Real Estate Information Archive

Are you looking to put your house on the market? If so, we know what a fun and exciting time this can be for you and your family. But, at times, the excitement can also be paired with a little anxiety as you navigate your way through the selling process. If you are finding yourself agreeing with the above sentences, then this is a blog post you don’t want to miss! Below we have listed a few things that you want to avoid when putting your house on the market, and we hope it brings a little insight and allows the selling process to be a little smoother for you.

The first thing you want to be sure to avoid when putting your home on the market is over-improving the space. We realize that most people think that the more money they invest into their home, the most likely they are to get a high return on their investment. And while there are instances where this is true, you want to be sure to avoid making changes that are hyper-specific to your wants, needs and personal taste. Updating things such as appliances, kitchen cabinets, finishing’s and light fixtures, as well as a fresh coat of paint, are always good things to invest in. But try to avoid turning your basement into a man cave or kids play room, as some potential buyers may look at the space and only see a massive remodel project and dollar signs.

Next, you want to be sure to not over-decorate your home in hopes to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Because in turn, you can actually make it look crowded and overdone. Buyers want to be able to see themselves living in the space with their personal items, and it will be difficult for them to do this if your home is filled corner to corner with your décor. Instead, do your best to clear out items that do not need to be in the room, leaving a fresh and clean area for potential buyers to view. Lastly, and this one may be obvious, but do not hang around when you know there is a showing. Buyers want to be able to talk openly, as well as see themselves moving in and living in the space, which can be hard for them to do if they see the current owners standing in the corner listening into the conversations. Also, there is always a chance that the showing may start early, so be sure to take grab the family and leave your home at least 20 minutes prior to when the showing is scheduled to take place.

There are those that say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in the world of real estate, a picture could be worth a few hundred-thousand dollars! More so now than ever, it is imperative to have high quality photos that show off all the wonderful qualities and features your home has to offer when listing your house online. Why is this such an important part of the selling process you ask? A few key reasons, but the main one being that many people are turning to the internet to look at homes in their desired area. And having quality photos that show off your home may be just the key to getting more showings and ultimately more offers. Just because many realtors will either take the photos themselves or bring in a professional team to capture the home does not mean that you do not play a key role in how the images can turn out.

There are a few key things that you can do to help the home photograph nicely. For one, you want to be sure to DE clutter and stage the home prior to anyone coming to take images. And while this may seem obvious, there are many people that think just tidying up will be good enough. But you want to be sure to take things out of rooms that may make them appear smaller, which in turn will make the area look spacious and open. Be sure to clear off as many surfaces as possible, paying close attention to your kitchen, bathroom and night tables. You also want to remove personal items such as family pictures, as you want the house to appear as a blank canvas to interested buyers and not make them feel like they are looking at a room of someone else’s house. It is important for buyers to be able to scroll through pictures online and image themselves living in the space.

There are many things to do, rooms to DE clutter and improvements to make in the time leading up to your house actually being put on the market. We understand the stress and mile long to-do lists that seem never-ending. But this should also be a fun and exciting time for you and your family as you begin to close one chapter and open the next.  To help in the transition and stress of things you feel like you have to do, we have listed below a few things that you can take off your list and things you will want to avoid. We hope these help during this exciting and busy time!

The first thing you will want to avoid is the thought that you have to over-improve your home to get top dollar. While improvements such as replacing broken or cracked cabinets and updating appliances are always good, you want to avoid making hyper-specific improvements that match your taste and preference. What is an example of this? Well for one, turning your basement into a man cave, complete with a lifted stage and wet bar, may turn off the family of five who would use that space for a play room. All that family will see is a huge project to take on and a man cave to undo. So the lesson here: do not feel like you have to go above and beyond when it comes to improvements to the home. Sometimes less is more and keeping it simple is the best option.

Our next task to not do is along the same lines as above. You want to be sure to not over-decorate and keep the house as neutral as possible. This will ensure that the potential buyers can see their own items in the home, instead of trying to visualize against what you currently have. Third, which may seem pretty obvious to some people, is to not hang around the house when there are showings. We know how tempting it is to clean the house, dress the kids in their Sunday best and stand at the door with fresh made cookies to greet your potential buyers. But the fact of the matter is that most people want to be able to speak openly about the home and having you there may make them feel uncomfortable. So it is best to find some family fun activities to occupy your time during scheduled showings.

Lastly, you want to try your best to not take things personally. We understand that things can be emotional when it comes to selling your home, but it is best to keep your feelings neutral whenever you can. If you get feedback from your agent from a potential buyer not liking your decor, old carpets or quality of the home, it is always best to let the comments slide off your back. Same thing if you receive a low offer from a potential buyer – let it slide off your back. By not taking things personally, you will find yourself not stressing over the little things and enjoying the home selling process a bit more.

As promised, we are continuing last week’s blog post with items outside the home to keep in mind during the selling process. Everything from the garage, backyard and exterior of the home should be organized and tidy to ensure buyers see the full potential of the home. We have listed a few items below in each category that we hope aid you in your selling process. Enjoy! 

