Archive for tag The kuchtas
September 01, 2010 at 11:44 AM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
If you are one of the thousands of home sellers out there trying to get a nibble, you are not alone. In fact, if you are in Milwaukee County, there are 4,491 homes competing for a buyer. Washington County has 1,019 available homes, and Waukesha County boasts 2,837 homes looking for a new family. So, getting a buyer to like your home more than all of the rest is no easy task.
Here are a few helpful tips:
* Understand that unemployment and the struggling economy has all but destroyed consumer confidence.
* Realize that today’s buyer has plenty of homes to chose from. These buyers are only interested in the home THEY consider priced correctly.
* Know that the economic situation will take some time to correct. It will probably take 5-7 years before we see 2006 pricing.
* Prioritize your needs over wants. Take an honest look at the reason you decided to sell in the first place. Is money more important than being closer to family or your health? Or better yet, is money more important than moving on with your life?
In essence, you need to take the emotion out of the equation. If you can take a step back and look at the big picture, chances are, you will have a more pleasing outcome. Don’t forget - we are here to help! The Kuchtas, Kelly & Colleen www.thekuchtas.shorewest.com.
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Colleen Kuchta
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June 21, 2010 at 04:08 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
There has been a lot of talk about the expired Tax Rebates, and current Real Estate conditions. What is happening in the Real Estate Market? Are Buyers writing offers? Do Sellers need to lower their prices? Are the rates still low, or have they gone up?
Talk around the office & in the field shows a general slowing down in activity. Buyers are still visiting Open Houses, but only the serious Buyers - at well priced homes. Many Sellers have come to realize that they are not going to get the amount of money they would like for their property, but even the realistic sellers are not getting the number of showings they would like. Buyers have gotten more demanding since the expiration of the Tax Rebate. In many cases, they want to see every home available that meets their criteria. Once a house has been chosen, they are offering much less than the Seller is asking. If the offer does not get accepted, they are moving on to the next house on their list. Once their offer is accepted, negotiations seem to begin again after the home inspection. Today’s Buyer wants their home to be in tip-top shape before they move in! All gone are the days of “I can fix that myself after we move in”. They know that most Sellers would rather fix the problem, than have to start over looking for a new Buyer, and have to disclose any past issues.
Sellers are being to realize that it is truly a Buyer’s Market. If they don’t know it when they first come on the market, they learn it all too quickly. Lack of showings, or even worse, many showings with negative feedback from Buyers often serve as a strong dose of reality. If the Seller priced the home low enough to compel a Buyer to write an offer, they still run the risk of more concessions after the inspection. In some cases, Sellers simply cannot afford to make another $5,000 in concessions. This would push them underwater, forcing them to arrange the sale with the bank prior to a successful closing. Even the lowest interest rates we have seen in decades are not doing much to persuade Buyers to write offers. Loan officer, Denise Hoernke, states that Wisconsin Mortgage Corporation is offering 4.75% for FHA Mortgages, and 4.625% for a Conventional mortgage. This is great news. Everyone knows that the lower the interest rate, the more house you can afford.
So, where are we at in the Real Estate Market? Let’s recap: Rates are under 5%, prices are incredibly low and Buyers are looking for a deal. All things considered, I would say we are doing our best to recover. When will this recovery finally take place? Only time will tell…One thing is for certain, we are in it for the long haul! The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen.
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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June 17, 2010 at 07:36 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
The Village of Menomonee Falls has one of the largest parades in the area to celebrate Independence Day. Every year people come from all around to watch the floats, dancers, clowns & members of local businesses march down Appleton Avenue. The 2010 parade will be held on July 3, beginning at 7pm. The Village of Menomonee Falls allows spectators to ‘reserve a spot’ up to 24 hours ahead of time. The ‘reservation’ is confirmed by roping or taping your preferred area off. Tarps and furniture are not allowed, and will be removed.
In years past, spectators would wait patiently in local parking lots & on village streets until they were allowed to reserve their spot. Once 7pm on July 2nd rolled around, people would make a mad dash to reserve their desired spot. This year, the village of Menomonee Falls will be closing Appleton 
Ave between Woosencraft Drive & Elm Lane on July 2nd between 7-7:30pm. The closing of the road is to ensure public safety. Also new this year, any persons entering the roadway/median outside of the 30 minute window will be fined. The fines range from $68.10 up to $807.00, so keep that in mind! Happy a safe and happy Independence Day celebration! As always, THANK YOU to all who serve! God Bless! The Kuchta’s, Kelly & Colleen http://www.thekuchtas.shorewest.com
Posted by: Colleen Kuchta
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May 05, 2010 at 10:45 AM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
A Realtor friend of mine recently had a final walk-thru with one of her clients 2 days prior to their closing. They were walking through the house, taking note that all of the tasks that needed to be addressed had been completed. When they walked into the back yard to check the grading, they noticed that there was a large amount of dirt displaced around the porch. A critter had dug a hole, and was residing under the back porch. After a little research, they learned it was pretty easy to get rid of the unwanted guest without causing any physical harm to the animal. The Wisconsin Humane Society said to use the rule of three!
- Soak an old towel in ammonia and place it in the hole for 3 days. The smell will be offensive to the animals.
- Tune a radio to a talk radio station. It doesn’t have to be blasting, just loud enough to hear before they get inside. Animals don’t want to come into an area where humans are hanging out.
- Place a light in the hole. It can be a flashlight, or any light that will remain lit for 3 days. This is very scary to those creatures of the night.
Put all 3 items in the hole that the critter has claimed as their new home. Within 3 days your unwanted guest will be gone - hopefully far away. No harm done! For more great advice on how to deal with pest visit: www.wihumane.org. They can help you with pets, too. In the end, the buyers closed on the home, and their unwanted guest moved out. The Kuchta’s - Kelly & Colleen Posted by:
Colleen Kuchta
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March 02, 2010 at 04:16 PM · Posted under Colleen Kuchta
Have you hired an agent to represent you for the purchase of your new home? Most buyers are unaware that when an agent is showing a home, the agent is actually working as a sub-agent of the agent that has the property listed. Many times a buyer will call or email the listing agent to request a private showing of the property, as well. In both cases, the loyalty 
of the agent lies in the seller’s best interest. This means they should be working to get the most money at the best terms possible for the property.
A sure way to have someone on your side during the biggest purchase of your life is to hire a Buyer’s Agent. Kelly & I are part of the Shorewest Realtors team. When you hire us, there is no charge for the peace of mind in knowing that we are putting your needs above even our own. We are Accredited Buyers Representatives with the ability to show all of the properties that are for sale. Whether this is your first home or you need a refresher, we will guide you through the transaction so that you know what to expect every step of the way!
Posted by:Colleen Kuchta
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