My Blog

Half-Empty Closets

12/3/2018





Storage is something every buyer is looking for
and can never have enough of. 
 
Take half the stuff out of your closets, then
neatly organize what’s left in there. 
 
Buyers will snoop, so be sure to keep all your
closets and cabinets clean and tidy.
 
As your real estate consultant, my highest
priority is selling your house for top dollar fast
and hassle-free. 
 
If you have any questions or need a referral to
any services, then call, text or email and I’ll
respond immediately.
 
On Your Team Helping You Sell Your Home
For Top Dollar



Your New Neighborhood

11/26/2018






Before you buy, get the lay of the land. Visit the neighborhood in the morning, afternoon and evening. Many homebuyers have become completely distraught because they thought they found the perfect home, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house at all hours of the day to see what’s happening in the neighborhood. Noise levels vary during different times of the day. Do your regular commute from the house to make sure it is something you can deal with on a daily basis. Find out how far it is to the nearest grocery store and other services.
Want to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate? 
 
Did you know that every month I sponsor a contest called Fun Day Monday?
 
Every month, my clients are invited to enter a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate. I send you a quiz question with multiple choice answers. You respond with what you think is the right answer. Then I take all the correct answers, put them in a big bucket, and pull a winner. It’s so much fun we call it Fun Day Monday.
 
Send me your email address and you will be automatically entered to receive the next Fun Day Monday quiz question. Good luck!
 
On Your Team Helping You Find and Buy
The Perfect Home For You 



Take The Home Out Of Your House

11/19/2018



 

One of the most important things to do when selling your house is to de-personalize it. The more personal stuff in your house, the less potential buyers can imagine themselves living there. Get rid of one-third of your stuff – put it in storage. This includes family photos, memorabilia collections and personal keepsakes. Consider hiring a home stager to maximize the full potential of your home. Staging simply means arranging your furniture to best showcase the floor plan and maximize the use of space. You can get a free copy of my book How To Sell Your House for Top Dollar Fast, just send me a text or email and I’ll get it out to you immediately.
 
On Your Team Helping You Sell Your Home For Top Dollar

Making The Move Easy On The Kids

11/12/2018




I’m assuming you may have children, if not, maybe you could forward this message to a friend or family member who has children and is looking for a home. It could be very helpful. Most often, a move represents an important step forward for the adults in the family. A new job, promotion, transfer to a different office, or a financial success that has allowed them to buy a more comfortable house in a different neighborhood. Moving from one house to another is seldom easy or enjoyable for adults (who choose to move), and can be especially troubling for children (who prefer to stay where they are). But if parents are mindful of their children’s concerns and needs, they can minimize distress and discomfort. I wrote a brief, but insightful white paper entitled Making the Move Easy on The Kids. If it would be helpful to you or a friend, send me a quick message or email and I’ll immediately send it over.
 
On Your Team Helping You Find and Buy
The Perfect Home For You 

The Kitchen Comes First - Tip #5

11/5/2018

  

 

You’re not actually selling your house; you’re selling your kitchen – that’s how important it is. The benefits of remodeling your kitchen are endless, and the best part is, you’ll probably get 85% of your money back. It may cost a few thousand dollars to replace countertops, but a buyer may knock $10,000 off the asking price if your kitchen looks dated. The fastest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting cabinets and adding new cabinet hardware. Use a neutral-color paint so you can present buyers with a blank canvas where they can start envisioning their own style. If you have a little money to spend, buy one fancy stainless steel appliance. Why one? Because when people see one high-end appliance, they think all the rest are expensive too and it updates the kitchen.

On Your Team Helping You Sell Your Home For Top Dollar

Light It Up - Tip #4

10/22/2018



 
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good lighting is the one thing every buyer says they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do to make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable. If you would like a copy of my Room-By-Room Review, Shoot me a message and I will send it to you immediately.

The Science and Art of Making An Offer - Tip #3

10/15/2018


Your opening offer should be based on two things: what you can afford (because you don’t want to outbid yourself), and what you really believe the property is worth. Make your opening bid something that’s fair and reasonable and isn’t going to totally offend the seller. A lot of people think they should go lower the first time they make a bid; it all depends on what the market is doing at the time. You need to look at what other homes have sold for in that neighborhood and you want to get an average price per square foot.Sizing up a house on a price-per-square-foot basis is a great equalizer. Also, see if the neighbors have plans to put up a new addition, a basketball court or tennis court, or something that might detract from the property’s value down the road. Sellers respect an offer that is an oddball number and are more likely to take it seriously. A nice round number sounds like every other bid out there. When you get more specific, the sellers will think you've given the offer careful thought. 
 

Don't Over-Upgrade - Tip #2

10/8/2018







Quick fixes before selling your home always pay off. Mammoth makeovers, on the other hand, not so much. You probably won’t get your money back if you do a huge improvement project before you put your house on the market. Instead, do updates that will pay off and get you top dollar. Get a new fresh coat of paint on the walls. Clean the curtains or go buy some inexpensive new ones. Replace door handles and cabinet hardware. Make sure closet doors are on track, fix leaky faucets and clean the grout.

If you are wondering what upgrades you may want to make, shoot me a message and I’d be delighted to answer any questions you may have. And please, before you make any big, expensive improvements, check with me and I can tell you what the average return on investment is for almost every improvement.

Lastly, register and create your account to receive your free market report. This will give you the up-to-date market info so that you can be in-tune with what is happening in your neighborhood. Everything from days on market, to average list price of homes in the Kansas City area.  

How To Find and Buy The Perfect Home For You - Tip #1

10/2/2018
Have you ever heard the phrase “You don’t know what you don’t know”? This phrase is especially applicable when buying or selling your home. Because buying or selling a home is something that most people do only two or three times in a lifetime, there are things that they’re completely unaware of. They simply don’t know what they don’t know. These free weekly blog tips will make it so much easier for you to avoid making costly mistakes. They’re free because it’s my way of adding value to your life – whether we choose to work together in the future or not.
 
Here is my first tip. 
Use Your Head, Not Just Your Heart 
 
Buying a house just based on emotions has the potential to break your heart. If you fall in love with something, you might end up making some pretty bad financial decisions. There’s a big difference between your emotions and your intelligence. Relying on your intelligence means that based on all the information available, you recognize that you’re getting a great house for a good value. Going with your emotions is being obsessed with the paint color or the backyard or the cosmetics of the house. It’s an investment, so stay calm and be wise. Remember, there is ALWAYS another house out there. As your consultant, my responsibility is to help you balance emotions, instincts and common sense. When you are ready to sit down together I can ask you the type of questions that will help you clarify your values, because when your values are clear, your decisions are easier. In the meantime, if you see a sign or a home online that interests you, feel free to give me a call. I can usually find out why the seller is selling and what the facts are that are not readily available to the general public.

Come back next week to check out "How To Find and Buy The Perfect Home For You" - Tip #2
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