Moving Day in the Wintertime, Huntsville Real Estate style

Today with the weather being still in the warmish zone comparably speaking its best to talk about something before it happens.  Moving in the Winter weather.  With Real Estate in the Huntsville Metro Area, winter can be highly erratic as warm fronts and cold fronts battle it out from 60 degree shorts weather to temperatures in the 20s with a strong northern wind bringing windchills even lower.

Its the lower temperatures we're worried about.  The build up of ice & sleet is more of a hindrance in our area than snow.

• Make sure the walkway is free of any slick spots or debris.
• Use cardboard or plastic matting to protect major walkways from bringing mud, ice, and water into the house.
• Make sure you have warm refreshments on hand for yourself and movers if you have them.  In this less than ideal environment its nice to be considerate.
• Plastic sheets, garbage bags, or coverings to protect electronics, furniture and other valuables that may have problems with the cold, rain, etc.
• Make sure you have utilities turned on in your new home.
• Make a back up plan for you and your movers.
• Travel slower than usual on the roads, icy spots will ruin your moving experience as well as any other items of importance.

Events of below freezing moving day are rare here in the world of Real Estate in Huntsville, however we have been known to be thrown a curve ball once or twice by mother nature.  Just keep an eye to the sky and ground once every 10 years and you'll see something big.

Today's Tidbit:

The Coldest days in Huntsville was at -11 degrees F on Jan 21st 1985 and Jan 30th 1966.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Growth and Redevelopment

Occasionally great news happens in the community and it must be shared with everyone.  This is no difference.

Raytheon's new missile production plant is now open in Huntsville.  This plant is one of the largest investments that Raytheon has ever made.  Redstone Arsenal beat out 70 other locations nationwide for this 70K sqft building.  This will lead to expansion and more jobs coming to Huntsville in the near future.  Two thumbs up for this project.

Next is an educational event.  The Huntsville City School System has decided to overhaul the overcrowding and aging Grissom High School in South Huntsville.  Now a new choice would have to be made based on location.  Keep the current location south of Carl T. Jones and on Bailey Cove or move to a new location on Weatherly near Redstone Arsenal and have twice the space currently.  According to school officials, moving to Weatherly would save 4M dollars in city taxpayers money and take two years less to build.  Staying in the same location on Bailey Cove would mean the new school would be constructed at the same time as students are there learning.  Probably mean the school would be built in phases forcing the students to keep moving to a new location when a new phase is about to begin.  This would also lengthen the construction project costing more money.

Today's Tidbit:

If you have a yearning for owning a motorcycle or know someone who does, then here's some information for you.  This Saturday Dec 1st, 11 motorcycles will be auctioned off by the Internal Revenue Service.  Friday will be used as an open house for viewing.  For more information you can view the IRS page for this auction.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

The Post-Turkey Day Low - What you can do now.

So here we are after the turkey day and the shopping days.  Everyone should feel sated or low that the excitement is now past and everything is returning to a type of calm.

If you're a seller you can use this opportunity to take a look around and get your house into the holiday mood.  Make it inviting.  The holiday time always gives everyone a little better boost of mood.  Why not enhance their experience by showing you care instead of a sterile house with no decorations.  You can do this by doing some livening up of the living room.  This is the comfort room to show off and make a big splash.

You only need small things to make a big impact going beyond the tree.  Some simple ideas would be stringing garland across the mantle of a fireplace.  Small candles on the coffee table or small poinsettias in empty spots.  Wreaths on doors or windows.  Pine cones in a bowl on the coffee table.  A beautiful quilt draped on a couch or chair.  Christmas cards in the open.  Right out in the open have candy canes & peppermints in a jar for family, friends and visitors.

Remember you're not only doing this for family and friends but also to their guests they bring with them to visit you.  Make them feel warm, comfortable, and able to have a fun time.

Today's Tidbit:    Some information for locals on upcoming event.
TINSEL TRAIL TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

• 12/01/2012 - 12/01/2012
• Times: 4:30 PM, open to the public until 11 PM
• Address: Big Spring Park, West Huntsville, AL 35801
• Phone: (256) 361-9275
• Admission: No admission charged

Featuring a total of 200 small trees, 4 large flagship trees at each entrance & the city of Huntsville's tree in the center of the trail.

Trees will line the sidewalk & be fenced in, so the trail will be fully paved.  The trees will be lit  every night especially Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & New Year's Eve.

This year will also include performances every Friday & Saturday night & Sun. afternoon in the gazebo.

