Little Things That Could Be Sabotaging Your Home Sale

A thousand and one things go into selling your home quickly and for the best price; unfortunately that means there’s at least a few hundred things that can sabotage things as well. To help you get your home ready for sale we’ve put together a few of the little things that you may not have thought about that can throw a wrench into the selling process.

A Bad Yard
Dead grass, dog piles, and general unkempt appearances in your yard can really stop things in their tracks – especially if it’s the front yard. Make sure to spend a little time getting the outside of your home looking good as well as the inside.

Cobwebs
Speaking of the outside of your house! Spiders are great for keeping bugs away, but they can scare away buyers too. If people see a bunch of cobwebs and dead bugs everywhere it can be a bit of a concern. A quick dusting or soft wash of your home can really make a big difference.

Clutter
Clothes piled on the couch, boxes stacked in corners, and just general clutter make spaces feel smaller and more cramped. Make sure you clear surfaces of personal items and anything that may detract from the open feeling of the home. Consider using organizer cubes, or move things into the garage while showing the home.

No Furniture Feng Shui
It may seem silly but having your furniture arranged awkwardly can make it hard for potential buyers to envision themselves in the space. While you don’t have to hire a home stager (necessarily) you may want to consider how your furniture creates a flow through the home and remove any bulky pieces. You may love your fuzzy footstool and Chicago Cubs food tray beside the couch, but unless it’s included with the house you may want to go ahead and clear them out as it may not be to the buyers taste.

These may seem like little things, but they can add up. Most importantly you want to present your home in a manner that allows prospective buyers to be able to see themselves living there. If you’re having trouble getting your home ready to sell, or just don’t know where to start get in touch!

Spring Home Tips

For most of the country Spring has sprung and the season is well on it’s way! Mother Nature is busy at work sprucing up and you should be too; as overwhelming as it can seem there’s no need to panic over the clutter. We’ve put together some great tips to help you get on top of the seasonal home honey-do list!

Change Your Air Filter
This one is bigger than you think! Regularly changing your home air filter not only keeps the air you breathe cleaner but it can help your air systems work more efficiently – saving you money!

Open Your Vents
If you live in a home with foundation vents this is the time to open them up! Opening your foundation vents allows cooler air to pass beneath your home helping your AC systems not have to work as hard.

Tackle the Yard
The yard can seem like a huge task, so pick just one task a day, or even one task per week, to take on. Rake the leaves today, next time trim the bushes, the next time do the edging.

Open the Windows
As the temperatures are still cool in the morning and evenings it’s an opportune time to get some fresh air in the home. Opening windows clears out dust and stale air and sunlight can even have anti-bacterial properties.

Hopefully these simple tips will help inspire you!
Don’t let the things around the house take over – you can tackle any of these tasks if you just take them one at a time.

Tips for a Cozy Winter Home

Make Your Home Cozy This Winter!

Winter is quickly on its way and for a big part of the country it looks like it might be a cold one! There is always plenty to do around the house, and getting ready for Winter kicks that into high gear. While there are any number of things most home owners know to do at this point – like closing foundation vents, and servicing the furnace – we’ve put together a different list! Our list here is more about adding to the COZY factor of your home – so let’s get to it!

Add Area Rugs
They really tie the room together for one thing, but otherwise they can also add a layering effect to your home decor. You have Winter coats that you put on just for the season; area rugs can be much the same for your home – just a little different pattern to enjoy and add to your visual pleasure.

Bring In Scents
It’s easy to over-do, so be careful! But adding a few scented cedar candles or having some cinnamon spices simmering fill your home with the most amazing fragrance and believe it or not that alone can lift your whole mood!

Upgrade Your Fuzziness
Winter is a harsh time so it’s a good idea to up the fuzzy factor in your home! Get those plush throw pillows, drape a super soft blanket over the recliner. Adding soft, warm fabrics to your living spaces helps keep things cozy.

Change The Lighting
No, not just the direction the ceiling fan spins, although that is a good tip too, but rather the lights itself. Whether it be just having more candles lit in the room you’re in, adding a lamp shade, or changing to a softer wattage bulb,  changing the illumination in a space can really change the mood. Think warm!

There are any number of things you can do to your home once you’re in it to make it all you want it to be! As your real estate professional I want to be here for you long after the paperwork is done – if you have questions or ideas about your home don’t hesitate to get in touch. And if your home is one of the things you’re looking to change let’s talk!

Home Buyers! Location Isn’t All There Is!

If you’ve even thought about real estate at some point you’ve likely heard the old tried and true: “Location! Location! Location!”…well, it’s a great saying and location is definitely a big factor, but it’s no longer the be all end all factor that it once was.

What is? These days it should go more like Location, Condition, and PRICE. Confused? What changed? Don’t worry, we’ll lay it all out for you here below…

Location of course is still the first and foremost thing people consider, no one wants to have the perfect place that’s 2 hours from town, uphill both ways, on bad roads with no street lights. But fact is, you can’t change the location of listings any more than the real estate agent can – so it might be one of the items to have a little wiggle room on.

Condition! This is the keystone thing. The home can be in the perfect spot, corner lot and close to everything…but if it’s a total dump do you want it? Sure, there’s “good bones” but do you want – and are you really prepared – to move and then have months of updates and construction to deal with? Likely not. Just the same, there’s wiggle room here too as you can always work with a basic home and really get a lot of return.

Price. Yes! This is the one everyone is concerned about. If it’s in the perfect spot, and in good condition, but is way out of your budget it’s no good after all. While there’s no getting blood from a stone you can find ways to negotiate, especially if you’re working with an experience REALTOR®.

Location may have been all it was about in the old days, but there are so many more available properties being built, with more every day, and that means more options for buyers. As you can imagine, it’s really best when these three factors all come together in equal amounts – the right home in the right place in good condition at a fair price. If you’re struggling to find home, or just don’t know where to start get in touch today to see what can do done to get you on the right road home!

Home Selling Tips For Fall!

Just because the hot hot hot real estate market of Summer is over and people are focusing on school and the coming holidays doesn’t mean the chance to sell your home is gone too!

No! Truth be told, these Autumn months are often when people turn towards the warm thoughts of home even more, making it a great time to sell!

To help you decide if selling your home this Fall is the right time we’ve put together some great things to consider!

There’s Less Inventory
Traditionally there is less inventory in the cooler months, this means buyers will be more keenly interested in what offerings do come available – making it a good time to list!

Buyers Are Motivated
Less inventory, a timeline of potential weather changes and holidays…all these things motivate buyers to find a home and get in it before the snow flies. Despite what some may think all of these things factor in to make Fall a great time to sell!

Fall Colors Make Everyone Look Good
Beautiful colors, the fabulous sunsets for contrast – Fall really can make things look great! Take advantage, be sure to keep your yard neat and include seasonal touches of color in your decorating. A warm home that smells of sweet apple spice never hurts either!

Don’t think that just because Summer is over that you can’t sell! Working with an experienced real estate professional can make all the difference no matter what time of year it is – find out, get in touch!