Providing More Than a Key to the Front Door

Insider

REAL ESTATE
Wakeeld Reutlinger Realtors, a Berkshire Hathaway Aliate

TESTIMONIAL
Lee, Thank you for your help
finding the perfect house for our
family. We love it! It is exactly
what we were looking for. Thank
you a thousand times over.
-- The Bartleys

Parklands Events
Wednesday Wonders,
Family Programs
Weekly 2:30 to 3:30 at the
PNC Achievement Center
Football Kick-Off Luncheon
with Kirk Herbstreit
May 16th - 11:30 to 1:00
The Galt House
Book at The Parklands
website

Olmsted Parks Events

Volunteer Days
Seneca Park, May 24
Cherokee Park, June 2
Iroquois Park, June 11
Week Long Summer
Nature Camps:
Louisvilles geography, park
history, Ohio River water
quality and local flora and
fauna all in Olmsteds
Chickasaw Park outdoor
classroom.
Ages 6-9, June 6 and July 2
Ages 10-12, June 27 and
July 18

2nd Quarter 2016

Louisville and National Market Update

real estate markets, behind only New Orleans, said Tony Lindauer, Jefferson Countys
property valuation administrator.

The Louisville area real estate market

continues its upward trajectory with
Marchs existing home sales coming in 14%
above last years. Year-to-date sales were
also up a hefty 15% versus last years same
time period. The median price year-to-date
for the Greater Louisville Area was up 4.3%
compared to last year, and the average price
was up 1.1%. The inventory of available
properties for all areas was 20% lower than
at the same time last year and 24.7% lower
in Jefferson County.

Local sales continue to outpace national

sales which rose just 1.5% compared to a
year ago. National sales did however jump
5.1% over Februarys surprisingly large
decline. The national median existing home
price in March was $222,700, up 5.7% from
March 2015. Marchs price increase marks
the 49th consecutive month of year-over-year
gains.

According to a recent Courier Journal

article, Many homeowners in St. Matthews,
among residents of some other East End
areas, can expect hefty increases in their
property assessment. The residential valuations are soaring mainly because Louisville is currently one of the countrys hottest

Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist, says

Buyer demand remains sturdy in most areas
this spring and the mid-priced market is
doing quite well. However, sales are softer
both at the very low and very high ends of
the market because of supply limitations and
affordability pressures.

LOUISVILLEReal

Estate

U P D A TE

Month at a Glance
March Unit Sales of Single Family and Condo

March Average Selling Price Single Family and Condo

Year to Date at a Glance

Units Sold January 11-March 31

Average Price January 11-March 31

P age 2

Walk on Wood
Hardwood flooring is one of the most
sought-after features in new and existing
homes. This eco-friendly feature can turn
your home into a warm and inviting space
to relax and entertain. Selecting the right
flooring can be a challenge however,
depending on your design style, budget
and personal preference. Before choosing a
wood floor for your home, here are a few
things to keep in mind, courtesy of the
National Wood Flooring Association:
There are two basic types of wood
flooring. Solid wood flooring can
be sanded and refinished many
times and can be used in all
rooms, including kitchens and
powder rooms. Engineered wood
is manufactured with multiple
layers of wood veneers, so it
expands and contracts less than
solid wood flooring when temperatures and humidity fluctuate.
Engineered wood is a better
alternative for basements and
other below-ground living areas.

Hardwood floors come in different finishes.

Satin gloss offers the most shine and reflects
the most light, so scratches and normal wear
and tear are less noticeable, while matte
finishes offer the least shine. Light woods
like ash or maple help make a room appear
more open and airy, while darker woods
like walnut or mahogany can give a room a
more stately and refined appearance. To
keep floors looking new, clean them
frequently using a dust mop or vacuum.

