Sprucing up for Spring

Are you wanting to spruce up your home this spring?  Here are some quick, inexpensive updates to give your Kitchen and Bath a whole new feel!

Kitchen

• Install new cabinet pulls – A nearly infinite range of styles give you flexibility to transform the feeling of a Kitchen in just an afternoon.

• Paint the walls and ceiling – Priming and painting surfaces that have been absorbing food odors will freshen up the space like nothing else.

• Add under-cabinet lighting – It’s a low cost way to improve prep conditions and add sophistication.

• Upgrade the faucet – If you can match the hole configuration, this is an easy DIY project that boosts both form and function of this workhorse fixture.

Bath

• Update the light fixture – Install a multi-light overhead fixture that better reflects your style, not to mention your mug.

• Dress up a Pedestal Sink – Wrap it in a skirt to conceal your toiletries and waste bin below.  Attach fabric to basin with adhesive-backed Velcro.

• Update the medicine chest – Rather than replace it, apply some fresh paint and new knobs to extend its life.

• Rip out the carpet - If you’re not ready to tile, why not paint the subfloor in a decorative pattern?  It will freshen up the look at a fraction of the cost.

For more DIY tips check out:  DIY Home Upgrades

Or if you are ready to do a major renovation, call me and I can recommend contractors to help make your dreams a reality!

Preparing your home for todays market.

Now that you have decided to put your home on the market, it is time to get your home ready to SHINE!  Here are some easy steps to help your home show its full potential.

1) Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.

·          Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.

·          Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.

·          Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!

·          Say goodbye to every room.

·          Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.

2) De-Personalize.
Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."

3) De-Clutter!
People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.

·                           If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?

·                           Remove all books from bookcases.

·                           Pack up those knickknacks.

·                           Clean off everything on kitchen counters.

·                           Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a    closet when not in use.

·                           Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

4) Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means:

·                           Alphabetize spice jars.

·                           Neatly stack dishes.

·                           Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.

·                           Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.

·                           Line up shoes.

5) Rent a Storage Unit.
Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

6) Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.

7) Make Minor Repairs.

·                           Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.

·                           Patch holes in walls.

·                           Fix leaky faucets.

·                           Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.

·                           Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
(Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")

·                           Replace burned-out light bulbs.

·                           If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!

8) Make the House Sparkle!

·                           Wash windows inside and out.

·                           Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.

·                           Clean out cobwebs.

·                           Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.

·                           Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.

·                           Clean out the refrigerator.

·                           Vacuum daily.

·                           Wax floors.

·                           Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.

·                           Bleach dingy grout.

·                           Replace worn rugs.

·                           Hang up fresh towels.

·                           Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.

·                           Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

9) Scrutinize.

·                           Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?

·                           Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.

·                           Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.

·                           Make sure window coverings hang level.

·                           Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?

·                           Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.

10) Check Curb Appeal.
If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.

·                           Keep the sidewalks cleared.

·                           Mow the lawn.

·                           Paint faded window trim.

·                           Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.

·                           Trim your bushes.

·                           Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

This is also where my expertise comes into play.  I have helped many people just like you get their home ready to sell.  Let me come in and help you decide what needs to be done to sell your home in the shortest amount of time.  Give me a call at 317.558.7835 today and lets get your home sold!

With Nancy, You Get Mutchmore!

Pricing it right the first time around.

“In a real estate man's eye, the most expensive part of the city is where he has a house to sell”

While your home may seem priceless to you, a buyer does not see it in the same light.  You see all the memories had with loved ones; buyers see a blank slate ready to be made their own.
Today’s market is very price driven.  Pricing your home too high in today’s market could severely hurt your chances of selling.  Remember this, a higher list price does not always mean a higher sale price.

Buyers are savvy. Technology allows them to search the local MLS, research the latest trends, and even see how your neighborhood's prices have changed over the last 30 days. They will know if your home is overpriced. It is best to error on the side of too little than too much in this numbers game. If you price your home right, however, you're sure to find a ready and willing buyer.

Consider these points when thinking about selling your home:

The Area: What are homes like yours selling for? Comparables can be found by analyzing nearby that homes have similar square footage, upgrades, and amenities. If a comparable home sold for $150,000, there's little chance you'll find a buyer willing to pay $180,000 for your overpriced home. You always want to be the least expensive home in the neighborhood, when it comes to selling, not the most! Everybody loves a deal.

Don’t be greedy: A well-priced home is sure to get more showings than a home that costs more than the competition. More showings mean more exposure, which ups the chances of you receiving an offer.

How Bad You Need to Sell: This is the real kicker. Some homeowners want to sell, but they don't need to. That means they can wait out a down market, or even wait for the "perfect" buyer. If, however, you find yourself needing to move across town, or across the state, then you will have to be more willing in today's market to compromise. And compromise is all about price when it comes to real estate.

Using my expertise of the Indianapolis market, I can help you determine the best price to list your home at to ensure a sale.  The information I provide you will help you receive the highest sale price in the lowest number of days one the market.

Now that you know what you need to price your home for sale, it is time to get it ready to put on the market.  Next week we will supply you with 10 things to help your home shine.