Buying a Home

Real Estate Corner…

Question: How can I “stage” my home so it sells quickly for the price I want?

Answer: Make sure you address both the outside and the inside of the house by cleaning and de-cluttering everything, from the front yard to the garage to the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement. Put away your personal items so buyers can imagine themselves living there.

One way to take years off your home is with paint. Check the home’s exterior paint job, and don’t forget the front door, mailbox, garage doors, and walkways. In the interior, remove the pictures from the walls (as well as old wallpaper) and paint the walls in a neutral color.

Also, consider these tips if you want to sell your home fast for a good price: a) Hire professional cleaners to do the work; b) Get a home inspection before you put it on the market; and c) Make your landscaping look sharp.

For a list of the specific steps you should take, ask for my Free Consumer Report called “4 Steps To Stage Your Home For A Fast Sale.” I’ll send a copy right to you.

If you have questions, or need capable and trustworthy representation, please call me at 850-217-0990.

HGTV Home Staging Tips

Save For A Home On Any Budget!

Owning a home may still be part of the traditional American dream, but saving up to buy a home sometimes feels impossible. There are ways though, that you can save money for a down payment regardless of your income and budget. Here are some tips to get you started.

Work On Your Credit Score. With a lower credit score, you’re likely to pay a higher interest rate on a home loan. Having a higher credit score usually means a lower interest rate, so you’d be paying less overall for the same house. Your credit score can also impact the down payment that’s required.

Concentrate on Reducing Your Debts. Banks look at your debt-to-income ratio with any home loan application, and one of the best ways to improve your credit score is to pay down your debts. This doesn’t mean you must have zero debts, of course, it just means your debt-to-income ratio may determine how big your down payment will need to be.

Cut Expenses. Do a careful audit of your monthly expenses and make a list of what might be unnecessary, like a streaming service you don’t really watch very often or a subscription or membership you forgot you signed up for. Look into refinancing things like student or auto loans. Think about a less expensive rental home to put that extra money away, too.

Automate Savings. Set up automatic transfers to an investment or savings account every time you get a paycheck. Have tax refunds automatically deposited into your savings, not checking, account.

As you work on building up your savings, remember that this doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself of anything fun—that would just lead to resentment. Refocus the idea of treating yourself to your new budget. Instead of a fancy dinner out or an international trip, for instance, opt for a less expensive happy hour date or a weekend getaway.

And, when you’re ready to get the ball rolling on buying that house, give me a call! I’m here to help with plenty of information for first-time home buyers.  Saving for a Home on Any Budget is Possible!

5 Reasons Why Quality Paint Matters

One of the easiest and least costly ways to make a dramatic change in your interior décor, repainting a room is often just what’s needed to change your home’s look and feel. However, your great design inspiration can be shortchanged if you choose low-quality paint. Here are five compelling reasons to spring for the best quality coating, courtesy of the experts at the Paint Quality Institute:

Better color retention. If you’re painting to change the color of a room, then you surely want your new hue to last. Top quality, 100-percent acrylic latex paint helps keep your colors true to their day-one appearance. Bargain paints? They tend to pale by comparison.
Better stain resistance. Nothing can ruin a new paint job quicker than a nasty stain – whether it’s due to a careless spill, dirty fingerprints, or something totally unforeseen. If you spend a little more for a quality acrylic latex paint, think of it as buying some insurance against these color calamities. This type of paint is highly resistant to many of the most common stains, especially in higher sheen levels, such as semi-gloss or high-gloss paint.
Paint and primer in one. Top-quality, 100-percent acrylic latex paint offers an important performance advantage over all lower quality, non-acrylic coatings: Many are “self-priming” – in other words, they do double-duty as both primer and paint. Just think how much time and effort you’ll save by having to apply fewer coats!

Good adhesion to various surfaces. Should your painting project involve several different materials, such as wallboard, wood, vinyl, or metal (think not just walls, but doors and trim, too), you’ll be able to paint them all with high-end acrylic latex paint. Go with lower-grade paint and you might have to buy several different kinds of coatings, complicating your decision-making and possibly adding to the cost of the job.
Best overall durability. Let’s face it, while interior painting can be a fun project, most of us are more than happy to put away the brushes and rollers, sit back, and enjoy the new colors. Quality acrylic paint offers exceptional durability, which will keep your room looking great until the next paint inspiration takes hold!

How-To Take Better Photos Of Your Home

If you’re photographing your home to prep it for sale, list it on a home rental website, or just for sentiment, it’s important to take the best photos possible. The following tips can help.

Camera matters. Skip the iPhone for this job. Rent or borrow a good digital camera, and make sure you have access to proper editing software to retouch the photos as needed.

Light it right. The more light, the more open and inviting your home will look. Schedule photos when the most natural light is available, open all window coverings, and turn on all interior lights as well.

Avoid the flash. Your camera’s flash can bounce off mirrors and windows and distort your image. Aim for lots of light instead.

Know your angles. Shoot from a corner or doorway to get as much of the room into your shot as possible. Whenever possible, shoot from an angle as opposed to straight on. And when shooting exteriors, try to avoid electrical wires, trash cans, parked cars and other unsightly additions.

Skip midday shoots. Photograph exteriors during morning or twilight hours which will offer the best lighting and minimize unsightly shadows.