Garage:
-Pack any items away that you don’t use on a daily/weekly basis
-Repaint any areas that are dirty or has chipping
-Clean out and sweep garage so it looks nice and neat

Exterior:
-Clean, repaint or replace the front door if needed 
-Repaint the trim and exterior if necessary
-Sweep all patios, walkways, decks and porches
-Clean any stained or dirty concrete with a pressure washer
-If you have a deck with wood, re-staining it can make it look new and fresh
-Stage outdoor furniture to show how the space can be utilized
-Wash the windows inside and outside 
-Replace any rotten wood that is on the exterior of the home

Yard:
-Cut down any plants or shrubs that block windows 
-Remove dead plants from the yard
-Freshly mow, edge and fertilize the lawn on a regular basis
-It is never a bad idea to incorporate fresh flowers for a little splash of color

Other items throughout the home to keep an eye on and replace/clean as needed include light switch covers, blinds, carpets, light bulbs, doors and door knobs, exterior and interior paint and AC/heater vents.  

Selling your home can seem like an overwhelming process, especially when you stop and think about all the little items that need to be completed to make the house ready and appealing to buyers. Knowing this, we wanted to help break some of these tasks down in hopes to ease your mind and make the process a little easier for you and your family. With that said, this week and next weeks’ blog topics are centered around items to keep in mind before the house goes on the market, as well as while the house is being shown. We are going to start this week with a checklist of everything you still need for the indoors. Enjoy!

Kitchen:
-Make sure to organize the pantry so it looks neat and tidy 
-Clear off all items from the countertops 
-Clean the microwave, stove and oven
-Remove any magnets and pictures from the refrigerator doors 
-Put away and organize any cleaning products/mops/brooms
-Clean tile grout and be sure to bleach it if necessary 
-For showings, put away pet food and water dishes
-Make sure the garbage is empty prior to each showing

Living and Family Rooms:
-Make sure tables are clear of clutter
-Remove any furniture in the room that makes it feel small and closed off
-Put away any toys from children/dogs
-Incorporate decorative throws and pillows to make the space soft and inviting 

Bedrooms:
-Clear off any surfaces such as dressers and bedside tables
-Organize closets and keep closet doors closed
-Make beds everyday and invest in new linens if necessary 
-Repair any holes in the walls
-Keep floors clear and be sure to vacuum frequently 

Bathrooms: 
-Make sure to keep out hand soap or a new bar of soap
-Make sure all surfaces are clear and clean
-Replace old hand towels with new decorative ones if necessary 
-If you have a shower curtain, make sure it looks fresh or purchase a new one
-Sanitize countertops and any moldy areas within the bathroom
-Organize countertops so they look neat and clean 
-Always keep toilet lids closed during showings 
-Make sure garbage cans are empty
-Replace caulking if necessary 

Laundry:
-Put away (or organize) any laundry soap and supplies
-Remove all clothing from the room (dirty or clean)
-Make sure floors are clear and clean – vacuum and mop frequently
-Keep all surfaces clear and clean 
-Since many laundry rooms do not have any natural light coming in, it may be a good idea to use high watt light bulbs to make it look brighter in the room

We understand the process of staging and selling your house may seem like a long and daunting one, especially if you throw work, family and outside commitments into the mix. But what many people don’t stop to realize is just how long and daunting the next step of packing up and moving all your belongings can be. The days spent sorting, bubble wrapping and taping can seem never ending, but the actual moving day can tend to be a little stressful and overwhelming - even for the most organized of people. And while (unfortunately) there isn’t a magic trick to take all the stress of the day away, we have listed a few tips and tricks below to help make the day a little more tolerable. Happy moving!

1.) Make a list before moving day to keep yourself organized. Be sure to include any phone numbers you may need so they are able to be referenced easily, and also a list of everyone’s tasks that day.

2.) We suggest an early wake up time on moving day to ensure you are awake and organized, and also have time for a good breakfast (you will need it!).

3.) Be sure to wear appropriate clothing that you are comfortable in and are able to move easily in.

4.) Make sure your cell phone is fully charged to avoid needing to plug it in during the day.

5.) See if you can convince family and/or friends to come help out (food is usually a good bribery tool).

6.) If you have kids and/or pets, see if you can have someone watch them for the day to make sure you can focus and be as productive as possible. 

7.) Make sure to carry all jewelry and important documents on you at all times. Nothing is more stressful than loosing something of value to you on moving day. 

8.) Be sure to label all boxes to keep things organized.

9.) Make cleaning arrangements ahead of time. Once everything is moved out of your house, there is a good chance it will be a total mess and having cleaning plans ahead of time will take some stress off your back.

10.) Keep a smile on! We know moving day is stressful but it is also an exciting day of new beginnings and beautiful memories.

