Real Estate Information Archive

Buying and Selling Tulsa Real Estate can be quite difficult and confusing at times.  Darryl Baskin, a Tulsa area Realtor, helps to reduce a bit of that confusion by discussing title basics. Find out the difference between hiring a Tulsa attorney for a Title Opinion or choosing a Tulsa Title Company.  Visit his blog post "Tulsa Area Titles- What's the Deal"  at www.darrylbaskin.com

For many homeowners,  Spring can be a great time to work on home improvement.  There are so many ways to improve your home that it can be overwhelming at times.  For exterior projects, one may choose to add glass mulch to their garden for a little sparkle or hire a Tulsa electrician to add exterior lighting for better security.   For others, finding a Tulsa home automation company to install a home theater system may be they key.  For more ideas and tips to improve your home this Spring, read  "Spring Home Improvement Ideas for Your Tulsa Area Home"  found at www.darrylbaskin.com.

Can I negotiate?
Yes you can negotiate on the sales price and other features within the home. Home builders in the Tulsa area are like other home sellers: they have their own ideas and agendas.  They also have real estate market forces they have to work within.  These things can create many different variables but they remain pretty consistent among Tulsa builders.   They will also affect how they negotiate with you.

How much should I pay for the home?
If you love the home, you might be willing to pay more for the property.  Remember, however, that you need to consider the market value of the property.  As mentioned above, you can negotiate a better deal, but ask yourself this question:  Would you rather pay full price for your favorite or get a discount on your second favorite?

Home builders pay for workers.
Sometimes buyers think that builders are like Big Corporate America or Big Oil Companies.  Most builders are small businesses that have taken on a great risk to build your home.  Even builders that are "well-funded" have a limit with their funds and have to take care to manage their business well.  When you negotiate to build a home, you are hiring someone to manage the building process. 

For more information, read "How to Buy a Home From a Builder". 

For a Tulsa construction contractor, contact Rick Oberlender, US Building Systems, 918-734-1293 or tulsaconstructioncontractor.org. 

For all your Tulsa Mortgage needs, contact Karen Heston, BOK Mortgage, 918-230-9432 or kheston-boklo.mortgagewebcenter.com

For all your Tulsa real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Considering a price reduction?   Deciding on a price reduction can be a difficult decision.  Think about these points before you decide:

• Do you want an offer that you can turn down because it is too low or would you rather have no offers?
• What is your bottom line?  What is the lowest you will take for your house?
• What does it cost you to own your home? (roof repairs, lawn mowing, property taxes, homeowners insurance- items that won't be recovered upon a sale) 

Consider this-      If it costs $2,000 a month to own your home and your home takes 6 months to sell, you will spend $12,000 versus possibly selling your home soon after reducing the price by $10,000.  Remember that if you don't reduce the price now, you might still face the need to reduce the price in 6 months plus have still spent the extra $12,000. 

Price your property carefully and competitively from the start.  Ensure that it is priced with the market.  Selecting a good realtor will help with this process.  They will be able to price your home using comprable sales, personal experience, and buyers wants.

For Tulsa real estate needs,  contact Darryl Baskin of The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com. 

For all your Tulsa mortgage needs,    contact Steve Currington of Currington Mortgage at 918-394-5626 or www.curringtonmortgage.com.

Moving can be very stressful for the homeowners and can be just as stressful on their pets.  Here are some tips that can make that move easier on you and your pet.  First, keep your pet's routine as normal as possible during the packing and moving process.  Second, if possible, have a friend or boarding service watch him. If not possible, avoid giving him food or water an hour or two before your trip.  Third, if he will be traveling in a pet carrier, make sure there is room for him to stand up and turn around and plenty of ventilation for him to breathe.  Remember to use newspaper or other absorbent material in the bottom of the carrier, in case he has an accident.  Finally, remember his favorite toy! 

Need a Tulsa moving company? contact Mike Ellingson of Relocation LLC at 918-459-6683 or www.relocationllc.net

For Tulsa junk removal, contact David Tittle of I-Haul USA at 918-852-2146 or www.ihaulusa.com. 

To buy or sell Tulsa real estate, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

In 2009, the US District Court ruled that add-on fees on the HUD-1 closing document could be against federal law. Commissions on the HUD-1 can be a flat fee, a percentage of sales price, or a combination but should not exceed the agreed upon commission in the listing brokers listing agreement. If the fee exceeds that agreed upon amount then HUD can determine if the services provided justify the additional charges. Unjustified charges are against the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act or RESPA and can be subject to penalties.

For Tulsa area Title and Escrow services, contact Karen Burnette of FirsTitle, 918-493-2241 or www.firstitle.com

For a Tulsa, OK area mortgage, contact Karen Heston of BOK Mortgage at 918-481-7353 or http://kheston-boklo.mortgagewebcenter.com

For all your Tulsa OK real estate needs, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Carbon Monoxide is something that many of us simply don't think about, yet it can be very dangerous. Carbon Monoxide is a gas that can be created when combustible fuel doesn't burn properly or when the exhaust is not properly vented. It can come from appliances, water heaters, exhaust from your car, blocked chimney flues and malfunctioning appliances that burn fuel. If you see black soot around vents, flues, filters or appliance burners, there may be carbon monoxide present. Also, if your Natural Gas flame is yellow instead of blue, it may be present.

