Ask the Agents #9: Earnest Money and Option Fees

September 17, 2018September 17, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What is an option fee? How is it different from earnest money? Answer: Earnest money is an amount agreed on in your home-purchase contract that you pay soon after the contract is signed by all parties. It is typically about one percent of the agreed-upon price, although it can be...

Ask the Agents #8: Short Sales, Setbacks, Home Inspections & More

July 30, 2018August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Last year we began a new feature on our blog called Ask the Agents. It’s proven to be one of the most popular features on the website. Here is the current batch of questions – most of them from our clients – and answers. Question: What does “short sale” mean? Answer:...

Ask the Agents #7: Bye-Bye, Old Swimming Pool

May 10, 2018August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: Our kids are grown and have moved away, and we no longer have any use for our backyard pool. We’d prefer to stop paying for its upkeep and get rid of it altogether. Do people do that? Answer: Yes, they do. But just filling the pool with a couple dump-truck...

Ask the Agents #6: Curb Appeal & Bee-friendly Gardens

February 15, 2018August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: I understand the concept of curb appeal, but I don’t want to spend the money to have my house entirely repainted. What else can I do to make it look good? Answer: You know what they say about getting just one chance to make a first impression, right? Curb appeal...

Ask the Agents #5: Installing a Pool, Loans & More

January 12, 2018August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: We’re thinking of adding a swimming pool to our backyard. Will that add to or detract from its appeal when we sell the house? Answer: It depends on the market. If half or more of the homes in the neighborhood have a pool, then it’s a positive thing. And for...

Ask the Agents #4: Paint Colors, New Home Inspections & More

December 11, 2017August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: Our house needs to be painted before we put it on the market. What wall colors do homebuyers like most? Answer: It pains us to say so – because we personally love strong and bold colors – but neutrals are usually best when a home is put on the market....

Ask the Agents #3: Surveys, Spec Homes, Exclusions & More

October 17, 2017August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: We are looking at an older home in The Heights. The owner has a survey, but it’s more than 20 years old. Do we need to spend money on a new survey before closing? Answer: Yes. In Texas, buyers should always pay to have a new survey of their own...

Ask the Agents #2: Post-Harvey, Powder Rooms, Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods & More

September 18, 2017August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: I was lucky during Hurricane Harvey, and I didn’t take any water into my house. Does this mean my property value will go up? Answer: This question and those many questions related to it – e.g. My house flooded. Is it worth rebuilding? – are on everyone’s mind right now....

Introducing: Ask The Agents #1

August 25, 2017August 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Editor’s note: Do we get questions! Whether one is listing a home for sale or looking to buy a new home, everybody seems to have questions about the real estate process. Well, we’re here to answer your questions, assuage your worries and point you in the right direction. Introducing our new...