The Voice of the Agent: "Feedback Counts!"

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!

Feedback Counts!

When buyers view a home, they are encouraged to leave feedback for the seller.  The buyers' agent is responsible for passing those important words on to the listing agent.  As a seller, you work so hard to prep the home for the market and for each showing, so it's valuable to know what they thought as they took your grand tour.

Feedback on pricing, condition, curb appeal, and livability helps the seller know what to address and change if necessary.  Sometimes the feedback isn't positive, but in that, sellers can and should listen and make changes where necessary as steps towards getting the home sold!  Often times buyers see the home through much different eyes and bring awareness to the positives and negatives of the property. 
Thank you buyers for leaving feedback and two thumbs up for sellers taking it to heart and making those necessary changes!  In the end, everyone hopefully finds the home they've been searching for or gets sold to get where they need to be!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish here for questions or comments

on feedback, listing, or buying a home!

Foreclosure Friday, 10.14.11

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

 4100 sf including finished basement; 4 beds, 5 baths

Fortville/Fishers 104th and Olio Corridor; HSE Schools

Not technically a distressed property, but corporate owned due to a relocation;

Minimal cosmetics, great lot, excellent floor plan,

screened porch, neighborhood pool

Home B

5300 sf including finished basement; 4 beds, 5 baths

131st and River Road; Carmel Schools

Possible short sale; Gorgeous custom neighborhood, nice interior with quality features;

2 bedrooms on the main, screened porch

Home C

4400 sf including finished basement; 5 beds, 5 baths

Fishers/Fortville near 96th and Olio; HSE Schools

Bank Owned, yet new construction; Home does back up to Olio, but is a nice layout;

Move-in ready; Potential for great deal in a custom neighborhood!

Home D

5500 sf including unfinished basement; 5 beds, 5 baths

191st and Springmill Road; Westfield Schools

Bank Owned; 3 acres of private country living!!  Tons of space;

Needs updates and cosmetics; Aerial views of the acreage are amazing!

Home E

4000 sf including finished basement; 5 beds, 4 baths

116th and Brook School Road, Fishers, Hamilton Proper; HSE Schools

Possible Short Sale; Amazing neighborhood with over sized lot; Needs updates and cosmetics;

Great find with amazing potential in one of Fishers nicest neighborhoods!!

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here for more info on any property above!

Dine, Stay, Relax in an Indy Historic Home: The Villa!

We've driven by it many times and finally we went in!  Located near 16th and Delaware in Indianapolis, the Villa Inn-Restaurant-Spa is a great place that celebrates a piece of the past while offering a spot for a great meal and relaxation from the hustle and bustle.

This great find is located in an old home that was built in 1906.  It was a residence until the 1930s and then became a corporate venue with many owners until it's current owner's purchase in 2001.  DM Irish dined in the restaurant and enjoyed a fabulous Italian meal.  After dinner, they gave us a tour of the entire space, except the kitchen!

Get More Info on the Villa and Its Services Here!

What an elaborate foyer and a great first impression!

The current dining room was the actual dining room then.  It's anchored by a huge, elaborate fireplace on the far left of the room.  It has 15-foot tall ceilings, an ornate chandelier, and a walk-in safe that once housed strategic plans during WWII.

This is one of four guest rooms in the Bed and Breakfast where the rates start at $200 a night.  Each room has its own private bath and character features.

Original doors, door hardware, trim, and hardwood floors make this quite the place to visit!

This former ballroom is now partially used as the salon/spa part of the experience.  The other half of the ballroom is being used as the bar.  Pedicure and massage services are offered in the basement rooms as well.  What an amazing use of space!

We enjoyed a birthday dinner and had the choice to dine inside or outside on this gorgeous October evening.  We chose to eat inside to take in the features of the home.  We plan to make a trip down again for all the services they offer.  If you enjoy historic architecture as we do, this will be one place you'll want to visit!

Great Design Ideas from the Broad Ripple Home Tour!

DM Irish took the crew out to the 2011 Broad Ripple Historic Home Tour. 

We loved it and found some unique design ideas within the homes that are worth passing on to you!  We've been Facebook posting some individual shots, but here are all the great ideas in one spot in case you missed our posts!  Enjoy!

This bath captured a former closet to enlarge this space.  The sink vanity piece is on the left as you enter and the coordinating vanity top is on the right.  We love the white brick and bead board walls in the backdrop.  The claw foot tub was unique to us with its black exterior base.  What a sharp space!

Old homes don't make it easy to get into wall cavities for cords and added electronics.  This owner built the wall out, kept the paint the same color as the wall, and used the space behind to hide the unwanted view of the TV cords.  Great idea!!



We love painted brick!  The owner kept the original stained woodwork on the bookshelves and painted the brick a crisp white.  What an amazing contrast!

Ever slept in a pallet bed?  Four pallets made the base and one pallet made the headboard.  All were painted in a flat white and this great find is one we plan to try!

This mudroom/drop zone/home office caught our eye as we were leaving the home.  Built-in bookshelves surround the chalkboard wall paint to create an awesome working space!  Fabulous!

