Home Selling Archives - Sandra Meranda

August 22, 2022 by changescapeweb

The Importance of Online Curb Appeal

online real estate listing

Most people know that curb appeal or a home’s exterior appearance can enhance the chances of selling a home at the best price possible. Not everyone understands how important it is to create online curb appeal in today’s digital world. With more potential buyers searching for homes online, how you present your home in online listings is more important than ever before. Follow these tips to improve your home’s online curb appeal.

1. Declutter and Clean

The same rules for traditional open houses apply in the virtual world. Decluttering and cleaning is the first step to improving online curb appeal. Rooms with minimal clutter and furnishings appear more spacious in photos and videos. Removing highly personal artwork, photographs, and collectibles is important. This helps potential buyers see your home’s features and imagine their family living in your house. The goal is to make your home look bright, clean, and spacious.

2. Optimize Your Layout

Too much furniture or the wrong layout can make your home look small and cramped in photos. Snap a few test photos to see if your current layout photographs well. If you’re planning to create a video tour, do a video chat walkthrough with a friend to see if you have a clear walking path between your furniture pieces. You don’t want to bump into furniture or trip over rugs while doing a live tour.

3. Hire a Professional Photographer

Your cell phone photos aren’t the best choice when it’s time to sell the most significant investment you own. Unless you are a skilled photographer, it’s worth the money to hire a professional to take the photos. A professional knows how to light interior and exterior shots and can use photo editing software to make every photo look its best online.

4. Write a Compelling Description

High-quality photos aren’t enough. The description accompanying your listing is equally important. Describe what readers can’t see in pictures or elaborate on what they can see. Mention specific appliance brands and upgrades and describe your home’s noteworthy features, whether it’s an updated kitchen, a beautiful view, or access to a community swimming pool.

5. Create a 3D Virtual Tour

A virtual tour is a must-have and will likely help your listing get more views and saves. Virtual home tours make listings more interesting and memorable. Data collected between April 2022 and June 2022 showed that, on average, listings with a Zillow 3D Home® tour got 68% more views than listings without virtual tours.

Talk to a Real Estate Professional

Selling your home begins with your online listing. Improving your home’s online curb appeal will go a long way to attracting potential buyers and selling your home at top dollar. Talk to a local real estate professional when you’re ready to put your home on the market. They can advise you on the best ways to market your home and can provide helpful information every step of the way. If you’re ready to sell, contact Sandra Meranda at 314-691-1320 for a free market analysis of your home.

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.

May 12, 2020 by changescapeweb

Get Top Price for Your Home By Decorating It to Sell

Decorating your home may be a great way to show your taste and standard, but another use of home décor is to add detail and make it look trendy enough to be able to ask a higher price for your home.

The following are amazingly clever, but easy ways to get a better financial return for your house should you decide to sell it:

Replace out of date tiles or use marble
When planning to sell a home that’s been around for some years, replacing worn-out tiles or changing it to marble floors in your kitchen can give it a huge upgrade to a more elegant and expensive look. Even just using it sparingly on a spot like the baking area, is enough to transform that part of the floor.

Pick a harmonious Color Scheme
Pick a color that can tie everything together. Transform any room by giving it a new splash of color. Use creams and beiges to make it look more extravagant. Light colors can make a room feel larger than it is. If you prefer to use dark color themes, then go for greys and black. Using textured wallpaper can also help you achieve that classy makeover on a small budget.
Choosing rugs and curtains that go well together, can also help you get cohesion that subconsciously signals harmony and luxury.

Lighting
Lighting is a great way to add atmosphere and improve the look of your home. Choose a focal point in the room and install a dimmer to create a luxurious atmosphere. Remove any furniture that may be blocking the natural light from coming in. Add lamps in dark spaces. You may have an expensive home, but if you can’t see the beauty of it, then the beauty will go unnoticed.

Try to get light fixtures that are not the cheapest or from the nearest IKEA, so you won’t have one that looks the same in a nearby house. Remember, people who look for houses usually have several choices for a future home, so it is highly likely for them to see fixtures or décor that they’ve already seen somewhere else.

