Month: July 2018

Increasing curb appeal does not always mean adding elements and sometimes necessitates removing them. Take pictures of your house and view them in color then black and white. Doing this helps to see things differently and spot problem areas. An element of home staging is creating curb appeal that makes a home stand out from the rest of the competition.

Step 1
Tackle all of the cleaning projects first, then repairs, and lastly, accessories. In this way you won’t end up working over problem areas and merely cover them up but will actually restore your home to the way it was meant to be.

Step 2
Let’s start at the street and walk in with our guests to see what they see. One of the first things that will catch the eye is a mailbox. If yours is shabby, fix it up. This can be done by simply getting a new one or by painting the old one, adding new house numbers, topping the post with a metal post cap or surrounding it with flowers.

Step 3
If you’re going for quaint, nothing does the trick better than a white picket fence. There are different styles that each have their own unique feel. Taller style fencing can be used to give more privacy in a neighborhood where one is very close to one’s neighbors. Wrought iron gates add majesty and grandeur to larger homes.

Step 4
As you walk up the path, how do you feel? Do you want to continue on or run away? Slate pavers, pebbles, tiles and bricks all make beautiful walkways in a range of prices. Lining your walkway with potted plants or flowers adds life and color. Rake and mow the lawn and clean up any overgrown weeds, etc. Trim dead tree limbs and any branches that could be hazardous to the roof.

Step 5
Gardens and landscaping can contribute greatly to curb appeal. Use plants that require the amount of sunlight and moisture that your yard naturally provides. Mulch and stones can add beautiful texture to your garden. Overflowing flower boxes, placed under windowsills, give a nice cottage feel. Be sure to water! Nothing says “GO AWAY!” better than a bunch of dead plants. If you have a balcony, this is another perfect place to utilize flowers. Have them spilling over the edge for an old Tuscan vibe. Who doesn’t want to live in Italy?

Step 6
As you near the house, do you see dirt and grime? Clean your windows and use a pressure washer on decks, patios and siding. Empty the gutters so the new residents don’t move in to do manual labor. This is just good karma!

Step 7
Don’t be afraid of color. Rich, warm tones invite people in. There is also the belief that painting a house yellow helps it sell but this philosophy has limited application. If your house is white, you might want to use accent colors, but first, consult a professional. You can go very right or very wrong here.

Step 8
Do you have a porch? Hanging wooden shades on either side sets it off as its own room and gives more privacy. Seating contributes to the ambiance and function of this outdoor space. Light your porch, or any front door area, with soft, yellow-white lighting. This romanticizes the home instantly. Lanterns are one of the best ways to do this and they come in all styles from quaint to modern.

Step 9
One of the most important things you can do to increase curb appeal is to make your front door welcoming. Repaint or re-stain it and maybe replace the old hardware with newer, unique pieces. If there is enough money in the bank, you may even consider adding some glasswork to your door.

Step 10
When viewing a house, most people will try to see into the back yard, so include this area in your preparations. Weed and mow the lawn and fix any broken fencing, etc. For a real bang, add some outdoor seating such as a garden bench. This is a beautiful and simple tool in outdoor staging.

In the Evening
For evening curb appeal, turn on that golden light by your front door. String low voltage lights along the driveway, walkway, etc. to lead the eye toward to house. Light your house numbers and make sure they’re clean and on straight. Ensure that any indoor lighting, visible from outside, is contributing to your home’s appeal. Decorative street lamps are a throwback to older times and can be a valuable addition.

Marketing an Austin, Texas home is crucial to selling it. There are a variety of ways to get exposure for the real estate property. Some methods cost more than others; some work better than others. When multiple forms of marketing are used, more people will find the Austin real estate for sale. They will be looking online, in print, and in person.

Online Capture the beauty and function of an Austin home for sale by creating a virtual tour. This can be done by a professional company or as a do-it-yourself project for someone with a knack for filming. Be sure the home is clean and well-kept before creating a virtual tour. Use optimal lighting and decide whether or not it will have a voiceover, background music or no audio at all. Include a floor plan with the virtual tour so that potential buyers will understand exactly what they are looking at and how it fits together to create a home. Post the virtual tour everywhere possible; on the realtors website, on an online community bulletin board, use pay-per-click advertising, and Internet links pointing to it from other websites, such as industry-related web pages or social media sites.

