Posts with tag 'For sellers'

Congratulations, you've found the ideal buyers, the ink has dried on the paperwork, and our real estate agents are helping you finalize the process. Essentially, it's a clean break! All you have to do is hand over the house keys to the new owners, walk away, and celebrate, right?

Well, not just yet! While it's tempting to skip out on the last few cleaning chores, not observing seller's etiquette could actually compromise the sale of your home.

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Times have changed. From birthday presents to a new pair of shoes, shoppers seek the items they desire online, avoiding brick-and-mortar stores. The same holds true of home sales, shifting the focus from driving through the neighborhood to looking at houses online. Our real estate agents will assure you that if you want to sell your home quickly and easily, you'll invest in a series of listing photographs that will show your house to its greatest advantage. Here are a few things to keep in mind before your house is photographed.

• Make it sparkle!
  The camera lens is far more critical than the human eye, allowing viewers to enlarge a photo with the swipe of a finger. And you can be assured that they will do exactly that. Every streak on the baseboards will stand out. Smart sellers won't just clean the house the best they can. They will hire a service to deep clean all of the places they didn't think about. Make sure all windows are cleaned and drapes pulled open to show off both the view and the natural light.

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Estimates indicate that a whopping 80 percent of items in a household sit unused. Our real estate agents find that a home with less clutter appears larger and more appealing to potential better.

If you're ready to tame your home's clutter, make sure to determine how you want to declutter. Many homeowners forgo decluttering simply because it feels too overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you find your decluttering preferences. 

Decluttering Methods That Suits Your Goals

There are a slew of decluttering methods that will help you decide what things to keep. The best alternative will depend on your goals for decluttering and what you're hoping to accomplish.

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Which is better, carpet or hardwood? This is a common question many homeowners have when trying to find the best flooring choice for their homes. The "right" decision for you will depend on your situation, budget, and taste. If you're planning to put your home on the market, you'll also need to consider the preferences and traditions in your neighborhood. Our real estate agents take a look at the difference between carpet floors and hardwood floors.

• Care and Cleaning
  Hardwood
  Of the two materials, hardwood flooring is easier to clean and maintain. The floor can be swept, vacuumed, or damp mopped to remove loose dirt, dust, surface stains, and other debris. Also, it's easier to spot dust and dirt on a hardwood floor.
  
  Carpet
  Keeping the carpet clean typically involves simple but frequent vacuuming. However, some people feel that keeping the carpet fully clean is a little tougher because stains soak in and settle permanently. Also, dust, pollen, micro-bacteria, and other allergens are easily trapped in the fibers. Carpet is a hard choice in high traffic areas and for people with pets or those who suffer from allergies.

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To see, or not to see — 'tis not the philosophical question anyone wants to grapple with while cooking their favorite meal. If you ask our real estate agents the one ingredient that can make a beautiful kitchen seem dull and drab, the top answer will almost always be the lighting. In particular, task lighting makes it much easier to achieve culinary perfection. Whether you are building a new home or renovating your kitchen, pay close attention to the illumination you put into the plans.

• Under-Cabinet Lights are Worth Their Weight in Golden Saffron
  Under-cabinet lights banish shadows from your countertops. They make it easier to fill the coffee pot, roll the dough, or chop the carrots. They also make these tasks safer and less likely to spill all over the floor when you miss your mark. These lights are simple and inexpensive to install. You can choose DIY plug-in puck lights and mounted strip lights for fast and inexpensive installation. However, the best option which will add significant value to the kitchen is professionally mounted hard-wired lights.  
  
  Because these lighting options fit snugly beneath the cabinets, they are an unobtrusive feature that won't eat up valuable storage space. They can be controlled by switches or operated via smart home systems. Connecting your under-cabinet lights to your smart home offers a considerable advantage: you won't have to wash your hands to turn the lights on or adjust the lighting. This can make cooking a little faster and easier.

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