When Listing Your Home,

Curb Appeal Matters!
Make sure the exterior of your home sparkles
before the photographer shows up!
Trim trees and bushes, edge around beds and
walks, rake up any yard debris, and put
down a fresh layer of mulch.
Power wash siding, garage, driveway and
walks, if necessary.
Clean the gutters.
Wash windows, inside and out, and remove the
screens from the front windows for a fresher look.
Repaint or recoat any surface that needs it, including
shutters, siding, trim, mail boxes and decks.
Spruce up the doorway area. Have it as clean as
possible, repaint the front door a fresh new color, replace old hardware, add a big pot of colorful
flowers, and put out a new welcome mat.

Avoid using a wet mop as water can dull the

finish or damage the wood over time. To
prevent scratches, place scatter rugs at all
entrances and floor protector pads on the
bottom of furniture legs. When
spills occur, wipe them immediately
with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
When floors begin to look dull,
use a wood flooring cleaner to
renew the luster. Use only products that are compatible with
your wood floor type. The wrong
cleaning product can damage the
finish and possibly the wood itself. With these simple tips in
mind, hardwood floors can provide comfort and enjoyment
for many years.

Mold in the House?

Molds can grow almost anywhere there is water moisture present.
The key to preventing mold growth is to find the source of any
moisture or water problem. Usually, a person is able to see or
smell mold. It can appear as fuzzy, discolored or slimy spots
that increase in size as they grow. Musty odors are sometimes
the only clue. Investigate the smell by looking behind and
underneath surfaces.
There are several common products that can be used to kill
and remove mold. Bleach (only on non-porous materials), Borax,
vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, detergent, baking soda or specific
mold removal products. If the problem is widespread, people
may hire a licensed mold remediation company to properly
clean the mold. In most cases, mold testing and sampling are
more
expensive
than simply cleaning
and repairing the
source
of
the
moisture that allows
the mold to grow.

Information taken from

New York State Dept. of
Labor Division of Safety
and Health.

P age 3

Real Estate Insider

Three Steps Sellers Should Take Prior to Listing Their Property

Make Repairs!!!
Make large or small repairs, especially
those which may create a safety
hazard or those that effect the structural
integrity of the home. Buyers can
over-react once they receive the
home inspection report that can
include a long laundry list of repairs.
Sometimes they want to substantially
reduce their original offer, or even worse,
they decide to cancel the contract.

5 Inspection
Problems Sellers
Can Avoid

Price
Your
Home
Competitively From the
Get-go!!!
With your Realtors guidance,
look over comparable sales
data that is presented in a
Comparable Market Analysis
(CMA). If priced correctly,
there should be a parade of
people through the home during the first
week. Setting the price within the recom-

The home inspection is perhaps the rockiest phase of

a home purchase because the issues that arise could
scare buyers off. But there are typical problems that
sellers can be proactive about repairing in order to
save the deal.

mended range can create a sense of urgency

for buyers, and may result in multiple
offers.
Adopt a Realistic Mindset!!!
As difficult as this may be, try to keep emotions
off the table. Setting expectations too high
may hijack a reasonable offer. First offers
are usually the best offers, or could be the
only offers, and should be taken seriously.
Respectful negotiations should lead to an
agreement between the seller and buyer.

Damp basement
Faulty wiring
Leaky roofs
Amateur workmanship
Poor maintenance

The Parklands of Floyds Fork Opens Fourth and Final Park

The recent opening of the 583-acre Broad Run
Park, marks the completion of the final major
portion of the park system that ranks among the
nations largest, after just 5 years of construction!
The Cliffside Center is Broad Run Parks activity
hub, featuring a handicapped accessible Playground/Sprayground,
The
Greensward,
Woodland Pavilion, and The Midway lined
with long stone walls. Nestled at the base of a
100-foot high cliff, this active park site is located
on Bardstown Road between Fern Creek and
Mount Washington.
Big Vista Overlook, the highest point of Broad
Run Park at approximately 650 feet above sea
level, offers an amazing view of the valley below.
From this spot, visitors can see all the way to the
Brown-Forman Silo Center in Turkey Run Park
on a neighboring hillside.
Limestone Gorge & Trail, a geologic treasure,
is just a short hike from the Cliffside parking lot
on the Louisville Loop. You can walk on the pedestrian bridge over a large limestone gorge that sometimes doubles as a rushing waterfall. Adventureseekers can hike along the one-mile Limestone
Gorge Trail, a hike-only, more difficult, softsurface trail.
Broad Run Valley Paddling Access & Cliffside
Paddling Access - With two more access points
paddlers can now run 3.5 miles in Seaton Valley
and/or 2.5 miles to the Cliffside Center.
In addition to the 3.8 miles of the Louisville Loop
in Broad Run Park, 3 miles of The Strand accessed
from Turkey Run Park is also now open, one of

