When buyers come to see your home, the first thing they notice is how your property looks from the curb. That first impression is powerful and lingering. If buyers don't like what they see, it can influence how they judge the rest of your property, regardless of how great it looks on the inside.

You definitely want to do whatever you can to boost curb appeal. Here are six affordable ideas to consider:

1.    Driveway sealing. This makes the pavement look darker and less faded. It also helps cover up some of the cracks. Sealing won't give you the "brand new" look of repaving, but it's close — and significantly less expensive.

2.    Exterior window washing. Washing the front windows makes them look clean and bright. In fact, the effect can be stunning. There are window washing products that connect to your hose to make this job easier. Check your home improvement retailer.

3.    Maintaining shrubs, hedges and flower beds. Trimming the hedges, shrubs and other evergreens can make a big difference in how your property looks from the street. It's like giving them all a haircut! Flowering plants can also brighten up the look.

4.    Front door painting. From the curb, a buyer's eye is naturally drawn to your front door. If your entry system looks old and worn, consider a fresh coat of paint. It can make the entrance look almost new.

5.    Garage door painting. This is abigger project that can take a day or two, but the effort might be worth it. For many homes, the garage door is the biggest item in the curb appeal panorama. Making it look better will have a big impact.

6.    Removing unsightly items. Look at your home from the street. Are there items in your field of vision that take away from the curb appeal? For example, are there garbage cans and other items stowed along the side of the property and visible from the road? If so, move them.

Want to make your bathroom look fantastic without having to do a major renovation? There are a lot of projects you can do yourself. In fact, there are some improvements you can get done in less than a day that will transform the look and feel of your bathroom. Check out these ideas:

·       Update the sink. If you have some basic plumbing knowledge, this is a project you should be able to do on your own. A new sink can make the entire vanity look like new.

·       Buy new decor. New shower curtains, towels, window coverings, mats, etc. can transform the look of a bathroom.

·       Install new hardware. Replacing cabinet hardware may not seem like much of a change. However, it can have a surprisingly big impact. Shiny new hardware is like jewelry. It stands out.

·       Replace the vanity mirror. Even if there are no scratches, an older mirror is like an old pair of glasses. It can become foggy. No amount of cleaning will make it any clearer. When ordering a replacement mirror, be sure that your measurements are exact.

·       Paint. There's no doubt about it. A fresh coat of paint makes any room look better.

These bathroom improvement projects can make a huge impact on the look of your bathroom. And, they can all be done affordably and in just a day or two.

Ideally, when you sell your home, you want the process to go smoothly and relatively stress-free. While things may happen that are outside your control, there is a lot you can do to ensure that the selling experience is a good one.

Consider these four steps to reduce worry and stress when listing your home:

Step 1: Learn the selling process.

Find out what to expect when the FOR SALE sign goes up. How will viewings be scheduled? Will an Open House be needed? What happens when there is an offer? The more you know, the less mysterious—and, therefore, less stressful—the experience will be.

Step 2: Schedule wisely.

Use a calendar to block out times for viewings and other selling-related activities. Be sure to schedule plenty of time to clean and declutter your home before a viewing or Open House. Try not to have a tight schedule during the sales period.

Step 3: Anticipate issues.

The more problems you can foresee, the better you'll be prepared to deal with them as they arise. For example, if you know you're going to have a busy week at work, start making plans now to deal with viewings and related matters during those days.

Step 4: Make decisions.

Things can move quickly in the real estate market. There might be a few days when there are no enquiries at all, and then suddenly two offers will come in.

Be prepared to make some quick decisions. Fortunately, with sound advice from me as your real estate agent, making those decisions will be a lot easier.

So, follow these simple steps. They'll help make your sale less worrisome and even enjoyable!

When you put your home on the market, chances are you’ll cross your fingers and hope that a good offer – or two or three – will come in fairly quickly. So, what can you do to help make that happen? A lot!
 
Here are just three of many sure-fire ways to speed up the sale of your home.

 1. Price it right. Your home will sell more quickly when the list price is set at or near the current market value. That value is calculated using a number of factors, including what similar homes in the area sold for recently. You don’t want the price to be set too high, otherwise few, if any, buyers will bother to see it. On the other hand, setting the price too low may not excite as many buyers as you might think, and you may end up leaving a lot of money on the table. 

2. Staging. This is all about presenting each room of your home in a way that looks attractive to buyers. The technique involves decluttering, reorganizing furniture, and decorating strategically. Staging is proven to reduce the number of days a home sits on the market. In fact, many studies suggest you can expect a 10-20% reduction in days on the market. 

3.Flexibility.During the listing period, if you’re flexible when it comes to scheduling viewings, more buyers will see your home. More buyers means more chances that at least one will become interested and make an offer.

The great thing about these strategies is none involve lowering the price of your home.

Homes that are staged well definitely stand out. The right amount of decluttering, organizing and acessorizing does make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Here are some before and after photos of some homes we staged that show how powerful home staging can be.

Find balance when arranging furniture
Consider both size and placement when arranging furniture. Make sure not to group all the large pieces in one corner and also make sure there is variety in the shapes - like how we put a round teak stool beside the straight-line chair and a round clock between the square wall art and the bookshelves.

