

Home values will appreciate by
4% over the course of 2016.

”

Home values will appreciate by 4% over the course of 2016, then appreciation will taper down to 3.4% in 2017, 3% in 2018 and 2019, and drop to 2.8% in 2020. The annual average appreciation over the next five years will be 3.2% nationally. The greater Seattle area will see even higher appreciation than this, but these are the likely national projections.

Cumulative house appreciation projections slowed a bit from 25% to 24.7% by 2020. The most bearish experts in the survey are still projecting cumulative appreciation of at least 9% by 2020.

The bottom line is this: individual opinions make headlines, but we believe this survey is a fair depiction of future home values. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

How Can You Appeal to Millennial Buyers When Selling Your Seattle Home?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:28:00 -0700

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Here in the greater Seattle area, we are seeing a lot of first-time home buyers spending $500,000 to $2 million on their very first home. Most of these buyers are millennials. What is the smart way to attract millennial home buyers to your property?

First, find your home’s best angle. While baby boomers may want a 2-car garage, a large kitchen, and extra storage space, millennials have their own wish list. This generation is looking for something different than their parents. They want open floor plans, single-story or split-level home styles, media rooms, and hardwood or tile floors.

You need to market your home to millennial buyers.

Secondly, you need to sell your neighborhood. For many millennials, the neighborhood they live in matters just as much, if not more than the house they live in. They are looking to meet a specific need. Also, be sure to show off environmentally friendly features. It is no secret that this generation is environmentally conscious.

Your home should also be clean and modern. Modern homes are popular with this crowd. However, your home does not need to be brand new or designed by a minimalist architect to appeal to this generation. Some simple home staging or an open house could be all you need to get an offer.

Finally, target online advertising. To find millennial home buyers, you need to put ads where they will find them! Think Twitter, Google Plus, Facebook, and Instagram. Millennials are picky about where they get their information, and your agent needs to be truly cutting-edge when it comes to online information about your home.

If you have any other questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you.

4 Ways to Determine Your Home’s Value

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:02:00 -0700

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What methods will help you discover the value of your Seattle home? Ranked from easiest to most difficult, there are four ways to do this.

1. AVM estimates: These are algorithms to estimate a home’s value based on a wide range of data. However, they’re not very accurate. They’re no better than the quality of their data. For example, Zillow is off by as much as 20% about 70% of the time.

2. Comparable Market Analysis or a CMA: This is the most competent, perfected method available. Unlike the AVM, an experienced real estate professional conducts this report.

“

Never buy or sell a home
without first receiving a CMA.

”

3. You can calculate your own home value: This is challenging because reliable local data is difficult to find. However, you can find information at firms like DataQuest and CoreLogic. However, avoid falling for deceptive websites that call themselves the MLS. Those are broker websites masking themselves as the MLS!

4. Appraisers: They can provide you with a home value. However, 10 different appraisers can come up with 10 different values.

These are four ways to determine your home’s value. Never buy or sell a home without first receiving a CMA and property history!

Are you thinking about buying or selling a Seattle home? Give me a call or send me an email. I can answer any questions you might have about real estate. Talk to you soon!

Do You Want Unlimited Income Potential?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 2 Jun 2016 08:53:00 -0700

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If you’re stuck in a dead-end job or you’ve been looking for a career change, I want to meet with you. You can make an exceptional living as a real estate professional, especially if you’re looking to start now. I quit my job as an executive 23 years ago to join the real estate profession, and I haven’t looked back since.

Forbes recently ranked the top sales jobs in America, and real estate broker came in at number 5. The secret to a successful and profitable career as a real estate broker is the training and mentoring you receive at the very beginning. This is what we specialize in. We have opportunities in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, and we’d love to hear from you.

Give me a call at 877-IGotSmart (877-446-8762) or visit igotsmart.com to learn more. I look forward to hearing from you.

How the Dibello’s Group educated and advocated for us as first time buyers, getting us the house we wanted.

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 12 May 2016 16:48:00 -0700

“I loved my realtor. I guess I don't know who all is involved with the Dibello group I just know my realtor was amazing and I had a really great experience. I just feel like because I am a first time home buyer there's a lot I don't know and she educated me a lot on what to do and what to expect and things to know, and would help bring up important things I didn't think of. When we found the house we wanted she really advocated for us with the seller. And just her personality was amazing . So, the seller chose us for the house, and I think a lot of it had to do with her really interacting with the seller and being really personable and that's a huge reason we got it”

-Kari Otte

How Do Sellers Become Buyers Without Missing a Beat?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 07:58:00 -0700

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Today we are answering a question we often get, “Can I sell my current home and buy my new home at the same time?”

