On today’s “Tracey Hampson’s Real Estate Tip Of The Week,” what better topic to discuss than the 2017 KHTS Home and Garden Show? It’s happening this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Central Park.

I’m so excited to participate this year alongside my fellow Century 21 Troop realtors in what is easily one of the best events for home and garden information anywhere. If you come and visit me, you will receive a free home warranty gift certificate that you can utilize when you use my services. A $500 value, home warranties give peace of mind to both the buyer and the seller. Knowing you have a backup plan should anything unexpected happen — well, it just doesn’t get any better than that!

The KHTS Home and Garden Show is already in its eighth year. Can you believe that? There are going to be over 400 vendors covering everything from solar to tiny houses. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy!

Related: Why You Should Use A Realtor When Buying A Home – Tracey Hampson’s Real Estate Tip Of The Week

Recently I spoke with Dennis Emberling, owner of Solar SCE, an independent, unbiased source for home solar shopping information. I was surprised to find out that many of the vendors for solar have already gone out of business and the cost of solar has gone down 80 percent since 2008. Currently, SunPower is the top rated solar company with their 25-year warranty (the longest in the industry) and the lowest failure rate of conventional panels on the market.

The big question every homeowner wants to know is, does solar add value to your home? According to FHA and Fannie Mae, it is a resounding yes. The caveat, though, is only if you own the solar, not lease it. If you own a home with a solar system, FHA requires that the value be assessed and added to the total appraised value of your home.  Is that great news or what?

However, if you lease the solar equipment, it is not included in the assessed value of your home. Additionally, the buyer will have to qualify for the lease payment.

I can’t wait to see what “Escape Tiny Homes” will bring. It’s one thing watching them on TV, but to be able to walk inside of them and see if they’re really that tiny is a different story! Escape Tiny Homes have been crafting their unique tiny homes for more than 25 years, and they are beautiful! They deliver almost anywhere in America as well. How fantastic is that?

I will certainly make time to visit AID, or American Improvers Developers, a family-owned business who specialize in home remodeling. What better way to improve the value of your home than with a kitchen or bathroom remodel? With 26 years in the business, they have always been professional, knowledgeable and have given excellent suggestions and recommendations to my clients. What I really appreciate is AID does not require a huge upfront payment, and they offer lots of program options to fit all of my clients’ different budgets. Worth searching them out.

There are so many invaluable vendors who will be participating in the KHTS Home and Garden Show this year. Take time out of your busy schedules and take a moment to explore the show this weekend — you’ll be glad you did!

About Tracey Hampson and Tracey’s Real Estate Tips:

I have had the pleasure of living and working as a realtor in Santa Clarita and the surrounding areas for more than 14 years and I love sharing real estate tips with others. Throughout my Santa Clarita real estate career I have had the privilege of assisting buyers and sellers of Santa Clarita homes with their individual real estate needs. I’m here for you as well.

I hope you enjoyed my real estate tip of the week and if you have any questions, concerns, wants or needs regarding real estate please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m here to help.

Tracey Hampson
Century 21 Troop Real Estate
License 01429142
(661) 993-6124
[email protected]