The Voice of the Agent: "The Power of First Impressions"

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!

The Power of First Impressions

You've heard it before, but you truly do only get one chance to make a great first impression.  Buyers know by sight, scent, and sound within the first seven to 10 seconds whether your home will fit the bill.  There are way too many other homes out there getting high remarks for a buyer to come back and give your home a second chance.  Here are a few quick tips to make sure you're sending the right message on the first attempt:

• Keep lawn, sidewalks, plants, front door paint and door handle in top notch; if the outside looks great, they'll want to see the inside, too!
• Remove the clutter!  Buyers need to be able to see past your things to envision themselves in that space
• Keep it light and bright!  Open blinds and shades to show off the space and turn on lights in key rooms when showing the home
• Touch-up paint walls and high traffic areas for a crisp, clean look
• Clean, clean, clean!  Buyers don't want to move into other people's dirt, so this is key to selling your home and getting a solid offer
• Remove bad odors from stains or pets.  I showed a home with a horrible smell and the buyers couldn't get past the scent no matter the look or price of the home.
• Remove extra furniture to clear walkways and make each room appear bigger.  Crammed spaces will not be attractive to buyers.
• Finish your maintenance to-do list!  No one wants to buy a home with a laundry list of things to fix....unless it's a distressed home sale to start with. 

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish here for questions or comments

on how best to get your home ready to show!

Showing A Historic Home On Washington Street, Indy

Being married to a Realtor® has its benefits! 

DM Irish has a love, passion....ok, obsession with old homes! 

We've actually never lived in one, but tend to build our new construction homes to look old! 

Renovating old homes is definitely on our bucket list!

We're often seen driving slowly on downtown Indianapolis streets admiring the character features we see.  We came across this great find, saw it was vacant, scheduled an appointment, and took a tour.  Could the Irish six make this our next home?  Probably not, but it was worth the look!

Located near 46th and Washington, this circa 1925 home was once a "Grand Dame Double".  The home fills this large corner lot, and has a 3-car garage in the rear of the home.  Boasting over 5,000 square feet, the hardwoods, trim work, and historical features are in great condition!

 

Having later been converted to a single family home, the newer main entrance is on the right side of the home.  This gorgeous leaded glass door makes a grand statement!

This is the panoramic view from the entry.  Mirroring sides make it easy to see how the home was once two.  Look right to see all the trim work holding its original stain color.  Look left to see all the trim work painted and adding a totally different historic look!  Dining room, living room, fire place, kitchen spaces....the amount of space is amazing!

Nearing 100 years old, the hardwood stair treads, scroll newel post, and ornate balusters are in excellent condition!  Love the original grate, too.  Stunning!

When this home was two doubles, there was a full bath and 4 spacious bedrooms on each side.  This image reveals two bedrooms opened up to make what is now one large Master suite with two additional former bedrooms transformed into a now master bath and large walk-in closet.

DM Irish LOVES this bathroom.  You're thinking, "It looks so old!"  Exactly!  If we were to design a bath for a new construction or renovation project, it would be modeling these features!  Hexagon tiles with gray grout, pedestal sink, and subway tiles on the walls are just the charm we love!

We found this mysterious feature on both sides on the way up to each third story area.  At first thought, we guessed it a dumbwaiter.  The flash revealed this might quite possibly be just a simple attic access.  Bummer.....dumbwaiter sounds better, though!

This home is currently listed at $285,000.  It has no functioning kitchen and needs a plumbing overhaul.  The gardens out back have wonderful potential, too!  Interested in this or any other Indianapolis-area property, please get in touch with Dan here!

Foreclosure Friday, 9.30.11

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

5200 sf including unfinished basement; 4 beds, 4 baths

Fortville/Fishers, 113th and Olio Corridor; HSE Schools

Bank Owned; Half-acre lot; Open layout; Needs Cosmetics; Gorgeous neighborhood

Home B

3300 sf on a slab; 4 beds, 3 baths

Fishers, 131st Street; HSE Schools

HUD Owned; Open plan; Needs cosmetics and flooring;  A lot of home for the money (sub $145k!)

Home C

5370 sf including unfinished basement; 4 beds, 3 baths

Fishers, Allisonville and 141st Street; HSE Schools

Bank Owned; NEW HOME!!  Clean;Great area near Conner Prairie; Lots of space!

DM Irish saw this home in a before and after state;  It's now bank owned for the second time and could make a great home for someone!  Seriously great find that's worth an offer!

Home D

3600 sf including finished basement; 4 beds, 3 baths

Carmel, 146th and Springmill Road; Carmel Schools

Possible Short Sale; Needs cosmetics and maintenance; Great neighborhood; Cul-de-sac lot

Home E

4600 sf including finished basement; 4 beds, bonus room, 3 baths

Noblesville 146th and Allisonville; Noblesville Schools

Possible Short Sale; Gorgeous tree-lined yard; Very nice interior features

Contact Realtor® Dan Irish Here for more info on any property above!