Indy House of the Week, 12.31.11

The Indy "House of the Week"

is chosen by DM Irish to highlight what's available on the Indianapolis market
and to feature a home with a very attractive curb appeal!

This house is located in Fishers in Fox Hollow in the 104th and Olio corridor

HSE Schools

4300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, plus a bonus room

Basement, 3-car garage

Features hardwood, granite, and a gourmet kitchen

Built new and finished in late 2011

(Although it's a new home, taking a Realtor® in on the purchase is very important!)

$363,000

Contact Dan here to see this or other homes in the Indy area!

The Voice of the Agent: "Patience for the Right Home"

When shopping for a home, not only are you armed with a checklist for what's ideal in your next house, but it helps to grab some patience to go along with that while you shop.  I've seen it take some people over 100 home showings and maybe one year or more to explore existing areas and the housing inventory to figure out where to land.  Focus on what's best for your lifestyle with regards to monthly payment, home layout and size, area school systems, and proximity to where you do life on a daily basis.

While waiting on your home to sell, I can set you up on one of my computer generated, buyer-specific searches so you can get to know the market.  When you see a home that catches your eye, we'll head out to see it!

If your home sold faster than you expected and you're not sure of your fit, consider the option of renting a home until you can make a decision and take your time to find your next home.  Actually, we did just that after one of our home sales and it's proven beneficial!

Rushing through the process and making an impulse buy, when job relocation is not an issue, can have long term negative impacts on many areas of your life.  Take your time, know what you want, and rest assured there will be a home with your name on it when the timing's right!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here!

Weekly Mortgage Rate Update, 12.28.11

The mortgage rates are still incredible!  It's a great time to buy a new home and lock that rate in for the long haul.  Not planning a move?  It's also a great time to refinance and save yourself some money each month. 


My mortgage professional of choice: Mark Kuchik at Access National at 317-846-1250.  I encourage all of my clients to get preapproved before they start the house hunt so they know exactly where to focus their time when shopping for a home.   Mark sits down with you to review your case, hear your goals, and get you started on the new-home path.  Please tell him I sent you!

Rates for the week :
From the IBJ: The average rate for 30-year mortgages rose from 4.19 to 4.20 percent for the week ended December 21, according to Bankrate.com. The rate for 15-year mortgages was unchanged at 3.42 percent.

Contact me here, Realtor® Dan Irish, for more information!

Decorated posts, bold doors, and bright lanterns!

We at DM Irish, Realtor® Dan Irish and General Contractor Mindy Irish, celebrate a solid 2011 and look forward to a strong 2012 in housing! 

This picture pretty much sums it all up for us.  The festive decorations on the posts, the bold front door, and the vintage, over sized lantern send a message of welcome and warmth about this home.  Regardless of the down economy, this picture's glow represents our ongoing excitement that we have for the housing industry! 

2011 has been a fantastic year of growth and building blocks for our company.  We traveled to Las Vegas in March for a three-day ERA Real Estate conference.  It was a great opportunity to network, learn new strategies, and review the ones we had in place.

This year brought the revamp of our Building and Design website, dmirish.com, and the birth of our Real Estate website, dmirishrealestate.com, as well.  Additionally, we created and developed two new blogs and their associated Facebook pages, DM Irish Real Estate, and our community blog, For You and The Crew.  It's important to us to be a resource on housing and local opportunity to those in our community, and we happily use these blogs as a vehicle for those services.

The groundwork of 2011 will begin to bloom in 2012.  Our foundational posts are decorated with goals, organized and purposeful content, client opportunity, and housing projects in progress.  Our bold front door is represented by our blog, Facebook, and website resources that can be opened and used by many people at anytime.  All this, coupled with our experience and years in the industry, fuels the flame for the glow in our lantern that will shine brightly all year long!

Thankful for 2011 and a hearty welcome to 2012!

To all things house and home.......

~DM Irish

Picture above compliments of our friends at:

Front Porch Ideas and More!

