Category: Lake and Land Real Estate - page 2

As an organizer and a constant planner being without a time line makes me crazy.  This is how I empathize with homeowners going through the process of selling their homes.  The task of selling your home is large and can be overwhelming especially when processing each and every detail needing to be addressed.

A real estate agent will be the one to lay down the timeline for selling your home.  They should also be the individuals with answers and solutions to keep your timeline on track. Of course, there will be blips along the way.  That is the nature of real estate however with an experienced agent in your corner you will be able to visualize each step throughout the journey and this will help decrease the stress that inevitably comes along with change.

The best time to meet with a local real estate agent is before you are ready to actually put the sign in the yard.  This will allow you time to get your ducks in a row before people are inspecting every inch of your home to see if it is worthy to be their next home.

About two months before you think you will be ready to put the house on the market there is a list of things to check into.   You will want to go over every inch of your current financial situation; get together a budget and see exactly where money is coming in and going out.  This is the time you will also process an estimate of expenses to list the house for sale verse the equity in your home.  This will be the amount available towards the purchase of the new home.  This is also the time to get all your important papers collects such as the homes title, mortgage and insurance paperwork.

Two months is also a good starting point to allow you to process the urgency in your move.  The more urgent the move is; say for job relocation, the more aggressively the list price will need to be.  If you have time and are moving to have more space then maybe you will be able to wait a bit longer for the right buyer at a higher price point.

The two month point is also the time to assess the homes condition.  It is the time to get the major and minor repairs done to make sure your home shows well and passes an inspection.  There are three basic problems homes have; cosmetic, functional and ones that can’t be fixed.

Cosmetic issues are items such as the color of the paint on the walls, nasty carpet or torn screens.  Functional repairs are those that might take some money but will help increase the value of the home.  Think about the appliances, roof, plumbing, electrical and main structural elements.  Eliminate the expensive reasons people will have when the inspection shows them.  There are also some problems that buyers will have that you can do nothing about such as the school district, the neighbors siding color or the traffic on the road.  Those will be issues the buyer will know exist and will have to take them or leave them.

This is the beginning of the home selling time line.  Two months is the perfect amount of time to get serious about selling your home and begin to look into local real estate agents for assistance in getting you and your house ready to sell.

Like many sellers, you are probably feeling some apprehension at putting your house on the market.  It is hard to sell something that you are so deeply invested in financially and emotionally.  In your home you see the connections of memories made and life lived.  This is hard to move past but is a necessary step to ensure that you don’t accidentally sabotage your selling efforts.

The first selling secret I share with homeowners getting ready to put their home on the market is to take the home out of the house.  That’s right; in order to market and sell the house it can no longer be your home.  You have to detach completely.  Start the process my packing away all the personal artifacts that are all around you.  Family photos, collections and personal keepsakes should all be removed from the home and put into storage.  The buyer should walk in and see themselves and envision the life they will live in this home not the remnants of the life you have had.

Another selling secret it to place a third of your belongings in storage; anything that is not important to your existence in the coming months while you sell your home should be in storage. This is important especially in closets and storage areas.  By eliminating the bulk in storage areas it gives the appearance that the homes storage is plentiful.  Make the home as neutral and spacious as possible it will help buyers envision their belongings in the home.

It is also important when selling your home to minimize distractions or nuisances.  Mainly this refers to the critters that live with you.  A dog, cat or bird may seem ideal to you but the sight conjures up feelings in others that are not always positive.  Remove evidence including food bowls, cat scratchers, kitty boxes and pet hair.  All of these things can lead home buyers to picture the home as unkempt and unclean.  The complete opposite impression that you are hoping your home makes on impressionable home buyers.

The most universal tip that a real estate agent will give is regarding your homes first impression.  The old saying is true; you never get another chance to make a first impression and neither does your home.  No matter what the inside of the home looks like the buyer has already judged the space before they have even walked through the door.  The entrance to your home should make buyers feel warm, welcome and safe.  We all know that when you live in the space it needs to be functional however when selling you need to take function out and bring inviting in.  Instead of a coat and shoe rack add a small antique table and side chair perhaps adding some fresh flowers as well.  This is the impression you want the buyer to take away with them.

