Tag: RE/MAX

Lawn Care Tips For the Summer!

Shreveport-Bossier City Homes and Lifestyle

Ahhh, summer is here.  It’s time to kick-back and relax in the backyard.

Unfortunately this is also when a lot of “unwanted guests” show up as well:  bugs, mosquitos and weeds.  By taking proper care of your lawn, however, you can get the most of it, and get the most out of your summer.

So keep your lawn lush, green and bug free this summer by practicing proper lawn care with these helpful tips.  And remember, for the bast lawn care, look into hiring a professional company which will allow you even more time in the hammock with a cold drink in your hand!

The Tips:

  • Water your lawn. Well, of course right?  But there is an art to it.  Be sure to practice proper watering and water conservation techniques.  The early morning hours are the best time to water your lawn because the air is cooler.  In the middle of the day water evaporates too quickly and doing it at night is even worse.  Water can cling to blades of grass overnight and as it sits there it promotes fungus and lawn disease over time.
  • Water long enough to moisten the soil about 6 inches down but don’t water more than that. The first time you water this summer check the soil every 15 minutes to see how moist it is.  When the water reaches six inches in depth then record the time and how long it took and us that as your baseline result going forward.
  • Check your lawn for any signs of discoloration or poor texture. Browner, more brittle grass can be signs of damage.
  • Hire (or DIY it) a professional pest-control service to spray around the foundation of your home to help keep the bugs on the outside. You can also reduce bugs’ presence by properly treating your lawn.
  • Make sure to poor out any standing water as it collects to prevent mosquitos from breeding
  • While your lawn is normally the focus point of the yard, make sure not to forget about trees, shrubs and other outdoor plants. Mulch beds are important too.  Keeping your yards properly maintained will increase your home’s value and appeal as well.

When you are the one working outdoors on these projects make sure you stay hydrated with water.  Working in the summer heat it can be tempting to wear shorts and flip flops, but it’s important to wear long pants and closed toe shoes for safety purposes.

And if working out in the elements doesn’t appeal to you consider hiring a professional.  They will make sure everything you need gets done and they might even find things you overlooked!

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Find me on Facebook and also Connect With Me Here!

Who Could Use a Little Less Stress in Their Lives? Me Please!!

Shreveport-Bossier City Homes and Lifestyle
Ok folks, so here goes another round of personal honesty on my part.
 
I am under a continuous amount of stress.  Mental, Physical, Emotional, Spiritual and Nutritional.  You name the subcategory of stress (all but death or divorce), look it up in the dictionary and my face is likely there with a disheveled look sheepishly waving back at you.  😩  👋
 
Is that something most people want to announce, especially someone who wants you to hire or recommend me to family and friends one day?
 
Ummmmm …. No.
 
But it’s true, I can’t deny it so why hide?  And to be even more transparent writing about it now is actually kinda therapeutic, so thanks!  🤣🤣
 
It wasn’t always this way and wont always be … and that’s the point, really.  We are all at various stages and seasons of life and that usually brings added stress and pressure that we may have never encountered before.
 
These are My Current Stressors, can you relate? 
 
– Expecting a new baby
– Career fluctuations
– Raising kiddos that make you wade REAL DEEP in the patience pool
– Saving for college
– Managing the household, and so much more ….
 
All the while trying to make sure I am the best husband, father, brother, son and family example I can be to everyone who needs, counts and depends on me.  Whew!
 
No, not stressful at all. 🤣🤣
 
But when I go into ‘real estate agent’ mode all that evaporates.  I become laser-focused, tactical and all about my client.  My job is to then make sure you are under the …
 
 … least amount of stress as possible.  😎😎
 
What does that look like, you ask?  Great Question! 
 
Regardless of whether you are buying or selling the categories of my expertise and help are basically the same:
 
– Answer every question you may have on the process from beginning to end
– Be open and honest with you
– Guide you down the path that is in your best interest not mine
– Take care of all the paperwork
– Interface with all the parties that work behind the scenes in the buy/sell process
– Negotiate with the other party on your behalf
 
Since I have been doing this for quite some time I am perfectly comfortable taking on that role and making it easy for you.  So if you need to buy or sell a home this year and want an agent who will make it as stress-free as possible make sure you select a great agent.
 
