There’s nothing like being home for the holidays. Before the festivities get underway, you’ll want to make sure safety is at the top of your holiday to-do list. With all the decorating and running around, there are many extra hazards around your home to be aware of. Protect yourself, your loved ones and your investment in your home with these holiday safety tips. Continue reading
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2018 is here! Time to take stock of what we’ve accomplished so far and formalize any new goals. With the new year comes the idea of fresh beginnings, promises and possibilities. This feeling of newness often brings along the desire to declutter and organize our homes. Decluttering, however, can seem like an insurmountable chore, if you don’t know where or how to start. I suggest tackling the clutter one small step at a time, knowing that it will lead to big improvements over time. Here are some of my suggestions for decluttering and organizing your home. Continue reading
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On the cusp of the new year, I find myself looking back over the previous twelve months and giving thanks for all that we have accomplished and shared. I can’t tell you how much of a pleasure it has been serving our community this past year. I’ve enjoyed all of our experiences together – clients buying their first homes, neighbors discovering new Prince William County communities and residents choosing to downsize for a lower-maintenance lifestyle. So, we say thanks to all our clients for trusting Jacobson Reality and Staging with one of your most important life decisions – buying or selling a home. Continue reading
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It’s that time of year when the days get shorter, the air becomes crisper, and families start to feel festive as the holiday season approaches. Your house is on the market primed and ready to sell. As neighbors begin to transform their houses into winter wonderlands, the question many sellers have is: Should I decorate my house or not? Continue reading
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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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All homes have varied yard space. Some have major acreage or a full privacy fence that make them a notable benefit to buying a house. Yet many can be conceived as too small or simple to be memorable. Outdoor space is no longer just for pets, garden or a kiddie pool, if you leave the space untouched, it could work against you. So, I have put together some tips and tricks to make use of your yard space and help it stand-out. Continue reading
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Growing up, we’re always taught that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, never judge a book by its cover and countless other platitudes. But let’s face it, in the real world, sometimes what’s on the outside does count. No, we’re not being shallow – we’re talking curb appeal. Buyers frequently assess your home before they ever set foot across the threshold. Armed with this information, you can go forward and increase the curb appeal of your home so that your first impression is a lasting impression (one that lasts all the way to the closing table).
Crystal clear windows – Show a sneak peak of the inside of your home without old spider webs or greasy face prints clouding the view. Clean your windows, inside and out.
Front door finesse – The entryway to your home should be warm and inviting, but also clean and in good repair. A fresh coat of paint can do a world of good. Also, make sure that your door’s hardware is pleasing to the eye and is in good shape.
Rotten wood, good riddance – If you have damaged wood on your home’s exterior, such as shutters or doorframes, repair or replace it for a quick facelift for your home.
Roof repair – Make sure to tidy up your roof by replacing any missing shingles and cleaning out your gutters.
Patio and path prep – It’s easy to get loose stones in your patio or stone path in your yard. Make sure these areas are weed-free, in good repair and clean (with no wobbly or broken stones) to increase your home’s curb appeal.
Siding sprucer – You can freshen up your home’s exterior by painting, repairing, power washing and/or replacing old siding. You can also refurbish brick exteriors.
Porch and deck pick-me-ups – Your porch or deck may benefit from a good power washing, or it may need to be completely restained or repainted. A color change and an outdoor space that’s attractive and in good repair will give you the curb appeal to bring buyers in.
Flower bed fortification – Lay down your weed mats, plant some new perennials and toss in some fresh mulch. This relatively easy and inexpensive front yard fix will add a splash of color to your landscape and make the outside of your home more cheery.
Show your lawn some love – Weed killer, seed, fertilizer, and water can go a long way. If your lawn looks like an old western movie (tumbleweeds through a whirlwind of dust), invest in growing (or sodding) a new lawn to attract prospective buyers.
