Home Sales Archives - Sandra Meranda

March 29, 2022 by changescapeweb

7 Simple Tips to Prepare Your Home to Sell

Selling a home can be stressful anytime, but springtime might be perfect for preparing your home to sell. The cold winter months are behind us, and warmer temperatures make it easier to get your home ready to put on the market. Setting your home apart from the competition and getting top dollar means making a great first impression.

Most buyers are looking for neutral colors, clean lines, and open spaces. You want your home to feel spacious, bright, clean, and move-in ready. Here are seven tips to prepare your home when it’s time to sell.

1. Freshen Up Your Curb Appeal

Buyers start judging your home before they walk through the front door. If your mailbox has seen better days, replace it. A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive way to update a tired front door. Adding colorful plantings and new mulch to flower beds will brighten the front yard. If your home’s siding is dirty, power washing removes pollen, dust, and mildew stains and will make it look new again.

2. Make Minor Repairs

If you’ve lived in your home for a while, there are probably several issues you’ve learned to live with, such as chipped or faded paint, missing fence boards, leaky faucets, and flickering lights. Potential buyers will notice these minor problems and may assume there are more significant problems to uncover. Making a few inexpensive repairs sends the message that your home is well cared for and move-in ready.

3. Declutter and Organize

Clutter is distracting to buyers as they attempt to imagine living in a home. Overcrowded closets and cabinets convey that your home doesn’t have adequate storage. Remove anything you don’t need from cupboards and cabinets and organize the rest. Excess furniture makes rooms feel smaller and reduces flow. You want to project a sense of roominess and plenty of storage space.

4. Deep Clean

Cleaning your house before it goes on the market is an essential task. Set aside several days to tackle the job or hire a professional to thoroughly clean from top to bottom. The kitchen and bathrooms need to be immaculate. Wash all windows both inside and out. Thoroughly vacuum or shampoo carpets if necessary. A bright, spotless home will look appealing and well-maintained.

5. Remove Personal Items

Potential buyers need to be able to visualize their family living in your house. Remove personal items, including family photos, knickknacks, family heirlooms, scattered toys, and other belongings that could distract potential buyers. While a few decorative items are fine, too many are distracting. The goal is to create a neutral look that allows people to see a clean slate they could make their own.

6. Touch Up and Repaint

Go room by room, and if you have any bold or bright colors, repaint with a white or light neutral color. White paint makes rooms look larger, brighter and appeals to most home buyers. Touch up any smudged or dirty areas, including doors, baseboards, and trim. A fresh coat of paint is a relatively inexpensive way to make a home look clean, fresh, and move-in ready.

7. Don’t Over Invest In Expensive Remodeling Projects

Increasing home value and getting a significant return on your investment isn’t the same thing. The most recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) remodeling impact report reveals that homeowners who invested in expensive upscale kitchen remodels only recouped 53-58% of the cost when they sold. Far less costly kitchen upgrades realized a 77% return on investment. If you’re remodeling in hopes of recouping the cost when you sell, it’s essential to work with an experienced local realtor. They’ll know what homebuyers in your market are willing to pay for when searching for a new home.

The Bottom Line

Properly preparing your home is critical if you want to sell fast and for top dollar. If you’re unsure where to start, work with an experienced real estate professional. They’ll be able to assess your home and give you expert advice on the best ways to prepare your home before placing it on the market.

March 4, 2022 by changescapeweb

9 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Creating a great first impression starts from the outside. If a home has good curb appeal, that means it’s attractive to the eye and inspires confidence. Curb appeal is an effective way to get potential buyers in the door. Great curb appeal helps sell a home faster and often for more money because of its positive impact on buyers.

Even in today’s low-inventory housing market, it’s essential to evaluate your home’s curb appeal before putting it on the market. Not putting some effort into ensuring your home’s exterior looks its best can deter potential buyers and drive down the perceived value of your home. It often doesn’t take much time or money to improve your home’s curb appeal.

