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April 2018 • Premium Properties
May 2018
Inside this issue:
•plannng a Bathroom renovation Page 6
•Preparing to Downsize Page 2
•Reasons your home isn’t selling Page 4
A Special Supplement to The Mena Star, The De Queen Bee & Waldron News
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Premium Properties •May 2018
Preparing to downsize By Nancy Kupka PhD, RN As you age, you may decide that less is more. When you downsize your home, there can be less to pay for, less to take care of and less to worry about. Although the decision sounds simple, there is a lot to consider before you put your current home on the market.
Finances
Depending on where you live and where you intend to live, it may not be financially possible to relocate. For instance, you may have a large house in the Midwest, but a desire to move to a smaller property with an ocean view. There’s a chance you won’t make enough money from the sale of your house to buy a new home without the help of a mortgage. If you've lived in your home for some time and are looking for a newer house, you may not be able to afford the home of your dreams without financing. Even if an even swap is possible between your current and new homes, there may be association fees or higher property taxes that exceed your budget. Be sure that you know the financial details well in advance of the move.
Family Size
As you age and children leave the nest, you may think that you no longer need as much room. But what if the children come home again? The Pew Research Center found that in 2016, 15 percent of millennials were living in their parents’ home. This is nearly double the number of people of the same age group living in their parents’ home in
1964. The job market, college debt and the rising cost of living all contribute to this change. Keep in mind that it may not just be your children moving home—they may also bring their partners and their children.
Location
Location is important for more than just resale value. If you want to travel, or if you want to be easily accessible to friends and relatives, you probably want to live in a town near an airport. Also, give great consideration to the community that you're interested in moving into. Choose a community that has the resources that are important to you; these may include houses of worship, community centers or public transportation. If you’re considering a gated community, look into the services offered. You’ll likely want to continue doing activities you enjoy and maybe See Downsizing Page 7
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April 2018 • Premium Properties
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$114,900
8985 - 3 br home w/ pond on 7+ acres near ATV trails! t il !
$169,500
9026 - 3/2 MH on almost 40 park-like acres, large pond & garden, many building sites.
$142,000
8996 - 2/2 home on 5.76 ac overlooking a private lake, Nunley area, new flooring.
$169,900
9028 - 3/2 home w/sunroom, fireplace & garage on almost 20 ac in the country, mtn view, creek.
1118 Highway 71 S. • Mena, AR
479.394.6500
$149,500
9029 - Three rentals in one - 3865 sf, three apts, 1.55 ac, steady $1625/mo income.
$75,900
8942 - House & guest house - 3.3 ac, mountain views, pond, garage & shop.
$30,000
8997 - 6 ac - wooded, private & secluded w.pretty building sites & creek near Mena.
$71,500
9010 - Updated home w/beautiful tiled shower in Mena
$430,000
8947 - 3/4 home w/4668 sf, 23.62 ac, sold with equipment, so many amenities, mtn view.
$259,900
8938 - 2-story 3/2 home just outside Mena, Mtn view w/ pool & large garage & shop.
$82,500
9009 - 3/2 home - needs finishing touches, large shop, 4.8 ac, near ATV trails.
$69,900
9007 - Home w/new roof in 2012, updated floors, shop, pretty lot in Mena.
