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Staging Tips #1- Yard and Landscaping

First impressions are everything and your exterior of your house is no exception. When buyers are choosing which homes they want to see the main photo (which is the front photo of your home) on the listing must grab their attention. The same goes when they are just driving by and see the sign in the yard. If your exterior doesn’t impress them, they may not bother to see what the inside has to offer.

So how do you make sure that your exterior screams “Come on inside, I’m awesome!!!”? Here are are some tips that I’ve learned through staging classes, experience and research.

When I was watching one of those not so reality flipping shows one of the investors said, “you can’t sell it if you can’t see it.” This saying sums it up perfectly. If you have trees, bushes, vines, etc. blocking the front of your house, they need to go. Trim trees, remove or cut back overgrown bushes, take down climbing vines, etc. Make sure there is a clear walkway to the front of the house and that the numbers on the house are clearly visible. Buyers want to see the house not look for it under overgrown landscaping.

The yard is very important. Make sure that is given extra care when preparing your house to go on the market. Use weed killers, water regularly and use fertilizer. When cutting the grass, try cutting it on an angle. This will help the yard appear larger.

When sprucing up the landscaping keep these tips in mind.

  1. Use black mulch. This color is more dramatic and enhances most exterior colors.
  2. Remove all yard art. These items can be distracting and are usually personalized to the current owner.
  3. Clean out all leaves from gutters and landscaping.
  4. Remove all dead or dying plants.
  5. Hide trash bins, hoses, etc.
  6. Hide the foundation using landscaping.
  7. Make sure that all pet messes are cleaned up promptly and the unsightly urine spots in the grass are taken care of.

Looking for more specific tips for your home? Contact me today and I’d be happy to set up a home seller consultation!

6 Reasons Why December is a Good Month to Buy a Home

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Most people are not excited about the thought of buying a home in December. The weather is less than ideal for moving and it’s such a busy season for events with friends and family.

Here are 6 reasons why you should consider buying a home in December:

1. Sellers are highly motivated. People who are listing their homes in December are usually on a timeline. They may be relocating for work, wanting to move over the school break, or need to sell their home before the end of the year.

2. You have less competition. Listings do go down in December, but many buyers also take a break during the holiday season. So while the overall number of homes available might be lower, you also have less competition looking.

3. You can get a better price. Motivated sellers and fewer lookers means you can make a better deal. If your seller needs to make a move before the end of the year, they will be willing to work with you on all other terms besides closing date.

4. Rates are staying low. Mortgage rates are forecast to remain low through the end of this year, and into 2021, so it’s a good time to buy.

5. Take advantage of tax benefits. If you close on your home purchase by December 31st, you can take tax deductions for mortgage interest, loan points, and property taxes.

6. Schedules are more flexible. You might think December is too busy a month for moving, but most people tend to have more flexible schedules in December. Children’s activities are suspended, work schedules are more lax, for both you, your sellers, as well as your lender, home inspector, and moving companies, so scheduling all the parts of your transaction and move may actually become easier.

I’d love to help you find your next home. Let’s make your holiday wishes come true!

Why a Home Buyer Consultation is so Important to the Process

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As exciting as it is to start looking for homes, it not the best way to begin the process. Why?

Because the Home Buying Journey is much more complicated and stressful than the simple purchasing decisions that we make on the day to day basis.

The Home Buyer Consultation has many benefits.

  1. It is a chance for me to learn the full picture of what you are looking for, what type of home will work for your lifestyle and what your goal time frame is for purchasing and moving into your new home.
  2. It is a chance for us to discuss what the current market is like. Is it a sellers’ market where buyers are competing for homes? A buyers’ market where buyers have many options and have more negotiating power? Maybe the market is pretty balanced ? So many have so many people have opinions on the market, but if they’re not in it on a daily basis in a professional capacity they’re not likely to provide the most reliable advice. (Uncle Johnny means well and loves you but he may not be the one to go to for real estate market advice when he hasn’t bought a home since 1995.) I have been through all types of markets throughout the years and have the experience to advise you on the current market.
  3. In this consultation we can narrow down the most important “must haves” that will fit your budget. Is your list of home features that you are looking for a mile long? Maybe you have no idea where to begin making a list? I’ll help you through this.
  4. We will also talk about the best way for you to purchase. Have you saved up cash? Should you get a mortgage? What type of mortgage should you talk to a mortgage lender about. Getting pre-approved is definitely important, but not necessary for you to schedule a consultation. I have many great local lenders that I can refer you to when you are ready to get the process started.
  5. We will come up with a game plan to reach your home ownership goals and find the “right home” for you.

Are you ready to at least explore the option of buying a home? Click here to schedule a consultation and let’s get started!!

Buying Your First Home? Things You Should Know

I love working with first-time home buyers. Helping you find your first home, learn the home buying process, and guiding you from house-hunting to move-in day gives me such joy! Here are three things you should know before you start looking.

