How to Sell Your Home: STAGING

If you ask a lot of Realtors what sells a home, they may say "A nice house will sell itself". So what exactly constitutes a "nice" house? Here are some great tips on how to get your home Ready to Sell:


1.Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.
You are selling a HOUSE not your HOME... Home is where the heart is right?! Say your Good-byes once you decide to sell, and strictly look at it as a financial decision from that point forward.

2.De-Personalize.
Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."

3. De-Clutter!
People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.
If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
Remove all books from bookcases.
Pack up those knickknacks.
Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

4. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means:
Alphabetize spice jars (maybe).
Neatly stack dishes.
Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
Line up shoes.

5. Rent a Storage Unit.
Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

6. Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.

7. Make Minor Repairs.
Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
Patch holes in walls.
Fix leaky faucets.
Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls. (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
Replace burned-out light bulbs.
If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!

8. Make the House Sparkle!
Wash windows inside and out.
Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
Clean out cobwebs.
Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
Clean out the refrigerator.
Vacuum daily.
Wax floors.
Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
Bleach dingy grout.
Replace worn rugs.
Hang up fresh towels.
Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

9. Scrutinize.
Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?
Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
Make sure window coverings hang level.
Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?
Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.

10. Check Curb Appeal.
If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
Keep the sidewalks cleared.
Mow the lawn.
Paint faded window trim.
Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
Trim your bushes.
Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

Information gathered from http://homebuying.about.com/od/sellingahouse/ht/homeprep.htm

Happy House Hunting!

~Blalock and Associates
www.gohomesearching.com

How Much House Can You REALLY Afford?

So, we are all aware of the housing crisis that our country has been experiencing in the recent years. One of the big reasons so many people have been finding themselves in foreclosure is because they were not smart about their money when buying their home. In essence, their eyes were bigger than their wallets! So do yourself a favor, and don't get caught up with the masses and find yourself struggling to pay your mortgage.

Here is a great site for figuring out what you realistically can afford!
http://www.hsh.com/calc-howmuch.html

Remember, just because you get approved for $X doesn't mean you have to max out your budget!


Buy Smarter now to be Happy later!

Happy House Hunting :)

~Blalock & Associates

The Homebuyer Tax Credit- Military Exemptions

It's Tax Time!

The new and improved First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit has caused a lot of people to buy in the previous year- many of them Military Families. Normally, if you move from this within 3 years of purchase you will owe back your $8000 or $6500 (whichever you received from the IRS). However, things are a bit different for the Military.

GOOD NEWS!

If you receive orders to PCS somewhere at least 50 miles away from your Primary Residence (the address you claimed the credit for), you DO NOT have to pay back your refund credit money! This applies whether you sell the current home or rent it out.

BAD NEWS :(

True Story- Consider this scenario that happened to a family right here at Fort Benning, GA- A soldier received orders to PCS to Fort Drum, NY. He had claimed the tax credit for buying his home, and they decided to rent it out when they moved to New York. He moved his family ahead of him, and was soon to join them when his orders were cancelled! His home at Fort Benning had already been occupied by his new tenants, so he and his family could not move back into their home. Because they no longer had orders for more than 50 miles away, and could not move back into their Primary Residence they had claimed on their taxes, they had to PAY BACK the $8000!!!

Moral of this story?- BE CAREFUL! This tax credit is great for many many people, but MAKE SURE you are PCSing before you give up your home!

In the meantime,

Happy House Hunting :)

Things to Think About When Choosing a Floor Plan

So you've found the neighborhood you've been searching for. Now What?

The next and perhaps most important step in the new home buying process is

Choosing a Floor Plan.

Here are some things to consider when picking your plan:

• Layout vs. Square Feet- Choosing a layout that fits your lifestyle is way more important than overall square footage. Most people like to compare numbers, so they like to see square footage side-by-side comparisons. Unfortunately, they may be making a mistake. Distribution of space can make a world of difference, and you may be able to get away with a smaller and more affordable plan, as long as those square feet are used where you need them most. Why pay for space you don't need?

• Lot Size vs. House Foot Print- In general, if you are looking at two plans with identical square footage, but one is 1-story and the other 2-story, the 1-story home will take up more space on your lot, leaving you with less yard. So if a larger yard is more important, you may want to go with the 2-story in that scenario. Also think about where the house will be placed on the lot, since that determines how large your front and back yards become.

• More Bedrooms vs. More Entertaining Space- If you know you are stuck in a certain size range due to lot size or financial restrictions, you may be forced to choose between priorities. A tip- Always remember that a spare bedroom can be used for many purposes- game room, office, hobby room, etc. For example, many new homes are offering spare bedrooms above garages that are advertised as bedrooms, but it may be the perfect spot to close-off noisy game room fun!

For great floor plans in the Georgia and Alabama areas, check out these great sites:

www.gohomesearching.com

www.jefflindseycommunities.com

We hope this will help you in the process of buying your new home!

Happy House Hunting!

~Blalock & Associates