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Premium Properties •May 2018
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Reasons Why Your Home Isn’t Selling
Today’s guest column is written by Charles Muotoh is the owner of dcrealestateguru.com, a full service real estate firm focused on leveraging digital marketing strategies to serve buyers and sellers of real estate in the Washington D.C. area. When you first put your house on the market, you might be hopeful for a quick sale—especially if you've put a lot of money into improving the house over the years and if the neighborhood is one that has historically attracted a lot of buyers. While you shouldn't panic if the house doesn't sell the moment you list it, you should begin to worry if the months start flying by without any real offers. If this is the case, here are 11 reasons why your house may not be selling. • You overvalued your property. If your house is overpriced, it's simply not going to sell. Compare your property to similar properties that recently sold within your area to get a better idea of its true value. An experienced real estate agent can give you an accurate value of your home. Additionally, don't make the mistake of tacking on the cost of any renovations you made. You can't just assume that the cost of a renovation translates to added value. • Your listing is poor. If the listing of your home includes a poorly written description without any images, a lot of buyers are going to skip over it. Make sure you and your REALTOR® put an effort into creating a listing that attracts the attention of buyers. Make sure to add high quality photographs of both the interior and exterior of your home. Don't forget to highlight unique features as well. • You're always present at showings. Let your agent handle your showings. Buyers don't want to have the seller lurking over their shoulder during showings, especially during an open house. This puts unwanted pressure on the buyer, which will make them uncomfortable and likely chase them away. • You're too attached. If you refuse to negotiate even a penny off your price, then there's a good chance that you've become too attached to your home. If a part of you doesn't want to sell it, or you think your house is the best house in the world, odds are you're going to have a lot of difficulties coming to an agreement with a potential buyer. • You haven't had your home professionally cleaned. A dirty house is going to leave a bad impression on buyers. Make sure you have a professional clean your carpeting and windows before you begin showing your house. • You haven't staged your home. If you've already moved out, then don't show an empty house. This makes it difficult for buyers to imagine living in it. Stage your house with furniture and decor to give buyers a better idea of how big every room is and how it can be used. You want the buyer to feel at home when they are taking the tour. • You kept up all of your personal décor. Buyers are going to feel CMYK
uncomfortable touring your house if you keep all of your family portraits up. Take down your personal décor so that buyers can have an easier time imagining themselves living there. • Your home improvements are too personalized. You might think that the comic book mural you painted for your child's room is absolutely incredible, but that doesn't mean potential buyers will agree. If your home improvements are too personalized, it can scare off buyers who don't want to pay for features they don't want. • Your home is too cluttered. Even if your home is clean, clutter can still be an issue. For example, maybe you simply have too much furniture in one of your rooms. This can make the house feel smaller than it is. • Your home is in need of too many repairs. The more repairs that are needed, the less likely a buyer will want your house. Many buyers simply don't want to deal with the cost or effort of doing repair work, even if it's just a bunch of small repairs, such as tightening a handrail or replacing a broken tile. • You chose the wrong real estate agent. In my opinion, choosing the right real estate is simply the most important decision you make in selling your home. A good REALTOR® makes all the difference in selling your home within a reasonable time. All these things can be fixed once you realize your mistake; however, the longer your property stays on the market, the less likely it will sell at listing price. One of the best ways to avoid making these common mistakes is by working with a professional real estate agent
RICH MOUNTAIN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. We look forward to serving your needs! WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!
3983v
Your Local Energy Partner 515 Janssen • Mena, AR 71953 • (479) 394-4140
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April 2018 • Premium Properties
Bobbie Himel
Select Realty It’s the sign of success!
Owner / Principal Broker, GRI (479) 437-9348
1161 Hwy 71 S • Mena, AR 71953
Office: (479) 394-7676 • Fax: (479) 394-7677 • Toll Free: (877) 394-7676
Le-Ann Holmes Realtor/Owner (479) 234-7310
Jan Atchley
OSE, MA, ABR, CRS, GRI, CRB Executive Broker (479) 243-6475
Sandra Thomas Realtor (479) 234-3952
Deana Dixon Realtor (479) 234-7572
Michael Looney Realtor (479) 234-5582
Brianna Cook Realtor (479) 216-6415
Helping p your dreams become a reality Visit us online at www.menaselectrealty.com
2016 Log Cabin!
• • • • •
#2042 3 Bed-2 Bath! Approx. 43 acres! MLS#17014634 $989,000 2 Children nooks! 3 New studio cabins, 2 RV hook ups! Outdoor movie pavilion, gazebo, outdoor cooking area! Cable glide & outdoor storage areas! Wildlife- deer, turkey, bear & more!
Call Bobbie Himel
#2088 1 Bedroom-1 Bath! Approx. 80 Acres! MLS#17035242 $199,900 • Close to National Forest! • Mountain views everywhere you turn! • Wired for generator, well & septic in place! • Creek runs along western border! • Addiitional building for securing your supplies! • Plenty of wildlife & trails!
