I swear it was the middle of summer like five days ago and boom, here we are looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year’s is literally right around the corner. Where are the days going? While a lot of the country is looking forward to the holiday season, some people are concerned about selling. It’s not ideal to sell your home or even buy a home around the holidays, but it still happens and whether it’s a job change, family status change, or you have finally found the home of your dreams, selling before the end of the year can be stressful. However, there are some ways to do it so that you feel confident and prepared. Here are my top 10 tips for selling your home before Christmas. [Read more…]
10 Things that Ruin Your Home’s Value
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make but maintaining a high value is sometimes a little foreign to homeowners. The last thing you want to do is ruin or decrease your home’s value but many homeowners are doing so without even knowing it.
Here are 10 of the most common ways people ruin their home’s value.
#1. They’ve purchased a home near a power plant or city dump.
Cleaning Your House for Sale When You Have Pets
For those of us with furry family members in the home, we know that they can add to the cleaning needs inside. It can be extra frustrating if you’re trying to sell your home at the same time.
One of the most common and routine things we clean up after out animals is hair ( unless you have a hypo allergenic breed). Pet hair can work its way into carpet and upholstery and be pretty stubborn to remove. Some pets shed so much you wonder how there is any hair left on their body. One of the best ways to keep hair out of the carpet and upholstery is to help reduce the amount of shedding. Here are some things you can do to keep the hair going into your soft surfaces to a minimum. (Tips from the pros) [Read more…]
Benefits of Blogging About a Home Listing
There are so many factors that go into putting your home on the market. Everyone can agree that the quicker you sell your home the better right? One of the best ways to get your home sold quickly is to get the word out about your home. The more people that know your home is available the better because it will enable you to find that perfect buyer to fall in love and deem your home the perfect home for them. [Read more…]
Top Home Selling Tips of 2018
No, 2018 is certainly not over, but if you’re considering selling in the next couple months, it helps to do a little research so you get the best price for your property and have prepared the home right. Here’s the top-selling tips for 2018 so far… [Read more…]
The Real Reason Your House Isn’t Selling
House been on on the market a long time? Maybe just a few weeks without any bites? Perhaps you’re just setting yourself up for success when you do list? Whatever the reason is that you’re selling, you certainly don’t want to be on the market any longer than you have to.
In doing research yesterday I came across several houses that have been on the market for more than a year. That’s very unusual in this hot market. Even most markets around the US are seeing a four-month absorption rate, meaning that if no new listings hit the market today, it would only take less than four months to completely eliminate every listing on the market. So, what is up with these houses that have been on the market 300 – 400 days or more?
In my experience it really only comes down to three things:
Add Up to 10% to Your Home’s Value with These Landscaping Hacks
When selling a property, chances are the main photo for the home will be the outside. Most multiple listing services require either the front of the house or the view from the house as the first listing photo, so, you better make sure that your landscaping and curb appeal is on point. Most buyers will decide within the first five seconds of looking at the home whether or not they’re interested, which is why your landscaping and curb appeal should never be neglected. Here are some serious landscaping and curb appeal hacks that will totally change the way people look at your home. [Read more…]
6 Kitchen Upgrades Without the Remodel
Whether you are planning on selling your property or just looking for a fresh look without a major remodel, doing small things that help update the look and feel of your kitchen is one of the best ways to improve the home. We’re seeing a lot of new construction around the Tri-Valley area and buyers are looking for updated, renovated, or upgraded materials. If you’re looking to put a little bit of elbow grease and possibly a little money into your kitchen, you can do some upgrades without breaking the budget with a full remodel. Here are six kitchen upgrades that you can do without a full remodel. [Read more…]
When Should I Upgrade to a Bigger Home?
Buying a home in the Tri-Valley area? Maybe it’s time for an upgrade? But there are a lot of questions to be answered. Here are some of the most common from people moving to a bigger home. [Read more…]
10 Tips to Make Your Move Really Easy
Nobody likes to pack up the entire house and move but most of us do it at least once or twice in our life. If you’re looking at moving or relocating to the Tri-Valley area or maybe you’re moving out of the area, you may be researching some of the best tips and tricks to make your move so much easier. Here are 10 easy tips that you may never have thought of before they can make your relocation that much easier.
#1. Box of essentials.
Many people pack the wrong way. You want to make sure that the items you want to get to quickly are at the back of the truck or the easiest to obtain. This could mean your coffee maker, important documents or records. But you also want a box of essentials to go along with you, especially if you are relocating a long distance. These essentials could be blankets and pillows, toiletries, a first aid kit, any medications, phone and tablet chargers, toilet paper and paper towels, paper plates and utensils, pet food and bowls, credit cards, passports, Social Security card and credit cards.
#2. Hook up TV and the Internet as soon as possible.
Many utilities only require a phone call to get things switched over to your new location so you want to make sure that your Internet and TV are some of the first things to be hooked up so that you can start getting your email, have access to the Internet and some entertainment if necessary.
#3. Bring something for the kids.
Kids can find moving to be extremely boring so you want to make sure you have items for kids such as coloring books, crayons, games, tablets or other items that can keep them entertained, especially if you have a long way to go.
#4. Nextdoor.
The online company Nextdoor is a great way to network with your new neighborhood. You can ask questions about the neighborhood, find babysitters and handymen and a little bit about your particular neighborhood before moving in.
#5. Don’t forget to leave important items with your last house.
This could be all the keys that you have, your garage door opener that you may have stuck in your visor and forget that you have it, any other items that the new homeowner will need to operate their new home.
#6. Changing the locks.
You never know who may have a house key to your new house out there so it’s always a good idea to change the locks before you move in.
#7. Call a cleaning service before hand.
If you’re moving a long distance, call a cleaning company and have your real estate agent let that cleaning person in for a thorough cleaning before you even arrive.
#8. Pack the essentials last.
Just like we had an essential box for the trip, make sure that your coffee maker, any documents, taxes, phone numbers and close are easily accessible as soon as you get to your new house.
#9. Ask about movers insurance.
If you are hiring a moving company to move your items, ask about their insurance policy and get at least three quotes from different moving companies and if they do in-home assessments so your estimate is as accurate as possible. You also want to make note that moving expenses can be tax-deductible.
#10. Research schools and kennels ahead of time.
Before moving you want to see what school your children will be in so you are prepared to get them in school right away if you’re moving during the school year. You may also want to make note of doggie daycare is in the area, kennels, doctors, dentists and other places that you may frequent.
These are just some simple items that a lot of people forget to do. If you’re relocating to the Tri-Valley area of California contact my office today for more tips and tricks to moving and finding the right house for your needs and budget.