Nikki Southard Realtor

YOUR MUST LIST VS YOUR LUST LIST: My strategy for determining your top priorities while house hunting When you start the house hunting process, it’s easy to get caught up in all the extra features which could cause you to potentially neglect the really important things (like location, lot size, the why behind your buying decision, etc). So I wanted to share the steps I walk my buyers through to make sure the STEP 1: Start by doing a ...dream home brain dump pull up a google doc or get out a notebook and your favorite pen. Write down every realistic feature you would love in a home to get started. Everything from a walk in closet to a fenced in backyard. If it’s a feature you’d love, it goes on this list! Have your spouse or significant other do this too. STEP 2: Next you’re going to put these in order of importance. Go through and number them in order of your top 10 (and order them most important to least important from 1-10). If natural light is a major want, then make sure you prioritize that because it’s something you won’t be able to change. STEP 3: Go through the list and determine what cannot be changed. The square footage, lot size, natural light, location, view, etc. STEP 4: Now go through and determine which of these 10 items holds priority over each other. For example, would you trade hardwood floors for a private backyard? Think of it like would you rather style where you have to pick one over the other. STEP 5: Come up with your absolute 3 must haves from doing this entire activity. Highlight or circle those features and keep your list in the notes app on your phone or in a notebook you can bring with you to showings. By having done this activity, you’ll be able to make smarter home buying decisions that ensure you end up with a house that fits what is most important to you. See more

We were touring a new listing and my buyer asked so what should I be looking for exactly? My response: GREAT QUESTION Here’s what I told my buyer. I said, if you’re even remotely interested in the home, you want to have a hands on showing. That means turning on faucets and light switches, opening doors, flushing toilets. Of course, that's a little different nowadays, so I prefer to handle any light switches, faucets, etc. too keep eve...ryone safe! But we still need to see what we are getting ourselves into! I ended up calling this process smelling beyond the chocolate chip cookies literally! That means seeing beyond the decor, staging and paint colors (smelling beyond the chocolate chip cookies). It’s asking questions like how much maintenance does this property require and what are you willing to take on? How far will your drive to work be? What is important to have nearby? How long do you plan on living in the home? Does it have features that are desirable for resale? Ultimately, you want to have a Realtor who can help you with these questions and guide you to make the right decision for you! If you’re thinking about buying a house, make sure you save this post for later. Tag a friend who would find this info helpful too! See more

3 EASY STEPS TO SAVE FOR YOUR DOWN PAYMENT FAST: STEP 1: Determine how much you’re going to need to put down on a house This might require sitting down with a mortgage lender who can determine what type of loan is best for your situation and what down payment amount that loan requires. Ask them about first time buyer programs and find out if there is anything you might qualify for that would reduce your down payment amount. STEP 2: Look... at your overall budget and cut any unnecessary expenses. Keep track of your extra purchases on the notes app of your phone so that you become more aware of what you’re spending. Those daily coffee stops might be adding up to a significant amount over the course of a month. Tracking where that extra money is going is the key to understanding what you can cut out. You could also look for a budgeting app that will allow you to automate this! STEP 3: Automate your savings. Once you’ve determined how much you need to save and create a plan for how to save it, set up a savings account that will automatically pull that amount from your checking every week, month or whatever frequency you choose. This makes it easier to start building up that savings account and not be tempted to splurge on a fancy dinner when you see the extra money in your checking account. What do you think of #FinanceFriday ? Do you want to see more finance tips in the future? Leave me a comment below and let me know! See more

Would you rather have a home that needs a little updating/love or a move in ready home?

What smart home option would you choose to have in your home first? I have to tell you, I'm so happy with my Roomba purchase!

What does your ideal pool setup look like? Pick one from each line and drop it in the comments!

The question I ask every single seller What do you love most about living here? We can share all the house data in the world but finding out what the seller loves most about the home they live in allows me to market it much more uniquely. It’s so important to highlight features beyond the things you can see like number of bedrooms and stainless steel appliances. What about the nearby hiking trail that the sellers walk every morning wit...h their coffee. The neighborhood playground where the kids play with their friends. The deer that walk through the backyard every night and drink from the pond. The neighborhood block party every Summer with bounce houses and lots of laughter. The farmer’s market right down the street where you can get fresh veggies every weekend.. These are the parts that are so often overlooked when I read a listing description. We can see the house data in the MLS details but I want to know about those little things that you can’t see. What truly creates the lifestyle of that particular home. What are buyers missing that sellers aren’t pointing out? Here’s an inside secret I share with every seller: Write a list of the top 10 things you love most about where you live and make sure your Realtor is including that in their marketing plan and in MLS for other agents to share with their buyers. So tell me, what do you love most about where you live? What is one of the little things you wouldn’t see just from touring your home? See more

From long bike rides, hot sun, glasses of chilled rose’, patio brunches, trips to the farmer’s market, and days spent poolside.. there are endless things to love about Summer. That’s why I created a short bucket list to share with you! What are you most looking forward to most this Summer? What should I add to my list?

Enjoy your backyard bug free with this easy, all natural recipe! Ingredients you need: 3 8 oz mason jars 1 lemon and 1 lime, thickly sliced... Fresh Rosemary Essential Oils (rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, and / or lavender, I have a great resource for essential oils if needed!) Floating Tea Light Candles Directions: Place a slice or two of lemon and lime in the bottom of each jar Add a sprig of rosemary Fill 3/4 full with water Add 10 drops of each of the essential oils to each jar Float another lemon or lime slice on top Add more water if necessary Top with a floating candle See more

Would you rather: Summer house edition You can only pick one would you rather be at the beach or at the pool? Picture this: comfy lounge chair, the warm sun on your skin, a juicy novel in hand and an extra cold iced tea with a squeeze of lemon was just delivered Are you at the pool or the beach?!

You, one month from now: Imagine being fully prepared for every step of the home buying process (even if you’re not ready for 12 months)! In honor of National Homeownership Month, I’m on a mission to help anyone dreaming of homeownership, to get a plan in place to make it happen in the next 12 months! I created a free resource just for you that walks you through a 12 month timeline of what to do over the course of a year to make the dream... of homeownership a reality. Comment below or send me a DM to get your hands on a new copy today! Just one month from now, you could be in the full swing of preparing for the home buying process and I’m here to help you do it! See more

Swipe to see Part 01 of the home buying timeline Wondering what happens once you actually start the home buying process? I’m giving you a sneak peek at the first 5 steps! But maybe you’re wondering how you get to the starting point? This month is dedicated to you, friend! I am enrolling people into the future homeowner club, to set them up on a successful path to homeownership! You’ll learn the steps you need to take to buy your first home in one year (or sooner)! If you want to get on the list, comment below or send me a DM! @ Ukiah, California

Why did you buy your first home? In honor of #nationalhomeownershipmonth I’m talking all about, you guessed it: HOMEOWNERSHIP! Let’s chat why did you buy?! What feature most attracted to you to the first home you bought? Was it the location that you love? The fenced in backyard so you could finally get a dog? The open concept layout to make your party planning dreams come true? Did you buy a fixer upper that you could remodel the way you wanted? Tell me in the comments!

Spoken like a true 90's baby.. What is 1 thing you really want to have in your next home? Is it something that can be added to your current home or would you need to move to have this feature?