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#2084 DREAM LAND RESORT 2 Dwellings! 12 Acres! MLS#17034266 $275,000 • • • • •
4 BED-3 Bath with full length patio! Handicap friendly with sauna & whirlpool! Separate game room with pool table! 2 bed-1 Bath has wrap around deck with whirlpool! Utility room, office, gift shop, storage buildings!
Call Bobbie Himel
Call Sandra Thomas
#3000 3 Bed-2 Bath! Approx. 14.5 acres! MLS#18005423 $347,000 • Mountain views & Caddo River • Laundry room, office frontage! space, central vacuum, custom iron pipe fence! • Luxurious master bedroom has Jacuzzi tub & walk in • 30X50 metal shop & shower! additional home with 5 acres available! • Living room has gas log fireplace & vaulted ceilings! Call Michael Looney
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#3003-NEW!! 3 Bed-2 Bath! MLS#18010245 $62,000 Chain link fence back yard! 3 stall storage building & carport! Covered porch & driveways! Bonus room could be another bedroom! Original wood floors!
Call Deana Dixon 7232V
Call Le-Ann Holmes
• •
#2076 4 Bed-2 bath-1/2 bath! MLS#17030443 $199,000 Living room has surround sound! Master bedroom has walk in closet that is a safe room with steel walls! Outside has covered back deck! Over looks year round creek & meadow!
#3004 ON THE RIVER 3 Bed-3 bath! Approx. 12.50 Acres! MLS#18010381 $269,000 • Deck & wood walk down to • Numerous fruit trees, river deck! flowering trees & pine • Mother in law apartment with lined drive! kitchen, fireplace! • 4 out buildings, RV hook up & nice garden platform! • Safe room! • All bedrooms have walk in Call Brianna Cook closets!
#3006 20 Acres! MLS#18010439 $129,000 • Fantastic river frontage & swimming hole! • Land on both sides of this gorgeous river! • Several building sites for cabins!
Call Jan Atchley
• • • •
#3002 3 Bedrooms-2 Baths, ½ bath! Approx. 101.86 Acres! MLS#18008840 $565,900 Gated entrance with paved driveway! Ouachita River, Loftus Creek, 3 springs & 6 ponds w/2 stocked! Crossed fenced,2 barns, outbuildings & more! Spacious farmhouse sits on hill overlooking property! Call Deana Dixon
CMYK
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Premium Properties •May 2018
Tips for Planning a Bathroom Renovation
By Megan Wild
Some might say it's just a bathroom, but to you, it's a retreat. The only problem is that yours is not giving off the vibe you envision for this inhome getaway. In other words, it's time for a remodel. It's certainly a big project to take on, but it's nothing you can't handle on your own. Here are six tips to make your renovation a bit simpler this spring: Crunch the Numbers Whether it's large or small, you should always make sure you have enough funds before embarking on any home renovation project. The average bathroom renovation costs about $10,000, although more costly remodels have price tags of more than $23,000. Make sure you can afford everything you envision before diving in. You might also want to consider how much time you plan on spending in the house—most homeowners won't invest a ton of money into a dream bathroom if they plan on leaving. Still, you could justify the project if you think it'll make it easier to sell your property. Rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen will sway many potential buyers, so a remarkably outdated one might need that type of refresh before you leave. Break Down the Budget Once you choose to go ahead with your renovation plans and decide
on an overall amount you can spend, you should sit down and figure out where each dollar will go. Most of the time, you can bet that labor will cost about a third of the budget. Unless you're planning a more superficial update—painting, updating hardware, swapping the shower curtain and more—you should pay an expert to handle the brunt of the hard work. Then, you can figure out what you must include and what you can cut if money's tight. In most cases, you should eliminate luxurious extras if
money's running low—you'll need new tile, but you won't need a steam shower. If you're going all out, you could include these extras, as well as foundational updates such as new plumbing, windows or even electrical rewiring. Drum Up Design Inspiration Over 50 percent of men and women take between 10 and 30 minutes to get ready in the morning. As such, you don't want to create a new bathroom that isn't perfect—you spend a lot of time in there.