You never know when your buyer will walk through your door so make sure that every open house and viewing is treated with the same care as the first.  Your home should be in shape to be shown on a moment’s notice.  The pain and suffering you experience when maintaining a pristine home will be rewarded with an asking price offer.

Are you looking for ways to spruce up your home without spending a ton of money and ending up in the poorhouse? Homeowners are often looking for quick and easy home improvement projects to make their home more desirable to sell or for their own personal enjoyment.  Whatever your reason it is important to know that the cost of the project verse the payback can differ based on a few things such as the homes overall condition, the market in which the home is located and outside factors such as the season in which you are selling.

One improvement that is sure to pay you back is in the kitchen.  This is not to say you need to go through an extensive, expensive kitchen renovation however making sure the look of the kitchen is clean and updated is important.  A few tips to updating the look of your kitchen on a budget include updating the faucets, cabinet hardware, and lighting.  These are all reasonably priced items that can add to the overall look of the kitchen.  Another option, if the kitchen cabinets are old and new cabinets are out of the question is cabinet resurfacing.  This is a cheaper alternative which uses the solid base cabinets in place by updating the surface making the kitchen area look brand new.

In the kitchen it is also important to have appliances that match.  If this is an issue in your home and you are looking for an inexpensive way to make them all match consider two options.  The first is to call the manufacturer and see about ordering a new front panel to match other existing appliance.  This is a lot less expensive than all new appliances.  The second option is to check into companies that sell scratch and dent appliances for next to nothing.  If the dent is on the side or back of the appliance and this portion will not be seen who cares.  Scratch and dent appliances are at least half off the retail price.

The next room in the house that really adds to the value of the house is the bathroom.  In order to spruce this area up in a budget there are several things you can update on a shoestring budget.  Bathroom flooring, a new toilet seat and a pedestal sink are all simple renovations that can be done by most homeowners that make a bathroom spiffy.  Thoroughly clean all grout to renew the sparkle and replace any tiles that are chipping in the tub area.  A strong tub cleaner should be used to bring out the bright white in your tub as well.  A clean bathroom is a huge selling point for a home.  Dingy tiles and dirty flooring will turn buyers away as the space will look unkempt which gives the perception if a homeowner that does not care about the upkeep of the home.

Your home is your sanctuary. When people are looking for a new home to purchase they are looking for an appealing space.  As a seller it is your job to present a clean, neutral space in which buyers can envision themselves.  Giving buyers a kitchen and bathroom space that are up to date and clean will have them overlooking the more minor stuff such as the small laundry room.

Winter is a true buyer’s market for real estate.  Spring and summer sales show that homes are in high demand during those seasons. What this means to buyers is that even though more homes are on the market more people are looking to buy.  This makes winter home purchases a better option for buyers, especially ones with a limited budget that don’t want to have to settle because of the competition to buy homes.  The pool of homes available is not as large in the winter and holiday months however the amount of people looking to buy a home is much smaller.

With spring and summer being the most popular time of year for real estate most sellers will wait to put their home on the market until then.  This of course means fewer homes for sale during the winter months however when a seller puts their home on that market in the winter there is usually a really good reason that they need to sell.  Reasons such as a job relocation can motivate sellers which can serve as a great advantage to buyers.

With fewer winter home buyers the competition to purchase a home is less which means that you aren’t in as big of a rush to put an offer in on a home.  It alleviates the stress that goes along with buying something without having adequate time to consider the decision.

Another bonus to purchasing a home in winter is that it allows you to see how the home holds up through the cold temperatures.  Many homes have issues in the winter that would not be visible in the summer such as a chill in the home or drafty windows. Winter allows you to really check out the homes heating system to ensure that the home heats each space evenly.  Winter fitness for your home is something that is incredibly important especially for homes in the north and north east regions of the United States where temperatures often drop below zero.

Purchasing a home during the off-season also means that real estate agents are a bit more flexible to meet with you and to focus on your needs.  With fewer buyers and sellers to focus on their attention can be on you and finding a home that fits with all of your needs.  It also means that people within the sector of helping facilitate a home purchase and a move will be more accessible.  A closing date and time on a mortgage in the dead of winter is a lot more flexible than one that is being made to accommodate several other lenders, buyers and sellers.

