Hampton Roads Real Estate BlogRecently posted or modified blog posts in the category - Selling a Homehttps://www.treg.com/blog/Copyright TREG.com2022-06-30T05:22:48-07:00tag:treg.com,2012-09-20:12407Spring Home Selling Tips<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1367/image/spring1.png" width="1000" height="600" />
Spring Home Selling Tips
Historically, our Spring selling season is the year’s busiest, and that alone (even in a seller’s market) will increase competition amongst sellers. If you are selling this Spring, you will want to showcase your home in its best light. Planning and preparation (and the right REALTOR®) are key factors in getting you maximum dollars for your home. Here is our short list on how to best prepare your house to sell NOW!
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Clean And Clear The Clutter
A cluttered home is not appealing to potential home buyers. Buyers tend to buy for emotional reasons, that they then back up with logic. Spring carries powerful symbolism, a fresh start, a feeling of renewal. This is a powerful driving force for Spring home sales, and you want to remove any obstacles to this motivating factor. Make sure that your home is clean and looking as fresh as possible.
Here is a quick list for your Spring selling cleaning, so potential home buyers can focus on your property.
At your entryway, think first impressions. Remove coats, shoes, and umbrellas from your foyer.
For your cabinets, closets, pantry, and nightstands - remove everything (e.g. tissues, medications, etc), other than decorative items. Your closets shouldn’t be bursting, so pack things up that you do not currently need.
Your kitchen countertops should be free and clear of everything except decorative items and essential kitchen equipment (e.g. toaster, microwave). Clear the refrigerator of notes, magnets, and flyers.
In your bedrooms, all beds should be made; clothes and shoes shouldn’t be on the floor
Keep electronics and furniture to a minimum, and organize any electronic cords. This will help make the floor plan appear more open.
Remove anything that personalizes your home, including photos, periodicals, and toys.
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Clean Your Home’s Exterior
Take a critical eye to your home’s exterior. <a href="https://homewarranty.firstam.com/blog/spring-curb-appeal-to-help-sell-your-home">Curb appeal</a> adds potential profit to your home. Many buyers decide from the curb whether they want to go inside the home.
It’s Spring now, Winter can leave your yard looking dirty, so make sure everything has been cleaned up. Trim shrubs, rake up any leaves, and weed landscaping and flower beds. Raise your yard’s appeal by planting colorful Spring flowers.
Remember to clean and clear your porch and patio. Spring gets us all thinking about spending time outdoors. Is your patio and porch staged to be inviting? Some ideas are adding a beautiful wreath to your front door, placing potted plants along your walkways, and ensuring that any seating areas look cozy.
Remedy any peeling paint that you see outside. Powerwash siding and brick if needed.
Are Pre-inspection Repairs Called For?
A well-maintained home will garner a higher sales price. If you handle all repairs pre-inspection, you will have a smoother transaction. You can <a href="https://magazine.realtor/sales-and-marketing/sales-coach/article/2018/01/pre-listing-inspections-put-sellers-in-control">hire your own inspector</a> prior to putting the home up for sale. Look at these items:
Deteriorated roofs
Non-functioning chimneys
Structure and foundation
Plumbing
HVAC and mechanical systems
Electrical
Presence of mold and mildews
Damp basements or crawl spaces
Interior appliances, like smoke detectors
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Open Up Your Home!
Take full advantage of great Spring weather by opening your windows to let some fresh air into your home. Open drapes, blinds, and curtains and let the sun shine in too. This will make your home smell fresh and feel vibrant. PS bright rooms look bigger, so if the natural light does not suffice, add floor or table lamps to brighten up rooms.
