In the past few weeks, the topic of what to do with pets when selling your house has come up with both Realtors and home sellers.  If you are a pet owner, you know the importance of your pet within your own family.  Unfortunately, not everyone is going to feel the way you do about cute little Fluffy; most certainly those that are not animal lovers, and probably not even those that are fond of animals.

(more…)

So you’ve made all your repairs and spiffed up the landscaping now you’re ready for the spring market!  What’s next?  GET THE WORD OUT!  How are you going to let people know you have this great product to sell?   One of the biggest lead generators and marketing tools is Craigslist.  If you do it right your phone will ring.

(more…)

I’ve said it before, but it is worth repeating: if you are selling your home, you need to get it ready to sell.  This involves the basics such as deep cleaning, de-cluttering, repairing and painting, but you will also need to invest some money to make sure your home is updated. 

Light fixtures need to be current and worn furniture recovered or replaced.  Do not neglect the added touches that make a house a home – decorative pillows, luxurious throws, warm candle lighting, fresh towels, plush bedding and fresh flowers.

So where do I go for these items that won’t break the bank for my clients? 

(more…)

I went to a seminar in mid November about how to utilize ordinary items and odds and ends in creative ways to beautifully decorate for the holidays.  It inspired me to do a few things different from how I have decorated my home in prior years.  In the past I have packed EVERY decorative item in my home away to make room for all my cute and festive holiday things.  This year, I decided to only pack away some of my everyday pieces, and instead use them as part of my holiday decor.

  (more…)

If you are thinking about selling in the next 2-3 years there are some projects that you should NOT do you won’t see a return on your investment.  If you are planning on staying in your home for at least the next 5 years or longer then these improvements are okay for your enjoyment, but may not ever bring monetary value.

You need to make sure you ask your self these important questions.  How long am I planning on staying in this home?  Am I comfortable with the house as is?  How much is the improvement going to cost?  Is it worth my investment?

Functional Obsolescence in the real estate industry this is something done to a home that changes the function and decreases value.  People do it all the time and when buyers see some of these things they run rather than write.

(more…)