Mailbox maintenance – Often it’s not right next to the house, so the mailbox gets neglected. Check your mailbox to make sure it’s not rusted, is in good working order has no wood rot in the post. If you’ve had a specialty mailbox installed previously (because who doesn’t love pulling catalogs out of a wide-mouth bass?) consider installing a tamer, more HOA-compliant mailbox design.
As professional stagers and realtors, we can help you with your curb appeal woes. Call us at 703-338-9678, or email Belinda@JacobsonRealty1.com.
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Buying a home is a major investment, which is why it’s best left to the experts — dedicated, local realtors. Here are nine reasons why we feel Jacobson Realty and Home Staging is best positioned to help you buy, stage and sell:
· Personalized service – We have more time to devote to each client, a client who is an individual. We will get to know you, what you’re looking for, what you’re not looking for, what your financial situation is. All of these factors are important when you’re buying or selling a home.
· Home staging – Jacobson Realty and Home Staging offers free home staging services with experienced home stagers who take their time and assess your home’s appearance, see its potential and execute a beautifully staged home that will fetch the best offers.
· Motivation – We are invested in seeing you succeed. It’s not just about the money. It’s about our clients’ satisfaction, which is crucial when a home is being sold or purchased.
· Choice of agent – When you choose to work with us, you are putting your trust in us, and we take that seriously. We know there are other realtors out there, and we appreciate your confidence in us.
· Expertise – Our real estate agents have expertise in both the field and your location. Our realtors have plenty of community connections and insider advice on neighborhoods, schools, community activities and more.
· Flexibility – When you work with Jacobson Realty and Home Staging, you have someone who wants to make the deal work for you, someone who has the flexibility to be creative to get you into your dream home or sell your current home.
· Diversity – You are not a cookie cutter customer, so why would you benefit from a one-size-fits-all generic realty service? Experienced agents, who have more time to devote to you as an individual, can learn what you truly need and help you get there. That’s what we offer.
· Value – We have a wide range of homes we can help you bid on, more flexible financing options and advice on how to get the best price for your home. In the long run, that saves you money.
· Support – Buying or selling a home is listed as one of the official biggest life stressors. You don’t want to go through that stress with someone who does not have your best interest at heart. You want someone who can help bring you through transactions smoothly and get you where you need to be.
We encourage you to take a look at our website where you will find options tosearch for a home, get your home assessed, learn more about the community and read about tips and tricks that will help get you what you need. When you are ready, call us at (703) 753-0125 or email us at Belinda@JacobsonRealty1.com. We promise you will be pleased with the service you receive.
And don’t miss the Community Parade of Homes at Virginia Oaks on Sunday, May 31st, 1-4 p.m. Come see what VA Oaks has to offer! Visit the newly renovated clubhouse too! Open to all.
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When your house goes on the market, you want to make sure you can sell it as quickly as possible. By fully preparing before you list, you can help move your house expediently and prevent buyers from asking for additional improvements or repairs when they purchase. Check out this checklist of things to do to get your house fully prepared for the market. Then ask yourself, “How prepared am I?”
Outside
· Tidy up your lawn and garden. Cut grass, trim shrubs and trees, replace dead plants and remove weeds.
· Clean up your yard, patio or deck. Remove any trash, debris and toys from your yard.
· Make sure your driveway and entryway are clutter-free.
· Check your outdoor faucets for leaks and repair any you find.
· Make sure your mailbox, house numbers and exterior lighting are clean and in good condition.
· Do exterior paint touch-ups as needed.
· Give your house a facelift by painting the front door.
· Inspect your chimney for cracks or missing mortar and have those items repaired if you find them.
· Make repairs to loose trim, fencing and drain pipes. Clean out the gutters.
· Add a new welcome mat to your front door.
· Clean stains and window screens. If your sidewalk or house is especially dirty, consider power washing or hiring someone to power wash.
Garage
· Declutter and organize all the remaining items.
· Sweep and scrub the garage floor.
Living areas
· Apply a fresh coat of paint anywhere you need one. If your house has brightly painted walls, consider repainting with light, neutral colors.
