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John J. Hay
Realty Executives
North Scottsdale
10607 N. Hayden Road #F-100
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Mobile: 480-363-5240
Fax: 888-755-6622
Email: johnhay@realtyexecutives.com
Why Hire Someone To Watch Your Seasonal Home?
Posted in Caretaker, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Maintenance, Home Watch Services, Uncategorized
Tagged absence, Arizona, assisting homeowners in maintaining their home, break-ins, caretaker, frequent inspections, handyman, hire a professional home watch service, Home Watch of Arizona, HomeWatch of Arizona, identify concerns, maintenance, making your life easier, peace of mind, seasonal, seasonal home, security, security and maintenance, unmonitored homes, vandalism, visual inspections, watch, watching their home
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Three Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home
Buyers only get one first look at a property, and they don’t want to use their imagination. They assume the house they see is as good as it’s going to get. If you want your home to sell, step out of your comfort zone and think like a buyer. Here are three ways to help you turn your house into the home of someone else’s dreams. We’ve broken down each category into low-cost, “Basic” tips and tricks, and an “All-Out” blow-the-budget transformation. How far you take it is up to you.
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Preparing Your Seasonal Home For Your Departure
Preparing Your Seasonal Home For Your Departure
These comments and checklist are written for the clients of HomeWatch of Arizona, and therefore are geared towards homes in Arizona. The problems and nuances associated with the snow country are very different than those of the desert. Although we do not have the snow and freezing temperatures in the Phoenix area, we do have other challenges that are unique to the Desert.
This checklist is very thorough, yet you may find items to add and others which don’t apply. I certainly hope that this helps as you go through the sometimes daunting process of preparing your seasonal home for your absence.
You may access this checklist via this link. Hopefully this can be used year after year as a resource to help with your closing. Some items you may not need to do, some you may not want to do and some you may want to consult a professional to make the decision on whether to do it or not. Please use your own judgment as there is more than one school of thought for some of the items on this checklist.
Many of you may come and 
go for just a week or two at a time. You will not want to close your home every time you leave but you should at least do a few of the most important items on the list just to lower the probability of have problems during your absence.
The following list is not only to minimize the possibility of damage to your home but also for security reasons. Vacant homes are easy to spot especially those that are vacant for months at a time. Although following some or all of the guidelines in this list would be very helpful, all the precautions in the world are not going to give you a guarantee that your home will be completely safe.
Completing this entire list may seem a bit daunting and may be more work than can be accomplished in a few hours prior to your plane departing. HomeWatch of Arizona can complete a portion or if you wish will complete the entire process for you so that all you need to do is give us a call and lock your door. Contact HomeWatch of Arizona for complete details. Continue reading
Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance, Home Watch Services, Uncategorized
Tagged Arizona, assist any homeowner, burglars, closing checklist, closing our home, consult an expert, contractors, damage to your home, departure, Home Watch., homes in Arizona, homewatch, HomeWatch of Arizona, John J. Hay, JohnHay@RealtyExecutives.com, owning seasonal homes, peace of mind, phoneix, preparing your seasonal home for our absense, professional, real estate industry, seasonal home, security lights, security of your home, vacant homes, vacation time, www.homewatchofarizona.com, years of experience
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Home Watch Services for Seasonal Homes
Do you own a second home in Arizona or for that matter anywhere in the world? Are you away from your home for months at a time? Do you ever wonder who is really watching your property while you are away? Do you find it hard to coordinate the work needed to be done on your home while you are away?
Most second home or seasonal home owners have a variety of methods to take care of that home which may be thousands of miles away. The methods range from asking a neighbor to occasionally check on it, or maybe you have a handyman who will come out and take a look or maybe you fly out just to check on the property and spend time lining up contractors to do all the work and repairs that need to be accomplished over the past season.
These methods can be very uncertain, time consuming and some times very costly. The best way to take care of your seasonal home is to hire a professional caretaker. 
This may sound like something only the rich and famous might do but in reality it is a very inexpensive means of having someone watch over what very well could be one of your most valuable assets.
A professional caretaker that has scheduled visits to the home will give you total peace of mind. Visual inspections of the property may identify potential problems before they become large, costly complicated problems. Making small repairs quickly may save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Imagine what damage a broken window or a drip under a sink can cause over a period of months.