The short answer is yes. Of course you can! However, it’s complicated because it depends on what the market will bear. Here on our team, we have a special program called the simultaneous closing program.

With this program, we can help get your current home sold, while giving you all the time you need to find your next home. Then, you can close both homes simultaneously. This will help you avoid the need to have temporary housing between the two.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Is the Puget Sound Real Estate Market Going Crazy?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 09:29:00 -0700

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Today I’m going to be giving you a real estate market update for the Puget Sound area. I have a few concerns about the market and I will be addressing them here.

You need to understand that at this time last year, the average sale price in Puget sound was $521,000. This year it is now $615,000. That is 14% appreciation in one year! That’s almost unheard of. That’s a change of $236 per sq. ft. and now we’re closer to $270.

These multiple offer situations are driving home prices through the roof. When cash buyers come in, they don’t need to get an appraisal done on the home, so the appraisers have no chance to value the home. This is causing home values to rise unchecked. Foreign investors are also bringing in a lot of money to the area, and these people often have deep pockets.

Appraisals keep checks and balances on the real estate market, so how are we going to handle this problem?

If you’re a buyer, please understand that this is normal. We’re seeing levels rise to where they were at the peak of the market, so you’re not getting ripped off. However, be wary when you’re fighting 15 other people for a home and the price escalates rapidly. What I suggest you do is look at homes that have been on the market for 2-3 weeks. There will be less competition from buyers and these homes will be more affordable. Just make sure that they’re in good condition.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me!

How the DiBello’s Group was able to work with me in a time crunch to secure two properties.

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:24:00 -0700

"They were able to help me. I needed to secure two properties within a very short time frame and they were really great at working with me and meeting my goal of doing that in very short time frame. They were very professional and very responsive to meeting my needs."

-Victoria Hanson

How the Dibellos Group was consistently good throughout the buying process.

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 15:17:00 -0800

"I got a new house. They did a good job overall and were consistent with that. I would use them again."

-David Brownlee

Are You Looking for Backstage Passes to Operation: Mindcrime?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Mon, 1 Feb 2016 12:33:00 -0800

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What are we seeing in the Seattle real estate market? We're seeing a lot of low inventory and pending sales are dropping. There simply isn't enough out there for people to buy, so if you have been thinking about listing your home for sale, now would be the time to do so.

If you put your home on the market right now and it's in good condition and priced well, you can expect it to sell quickly and for top dollar. With interest rates rising we're expecting a lot of demand for homes in 2016, so please speak with us soon if you'd like to sell.

In other news, I have a unique opportunity for you if you like rock music. I recently did some work with Susan Tate, the wife of Jeff Tate from the band Operation: Mindcrime. Jeff is a wonderful client and we've sold him and his family a lot of homes, but his newest band, Operation: Mindcrime, is loaded with talent. Their bassist John Moyer has played with Disturbed. The drummer, Simon Wright, has played with AC/DC and DIO. Brian Tichy is another drummer, and he has played for Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, and Foreigner.

The big news is that they have a concert coming up on March 18th at the Neptune Theatre, Seattle. I have some backstage passes that I'm willing to part with if you want them. We're actually going to be giving away two backstage passes for the first people that call and ask about them.

If you plan on going to this concert please let us know, we can get you backstage passes for no extra charge!

Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have!

Winning Strategies for Multiple Offer Situations

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 10:53:00 -0800

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Let's discuss multiple offers. If you're a seller with multiple offers on your home, you're in a great place. However, buyers should expect to compete with ten other people for a home.

Multiple offers have slowed down substantially in the Puget Sound area. Previously, if you were a buyer, you had a 95% chance of ending up in a multiple offer situation. Now, those odds have dropped to a 35% to 40% chance of being in a bidding war, depending on your area.

So, if you're a buyer, how do you win in a multiple offer situation? Pay attention to the sales price. Think like a seller. In today's market, sellers get their asking price or higher. In a multiple offer situation, homes can sell anywhere between 3% and 15% above the asking price.

Additionally, don't look for homes at your maximum sales price. For instance, if you qualify to buy a $600,000 home, look at homes for $550,000. That way you have a buffer if you do need to win a bidding war based on sales price. Know and understand your budget.

