As a realtor, I completely understand your attachment to your home. It may be the very spot where you got engaged, brought your babies home or completed one of your greatest DIY projects. Homes are meant to be places we love, and no matter how much you may need more space or look forward to a new location, letting go can be hard. Continue reading
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With spring officially beginning on March 20th and the idea of fresh new beginnings in the air, many folks are eager to get started updating their homes for a sale or planning improvement projects for a future sale. While you may be interested in adding a deck or patio, updating a kitchen or bath, or even adding crown molding to enhance trim details, not all projects are created equal in the eyes of a residential appraiser. Let’s look at a few of the things THEY look at to assess value.
Homeowners considering home improvements need to remember that cost doesn’t always equal a dollar for dollar return in value. An appraiser does not simply add the cost of your improvement to the value of your home. Instead, an appraiser will look at the age of the improvement, assess cost and calculate depreciation if the asset is not new. Then they will evaluate the current marketplace to determine if buyers are buying and contracting for homes with similar improvements. The two approaches most often used to define value are called the Cost Approach and the Market Comparison Approach.
There is a lot to be said for your geographic location. For instance, if you have a unique setting and live near a pond or lake, have scenic views of the mountains, or live on the 18th green of a private golf course, the attributes of the lot/land are taken into consideration and should add value. Likewise, enhanced hardscape, such as an outdoor masonry fireplace, or even an in-ground swimming pool would also be taken into consideration. Whether or not the appraiser determines the site location and exterior enhancements to be of premium value depends on the appraiser. Once again, the cost and age of the improvement and most importantly here, the market comparison assessment, may or may not cause an increase in value. In other words, the year-round use of having an in-ground pool in Texas may be of higher value than one in Virginia.
Regular heating and central air tune-ups, roof and gutter repairs and replacement, septic system servicing and other routine maintenance go a long way and speak volumes to a potential buyer but do not mean a whole lot to an appraiser. An appraiser will address the overall condition of the property but will not look to see if you have recently tuned up your HVAC or checked your gutters. An appraiser is more focused on the value of the property and its assets, so a new HVAC system or roof is important for them to know about, but the routine upkeep of your home and its condition relates to its marketability.
Saving receipts can really be a pain, but it can be more of a pain not to document the amounts spent. You should also keep before and after pictures of the work you have had done. The appraiser can’t always see internal and structural work that may mean a difference of several thousand dollars. A good example would be the before and after photos of a kitchen or bathroom remodeling project.
These are only a few of the many things an appraiser will consider when determining the value of your home and its improvements. Ask your realtor for an opinion on buying and selling trends and whether your future improvement project will make a difference to your bottom line. Lastly, consider broad-based improvements that most people will like instead of specific improvements that only a few people can appreciate. Choose wisely to get the highest return and value for your improvements.
If you have questions or need a professional opinion on improvement values and the marketability of your home, contact Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging today.
“Belinda was very helpful and patient with all the details involved in buying our home. She showed us several homes, supervised the home inspection, and made certain all necessary repairs were completed. She also recommended responsible moving companies and kept in contact with us on the progress of the loan.” J. Lyell, Gainesville
Sign up now for a FREE copy of Belinda’s e-book, “The Real Estate Key – What You Need to Know”!
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Preparing and selling your home can be a challenge! Many sellers are not sure of all the ins and outs or what may sell homes in their area. We atJacobson Realty and Home Stagingknow, though! Here are 10 things that you should definitely remember for a successful selling transaction.
With a bit of preparation and a great plan, you can reduce the stress and make selling your house a satisfying experience!
©2016, Jacobson Realty and Home Staging
Jacobson Realty and Home Staging (JRY) was established by Broker/Owner Belinda Jacobson-Loehle in April 2002. Belinda is a native Washingtonian who grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and has lived and worked in Gainesville, Virginia since 1995. She has been a licensed broker since 1989.
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Whether you are planning to move soon or not, you can give your home a facelift, improve your curb appeal and increase your home’s worth by sprucing up your landscaping.
Here are some ideas that can boost your curb appeal and add value to your home.
· Refresh your landscaping. For little to no money, you can spruce up your yard with a small budget and a little sweat equity. You can add pops of color with annuals, perennials or flowering seasonal shrubs. Add fresh mulch to your flower beds and make sure your grass is green and full, edged and free of weeds. Trim your trees and shrubs and make sure you can always see your house! If you can’t get out to do this work yourself, you can hire a high school or college student to do a full yard cleanup and plant some flowering annuals.
· Don’t go overboard. While your prize rosebush may be the envy of fellow gardeners, it might be viewed as a hassle by those who don’t share your passion for gardening. Stick to plantings that are native to the area and easy to maintain. Also, don’t plant an overwhelming amount of plants or too large of a variety – that can make your lawn look cramped or busy. Keep landscaping simple and inviting. And as I always say, “ If you can’t see it (the house), you can’t sell it!”.
· Invest in an outdoor irrigation system. If you have more money to devote to home improvement and want a bigger return on investment, consider installing an underground lawn sprinkler system. With hot, parched summers, this is a sure way to keep your lawn, plants and trees looking healthy and vibrant throughout the summer selling season.
· Call a professional landscaper – If your selling horizon is greater than a year and your budget is flexible, you may want to contact a professional landscaper who can turn your vision into a reality and make recommendations for which plants and landscaping elements would accentuate your home’s best features and camouflage any flaws, gaps or tough growing areas.
· Enhance your landscaping with pavers or bricks. A paved area can add value to your home and doesn’t require a green thumb. You can save money on pavers or bricks by purchasing leftovers online or by searching for the next holiday sale at your local home improvement store. This is a fairly simple DIY project, or you can keep your hands clean and hire a professional to install them.
