When selling a home, it helps to make the property as appealing as possible given the current season. The summer is no exception. Spending a little extra time and effort to create a summer-friendly atmosphere might be just what is needed to help potential buyers envision living in the home and ultimately make an offer.
Following are some things you can do to help your home shine during the summer:
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Go Green. There is no escaping the fact that your yard will always make the first impression. To start off right with potential buyers, keep your lawn well maintained. Make sure shrub beds are free of weeds and full of mulch.
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Let the sun shine. While keeping window coverings closed might keep energy costs down, it also creates a more depressing atmosphere. Sunlight makes a home feel bright and makes people feel happy. Open the window coverings for any window that doesn’t have a bad view.
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Set the scene. Stage your yard in a way that buyers can see the potential it has as an outdoor living space. Put out a few lounge chairs. Rearrange the patio furniture. Add some potted plants. Clean up any clutter. Make your yard a place buyers want to spend time in.
To find out more information feel free to contact me any time.
Jason@JMartocci.com
A report this week from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) presents more evidence that a housing recovery is under way in much of the country. According to NAR, existing home sales rose for the third consecutive month in June to the highest level since October 2008. The last time home sales rose for three straight months was in early 2004 during the housing boom.
According to NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, “The increase in existing-home sales occurred in all major regions of the country. We expect a gradual uptrend in sales to continue due to tax credit incentives and historically high affordability conditions.”
There are clear signs that buyer interest is high. A NAR practitioner survey in June showed that first-time buyers are continuing to respond to the limited-time $8,000 federal tax credit. In addition, the number of buyers looking at homes in June was up nearly 12 percentage points from June 2008.
To find out more information feel free to contact me any time.
Jason@JMartocci.com
It’s long been known that a home purchase stimulates other parts of the economy as the new owners make improvements to their homes and purchase furniture. In recent months, the number of first-time buyers has increased as a result of favorable market conditions and the availability of the $8,000 tax credit.
These buyers are often just starting out, and their list of items to purchase can be long, while funds may be limited. The Star-Ledger newspaper recently provided tips for furnishing a new home, including these:
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Match your needs with your budget. The first step is to determine what you need to fill your new space, and what you already have that could work in your new home. Then, figure out how much money you have to spend and develop a shopping list that prioritizes those items that are necessities.
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Shop around. Visit a number of different stores so you can compare prices and options. Take pictures of pieces you are interested in so you can remember what they look like and see how they coordinate with items you already have or are considering. Try to avoid an impulse buy you might regret later.
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Get big-ticket items first. Everyone needs a place to sleep, eat and relax, so make sure you have plans to purchase a mattress and box spring, table and chairs, and a sofa. You can always accessorize slowly over time as your budget permits.
To find out more information feel free to contact me any time.
Jason@JMartocci.com
Many people move into new homes in the summer so they can be settled in time for the start of the new school year. If you are moving this summer, or will be moving in the future, take note of these time-saving tips from HGTV that will help take the stress out of your move:
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Your trash may be somebody else’s treasure. Before you start packing, take time to go through your belongings and get rid of things you won’t be likely to use in your new home or that just aren’t worth the effort to move with you. Hold a garage sale or consider giving away your unwanted items using Freecycle.
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Remain organized with a packing system. Not only will you want all of your boxes to make it into the right part of your house, but there will also be certain boxes containing necessities that you’ll want to open first. Use colors to differentiate which room boxes go to, and provide a color key to the movers. Also number each box and make a master inventory list to remind you of the contents of each one.
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Stay one step ahead of the movers. Before your possessions arrive and the unpacking begins, head over to your new house if possible to do a little cleaning, painting and make any other improvements necessary. It is much easier to do these things while the house is empty.
A little preparation can go a long way in ensuring a smooth move, so plan ahead, stay organized and remain focused on the end result: your new home!
To find out more information feel free to contact me any time.
Jason@JMartocci.com
