867-5309 Real Estate

Category: Homeowner Tips

  • The Downside To A Sale By Owner

    In tough economic times, saving the money that you would have to pay a real estate agent to help you sell your home can be a tempting idea. Sale by owner has become a fairly common practice in many locations, and in some cases it can be successful. But before you consider trying to sell your home without any professional help, there are a few things you should keep in mind-the downside to a sale by owner.

    Legal Details

    Selling a home is a complex legal process, and there is a lot of paperwork that needs to be filled out, signed, and filed properly. While showing the home and hosting an open house by yourself are relatively easy to do, some of the more legal aspects of the home selling process might be a bit complicated for the uninitiated. When you let a REALTOR® help you sell your home, you can be confident that all of the paperwork is in order and everything is filed properly.

    Tricks Of The Trade

    A REALTOR® has the experience to know the right thing to say to a potential buyer in order to pique their interest, and how to get more people into your home for an open house. It’s that practical knowledge and inside expertise that makes it possible for a REALTOR® to sell your house a lot faster than you might be able to on your own.

    A Matter Of Time

    Selling a home is time consuming. Can you leave work to show it during the day? Can you accommodate people who want to see the house on weekends or other odd hours? Can you spend a whole day hosting an open house? Think about the time commitment that is involved in being your own agent, and be realistic about your abilities. Your REALTOR® can do all those things and more, because it is his or her job to do them.

    Sale by owner sounds like a good idea on the surface, but be sure you consider all of the details involved before you decide to go it alone. Having a professional by your side through all of the ins and outs of selling a home can make things a lot easier on you, and you can sell your house more quickly and more profitably.

  • The Home Remodels That Will Most Increase Your Selling Price

    So you are ready to sell, but you know that there are a few things in the home that could stand some updating in order to increase your selling price. Your remodel budget is limited, and you are wondering where to spend it. The good news is that there are some solid answers. But there are certain remodeling jobs that can increase your selling price more than others.

    Whether you are getting ready to sell or simply want to remodel now for the best value when you do sell later, these are the remodels that give you the best return on investment.

    The Kitchen

    Remodeling the kitchen is one of the most important things you can do in your home, especially if the kitchen is dated. It is often one of the first rooms a potential buyer will see, and it should make an impression. The kitchen is often considered the soul of the home, and most people spend a good deal of time here. Upgrades to countertops, cabinets, and appliances are one of the wisest investments you can make in your home.

    The Bathrooms

    Second only to the kitchen, the bathroom is the room in the house where dated fixtures or flooring can cost you a sale. People want a bathroom that is clean, comfortable, and modern, a place of privacy and peace. Spending money on a bathroom remodel will almost always be the best way to spend your money, and you will see it in your selling price.

    Curb Appeal

    Getting people in to look at your house is the first step. Spending some of your remodel money on the exterior of the house and the landscaping is the best way to do that. Improving the look of the house from the outside means you can bring more people in to look and to buy. There is no underestimating the importance of curb appeal.

    An Addition

    With a small house, adding on square footage can mean adding a lot to the selling price. If you can swing it, an addition is a smart way to make your house worth a lot more money.

    Remodeling your house now for a better sale price later is a smart move. The sooner you do it, the more you will be able to enjoy it before it is time to sell and move on. With these smart remodels, you will make maximum profit.

  • What Season Is Best To Sell?

    So you are ready to sell your house, but you look out the window and see several feet of snow on the ground. Should you bother putting your house on the market in the winter, or should you wait until spring? Is there a better season in which to sell your home? The answers to these questions depend on a few basic factors.

    Where You Live

    In a place where the climate is very cold in the winter, it can be wise to wait until spring to sell, because fewer buyers will be venturing out to look at homes. In an area where the sun shines year round, weather is not a concern, and people will have no trouble coming out to see your house. This doesn’t mean, however, that season doesn’t matter in a warm climate! It can still affect how many potential buyers will come out and the odds of selling.

    Watch Out For The Holiday Slump

    People are usually too busy from Thanksgiving through Christmas to spend much time house hunting, and in January they are often recovering financially from holiday over-spending. Most experts will recommend that you avoid listing your home until after the worst of the holiday slump in the market is over and people are looking to buy again. This is true no matter what the climate!

    Particulars Of Your Home

    If your home is near a high school, you might want to consider selling in the summer when things nearby are a bit quieter. The noise and traffic of the school year might put some buyers off. If your home is near a lot of fun winter activities, this might actually be a selling point that will be highlighted better in the winter months. Looking for these details of your area and capitalizing on them will help you to get your home sold.

    The season does matter when it comes to home buying, and spring is usually a good time to list. Your REALTOR® can help you to determine what season makes the most sense for listing in your particular case, providing you with market information in your area and helping you pinpoint the particulars of your home that make it appealing in a specific season.

  • Safety Tips for your home.

    Never leave standing liquids unattended. Stay within arm’s reach while your child is bathing or is near any container of water. If the phone rings, let it ring; stay with your child.

    Prevent tap water scalds by adjusting the temperature on your hot water heater to 120° F.

    Keep medicines and hazardous household chemicals locked up and out of sight. Use child-resistant packaging for medicines and hazardous household chemicals, and call 1-800-222-1222 if a poisoning occurs.