· Add a shade sail. Make your new paved area more functional and attractive by adding a shade sail. This is another simple DIY project that requires installing 3 timber posts and a shade sail kit. Easy and doable!
· Add solar landscape lighting. – Buyers want to know how their future home will look at night and during the daytime. Consider energy efficient landscape lighting from a home improvement store to add the ambiance you need to set the stage for evening visitors. This is another DIY project that is well worth the time and money spent to sell your home now or later!
· Add potted plants. Save yourself the headache of weeding large areas by adding potted plants and flowers to your front entrance. You can incorporate welcoming bursts of color to your landscape for a relatively low cost.
· Plant trees. Trees can add value to your home for years to come. People enjoy the shade and beauty trees add to the property. They also help with erosion by sucking up storm water. Do your research about the right type of tree for your property based on the sun’s orientation and how close to the house you should plant it. You don’t want to plant too close, as the tree could pose a danger with broken or falling limbs.
We know that landscaping requires investing time, money and effort. The return homeowners get from simple landscaping, though, makes the investment well worth it. If you have questions about your home’s worth or curb appeal, contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging. We’d be happy to get the answers you need to make good decisions and provide referrals to make you feel confident in your decision.
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A public open house is a critical piece to marketing your home, especially if you need to do showings by appointment only. Your listing agent has the responsibility to get your home the most exposure to the public as possible, and while tools like Zillow and Trulia are great for online marketing, they don’t get people in the door like an open house will.
The open house is a coordinated event with you, the owner that allows the public to freely view your home with or without an agent during the timeframe of your choosing. It reduces the pressure on you as the owner to ready your house with little or no notice, and it provides freedom to the potential buyer to preview the home in a more leisurely manner. It’s essentially a win-win situation for both parties. Here are some frequently asked questions I get about open houses.
Do open houses only attract neighbors?
Not always. Keep in mind, though, that your neighbors are your friends. The more neighbors who know about your property, the more likely they will tell their friends and family about your listing.
Are public open houses always scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays?
No. However, many open houses are scheduled on Sunday afternoons to prevent conflicts with weekend and religious activities. Open houses can be scheduled any time of the week that works for you and makes sense for potential buyers. The time of day is also flexible. It’s a good idea to listen to the recommendations of your listing agent and coordinate a date and time that works best for you and for your potential buyers.
Is it important for a listing agent to offer food at an open house?
No. If a listing agent has a unique or desirable property listing, the open house will be very busy — especially if the house has been professionally staged. It’s best not to have food at a public open house. You spent a lot of time and effort readying your home for the open house, and you probably don’t want to go through sweeping up a day’s worth of crumbs and spills after it’s over. A small dish of candy and perhaps a bottle of water are considered gracious and all you really need to offer for a regular open house.
If your listing agent is planning a broker’s open house, usually simple luncheon food is provided. Why do you provide food for brokers? Because you want your listing agent to keep brokers on site to gain as much feedback as possible to understand the positioning and the perceived value, architectural flaws and overall perception of the property by other pros. This information will help your agent make adjustments to tweak your listing in a more favorable light. You want them to share their property experience with other agents who may have a buyer for your property. Food encourages people to stay a little longer and talk.
Do public open houses and broker opens always work?
No. They are simply additional marketing tools for your agent to use to provide exposure to your property. Listen to your listing agent about recommendations to determine if a public open house or broker’s open will work best, given the location of the property and time the property is being offered.
If you would like more information on open houses or anything else related to residential real estate, contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging. We’d be happy to answer any questions.
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Have you ever had a photo taken in light that was just not flattering? It made you cringe, right? Having the correct lighting is important, not just for your selfies, but for photographing and staging your home to sell. We think about adorning our homes with festive lights at holiday times, but you can improve the look of your home year-round with a few extra lights. Changing the lighting in your home is a simple, inexpensive way to make your home seem open, airy and warm. Here are some tips for illuminating your home to sell:
· Add curb appeal. Motivated homebuyers are viewing your home in daylight hours and after sundown so make sure it looks its best at all times. You always want to keep your front exterior lights on but you can add a few simple outdoor light fixtures to add curb appeal. Solar walkway lights can light up your sidewalk to improve safety and ambiance. A spotlight or two on the front of your house can also add to your house, improve safety and give visitors a clear view of your home’s exterior. Landscape light packages sold at your local Lowe’s and Home Depot stores provide easy install methods while providing dramatic results inexpensively. If you have a beautiful tree, shrub, or flowers let people know by complementing natural beauty with a little added light. And, of course, if you’re selling during the holiday season, a few festive white neutral lights will really show your spirit and help folks envision themselves at home for the holidays when viewing your house.
· Use natural light. Whenever possible, take full advantage of natural daylight. Keep blinds and curtains open during the daytime to light up your home, make it seem open and airy all day long.
· Use flattering light sources. Overhead fluorescent lights are typically harsh while floor lamps and touchier lamps create mood and plenty of up lighting. Use soft, warm tones and rely on smaller lamps to disperse lighting to specific areas. You can also turn lamps during the day to enlarge the sense of space and brighten up your home.
· Add subtle lighting. Small under-counter kitchen lighting shows off your countertops and makes one of the most important rooms in the house warm and inviting. Add wall sconce lighting to places that are short on space. If you have art on your walls, you can showcase it with small light fixtures.
· Change a light fixture. Swapping out dated light fixtures for sleeker, more modern versions can be a wise investment that won’t cost you a lot. Better yet, spray paint old light fixtures with new modern colors to update any look inexpensively. Installing or updating attractive light fixtures is worth the money spent and will always catch a buyers’ eye!
Still not sure what lighting is right for your home? Jacobson Realty and Home Staging can help you fully stage your home to sell quickly and for the best price.Contact us today!
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