The Voice of the Agent, "Curb Appeal Counts!"

I've seen it happen before.  An agent schedules a showing, the clients arrive, and the message the house sends from the curb kills the deal, as in the clients won't even go inside!  Working on your curb appeal is like a venue working on their store front.  It needs to be primed and well kept so it draws the buyer in for more....like in this picture!  Don't you want to peek inside?

Light bulbs should be working, grass mowed, weeds pulled, and trash receptacles out of sight.  My big thing, too, is if you have a large front porch, it should have furniture on it.  Porches should be staged as part of the outdoor living of the home, a HUGE plus!

The agent and buyers often stand at your front door or your porch for possibly a few minutes while the agent gets access to the key and unlocks the door.  This is when they notice the little details of caulk, paint, cobwebs, windows, and landscaping all while waiting to go in.  Leaving projects incomplete from the exterior sends a message to the buyer that you've got more on the inside that needs finishing, too!  That's not a good selling feature at any price point!

This curb appeal "Before" has bare grass, unraked leaves, a crooked mailbox, and neglected landscaping.  Buyers form their (negative) opinion before the home gets to show off its stuff!

The new and improved curb appeal welcomes you in and gives this home a new glow.  Buyers are encouraged to approach and enter just from the extra features and color on the exterior.  Investing a little time and money at the curb helps get the SOLD sign up sooner!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish here for questions on curb appeal
or all things house and home!

Foreclosure Friday, 12.9.11

Times are hard and many people have lost their homes due to the challenges in the economy. "Foreclosure Friday" is our way of bringing awareness to the availability and potential of distressed properties in the Central Indiana area. Buying a distressed home, whether if it's in Short Sale or already Bank Owned, is a great way to help stimulate the economy.

Here Are A Few Of Our Reasons Why:

-Sellers/Banks are able to depart from their current home

-Jobs are created for Realtors®, Contractors, and Suppliers

-Neighborhood home values can be regained

-Buyers may get a positive equity position

-Lonely homes get happy homeowners!

Our short list of distressed properties below are currently active on the market in the Indianapolis area. DM Irish does not own, nor have these properties listed, but rather is being a resource for what's available to purchase.

Stay tuned biweekly as we pass along homes in the area that might be a good match for you!

Need more info on one that catches your eye or want helping searching for any home in the area?

Email Realtor® Dan Irish Here!

Home A

3874 sq. feet including finished basement; 4 beds; 3 baths

116th and Cumberland Road; HSE Schools

Preforeclosure; Great location; Needs some cosmetics and new carpet

Home B

Refeature!.....Major drop in price in a great custom neighborhood!

3891 sq. feet including finished basement; 4 beds; 3 baths

131st and Cumberland Road; HSE Schools

Bank Owned; Character details; Functional floor plan; Great area; Needs cosmetics

You're buying a location and a neighborhood on this deal!

Home C

2276 sq. feet on a crawl; 4 beds, 3 baths

131st and Gray Road; Carmel Schools

Possible Short Sale; Large lot in a great location; Character features; Quaint!!

For info on any home above or to set up your own custom search in the Indy area,

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here!

A Client's Kitchen Renovation....The Before and After!

The dust has settled, the old is gone, and the new is in!  Completed over the course of 16 business days, spreading over one month's time, Mindy had the privilege to work with a client in the Carmel area on her kitchen renovation.  We consulted and heard her ideas and put together a grand plan.  The project was put out to bid, the selections were made, and the fun began!

Our focus was to keep the cabinets and the ceiling beams and everything else is new!

The new bells and whistles include:

18" Tile floors laid on the diagonal, granite counters, salvaged new (old) lights, sleek black appliances, 3"x 6" rough edge tiled back splash, sink and faucet.

Not pictured: is a small bathroom with new features as well!

We get rave reviews on this new granite called "Cocoa Beach."

The black composite sink, oil rubbed bronze pull-down faucet, and under cabinet puck lights are favorites, too!