So, are you ready for the Spring home selling season? We are! <a href="http://treg.com/contact">Contact us today</a> to get connected with an experienced REALTOR® to assist you in taking advantage of the Spring selling season.2022-04-26T12:35:00-07:002022-06-30T05:22:48-07:00TREG Teamtag:treg.com,2012-09-20:11968These Important Factors Affect Your Property Value<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/aVnnmRp3Iyyh8vMoovhC1WbdaECfgMaKiF912YkvPqL2c6_CO5anAh-lhLr65sPMhXuZjsuopUpttw0RpxOL7gfWMKoatyhZ8CtqqD54LJPM9sAc8hyEsUoJcmZ68bsWZ8VFGp7H" width="1000" />
These Important Factors Affect Your Property Value
Size, age, condition, location, the economy, and interest rates are factors that can affect your home’s value. If you are considering selling your home, it is important that you understand what determines property value so you can ensure that you get the most out of your asset. We have noted the main factors that affect your property’s value, and questions you should ask yourself.
Location | In real estate, we always say, “location, location, location”, because it’s true. Location has one of the largest effects on your property’s value. Remember that a location that works for you, may not work for others. An example is that you may not have children and not know how the local schools are rated. Is shopping and entertainment easily accessible? How long are commutes to business centers?
Size | While not the be-all-and-end-all, size is a determining factor in property value. Square footage plays a major role in home prices. Usable space is valued more than unfinished spaces like garages, basements, and attics, that are often tacked onto the total square footage listed.
Comparables | How is the neighborhood? Are the homes around you being well maintained? If not, it becomes a drag on the desirability of your street and home values there. Your neighbors are critical. If other homes in your neighborhood are being highly sought after by buyers, then you will likely benefit from this popularity. <a href="https://www.biggerpockets.com/rei/real-estate-comps-house-value/">“Comps”</a> look at homes in your area that have sold within the last twelve months. REALTORS® and appraisers rely on comps when estimating how much your home is worth.
Age | A home’s age is an essential detail when it comes to a home’s value. Buyer’s looking at older homes have to do some math, and try to calculate when the home’s major systems may need to be replaced or upgraded. Homes less than ten years old can command more money because buyers have more confidence that repair bills shouldn’t be on the immediate horizon.
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Condition | If you have the time and resources, it might behoove you to make any necessary repairs and upgrades before you place your home on the market. This will maximize the chances that it will command a higher price. Consider the cost of improvements as an investment. Your REALTOR® is a terrific resource in this case. They can suggest what improvements will add the most value to your home. <a href="https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2021/">Remodeling Magazine</a> found that garage door replacements, stone veneer additions, and minor kitchen remodels can pay off when selling your home.
The Economy | If potential home buyers feel insecure due to the economy, they may decide to delay their purchase. Or, they may be looking for bargains. The home market is really about supply and demand. Fortunately in today’s market, inventory is down and demand is up. It is a perfect time to sell.
Interest Rates | With our current low interest rates, it is an incentive to buy. First-time buyers, move-up buyers, all will pay less with these mortgage rates. Conversely, as the rates rise, there will be fewer buyers because it is more costly. As demand dips, so will home values.
If you want to get an idea of what your home is worth in today’s real estate market, you can <a href="http://treg.com/contact">contact us</a> to be connected with an experienced REALTOR®. They will create a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/comparative-market-analysis.asp#:~:text=A%20comparative%20market%20analysis%20(CMA,help%20buyers%20make%20competitive%20offers.">Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).</a> Another option is to use a <a href="https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Tools/Pages/HPI-Calculator.aspx">house price index (HPI) calculator</a>, which uses information from mortgage transactions over time to estimate your home’s value. Armed with this knowledge, you can make adjustments to get the maximum value for your home when it is time to sell. 2022-03-03T13:19:00-07:002022-03-03T13:21:54-07:00TREG Teamtag:treg.com,2012-09-20:7875Tips for Staging Outdoor Spaces
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1367/image/51321TREGBlog_OutdoorStaging.png" width="1000" height="600" />Tips For Staging Outdoor Spaces
You know the standard rules for preparing your home to sell. Cleaning. Lighting. Taking out personal photos etc. You are ready for showings, right? Maybe not. Did you forget about your outdoor spaces? It is crucial to make your backyard as comfortable and approachable as possible. Your home’s <a href="https://www.homestratosphere.com/patio-staging-jaxon-home/">outdoor living space</a> is an important aspect of its livability, and its marketability! The points here will assist you in staging your outdoor spaces to engage potential buyers. Wouldn’t it be terrific if they left the showing already visualizing their backyard housewarming party?