Purchasing a house is a very personal decision as you want your home to reflect your personal style and taste. Many families hang pictures of beautiful memories and paint the walls different colors to reflect their personalities. But when it comes to selling your home, you may want to rethink some of these homey, personal touches to ensure the house appeals to a wide variety of buyers. If you are looking to sell your home, staging your home to sell is always a good idea, even in the strongest of markets, and we have a few tips below on how to accomplish this in your home.

When it comes to staging your home, the bedrooms and bathrooms are great rooms to start with as they can be staged without breaking the bank. When it comes to bedrooms, think cozy and serene. You can do things such as painting the walls in soft, neutral tones, clearing away clutter such as shoes, photos and reading materials, professionally steaming and washing the carpets, clearing out your closet so it appears larger and purchasing fresh linens and throw pillows. It is also a good idea to make sure the master bedroom appeals to both sexes and, again, this can be achieved by incorporating a lot of neutral colors throughout. 

When it comes to bathrooms, a little TLC can go a long way. Sellers can do things such as replacing old bathroom fixtures, cleaning away mold and dirt from shower doors and between tiles, hang beautiful decorative towels, and incorporating items such as candles, glass container holders and scented soaps. And when it comes to other rooms in the home, doing things such as removing clutter, rearranging furniture so it's easier to move through each room, taking down personal photos and improving the lighting so the house feels brighter are great ways to make your home appeal to potential buyers. Happy staging! 

If you are looking to sell your home for top dollar, you know you have to put your best foot forward in order to gain interest and have offers coming through the door. One thing sellers should look to do when they are putting their house on the market is to spruce up their home in order to make the home as appealing to buyers as possible. While this sounds like an overwhelming and expensive project, there are ways to make it a little less painful for you and your wallet. In this post we will be covering inexpensive and simple things for you to do to update your home and add a little more appeal for potential buyers.  

The first home improvement task we want to touch on is landscaping. Now this is a great area to spend some time on as even a little bit of improvement goes a long way. Look into doing things such as replacing old bushes with new ones, putting down fresh sod and adding in some color through vibrant potted flowers or flower beds. Potential buyers form their first impressions of your home when they walk up so having updated landscaping can prove to be a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up your home. The next area is your entryway, which can be improved by painting the front door or purchasing a new one if needed. You may also want to look into buying and installing a new house number and mailbox if they are starting to look a little tired.

Changing out items such a light and plumbing fixtures can also go a long way. Updating ceiling fixtures, bathroom faucets and replacing outdated fixtures with more updated versions is great to make your home look more updated and modern, and in turn more appealing to buyers. And if you have popcorn ceilings, you may want to consider removing them as it is a notable characteristic of an older home. Another relatively inexpensive improvement task that can go a long way is painting. While your teenage daughter may love her bright fuchsia room, chances are buyers will not feel the same. Other tasks such as updating window treatments, replacing worn and dirty carpets and deep cleaning can go a long way as well.

Moving day is an exciting time for the entire family....but it is also stressful.  The same stress felt by the 'humans' in the house, are also felt by your pets.  In fact, pets can sense that something big is up, weeks prior to your move!  They pick up on your anxiety and the chaos of their living space.  

In order to make your move a smooth one for your furry friends, follow these terrific tips:

Before Moving Day

1. Visit your Vet for one last checkup, any vaccinations due and to gather all your pets health records.

2. If possible, visit your new home so your pets can get acclimated to their new environment.

3. Create new Name Tags that show your brand new address.

Moving Day

1. Pack an overnight bag specifically for your pet.  Include food, water, favorite toy, and medications, treats, doggie bags for clean-up and sleeping bed.

2. Pack a current photo of your pet in the bag in case they were to get loose of you during the move.

3. Pack your vet records in the bag as well.

4. Keep your pet in your vehicle when making the move.  This helps ease their already high anxiety.

5. Once you arrive at your new home, allow your pet some time to 'sniff' around before bringing in furniture and belongings.

For more Home Selling and Buying Tips, visit our website.  Need recommendations on Pet Services in your new area?  Give the Heim-Berg Team a call!

Since air quality directly impacts your health and well-being it's important to do what you can to improve the air quality in your home.  Did you know that opening windows and allowing the fresh air in is the #1 way to improve air quality?  Here are 5 more ways to improve your home's air quality:

1. Clean your home often with as many chemical-free products as possible.  Use Hepa filters on your vacuum cleaner and mop.

2. Keep your home at 50% or less humidity; this helps reduce mold.  Also be sure to utilize your exhaust fan when baking, bathing, cooking and using your dishwasher.

3. Always dispose of paint, gasoline or other hazardous chemicals.  Do not leave them around your home or garage.

4. Furnace filters should be replaced every 3 months with a completed furnace check-up before the winter months.

5. Opt for hardwood floors, ceramic tile or laminate and remove old carpeting.  Carpets tend to trap more dust particles. If you have carpet in your home look to include house plants that filter toxins.

For more Homeowner Tips, visit our website.