Home Makeover Tips to Make Your Home Look Awesome

So you have got your home listed and firmly implanted that “For Sale” sign in the front yard. But is your home ready to be toured by would-be buyers? Ask any real estate expert and they will all tell you why it is important to give your home a nice makeover before showing it to potential buyers. First impression really matters.

Even if you are in a market where houses sell quickly, first impression is very important. So it’s a good idea to spruce up your house – it would convince the would-be buyer that it is well worth every penny you are asking. You can give your home a great makeover without having to spend a fortune.

If just a few homes are available on the market, you will probably not feel the need to spend loads of money on aesthetic improvements. Still, there are several relatively inexpensive things that you can and should do to attract buyers.

Here are a few things you should do to improve your home's external appearance:

·         Make sure that your lawn is well-maintained; don't forget to tidy up your landscaping.

·         Place a nice potted plant close to the front door. It will make your door area more attractive.

·         Make the doors look new by applying a fresh coat of paint.

·         Clean the windows to a sparkle.

·         Install a new doorknob. It will create a sense of greater security.

·         Your street numerals should be in place. Make sure that they are polished. You can also invest in a brand new set of numerals. 

·         Hang a seasonal wreath on the door.

·         If there are any loose shingles get them fixed before showing the house to potential buyers.

·         Repair your gutters and paint them.

The interior is as important as the exterior. When potential buyers enter the house, you should still be able to leave a positive impact on them. Here are a few things you need to do: 

·         Remove clutter. Clutter kills positive energy. It also makes your home look cramped and unattractive. Keep the toys well organized in closets or shelves. Leave the countertops in your bathrooms and kitchen empty. If that is not possible, remove as many items as you can.

·         If you have a lot of family photos, you need to remove them as well.

·         Hang fresh towels in the bathroom.

·         If the walls have rough spots, touch them up with paint.

·         Get your carpets cleaned before potential buyers walk in. You should vacuum clean the floor each morning.

·         If the faucets in your bathrooms or kitchen are leaky, get them fixed. You should also replace all non-functioning bulbs.

·         Open all curtains and blinds to let light in. Don't forget to turn the lights on before each showing.

·         If you have a lot of furniture, remove some of it.

·         Place some flowers and nice plants in attractive containers.

·         Clean your fireplace.

Of course, each one of us has our own sense of style. By doing these things you are not trying to fool potential buyers into believing that your home is the best. Instead, you are trying to show a simple and clean house with great potential.

Selling your home means that you should know the true value of the property. You can obtain a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ to find out how much a home is worth. Also, the Home Loan Advisor can analyze your property, current market conditions, local market comps, and other variables in our proprietary algorithm, and match you with potential lenders.

Can New Flooring Add Value to Your Home?

Flooring is one of the most noticeable features of a room. It has the potential to affect your home’s look and feel, which is especially important if you are thinking about selling your home. You can greatly enhance your home’s overall look with a floor upgrade without a total home remodel.
Flooring such as bamboo and hardwood floors are surefire bets to give your home value a boost.

The thing to keep in mind when considering new flooring is whether or not it would add perceived value or not to your home’s appraised value. If an appraiser says that the overall condition of your home will be raised from average to very good, then new flooring is a fantastic addition. If you are selling your home, it’s also important to keep in that buyers can be picky when it comes to flooring, and it can affect their overall decision to buy or not to buy.
 

The perfect flooring additions are visually impressive while providing considerable ROI. The perfect combination in a home would be laminate wood flooring in living areas, high-grade marble in bathrooms, and Berber carpet in the bedrooms. But the key is to choose flooring that fits your home’s style.

What types of flooring can add value to your home?

If you are replacing your flooring and budget isn’t an issue, does a specific type of flooring add more value? Of course! Here are a few types of flooring that are great investments to your home:

·        Hardwood- Hardwood floors have a natural beauty that serves as a great addition to a home’s interior. Any living area, kitchen, or bedroom can benefit from hardwood flooring. They are a smart investment that has the potential to give a home a polished look as well as boost the overall value.

·        Bamboo- For sustainable flooring that is durable and requires a low amount of maintenance, bamboo flooring is a great choice. They have the ability to give your home a modern appearance, and they are naturally resistant to moisture and bacteria.