Prioritize Your Outdoor Spaces | Neglecting your outdoor spaces prior to listing your home for sale can be a costly mistake. The <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/spacesthatspeak/home-staging-outdoor-space/">outdoor spaces</a> are the first thing that the prospective buyers see. It pays to make a great first impression.
Remove Your Personal Things | Think ‘blank slate’. Potential buyers should be able to visualize themselves in your home very easily. When staging your outdoor areas, make it appealing but not distracting. If you have difficulty with this, ask for assistance from your REALTOR® or a friend. Even if you love your quirky garden gnomes, put them in storage. Also consider that personalized items like your name on the mailbox or near the front door may send subliminal messages to those touring the home, making them feel like guests or intruders.
Declutter Your Clutter | You have decluttered the house, now take a critical eye to the yard. Tuck away your children’s toys, trash cans, and gardening equipment.
Do A Deep Clean | Prepare for your home being listed by starting with a clean exterior canvas. Clean your shutters and windows, sweep dirt and leaves from all pathways, and clear out your gutters. Power wash the exterior, patio, deck, and fencing.
Add Seating | Seating will help the buyers picture themselves entertaining and relaxing in the outdoor spaces. Select seating that is appropriate for the space you have - a bistro set for a small patio, firepit and Adirondack chairs for a larger yard, or soft seating group on a deck.
<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1367/image/51321TREGBlog_OutdoorStaging_1.png" width="1001" height="400" />Add Accessories | Throw pillows will add a cozy feeling where buyers can see themselves sitting with a good book and a glass of wine. If you have an outdoor table, consider adding placemats and a centerpiece. A few pops of colors are great, but exercise restraint and keep the overall decor style neutral.
Add Color | Add <a href="https://www.gardendesign.com/containers/">potted plants</a> to bring extra color and greenery to the yard. Planting some colorful annuals is an easy and inexpensive way to make the space cheery and bright. Planting window boxes and hanging baskets will add visual appeal and charm.
Define The Spaces | Many yards have clearly defined outdoor living spaces. If yours does not, you will need to get creative. <a href="https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-outdoor-rugs/">Outdoor rugs</a> are a great way to define a space, add a sofa and coffee table so potential buyers can easily imagine how they would take advantage of the outdoor space.
Consider Outdoor Lighting | <a href="https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-solar-string-lights/">Outdoor lighting</a> can be an excellent tool to create ambiance. A string of bistro lights works for outdoor entertaining, while spotlights will enhance and illuminate garden beds and exterior features. Even though most showings happen during the day, do not neglect your outdoor lighting and fixtures. Fixtures and bulbs should be updated on point!
Pristine Water Features | A water feature can be a great selling feature, but only if it is cleaned and <a href="https://www.surroundslandscaping.com/what-is-the-best-way-to-maintain-our-garden-water-features/">maintained</a>. Ornamental ponds, pools, fountains, and hot tubs all need to be clean and in good repair to be assets to the property.
Gardening and Landscaping | After all the cleaning and decluttering is completed, make sure your lawn and gardens look their best. Mow, trim, edge, and rake leaves before showings. Add fresh mulch, and pull weeds too. If you have any large trees, make sure they have been <a href="https://www.bartlett.com/">maintained</a> and fertilized properly.
Having your home’s exterior, lawn, gardens, and outdoor living spaces in pristine condition can be a major selling point. It speaks to a home that has been cared for through the years. If you would like to get a professional opinion on what needs to be done to get your home ready to sell, <a href="http://treg.com/contact">contact us</a> and we can connect you with a professional REALTOR®. 2021-05-11T12:33:00-07:002021-05-11T12:39:55-07:00TREG Teamtag:treg.com,2012-09-20:7281Tips For Living In Your Home While It Is Listed For Sale<img src="https://assets.site-static.com/userfiles/1367/image/unnamed_5.png" width="1000" />
Tips For Living In Your Home While It Is Listed For Sale
You may not feel 100% comfortable in your home while it is listed for sale, but there are things that you can do to make this time easier. And hey, with the tremendous Seller’s Market we are in right now, it won’t last long, and you will be moving to something new!
