Many homeowners want to know how much their home is worth—and understandably so! Whether they intend to sell in the near future or are wondering how much added value their home improvements have created, most homeowners want to know just how much their home is worth in today’s market. 

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question, and it definitely can’t be answered with a visit to an internet site. Finding out how much your home is worth is a complex process that shouldn’t be done without the advice of a local Realtor who is familiar with the market. 

Here are some FAQs we receive from homeowners to help you on the way of finding out the value of your home: 

Q. Can I determine my home’s value from an internet website? 

A.…

Chattanooga’s restaurant and retail scene is growing by the day! Here are our top 5 brand new or coming soon businesses to check out.  

Brand New!

The FEED Co. Table and Tavern

201 W. Main St.
423-708-8500

Word on the Street: Don’t miss the Buffalo Calamari appetizer with fried domestic calamari tossed in buffalo sauce and served with celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing

 The Southside neighborhood just got a little bit more awesome with the addition of The FEED Co. Table and Tavern. It’s no small wonder that this Southern-inspired farm-to-table fare is getting rave reviews, as the owners are Chattanooga favorites for their other projects. Dustin Choate, owner of beer and burger haven Tremont Tavern; Miguel Morales, owner of the 1885…

Check out our list of Chattanooga area events happening locally from Friday, August 21 to Friday, August 28.

Friday, August 21-Sunday, August 23

Comedian Kurt Metzger from Inside Amy Schummer

When: 7:30-9:45 p.m. 
Where: The Comedy Catch, 3224 Brainerd Road
Cost: $11-18

A regular performer at New York City’s nightclubs, Kurt Metzger has a long list of credits from shows like "Inside Amy Schumer," "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham," Showtime's "White Boyz in the Hood" and VH1's "Best Week Ever." With several Comedy Central specials under his belt, Metzger was also added to the network’s “Hot List.” For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thecomedycatch.com.

Saturday, August 22

Butterfly Garden…

Many of us have had the same thought when considering the move from apartment life to purchasing our first home: “The mortgage payment would be the same/cheaper than my rent!”

Although on paper that may be correct, there are several other costs that come with being a homeowner that may not be so obvious. So, how much house can you actually afford? 

Here are some of the hidden costs of homeownership that you should consider when deciding on a budget for your first home. 

Utilities

The concept of paying for utilities probably isn’t new, since you most likely had to budget for that in addition to rent. However, the cost of heating and cooling a small apartment versus a larger home can be a significant jump. Go ahead and factor in this…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga area events, happening locally from Friday, August 7 to Friday, August 14.

All weekend long!

Tennessee Tax Free Weekend

Save money this weekend on everything you need for going back to school! Shoppers can buy qualifying items—clothing and school supplies less than $100 in value per item and computers less than $1,500—without paying local or state sales tax from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7, until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9. Anyone can participate, regardless of whether or not they’re a student. 

Opening tonight! 

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash

When: August 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15 from 8-10 p.m. and August 9 from 2-4 p.m.
Where: Artistic Civic Theatre, 907 Gaston St., Dalton, Ga. 30720
Cost:…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga events, happening locally from Friday, July 31 to Friday, August 7.

Beginning today!
Fall Book Sale At Hamilton Place Mall

When: July 31 through August 15, Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Hamilton Place Mall (the upper level near the Sears entrance inside the mall across from Massage Envy) at 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.
Cost: Free

The Friends of the Chattanooga Public Library is holding its fall book sale beginning today through August 15 at Hamilton Place Mall. Looking for a new read for the summer or to improve a school or classroom library? Thousands of donated books representing many genres including children's books will be available during this sale. Children's books are $1 for hardcover…

Good photography can make the difference between a home selling in weeks or selling in months. Although real estate photographers are skilled in making your home look its best, they’re not miracle workers. The photos representing your home should give potential buyers a true feel for the space—without having to imagine what it could look like without your clutter.

Follow our top five tips below for getting your home real estate photo ready and prepared to sell! 

1. Clean and declutter

One of the most important ways to get your home ready for photos is to clean and declutter. Having too many items filling a room makes your space look small and chaotic. One creative way to declutter is to try your hand at the 12-12-12 Challenge. Every day up…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga events, happening locally from Friday, July 24 through Friday, July 31.

Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25

Free Shakespeare Summer Series "The Tempest”

When: 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Where: Camp Jordan, 323 Camp Jordan Parkway, East Ridge, TN 37412
Cost: Free

For its third summer, Back Alley Productions will bring a free performance of a Shakespearean classic to Chattanooga. This year’s show, “The Tempest” features Prospero, an ousted duke of former political power, who seeks revenge against the conspirators who overthrew him. But his vendetta is complicated by the mercy of his daughter Miranda who has fallen in love with one of the shipwrecked nobles. The show runs 2.5 hours including intermission. All shows…

Check out our list of upcoming Chattanooga events, happening locally from Friday, July 17 through Friday, July 24.

Opening tonight!

9 to 5 the Musical

When: Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. July 17 - August 2.
Where: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River Street
Cost: $12.50 - $30

Don’t miss this hilarious musical based on the popular movie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton! After being pushed to the brink by their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” of a boss, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even. Together they conspire to take control of their company and discover there's nothing they can't do—even in a man's world. For more information or to purchase…

Just like when meeting new people, when potential buyers are looking at your home, first impression is key.

Whether you’re looking to sell your home or just want to give it a bit of an update, these simple (and budget-friendly!) curb appeal ideas will take your home from drab to fabulous with just a weekend’s worth of effort.

1. Be your own worst critic

Take a good look at your home with the discerning eye of a potential home buyer. Maybe even drive by to get the full effect. What do you see—missing shingle there, tilted mailbox there? Make a list of the imperfections you find, order them from easiest to the most difficult, and get to work on correcting those issues. Some of the easiest curb appeal improvements to be made are the small…