Waiting Until Spring?

Many people have been thinking about relocating over the long Winter, whether it’s buying a new home in Idaho or selling their current home, it seems like Spring is the time when things really “start to happen”…buy why wait? Why not get the jump on things NOW? Well, there’s a lot going on during Spring! You’re barely caught up from the new year, taxes, and then Spring Break! Next thing you know it’s mid-July and you’re wondering if you’re ever going to move. If you’re on the fence about things we’ve put together some good reasons why you might not want to wait for the grass to start growing to make your move.

No Better Time Than NOW
That’s the case with a lot of things, and really even if you’re not ready to even start looking for a new home, or selling your current one, there’s still plenty you can do right NOW to work towards things. If you’re buying start checking out the area you plan to move to; if you’re selling start cutting back the clutter before time to pack.

The Market is Moving
Real estate doesn’t care about the weather. Sure, if you live in a remote region the snow will likely keep prospective buyers away but hopefully your Idaho real estate professional has created an evergreen marketing campaign so it stays at the forefront of people’s minds over the cold months. Don’t rest on your laurels in the “slow season”, if anything crank up your efforts to either find your own new place or to get yours sold – because the market is still moving even if you’re not ready to yet!

The Early Bird?
They say the early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese. Sometimes it’s about lasting power, about just being there, and staying there. If you’re buying, you simply can not start early enough looking and planning to find your Idahome. If you’re selling time is also of the essence because it will move faster than you think!

Either way, the best thing to do is establish a connection with an experienced and knowledgeable Idaho real estate professional, like me! So let’s get acquainted – contact me about your home needs, ideas, and dreams so we can start making them a reality today!

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Is NOW the Time to Sell?

Spring has sprung in Idaho! And while traditionally Spring is always a time when the real estate market begins to tick up there is some uncertainty in the industry here in the Treasure Valley. Low inventory and high prices have maintained over the cold months, but we could be in for more than a thaw!

One thing to keep in mind is that if you’re already thinking of selling there’s no reason to not be getting ready to sell now. That means making sure things like your credit score are in order, finding a Idaho real estate agent you like working with, and of course starting to get your home prepared to list.

If you’re not having to relocate due to work or life changes you may be asking whether it even makes sense to be thinking about selling – the answer is YES. With inventory being as low as it is you have unprecedented leverage in the market, and by all signs interest rates will not stay low.

You might also be thinking of selling because you’ve had offers on your home, offers you couldn’t even believe, and if you’ve been unhappy where you are this may be the sign you’ve been looking for that it’s time to make the move.

If you’ve been thinking about it, if you just aren’t sure if it’s time, or even sure what you might get for your home we can help! Get a FREE market analysis of your home right here or get in touch today!

Things to Consider Before You Consider Moving

Relocating is one of the biggest decisions you can face, whether it be across just moving across town or across the country, it can be a daunting task to even think about. Packing. Shutting off services. Work. Finding things in a new place…Before you overwhelm yourself with worry you should know the good news is that you have experienced home professionals close at hand to help you along the way. We’ve put together a few tips that will help you prepare for relocating before you even start considering making a move!

Think About a Yard Sale
Maybe several of them! Having less stuff means having less stuff to move, so even if relocating might be something not on the books until next year you can start making that process easier by getting rid of things you might not need this season.

Think About Visiting Your New Town
If you already have some idea where you will be moving to it never hurts to start touring the area. You’ll likely get somewhat familiar just in your home search, but make sure that you add some intentional destinations to your list as well – important things like hospitals, city offices, and coffee! If you’ll be relocating across country you could even take a mini-vacation there in advanced to scope out potential new favorite places to get excited about.

Think About Starting a List
It can seem like the most nerdy thing you’ll ever do, but start making a list. This should be a list not only of tasks to complete before you move but also items to include in the move itself. Consider getting a dedicated planner so that you have plenty of room to take notes and keep track of important progress, especially once the real estate transactions begin. Having a clear, drawn out idea of what you need to do can be an invaluable tool in getting things done.

