Size Matters...

You cannot increase the size of a room, or can you?  While you cannot increase square footage, you can affect the appearance of size.  Clean up clutter on end tables and add a vase of flowers.  Replace drapes with lightweight window coverings or blinds.  Add a large mirror on an empty wall or above the fireplace.  Call me for additional staging ideas.

Check out this article on HGTV's FrontDoor.com...

Room-by-Room Staging Strategies

"Staging your home to sell is proven to increase your sale price up to seven percent, so it's worth your time to evaluate your place room-by-room and decide what changes to make.  Here are some tips to help you play up your home's assets and downplay its faults."  See more here...

Before You Remodel

Before you begin remodeling, consider all aspects of the project and how it fits into your lifestyle.  Choose the highest quality materials and do the job right the first time.  Lower quality items won't last as long, and major repairs can be costly.  Talk to an expert, someone who has worked with different products and knows what works best.  I have suggestions to guide you through home projects, give me a call.

Check out this article from Realtor.com...

Best Six Home Improvement Trends Show Where To Focus Your Remodeling Funds

Home Improvement  |  Jul 1, 2011  |  By: Ask a Realtor  |   

 

Many people are looking to spend money on remodeling a home either to prepare it for resale or to maximize their own enjoyment of their living space. Any potential home improvement project needs to be balance the existing homeowner’s wishes with the concerns that the next owner may have.

The best home improvement projects for homeowners to concentrate on are those that focus on energy efficiency, low maintenance features, and well-used space. The demand for McMansions has declined in the last few years and instead, many people are demanding smaller houses that make the best use of space and technology.

Maintenance-free Exteriors

According to Remodeling Magazine, fiber-cement siding is one of the fastest-growing products on the siding market. It’s a combination of cement, sand, and cellulosic fibers but looks like wood. It won’t rot, combust, or become prey to termites and other wood-boring insects.

 Fiber-cement siding is more expensive than paint-grade wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding, $5 to $9 per sq. ft., installed. It returns 80% of investment, the highest return of any upscale project on Remodeling magazine’s latest Cost vs. Value Report.

Maintenance is limited to a cleaning and some caulking each spring. Repaint every 7 to 15 years. Wood requires repainting every 4 to 7 years.

Read more of this article here...

Timeless Improvements

When considering improvements to your home, some add more lasting value than others.  Good lighting adds a sense of comfort and security.  The addition of a fireplace, be it gas or wood-burning, can turn a house into a home.  The addition or redesign of storage areas and adding built-ins are always a good choice.  Wood flooring never goes out of style.  Let me help you combine the trendy with the timeless to create a dazzling home.

Check out this article from Realtor.com...

Inexpensive Ways To Spruce Up
Your Home Before Selling
Advice, Home and Style
September 24, 2012
By:  Deidre Woolard, Realtor.com

If you are interested in selling your home you’ve probably come across more than a few articles about how to spruce your home up for sale. But beyond the basics of cleaning up the clutter what can you do to make a difference without spending a lot of money? We rounded up tips from some of the experienced Realtors who answer questions in our Advice Section.

Throw Out The Welcome Mat, Literally
Many Realtors recommend buying a new welcome mat as a way to spruce up a home. A fresh coat of paint and flowers by the door also make a nice impression. The door should be freshly cleaned or freshly painted.

Read more here...

Making an Offer

Your offer is a written proposal, designed to cover all aspects of the purchase agreement.  Once accepted, it becomes a binding contract.  The offer details the property's address, sale price and closing date.  It must include provisions for any required and requested inspections and clearly state all financial obligations regarding mortgage, deposits and taxes.  Call me, my job is to know the changing laws and requirements.

Check out this article on Realtor.com...

The Basics of Making an Offer on a House
August 5, 2013
By:  The Realtor.com Team



Like marriage, home-buying is one part love, one part legal transaction, and it starts with a proposal. When you’re ready to buy a home, you need to make a written offer: Oral promises are not legally enforceable in real estate sales.

Realtors usually have a variety of standard forms (including Residential Purchase Agreements) that are kept up to date with the changing laws. In many states, sellers must comply with certain disclosure, and a Realtor will ensure that they do, as well as answering any questions you may have during the sale.

If you are not working with a Realtor, keep in mind that your purchase offer or contract must conform to state and local laws. State laws vary, and certain provisions may be required in your area.
Besides addressing legal requirements, the proposal should specify price and all other terms and conditions of the purchase. For example, if the sellers said they’d help with $2,000 toward your closing costs, include that in your written offer and in the final contract, or you won’t have grounds for collecting it later.

After the offer is drawn up and signed, it will usually be presented to the seller by your Realtor, by the seller’s Realtor if that’s a different agent, or often by the two together. In a few areas, sales contracts are typically drawn up by the parties’ lawyers.

Read more here...

Choosing a Neighborhood

Before deciding on a house, first decide which area is most suitable for you.  Consider the following:  What is the crime rate?  How important is traffic and proximity to schools, shopping and other activities?  Have property values been increasing?  Call me, my job is to know these important neighborhood characteristics.

Check out this article from Realtor.com...

14 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home
August 19, 2013
By:  Realtor.com Team

When you’re buying a home, it’s easy to let emotions get in the way of reality. “Sometimes we want something so badly, we’re not willing to ask all the questions we should,” says Leslie Levine, author of “Will This Place Ever Feel Like Home?” To make sure your dream home isn’t a mirage, follow these 14 tips:

1. Visit at various times of day. The windows that let in so much light during the day may be a peeping Tom’s dream at night. That seemingly quiet residential street may be a noisy, highway-feeder street during morning or evening rush hour. The adjacent school may seem like a nice perk if you’re buying in the summer, but during the school year, daily playground noise and extra traffic may be more than you bargained for.

Continue reading here...

Fixer-Uppers

Is a fixer-upper right for you?  Good deals can be found, but make sure that it will not cost you more in the long run.  A home inspection can help identify both major and minor problems.  Work the repairs into a budget and create a timeline of how and when you want to complete them.  Calculate additional financing for problems found along the way.  Call me, I can help you find the potential in a less than perfect house.

Check out this article from Realtor.com...

FHA 203(k) Loans to Fix Your Home
August 29, 2013
by Realtor.com

Want to buy a fixer-upper or rehab a home you already own? The Federal Housing Administration's 203(k) loans are for houses that are damaged or sorely in need of renovation.

If you’re buying a home, the loan covers the cost of both the property and necessary home repairs. The down payment requirement is low — currently 3.5 percent of the combined price of the home and repairs — and eligibility criteria are loose.

If you own a home that needs help, you can refinance with a 203(k). The loan can cover a vast range of repairs, including room additions, bathroom remodeling, roofing, flooring and air conditioning systems.

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September 2013 Real Estate Review