Get Packing | The weeks prior to listing your home are prime time to clear out the clutter, organize, minimize and pack non-essentials. Consider everything that you can live without while your home is on the market, then pack it up and get it out of the house. Think about your off-season clothing, infrequently used small appliances and Kitchen items, and items tucked away in the back of your closets. Your goal is to remove as much as possible out of your home so potential buyers are not distracted or overwhelmed by clutter. Rent a small storage unit or ask your family/friends if you can store some boxes for a short time. This is a great jump on packing for your upcoming move!!! A win-win!
Discard & Donate | As long as you are clearing out clutter, take a hard look at the things that you do not use, need, or want. Categorize those items into discard or <a href="https://www.moving.com/tips/where-to-donate-your-stuff-before-moving/">donate</a> groups, donate as much as you can, and recycle or discard the rest. You may be able to go through your pantry and donate your unopened and unexpired food items to your local <a href="https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank">food bank</a>.
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Safeguard Your Valuables | When your home is listed for sale, it is important to safeguard your valuable items, documents, and prescription medications. Clear out space in a safe or lockable drawer for these items for the duration of your home’s time on the market. Keep the key on your keyring, not at your home. Knowing that your items are secure will afford you peace of mind.
Keep It Clean | Before the listing photos are taken, you will need to do a <a href="https://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/tips/how-to-deep-clean-your-house/">deep cleaning</a>. After that, it will be a matter of keeping the same level of cleanliness. A cluttered, dirty, or messy home is a big turn off for buyers. If you take small steps every day to ensure that your home is at the level of cleanliness it needs to be, it will not seem like extra work. Remember to wash the dishes right after you use them, make your beds every morning, dust and vacuum frequently, and keep clutter to a minimum.
Say Yes To Booties! | It is perfectly acceptable to provide a basket of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disposable-Pack%EF%BC%8850-Waterproof-Resistant-Booties/dp/B07CWV59QR">disposable booties</a> at the front door with a sign asking anyone coming in to use them.
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Have A ‘GO’ Bag | Sometimes last minute showing requests cannot be avoided, and that showing may be your buyer! Be prepared by keeping a bag by the door for an easy grab-and-go. Your bag can include items that you do not have room for in your lockbox such as laptops and tablets. You may also want to put your spare keys, personal papers, and mail in the bag. Having the bag at the door makes it easy to scoop up those items and leave quickly.
The 2 Hour Rule | Your REALTOR® should give you the option to ask for a certain amount of time between a showing request and the showing itself. This can ensure that you will get a good heads up for any last minute preparations, clean up, or decluttering needed.
A Pet Plan | You need to find a middle ground for having your pets at home with you but not at your home’s showings. Try to find a trusted pet sitter or neighbor who can pick them up if you are not home. Be sure to have your plan in place before your home goes on the market. And, remember to declutter your pet stuff -- stow toys, beds, and bowls before you leave.
Your Show Ready Checklist | Your house is clean, ready, and staged to sell. Now make a quick checklist of those things that will make it shine even more! Your REALTOR® will probably provide a list including things like fluffing your pillows, opening blinds and turning on lights. A big thing to remember is to remove all your family photos and personal items. Buyers can get distracted by those and not focus on the home.
Take Feedback To Heart | In order to sell your home in a timely manner, you need to be open to hearing <a href="https://www.houseopedia.com/how-to-handle-negative-feedback-on-your-home">feedback</a> from agents and potential buyers. Take those comments to heart and think about actionable steps that you can take to improve your home. Remember your goal is to sell your home for the best price inside of your time frame. As you get each step completed you are closer to your goal!
Happy home selling. If you have questions regarding selling your home, <a href="https://www.treg.com/contact/">contact us</a> and we will connect you with a knowledgeable and experienced REALTOR®! 2021-02-09T09:35:00-07:002021-02-09T09:43:44-07:00TREG Team