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Beatrice Bloom, Princeton Real Estate Agent

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Weichert Insights: Converting Your Garage into Living Space

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Converting Your Garage into Living Space

Nearly everyone is looking for more room in their home, and converting the garage into a living space is tempting. After all, it’s already under the roof, walled on three sides and there are no load-bearing walls in the way. Before embarking on a garage conversion remodel, there are many things to consider.

Perhaps most important is the impact on your home’s value. When converting a garage, you are essentially trading out one kind of usable space for another. While you may not prioritize a protected place to keep your car, someone else might never consider purchasing a home without a garage. When it comes time to sell your home, you may be punished with a low offer.

There are also zoning and legal issues to consider. What’s more, while it may seem simple, converting a garage can actually be as costly and take as long to complete as a new addition. For example, most garages are not insulated and because garages tend to be lower than the house, it would be advisable to elevate the floor to match the height of the rest of the home.

On the positive side, expanding into the garage instead of building an addition provides for more living space without taking away from yard space that you use for outdoor activities. In addition, the location of attached garages make them perfect to expand the family room or kitchen in a way that flows naturally.

Wherever you stand, a full assessment of the pros and cons of a garage conversion should be conducted prior to any final decision.

 

REDUCING YOUR ENERGY BILL ON A BUDGET

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’t Talk Real Estate – July 11, 2018

REDUCING YOUR ENERGY BILL ON A BUDGET

There is nothing better than stepping into a cool building after being outside on a hot summer day. But this refreshing feeling also means a high, and growing, energy bill. Though most people believe their homes are already energy efficient, energy-saving efforts may not be paying off as much as you had hoped. Even if your home is newer (less than 30 years old) and built to code, newer homes can still benefit from energy-saving improvements. Some expensive improvements like replacing windows are thought to be the best way to reduce energy consumption, but will not reduce your energy bill as significantly as you hope.

One D.I.Y. strategy to noticeably reduce your energy bill is to caulk and seal plumbing lines, electric wires, windows, crawlspaces, and attics with a foam sealant. Or, a professional can seal ductwork and revamp your HVAC. Another strategy to reduce your energy bill is to program your thermostat so that the AC/heat is not blasting when your home is empty during the day.

These tips will keep your home at a comfortable temperature while cutting down on your energy costs.

 

Weichert Insights: Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

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Keeping Your Home Cool This Summer

July is just around the corner, and the dog days of summer are on their way. When the heat rises, everyone seeks ways to stay cool. Yet, at the same time, no one wants to spend so much money on air conditioning that there’s nothing left for summer fun!

Here are some ways to keep cool without jacking up your electric bill:

  • Block sunlight by closing blinds and/or installing blackout shades. This is proven to reduce heat gain and lower indoor temperatures, both which help save on cooling costs.
  • Adjust your ceiling fans to run counter-clockwise and push cool air downward. You can also put a bowl filled with ice in front of a fan and enjoy the cooling effect as the air whips off the ice.
  • Likewise, turn on your bathroom fans and the exhaust fan in your kitchen, which will both pull hot air out of your home.
  • Cook on an outdoor grill as often as possible so you don’t create excess heat in your home using the stove or oven.
  • Switch to CFL light bulbs, which give off significantly less heat than incandescent bulbs.

 

DUAL AGENCY: WHAT IS IT?

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Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 27, 2018

DUAL AGENCY: WHAT IS IT?

Buying a home seems straightforward enough. But in reality, the purchase process can be quite complex, which is one reason why having a buyer agent to guide you through your purchase is so important. If you haven’t already started working with your own buyer agent, it can be tempting to simply engage with the agent that’s representing the seller, especially if you’ve started your search by attending a lot of open houses. After all, the listing agent already knows the home and the seller – why not hire them to handle your end of the transaction as well?

When an agency handles the entire sale – both the seller’s end and the buyer’s – it’s referred to as a dual agency. And while it may sound like a convenient option, you’re almost always better off working with your own buyer agent instead of opting to use the listing agent. Having your own buyer agent means your interests come first, so you can feel confident you’ll have complete, individual, unbiased representation, which ever property you purchase. No matter where you are in your home search, take the time to find your own buyer agent for greater peace of mind.

 

 

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.

Beatrice Bloom