by Jeff Pittman | Apr 21, 2014 | Buyers, Sellers
When it’s time to put your house on the market home sellers are faced with a dilemma – renovate and increase your home’s value or sell as is. There can be a fine line between improvements and renovations that are necessary and add value and those that are wasting your time and money. We’ve compiled all the most important data from the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) and CAR (California Association of Realtors) and come up with a top 5 list of home improvements that buyers are looking for while they’re shopping for homes and give you money back for your investment. Even if you’re not ready to move, these are improvements you can enjoy now and rest easy that future buyers will love as well. Kitchen updates 85% of home buyers want a walk-in kitchen pantry and according to CAR you can expect to recoup 60%-120% of your investment on a kitchen remodel as long as you keep it modest and to the point. Restructuring the lay out and adding a built in cappuccino maker won’t get you the returns you’re looking for but a new countertop and a great paint job should do the trick. A cost effective and stylish kitchen upgrade for faded, stained or worn out counter tops is laminate. For example granite styled laminate mirrors the look of granite but for a fraction of the cost. The laminate is also the perfect material for your kitchen because it’s scratch resistant. Changing the look of your countertops will give the whole room a facelift and it won’t cost you a fortune. Great Outdoors There are tons of reasons to give your backyard...
by Jeff Pittman | Apr 9, 2014 | Buyers, Sellers
Moving is stressful—for everyone, regardless of the reason for the move. Moves due to job and financial loss, death or divorce, etc. may be even more stressful. Moving for school age children means new social circles and friends and for some children that means new anxieties. Psychologists Shannon Mitsuko, MD and John Magee, PhD of the Carolinas Healthcare System say that children take many cues from parents. That’s why it’s important to understand what you as a parent can do to help your child readjust and cope with the stress of moving to a new home. Misuko and Magee say that it’s important to allow children to have their feelings rather than telling them how happy, sad or excited they are and then validate or affirm them during this time. With that in mind here are 5 tips on how you can ease the transition to a new home with your kids and cope with this life change. 1. Know your child and play to their needs. Mitsuko and Magee say that knowing your child is key – there is no one size fits all advice. For example if you have an older child with an outgoing personality, you may want to have a going away party. However, that’s not the case for everyone. According to Mitsuko and Magee hosting a going away party is a nice way to say “aloha”, it’s not goodbye. But again, this is more of an adult way to handle transitions. They suggest that this may be a good approach if you have a teenager but for a school aged child it may just be too much...
by Jeff Pittman | Mar 24, 2014 | Sellers
Selling a “Million Dollar Home” is not a simple feat, so a serious seller needs to prepare their home in order to achieve top dollar in their sale. With the #1 Real Estate Company in Orange County behind us, we help luxury home sellers achieve their best results every day. We have found that there are a few simple and steadfast rules to keep in mind when getting the highest value for your luxury home. Professional Staging is a must The way we sell is different than how we live. Your style is not necessarily what will appeal to your buyer and we do not want to turn anyone away. Staging helps neutralize your home and make it appeal to a larger pool of potential buyers. Declutter your space Consider it an opportunity to start your packing early. Buyers expect luxury homes to be spacious and areas of clutter conflict with that feel. This is also a good time to remove any old or dated furniture. It is better in storage or the garage if it makes the home feel dated. Less is more since you are selling your wonderful space – not your furniture or accessories. Don’t forget the details You need finished floors, flawless paint and NEVER FORGET THE WINDOWS! Make sure to have your floors cleaned or repaired since buyers will start to deduct from your million dollar price if they start to see issues. Paint is the cheapest way to give your home a new fresh look. Having your windows professionally cleaned is probably the number one thing you can do to achieve an immediate favorable reaction from buyers....
by Jeff Pittman | Mar 10, 2014 | Sellers
For most Americans, a sizable chunk of their net worth is tied up in the value of their homes; the average homeowner invests upwards of 35 percent of their income in mortgage payments and home maintenance. It’s no wonder then that people count on recouping their investment when it’s time to sell their home. Your home’s sales price ultimately depends on making it attractive to prospective buyers. Curb appeal, fresh paint, and a good location are obvious advantages, but there are also less obvious factors that significantly impact the value of your home. A High-Maintenance Yard The yard is the first thing prospective buyers see. You may love your elaborate heirloom rose garden and carefully tended fescue lawn, but potential buyers see lots of yard work and maintenance to look forward to. Conversely, if you’ve neglected your lawn and it’s covered in weeds and dead grass, potential buyers see hard work and expensive landscaping in their future. Plant easy-care grass and appealing low-maintenance flowers and shrubs to increase curb appeal. School Districts That Don’t Make the Grade A home in a great school district sells faster and has more value than a home in a less desirable school district. Even buyers without school-aged kids typically prefer a home in a good school district because they’re aware of the impact on the home’s resale value. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do if your school district has a less than an ideal rating. Make sure your home is in tip-top shape to improve its sales potential. Nasty Neighbors When appraisers evaluate your home, they always consider the appearance and condition of surrounding homes....
by Jeff Pittman | Mar 3, 2014 | Sellers
“Let’s pass on this one”, is the last thing you want potential buyers to say when they pull up in front of your house. And you know what, that really happens! I have had several buyers cancel appointments to view a home at the last minute before they even take one step in the door. Why you ask? Because if a home lacks curb appeal, it turns off buyers before they even get out of the car. What is curb appeal? Curb appeal just means how attractive your home is from the sidewalk. The world of real estate can be tough and if your house doesn’t look it’s best on the outside, some buyers won’t take the time to look inside. So if you are in the market to sell your home, here are 8 ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and ensure you never miss a potential buyer. 1. Think green. Your home will look beautiful and inviting if you have a green, lush front yard. It’s easy, just water the lawn and the flower beds regularly. If the sprinkler system doesn’t work, get it fixed. This will will be one less thing for the home inspector to find wrong with your home. If you don’t have a sprinkler system, you can always buy an inexpensive hose and sprinkler at Lowe’s. While you’re there, make sure to pick up some ammonium nitrate which is an inexpensive lawn fertilizer, guaranteed to turn your lawn green in no time at all. 2. Rake the lawn and weed the flower beds. General front yard upkeep is important and that includes the little things...
by Jeff Pittman | Feb 12, 2014 | Sellers