Although the curb appeal of most homes is a lot bleaker in winter the advantage of buying a home is that you can ensure that the neighborhood is maintained during the winter months.  It is probably to say that a neighborhood in which roads are plowed, driveways shoveled and sidewalks cleared is more likely to have pristine landscaping in the spring and summer.

The ice and snow might make your picture something other than the wonderment that comes with purchasing a new home.  However, you can be guaranteed to see things a bit different when you are free of the hassle and stress that comes along with the competition of buying a home in the summer.

Selling a home is an incredibly stressful life event. Selling a home in the middle of winter is not only stressful but full of anxiety and tension.  When your home is up for sale during the winter months the curb appeal is lost.  There is no green lush lawn, perfectly trimmed trees or the perfect sunny day lighting that enhances all homes.  What you have in the winter is brown grass, bad weather and short dark days.  How does one sell their home in the winter without taking a huge cut on your asking price?

The first thing you must know is that if people can’t get to your home to look at it the house will never sell.  This leads us to the first piece of advice all real estate agents will give you. Keep the roads, sidewalks and driveway to your home free of ice and snow.  In the spring and summer you are busy mowing the lawn and trimming trees to maintain your home.  In the winter, the homes maintenance will evolve around salting, plowing and shoveling.

In order to sell your home in the winter you need to make sure that when a buyer is in your home that it makes them feel warm, cozy and inviting.  Make them want to stay and check out your house.  You can do this by turning the thermostat up when showing the house.  Buyers that come in your home and are warm and comfy will stay for longer than those that come in and don’t get that feeling.  Staying in your home longer allows them to start seeing themselves and their families in it.  If the home has a gas fireplace, turn it on.  If you have a wood burning fireplace set the fireplace up so that it is all ready for a fire.  The look is often enough for potential buyers and it is less risky than leaving a fire burning while you aren’t home to attend to it.

In the winter the one thing that is extremely limited is natural daylight.  Homes always show better with the natural light.  Try doing showings in the early afternoon when the natural light is at its fullest.  If your showings will take place in the evening after all the natural light is gone be sure to turn on all the lighting you can.  Make sure the light bulbs in the home are all installed and that the highest wattage available is installed.  If the house is being shown at night, don’t forget the exterior lighting!

We often forget about our cleaning our windows in the winter because the curtains are pulled.  Don’t forget the importance of clean windows in the winter when grime really adds up.  When the buyers pull back the curtains in your home you want them to see a home that is well maintained even in the winter.  Clean windows also add to the curb appeal of a home especially when screens are stored for the winter.

Create comfort throughout your home. You can do this by adding throws on the back of sofas, thick comfy comforters on all of the bedding and slippers by the door.  Your home should scream cozy, comfy when a buyer enters your home.

Everyone loves a home that smells wonderful.  Upon first impression your home should smell clean like a well maintained home and cozy like a chocolate chip cookie.  Don’t overdo the scents as that will make buyers suspicious of what you are trying to cover up.

When welcoming buyers into your home remember it is still your home and your investment to protect.  Winter leaves footwear in a condition not suitable for walking through a home with freshly cleaned carpets.  It is okay for you to ask them to remove their shoes or to slip in paper booties over their shoes.  As a seller this leaves your investment protected and as a buyer it shows your pride of ownership and diligence in keeping your home pristine.

Living on a golf course is a goal for many retirees that are looking for the relaxation and sport in the later years of life.  The attraction home buyers find when looking into purchasing a home on a golf course is undeniable.  Who would not want to stroll around on the well manicured landscape that comes with golf courses, the views and the attraction of walking out your front door and into a game of golf?  The truth is though that often times the allure fades fast when you are out walking the dog in the early morning hours in your own back yard only to find a stranger rummaging through your bushes to find his golf ball that disappeared.