·        Cork- Cork flooring is environmentally friendly since it is sustainably harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree without harming it. Cork floors are antimicrobial, sound-resistant, and great for providing a soft and cushiony feel.

·       Parquet- Parquet flooring is a wonderful way to add contrast and texture to a floor. Popular woods for solid parquet flooring include oak, walnut, cherry, and pine. Stains and finishes enhance the contrasting colors and grains of the different woods.

It’s a good idea for homeowners to know the true value of your home before and after your new flooring is installed. You can obtain a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ to find out how much a property is worth, especially after your fall and winter home improvements and maintenance projects are completed. Also, the Home Loan Advisor can analyze your property, current market conditions, local market comps, and other variables in our proprietary algorithm, and match you with potential lenders.

 

Unappealing Home Design Features: Make Sure Your House Doesn’t Have These

Every decade has had a fair share of debatable home design features ranging from the wood paneling of the 1970s to glass blocks and vertical blinds of the following decades. Home buyers are often repelled by outdated designs and offer less, keeping in mind the costs associated with covering up or correcting problematic areas.

As per a survey of property agents and interior designers, following is a list of the least liked features in the real estate arena.

Shag carpeting

Deep-pile carpeting with shaggy texture in a vibrant array of colors was quite popular in the 70s. It was considered to be kid-friendly, but the problems were trapping of dirt and getting easily matted, which required a shag rake to be used regularly.Though shag area rugs are sometimes linked to hipsters, most buyers turn away from the conventional wall-to-wall style.

Colorful toilets and sinks

If you’re looking to add some color, designers feel that commodes are not the place to consider. They say that since sinks and toilets are positioned center and front, they should not hurt the eyes. Tubs can be hidden from buyers by using shower curtains.

Buyers today do not wish their bathrooms to have remnants of the 70s and bring down their offer price when they know they will have to fix them.

Metallic wallpaper

The use of any kind of wallpaper is slightly dicey, primarily because of the problems associated with its removal. Prominent offenders are metallic wallpapers with silvery floral prints or bronzy metallic stripes. This flashy trend began in the 1970s and continued till the 1990s. Designers say that prospective buyers are also turned off by floral wallpaper borders which were quite ubiquitous in the 80s.

They advise that if there’s wallpaper in your home, you should get it removed and repaint your home before you put it up on the market.

Carpeted bathrooms

Some people like to have their bathrooms carpeted. According to experts, this is not a good idea since carpets can get matted and mildewed.

Carpets retain water and become big repositories for bacteria. If you do not wish to get your feet cold in the morning, it's better putting down a flat weave woolen area rug that can be easily cleaned. Investing in flooring with radiant heat might also be a good idea.

Sliding-plastic enclosures

Through the decades, plastic bathroom doors have become common, especially when there is a tub-shower combination inside. Plastic shower doors invariably have outdated gold trim and get soap scum all over. Potential buyers sometimes find these repelling and useless.

It’s better to have an easy-to-clean simple shower rod with a curtain. Glass doors that open are also easier to keep spotless as compared to those that slide on tracks. Sliding doors come off the tracks often and since the tracks are recessed, they attract grime and mildew.

The tracks are also functionally challenging. Young parents have a tough time bathing their kids by leaning over because the tracks come in the way. Seniors face problems due to the tracks as well since it adds to their problems when coming out of the shower.

Too many mirrors

While mirrors make rooms appear larger, they look downright tacky if they cover large expanses like backsplashes and bedroom ceilings. Large framed mirrors over fireplaces or hung in foyers for bouncing light can look nice, but huge, permanent full wall mirrors are definitely a no-no.

And in the end, a small tip: Minimal design is the best way to go. It will be appealing to all types of buyers.

Since home design can be an factor on a home’s true worth, it may be a good idea to get a valuation report. You can rely on a free home value report from Neighborhood IQ to learn what your home is worth.

 

How to Successfully Market Your House

The housing market is not always booming, and it may take some work to even peak a home buyer’s interest so that they will attend a showing. This is why marketing your home to get the word out and generate interest in your property is so crucial. A successful marketing strategy will enable your home to sell faster and for more money.

