Nov 21, 2013 | Home Seller Tips
The weather is starting to become a little too crisp for outdoor barbecues and camping. When Mother Nature goes into hibernation, then it’s time to move the party indoors.
Whether you’re looking to show off your new digs or have just listed your home on the market, winter is the perfect time to host an open house.
You want this to be a fun event that is as stress-free as possible. So plan ahead and don’t go too crazy. With a little furniture rearranging and a casual menu, you can plan a special evening that everyone will enjoy. Below are a few party tips to help get you organized.
Invitations
Get personal and send out invitations — not just an Evite. Hand-deliver them around your neighborhood. If you’re listing your home for sale, then give a stack to your real estate agents to pass along to other brokers that might have interested clients.
Clearly print a start and finish time to the open house. You don’t want strangers outstaying their welcome.
Furniture Arrangement
Hosting a festive get-together requires some furniture rearranging. You want to have open floor space for mingling that is interspersed with seating areas. It might be wise to declutter by putting some of your larger furniture in the basement.
Lighting
Try to use as little overhead lighting as possible. Turn on lamps in each room, especially around seating areas. Light unscented candles in places that are clear of accidental bumping. This will create soft, cozy glow within your home.
Food And Drink
Keep the food and drink simple. Warm apple cider and coffee along with appetizers and dessert should be sufficient. Also, place your buffet at the end of one a room, so it doesn’t block any entryways. Put the bar close to the entrance, so guests can grab a drink in case you’re occupied and can’t introduce them around.
A winter open house is the perfect way to surround yourself with all you favorite people. Or, it can be the best method for highlighting a house you’re hoping to sell. Follow the tips above to create a fun and cozy atmosphere that makes everyone feel right at home.
Nov 5, 2013 | Home Seller Tips
In some ways, selling vacant land is no different from selling a home. You still have to prepare it for sale, and you still need to make it look as good as possible. This process of cleaning and beautifying is called staging. Here are a few tips for staging your land.
- De-Clutter. Your buyer wants to actually see your vacant land, and clutter only blocks their vision. Remove fallen tree branches, trash, and junk like car parts and damaged buildings. Cut back large brush. Clear paths so potential buyers can easily walk around the property.
- Highlight the positive features. Do you have a section where birds like to feed? Keep it stocked with bird feeders. Is there a section filled with colorful wildflowers? Don’t cut down this section when you mow. Does a group of trees form a canopy? Place a picnic table under their shade. Point out these positive features to your buyers.
- Make minor improvements. Repair any damaged section of fence around your property. Dig a pond and use the dirt to fill low areas so they are level with the rest of your land. Keep the grass mowed. These small efforts can make the difference between whether or not a buyer chooses your property.
- Mark property boundaries. When you’re looking at vacant land, it’s difficult to see the difference between 5, 10, or more acres. At the very least, you should place stakes (like those used by a surveyor) to show where the property begins and ends. Your buyers will want to know exactly what they are purchasing.
Make sure your vacant land is ready to sell. Let me help you sell your property fast and for top dollar. Call your trusted real estate professional today.
Nov 1, 2013 | Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips
It never fails. After a potential buyer’s home inspection of what is otherwise the perfect property, there are issues that require the seller’s attention. Whether it is a faulty furnace, double tapped electric circuit breaker, rotten steps or mold, inspection defects like these can bring a screeching halt to the simplest of transactions.
A home buyer has the right to expect certain defects to be addressed by a seller, and often a seller will give a concession by reducing the sale price or providing a closing cost credit. But when a concession is not an option, a seller can always agree to repair or correct the defects at the seller’s expense prior to closing. (more…)
Oct 24, 2013 | Home Seller Tips
Are you trying to sell your home and finding that it is not selling very well? This might be due to a number of reasons that you can’t control, such as its location or the fact that the home layout is somewhat unusual.
If you are struggling to sell your home, there is one factor that you can alter that might change things – the price.
Many homeowners are reluctant to lower the price of their home, because it feels somewhat like a defeat. However, while you want to make as much money from your house sale as possible – it is better to sell your home at a slightly cheaper price than to let it sit on the market for a long time.
Have You Had Many Lookers, But No Buyers?
If you have had many people come to look at your home, but no one place an offer, this might be a sign that your price is too high. These lookers might be interested in your home, but are waiting for the price to fall before they would consider buying it.
How Long Has Your Home Been On The Market?
Has your house been on the market for more days than the average for your particular neighborhood? If it has, this might be due to the price. Letting your home sit on the market for a long time is not such a good idea, because buyers will start to wonder what is wrong with it. This can turn people off and delay your sale even further.
Do You Have A Deadline?
Perhaps you have a job offer in another city or you have already purchased another home, so you need to sell your house ASAP. In this case, dropping your price a little bit can be a great way to generate buyer interest and get the home sold. Remember – it doesn’t matter how much you need the money, a home is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it.
These are a few situations where you might want to consider reducing the price of your property. To find out more about selling your home, contact your trusted real estate professional.
Oct 16, 2013 | Home Seller Tips
You might love your furry friends, but are their pet odors turning off potential buyers when you are trying to sell your home?
Many cat and dog owners are around their animal companions so often that they become immune to the smell and don’t notice it in their home, so you might not even realize that your home smells of pet odor.
However, when you are selling your property first impressions are very important and if a potential buyer gets a whiff of pet odors when they walk in the door this can really make them lose interest in your property.
Ask your real estate agent for an honest opinion. If they say that you have a problem, here are some ways that you can freshen up your house without getting rid of Fluffy or Fido.
- Air everything out. Open up all of the windows to let the fresh air come in from outside and sweep away all stuffiness and smells.
- Wash the floors and the walls with vinegar, floor cleaner or an odor-neutralizing cleaning product. You can find pet-specific cleaning products at pet supply stores.
- Pet smells can seep into fabrics, so steam clean or dry clean your fabric drapes and upholstery.
- Washing blankets and bedding in a mix of laundry detergent and a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar can help to remove the smells.
- Before showing off your home, have your carpets professionally cleaned so that all of the deep-down dog hair and cat dander will be removed.
- When potential buyers come over, you can place potpourri or scented candles around the room in strategic locations. However, be careful that you don’t go overboard as some people are sensitive to strong perfumes.
- Keep your pet contained to one section of the house to make cleaning easier and keep the rest of the house smelling fresh. If at all possible, have your pet stay with a friend when the home is being shown.
With these tips, you should be able to present a fresh-smelling first impression to anyone who comes to view your home. For more information about selling your property, contact your trusted real estate professional.