You can avoid being caught in multiple offers if you bid on a house that has been on the market for two weekends or more. That's when the hot period has passed, and you could get the home for the asking price or below.

There are more strategies for you to win in a multiple offer situation. We will cover those in upcoming videos. Stay tuned! If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you.

Market Update from Seattle

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 11:40:00 -0700

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Hi, everyone! Today, we’ll discuss market conditions in the Seattle area.

In September, the average asking price was $633,000 in Seattle; $230,000 in Tacoma; $342,000 in Everett; and $953,000 in Bellevue. Likewise, the average sold price was $646,000 in Seattle; $228,000 in Tacoma; $335,000 in Everett; and $953,000 in Bellevue. It is still a seller’s market, but it’s slowing down!

The number one reason why people don’t move to Western Washington is the home price. However, there is an exception: high-tech industry home buyers find Seattle very affordable.

The average time it took to sell in Seattle took 23 days; in Tacoma took 46 days; in Everett took 32 days; and in Bellevue took 25 days. On average, people live in their homes five to seven years before moving.

If you have any questions about what these numbers mean for you, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're always here to be your real estate resource!

Are You Ready to Buy a Home?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Thu, 1 Oct 2015 12:12:00 -0700

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Buying a home is a serious step. One common mistake buyers and sellers make is not being emotionally prepared to make an offer on a home.

Some buyers can spend a couple of years getting their finances in order. Then they get their loan approved and look at homes with a real estate agent. Finally, they find the house of their dreams, and what happens? They want to sleep on it, or pray on it, or get a family member's opinion before they make on offer.

The reality is that in this market, if you snooze, you lose. Correctly priced properties are just flying off the market. You have to be emotionally prepared to make that decision and make an offer. Look at homes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays if you are ready to make an offer. Weekends are the worst time to make an offer because a lot of other buyers are out there and you are almost guaranteed to wind up in a multiple offer situation.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I would be happy to help you.

What Is the Number One Mistake Seattle Buyers Are Making?

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Fri, 4 Sep 2015 09:46:00 -0700

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What are real estate conditions in Seattle like right now? Many folks in our area are curious about whether now is the time to buy and whether conditions are favorable for a successful home sale.

There are ten key mistakes that buyers in our area make all the time, but right now the number one mistake buyers make is waiting to make their move. There are several reasons why:

Inventory is low: We only have four weeks worth of inventory; if nothing comes on the market in the next four weeks, there will be nothing to buy in our area!

Interest rates are still low: Interest rates are below 4% right now. It's pretty safe to say that you might never see rates that low again!

Think about current conditions this way: a 1% increase in interest rates means the amount of home you can purchase just went down by 10%. For example, if you were qualified to buy a $400,000 home, but rates jumped by 1% before you found a home, you would only be able to afford a $360,000 home!

The most deadly mistake that buyers are making right now is that they're waiting to buy. We don't want you to do the same! Give us a call or shoot us an email with any of your questions and concerns about our current market. We would love to hear from you!

How to Avoid Rotting on Siding When Home Buying

vip@igotsmart.com (Josh Pemberton) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 10:00:00 -0700

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Today's topic is siding, a very important part of the exterior of your home that can hurt your chances of selling.

Here in the Pacific Northwest we have had problems with a certain type of oriented strand board or LP siding. Essentially, this siding is made of a pressed, wood-like material with an exact pattern. It's not like the cedar siding you'll see on some homes where the patterns differ.

Because it's so moist here in the Pacific Northwest, this siding will start to wear if you don't keep it painted. If this type of siding isn't kept up, it starts to rot and will need to be replaced. When you're looking at homes, you want to take a look at the bottom of the boards to ensure that moisture isn't being absorbed and rotting the siding.

When siding begins to rot, moisture then gets between your exterior wall and your interior wall and gets on your insulation. This can result in black mold, which is a huge pain to deal with and can even be dangerous!

One of the best places to look around the exterior of a home is where the exterior of the fireplace is. Those areas tend to rot the most and the fastest. If you view a home that has rot occurring, you want to be very careful. Replacing LP siding can be very expensive, costing you tens of thousands of dollars.

So, if you're looking at homes with LP siding, be sure to call a professional to take a look at it. If you're selling your home, you probably want to do the same, as rotting siding may be a great way to scare buyers away.

If you need real estate assistance of any kind, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to help you out!