Minor jobs such as bringing in papers, checking on the mail, watering house plants, turning on or off the sprinkler system, running water through your drains and flushing toilets on a regular basis can keep your home in tip top shape and keep you from wondering what, if anything, is happening with the property. Continue reading
Posted in Area Info, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Improvement, Home Maintenance
Tagged Arizona, Caretaker Services, during your absence, handyman, home maintenance, Home Watch Services, Home Watch., John Hay, JohnHay@RealtyExecutives.com, peace of mind, professional caretaker, Scottsdale, Seasonal Home Caretaker Service of Arizona, seasonal home owners, Seasonal Homes, second home
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Tax Information for the Canadian Buyer
For the most part purchasing property in Arizona for Canadian buyers or for that matter any buyer who is not a citizen of the United States is relatively easy and in most cases the same as if you were a citizen. The major difference f
rom purchasing property in Canada is that we use title companies to compile all the documents, title information and transfer of funds whereas in most cases Canadians use attorneys. There are some differences when selling or renting your property and they deal mostly with the revenue or taxation of income and profits. Below I have several links that will help in answering some of the more basic questions. Please consult your attorney to help with these issues.
United States and Canada Revenue Websites:
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Provincial Agencies
- United States Internal Revenue Service
- Arizona Department of Revenue
Other Revenue Related Documents:
Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams
By: Donna Fuscaldo
Published: January 15, 2010
With foreclosure rescue scams widespread as more homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments, be smart if you seek help.
A record high 2.8 million properties were hit with foreclosure notices in 2009, putting even more Americans at risk of facing foreclosure rescue scams. Homeowners who fall behind on mortgage payments need to tread carefully when seeking assistance, since foreclosure rescue scams come in many guises. A day spent researching legitimate options, from a mortgage modification or principal forbearance to a short sale or deed-in-lieu, could keep you from becoming a scam victim.
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Posted in Home Finance
Tagged avoiding foreclosure, financial scams, foreclosures, pre-foreclosure, scams
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Home Inspections 101
According to a study conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in 2001, 97 percent of home buyers who received home inspections believe they received a good value for their money. A home’s history gives it character and charm, but also takes a toll.
Over time, roofs sag, mortar cracks, and furnaces lose efficiency. Beyond this normal wear and tear, older homes can harbor mold, water damage, termites, or other structural threats that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
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Posted in For Buyers
Tagged assessment, home inspectiom, representation, wa;kthrough
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Homeowners Insurance Checklist
A home is the single biggest investment most Americans will ever make. Protecting that investment is not just a legal responsibility, but the smartest move you can make. Here are 7 tips for getting the most out of your homeowners insurance for the smallest premium.
1. Research Early and Often
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Posted in For Buyers
Tagged actual cash value, earthquake insurance, homeowners insurance
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First Time Home Buyer’s Checklist
Your first home purchase is exciting, but it can also be stressful. Here are some tips to limit the trauma and help you find the home of your dreams the first time around.
The most important step in selecting a home is knowing how much you can spend. If you already use an electronic budgeting system, you’re ahead of the game. If not, track your expenses for the past several months to a year. Try to quantify the “gray areas” of cash withdrawals that disappear on small purchases. Now add up your current rent and other related expenses. If you’ve been saving money toward your down payment, note that, as well. Finally, ask yourself where you can tighten your belt with your existing discretionary purchases. This is the maximum amount you could pay per month. Now ask yourself if this is reasonable, given your current savings and possible expenses. Only you know the answer to that. When you’ve arrived at a comfortable number, write it down, and save your calculations. You’ll take this to the bank when you apply for loan preapproval. For now, you have an estimated payment you can use while shopping online.
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Posted in For Buyers
Tagged affordability, budget, buyign a first home, home finance, homebuying, mortgage, offer price
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Fielding a Lowball Purchase Offer on Your Home
By: Marcie Geffner
Published 2010-06-10 09:53:36
Consider before you ignore or outright refuse a very low purchase offer for your home. A counteroffer and negotiation could turn that low purchase offer into a sale.
When you receive a low offer on your house, the best response is to counter with a price you’re willing to accept.
You just received a purchase offer from someone who wants to buy your home. You’re excited and relieved, until you realize the purchase offer is much lower than your asking price. How should you respond? Set aside your emotions, focus on the facts, and prepare a counteroffer that keeps the buyers involved in the deal. Continue reading
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