Nine Ways to Improve Your Curb Appeal

1. Declutter and Clean
Keep your driveway, walkways, and lawn free of unnecessary clutter. Gather and store toys, yard tools, old newspapers, garden hoses, and excessive lawn ornaments. Simplify so that your home’s architecture and landscaping are what people notice.

2. Wash the Siding and Windows
If your home’s exterior is dirty, use a pressure washer to remove dust, grime, mold, mildew, and algae stains from the siding. Make sure to thoroughly clean windows both inside and out. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to ensure your windows are free from streaks, dirt, and dust.

3. Upgrade Your Mailbox
If your mailbox has seen better days, replace it. Choose a mailbox that blends in with others in your neighborhood. Add flowers at the base for a pop of color. Remember to place easy-to-read house numbers on the new mailbox.

4. Replace Your House Numbers
Nothing is more frustrating than not being able to locate an address when you’re house hunting. If your house numbers are faded, too small, or out of style, replace them. Look for modern house numbers made from aluminum, brass, or steel. If possible, match the finish on your home’s exterior light fixtures.

5. Prune Trees and Shrubs
Overgrown yards not only block the view of a home, but they also look uninviting to neighbors and potential buyers. Overgrown landscaping can damage the siding on your home and act as a natural bridge for squirrels, raccoons, and mice that might try to gain access to your home. To keep your home from looking unkempt, regularly trim shrubs and trees.

6. Clean Driveways and Sidewalks
Too often, it’s easy to focus on the landscaping and forget about the hardscape areas, including concrete sidewalks and driveways. Use a pressure washer to clean off dirt and grime and give these areas a fresh, clean appearance. Ensure paver stones, stepping stones, or bricks are secure and create safe footing for visitors walking to and from your home.

7. Stage Your Front Entrance
Your home’s front entrance is the focal point of your curb appeal. Thoroughly clean the entrance and add a new doormat. Make a statement by giving your front door a fresh coat of paint. If your door is outdated or damaged, replace it with a new entry door. Liveable outdoor space is in high demand. If you have a front porch, add furniture to create a welcoming atmosphere. Even a small chair or table can boost an entrance area’s curb appeal.

8. Replace or Paint Shutters
Shutters are a focal point on homes, so paint or replace them if yours are faded, chipped, or look outdated. Updating your shutters with a fresh coat of paint will give your home an instant upgrade for minimal cost. Replacing dated or damaged shutters is a low-cost upgrade that will instantly improve your home’s appearance.

9. Clean and Repair the Roof and Gutters
Your roof makes up a large percentage of your home’s exterior. If your roof is damaged, dirty, or missing shingles, it can hurt the value of your home. Sometimes a thorough cleaning and minor repairs are all that is needed to make your roof look new again. Make sure gutters are clean and properly attached to your home as well.

First Impressions Matter in Real Estate
You only get one chance to make a first impression. Buyers often assume that a home with good curb appeal has been well maintained and is worth more than similar homes. A few simple upgrades can improve your home’s curb appeal and make it more appealing to prospective buyers when it’s time to sell your home.

August 6, 2017 by changescapeweb

10 Changes to Make in Your Home as You Age

Changes to Make in Your Home

When many people buy a home, they plan to live in it for many years. Unfortunately, as the years pass homes, and people, tend to age. Mobility issues, disabilities, and illnesses all have an effect on your everyday living. In fact, you’ll see many ADA compliant housing making it’s way onto the market to tempt seniors and others living with disabilities.

Think ahead to ensure your home has the modifications you’ll need as you age. Read on for the top 10 changes you should consider making to your home to make living in it easier.

1. Safe Flooring

When looking into changing your home, it’s good to start small. Safer flooring is a great place for seniors to starts, as they can make most of the changes on their own. Create a hazard free flooring when you remove throw rugs and other items that could cause trips and falls. Low pile carpets or hard floors that flow from room to room are the best options.

2. Lever Door Handles

Another small change that can make a big difference are door handles. Seniors who suffer from poor grip strength or arthritis often have difficulties with round knobs. Instead, install door handles that can simply be pushed to open.