Print Media Using clear, detailed photos of a home for sale will give people a better idea of what it looks like. The basic information afforded by a picture includes vital information, such as color, material, number of stories and presence of amenities like a chimney or garage. Be sure the clutter and any damaged areas have been removed and repaired before photographing the dwelling.

Use straightforward, clear wording in print ads that describe the different features present in the home. Include information such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, how many floors, what part of the city and the listing price. Any special amenities should be listed as well, such as a fence, pool, state-of-the-art appliances and energy efficient items.

In Person Nothing can compete with the look of a home in person. This is often the last means of checking out a house for sale, but it is by far the most effective. When a potential buyer pulls up to it curbside and sees the construction of the home, yard, driveway and neighborhood together, the dwelling takes on a new feel with a complete picture. Going inside for an up-close look at the closet space, kitchen cabinets, bath areas and bedrooms can often be the difference between buying that home and another one. Consider hiring a company that specializes in staging Austin real estate to make the most of the property for sale. Be sure there is a for sale sign in the yard with a contact name, phone number and website or email address for the realtor.

Having doubts about buying a house is not a negative thing. It’s actually the responsible thing to do when thinking about making a major purchase. Some people who scrutinize their situations more closely realize that purchasing a house now would not be the best idea. Some people on the other hand get confirmation that buying a house now would make perfect financial sense. If you’re wondering where you stand here are a few things that you may want to look into:

Laying the numbers down.
How much debts do you owe monthly? It’s important to calculate your debt to income ratio before deciding to pursue buying a house. To do this, list down all debts that you pay off each month. Include your monthly minimum credit card payments, subscription fees, child support obligations, etcetera. The more honest you are about this, the clearer idea you’ll get about your financial standing. Next, calculate your monthly income, including those from secondary income sources such as a second job or consultancy fees. Take your total mothly debts and divide it by total monthly income and you’ll get your debt to income ratio. Aside from the fact that lenders will look at this as a very important number, you’ll also get a feel of your own financial standing.

It would also be useful to figure out how much your net worth is by adding up all your assets and then subtracting all your liabilities from it. It’s also part of what lenders will look at when reviewing your mortgage application.

Ask yourself some difficult questions.
Let’s say for example that you are looking into investing on Leland real estate. At the moment, you feel you earn enough to begin looking at Leland homes for sale. However, before you do that, it’s important that you ask yourself a few questions first, just to be sure.

First, ask whether your source/s of income is/are stable enough to carry you through tough times. Have you just been promoted recently? Are you dealing with a personal situation that makes your livelihood a bit unreliable? Try to think long term, while of course taking into consideration the fact that buying a home is already, by itself, a big risk to take.

Second, have you saved up enough to cover the out of pocket cost other than the downpayment? Does your savings also include a buffer fund that would take care of unforseen emergencies during and after buying a house? Do you have enough to cover the closing costs as well?

Third, do you understand what owning and maintaining a house entails? From paying insurance costs to paying for repairs and maintenance, it’s no doubt that buying a house is a huge responsibility. It’s vastly different from renting.

Honestly answering these questions would give you a clear picture of whether you are ready to buy a home or not. At times the question is a matter of financial preparedness, at other times, it’s also a matter of being emotionally prepared for the prospect of having such a big responsibility to go with the pleasure of being a home owner. If you feel the answer leads you to the fact that you’re ready to buy a house, congratulations! If the answers tell you otherwise, don’t lose heart. There’s always a good time for everything.

We’ve all heard the sating that your home is your greatest asset. Although this is true to a certain extent you need to keep in mind that your home is only worth what its worth within the current real estate market. The value of property is relative and although its traditionally been a very stable market in the long term, there is a lot of fluctuations in the short term.

