Multiple offers are multiplying in many areas of the country. That presents opportunities and challenges to sellers. Help clients navigate them by emailing a free article, 6 Tips for Choosing the Best Offer for Your Home, from the REALTOR® Content Resource. It’s one of five free articles now available in the October “Sell Before Snow Hits” article package. Share all five with your clients today! Continue reading »
By Sabine H. Schoenberg, SabinesHomes.com
Unequivocally, the kitchen is …
(1) the most important space in a home today. From a home value perspective this means it is the most important space to get right.
(2) where we all spend our time. Therefore, it is the space you most want to tailor to support you and your family’s lifestyle.
Create your win-win kitchen remodel: Build a fantastic space to live in and add value to your home at the same time — provided you make the right choices for your remodel – small or large. No other space in your home gives a higher return on home improvement dollars.
Here are some important guidelines:
By Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz
Photo credit: Charlene Storozuk, Dezigner Digz
It’s hard to believe that fall is already upon us. Summer may be over, but now is not the time to neglect a home’s exterior, especially if it’s going to soon be listed for-sale this season. Here are a few tips to help you embrace the fall season and keep your property looking its best:
· The most obvious tip: rake up leaves on a frequent basis;
· Inspect your gutters regularly and remove any leaves that get trapped;
· Carry on weeding garden beds and walkways;
· Remove all annual flowers that are no longer blooming and plants that are past their “best before” date. Dead vegetation gives the impression of a home not cared for;
· If you’re experiencing a warm, dry fall in your area, you’ll still need to irrigate your lawn (according to local by-laws of course);
· Fertilize your lawn before the ground freezes (unless you’re lucky enough to live in a year-round warm climate). This will give your grass a head start in the spring. However, check with your local garden center first to find out if this is the right course of action for your particular environment;
· Readjust the timers on outdoor lighting displays since it now gets dark earlier;
· Give your gardens some liveliness by planting fall flowers such as chrysanthemums. Choose a color that compliments the exterior of your home;
· Redesign your urns and flowers pots – it’s time for a fall theme; Continue reading »
The cost of quality stock cabinets for an average-sized kitchen generally runs $8,000 to $10,000, according to consumer website Houselogic. Semi-custom cabinets would cost about twice that, the site reports, and full custom cabinets would cost even more.
Help home owners make such smart choices with stock cabinets that look like they were made to order at an astronomical price. Post to your website a free article, How to Choose Stock Kitchen Cabinets, from REALTOR® Content Resource. It’s one of five free articles now available in the October “Save Big While Boosting Home Value” article package. Continue reading »
Although Americans plan to carve away at their Halloween budget this year — spending an average $75.03, about $5 less than last year, according to the National Retail Federation — overall, spending on Halloween has increased 54.7 percent since 2005. In 2013, Americans are estimated to spend $6.9 billion on décor, costumes, and candy.
With so much invested, it’s a good thing homeowners insurance covers common Halloween mishaps. Post to your blog the not-so-petrifying details in a free article, Homeowners Insurance Protects You from Halloween Horrors, from the REALTOR® Content Resource. It’s one of five free articles now available in the October “Halloween Home Horrors” article package. Continue reading »
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey
You hear the message a lot in the real estate industry: Staging can help get a home sold faster and for more money. But convincing customers of that — particularly if it means fronting some money on their end — is not always easy.
The Real Estate Staging Association, a trade association for the staging industry, recently released some findings from a study using data from January 2012 to December 2012 that back up that message.
RESA studied 89 homes that were previously on the market that were not staged. The unstaged homes remained on the market for 166 days, on average, before the home owners called in a professional stager.
After the homes were staged, the homes received their first offer within 32 days, the study found. What’s more, nine of those homes received multiple offers.
Do your sellers need more convincing? Continue reading »
By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Photo credit: Habitat for Humanity
Homes constructed using passive design principles may soon grow in popularity, thanks to a recently debuted Habitat for Humanity home in Washington, D.C., that proved ultra energy efficient homes can be constructed at an affordable price.
The “net zero” home promises its home owners no heating or cooling bills, ever.
Passive homes follow some of the highest energy standards for slashing utility costs. These homes have lower energy consumption by being super-insulated and airtight. For example, the Habitat for Humanity home uses up to 90 percent less energy for heating and cooling than a typical home.
And the price — unlike many other passive designed homes — is reasonable: $200,000, which fits the typical cost of a Habitat Humanity home in the Washington, D.C., area.
What’s more, the home owners stand to potentially save nearly $72,000 on energy costs over the course of their 30-year mortgage.
Passive homes, in general, usually are about 15 percent more expensive to construct due to special materials.
Homeowners still have time this year to rack up a $200-$500 federal tax credit on new windows and doors, according to consumer website HouseLogic. The key is ensuring they install products that fit the Feds’ exacting standards.
Lead the way to those tax savings by branding, printing, and hand-delivering a free article, Understanding Energy Ratings for Windows and Doors, from the REALTOR® Content Resource. It’s one of five free articles now available in the October “Cooler Weather Prep: Windows and Doors” article package. Continue reading »
By Patti Stern, PJ & Co. Home Styling LLC
When I first met with a recent client, Stuart, he shared memories of raising his family, gatherings with friends, and 23 years in his beautiful 3,200-square-foot contemporary home.
The home offered tremendous open space and wonderful features, but for the past several years, key rooms in the home were converted to Stu’s home office suite. The living and dining room housed desks, chairs, and video editing equipment — an uninviting space for a young family seeking a place to call home and make their own memories.
Real estate professional Ellen Levada of Calcagni in Cheshire, Conn., recommended our staging services to make the home attractive to buyers, get it sold, and for top dollar. With a new home already purchased, Stu was motivated and understood the importance of staging to sell. After our initial meeting, he embraced our proposal to stage 14 rooms and showcase the open floor plan, square footage, and wonderful architectural details of the home.
Home staged by PJ & Co. Home Styling LLC / The open living room offers great windows, high ceilings, and hardwood floors but as an office suite was not going to engage buyers. To show buyers the space potential, stagers removed all of the office furniture and replaced it with appropriate furnishings including a couch, love seat, and tables. We also painted the walls a more modern, neutral color, and accessorized.
Buyers today want move-in condition homes with updated decor that can easily fit their lifestyle and furnishings. Fresh modern paint choices in several of the rooms and new carpeting provided a neutral canvas for furnishings and decor. Our team then transformed 14 rooms in the home in a single day to “wow” buyers and help establish an emotional connection to the space. Continue reading »
Weatherstripping is an easy and cost-effective way for home owners to save money on energy costs and improve comfort by reducing drafts, reports the U.S. Department of Energy. And many home owners install it themselves.
Show your clients how by this free article to your e-newsletter: How to Replace Weather Stripping, from the REALTOR® Content Resource. It’s one of five free articles now available in the September “Maintenance to Do Now” article package. Continue reading »
Recent Comments