Newsletter – HOA – Arbella Properties

News You Can Use

We now have 3 offices to serve you!

Fall Branch
1706 Hwy 93
Fall Branch, TN 37656

Johnson City
1805 W State of Franklin Rd #900
Johnson City, TN 37604

Greeneville
104 Sam Doak Street
Greeneville, TN 37745

Janie Barron
Principal Broker, Fall Branch Office
Arbella Properties Inc.
423-534-3827 Cell
423-446-8154 Office
www.arbellatn.com
janie@arbellatn.com
License # 00327481

Brenda Campbell
Broker Associate
Arbella Properties Inc.
423-292-7232 Cell
423-446-8154 Office
www.arbellatn.com
brenda@arbellatn.com

Quick Quiz

Each month I’ll give you a new question.
Just reply to this email for the answer.
In what year was the first breakfast cereal mascot introduced?

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Ask the Agent

Can I Back Out of Buying a House?

Backing out of a home purchase can be done, but where you are in the process of the sale and what your purchase contract says will determine if there will be any consequences for doing so.

Prior to a seller accepting an offer from you, you can withdraw your offer anytime. Just be sure you do so in writing.

Once you and the seller have mutual acceptance, there will usually be contingencies in the agreement that will allow you to walk away without consequence, provided you cannot remove any of those contingencies within the prescribed times. Contingencies that give you the leeway to cancel a sale without any penalty include: the home being able to pass a home inspection, your obtaining loan approval or having to sell another residence first, and the seller being able to produce a clear title.

The contract dictates under what terms you can cancel without penalty and how much in damages it would cost you if you just simply changed your mind and defaulted.

How Do I Decide How Much My Home Is Worth?

Whether you’re planning to sell or just curious about how much your house is worth, there are a multitude of factors to include when thinking about the value of your home. Here’s a guide to help you make an informed decision.

Liaise with your real estate agent. They have expert knowledge of the market and will have experience selling homes similar to yours.

Look online. It might sound obvious, but online real estate platforms are a good place to get an idea of comparative prices, and some can give you automated estimates based on local sales data. While not perfect, they give a ballpark figure and are helpful for initial research.

Know historical prices in your area. Understanding historical house prices in the same neighborhood is key. Look at trends over the past few years to see if prices have been rising or falling. This will help you anticipate where the market might be headed.

Understand market conditions. This one is essential: Is it a buyer’s or seller’s market? In a seller’s market, where sellers have the advantage of high demand, you can often price higher. In a buyer’s market, where there is lower demand, you may require more competitive pricing.

Don’t be sentimental. It’s easy to overvalue your home due to your emotional attachment to it, but buyers will only pay what they feel is fair. Rely on objective data and professional advice to set a realistic price.

If you’re trying to work out what your house is worth, call or email me. I’m always here to help.

LEGO Made from Recycled Plastic: Can It Be?

One of the world’s most popular toy companies, LEGO, is making an exciting new step towards sustainability with a prototype new brick design made from recycled plastic. With the protection of the environment and the ever-growing plastic waste crisis being some of this century’s most pressing societal issues, this is a welcome new development for conscientious children and adults alike.

LEGO’s new prototype uses plastic made from recycled bottles, known as polythene terephthalate, or PET plastic, for short. The procedure involves procuring discarded bottles made from PET plastic and grinding them down into tiny flakes before purifying them, grinding them into even tinier granules and putting them through an innovative new process patented by LEGO to strengthen the grains, making them tough enough to fit the durable design we all know and love. Finally, the grains are molded into the classic LEGO bricks and color is added.

The new process is not yet ready for mass production but signifies the latest in a line of changes made by LEGO to play their part in protecting the environment, after recently beginning to remove single-use plastic from their packaging and switching the materials used in some elements to Bio-PE, a product made from sugar cane.

Not only could LEGO’s new initiative be a building block in the quest to reduce the amount of plastic pollution produced globally, it may also eventually contribute to the cleanup of nonbiodegradable waste by making use of the litter that already exists.

Let’s Connect

Wondering What’s Happening in Your Neighborhood?

How has the price of your home changed in today’s market? How much are other homes in your neighborhood selling for?

These are all critical questions that shouldn’t be overlooked when thinking about buying or selling your home. Whether you’re curious about prices in your area, whether it’s an excellent time to sell, or just need an expert to answer your questions, I can give you the tools and offer guidance through the entire buying or selling process.