Most of all know that you don’t have to go it alone! We’re here to help you at every step of the way, from finding your new place, or selling your current one, and even just helping you get to know town.

Before You Move Consider This!

Making a move can be one of the most stressful things you can do, and that goes double if you’re selling and buying a home as part of that process.

A new town can be disorienting, and not having your usual network of support to rely on can leave you feeling really boggled. There are countless details to remember and take care of, but before all of that there are a few crucial things to ask yourself before you even start thinking about a move.

We’ve put together a list to help you tackle these tasks with ease!

What Is The Market Doing?
Buying a home in a market on the rise is a good idea, whereas buying in a down trend may not be so wise. While no one short of a psychic can tell you what the market will do for sure, a qualified REALTOR® can show you trends so that you can make a decision from an informed standpoint.

Who Do You Know?
Speaking of a support network! A small group of people you can call on in times of need is more valuable than can be expressed. Whether it’s asking about where to find a good place to eat, or needing someone to puppy-sit, it really helps to have some local people you can count on.

Where to Work?
You may be relocating for your job so this might not be a big concern, but if you’re moving for any other reason you’ll almost definitely need income. Research the area online and put out some resumes before you’re even in the area, it never hurts to plan ahead.

How is the Weather?
Unless you’re snowbirding it you will be spending a lot of time in the climate you’re moving to, so it’s important to be prepared for the weather. If you get cold when it dips below 70 Alaska may not be the place for you! Study up on trends, weather hazards like tornadoes, and other elements that may impact your enjoyment of your new home.

These are all good ideas for things to think about when searching for a new place to live. In some cases you may not have much choice if you’re having to relocate for work or family, but with a little planning the move will be much easier. Be sure to talk with a qualified real estate professional too, as they will know the area and can help you get oriented quickly!

Home Improvements To Reconsider

It’s natural to think about upgrading your home, especially if you’ve lived in it for some time or are thinking about selling in the near future.

While updates can be good, and cleanliness is a must above all else, there are some upgrades that can actually hurt your home value rather than help it.

We’ve put together a quick list of these possible improvements gone wrong that can have a negative impact when it comes time to move.

Wall to Wall Carpeting
Believe it or not flooring is a very personal thing. While some love the plush, soft feel of carpet others recognize it can be a cleaning nightmare to keep up with, or simply just don’t prefer it. Regardless, installing new carpeting throughout the house may be a costly investment that could be better applied elsewhere.

High End Landscaping
While curb appeal is very important and you want your yard to look it’s best going overboard with exotic plants and waterfalls may be a bit much. Your potential buyers taste might not match yours, or they simply might not want to inherit all that upkeep, so keep your yard simple and trim.

Built In Electronics
Home automation is all the rage these days. Set your thermostat from your phone, have your house ask how your day was when you walk in the door – if you can imagine it they are finding a way to make it possible. Some people don’t want all this technology however; some in fact out right oppose it. Beyond that it may be too complex for them to even figure out and no one wants to be stuck in a home with a thermostat set for “Arizona Summer” year round.

Wild Quirky Colors
Chartreuse is trending! And it’s fine to stay up on trends, or to even paint the kids rooms in a fun way, but you may want to keep from applying huge swaths of unconventional colors to rooms. Yes, potential buyers can always re-paint them later, but a big part of the sale comes from them being able to picture themselves in the home and that’s hard to do with bright yellow and pink stripes on all the walls.

Live in your home, make it your own and love every single minute of it, but when it comes time to find your next place keep in mind these things to help make the transition as easy as it can be. The new owners will appreciate your consideration and you’ll have a whole new house to transform into your dream home.

 

Must Do Items Before You Sell Your Home

Spring is fast on it’s way and the market is already hotter than a Summer day in July; it’s a great time to think about selling your home!

Even though you love the home you live in and may already have started getting it tidy for possible sale there are always a few things extra you can do to really make sure your house looks it’s very best. To help out we’ve put together some suggestions to help get you started!

