Real Estate Tips

Great curb appeal goes a long way toward attracting buyers to a home that is for sale. Many of our sales have been generated by a “For Sale” sign in front of a home that is beautifully landscaped. Prospective buyers who admire a home’s exterior often prove to be among the most interested in the property.

An investment in attractive landscaping can help your home sell more quickly. If you have a moderately green thumb, you can get a lot of free advice from local nurseries. They can give you tips on what will look good in your yard, considering the time of year, the available light, and the type of plants that do well in the area. You will probably be able to choose from many attractive low-maintenance plants that will add color and vitality to your yard. Whatever the season, a few dollars invested in your front yard will usually reap much greater benefits than your original investment.

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

Many homeowners wait until they are ready to put their home on the market before painting, planting flowers, and making other improvements to their homes. After completing these improvements, they may be so delighted with the results that they wish they had done the work on their home sooner in order to enjoy the changes.

Whether you have recently purchased a home or have been settled in your home for several years, you should consider evaluating the condition of your house as if you planned to sell it soon. Maximize your home’s “curb appeal” now, so that you will reap the benefits every time you pull into your driveway. Plant those flowers and bulbs and you will have your fresh flowers on your own dining room table. Add new window treatments to freshen the appearance of the main rooms. If your house needs an upgraded kitchen, go ahead with the renovation. You will enhance your whole neighborhood and experience the pleasure of living in a more beautiful and fully functional home.

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

Does your yard have a freshly-painted fence, a smooth, green lawn and a well-trimmed hedge? A well-groomed yard is one of the most important indicators of proud ownership. Neighborhood pride can pay impressive dividends to homeowners.

Even if you don’t plan to move right away, grooming and landscaping your yard could help your neighbors sell their home. Yard work and gardening can be relaxing and rewarding hobbies that can pay off in beautiful flowers–and higher property values. If everyone does their share to make the neighborhood look terrific, the demand for homes like yours will increase among prospective buyers, and nearby homes will also sell for top dollar. When you are ready to sell or refinance, the comparable homes in your neighborhood will support a higher price for your home.

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

Good curb appeal is a major plus when it comes to marketing a home. A little bit of work on the front of your home can pay big dividends.

When a potential buyer pulls up in front of your house, their first impression is absolutely crucial. Sometimes buyers won’t even look at a home with droopy shutters, sagging gutters, peeling paint and a bumper crop of dandelions in the front yard. Or they might go in expecting to find a “fixer-upper” that could be purchased at a bargain price. If a house looks neat and cared for from the street, the initial good impression will carry over as the buyers step inside. It is not necessary to hire a professional landscaper, but listen to your real estate agent’s suggestions when you list your home. Local nurseries can help you select blooming plants that will thrive in your area. Keep the lawn mowed, and regardless of the season, take care of exterior maintenance. Strong curb appeal will help your home sell more quickly and for top dollar.

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

Sometimes a real estate agent will walk into a home that is basically attractive, yet communicates the feeling that something is lacking. Then the agent notices that all of the drapes are closed, interior lights are off and there is a lot of overgrown shrubbery blocking the sunlight that might otherwise pour through the windows.

A dark house is not as appealing to most buyers as one that is flooded with light. As a part of your preparations to market your home, try to maximize the light in your home. Make sure that all the windows are clean and the drapes are open when the house is being shown. A fresh coat of light paint can do a lot to brighten up the interior. If your house has very dark paneling, and you do not wish to repaint the walls, you may want to consider adding additional lamps. Your real estate agent may be able to provide other simple and cost-effective ideas about how to maximize your home’s appeal.

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

First impressions count! Do you remember your first impressions of your present home? What made you want to buy it? The features or amenities that first attracted you are probably the same ones that will sell your home.

Prospective buyers’ first impression of your home is the feeling they get when approaching your property. Each home has its own unique features–trees and shrubs which soften structural lines, unusual architectural features, such as bay windows, or a beautifully landscaped entrance. Whether your home is modern or elegant traditional, the approach to your home makes a statement. Since most buyers are looking for a home that has both charm and class, it pays to keep your grounds well-maintained and attractive. If the exterior appearance of your home and yard is pleasing, buyers will want to see the interior.

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

Many people wait until they are about to sell their home before they put energy and attention into improving the landscaping. Then in a desperate attempt to create instant curb appeal, they call in a professional landscaper and spend a lot of money making the yard beautiful for the next owners to enjoy.

Why wait until you are ready to move to enhance your surroundings? Even if you don’t want to take on a major project, you can plant a few bushes and bulbs each year. You can get plants that bloom at different times of the year, many of which don’t need a tremendous amount of care. There are several benefits to this approach. You will be able to enjoy your improvements yourself, and you will profit more from your sale if you haven’t invested a lot of money in your yard right before the transaction. Well-landscaped lawns tend to increase the real estate values in the whole neighborhood, and can result in a more rapid increase in the equity you have in your home!

Filed under: Curb Appeal, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

When your home is being shown, you want prospective buyers to feel good as soon as they step into the living room. It pays to give special attention to maximizing the amount of light in your home because dark homes are depressing to many people. When prospective buyers give real estate agents feedback on the homes that we show, they often cite a light, airy feeling as a major attraction.

Begin your preparation for showing your home by cleaning the windows and curtains thoroughly. Open the drapes and blinds to let the sunshine in. Even on a bright day it helps to turn on some lights in the main rooms of the house. If you are using shades or heavy drapes to eliminate a less-than-perfect view, you may want to consider replacing them with translucent curtains in a light color. Sunshine definitely helps to sell homes!

Filed under: Cosmetics Improvements, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

It is extremely important to discover whether there are easements on undeveloped land you are thinking about buying. An easement is the legal right to use another person’s land for a specific, acknowledged purpose. Easements can significantly affect your development and use of the property.

A typical easement might permit the use of a dirt fire road that cuts through both the neighbor’s property and your land. The road provides access to both properties, and your neighbor has to drive through yours to get to his. The house you build has to be situated ten to fifteen feet away from this access road. If the road cuts through the middle of the lot, you might have difficulty finding room for the house you want to build.

Consult with your real estate agent, an attorney or a title researcher for accurate information about the easements. When making an offer on undeveloped land with an easement issue, be sure to include a contingency that you must approve of any existing easements, or the offer is null and void.

Filed under: Buying Land and New Construction, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage

Most buyers rate an attractive kitchen very high on their priority list when they are looking for a new home. The layout of the kitchen, the amount of counter space and storage, and the age and overall condition of the appliances are all important to them. The kitchen area is basically viewed as the center of nourishment and an important place of family interaction.

Take a discriminating look at your kitchen and consider what you can do to make it a real asset. Repair any plumbing leaks or broken appliances. Scrub the room thoroughly, paying special attention to the range and oven. Clean the refrigerator and place a box of baking soda inside to absorb odors. Simple improvements can sometimes work wonders. Hang some colorful pot holders over the stove or install a new stainless steel or copper exhaust hood. Brighten the windows with new curtains and clear all clutter off the countertops.

You don’t need a brand new, high-tech kitchen to impress buyers, but do whatever you can to make your kitchen look as efficient and well-maintained as possible.

Filed under: Cosmetics Improvements, Real Estate Tips by AgentImage