· Clean your draperies and vacuum and steam clean your carpets (or hire a professional to steam clean).
· Make sure all lightbulbs are in working order.
· Clean all of the windows, inside and out.
Kitchen
· Remove any clutter from the countertops. Thoroughly clean counters, sinks and appliances. Clean your oven inside and out.
· Clean and polish or wax the floor.
· Clean tile or grout and replace it if it’s beyond cleaning.
Bathrooms
· Clean or replace the shower curtain.
· Thoroughly clean the sinks, shower, bathtub, toilet, floors, mirrors and anything with chrome or porcelain surfaces.
· Clean or replace grout and caulk.
· Fix faucet drips or leaks.
Closets
· Make sure that doors and drawers open and close easily.
· Declutter and tidy up the shelves and racks. Neatly arrange all your shoes and clothing.
· Get a head start on packing and remove all the clothing that’s not in season from your closet.
Overall
· Do a walk-through as if you were a home buyer. Look for doors, windows, cabinets and drawers that stick, squeak or are too loose. Look for any issue which may cause a buyer to ask for additional maintenance on your home.
· Clean your fireplace and remove any smoke stains from the wall and mantle.
· Service your HVAC system and hot water heater.
· Make sure your home smells fresh and inviting. Do this by keeping everything clean and, if possible, opening the windows occasionally to air out stale odors your home may retain.
Once you have done all that, you are ready! We will review the checklist with you, stage, position and list your home! Want to know more? Contact Jacobson Realty and Home Staging. We’d be happy to get you on the path to selling your home – maybe even faster than you thought. Oh, and we have a lovely horse property that just became available! You won’t want to miss seeing this!
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If you’re planning on reselling your house, you don’t want to dump a ton of money into making home improvements that won’t ultimately pay off for you when you could be saving that money for a down payment on your next dream home. It’s important to know which home improvements will both better your life in your current home and add resale value and which fixes are best left for the next owner. Here are some frugal fixes that we’ve found can boost your home’s resale value:· Give your kitchen a facelift – This spot can make or break a home sale, so it’s very important to have a clean and updated kitchen when your house goes on the market. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars completely remodeling this room. You can give your kitchen a budget makeover that will make it sparkle again. You can cheaply and easily replace your kitchen faucet, update old lighting fixtures and add new cabinet door handles. On a slightly larger budget, you can improve your existing kitchen cabinets by hiring a refacing company. They can refinish the cabinet boxes and add new doors and drawers to make your cabinets shine again.
· Make your appliances match – Kitchen appliances that don’t match can be a turn-off for potential buyers. You don’t have to buy all new appliances to get a matching set. You can simply get a new cover for your existing appliances. If you’re looking to switch your white dishwasher face for a black one (or vice versa), you may be in luck. Many models of dishwashers have a reversible front panel. You just need to unscrew it and flip the panel around.
· Add a bedroom in less than a week – If you have a 2 bedroom house with a den, one of the reasons this room can’t be considered a bedroom may be because it doesn’t have a closet. If you’re only missing a closet, you can easily add one for less than $1500 in about one week. The value this added bedroom brings to your house far outweighs the cost of building a closet.
· Clean up for curb appeal – If your house doesn’t look appealing from the outside, you can improve your curb appeal with a few plants, a lawnmower, a power washer and some elbow grease. Make sure your lawn is mowed and weeded. Adding a few plants, flowers and some new mulch can do wonders to make your home warm and inviting for potential buyers. Rent (or borrow) a power washer and give your siding and walkways a good scrub.
· Spruce up your storage space – If your house lacks closet space, redesigned closets can help improve your resale value and make your remaining time in your home much more pleasant and organized. You can do it yourself with closet systems from your local home improvement store, design new closets online or call in a professional to help maximize the storage space you have.
As professional home stagers, we at Jacobson Realty and Home Staging can make personalized recommendations that will help you get the most when you decide to sell your home. Call us at 703-338-9678 or emailBelinda@JacobsonRealty1.com.
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