But what does a great marketing strategy entail? Well, if you are not selling your property yourself, you need a real estate broker to handle all of your advertising for you. Some types of advertising are ineffective and turn out to be wastes of time and money. But luckily, some marketing tactics are extremely effective. Let’s look at some of them below.

Successful advertising techniques:

“For Sale” sign- A good, simple sign is singlehandedly one of the best ways you can advertise your home. The sign should have a phone number to call, a web site link, the company name of the broker and a phrase such as “by appointment only.” This is all you need to create an effective sign that will peak interest. Be sure to use a new, two-sided sign that makes a good first impression. And refrain from putting up the sign until you are absolutely certain you are selling.

Classified ads- Before the internet, classified ads were one of the most popular ways to gain home buyers’ interest. They are still a classic way to advertise. These ads are inexpensive and they reach many prospective buyers.

Listing statements- Also known as property statements, listing statements are data sheets that are given to interested buyers who tour your home. They contain more information than a classified ad, and a good listing statement will take people through your home and emphasize the special features room by room that they may not take note of otherwise.

The internet- Many brokers have web sites that they use for their listings. Classified ads on the internet mean that you will reach a great deal more potential buyers, especially since some people fully rely on the World Wide Web.

Open houses- An invaluable sales tool, open houses are great hands-on approaches to getting your property noticed. Buyers want to be enticed by sight and touch, and an open house can definitely help. There are two types of open houses: brokers’ opens and weekend open houses. Your listing agent should schedule both types for maximum effectiveness.

Multiple listing service (MLS)- Composed of local real estate brokers and agents who pool their listings, this service gives your home wide exposure to a host of buyers who work with other MLS members.

Word of mouth- You can’t beat this old-fashioned advertising technique that is powerful and free. Networking by telling everyone you know about your property for sale could pay off in the long run.

While you are focused on a marketing strategy for your home, it’s not too late to find out the value of the property you are selling. Check out a free home valuation report from Neighborhood IQ and find out thatmagic number!

Turn Your House into a Goldmine – Buyers Just Cannot Say No

When a buyer enters the real estate market, they are looking for a house that they can fall in love with. As a seller, your job is to function as a catalyst so that the buyer ends up finding their dream house in your place. Your buyer does not care if you are unaware of how the real estate market works – they are concerned with something more fundamental and mundane – finding the house of their dreams. You just need to understand what the buyer wants. It needs some psychological skills to know what exactly a buyer is looking for. Present your home to them in their own terms and they won’t be able to say no.

You do not need a degree in psychology (although it may help) to understand the buyer’s mindset. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Ask yourself, “What am I going to look for in my new home?” Ask your family and friends. You will notice they are mostly looking for a house that is bigger than the previous one, and which does not require maintenance. Therefore as a seller, your task is to make sure your house appears bigger and better to the buyer.

There are several ways to make your house look bigger. If you remove everything but the most essential furniture, you will immediately notice a difference. Get rid of small items and clutter, open the windows, turn on all the lights when the buyer comes to visit, and paint your house with warm, welcoming colors.

Maintenance is a major turn-off for buyers. Pay attention to plumbing and upgrade wiring and electrical switches. If you can convince the home buyers that your house is maintenance-free, you can easily add a few thousand dollars to the online value report which buyers today use to find the true worth of a house. One such report is available on Neighborhood IQ and you can see the real worth of your house there, click here to see what your home is worth... for free.

In addition to these two essentials there is a third effective method to make your house irresistible to buyers – dressing up. Surveys have shown that dressed houses sell quickly. One such survey in California found a dressed house stayed in the market for only 13.8 days, compared to 30.9 for undressed houses.

It is advisable to hire a professional dresser, if you have indeed decided to sell your house. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has calculated the value of a house goes up by 8 to 10 per cent for sellers who spend about 1 to 3 per cent of the home value on dressing up.

While spending money, do not invest in themes. Very few people will like the theme you have chosen. You can instead focus on the kitchen, or you can create a curb appeal. The use of fancy colors gives an appearance of luxury. Last minute inexpensive dressing up – placing fresh flowers inside your house – can be useful. To conclude, if you can spend some time with decoration magazines to find out what is trending, you can easily add a few thousand dollars to the value of your house.