the most scenic portions of the Louisville

Loop. When the last 2 miles of The
Strand opens this summer, you can hike
or bike the 19 miles from Beckley Park at
Shelbyville Road all the way to the
Cliffside Center at Bardstown Road!
Come check out the dramatic views,
waterfalls, towering hardwood trees and
fields of wildflowers, all along Floyds
Fork in our magnificent, donor-supported
Park!
Take a Cue from the Parklands and Go
Native!
As you drive, walk or hike through the
park, you will notice the plantings of an
abundance of native trees, shrubs and
wildflowers. Why not do the same at
your home? Viburnums are one of the
shrubs used for ornamental and restoration

purposes in the park. They make an

excellent shrub for residential landscapes.
Some varieties grow quiet large, so think
about the mature size when making a
selection. The Viburnum species used in
the park are
Blackhaw,
Arrowwood and
Smooth
Witherod.
The white
flowers in
the spring
give way to a brightly colored fruit
providing food for wildlife.
Thank you Tom Smarr, Horticulture
Director at the Parklands and Portia
Brown, Native Plant Consultant.

Lee Jolly REALTOR

,

Lee Jolly has been a real estate agent with Wakefield Reutlinger for almost
15 years. She still brings a fresh perspective and energetic approach to each
and every client she meets. With strong dedication to customer service and
understanding of the Louisville market, Lee has become one of our top agents.
Born and raised in Louisville, KY, she attended Ohio University and graduated
from the University of Louisville. She spends her free time painting, gardening
and catching up with friends.

Contact Lee for any of your real estate needs!

502502-931931-7838 / leejollyrealtor@hotmail.com
6511 Glenridge Park Place, Ste. 10
Louisville, KY 40222
WRrealtors.com

Give us a call for current interest rates.

Were happy to keep you informed!

This is not intended to solicit a currently listed property.

Information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

How to Prepare for the Photo Shoot

With the majority of buyers shopping for homes online, highresolution slide shows and video tours are a must. Heres how to
make your home shine on camera.
Understand the cameras perspective.
The cameras eye is different from the human eye. It magnifies
clutter and poor furniture arrangement so that even a home that
feels comfortable in person can look jumbled online.
Make it spotless.
Cameras also tend to magnify grime. Dont forget floor coverings and walls; a spot on a rug might be overlooked during a
regular home showing, but it could become a focal point online.
Know what to leave.
You want to avoid clutter, but try to have three items of varying
heights on each surface. On an end table you can place a tall
lamp (high), a small plant (medium), and a book (low).
Snap practice pictures with your own camera.
This will give you an idea of what the home will look like on
camera before the photographer shows up. Examine the photos

and make changes to improve each rooms appearance, such as

opening blinds to let in natural light, removing magnets from the
refrigerator, or taking down distracting art.
Pare down.
Removing one or two pieces of furniture from each room, even if
just for the shoot, can make your space appear larger on screen.
Rearrange.
Spotlight the flow of your space by creating a focal point on the
furthest wall from the doorway and arranging the other pieces of
furniture to make a triangle shape. The focal point may be a bed in
a bedroom or a china cabinet in a dining room.
Accessorize.
Include a healthy plant in every room; the camera loves greenery.
Energize bland decor by placing a bright vase on a mantle or draping
an afghan over a couch.
Keep the home in shape.
Buyers who liked what they saw online expect to encounter the
same home in person.