 To sponsor a tree visit www.tinseltrail.com or emailinfo@tinseltrail.com.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Thanksgiving FYI Tips

Ah the week of Thanksgiving, full of stress, food, and family.  What more could you ask for.  Several tips for this week to remember before Thursday:

Make sure your appliances are working.  Nothing more embarrassing than having food you can't cook.

Make sure they're clean to avoid cross contamination.  This is the one that can lead to stomach virus' and food poisonings.

Make sure you have plenty of garbage bags, carry out bags, soap, aluminum foil, and napkins.

Make sure there's plenty of room in the fridge.

Make sure the kids are away from the prep and cooking area.  Not only can they get in the way, but can also cause accidents with hot frying pans, ovens, and anything else that could be touchable.

Lastly, try to make sure everyone's in a good if not great mood.  A thankful time of year leaves many of us reflecting on the past as well as the here and now.  Sometimes its easy to get somber with past memories.  A little effort to lightheartedness goes a long way to making sure everyone feels comfortable.

Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Today's Tidbit:

Lewellen Jones (1760-1820), American Revolutionary War Hero is buried on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville behind Morton Hall.  Cousin to Martha Washington & relation to Patrick Henry, Jones found himself quickly promoted to Captain.  Served w/ George Washington at Valley Forge before ultimately purchasing land and establishing Avalon Plantation on the land in what is now known as The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Mortgage Rates

A simple posting today about Mortgage Rates...

Mortgage Rates recently have been moving incrementally both up and down and currently they're hovering around the 3.0 range.  Here are some lenders and their rates in both the 30 year fixed and the 15 year fixed.

Supreme Lending 3.25 & 2.75
Wells Fargo 3.0 & 2.25
Progress Bank 3.0 & 2.5
Redstone Federal Credit Union 3.375 & 2.75
First Commercial 3.125 & 2.625
National Bank of Commerce 3.125 & 2.50

It is still a buyers market and they can afford to be picky with these rates.


Today's Tidbit:  Huntsville, Alabama is the 39th largest city in the nation in land area.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Veterans Day 2012

This Sunday November 11th 2012 is Veterans Day.  For the occasion, we here at Curb Appeal have made a simple Ecard to share with all.

Today's Tidbit:  The City of Huntsville's many merchants are offering deals for Veterans and their families.  For a list of information click HERE.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes

Home Curb Appeal

Today's post is a short one on Home Curb Appeal.  Houses should have an appealing draw to them.  They should not face the road angrily, or have a feeling that passers by would be attacked.  They need a soft touch of elegance, a breeze of simplicity, and a welcoming uncluttered attitude.

As markets fluctuate between buyers and sellers markets, you must never turn down an opportunity for the home to be seen.  Any turn off such as trash or toys in the front yard, chalk drawings on the driveway, holes in the house (or any other exterior damage), dying or cut up trees, etc...are all instances where those first impressions can be ruined.  And its with those first impressions that a sale can be made.  If the buyer didn't like what they saw the first time around, its highly doubtful they'll come back for a return visit.

Homes must be pristine in appearance.  Ready at a moment's notice.

Take this EXAMPLE on 172 Manor House.  Its clean, decorated nicely and without any obstruction to the eyes.

Today's Tidbit:

Huntsville Hospital is built on two burial grounds, the earliest being a native american cemetery and the other being a black and white cemetery in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Home Improvements - The Yay or Nay of it all.

Home Improvement can be a tricky issue when it comes to putting the home on the market.  Some sellers have that perfect touch of making it stand out beautifully.  Others feel that its best to let the next occupants improve what they want on their own.  And yet still others believe they are master design gurus, which we all know how that turns out.

Improvement in the home should always be something that the majority of the buyers will appreciate.  Don't make upgrades which will hurt the viability for the property to sell.

Take a look at necessities first.  Aged & faulty wiring, corroded pipes or faucets, and holes in walls and or doors are examples of items that need to be prioritized.  Take care of these problems as they could lead to something more later such as fires and leaks causing water damage.  Ascetics isn't as important as functionality where safety is concerned.

Experts and websites such as HGTV & Homes and Land agree across the board that improvements in the kitchen and master bath are all positive.  It also makes the most sense as these two areas are heavily used combining for wear and tear.  Beyond these remember do as it deems necessary.  Anything major you can take care of ahead of time could save in the long run.  Not everything will add value either, just because it fits your taste doesn't mean it is loved by everyone else.

This week's tidbit:

Alabama's first public water system was built in 1823 in Huntsville and was called Huntsville Waterworks.  Pipes were made out of hollowed out cedar trees and the reservoir was a wooden storage tank.

Huntsville Metro Area Homes