Where ever you choose to live there are advantages and disadvantages that come along with the dream.  The thought of sitting on the deck, eating breakfast with your spouse watching the latest group of golfers pass by laughing and enjoying their round of golf is a delightful vision.  However the rowdy bachelor party golfing behind them, who are loud, crude and cursing not so much a delight.

Here you will find some things you will want to take into consideration before putting the down the payment on a new home situated on a golf course, the good and bad.

The hole in which your home is situated by plays a large part in helping to decide if the location on the golf course fits with what you are looking for.

If you are looking at a home by the tee you have the advantage of seeing a critical power shot.  The major disadvantage is that this is when people are most upset if their shot goes amiss.  Consider that a new group of golfers will tee off at any given spot every twenty minutes or so.

If you are considering a home that is in the middle of the hole to the right or to the left of it there are things to consider as well.  The view at this position is most often beautiful in landscape and it is a stunning view, most of the time, of the entire hole.  The major downside is that most golfers aren’t very good and their aim tends to spew balls in several crazy directions, one of which could be your home.  Those beautiful windows that open your home to the views and beauty of the course could be in harm’s way.

Homes set on the green are often ideal.  The shots that are taken here are usually shorter therefore less wild and less likely to be found in your window pane.  It is also usually very quiet as the putting green tends to be a place of great concentration for most golfers.  The disadvantage is that the greens tend to be mowed every day on many courses thus possibly interfering with your sleep.

Golf courses attract many home buyers to them each year so the advantages must outweigh the disadvantages.  The beauty of the landscape and well manicured lawns bring a peace only a beautiful natural environment can.  The best piece of advice any realtor specializing in golf course living will tell you is to talk, chat with the neighbors.  They will not be shy in telling you what annoys them about their community but more importantly will want to share everything that makes the environment one that you will want to purchase a home in.

Many buyers come in looking to purchase a home on the water.  Lake living is a dream come true for many home buyers.  Living on the water comes with a serene reality of lazy days spent in the sun, enjoying some outdoor adventure.  This is what most buyers looking for water front property are looking for.  When considering a home on a lake there are a few things to think about before signing on the dotted line.

When you are considering a waterfront home you need to ask about the amount of waterfront property that your home is attached to.  In some lakes the land is cut up in an unnatural manner so you will want to ask specifically how much waterfront footage goes along with the house. This is especially important if you are looking to launch a boat.  In order to install a dock or pier you should aim to purchase a home with at least one hundred feet of waterfront acreage.  This is the number on piece of leverage you have when buying or selling a water front home.  This number increases or decreases the homes overall value.

Curb appeal is a hard thing for some to grasp when purchasing a home that is situated on the water.  The side of your home that is visible to the street is the area in which homeowners consider needing curb appeal.  This is however untrue in lake front living. When you purchase a home on a lake the front of the house is facing the water.  The front door of your home is the lake side, your front yard.  Many homes on the water will have the kitchen, dining room or bedroom facing the water so that the owner can enjoy the view.

When purchasing a home on a lake you will want to consider the type of lot you are purchasing with your home.  Are you hoping to use the lake for boating or is it just going to be for visual stimulation.  Flat lots of land on a lake often equate to shallow water where as steep lots often mean that the lake water has some depth to it.  Be sure to get information concerning the lake that you are looking to purchase a home on.  If you are looking to cruise around in a speed boat all day but find yourself in a shallow lake better suited for a pontoons’ snail pace you will be disappointed.

Another consideration is the purchase of flood insurance which will ultimately up the monthly out-put needed for lake living.  Some lake homes can get away with no flood insurance do to their location on the property.  For instance, if your home is on a steep hill that is an acre away from the water a land surveyor may be able to help you remove the restriction your mortgage company may place on your loan.  This is something to consider before closing on a home.  Flood insurance starts at around twelve hundred dollars a year on a home valued at around one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

When really considering lake living, contact a real estate agent that specializes in lake homes. They will be the best equipped realtor to know the ins and outs of a great lake home.  They will know what to look for and what to stay away from.  They are also better versed in the surrounding bodies of water knowing which ones are all-sports lakes verse independent no-wake lakes.  Once you buy your dream home on a lake you will be ready to sit back and take in a big breath of fresh lake air.