Me Please!
 
 

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.  Connect With Me Here

Mardi Gras: Is it Worth the Hype?

Shreveport-Bossier City Homes and Lifestyle
So Here’s a Sincere Question:  Is Mardi Gras Worth It?
Is Mardi Gras worth all the time, effort, energy and trouble?  Some say yes and some say no … we all have an opinion, or maybe you don’t care one way or the other.  That’s fine too.
My local (read that as Shreveport-Bossier City) Mardi Gras experiences have been good but I know others who have had just the opposite.

As with any large gathering of people in a tight space who are virtually free to do as they please there will always be those who do stupid things and make the experience unpleasant for everyone around them.

I think the statistics (and your own experience) likely bear that out too.
But as a parent, friend, or what have you it is your job to create a pleasant experience regardless of the chaos around you.
Let’s now think about your last real estate experience …  
Don’t hyperventilate and don’t swear … just think for a moment.  Was it similar to the above mentioned?  Not everyone will have a pleasant memory which is unfortunate.
And why is that?  Most of the time what I hear is:  “I had a bad Realtor!”
Hmmmm …. are you sure that’s the reason because there is so much more that goes on behind the scenes that the typical home buyer or seller is oblivious to.
So let me re-frame your thought process:
Did you ever think about this?  
 
-Your agent cannot control what the loan officer does or doesn’t do
-Your agent cannot control what the Title company does or doesn’t do
-Your agent cannot control Government shutdowns
-Your agent cannot control what the person on the other side of the transaction does or doesn’t do
-Your agent often can’t control what you, the client, does or doesn’t do (although we try our best)!
 
Do you see where I’m going with this?  Although the majority of agents do their darndest we just don’t have control over every aspect of the buying and selling process.
And should you choose me I promise to do my best to give you the calmest yet most fun Mardi Gras like experience I possibly can and keep you coming back for more!

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.  Connect With Me Here

Shreveport Bossier Expert Real Estate Agent Realtor Military veteran buy home sell house Ryan Wheeler

Making a Stupid Mistake and NOT Regretting It

Shreveport-Bossier City Homes and Lifestyle
Ya’ll are not going to believe this!  I did something incredibly stupid a few weeks back.  How did I ever survive it I’m not sure but here I am to tell you.  😬

And do I regret it?  Nope, not one bit … Well, that’s not entirely accurate.  Let me explain:
A few weekends back my wife and I ventured out to Dallas, Texas.  She is 6 1/2 months pregnant and wanted to run a 5K race; they called it the “Hot Chocolate Run” I do believe. 🏃‍♀️☕

Now, I’m not a fan of going hundreds of miles away and spending a ton of money on hotels and food just for something one can do in 30 minutes in their own neighborhood …. I’m just sayin’.

BUT … she had fun.  And to be honest so did I.  She did more than run a race.  She had great bonding time and fun with her friends, me and the baby.

We all went to Great Wolf Lodge afterward and spent some much needed quality family time together.  It was our last getaway before the newborn arrives in a few months.  None of that was a mistake, of course.

My stupid mistake was in thinking it would all be a waste of time, energy and money and actually telling her that a few months ago.  Not the smartest thing but to her credit she doesn’t hold grudges and for that I am blessed.

So what don’t I regret?  I don’t regret going although I wasn’t very keen on it in the beginning it all turned out better than I could have expected or imagined.

Times like this I often reflect on my clients and their situations and it got me thinking … have any of them ever said they made a stupid mistake in buying or selling a home with me?  Anyone?  😧

And you know what?  No matter how much I think on it … Not one person ever has said that.

Ever ….   😌 👍

And why is that?

Well, a lot of it has to do with the sound advice I give each and every client which helps them determine their best course of action.

You see, sometimes the best course of action is for a client NOT to take a certain action they think they should or they want to.

That’s where I believe my job is the most important and the most difficult.