So, log onto Pinterest or pick through a few design magazines until you find a handful of looks that spark your interest. You might not be able to incorporate all the over-the-top features, as mentioned above, but you can use designer spaces to help you choose colors, hardware, countertops, linens or anything you'll use to outfit your new bathroom. Have a Back-Up Ready Imagine your home only has one bathroom, and you're planning to knock it down and replace it entirely. Where will you go in the interim? It likely goes without saying, but you need to figure this out before you dive into your renovation project. If you have another bathroom in the house, you're in luck. Otherwise, you might have to arrange with a neighbor to use their facilities when necessary or stay with a loved one for a few days while the water's off. You could even rent a Porta-Potty for a few days and place it in your backyard if it's inconvenient to leave your house. No matter what, have this plan in place before you're in desperate need of a bathroom and have nowhere to go. Come Up with the Cash It might go without saying, but you should also know the details of how you're going to cover the costs of your renovation and any additional See Bathroom Renovation Page 7
April 2018 • Premium Properties
Downsizing
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Continued from page 2
even find new hobbies. If you love gardening, don’t move to an association that won’t let you plant outside. If you're a fan of woodworking, some associations have hobby rooms with tools available for you to use. If you're a card shark, it might be hard to find people to play cards with during the day if most people in your neighborhood are younger and at work.
Layout of the Home
There's a lot to be said for a twolevel house, including privacy and the small dose of exercise one gets from going up and down a flight of stairs. But what seems a minor
Bathroom Revovation Continued from page 6
expenses that might crop up in the process. You won't be able to work with a lender—and, therefore, you won't be able to sign for a loan— until you can provide a detailed explanation of why the project costs what it costs. Of course, a loan isn't your only option when it comes to paying for your project. You might be able to take out a mortgage or even use the cash you've saved over the years. Either way, know what you'll need to pay for everything and use that to figure out where you'll get the money. Stick to the Plan Throughout the process, you'll want to check back in with your plan and budget. Make sure that your spending is in control and that you're sticking to the design you
initially envisioned. Veering from either might cause the project to take longer or cost much more, both of which would make the remodel more of a stressor than it should be; however, if you take all the above precautionary steps, you can go from planning to completion as painlessly as possible. Even better, you'll end up with the bathroom of your dreams. Your retreat is waiting. Megan Wild is a home improvement specialist currently covering the industry for Lowe’s. When she’s not writing, you can find her hiking in the great outdoors or tweeting housing information @Megan_Wild. Megan loves fixing up old homes and making them beautiful and functional again.
inconvenience when you're 55 years old might be a major difficulty when you turn 70. If you decide to get a home with more than one level, choose one with a bathroom on the same floor as your bedroom. Or, look into whether the home can be outfitted with assistive devices, like chair lifts.
Other things to consider
include easy access to a washer and dryer, outdoor access and parking.
What You’ll Take With You
If you’re moving from the home where you raised a family, you’ll likely have many things to contend with. You may need to decide what you can live without. Sure, you
can take pictures and all of your children’s middle school awards, but are you prepared to let go of other cherished belongings if you move to a smaller home? Give thought to whether you can truly downsize your life and still feel at home. Finally, realize that if you haven’t found exactly the right setup for your lifestyle, you can always move again. After all, if a home is a person’s castle, shouldn’t you be happy in yours? Nancy Kupka is a former home care specialist with years of senior care experience. She is currently Manager of Clinical Programs and Quality for Walgreens.