    Cut the loops on window-blind cords and call 1-800-506-4636 for a free repair kit.

    Make sure your hairdryer has a large rectangular plug. The immersion protection device prevents electrocution if the hairdryer is dropped in water.

    Change the battery in your smoke alarm when you change your clock’s setting in October or November.

    Have a professional check your furnace for carbon monoxide leaks and your chimney for blockages; put a CO alarm in the hallway near every separate sleeping area.

    Prevent electrocutions by installing a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in your household outlets.

    Installing Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) can prevent electrical fires. AFCIs can sense electrical arc and trip the circuit.

    Babies on adult beds risk suffocation from hidden hazards such as entrapment between the bed and wall; entrapment involving the bed frame, headboard, and footboard; or soft bedding such as pillows or thick quilts and comforters.

  • SEVEN SAFETY TIPS FOR YOUR NEW HOME

    When you first move into your new home it is a good idea to take care of a few small things that can make a big difference when it counts.

    Change the locks on all your exterior doors. Unless your house is brand new you never know how many strangers may have a key to your front door.

    Replace the batteries in all the smoke detectors in the house. Record the date in your calendar so you will remember to do the same thing next year!

    Unless your heating/air units are new, have the vents and filters cleaned or replaced.

    Create a fire-hazard plan with your family and conduct a practice drill with the children.

    Replace or clean the exhaust hood filter above the range.

    Check all your electric outlets for loose-fitting plugs, as these can pose a fire hazard. These outlets are inexpensive and fairly easy to replace.

    Have the fireplace chimney cleaned. While you are at it go ahead and install a rain cap and a screen to keep the birds out of your chimney.

  • Home Staging: Create Appeal By Maximizing Space And Minimizing Clutter

    It’s a good idea to start by storing personal pictures, knickknacks, boxes, piles of mail, and any other eye-catching distractions.

    Expert organizers suggest sorting through collections of books, magazines, CDs and newspapers, and getting rid of those you no longer want or use.

    Choose containers that are as practical as they are pretty to organize magazines, toys, kitchen utensils, and other items that can’t be stored away.

    Don’t forget to organize closets and drawers-buyers look everywhere!

    Consider buying or renting a bookshelf, armoire or entertainment center from a furniture rental store to organize everything from electronic equipment to seasonal clothes.

  • Home Staging: Curb Appeal-Make The Best First Impression!

    Manicure the yard.

    Clean the windows, doors, and front entry.

    Plant flowers-tastefully, and abundantly!

    Pressure clean the exterior.

    Enhance and beautify with lighting.

    Reseal the driveways.

    Paint your house.

    Focus on the front door.

    Don’t forget the shutters.

  • Home Staging: Fragrance, Smells, and Odors

    Nothing smells better than clean!

    The source of the most common problem odors: pets, smoking, cooking, and mold or mildew.

    A zippered pillowcase filled with cedar chips, placed under a pet’s pillow bed, will absorb most of the unpleasant odors.

    Boiling an apple, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a few drops of vanilla on the stove will remove burnt smells in the kitchen. Add orange peels to make a simmering potpourri.

    Sprinkle baking soda directly onto carpets, rugs, and sofas to eliminate odors-then let it sit for at least 30 minutes before vacuuming.

    A bowl of vinegar placed in a room for a day or two will help neutralize smoke odors.

    Small cotton balls with a few drops of your favorite perfume or cologne, tucked discreetly around the home, can freshen a room.

    Candles, plug-ins, and home fragrance sprays can work wonders when the scent is well chosen, and not overdone.

  • Home Staging: The Ten Best Do-It-Yourself Tips For $100 Or Less

    Potted Plants, small or large, are one of the easiest and least expensive ways to create visual appeal.

    Home Fragrance such as scented candles, sprays, and plug-in type fragrance gadgets in delicate scents can work wonders.

    Steam Cleaning-Rather than investing in a professional service, rent the machine for one day, and rejuvenate carpets and drapes.

    Baskets and Decorative Containers can help organize scattered items and eliminate clutter.

    Light Bulbs and Dimmer Switches-Brighten dark areas and rooms or soften harsh light with dimmers and the newer soft light bulbs.

    Paint over unusual colors or update stark white walls with a contemporary neutral tone.

    Fresh Flowers-Inexpensive arrangements in vases you already own look beautiful and will smell naturally fresh.

    Throw Pillows will instantly update an old sofa or chair or make a plain bed look luxurious.

    Maid Service can be costly, but hiring one for a day or a few hours is affordable-and it’s worth it to make a kitchen or bathroom sparkle!

    Snacks! A bowl of polished apples, a bunch of grapes or a plate of fresh cookies makes your home look warm and inviting.

  • Home Staging: The Top Seven Sales Killers That May Keep A Home From Selling!

    An Unkempt Lawn

    Chipping or Peeling Paint

    Worn or Dirty Carpets and Flooring

    Poor Housekeeping-Dust, Stains, and Dirt

    Junk, Clutter, and Disorganization

    Unpleasant Odors-Pets, Tobacco, and Garbage

    Unusual or Odd Paint Colors