The new smooth-top cook top, rough edge 3"x 6" tiled back splash,

and under cabinet lighting give this cooking station a brand new look!

DM Irish thanks our vendors for coming alongside us on this project. 

Our client is very happy and excited with her kitchen's new look!

Thank You To Our Contractors:

Appliances: Lowes

Drywall: S&M Drywall

Electrical: Power Environments

Flooring, Back splash: Clay's Flooring

Granite: Granite Plan It

Painting: S&M Painting

Plumbing: RV Hallam

Contact Mindy Here with any questions about all things house and home!



The Voice of the Agent: "Over Personalizing Your Home.....Hurts!"

We each have our design and decorating style.  Some of us are more talented than others.  As a homeowner you get to paint, decorate, and design the way you want to make it yours, to an extent!  If you plan to stay in your home forever, then have at it!

However, if you plan to resell anytime soon and want to recoup your expenses and maintain your home's value, then make sure NOT to over personalize your home!  Going too far off of what's generally appealing will lower buyers' interests, lead to longer days on the market, and likely result in a much lower final sales amount.

I showed a home recently much like the one pictured above.  The artistic owners had hand painted bright colors and floral designs on the trim work, doors, cabinets, and stair parts throughout the home.  As a result, the home was sitting on the market and was heading into foreclosure because buyers weren't writing offers and the owner needed to sell.

What might be fun and artistic at the moment can hurt your resale value.  It's in your best interest to consult with a Realtor® or interior designer about making wise design decisions before you make too much of an investment of your time and money!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish here for all things house and home!

Steps to consider when questioning your property tax bill

Have you ever wondered what can be done with a property tax bill in question?  Dan recommends this article written by the National Association of Realtors® for assistance in steps towards resolving your issue. 

Contact Dan Here if you have any questions!

Dan's takeaway from this article of noteworthy consideration:

"There are a few things to keep in mind as you weigh an appeal. The board can only lower your real estate assessment, not the rate at which you’re taxed. There’s also a chance, albeit slight, that your assessment could be raised, thus increasing your property taxes.  A reduction in your assessment right before you put your house on the market could hurt the sale price."

Appeal Your Property Tax Bill

To successfully appeal your property tax bill, you first need to do a bit of sleuthing into your real estate assessment. Read

Foreclosure Friday, 11.25.11

Times are hard and many people have lost their homes due to the challenges in the economy. "Foreclosure Friday" is our way of bringing awareness to the availability and potential of distressed properties in the Central Indiana area. Buying a distressed home, whether if it's in Short Sale or already Bank Owned, is a great way to help stimulate the economy.

Here Are A Few Of Our Reasons Why:

-Sellers/Banks are able to depart from their current home

-Jobs are created for Realtors®, Contractors, and Suppliers

-Neighborhood home values can be regained

-Buyers may get a positive equity position

-Lonely homes get happy homeowners!

Our short list of distressed properties below are currently active on the market in the Indianapolis area. DM Irish does not own, nor have these properties listed, but rather is being a resource for what's available to purchase.

Stay tuned biweekly as we pass along homes in the area that might be a good match for you!

Need more info on one that catches your eye or want helping searching for any home in the area?

Email Realtor® Dan Irish Here!

Home A

3848 sq feet, including basement; 4 beds, 3 baths

126th and Hazel Dell Road, Carmel; Carmel Schools

Possible Short Sale; Large, flat lot; Great area; Nice layout needing your personal touch!

Home B

3835 sq feet, including basement; 4 beds, 3 baths

116th and Keystone, Carmel; Carmel Schools

Possible Short Sale; Nice lot with mature trees; Great area; Needs major overhaul on updates and cosmetics

Home C

3298 sq feet including finished basement; 4 beds, 3 baths

86th and Ditch Road, Indianapolis; Washington Township Schools

Bank Owned; Home has new carpet, fresh paint, new gutters and new roof;

Great lot in an area of character homes; Needs some updates

Home D

2963 sq feet on a crawl; 4 beds, 4 baths

79th and Allisonville Road, Indianapolis; Washington Township Schools

Bank Owned; Great lot with mature trees; Needs updates and cosmetics

Home E

2907 sq feet on a slab; 4 beds, 3 baths

131st and Howe Road, Fishers; HSE Schools

Short Sale; Good condition; Nice lot with pond view; Great location

To get more info on any home above or be set up on your own personal search,

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here!

