Jim Hairston Blog

At Haring Realty, our REALTORS® are looking forward to spending time with friends and family this holiday season. But many sellers are motivated to move fast, and Mansfield homes for sale shouldn't wait – we're on the case all through Thanksgiving and beyond.

Some sellers feel intimidated at the thought of staying on the market over the holidays. They wonder if their home will sell and if showings will put a dent in their holiday plans. But if you're intent on selling as soon as you can, don't shy away from sticking to your plan!

With the right real estate agent at your side, a holiday sale can be worth it!

Every seller has their own goals, and those goals usually include a fast, lucrative sale. Ideally, you don't want your home to be on the market longer than 60 days, and 30 is even better. Luckily, today's unique housing market situation makes it much easier than ever to sell over the holidays.

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You may have reached the stage in your home-selling process where the casual looks are turning into firm offers. You're looking forward to handing the keys over to a family that will love your home as much as you have. But before you can finally close the deal, the issue of home inspection comes up. If you've not sold a home before, this can seem daunting. But you needn't worry. Home inspections help both buyers and sellers, and our REALTORS® are ready to guide you through the process. 

• The Inspector and Their Gadgets
  Home inspectors are trained professionals licensed by the state to examine homes for signs of damage and decay that can interfere with the way the home functions. They test electrical outlets, plumbing, major appliances, and the HVAC system. They will visually inspect every part of the home, looking for signs of damage from water, vermin, or decay. After the inspection, the inspector will provide a report. As home buyers often hire the inspector, they will receive the report, but home sellers can hire a home inspector to identify issues before a homebuyer spots them. If you have a pre-inspection done, you are required to share the report with potential buyers, but they may also choose to have their own inspection performed.

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Thanksgiving is practically synonymous with pie. Pumpkin, apple, or pecan pie, it may be traditional to have a slice after Thanksgiving dinner. But pie isn't the only way to end your meal. Sometimes change is good and our REALTORS® encourage you to think outside the pie pan and try something new. We've rounded up six Thanksgiving desserts that are well worth saving some extra room for.

• Pumpkin Layer Cake
  A fluffy Pumpkin Layer Cake would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving spread. The pumpkin flavor comes from pureed pumpkin and a blend of beautiful spices: ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Adding lots of eggs to the batter gives it the custardy flavor and texture of pumpkin pie. It's classic to pair this layer cake with tangy cream cheese buttercream frosting. Making this soft, moist, and delicious pumpkin layer cake is relatively straightforward and takes about 1 hour to bake and frost.

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As you've spent most of the summer at home, have you been looking for extra projects to keep the family busy? Maybe you've listed your house among Mansfield homes for sale and have been getting your home shipshape for potential buyers, but you've still got time on your hands. Has the urge to feed your backyard birds flitted across your mind? Helping them out — especially as the weather gets colder — is a fine thing to do.

But it's not enough to toss out pieces of dried bread. Bread has no nutritional value for birds and can be harmful by filling them up so they don't eat the foods they need. If you're going to feed the birds, invest in good quality seed.

Here are some additional tips for helping your local feathered friends get the nutritional boost they need.

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Spending more time at home gives everyone a bit of a home improvement bug, and that's never a bad thing. But if you've been watching home makeover shows, your vision of the process may not match reality. Many small and mostly cosmetic projects are DIY-friendly. But there are times when you'll need to call in the professionals for safety and legal reasons. Our REALTORS® want your remodeling project to go off without a hitch, so we'll help you sort out which projects you can tackle on your own and which need to be done by the pros. 

• Make A Splash 
  Plumbing-related repairs and updates should be approached with caution, but several are DIY-friendly. It may be the first time you locate the shut-off valves in your home, and this can be crucial information in case of a leak or break in your pipes. Changing plumbing fixtures, including installing a toilet, can be done by a careful homeowner and can take years off the look of a room. 
  
  If you're looking to add a freestanding bidet or an outdoor sink, however, you should leave that to a professional plumber. Re-routing existing pipes or installing new ones can get tricky fast. Any project involving shutting off water to the entire house should also be left to a plumber, as the necessary equipment may require a plumber's license.

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