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

Declutter the wall space
Organizing and decluttering go hand-in-hand with home staging. The focus is now on the fireplace versus your eyes being distracted by all the photos on and above the mantle.

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

Update the decor
Many consumers have a hard time envisioning themselves in a space if the decor is too distinctive or distracting. Keeping items current and appealing to all is a way to attract as many buyers as possible.

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

Consider furniture placement to maximize traffic flow
People should not be tripping over each other when getting in and out of bed. Moving the bed onto the longest wall created a clear path and made the room feel twice as big.

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

Don’t push furniture against the walls
Pulling the furniture away from the walls provided easy access to the windows & blinds and allowed for a cozier conversation area where people don’t have to shout across the room. 

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

Consider the floor color when choosing a rug
You want that rug to be a contrast or a different coloration, especially if the flooring is dark.  It can be something that will work with your color schemes but on the lighter side.

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

Strategize if you’re in a small space
Look for pieces that are elevated from the floor. It lets light under the furniture and creates more visual space.

BEFORE 

 AFTER 

When you have buyers coming to view your house, you want it to look its best. Lighting plays a key role in making a good first impression. Just think of the last time you walked into an unfamiliar space with lighting that was too dim, too bright, or just too harsh.

Experts say the best lighting illuminates the space adequately without being too intense. There’s a simple calculation to determine the wattage you need. It’s the area of the room in square feet (length x width) multiplied by 1.5. So, a 10x12 room would require three 60 watt bulbs.

However, the type of room also makes a difference. You may want more light in the kitchen and bathrooms, because these tend to be very active spaces. On the other hand, you may want your living room to be dimmer to create a more relaxed setting and atmosphere.

Windows also make a difference. On bright days, a room with a fair-sized window may only need a third of the wattage. Experiment with lighting in each room to achieve the desired effect.

Also, make sure your home is well lit during evening viewings. It doesn’t need to be so bright that it’s blinding! You’re looking for pleasant lighting throughout the home, including in traditionally darker spaces such as closets. Professional stagers say turning the light on above the stove is a good idea too.

Also, make sure the curtains are open, especially if there’s an appealing evening view. Open curtains add to the sense of spaciousness.

People tend to equate evenings with relaxation. Put on soft background music during a viewing and avoid anything loud or energetic, such as the television.

Finally, buyers are particularly sensitive to seeing clutter when viewing a home after dusk. As much as possible, try to make your home “guest ready”.

If you have a home that is overdue for a renovation, you might be worried that it will be difficult to sell as a “fixer-upper”. In fact, you might delay listing your property for that reason.

The good news is, you don’t need to fix up everything in your home to prepare it for sale. You can be selective and choose only those projects that are most likely to help your home show well and sell quickly.

Here are some projects to consider:

Repairs. Few things stand out more during a viewing than something in obvious need of repair. That includes minor issues, like a dripping bathroom faucet, as well as major concerns, such as the central air conditioning unit not working. Get these repairs done.

Painting. Painting is one of the easiest and most affordable DIY projects you can do. Yet the impact it can have on your home is stunning. Some rooms are completely transformed by a fresh coat of paint.

Kitchens & Bathrooms. Buyers love to see great looking kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, there are even magazines devoted just to those rooms! You don’t necessarily need to do a major renovation of these spaces, but a makeover can be a good idea. Consider replacing sinks, countertops, and/or cabinet hardware.

Floors. If the floors in any of your rooms have become worn and unsightly, look at options for refreshing them. Consider replacing carpeting, refinishing hardwood, and/or getting tiles professionally cleaned and polished.

Outdoors. Sometimes you can compensate (a little) for a less-than-ideal interior by sprucing up the outdoor space. Explore ways to improve your deck or patio, walkways, and landscaping.

Even if your home is older, you can make it more attractive to buyers with any one of these projects.

Want more ideas for finding eager buyers for your home? Call today.

If you’re thinking of selling your home, you may be wondering about the current market demand for homes like yours. Will there be a lot of qualified buyers eager to see it? Will your home compete with so many similar listings that it may take a few weeks to sell?

In basic economics, demand is defined as the number of buyers versus the amount of inventory. There’s a fancy scientific formula that calculates demand, but in real estate terms it’s simple:

• High demand: More buyers looking than there are homes like yours available. (Example: 15 active buyers but only 10 homes like yours on the market.)

• Low demand: Fewer buyers looking than there are homes like yours available. (Example: 10 active buyers on the market and 15 homes like yours listed.)

The demand impacts not only how long it may take to sell your property, but also the asking price and marketing.

Fortunately, you can sell your home even in a low demand cycle. You just need to stage it well, price it right, and market it effectively.  

Thinking of selling?  Give me a call, I’d love to help you get the selling price your home deserves!

When you sell, you’ll probably want to get the best possible price for your property. Who wouldn’t? Unfortunately, there are many ways to inadvertently leave money on the table – sometimes thousands of dollars.