If you want to sell your home, then its very important that you maximize the value. Obviously the more you get, the better a property you can invest in for your next home. In some ways, fixing up houses and increasing their value is an art and many people make a living doing just that by “flipping houses”. You don’t need to be an expert to be able to increase the value of your home. There are a few very simple things you can do that can potentially add a lot of dollar value to the selling price.

1. Painting

A paint job goes a long way. In fact, you’d be surprised when you see just what a lick of paint can do to the value of your home. Selling is all about the perceived value and by presenting your home in the best possible way, you can really increase this perceived value. Its really important that you give the inside a new layer of paint and stick to basic whites. It will make everything look new and fresh and for a few hundred dollars you can potentially add thousands to the price of your home.

2. Garden

A nice garden is something that can swing even the most stubborn buyers. Greenery is such a rare thing these days and if you can add a few flower beds, a lawn and some nice leafy trees then the overall look and feel of your home will be so different. Plants are cheap and it’s a really inexpensive way to add more perceived value to your home.

3. Bathroom

Its ironic, but the bathroom is often the one room in the house that makes or breaks a sale. There is absolutely no excuse. Your bathrooms have to present well. An old, stuffy bathroom will chase away buyers. If you are going to spend money, spend it on the bathroom. Keep is simple and clean. It’s the one investment in your home that will pay off when it comes to clinging the deal.

There has been an influx of homes in the marketplace recently. Anybody looking to sell their home ought to ensure that it has competitive pricing but that it also looks appealing. If somebody adhered to regular home staging suggestions it would help set the property up for top showings.

Home staging is when an individual selling their home prepares it for sale. What’s meant by that is, the seller pays close attention to the way the house is presented and its overall appearance. It is essential for the home to have all aesthetic issues dealt with and that the organization, design, and appearance are all top rate.

Some people don’t understand the benefit of having their house staged. These people, many occasions, believe that the price point for the property will be the only element within the sale. An benefit in staging the house is that the seller sees the larger picture of how the house looks, that can result in much less time on the market, and more effortlessly justifying the sale cost.

Looking at the curb appeal of the property will be the initial step in staging. Many individuals only believe of the interior of the house when they are staging their property. The first thing that a possible buyer will see is the exterior so it is important to have it searching good. A seller ought to do a walk about of the property and make a list of any items needing attention, and have a buddy do the same. The seller should then take that list and fix any items that stand out.

A high priority for staging the interior of the home is ensuring that the entryway is well taken care of. This is the region that connects the outside globe using the interior so it is important to have it searching good. Make certain that the region is correctly cleaned, swept, and dusted. This area ought to be nicely lit and also the lighting should fit the tone of the house as well. An additional key element is to get a brand new, high quality door mat. This is a cheap item that is frequently overlooked but adds to the really feel of becoming at home upon arrival.

Since numerous individuals entertain their guests and households in their living or family room it is essential to set those rooms as much as permit for the possible buyer to envision that taking place. Setting up the furniture within the room to showcase group conversation or interaction is really a great thought. If there’s a fireplace the furniture should be set up to make that the focus of the room.

The kitchen is another highlight of any house. If there have been any areas remodeled within the kitchen, the seller should showcase those improvements. Any updating needed to faucets, handles, or lights, ought to be carried out. The kitchen should be thoroughly cleaned so no grit or grime is left anywhere.

The bathrooms in the house ought to follow exactly the same steps as the kitchen staging. Any handles, lights, or faucets that need updating ought to have that done. It is even more vital to have the bathroom searching spotless. There should not be residue or soap scum left on any surfaces that the potential buyer might see.

The bedroom ought to be staged in such a way that it feels very comfortable. Do not have additional furniture or clothes within the room as that will give the appearance of clutter and make the room seem smaller. Since a seller wants the buyer to envision themselves within the home there ought to be no family pictures left anywhere in the home, including the bedroom.

Preparing a home having a stunning curb appeal is important when a person is selling their house. Following these easy house staging tips will help justify the properties asking cost. Setting up the house to have the possible buyer feel at house is extremely important.