Don’t Forget Your Jimmy Choo’s

The party is under way and you are dressed to the nines.  You step out to make your grand entrance, and all everyone can look at are your feet.  That tuxedo or little black dress is a showstopper but they’re all staring at the old beaten up sneakers or boots you chose to wear with it.  Not quite the impression you were going for.  You would not wear old dirty shoes when preparing for a big party or say a job interview, because you always want to dress to impress.  So why is it that so many people, who are selling their homes, make the same mistake?  They clean and prepare their homes for showings, by clearing up the clutter and staging them to induce buyers to want to live there.  But, then they overlook prepping and staging the garage.     

These days, the garage is an important part of the home, but so many sellers overlook the fact that buyers want to envision how they will use that space.  If your garage is messy or cluttered with boxes, so much so, that potential buyers can’t even maneuver through it, you may be sending the wrong message to them.  If buyers want to see if their SUV will fit in the space, they may not be able to look beyond the stack of boxes that have prevented you from parking in there.  What if the buyer is looking for a space with a lot of natural light for some hobby work, and your garage door will not open?  It’s important that things in the garage be in working order and the space is safe for potential buyers to walk through.  If you are using the garage to store the items you have moved out of your home for staging, consider moving them to a storage unit or to a friend’s house temporarily.  Let your garage speak for itself and make the right impression on potential buyers.  Just like the right pair of shoes can make on outfit, the right garage can make the home.  So do you want to show beat up old Keds, or do you want to show off your Jimmy Choo’s. 

It’s Elementary, My Dear Watson

You are shopping for a new home.  You have gone to open houses and showings and you have found a house that meets all of your needs.   The home is close to your work, has nice parks and is in a great school district.  The offer is made, you close on the property, and you move in.  It is then that you learn that your perfect home is maybe not in the ideal neighborhood you thought it would be.  There is a constant police presence in your neighborhood because of a high incidence of crime at night.  Your neighbor rents his home to a bunch of frat boys and they have constant parties until dawn.  The friendly couple across the street has teenage boys who own muscle cars and the sound of drag racing can be heard for miles.   Your dreams of happily ever after have now become more of a nightmare, all because you didn’t do your homework before you bought your home. 

Before buying a house you need to look at all aspects of the neighborhood and not just the obvious things, like school districts and commute time.   In this day and age, you have to be a formidable detective, akin to Sherlock Holmes himself, and investigate the neighborhood using several different sources.  Check out the local newspapers, neighborhood blogs, or any number of apps to investigate what is around your house and pay special attention to any reports of crime in the area.   Another good idea is to talk to the neighbors.  Who better will know if the sellers have made any repairs to the home or if other neighbors on the block may be a problem?  One of the best things you can do is too make several visits to the neighborhood at different times during the day and on different days.  This is a great way to learn what an area is like and to see it for yourself.  You’ll hear the train whistles, see the activity with your own eyes and get a real sense if this neighborhood is for you.   It is better to learn the truth before the papers have been signed to avoid buyer’s remorse later.

There’s No Place Like Home, There’s No Place Like Home, There’s No Place Like Home

        You have been renting for years and everyone keeps saying that you should take the plunge and put down some roots.  But, are you really ready to buy a home?  Despite what everyone is telling you, only you are qualified to determine if buying a home is really in the cards for you.  You need to ask yourself several questions to figure out if you are really ready to dive in and make one of the biggest purchases of your life.  First you need to consider if you can really afford a home.  Not just the price of the home but all the additional expenses associated with home ownership, like taxes, maintenance, HOA fees, home insurance, etc.  Next, you will have to determine how much a down payment you can afford.  Most mortgage companies require a minimum down payment of 3.5% and another 3% of the purchase price for closing costs.  Do you have enough money saved to cover that?  What about your credit score?  Your FICO score will need to be above 620, or you may have a tough time getting approved for a mortgage.  You may need to consider taking some time to improve your credit score before even considering buying a home. 

       Besides the numbers and the money there are a few things you need to consider.  Will owning a home really fit into your lifestyle?   Most homeowners stay in one house for at least 3 to 5 years.  The minimum time needed before selling your house is determined by how much the property has gone up in price and the amount of equity in the house.  Homes require some weekly and monthly maintenance. So be ready to buy a do it yourself, DIY, book to help you learn how to do some home repairs or landscaping.  The costs of weekly maintenance along with home repairs will need some financial planning. So, take a look at your lifestyle and financial health and make the best decision for you.  There’s no place like home, but only you can decide if you should rent or buy that home. 

Bathroom Updates You Can Do in a Day for Under $100 Each

           

         Your house is on the market but so far there are no offers.  You hear comments like, the fixtures are old, the lighting is terrible, or the worst, the bathrooms look dated.  I know it’s frustrating, but there are things you can do to make those buyers take notice. A few simple changes in your bathroom could make all the difference and they don’t have to break your piggy bank.  First and foremost, the best and cheapest thing you can do to make buyers feel comfortable is to make sure that your bathrooms are clean and neatly organized.  A bathroom that is cluttered and unorganized will turn off any buyer.  Besides organizing, one of the easiest things to do to make an impact in the bathroom is to simply change out the towels and mats around the room.  You would be surprised how much a new set of extra plush towels in a vibrant hue can transform the look and feel of the room.   Another easy fix is to add ambiance to your bathroom.  A few candles, pictures, and other decorative touches can make a world of difference and help create a warm and inviting environment to prospective buyers. 

         Now for the more adventurous amateur DIYer, there a few relatively inexpensive but a little more involved things you can do to update your bathrooms in a day.  A pop of color in a bathroom is a great way to change the look of the room.  Try painting your old cabinet, a wall, or perhaps the door to add a little spice to the room or go all white and make it look clean and fresh.  Play with the lighting in the room by changing out the old fixtures to a new style.  Just replacing the glass shades to a something more modern will make an old fixture like new again.   Replacing the old hardware on the cabinets themselves can convert them to something new and exciting.  Finally, updating the fixtures such as faucets or showerheads can bring a bathroom back into this day and age and make prospective buyers take a second look.