Realty Executives Midwest
If you’re planning to sell your house, proper staging can make a huge difference. It’s important to keep in mind that tastes change over time, though, and the staging techniques that were popular when you bought the home might not impress buyers today. If you really want to get the most value out of your home when you sell, it helps to employ staging that will appeal to buyers in the current housing market. Fortunately, there are many ways you can stage your home so that it draws in modern buyers. The goal is to help them see your home as a place they could inhabit and fill with their own style, and these suggestions will help you to achieve this even if tastes have changed since you last decorated your home.
A lot of modern buyers are looking for function as well as form when they’re looking at houses. One example of this comes in the form of good lighting. Make sure that the windows are clean and that your window dressings allow natural light to come through. Check that you have sufficiently bright bulbs in your fixtures, and double check that none are burned out. You might also consider adding spotlights or other accent lights in places like the kitchen and bathroom where the potential buyers might want additional light. If you really want to wow people, you could even install smart bulbs that can be controlled from a smartphone or smart speaker.
Color trends change over time. At the moment, warm colors are hot. When staging your home, work with accent colors such as chocolate, olive green, beige and wine to tie your various decorations together. This will add splashes of warm, earthy color that’s neither too bright nor too dark. As an added benefit, these shades go well with a wide range of wall and floor options, so you can add some nice earthy accents without having to completely redesign your home beforehand.
If your walls are too mild or too wild, consider adding a fresh coat of paint before you get ready to sell your home. There are several colors that are popular right now, including a number of shades of blue, gray and green. You can usually get away with some light pink and gold shades too, as well as the occasional off-white. You don’t want anything too bold in most rooms, just something that will give a bit of color to the room. But feel free to skew a little darker if you’re painting a bathroom or bedroom.
You may have heard that it’s a good idea to make your home look lived in, since that can help potential buyers see it as an actual living space instead of just a showcase. This isn’t bad advice; having some unique decorative items and other accents can really help buyers to picture their own stuff in the house. Just make sure that you take out anything that’s overly personal, like family photos, items with your family name and other keepsakes. Leave your decorations a little sparse, too. The goal is to inspire potential buyers and help them picture where they would put their belongings and their own pictures, and it’s hard to do that if there are pictures of your family everywhere or decorations filling every available space.
If you’re not exactly sure how to stage your home, don’t be afraid to bring in a bit of professional help. HomeKeepr is here to help you with that, too. Sign up for a free account now and you’ll be on your way to finding the decorator or professional stager to assist you in getting just the look you need to really make your buyers want to sign.
Article Source: HomeKeepr - Realty Executives International
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
In the real estate marketplace, the cost of owning a house is quite high. So, not a surprise when you wish to gain a profit once you decide to resell. However, this wish could be a costly one, as it would involve some renovations here and there. This process of renovation and cleaning is called home staging.
Home staging involves the preparation of a private residence for sale in real estate markets. The whole concept aims at creating a more appealing impression to potential buyers; thereby selling the house more swiftly and at an increased price.
As I said earlier on, this process could be quite costly. Nonetheless, there are certain DIY tricks you could practice during this process, so you don’t have to empty your wallet in making your home presentable for staging.
Do the Minor Repairs
I have bad news and good news. The bad news: we’ve gotten so used to calling technicians for the little damages like light fixtures or a broken tile, that we’ve forgotten to stay in touch with our creative side. The good news: there are thousands of online lessons where you could learn these minor skills like fixing a tile or repairing a light switch.
Clean Your Pool
When it comes to selling your home, you must take cognizance of each and every feature in your home. Some people simply focus on the interior and abandon exterior areas (such as the pool). For you, ensure you make your exterior the icing on the cake or even the cake itself!
Staging a clean pool is a great way of creating a long-lasting impression. Your pool should be the crystal-clear-kinda-clean. I must confess that this isn’t an easy job. In fact, I had to get some robots to attain a totally clean, free-from-algae pool! All the same, your pool’s presentation is crucial and could be a deal-breaker for some potential buyers. Also, remember to remove any family item (such as toys) before staging. It could make the space look disorganized.
Make Your Bathroom Look Inviting
If I were to buy a house, I would be more concerned about the bathroom -especially the master’s bathroom- than the other rooms. Why? I begin each day here; and I definitely don’t wish to see mold first thing in the morning.
On a serious note, bathrooms are one of the most important parts of the home; and renovating them can yield a higher return on investment. That’s why it is important to ensure your it is in good shape. First things first, remove those green things growing beneath your sink. Then, update the fixtures; if they are outdated. Add some finishing touches with a few décors such as a fluffy towel and other decorative pieces.
Paint, Paint, Paint!
Painting is one of the cheapest ways of changing the feel of a home. Luckily, you can do this all by yourself! It is normal for the paints on your wall to fade or even become outdated overtime. And obviously, this would be of great disadvantage to your during home staging.
Also, if your wall’s paint is too personal, you might want to consider changing it to a color that can appeal to a higher number of potential buyers. Go for neutral color such as white or grey.
Don’t Forget the Garage
On a final note, don’t forget the garage. No one wants a disorderly garage. Pack away things that are really of no use to a storage unit.
Article Source: Realty Executives International
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Learn about the home buying process today and discover the smartest ways to begin your search for a home through this helpful video!
The real estate market is expected to do very well this year as mortgage rates remain at historic lows. One challenge to the housing industry is the lack of homes available for sale. Last week, move.com released a report showing that 2020 is beginning with the lowest available housing inventory in two years. The report explains:
“Last month saw the largest year-over-year decline of housing inventory in almost three years with a dramatic 12 percent decline, pushing the number of homes for sale in the U.S. to the lowest level since January 2018.”