3. Grab Bars

Grab bars are among the most popular accessories to install in showers and bathrooms. They help you maneuver yourself and steady your during transitional poses. If you don’t need grab bars now, having extra backing in your walls ensures they can easily be installed if you need them later.

4. Walk in Showers

While some houses come with tubs in every room, walk-in showers can be critical for seniors who have a hard time raising their legs. Removing tubs and installing showers instead makes it easier for anyone to get in and out.

5. Built in Shower Seat

You can make showering even easier by installing a built-in shower seat when you change out your shower. Proving a place to rest decreases the chance of falls and creates a safer space to wash yourself in.

6. Lower Countertops

Changes to Make in Your Home

The kitchen is one place many people forget when making changes to their home. Adding in countertops at different heights, offers you the flexibility to work while sitting or standing.

7. Lower Cabinets | Higher Drawers

In addition to height appropriate counter tops, having drawers and cabinets within arms reach reduces fatigue while working in the kitchen. No need to bend down low or stretch too high to get what you need.

8. Wheelchair & Walker Accessible

Whether it’s the entrance to your home, hallways between rooms, or door frames, you should make sure that every part of your home allows space for walkers and wheelchairs. Fitting through hallways and doors shouldn’t be a struggle for those who need walking assistance.

Making the Right Changes

Whether you’re a senior who’s considering changing their home or you’re hosting an aging parent for long periods of time, using this list to make your home easier to navigate will help. Talk to friends and family about making these changes or reach out to a licensed contractor today.

Author Bio:

Shirley Moore is a former general contractor and freelance writer newly based in Miami, Florida. She got her license at Contractors License Resource Group, but turned to writing to educate her community about home safety. When she’s not writing, Shirley offers local construction consulting services.

Images:

August 1, 2017 by changescapeweb

FSBO’s Don’t Know They Are Taking Serious Risks

No one knows the business better than a real estate agent and selling a home isn’t easy without one. Those who forego selling a home without an agent are exposing him or herself to many possible risks.

Agents can help break down the selling process, so you understand it and are prepared for the next steps to come; such as the time needed for properly showing your home and getting it prepared for presentation to potential buyers. As a homeowner, you need an agent to help you comprehend the complex home selling market and to market your home for the best curb appeal. This is where you as a homeowner can be less successful, attempting to sell your home on your own.

Other important roles that real estate agents offer are negotiation experience, inspection and repair know-how, transaction management and closing finesse. All risks that you take if you defer the best option for you – getting a real estate agent to assist you in selling your home. Contact us today to guarantee you will avoid these risks.

For more information and to read more of this article, click on the link: Article from: https://www.inman.com/2017/07/26/8-things-homesellers-risk-when-they-sell-without-a-real-estate-agent/?utm_source=weeklyheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sundaysend&utm_content=20170728_hero

Article by Cara Ameer

P.S. Real estate is really booming this summer! Homes are selling fast & for the highest prices in years. It is a great time to put your home on the market. It is a super time for buyers to buy while interest rates are still low. Don’t miss out on your dream home.

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June 13, 2017 by changescapeweb

10 Reasons Why For-Sale-By-Owners (FSBOs) Fail!

Homeowners trying to sell their homes on their own — for-sale-by-owners (FSBOs) — are driven by several reasons. Although most of them want to save money that they would have otherwise spent on real estate commissions, a few others take the FSBO route because they feel they don’t need a professional to sell their home.

Whatever the reason for attempting to sell solo might be, data from a National Association of Realtors survey shows that less than 10 percent of all home sales are FSBOs.

Top reasons why FSBOs fail in real estate

There are a lot of reasons why For-Sale-By-Owners fail and do not sell. Some of the top among these are:

1. Too many people to negotiate with

Those deciding to take the FSBO route often have to negotiate with many people. Some of them are likely to be:

The buyer, seeking the best possible deal.
The buyer’s agent, who represents the buyer’s best interest.
The buyer’s attorney (in some regions of the nation).
Home inspection companies, working for the buyer, which are likely to find some problem or the other with the house.
Your bank, in case it’s a short sale.
The appraiser, if the home’s value needs to be assessed.