Stick to Minimalism
It seems nice to keep on buying “stuff” for your home, but some items you won’t need for the long-term and will only take up space. Too much décor can actually make your home look less attractive, not more.

Keep entryways clutter-free. Entryways are one of the first areas of a house that can make a good impression. It should always be clean, spacious and organized for first-time guests to have that feeling that they’re stepping into that perfect home.

Use a minimalist shoe rack to organize shoes and avoid clutter. A messy space will only keep your home from looking attractive.

Hang Unique Wall Pieces
Try hanging a Tapestry to a bare wall. Adding this décor will give your room a different look, with a minimalist statement. Any unique wall décor piece like frames and DIY art, will look great as long as it is properly placed.

If you want to make your home look more upgraded & attractive, make it look “intentional” that you wanted it to look that way. Use furniture, home accessories, and meaningful pieces that match well, to make it look like you put in the effort to make it that perfect home for a lucky buyer!

December 18, 2019 by changescapeweb

4 Staging Strategies to Help You Sell Your Home Faster This Winter

Source: Unsplash

When you decide that you’re ready to sell your home and relocate, many people will advise you to wait until the weather gets a little warmer before listing it on the market. But should you really hold off until the holidays are over if you know that you want to move? Although it goes against popular wisdom, showing your home to prospective buyers during the winter months actually has some unexpected advantages.

According to Frederick Real Estate, fewer people selling their homes at this time of year means less competition for you, and everyone from real estate agents to contractors will have more room in their schedules to accommodate your needs. However, you might need to put a little more thought into staging and dealing with harsh weather. These tips will help you stage your home during the colder months to increase your curb appeal and impress potential buyers.

Keep an Eye on the Weather

Hazardous winter weather can present some additional challenges to both buyers and sellers. Before any buyers come by, make sure that walkways are clear of snow, ice, mud, and leaves — you don’t want anyone slipping and falling on their way to the house.

The weather can also be a concern on your own moving day. If you’re moving in the winter, trying to drive a large truck by yourself might not be advisable — let an experienced crew who knows how to navigate in inclement weather handle those responsibilities. Carefully research local moving companies and read over reviews. You can’t control the elements, but you can choose how you deal with the circumstances!

Add a Pop of Color

The dreary winter weather might not provide the most attractive backdrop to your home. However, you can create some contrast with a few pops of color. If you’re planning on decorating outside for the holiday season, keep it simple and make sure that your brightly colored decor complements the hues of your home’s siding. A new coat of paint on the mailbox and even an eye-catching set of house numbers can work wonders. Toss a cute welcome mat down and hang a wreath on the door to liven things up a bit.

Fresh Paint Job

Sometimes, a fresh outdoor paint job is just what your home needs for wintertime curb appeal. Check it out from the street yourself, and get a second opinion from a friend – if the consensus is that it looks a little drab, it’s time for a touch-up. You don’t need to paint the entire house. Repainting the window shutters and the front door is a quicker, more cost-effective option. Got a window box? Give it a fresh coat, too. Lowes also recommends looking into an exterior garage makeover; don’t ignore this important section of the house! Your goal is to make your home look like an inviting oasis despite the cold climate, and a basic paint job is key.

The Right Lighting

When it comes to your home’s interior, the right lighting can make all the difference, especially since the sun sets earlier this time of year. Ensure that all the lighting in the kitchen is bright enough for cooking and entertaining. Change the bulbs in bedside lamps, and consider a floor lamp for your living room. Wall-mounted lighting in hallways can also look elegant. You might even want to install an outdoor lamp by your front door to give your porch a warm glow.

Selling your home during the fall or winter might seem like a risky choice, but you might be surprised by how quickly you find a buyer. It’s all about considering the presentation from the buyer’s point of view and getting the aesthetics just right. And when your staging choices help you clinch that sale, you can ring in the New Year by celebrating as you put up that “Sold” sign.