But ultimately helping a client by giving them the best advice possible so they don’t make a stupid mistake is what I am here to do and that is definitely NOT something I will ever regret.  😊👍

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Find me on Facebook and also Connect With Me Here!

Shreveport Bossier Expert Real Estate Agent Realtor Military veteran buy home sell house Ryan Wheeler moving

6 Tips For Buying a Home When Overseas

Shreveport-Bossier City Homes and Lifestyle

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport Bossier City area.  Connect With Me Here

Service members know that life doesn’t go on hold while you’re deployed. If your financial goals include buying your own home, you can fulfill that goal while you are overseas serving our country.

A survey from the National Association of Realtors found that 51 percent of surveyed service members between 18 and 35 owned homes, whereas their non-military peers had a homeownership rate of 34 percent. Your dream of owning a home BEFORE you arrive at your next duty location can be very easily accomplished.

How to Buy a Home from Afar

We’ll walk you through the basic steps to purchase your dream home during your overseas time.

  1. Narrow Down the Neighborhood Let the internet do the heavy lifting as you decide on your new neighborhood. Check out the city’s website for basic information like school ratings, parks, events, activities and property taxes. You can use a street-view map like Google Earth to see recent images of the area and exterior shots of the homes you like. This research will help you figure out what your budget should be and what the essential elements are for you and your family. It will also help you weed out areas that don’t meet your needs. We recommend researching a couple of zip codes for easy comparison.
  2. Hire an Expert Agent:A local real estate agent should be your ‘boots on the ground’ as you search for your new home. You will also want to seek out an agent who understands the relocation and home-buying process for military personnel. Some realtors choose to earn a Military Relocation Certification from the National Association of Realtors. Agents with this certification understand common issues facing current and former military members, and they’re familiar with the programs and benefits for which military members qualify. Hiring a real estate agent may also help you be the first to know when houses go on the market.  A great agent can set you up with your own Web Portal of homes pulled directly from the MLS.  That way you can have homes come to you where you can then manage them as opposed to searching and trying to keep track of all the ones you like.
  3. Tour Homes on Video:                                                                                                  Employ your spouse, family member or a friend to attend viewings of your top-choice houses. This representative can measure rooms, drive around the neighborhood and tell you any other specifics that your internet research did not uncover. Get creative: explore the home alongside your friend or family member using video chat.  Of course, in order to do this, you will need to have your expert agent already lined up.  If a spouse or friend is unavailable then your agent can do this for you.
  4. Exercise A Power of Attorney:Speak to a lawyer about using a power of attorney, which is a legal document signed by one person granting another person the power to represent the signer in signing papers, title documents, contracts and other activities. If you can’t be at closing, the person you have selected (like your spouse, for instance) can represent you under the power of attorney. If you are getting a VA loan, there may be additional hoops to jump through, such as an occupancy requirement. Your spouse may be able to fulfill the occupancy requirements for you, or you can file for an extension.
  5. Almost Everything is Done Digitally!                                                                                  When it comes to the paperwork to make an offer on a home, don’t sweat it!  As long as you have internet access and an e-mail address your agent can send all the paperwork to sign digitally to make an offer on a home.
  6. Use Snail Mail if Necessary                                                                                                      If you are single and don’t have family or friends in the area who can sign for you under a power of attorney, your lender may need to mail the documents for you to sign. This isn’t ideal, as shipping the documents can extend the buying process but it can easily be done.  This is colloquially known as a “FedEx close”.  Your mortgage company will let you know beforehand what their process is.
  7. Enjoy the BenefitsOne huge perk of homeownership is the tax benefits that come along with it. If your move is the result of a military relocation, you may be able to claim unreimbursed moving expenses as a tax deduction. With a VA loan, you may also be able to claim the interest paid as a deduction. Work with your real estate agent and tax professional to identify applicable benefits and perks.

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, and one that deployed military members can achieve. Homeownership is a step towards putting down roots and belonging to a local community. The buying process may feel complicated (even on a good day), but your own home will be a haven for your family while you are away, and a joyful place to return to when you come back.

**Ryan Wheeler is an expert real estate agent and military veteran serving buyers and sellers of homes in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.  Connect With Me Here

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