Without the help of experienced real estate agents, dealing with so many different parties alone is often a tough task for homeowners.

2. Homeowners do not know how to prepare the home for sale

A majority of homeowners don’t know about the prelisting tasks that FSBOs should do before they list their home for sale. These usually include:

Decluttering.
Painting the rooms with a fresh coat of paint.
Getting necessary repairs done.
Getting the home floors and carpets cleaned by professionals.
Ensuring curb appeal of the home.
Replacing outdated light fixtures.

Because homes for sale by owners just have one chance to impress potential buyers, neglecting these home sale preparation tips often reduces the homeowners’ chances of selling the house.

3. Owners do not know how to screen potential buyers

FSBOs often have no idea about the difference between prequalification and preapproval, and they don’t know that buyers should ideally be preapproved or at least prequalified.

No wonder they let unqualified buyers inspect the house and waste their precious time. Not knowing if a buyer has the ability to purchase the home acts as a big deterrent for homes for sale by owners.

4. Owners fail to solve buyer’s queries

Handling inquiries from buyers on their listings and coordinating showings for their homes are prerequisites for making a sale. However, many homeowners either aren’t able to handle such inquiries on their homes or don’t have the time for them.

Even organizing showings might become an uphill task at times. Because these days potential buyers and their agents want quick responses to their inquiries, they don’t think twice before moving on to the next potential property if their inquiries and requests are unanswered.

5. Owners don’t understand the concept of ‘golden time’

According to this concept, homeowners get the most money for their homes in the first week of putting the property on the market. The longer FSBO homes stay on the market, the less money people will be willing to offer for them.

If a seller tries FSBO before hiring an agent, the seller loses the “golden time” window. This will eliminate buyers who have already viewed the home and might have made a reasonable offer — but have already moved on.

6. Owners fail to understand the contract procedures

The contract to buy a home involves much more than just the price offered by the buyer. Also, real estate contracts have lots of timelines and clauses and involve several common contract contingencies, such as inspections and mortgages.

Many FSBOs don’t have a firm understanding of such contracts and might not know what they are agreeing to or how to negotiate particular parts of the contract.

7. FSBOs don’t know how to handle the home inspection findings

Home inspections almost always find some issues with houses even when they are relatively newer structures. In such cases, the buyer requests problems be fixed or corrected before moving forward with the transaction.

However, many FSBOs believe that there is nothing wrong with their home, which is why they refuse to address the issues brought forward by home inspections. As a result, the offer falls through.

8. FSBOs incorrectly price their homes

FSBOs often price their homes incorrectly due to lack of experience. They set the price too high, which hinders their chances of closing the deal.

9. FSBO homes lack exposure

Homes for sale by owners are often listed on a few websites, but there are many that don’t allow FSBOs to list their property. Thus, FSBOs are unable to give their homes adequate exposure in the market.

However, when sellers hire a real estate agent, the professional can give a property comprehensive online exposure as well as exposure in the local real estate segment of the newspaper. The agent even has tools to extend the exposure further, which FSBOs don’t have.

10. FSBOs fail in the closing process

Even after an offer is accepted, many things still need to be done prior to the closing. For instance:

Get the inspections completed within the allotted time.
Ensure the attorney(s) approve contracts.
Ensure that instrument survey is ordered.
Check if the buyer has obtained written mortgage commitment.
Find out if title work is reviewed.
Learn whether abstract is redated.

With so many things acting against FSBOs, it’s natural to find very few homes for sale by owners in the market.

Cheryl Jensen is a writer at Total Atlanta Realty. You can follow her on Twitter & Facebook or Email Cheryl Jensen

Article from: https://www.inman.com/2015/07/20/10-reasons-why-for-sale-by-owners-fsbos-fail/

Article image credited to Olivier Le Queinec / Shutterstock.com

P.S. Real estate is really booming this Summer! Homes are selling fast & for the highest prices in years. It is a great time to put your home on the market. It is a super time for buyers to buy while interest rates are still low. Don’t miss out on your dream home. Call me for details today! (314) 691-1320