How do you avoid that possibility? Just remember the 4 Ps: 

• Prep. Do everything you can to prepare your home so that it looks great to buyers. Clean, declutter, fix, make improvements. Home staging can also help. In fact, effectively staged homes have been shown to sell for up to 5% more than comparable unstaged properties.

• Price. Set the right asking price. That’s crucial. If it's too low, you'll attract only deal-hunters — and you might end up getting less than you should. If the asking price is too high, however, you'll discourage those buyers who might otherwise be interested and willing to make a good offer. Be careful with pricing!

• Promotion. There may be qualified buyers out there who would be eager to see your property. But, they need to find out about your listing and the great features of your home first! Reaching these buyers requires more than merely profiling the listing on the MLS. Homes that sell for top dollar often have strong marketing — directed to the right buyers.

• Proposal. Once an offer comes in, there may be an opportunity to negotiate with the buyer to maximize the final price you get. This requires deep knowledge of the local market as well as street-smart negotiation skills. If done effectively, these negotiations can help put more money in your pocket. 

These four Ps are easy to remember, but sometimes not so easy to implement! That's why working with a great real estate agent is so important. Contact me to get the conversation started. 

As you probably know, it's easy to lower the costs of a renovation. Just hire an inexpensive, fly-by-night contractor — and hope for the best!

Chances are, you won't want to take that risk. So how do you ensure you get quality work while keeping your budget in check?

Here are some tips:

Get estimates from at least three contractors. Often prices can vary widely, even amongst contractors with similar reputations and experience.

Narrow the project focus. If you're getting a bathroom renovated, for example, decide whether you need the contractor to do the demolition and paint the new walls. Can you do that yourself?

Shop around for the building materials. Yes, contractors often have access to wholesale prices. Still, you might be able to find a bathtub and vanity at a lower cost.

Negotiate. Sometimes a contractor is willing to lower the price for concessions, such as quick payments or more time to complete the job.

Schedule the renovation during a low-demand season. For example, deck contractors might charge more in the spring than the fall. It's supply and demand. More people want their decks done in the spring.

Keep in mind that spending a little more for a skilled and reputable contractor can save you money in the long run. The renovation will have fewer, if any, "issues" (that may require an expensive fix) and will last longer. 

Depending on your decor and furnishings, some rooms in your home may appear to be smaller than their physical size. Since buyers are typically looking for as much space as possible, it’s important to make all your rooms seem, well, roomy!

Here are some tips that will help:

• Consider removing any unnecessary pieces of furniture.
• Experiment with rearranging the furniture. Determine which set-up makes the room look its best.
• Position tall furniture, such as armoires, on the longer walls.
• Lighten up on knick-knacks and similar items on tables and surfaces.
• Use mirrors to help create the illusion of more space.
• If possible, remove double or queen size beds from small
bedrooms and replace with twin beds. (Beds can be rented for home staging purposes.)
• In smaller bathrooms, keep shower curtains open.
• During viewings, open the window coverings. This leverages the most spacious room in the world – the outdoors!
• Make sure each room has ample lighting.

Your goal is to make each room in your home seem inviting, spacious and comfortable.

Ideally, when you list your property for sale, you want your entire home staged well. That way, you’ll maximize its appeal to buyers. However, that’s not always possible. So, if you can’t stage everything, focus your energy on those rooms that will have the biggest impact. Here are the rooms buyers tend to scrutinize most:

• The kitchen. Buyers almost always remember the kitchen when they see a home. They either love it or hate it. So, making your kitchen look great is crucial. Make sure it’s clean and uncluttered. A cleared countertop with only a few carefully selected decorative items and a beautifully set kitchen table can have a big impact.

• The living room. People spend a lot of time in the living room, so it’s not surprising that buyers take a close look at this space. Make it seem as spacious and comfortable as possible. The lighting should be soft and pleasant. Professional stagers say putting some books on a table will help set the right mood.

• The master bedroom. This room should, obviously, look uncluttered and warm. If there is an adjoining ensuite, consider it an extension of the same space. The bed should be made to look as welcoming as a nice hotel room bed. A throw and some decorative pillows could make a big difference. The closet – a clutter magnet in most homes – should be as neat and organized as possible.

• The foyer. Don’t underestimate the importance of this space. It’s the first thing buyers see when entering your home. Clear away items, such as shoes, to make the foyer seem open and inviting.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to make your home look attractive to buyers. When rooms are staged well, buyers tend to form a more positive impression and, as a result, you’re more likely to get a good offer.

Staging is a proven method of enhancing the appeal of your home. In some cases, it will not only help sell your home faster, but also result in a higher price. But there is a continuum to staging that you will need to consider.

At one end of the continuum is simple staging, which involves cleaning and decluttering, making some simple improvements, and possibly rearranging furniture in a way that boosts the appeal of each room. That kind of staging is relatively easy and affordable.

On the other end is “showroom style” staging. In this scenario, your home is analyzed by a professional stager, who redecorates to make sure each room looks spacious and attractive – like a showroom in an upscale furniture store.

So where on the continuum should you be when selling your home?

For the most part, that depends on the demand for your listing. If buyers will be clamouring to buy your home, then simple staging might be enough. However, if you’re selling in a competitive market, then more comprehensive staging will give you an edge.