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Beatrice Bloom, Princeton Real Estate Agent

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3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET READY FOR THE SUMMER RUSH

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 20, 2018

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO GET READY FOR THE SUMMER RUSH

The summer sale season is upon us, and that means if you’ve got a home on the market, you’re going to have a lot of competition. To get the most interest from buyers – and the most cash – you need to be on top of your game.

  1. Fix up the entryway. First impressions truly are everything. Having an entry area that’s covered in dirt, cobwebs, or peeling or faded paint screams “disrepair.” Clean, repaint if necessary and add a nice pot of flowers. Trim overgrown hedges and keep up with the mowing.
  2. Small issues make a big difference. They say the devil is in the details, and it’s certainly true when you’re trying to make your home outshine the competition. Wash your walls, add a new coat of paint if you can, and keep appliances, mirrors, switch plates and windows nice and clean.
  3. Adjust your price. Summer means more buyers – and it also means more homes for sale. Make sure your home is priced to sell by working closely with your agent. Rely on their guidance and lower your price accordingly if you don’t get any “bites” within the first few weeks.

Just a little effort is all it takes to be done with closing by the time those autumn leaves fly.

 

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: WHEN TO LOWER YOUR ASKING PRICE

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 13, 2018

THE PRICE IS RIGHT: WHEN TO LOWER YOUR ASKING PRICE

If you’ve just put your home on the market, there’s one topic neither you nor your agent wants to think about (yet): Lowering your price. After all, you have a lot invested in your home, financially and emotionally. But as unpalatable as it may seem to drop your price, it’s often a very smart move that can help you sell your home faster – and in some cases, it may even start a bidding war.

Ideally, you want to lower your price just once to avoid looking “desperate” to sell. So that means the new price has to be spot on. With the right price, your home may attract several interested buyers, all eager to bid up the price so they can snap up that bargain before it gets away.

How do you know when it’s time to lower the price? Ask your agent. They spend all day watching market fluctuations, gauging buyer interest, looking at comparable properties and evaluating other variables that are influencing home prices in your neighborhood. Trust their advice. Remember – they work for you, and they truly have your best interests at heart.

MARKET VALUE VS. VALUATION: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 6, 2018

MARKET VALUE VS. VALUATION: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, making sure you’re getting the best value is of paramount importance. It just makes sense to try to gain as much information as you can before setting a price or making an offer. One big mistake a lot of buyers and sellers make when trying to determine a fair value for a home is to look at the current tax records, available on sites like Realtor.com as well as county tax assessor websites.

While that might seem like a good tactic, it actually can leave you with a wildly inaccurate value, one that doesn’t reflect the true market value of the home. That’s because there’s a big difference between a home’s market value and its value for tax purposes. Tax valuation is completely separate from market value, and it’s determined based on a lot of factors – none of which has to do with the price a home will bring when it’s sold. In fact, in most cases, a home’s market value exceeds the tax valuation – often significantly.

To get the true value of a home on today’s market, talking to an experienced real estate agent is your best bet. Experienced agents know what buyers are looking for, and they also know what prices homes in your neighborhood are commanding. It’s one more way to take the hassle out of the home sales process.

 

Weichert Insights: Preparing Your Home to Go on the Market

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Preparing Your Home to Go on the Market

Preparing your home for sale is not always an easy or quick task, but the results can be well worth the effort by adding to your bottom line. To assess what must be done, tour your own home and be critical. Try to evaluate each room as if viewing the house for the first time and see what could possibly diminish the value of your home in a buyer’s eyes. You may want to ask a friend for help. Sometimes a new person will see things you have missed.

Many homeowners find that they spend more time preparing to sell their home than they expect. Be sure to budget your time carefully so that you can meet any specific goals in selling your home. You can also prioritize your tasks based on these key takeaways:

  • When preparing a home for sale, remember that buyers are looking for rooms that are as brightly lit, clean and as neutral as possible.
  • The bathroom and kitchen are important rooms when showing a home. Clean or replace any dingy grout, apply fresh caulk, if needed, and make sure there is no visible rust or dirt on the fixtures.
  • Part of staging a home is removing items that can give away any personal information. Remove diplomas, wedding and vacation photos, and any religious articles from walls and shelves. If a buyer forms an opinion about the seller, it may negatively affect their offer.
  • Getting a home inspection before listing tells you exactly what is wrong and allows you to address the issues in your own time, at your own pace. It also eliminates any surprises during escrow.

For more valuable information about selling a home, visit the Weichert.com Research section at www.weichert.com/guides/.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PATIO SPACE

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – May 30, 2018

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PATIO SPACE

Memorial Day marks the start of summer–time to enjoy the sunshine and entertain outside. But if your patio has an unpleasant view, is swarmed by bugs, or is uncomfortably exposed to nosy neighbors, spending time outside is not the best. Patio decorations are a useful tool to make the most of your patio space.

If your patio is missing a picturesque view, refocus your gaze inward by adding a sculpture, a fountain, or a brightly painted wall to capture your attention. If buggy evenings are a problem on your patio, switching out light bulbs for LED lights with a Kelvin rating lower than 3,000 provides a softer, yellow light that will attract fewer bugs. A sheet of lattice with leafy vines set up between your patio and your neighbor’s property serves as the perfect decorative privacy screen. A lattice wall will also block your patio from gusty wind.

Not only will these design tricks make your patio look beautiful, they will make your patio ready to entertain and enjoy this summer.

 

Weichert Insights: Spruce Up Your Kitchen Before Selling

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Spruce Up Your
Kitchen Before Selling
Kitchens are one of the most scrutinized rooms in a home for sale. It makes sense since families tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and it is also a space for entertaining. If you are getting ready to put your home on the market, the kitchen should definitely be one of your priorities. The good news is that it’s not necessary to do a complete remodel in order to have a kitchen that is pleasing to buyers.

Instead, consider these tips to inexpensively improve the appeal of your kitchen:

  • Clear your countertops as much as possible to showcase the space you have and to allow potential buyers to imagine it as their own. This means storing countertop appliances, removing any racks with low-hanging pots and pans, and leaving only the most minimal décor.
  • Brighten things up with lighting and greenery. If you have recessed lighting, consider installing a few pendants or a chandelier over the table to change up the look. In addition, live plants, flowers and fresh herbs in pots will enhance the décor and smell nice, too.
  • If your budget permits, it is advisable to replace any older appliances or even flooring that makes your home appear dated. At the very least, make sure everything is clean and in working order when your home goes on the market.

For more real estate tips and insights, visit the Weichert.com Research section at www.weichert.com/guides/.
Beatrice Bloom