Work with one Realtor. It’s best to have one agent who is helping you with your search. Your agent will be dedicated to finding you the right property, and then negotiating on all the terms of your transaction on your behalf. You want that person to get to know you and your family’s needs and preferences, rather than starting over with someone new each time you go look at a house. Keep in mind that the agent who shows you a home is, ethically, the one who should continue the transaction. Also, when you call an agent from a yard sign or advertisement, you are dealing with the seller’s agent. While most real estate professionals are adept at handling both sides of a transaction professionally, it makes more sense to deal with someone you have already taken time to get to know and who has your best interests at heart as the buyer. You aren’t paying your agent; unless otherwise stated, he or she is paid by the seller upon closing. Still, you are hiring someone to work for you, so feel free to interview multiple agents and pick the one that you feel fits you best.

You need to be pre-approved for financing. Unless you are paying cash for your home, you do need to talk to a lender before you start looking at houses. One reason is that it helps you set an accurate price range for house hunting. Looking at homes that you can’t afford to make an offer on just leads to frustration. A mortgage lender will not only tell you what amount you can borrow, but also your projected monthly payment, your closing costs, and what you should or shouldn’t do with your finances to maintain your eligibility throughout the lending process. Another reason for having an up-to-date pre-approval in hand is so you don’t lose out to another buyer. If you find the perfect house, you will want to get an offer in before someone else gets it, and that pre-approval letter must accompany your offer. I would be happy to provide you with names of mortgage lenders in our area who have provided excellent service to my clients.

There are some up-front costs. When you find the right house, and you and the seller have agreed on the price and terms and have signed the contract, you will first need to make your earnest deposit, or “good faith” deposit. This is money you are risking if you back out of the deal for reasons not protected in the contract. Usually it is between 1% and 5% of the sales price but can be more or less depending on what you and the seller agree to in the contract. Your agent will help you with this during negotiations. The earnest deposit will go towards your down payment at closing.

Next, you should have an inspection of the property done by a certified home inspector. This cost varies depending on the size, condition, age, and features of the home, but is usually a few hundred dollars. You will need to pay this at the time of service. You may elect to pay for other inspections based on the results of the initial inspection. For example, if the inspector notes an issue with the HVAC system, you may need to pay a service fee for an HVAC contractor to look at the system. You want to get as much information during your inspection period as you need to confidently move forward with the purchase.

An appraisal of the property will be ordered, usually this is paid out of your application deposit with the mortgage company.

I will guide through all of these steps throughout your home buying journey. Ready to get started? Schedule a no obligation consultation today!!

Click Here to Schedule a Consultation!!

Create a Gallery Wall

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You love gallery walls, and you have the perfect space for one. But you’re terrified of messing it up. You need someone (anyone!) to hold your hand. Great news! Help is here.⁣
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  1. Start with the art. Vintage, modern, or flea market finds—anything goes!⁣
  2. Choose like-colored frames and mats. Going eclectic? Different shades of wood nail the look.⁣
  3. Lay frames out on the floor and try several arrangements before choosing your fave. Snap a pic to use for reference as you hang.⁣
  4. Grab a level to place your first pic. If you don’t, all your work may end up on a slant.⁣
  5. After getting your first pic just right, use painter’s tape to mark equal amounts of space between the rest of the frames. Two inches is a good place to start. ⁣
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    Ready to give it a go? You can do it! There’s no doubt a gallery wall will completely transform your space.

Make a Great First Impression With Your Entryway

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Your front door entryway welcomes more friends, neighbors, family members, and yes—Amazon deliveries—than any other part of your home. Make a beautiful first impression with these decorating tips:⁣
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  1. Upgrade your indoor welcome mat to a “modern antique” rug that sets a warm and friendly tone right from the front door.⁣
  2. When accessorizing, remember the rule of three—three different sizes of the same type of object will always look clean and pulled together.⁣
  3. Use benches, chairs, and even old church pews to provide a practical place to rest, put on or take off shoes, or temporarily set backpacks and packages. Swapping out seasonal throw pillows on entryway seats makes year-round decorating a cinch.⁣
  4. If you’re short on space, consider entryway furniture pieces that double as storage.⁣
  5. Personalize with artwork, photos, and items that reflect your family’s story using coordinated framing and color schemes to tie it all together.⁣
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    Bonus tip: Before making changes, think about how you use the space just inside your front door. Keep that in mind as you shop and switch things up so that you’ll be sure to love the end result.⁣
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    Got an entryway you love, love, love? Tell us about it. What makes it unique and special? Share in the comment below.⁣

Home Maintenance Tips for Fall and Winter

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It’s important to prepare your home for the colder weather coming. Taking a little bit of time to winterize your home can save you a lot of time, and money, later on. Check out these tips for preparing your home for the fall and winter.

1. Check window and door weather stripping for damage.

2. Disconnect water hoses and turn off outdoor water supply lines and irrigation system.

3. Wrap exterior water pipes or hose bibs with heating tape.

4. Clean your gutters.

5. Check your roof for damage or leaks.

6. Fill cracks in your driveway and foundation.

7. Check attic insulation for pest damage.

8. Have your furnace serviced.

9. Check your chimney for obstructions and make sure your damper is working.

10. Clean and store your lawnmower.

11. Aerate and fertilize your lawn.

12. Change the air filters in your HVAC system.

13. Change smoke detector batteries.

14. Clean and store outdoor furniture.

15. Have landscaping pruned and put fresh mulch down.

16. Bring potted plants inside.

17. Change your ceiling fan direction.

18. Clean humidifiers before using.

19. Winterize your pool.

20. Make sure snow equipment is working.