The report also revealed that the decline in inventory stretches across all price points, as shown in the following graph:
George Ratiu, Senior Economist at realtor.com, explains how this drop in available homes for sale comes at a time when more buyers are expected to enter the market:
“The market is struggling with a large housing undersupply just as 4.8 million millennials are reaching 30-years of age in 2020, a prime age for many to purchase their first home. The significant inventory drop…is a harbinger of the continuing imbalance expected to plague this year’s markets, as the number of homes for sale are poised to reach historically low levels.”
The question is: What does this mean to you?
If You’re a Buyer…
Be patient during your home search. It may take time to find a home you love. Once you do, however, be ready to move forward quickly. Get pre-approved for a mortgage, be ready to make a competitive offer from the start, and understand that a shortage in inventory could lead to the resurgence of bidding wars. Calculate just how far you’re willing to go to secure a home, if you truly love it.
If You’re a Seller…
Realize that, in some ways, you’re in the driver’s seat. When there is a shortage of an item at the same time there is a strong demand for that item, the seller of that item is in a good position to negotiate. Whether it is price, moving date, possible repairs, or anything else, you’ll be able to demand more from a potential purchaser at a time like this – especially if you have multiple interested buyers. Don’t be unreasonable, but understand you probably have the upper hand.
Bottom Line
The housing market will remain strong throughout 2020. Understand what that means to you, whether you’re buying, selling, or doing both.
When you are trying to sell your home, there are a great many factors that you need to have in mind. A lot of things will influence the buyers’ decision, as well as the price you can get. One of the things that can increase the appeal of your home is – the shape your loft is in. With that in mind, we’ve prepared this article on loft upgrades that will help you sell your property faster and at a better price. Consider implementing them, as doing so will certainly work in your favor.
Bringing in Natural Light
As lofts usually come with sloping ceilings and unusual angles, bathing them in natural light can be tricky. Still, this is an essential thing to do, as a loft without natural light will be much less attractive to buyers. Dormer windows are a good solution to this problem. Not only do they allow for natural light to break in, but they also provide additional headroom. Unfortunately, you may need to get planning permission before installing these windows. Because they change the way your property’s exterior looks like, you could be instructed, for example, that you will have to use sash windows instead of sliding ones, or that the windows can only cover a certain part of your property’s width.
Another solution is to install skylights. This is usually more simple to pull-off, and the value it adds to your home is more or less the same as the value you’d get from installing dormer windows.
Loft Terrace
Among all the loft upgrades that will help you sell your property more quickly, a loft terrace is certainly one of the more attractive options. You will, obviously, get more space, and your buyers will definitely appreciate the fact that they can relax at the terrace and enjoy the fresh air without actually having to go outside. There’s nothing like taking the time to unwind at the terrace while being seated in a comfortable chair, with a good book and refreshing beverage by your side! And this is especially true if your property is located in a part of the country where the weather is nice all year long, such as Florida or Arizona. Before selling your home and leaving your beautiful city for good – build a terrace and allow the buyer to take advantage of such great weather!
What’s more, a terrace will increase your property’s appeal from the outside. For some additional gain, consider matching the flooring you will use for the terrace and the interior of the loft. Both should look nice, and it creates the feeling of aesthetically pleasing coherence.
Loft Bar
Such a bar is certainly among the loft upgrades that will help you sell your property, as it adds a touch a glamour to your loft. Moreover, a bar may work better in a loft than in any other room, as the unusual angles are actually an advantage in this case. You can use them, for example, to store drinks in an interesting way, or to create appealing seating arrangements.
As for the decorations, you are more likely to sell your property faster if you go with a bold yet sophisticated look. Plants and soft furnishings should entice the majority of your potential buyers. Use striking colors, but remember to match the look of your bar with the style that the rest of the loft is designed in. On the other hand, some buyers will prefer a more understated, delicate approach. As you can’t be sure what the taste of the next person who comes to look at your property will be like, to stay on the safe side, a more extravagant look is still recommended.
Having an Energy-Efficient Loft
Finally, it’s also a good idea to make your loft more energy-efficient. While buyers will want to see that your loft is equipped with at least one radiator, they will also appreciate it if they can easily control the temperature. Radiators with thermostatic valves are a good solution, but there are also smart home-geared devices that will let you change the temperature by using your smartphone.
A simple way to make your property more energy-efficient is to replace the light bulbs with their LED counterparts. Doing so will definitely lower the electricity bill, which is good both for you and for increasing the appeal of your home in the eyes of the potential buyers. Solar panels on your skylights are also worth considering. While installing them may be costly, and you will need to have a specific roof, doing so may pay off in the long run.
Article Source: Realty Executives International
Realty Executives Midwest
1310 Plainfield Rd. Ste 2 | Darien, IL 60561
Office: 630-969-8880
E-Mail: experts@realtyexecutives.com
Realty Executives agents are real estate experts. They have the education and expertise you need to navigate through the process of buying or selling a home. From listing at the right price to making the best offer, our Executives have witnessed the best - and most regrettable - decisions homeowners and homebuyers can make. Every day, they are immersed in every aspect of real estate that includes comparable home price analysis, property surveys, credit reports, open houses, HOA agreements, lenders, title companies, homeowners’ insurance, walk-throughs, terms of sale or purchase, repairs, concessions and closing documents. Let our accomplished Executives help navigate you through the process of buying or selling a home.