Clean Up The Yard
It’s the first thing people will see, so it’s a good place to start. Winter has been fairly kind this year but it’s likely the yard could still use a little trim and tuck. Whether it’s raking leaves, or giving the shrubs and early trim there’s plenty to do to get the yard straightened up.

De-personalize
It might feel a little sad to start taking down pictures and keepsakes but you want your home to be presented in a way that potential new buyers will be able to see themselves living there. That can be hard when there’s your favorite sports team throw over the couch, or the trophy mount from last year hanging over the fireplace.

Light Bulbs and Polish
Little things matter. Make sure you go through your house and replace any burnt out bulbs, wipe down counter and surfaces regularly, and give the fixtures a little polish to make sure everything is nice and shiny.

Keep Your Home Safe On Vacation!

Warmer weather has arrived and the days are already starting to get longer; this means it’s time to start thinking about getting out and enjoy a little vacation time.  Nothing can ruin the memories of that time well spent like returning home to find a disaster area. Common sense things like turning off water, having mail picked up, and  locking all the doors are easy to remember, but there are some things many people may not have considered.

Here are some things you can do to be proactive in keeping your home safe when you’re out of town.

Save The Status Updates
We know it’s difficult but you might want to save posting those pictures of the vacation until you get back from the trip. Believe it or not, would be evil doers now use social media to see if people are out of town and target their home. If you can’t resist the urge maybe only share pictures via private messages or to selected friends.

Knock Knock!
Of course someone is home! It might not be a bad idea, even if you don’t have pets, to hire a house sitter or talk to a trusted friend about coming over and just spending some time in your home to help make any potential door knockers believe that there is someone home.

Lights!
Burglars often will watch a home for some time and may know your schedule, so they will notice things like a lack of lights on in the house. So, leave a few lights on, or better yet get a timer to have lights come on at dark to give the illusion that someone is home.

What Needs Power
Go through the house before you leave and take a look at what actually needs to be plugged in and what doesn’t. Things like computers, steroes or TV’s that won’t be in use while you’re out can be a big power drain even when not on, worse yet if there is a power surge while you’re gone they might be damaged.

These few things can help keep your home a little bit safer while you’re away enjoying your leisure time. It never hurts to talk to your next door neighbors and let them know you’ll be away so they can keep an eye on the house as well.

Reasons Why FSBO’s Fail (And Why You Need A Realtor!)

Everyone wants a good deal. Unfortunately that’s the reason many homeowner’s take the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route instead of hiring a real estate professional. Either they think it will save them money, save them hassle, or they are just confident that they can navigate the process on their own. Fact is, there are some really good reasons why many FSBO efforts fail; they are the same reasons you like should work with a qualified REALTOR®.

Too Many People To Deal With
A person can only handle so much. You’re already dealing with getting the house ready to show, possibly still finding a new place, packing…and then you’re going to meet with the buyer, the buyers agent, your bank, the home inspector, the appraiser, and maybe even an attorney? It’s a full time job just keeping up!

Homeowner’s Don’t Know The Market…or How to Market…
Do you know the median home value for your area? Are you knowledgeable in the best ways to market and advertise your home for maximum return? There are any number of things that need to be taken care of before you even list your home; a good agent should know all of them.

The Process
There’s a lot more to selling a home than just putting a sign in the yard. Even after you’ve found a qualified buyer there are further challenges like the home inspection, home assessment and what to do about them – surprises lurking in your foundation or attic could kill the deal before it even starts. Speaking of qualifying buyers: that’s one of the biggest parts of the deal – just finding people not only interested in your home but who are financially able to buy it.

The Paperwork
This item alone should be caveat enough. Familiarity with the paperwork is essential and not knowing the correct processes can sink a sale quick! The sheer volume of the paperwork itself is another factor as well, not to mention that much of the paperwork itself must follow very specific timelines.