Follow these preventative tips and keep this list of symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning on hand you suspect a problem in your Tulsa area home or business.

Preventive Tips:

• Make sure that chimney's are properly vented and the flue is not blocked. Cleaning the chimney regularly is also recommended as annual maintenance.
• Replace air filters regularly. If you find that it is hard to remember to change your air filter or have trouble locating one, contact Rick Butefish of www.Filters4me.com, 918-292-8600 about their easy air filter replacement program.
• Keep appliance air intake areas clear.
• Don't heat your business with a gas range or space heater.
• Keep your heating and air-conditioning system running properly and have regular maintenance scheduled. Call Stephen Taylor of Air Assurance at 918-258-HEAT or www.airassurance.com. to schedule a check of your Tulsa heating and a/c system.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector that is UL- approved and has an audible alarm.
• Don't use a grill or start a lawn mower, car or any fuel burning engine in a closed garage, inside a building, or in an enclosed area.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning:

• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ear
• Fatigue
• Increased perspiration
• Weakness
• Vomiting
• Headaches

If you think that you may be experiencing these symptoms due to carbon monoxide poisoning, leave the property and call 911.

For more information about:

air filter replacement in Tulsa OK- contact Rick Butefish, www.filters4me.com or 918-292-8600

heating and a/c repair and installation in Tulsa, OK.- contact Stephen Taylor, Air Assurance, 918-258-HEAT, 918-258-COOL or www.airassurance.com

A fire is not only destructive it can also leave you wondering "what do I do next"? First, contact your Tulsa area insurance company and inform them of the fire and gets things going from their side. Second, get all your important documents together, especially those that have survived the fire. If they didn't survive the fire, attempt to get another copy. Third, take inventory of what was and wasn't damaged in your Tulsa area home. Damaged property can be difficult and stressful to handle. Consider calling Tulsa area home maintenance professionals for help. Finally, ask plenty of questions. Your insurance agent and fire restoration specialists have handled situations like this before. Never be afraid to ask questions.

For help with Tulsa area fire restoration, call Roger Fisher of PCC Cleaning and Restoration at 918-641-1111 or www.pcccr.com.

For Tulsa, OK. area commercial insurance needs, contact Mike Tedford of Tedford Insurance, 918-299-2345 or www.tedfordinsurance.com.

For Tulsa area building and remodeling, contact Rick Oberlender of US Building Systems at 918-734-1293.

For all your Tulsa commercial real estate needs, contact The Baskin Real Estate Specialists at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Oklahoma weather is constantly changing and that changing weather can wreak havoc on our roof. Here are some simple signs that roofing damage may have occurred to your Tulsa area real estate and repairs may be needed:

1. Leaking in the attic after wind-driven rain or ice build-up.
2. Blistering or peeling interior or exterior paint.
3. Stains on interior ceilings or walls.
4. Mold or mildew growth.
5. Decaying roof shingles, sheathing, or siding.
6. Missing, cracked or curled shingles.
7. Dark looking areas on your roof.
8. Excessive energy costs.

For Tulsa area roofing repair, contact Judy Smith of A-Best Roofing at 918-587-1426 or www.abestroofing.com.

For real estate in Tulsa, Oklahoma area, contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors at 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.

Hardwood flooring is a popular option for many homeowners in the Tulsa area. When a good quality hardwood floor is installed properly and needed repairs are done well it provides a beautiful and durable flooring option. When repairs, refinishes, and installations are not done properly, however, or a bad product is purchased it can cause many problems. Here are some common problems with hardwood flooring and their causes:

• Buckling is usually caused when the flooring is not given proper time to acclimate, moisture testing is not done correctly, or it is not given proper room to expand.
• Creaking or squishy floors can be caused by incorrect floor preparation on both a concrete slab and a wood subfloor.
• Fading and color changes can occur simply due to exposure to light over time or from failing to install from different cartons. Since cartons of hardwood flooring can come from different lots it is important for the installer to use several different cartons at a time when installing the flooring in each area.
• Visible and Invisible defects can occur when using a poor quality hardwood floor. Although it can also occur with even the best of hardwood products, it is less likely when good quality hardwood products and good hardwood flooring installers and repair professionals are chosen.

To ensure that your hardwood floor looks beautiful for years to come, select a good quality floor, have it installed properly, and make sure all repairs are done correctly.

For new hardwood flooring options in Tulsa, call Jim Ecrette of ProSource Flooring at 918-252-7711 or www.prosourcefloors.com/tulsa and ask for Darryl Baskin's Wholesale Pricing.

Want to buy Tulsa real estate? Contact Darryl Baskin, McGraw Realtors, 918-258-2600 or www.darrylbaskin.com.