Let me know how I can help by simply giving my office a call at 423-446-8154 to set up a time to connect.

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Pumpkin Pie Squares

The perfect dessert to enjoy during the fall season at family gatherings and parties.
Yields 16

Ingredients
10 Medjool dates, pitted and diced (about 1 cup diced)
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 cups oat flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk of choice (dairy or plant milk)
1 15 oz. can cooked pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
Optional: 1 cup frosting

In small bowl, soak dates with 3/4 cup water for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

In a large bowl, combine pumpkin pie spice and flour. In a blender, add soaked dates, date soak water, vanilla and milk and purée 1–2 minutes until smooth. Add to bowl with flour and spices along with pumpkin. Mix with wooden spoon until dry ingredients are incorporated.

Pour batter into 8×8 baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 25–30 minutes until lightly browned with some cracks. Cool for 10–15 minutes. Cut into squares before serving. Frost, if desired, before serving.

How to Maintain Your Home Now That Fall’s Here

The warm late summer months have been a joy, but now that the seasons are turning, it’s important to keep on top of the maintenance in and around your home to get ready for the cooler fall months and the upcoming winter freeze. Here’s a checklist of six issues to keep on top of.

Drain your sprinklers and hoses. Freezing temperatures can cause water in your sprinklers and hoses to expand and crack. Drain and store hoses, and blow out your sprinkler system to avoid costly repairs come spring.

Stow your lawnmower. After the final mow of the season, add fuel stabilizer to your lawnmower to prevent it from gumming up over the winter. Clean the mower blades and store it in a dry sheltered place to keep it in good condition for next spring.

Clean the gutters. Fallen leaves and debris can clog gutters, leading to water damage and ice dams. Clean your gutters to ensure they’re clear and ready to handle winter precipitation.

Seal gaps and cracks. Check your home for any gaps or cracks around windows, doors and the foundation. Sealing these with caulk or weatherstripping can prevent drafts and keep your home energy-efficient during the colder months.

Check the roof. Inspect your roof for missing or damaged sections, and make necessary repairs to avoid leaks. A well-maintained roof is crucial for protecting your home from harsh winter weather.

Inspect the fireplace. If you have a fireplace, before lighting the first fire of the season, have it professionally inspected and cleaned. This prevents chimney fires and ensures your fireplace is safe to use.

Cut your plants back. Trim back dead or overgrown branches on your plants and trees. This promotes healthy growth next spring and stops branches from breaking under the weight of snow and ice, potentially damaging your home.

For more fall maintenance tips, call or email me today and I’ll be happy to advise.

You Can Negotiate like a Pro with L.A.T.T.E.

Whether it’s a business deal at work, a domestic issue at home or a group decision with friends, negotiating a difficult situation to get an outcome that works for you can be a daunting prospect. Thankfully, there’s a tried and tested technique you can use to improve your ability to negotiate. Enter “L.A.T.T.E.,” a useful acronym coined by negotiation expert Jacqueline Twillie that will put you on your way to a successful outcome.

L: Look at the details. Making sure you’re fully informed about every detail and potential outcome will help you to decide what decisions you can make.

A: Anticipate the challenges. It’s probably a given that you’ll receive some pushback or have some hurdles to overcome during the conversation. Make sure you’re ready for the kind of questions or resistance you might face while negotiating and have your responses prepared.

T: Think about what you want to walk away with. Be clear in your mind about what you actually want from the negotiation, what you are prepared to be flexible on and which parts of your desired outcome are not up for negotiation. Also, be sure to consider what the other party wants from the conversation for a stronger approach.

T: Talk it through! Practicing talking through your points out loud will help you be confident and collected when it comes to the real thing. You may even find that hearing your points out loud helps you identify where your tone or approach might need to change.

E: Evaluate your options. Before making a final decision, give yourself time to review the outcomes you’ve been offered from the negotiations to make sure it’s what’s best for you!

This newsletter and any information contained herein are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or medical advice. The publisher takes great efforts to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this newsletter. However, we will not be responsible at any time for any errors or omissions or any damages, howsoever caused, that result from its use. Seek competent professional advice and/or legal counsel with respect to any matter discussed or published in this newsletter. This newsletter is not intended to solicit properties currently for sale.