Justin Holder- Bob Parks Realty

Viva Las Vegas!

You know the old saying "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy"?  Well, I subscribe to that philosophy.  Rachel and I left early Sunday morning and returned Thursday night after a few days in ole Las Vegas. 

We went with our next door neighbors, Kelly & Steve.  I have a new appreciation for all of my folks that are sad about leaving their homes and their neighbors.  Having great neighbors is one of the most rewarding aspects of homeownership. 

I must admit that I did gamble-to the tune of $20.  However, I did master the 5 cent machine and returned $173.  Not so bad.  Enjoy the week!   

Thanks Atmos!

Rachel and I had a big time Thursday night, as we were hosted in the Atmos Energy skysuite for the MTSU vs. Western Kentucky game. 

We had a great time with our friends Brian and Pat Hercules and the rest of the Atmos gang.  Though the game was not victorious...you wouldn't have known it in our box!  Thanks Brian, Pat and Atmos!

This is a GREAT clip...makes your day!

Taste of Stones River a HUGE success!

Today was the "Taste of Stones River" benefiting the United Way of Rutherford County..meaning that I was able to invest some major volunteer hours throughout the weekend, as Rachel is the President. 

As we set up this morning, it poured on us.  However, when it came time for folks to come, the rain halted.  Over 25 local restaurants came and participated, offering some of their most popular dishes.  I manned the ticket booth as we sold over 12,000 tickets!!  (Each ticket was .50-each vendor charged from 1-5 tickets)  It was held at the Stones River Mall, celebrating the expansion--it looks great!  The vendors, volunteers and attendees were amazing.  Thank you!! 

Music was by The Boomers, with lead singer Dave Bauder.  Click any photo to see the larger version.

How would your home sell?

Everyone has their own idea about how the perfect house should be. But there are often overlapping ideal qualities that most buyers will look for in their dream home. Here are a few things to consider for strong resale value in your new home:

House Size
A house's value is usually determined by others near it in its neighborhood. If you buy a larger house in the neighborhood, its resale value will be lower. Conversely, if you decide to purchase a smaller or medium-sized house in a neighborhood filled with larger homes, these larger homes will pull up the value of your own. Decide whether it's more important to live in a nice neighborhood and a small home or a less-desirable neighborhood and a large home.

Bedrooms, Bathrooms & Closets — the Numbers
Three- to four-bedroom houses tend to be the most popular choices. If you can shoot for this range your home should have a good resale value. It's also become the norm to have at least two bathrooms — one in the master bedroom, one for everyone and at least a half bath for visitors to wash up in. Each hallway and nearly every room in the house should be equipped with a closet. The homes with the most spacious closets (think walk-ins for bedrooms) are typically the most desirable.

Home with a View
A beautiful view definitely helps the resale value of any home, but also consider how future buyers might feel. You won't want to raise the price based on the view and assume every buyer will feel the same way about it. Typically, the most desirable are mountain views, beach views, cityscape views and horizon views.

When looking at houses and properties, don't forget to keep in mind how they might sell in the future. Your home is a big investment, and a careful purchase now will help give you extra funds to move up in your next home purchase.