By Patti Stern, PJ & Co. Home Styling
Fifteen seconds. That’s how long a home for sale has to make a good first impression. And, that’s if you can get today’s sophisticated buyers off their mobile device and to the front door. More than 90 percent of home buyers search for a home online, making it more important than ever for a home’s listing photos alone to capture buyer interest.
Home owners who have finally made a decision to sell their home may not be thinking about updating and remodeling. But staging — coupled with remodeling — are important considerations in a home selling strategy and an investment in getting top dollar for a home.
Even modest updates preserve the equity a family has built in their home. Ultimately, the cost to update something in their home before it goes on the market will be less than the price reduction buyers will expect as compensation for out-of-date rooms.
Older homes, in particular, may require improvements in key rooms such as kitchens or baths to meet today’s buyer demand for a move-in ready home.
We transformed this bathroom … Continue reading »
By Ryan West, First Texan Realty
Smartphones have become a standard tool for a majority of people. When presenting a home to a potential customer, we must now consider an extra home presentation factor: signal strength.
Lead Paint
According to the EPA, “most homes built before 1960 contain heavily leaded paint”. While lead paint was banned in 1977, home owners are encouraged to not remove any lead paint that is in good condition. Lead paint is known to cause electromagnetic interference that will affect signal strength. Walk through different rooms and see if you experience any dramatic loss of signal. If you suspect lead paint may be causing an issue, I suggest hiring a professional to remove it.
Construction Materials
If you notice a decrease in cellular signal strength when you enter a home, the materials used in the construction of the home may be the culprits. Continue reading »
By Ross Donald, LightingSale.com
If you are getting ready to stage your home for selling you’re probably already thinking of ways to maximize the value of your home and make it as appealing as possible to your potential buyers. Making effective use of light fixtures and lighting schemes will help you reach that goal.
By Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz
Spring is in the air in some parts of Canada and the U.S., although it hasn’t quite reached my little corner of the world yet. This is the time of year when thoughts turn to spring cleaning; whether or not you’re selling your home. Of course, if you are listing anytime soon, you’ll want to be even more meticulous.
The busy spring market will be upon us before you know it, so here are some tips for getting the exterior of your home shipshape: Continue reading »
By Tim Richmond, guest contributor
Flooring is a major component of a house — and its real estate value.
Whether it’s carpet, tile, marble, or hardwood, the flooring of the home serves as an important financial and practical asset. Quality flooring can increase the home’s value, and it’s vital to take proper care of it.
Some ways to accomplish this:
By Ken Torrino
Every year, when January rolls around, we make a resolution regarding our diet or spending to live out a better year. So often we let the needs of our home slip through our mind, but a home could use some New Year’s resolutions too!
In 2013, home renovation is focused on improving safety and efficiency in the home. Whether you are in a high-end market like New York City real estate or not, a home can become even more valuable with home renovations.
Here are some suggestions for a few New Year’s resolutions to increase energy efficiency for homes in 2013. Continue reading »
By Ed Michelson, HomeVestors of America Inc.
Saving money on energy costs is always a good investment. With winter fast approaching, it is that time of year when families must determine how much they want to spend on energy costs. There are, however, some simple tricks to cut costs while turning up the heat.
By Stephen Jones, DIYTools.co.uk
People generally love a beautiful new kitchen. With state of the art appliances, they feel as though they are master chefs in the comfort of their own homes. However, many people also remodel their kitchens to improve the resale value of their homes. Perhaps they plan to sell in the near future, or they just want to be prepared for down the road. In any case, be sure to follow these do’s and don’ts of kitchen remodeling.
Don’t Go Crazy with the Refinance!
One idea home owners might have is to refinance their home with a cash-out option and then use that money to rebuild the kitchen. However, this might wind up just letting them break even. Continue reading »
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