A Trip To Colonial Antiques, Architectural Salvage

One of our all-time favorite places for home goods is Colonial Antiques!  We happened upon this great find several years ago and enjoyed shopping the barns, yards, and shelves of salvaged architectural items from area homes and businesses.  If you enter with an open mind and ability to see the diamond in the rough, you'll realize the value of what's being offered for sale!

Located on the west side of Indianapolis on 96th and Michigan Road, Norm and his wife Amy have been running this business for over 30 years!  Stop in, explore the aisles of doors, light fixtures, door knobs, mantles, and random salvage items in his inventory.  You never know what you'll find!!

Get More Info Here!

On this day, Mindy shopped with her kitchen renovation client for four new (old) light fixtures.

Many great fixtures were found and the collected, antique look was achieved!

Doors, hardware, windows and more.....

In the market for a cast iron tub?  This one dates back to 1910!

Our client actually purchased the middle white door in the background for use on her kitchen pantry!

Norm is very helpful in assisting buyers to search his inventory to match the items on their list.

If you visit, make sure to ask where the items are from, their date of origination, and, of course, the price!  Let us know if you go.....and tell them we sent you!

The Voice of the Agent: "Pricing a home to sell, not to sit"

Bi-weekly snippets and tidbits of Real Estate for you from Realtor® Dan Irish.

Contact DM Irish here for questions and topics you want answered!

Pricing A Home To Sell, Not To Sit

You've watched your neighbor's home list and sell.  You know what you've put into your home and what is owed on it.  You know the emotional value you put on your home because your kids were born and raised there and many memories were made in this house you made into your home.  However, the honest truth is that the market and buyers don't factor any of that in.  Unfortunately, what you owe on your home doesn't determine what it can sell for.  Only the market in your area will determine what you can get out of the sale of your home. 

So what's an example?  Joe and Suzy Smith owe $200,000 on their home.  It's a nice 4 bedroom, 3 bath home that looks great from the inside and out.  This Smiths really want to list their home for $250,000 because "It's a great home and we need to get our money out and clear all of our costs."  Upon receiving a market analysis from their Realtor®, they find out their home is only able to realistically sell at $210,000 AND they owe closing costs and real estate fees on the bottom line. 

It's going to be tight, but it will be doing the client a disservice to list their home way above fair market value where the Smiths want to list.  Doing so will mean they'll likely be encountering longer days on the market, sellers' frustrations, and likely netting much less than they could have gotten from the home sale if they would have been priced correctly when first listed.

The truth is it doesn't really matter you think your home is worth.  Nor does it matter what your agent thinks or 10 other agents just like him.  The person whose opinion matters is the buyer that makes an offer.  If the ultimate goal is to get sold and move on to the next smaller or larger home for the buyers' original reasons for selling, then we have to be competitively and aggressively priced from day one in this market.  We just can't afford not to be!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish HERE with questions or comments

on this post or discuss listing your home or buying a new one!





1950's Kitchen Renovation.....Progress Continues!

 Mindy's been consulting with a client to help her complete her 1950's kitchen renovation.  We've hauled off the red counters, pink back splash tiles, and stripped the wallpaper!  The granite's been selected and templated to the existing cabinets.  We're taking care of electrical, drywall, and finishing touches before the new materials arrive next week! 

Before is on the far left.

Tiles and wallpaper are removed, rough electrical is installed,

and drywall repair is underway in the kitchen, bath and pantry.

Granite tops, a new sink and faucet, and floor and back splash tiles are making their way in soon!  New black appliances, wall paint, and the bells and whistles are close behind.  The client is happy with the progress and can't wait to see her kitchen's new look!

