It’s officially spring! While the warmer weather may be welcome, the idea of spring cleaning may not. However, the right spring cleaning projects can actually add value to your home, and that’s definitely welcome news if you’re planning on listing your home in the near future. Continue reading
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Though spring is the most popular time to sell a home, there are quite a few benefits to selling in the winter. There’s typically less inventory, so there will be less competition for buyers. A baby boom tends to happen around September, meaning new parents will be looking for a larger home during the winter months. These buyers and those who are relocating due to a job change tend to be more serious buyers. If you find yourself needing to sell your home during the cold months, here are some tips to do so successfully. Continue reading
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The real estate business is still strong despite the coronavirus pandemic in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Business did slow down a little in March at the beginning of the nationwide lockdown, but now that things have opened back up, home showings are happening again. In fact, real estate sales were still taking place during lockdown. Everything was just happening virtually during that time. We aren’t out of the woods yet with the pandemic, but we have a better understanding of the people that are of greatest risk. With that said, you may still want to take precautions to keep you and your family safe while your home is on the market. Continue reading
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There are typical costs that are associated with selling a home in Prince William County – everything from administrative fees and taxes to real estate commission. One closing cost item that sellers tend to have questions about is the Congestion Relief Fee (also known as the Grantor’s Tax). Sellers want to know “What is the Congestion Relief Fee?”, “How is it calculated?” and “Does it impact me?” Let’s take a look into each question. 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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Getting ready to move? Are you excited and anxious about it at the same time? That’s often the case. While moving can be exciting, it can also be one of life’s most stressful events. There’s so much to think about and a multitude of things to get done, not to mention the changes that you and your family may face. That’s why I’ve put together some of the best moving tips and tricks to help make the process a little easier. Some organization and planning can lighten the stress load. Continue reading
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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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So you have decided to sell your home. You are excited about the prospects, but also a little nervous. You want to get the best sale price you can, but other than getting a professional cleaner, you’re not sure what you should do to prepare. Well, fear not. This article should help point you in the right direction. Here are ten items you can start working on.
1. Know how much your utilities cost. This might sound like an odd place to start, but it’s important that you be able to tell your realtor and potential buyers what you pay each month for utilities. The amount will have to fit into the buyer’s budget, so these numbers are relevant.
2. Collect house manuals. When a buyer purchases your home and moves in, he/she will want to know what is in the home and how to care for it. If you do not have original manuals, consider ordering some or printing them off from the Internet.
3. Put away valuables and medicine. For the sake of safety, it’s better to store these items. Some homeowners opt to use offsite storage for valuables. This might be something to consider, especially if you intend to have multiple open houses.
4. Take care of basic maintenance. Go through your home and take inventory of any mechanical features due for routine cleaning or tuning up. You should take into consideration your water heater, air conditioning and heating systems and appliances.
5. Repair. Repairs can take the form of anything from fixing flooring to spackling walls to sealing windows to addressing plumbing. Go through your home, room by room, and make a list of needed repairs. Then start taking care of those one by one.
6. Landscape. You’ve heard of curb appeal, right? Curb appeal is largely dependent on the attractiveness of your landscaping. If you do your own landscaping, make sure you weed, rake, mow, etc. It might be helpful to have a professional landscaper come in to assess your yard, make recommendations and take care of anything that needs to be done.
7. Don’t forget about decks, pools and driveways. Outside is just as important as inside. Potential buyers will want to see that decks are secure, the wood healthy. Driveways should be free of cracks and need to be sealed. Pools should be clean and in good working order. Sheds should be in good condition. You want all of these elements to add, not detract, from the beauty and value of your home.
8. Have your home professionally staged. In a previous article, we talked about the importance of home staging. If you want your home to be attractive, you will need to depersonalize it so potential buyers can visualize themselves living there. Start by de-clutttering your home. Donate, give away or throw out unused and unnecessary belongings. Make the most of the space you have for the things you really need. Show buyers there is room to grow.
9. Re-paint. A fresh coat of neutral color paint often can make a great difference in how potential buyers view your home. Dirty, scratched or faded paint is a huge turnoff. You can choose paint colors yourself, or, for maximum benefit, ask a home stager to recommend a color.
10. Re-floor. Carpets age and wear, hardwood fades and shows scratches and tile cracks. Check all floors to ensure they are good condition and show well. If not, consider replacing.
Preparing to put your home on the market can seem like a lot of work. It takes time to do things right. So plan ahead, factor in the time and prep your home for market. In the end, it’s worth the effort because it will actually reduce stress when buyers present offers. Remember, a well-prepared home will keep you competitive, and it should bring you the highest sales price in the shortest amount of time!
If you would like more tips on preparing your home for sale, call Belinda Jacobson-Loehle at 703-338-9678 or email Belinda@JacobsonRealty1.com.
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