4 Renovation Tips that Will Help You Maximize Your Home’s Value

If you’re looking to make some renovations and improvements to your home, here are four tips you can follow to maximize its value.

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Which improvements and renovations can you do to your home to maximize its value?

First, keep your renovations moderate. When you’re attempting to do a renovation or an upgrade, ask yourself one question: Will the majority of buyers coming through this home appreciate this renovation, or will I have to do it again if I decide to sell this home at a later date? 

Second, pay attention to curb appeal. Your curb appeal creates the first impression of your home. In our office, we abide by something we call the three second rule. This means whenever we bring a buyer to a property, they will determine whether they want to seriously consider purchasing that property or not within the first three seconds of pulling in the driveway. Spend some money on landscaping and other areas out front to make your home more inviting for any prospective buyers.

Spend the majority of your money in kitchens and bathrooms.

Third, have as much hardwood flooring in your home as you can. Buyers love neutral, hardwood floors. If you can’t afford to install hardwood floors, make your current flooring as clean and neat as possible. 

Lastly, spend the majority of your money in kitchens and bathrooms. These are the places in the home where you’ll get your best return on investment. You can typically achieve a two-to-one return on investment, meaning you’ll get $2 in return on the sale of your home for every $1 you spend. 

If you have any questions about how to maximize your home’s value or you’re thinking about buying or selling a house, feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to help you.

Pet Owner? Follow These 4 Rules When Listing

If you’re a pet owner looking to sell your home, there are four rules you need to follow.

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Are you a pet owner looking to sell their home? If so, there are four rules you need to know. 

1. Remove the pets from the home. I know it’s a challenge, but when I bring a buyer into your home I want to show it off in the best light possible. A cat or dog following a buyer around the house might make it difficult for them see all of the features that your home has to offer. 
2. Take a long look at the backyard. Make sure holes are filled in and pet toys are put away. I want a buyer to be able to envision having picnics or their kids playing in the backyard, so making sure it’s manicured is essential. 
Ask a friend or neighbor to come over to see if they notice a smell.
3. Eliminate any pet odors inside the home. I own a dog, so I understand that you might not always pick up on scents. Ask a friend or neighbor to come over to see if they notice a smell. If they do, we can install Glade plug-ins or have the carpets cleaned. 
4. Get rid of any potential pet hair. Our goal is to have multiple showings with multiple buyers, so you need to vacuum before every showing. This makes sure a buyer with allergies doesn’t get a bad impression of your home.

If you have any questions about this topic, or if you have any other real estate questions, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I’m always happy to help.

3 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

Are you a newlywed or someone buying your first home? Follow these three tips to make life easier on yourself.

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If you're a first-time homebuyer or a newlywed buying a home, these tips will help you:

1. It's all about the budget: Your house is more than just a mortgage payment. Over time, you'll have to pay for maintenance and insurance. That's why we recommend you pay between 25% and 35% of your household disposable income toward that mortgage payment. 
2. Location, location, location: Think about school districts even if you don't have kids. When the time comes to sell in the future, it'll be easier if you're in a positive school district. 
Think about school districts even if you don't have kids.
3. Communicate about the top features of the home: During our free buyer consultation, we'll get a list of features that you and anyone living in the home would like to have. Then, we compare the lists and merge them into one list of must-haves so we can find your dream home.

If you have any other questions about preparing to buy your first home, give us a call or send us an email. We'd be glad to help!