Contact Mindy here with questions about this project or one in your home!

Foreclosure Friday, 11.11.11

Times are hard and many people have lost their homes due to the challenges in the economy.  "Foreclosure Friday" is our way of bringing awareness to the availability and potential of distressed properties in the Central Indiana area.  Buying a distressed home, whether if it's in Short Sale or already Bank Owned, is a great way to help stimulate the economy. 

Here Are A Few Of Our Reasons Why:

-Sellers/Banks are able to depart from their current home

-Jobs are created for Realtors®, Contractors, and Suppliers

-Neighborhood home values can be regained 

-Buyers may get a positive equity position

-Lonely homes get happy homeowners!

Our short list of distressed properties below are currently active on the market in the Indianapolis area.  DM Irish does not own, nor have these properties listed, but rather is being a resource for what's available to purchase. 

Stay tuned biweekly as we pass along homes in the area that might be a good match for you!

Need more info on one that catches your eye or want helping searching for any home in the area?

Email Realtor® Dan Irish Here!

Home A

4143 including finished basement; 4 beds, 4 baths

Carmel near 126th and Keystone; Carmel Schools

Preforeclosure; Great condition; Amazing lot and area; Character neighborhood

DM Irish renovated a home on this street and this is a great area to be in!

Home B

2362 sf on a slab; 4 beds, 3 baths

116th and Cumberland Road area in Fishers; HSE Schools

Bank owned; Great bones and layout; Excellent lot; Needs cosmetics

Home C

3528 sf including finished basement; 4 beds, 4 baths

126th and Keystone in Carmel; Carmel Schools

Bank Owned; Character neighborhood; In-ground pool; Gorgeous lot; Needs cosmetics

Home D

3737 sf including unfinished basement; 4 beds, 3 baths

96th and Molenkopf Road, Fishers; HSE Schools

Bank Owned; Great layout; Wooded views with fenced-in yard; Needs cosmetics

Recent major price reduction from seller!

Home E

1962 sf on a crawl; 4 beds, 3 baths

Hague and Carrigan, Noblesville; Noblesville Schools

Possible Short Sale; Large, private lot; Character features; Great condition!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish HERE for more info on any home above, to set up a specific search meeting your criteria, or to discuss the market in your home's area!

Staging "Walk and Talk" Before A Home Goes on the Market

A staging "Walk and Talk" is what Dan feels is a necessary part of getting a home ready for the market.  Before a home is listed, Mindy walks through the home with the client and gives them feedback on first impressions on the interior and exterior of the home.  She also focuses on wall colors, furniture layout, decor, and the home's general appearance. 

You only get one chance to make a great first impression!

-Kitchen-

In this room, Mindy advised the client to:

-hide the trash and recycling cans

-clean off the kitchen counters

-and keep the pantry organized and clear of clutter on the floor

-Mud Room/Drop Zone-

In this room Mindy, advised the client to:

-vacuum out the return air vent on the ceiling

-minimize the amount of shoes and belongings in each cubby

-show the buyers how this space should be used by actually leaving items in the cubbies, too!

-Laundry Room-

In this room, Mindy advised the client to:

-clear off all counters to show off the folding space available

-use baskets to organize the shelves

-remove items that get little use and put them in storage so this room's assets are fully exposed

A staging "Walk and Talk" is a part of Dan's listing package and is of no additional expense to the client.

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here to discuss listing your home or searching for a new one!

Before and Now: Progress Pictures on a Client's Renovation, Part 2!

One of Dan's Real Estate clients bought a distressed home on the north side of Indy and is in process of making renovations in prep for a relisting soon.  We've been tracking the progress along the way and here are some pictures to date!

Kitchen Before and Now with new color, counters, and back splash!

Bath Before and Now with tiled shower and new vanity sink.

The entire layout was reworked as well!

The yard on this home is fabulous! 

Mature trees, flat space, quiet neighborhood!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here for more questions and interest on this or any other property!