The old adage is true: Many hands make light work!
And considering that you’ll almost need to be in multiple places at once, besides having a familiarity with the system that only comes with experience, a skilled real estate professional is an invaluable asset when it comes time to sell your home.

Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets Right NOW!

No, seriously, do it. Do it NOW!

The kitchen is often thought of as the heart of the home; no one can argue that especially as the holidays get close it’s one of the busiest rooms in the whole house! That being the case it should be of extra importance that it look good and function as well as possible. A large part of the appearance of your kitchen of course are the cabinets. The cabinets in your kitchen really set the tone of the room – it’s too bad so many people choose drab over fab. If your conscience hasn’t already gotten the better of you here are a few more reasons to paint those cabinets!

Your Kitchen Is a Dungeon
Ok, so maybe that’s a bit overboard…but seriously, if your kitchen is dark and scary who’s going to want to spend time there? Dark colored cabinets that are old or dreary have got to go. A reflective surface for your backsplash will help further, by bouncing light around the room to make it feel more spacious. Think bright, light, and welcoming!

It Looks Like A Set From Starsky & Hutch
SOLID! But you don’t want to be superfly! If you’ve got old wood paneled or just out-dated looking cabinet styles in your kitchen it may be time for them to go. A coat of paint can take your cabinets from “meh” to masterful in just a day.

It’s Easy!
That’s right! It’s EASY! And that’s reason enough right there. A little sanding, and a little paint can really go a long way towards not only sprucing up your cabinets but also breathing new life into your entire kitchen. When it comes to bang for your buck painting your cabinets is among some of the most affordable ways to drastically change the feel of a room.

Great Kitchens SELL.
Period. End of statement. If there is one room in your home that can make or break the sale it’s the kitchen. If it’s perceived to be too small, or unwelcoming, it just might be the deal breaker that keeps your home from moving off the market and getting you maximum return for your dollar.

Whereas a complete renovation may cost too much, take too much time, or just be more than you want to deal with, painting your cabinets can really turn things around in a big way for not a whole lot of dollars out of pocket. Whether you’re looking to update your exiting home to sell or need to find a new place to call home get in touch – I know the local area and can help make your move the right one!

Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home

Selling your home can be a real challenge; a unique process compared to buying a home or any other real estate transaction. It can be hard to know what to do and how to progress in the proper manner; it is for that reason that having an experienced real estate agent can make all the difference. We’ve put together a few hot button items to help you steer clear of some of the most common pitfalls when selling your home, but of
course always recommend working with a professional.

Make Sure the Time is Right
Don’t sell before you’re ready. Don’t sell before the market is ready. Don’t sell before the house is ready. Only you can know whether the time is right for you, your REALTOR® should know if the market is good, but you can do a lot on your own make sure the home is ready. Take care of any repairs that are outstanding, especially if they are major, to insure the best return on your investment.

Don’t Over Improve
What you consider an improvement might not be to the taste of the new owner; not all home improvements are the same either – some can return more or less when it comes to monetary value on return. You may love your new bright pink lady lair, but that coat of paint could cost you the sale if potential buyers aren’t so hot on that style. Lastly, if the improvements you choose are costly you may not recover their cost even if you do end up selling the home.

Don’t Play Hide And Seek
Selling a home is much like any other business, it needs to be based on trust and honesty. Considering that, don’t hide any details about your home or your finances that could pop up as potential pitfalls later on. Some less than desirable details about your house may be ill received, and even cost you a buyer or two, but that’s nothing compared to the fallout of having to deal with outraged buyers or even charges of fraud after the fact.

Simmer Down
Selling a home is a process, with a lot of money at stake, and it’s never a good idea to rush into ventures of that nature. Take time to plan not only your sale itself but the steps leading up to the sale – preparing the home, talking to the kids about the move, packing your home, and a myriad of other details. Don’t rush into thing, make sure the agent you choose is a good match for you and also knows the market. A little patience
can go a long way and even in a fast moving market it takes time for the sale itself to be processed.