Keith Aleshire Principal Broker 479-243-5341
Holly Springs Real Estate
Premium Properties •May 2018
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1114A Hwy 71S • Mena, AR 71953 • Toll-Free 888-394-4200 www.hollyspringsrealestate.com
Sharon Aleshire Office Manager
Don Brewer 479-234-3530
3670- Spacious 1958 sq ft. 3 bedrooms and 2 baths Brick Home has a formal living room plus a den and dining area with fireplace. The kitchen has many cabinets, breakfast bar and lots of counter space for the cook! The large utility has cabinets and would make an ideal sewing or craft space! Freshly painted interior. Neat back deck to enjoy. Unfinished basement has an interior staircase as well as access to the outside. The 30 x 40 ft Shop has a roll up door, walk through door and bathroom inside. There is a stock pond behind the house with some fencing. The approx. 6 acres is mostly wooded with some additional acreage available. $149,900
3783-Have you been searching for an open floor plan? This house is for you. Over 4000 square feet, open floor plan with high ceilings, and lots of rooms. There is plenty of parking for your cars, boats, and other toys. You even have access to the lake. This property offers so much that it is hard to list all that it offers. Check it out today and see for yourself. MLS1703378 $135,000
3641-Elegant Brick Home in Mena. Have you dreamed of having your own private space? The master suite includes a glorious room with bright windows, custom cabinetry and a fireplace with pellet stove, where you can relax and view the lovely surroundings. A back porch is accessed by this room as well as the living room. With over 2100 sq ft, this 3 bedroom 2 bath home has insulated windows plus extra insulation, central heat/ air plus the living room also has a pellet stove fireplace. 2 car garage. Very nice 22’ x 32’ shop. All located on a beautifully landscaped level lot that is over 1/2 acre! MLS16019655 $169,000
Inez Hendricks 479-234-2728
Shannon Hunter 479-216-1932
3729-The Cossatot River runs through it. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath dwelling on 3.3 acres makes a near-perfect getaway. Currently used as a weekend rental, it sleeps 10 with the 3rd bedroom a bunk-room sleeping 6. RV hookup provides room for additional occupants. It has central heat & A/C, with lots of storage and built-ins. Double carport, fenced yard for security and pets. Picnic area, screened gazebo, and shop/storage building. Joins the National Forest and a paved road. All this near the ATV trails at Shady!Sold furnished, as is. Ask about flooring allowance! MLS17012547 $185,000
3776-Make this your Homeplace! Just 2 miles out of Mena. Nice big trees cover most of the 10 acres and is at the end of a private drive off of the county road. Big Front Porch on this 3 bdrs/2 bath country home that has over 2200 sq ft. The Large 30 x 50 Shop has an office space with bathroom. The roll up doors are set for a drive through and there is an overhang on one side of shop for RV parking. This special property is private and quiet. MLS17030858 $119,000
Catherine Miller 479-216-0278
Michelle Hicks 479-216-6717 3709- Wonderful Floor Plan in this Home! Great Room w/vaulted ceiling, dining area and a kitchen with abundant cabinets for the cook of the family! 3 bedrooms and 2 and 1/2 bath, split floor plan. Large lot w/shade trees in the back yard for you to enjoy. Attached garage. 10’x16’ storage shed. MLS17004554 $122,500
Hershel Bell 479-243-5613
3696-Lovely Two Story Colonial style home ! 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, with plenty of room for entertaining. Living room has beautiful wood floors and fireplace. Gourmet kitchen has quality stainless appliances. 3 bedroom and bath down stairs plus a bonus room. The property includes a 1.54 acre lot in a beautiful neighborhood providing a large front and back lawn. MLS16035690 $169,900
3764- Ouachita Mountain Views and a Gorgeous Stocked Pond! Within a mile of Mena, this spacious 2,086 sq ft home features a beautiful site built fireplace, hardwood floors in LR, custom oak cabinetry w/pull outs & breakfast bar. Lovely Sunroom has high ceilings & opens onto a patio & a deck. The Super Suite on west end of the house includes a great room, kitchen and bedroom w/bamboo flooring plus opens up to a Large Den/4th bedroom with jacuzzi bath. Two more large bedrooms and guest bath. 1.45 acre and 2 sheds. MLS17023559 Price has been reduced to $136,000
3810-Come check out this well built, brick home in a great neighborhood! 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths. Comfortable living and the perfect place to make all your dreams come true. MLS18005750 $87,500
WE’RE HERE FOR YOU!! CHECK OUT ALL OF THE PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN THE WONDERFUL OUACHITAS AT WWW.HOLLYSPRINGSREALESTATE.COM