How to Give Your Home A Facelift:The Sellers Guide to A Quick Sell

One of the great challenges to selling a home can be showing all of its space, decor and natural light potential.  For example, every home has crowded closets and dead space.  Sellers should be aware that areas such as these are easy to spruce-up with a little elbow grease and old-fashioned innovation. 

 

Begin by evaluating your closet/storage space, determine which areas can cut-down in clutter.  Go through old clothes, shoes, etc., and get rid of anything that will not be used and in turn create more space.  Consider organizing shelves and other areas to make better use of your storage space, including your garage and basement.  Also, try to throw out or give away any old furniture that is no longer of use.  All of the discarded items can be given to Good Will, Salvation Army or even sold at a yard sale.

 

Once you’ve eliminated the unwanted items and furniture, begin the ‘renovation’ process.  For non-storage spaces that could use a little more decor, consider adding a small bookshelf complemented with a cozy reading chair.  Always be sure you’re filtering as much light into your property as possible.  Open or replace curtains.  For example, light from a window overlooking the backyard offers a room more color, a great view and the illusion of more space.

 

Always maximize the potential of existing decor; wash old curtains, re-stain old wood casings, anything that refreshes and emphasizes all the potential of the space and decor of the home.

 

Prospective buyers are often more drawn to homes with features that they don’t have, those with clutter-free closets, open sunny rooms, and cozy little corners.  To ensure you’ve realized all of the above characteristics the last step should be to bring in a friend and observe their reaction.  Make sure it’s an honest friend, who will offer suggestions as well as notice the improvements.  Seeing your own home through someone else’s eyes is a great way to make a home optimally attractive and more sellable to prospective buyers.

 

Be diligent in your efforts and be sure the renovations improve the aesthetic appeal of the home.  All the hard work will be worth the reward of a successful sale. 

 

 

Charlotte Ikea Location to Open Ahead of Schedule

The Charlotte Observer announced Decemeber 9, 2008 that Ikea’s new Charlotte location will open more than two months ahead of schedule at 9:00am on February 18th. The weather in the past spring and summer allowed for a quicker compeletion of the Swedish home furnishing stores. It is estimated that 400 employees will work at the new store, with training for their positions already starting. For more information on this story, visit Charlotteobserver.com.

Selling Your Home in the Winter

    

    In many parts of the country, selling a home during the winter months can be a challenge. Dreary, cold weather and the end-of-the-year holidays can keep buyers away and heighten fears of your home staying on the market longer than expected.  However, there are a few things you can do to enhance “curb appeal.”  And when that happens, buyers will take notice.

      For example, if your home has been on the market for more than six months, its probably time to change the sales approach.  There are several factors that could be reviewed with your real estate agent to determine improvements that can be made.  Ask for a reassessment of the sales price; it may be too high for the current market.  Also, ask the agent for a new or updated marketing plan and ask for a specific explanation of each activity.  Marketing your home goes beyond a few ads in the newspaper and a listing on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS); a good agent will do more to get your home sold.

      If your current agent doesn’t respond to your satisfaction, you should contact the real estate broker (the owner of the office) and ask for a different sales agent – or, if you’re no longer under any contractual obligation to the firm, it might be time to change real estate offices entirely.

      When setting the asking price through a comparative marketing analysis, compare similar homes sold in the winter months.  Many owners set their asking price too high because of comparisons with sales prices during peak seasons.  Always try to compare like properties sold at the same time of year.

      Once you’ve settled on an asking price, its time to spruce up the interior and exterior of your home.  Many real estate agents recommend opening as many curtains as possible to add light and color to rooms.  Also, it’s suggested that you keep spring and summer pictures of your home out on tables and in clear view.  Photos of your front yard flowers or the backyard shade tree in full summer bloom can help swing many buyers in favor of a purchase.

      Staying on top of winter maintenance and chores is another sure-fire way of adding value to your home.  A neatly shoveled driveway and cleared walkway can add a nice touch.  Make sure the furnace is in good working condition and that the room temperature is kept at a comfortable level.  Also, check to see that the basement if dry and sealed from any drafts.

      Take yourself on a tour of your home.  Start in the basement and work you way through the house.  More than likely you’ll see many previously undiscovered cluttered spaces and needed repairs that can turn off potential buyers.

Don’t overload your home with holiday decorations, either.  The buyer should have a chance to see you home in its everyday condition.