Gorgeous Landscaping for Your House Means More Than Just Looks
HouseLogic names the essential curb appeal elements that double down on investment and enjoyment.
Showing posts with label houselogic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label houselogic. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Thursday, July 24, 2014
HouseLogic | REALTOR® Content Resource | 7 Tips for Staging Your Home
7 Tips for Staging Your Home
Published: March 19, 2010
Make your home warm and inviting to boost your home’s value and speed up the sale process. The first step to getting buyers to make an offer on your home is to impress them with its appearance so they begin to envision themselves living there. Here are seven tips for making your home look bigger, brighter, and more desirable.
1. Start with a clean slate.
Before you can worry about where to place furniture and which wall hanging should go where, each room in your home must be spotless. Do a thorough cleaning right down to the nitpicky details like wiping down light switch covers. Deep clean and deodorize carpets and window coverings.2. Stow away your clutter.
It’s harder for buyers to picture themselves in your home when they’re looking at your family photos, collectibles, and knickknacks. Pack up all your personal decorations. However, don’t make spaces like mantles and coffee and end tables barren. Leave three items of varying heights on each surface, suggests Barb Schwarz of Staged Homes in Concord, Pa. For example, place a lamp, a small plant, and a book on an end table.3. Scale back on your furniture.
When a room is packed with furniture, it looks smaller, which will make buyers think your home is less valuable than it is. Make sure buyers appreciate the size of each room by removing one or two pieces of furniture. If you have an eat-in dining area, using a small table and chair set makes the area seem bigger.4. Rethink your furniture placement.
Highlight the flow of your rooms by arranging the furniture to guide buyers from one room to another. In each room, create a focal point on the farthest wall from the doorway and arrange the other pieces of furniture in a triangle around the focal point, advises Schwarz. In the bedroom, the bed should be the focal point. In the living room, it may be the fireplace, and your couch and sofa can form the triangle in front of it.5. Add color to brighten your rooms.
Brush on a fresh coat of warm, neutral-color paint in each room. Ask your real estate agent for help choosing the right shade. Then accessorize. Adding a vibrant afghan, throw, or accent pillows for the couch will jazz up a muted living room, as will a healthy plant or a bright vase on your mantle. High-wattage bulbs in your light fixtures will also brighten up rooms and basements.6. Set the scene.
Lay logs in the fireplace, and set your dining room table with dishes and a centerpiece of fresh fruit or flowers. Create other vignettes throughout the home — such as a chess game in progress — to help buyers envision living there. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.Make your bathrooms feel luxurious by adding a new shower curtain, towels, and fancy guest soaps (after you put all your personal toiletry items are out of sight). Judiciously add subtle potpourri, scented candles, or boil water with a bit of vanilla mixed in. If you have pets, clean bedding frequently and spray an odor remover before each showing.
7. Make the entrance grand.
Mow your lawn and trim your hedges, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before showings to make your lawn sparkle. If flowers or plants don’t surround your home’s entrance, add a pot of bright flowers. Top it all off by buying a new doormat and adding a seasonal wreath to your front door.More from HouseLogic
Spring Cleaning Guide11 Ways to Create a Welcoming Front Entrance for Under $100
Fragrant Plants that Will Keep Your Home Smelling Good
G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who occasionally rearranges her furniture to find the best placement—and keep her dog on his toes. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
10 Inside Tips From a Designer Who Specializes in Small Baths
HouseLogic | REALTOR® Content Resource | 10 Inside Tips From a Designer Who Specializes in Small Baths
Published: December 27, 2012
A New York City designer shares secrets to making a small bath both functional and beautiful.
Got a small bathroom to renovate? Go wild with texture and colors if it’s a rarely used guest bath, but stick to clean and simple in a master bath.
That’s the word from designer Jamie Gibbs, who transforms incredibly
small New York City bathrooms into beautiful spaces. “I liked being
shocked by details in a little space, especially if it’s not going to be
used much,” Gibbs says.
His small-bath secrets:
1. Avoid textures in bathrooms that get daily use. In a heavily used bathroom, anything with texture becomes a collection spot for mold, mildew, and toothpaste. Say no to carved vessel sinks or floor tile with indentations.
2. Be careful with no-enclosure showers with drains right in the floor.
These Euro showers allow for a feeling of openness, but the average
American contractor doesn’t know how to waterproof the floor for them,
Gibbs says. The tile seals can be compromised if not installed
correctly, causing the materials to decompose, and water to leak
underneath.
3. Use opaque windows and skylights to let light filter into all parts of the bath.
A long skinny window with frosted glass means you don't have to burn
high-wattage light bulbs. Make sure water condensation will roll off the
window into an appropriate place (i.e. not the framing or the wall) to
avoid future maintenance issues.
4. Look for fixtures that have a single handle rather than separate hot and cold taps.
“Space-saving gearshift faucets are a very good choice in small
bathrooms,” says Gibbs. You’ll also save money by not having to drill
holes in the countertop for the hot and cold taps.
5. Save space with wall-mounted toilets and bidets, but be aware that the water tank goes into the wall.
That’s fine if space is such a premium that you won’t mind going into
the wall to make any repairs. But if you share a wall with a neighbor,
that's a different issue.
6. Use a wall-mount faucet to make a reduced-depth vanity work in a small space. “I can get away with a 22” vanity instead of a 24” vanity with a wall mount faucet,” Gibbs says.
7. Check the space between the handles and the faucet of any space-saving fixtures.
“If you can only get a toothbrush in it to clean, you'll save space,
but it’s functionally stupid,” Gibbs says. Make sure the sink is
functional, too. If you’re using a vessel sink, make sure it’s large
enough and not too high. “If it’s too high, you'll knock it so many
times that the fittings will come loose,” Gibbs says.
8. A pedestal sink is all form and no function. “It’s a great-looking sink, but there’s no place to [set] anything,” Gibbs says.
9. Wall-mounted vanities seem like they’re space savers, but they create dead space between the vanity and the floor — a space that often accumulates junk and never gets cleaned.
10. If you're comfortable with it, go European and put up a glass walls between the bathroom and bedroom to create the illusion of space. Or put bathroom fixtures in the bedroom just outside the bath.
Read more: http://members.houselogic.com/articles/small-bathroom-design-tips/preview/?cid=eo_em_mkt_rcrnewsletter#ixzz3571M6Sy1
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Wednesday, April 30, 2014
How to Keep Things Cleaner Longer
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How to Keep Things Cleaner Longer
These tricks and tips will help you outsmart dirt while cutting back on housework. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2014 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
Elite Real Estate Pros
(520) 836-6325
Email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Thursday, August 22, 2013
HouseLogic | REALTOR® Content Resource | How to Use Comparable Sales to Price Your Home
HouseLogic | REALTOR® Content Resource | How to Use Comparable Sales to Price Your Home
Published: August 5, 2010
Before you put your home up for sale, understand how the right comparable sales help you and your agent find the perfect price.
Knowing how much homes similar to yours, called comparable sales (or in real estate lingo, comps), sold for gives you the best idea of the current estimated value of your home. The trick is finding sales that closely match yours.What makes a good comparable sale?
Your best comparable sale is the same model as your house in the same subdivision—and it closed escrow last week. If you can’t find that, here are other factors that count:Location: The closer to your house the better, but don’t just use any comparable sale within a mile radius. A good comparable sale is a house in your neighborhood, your subdivision, on the same type of street as your house, and in your school district.
Home type: Try to find comparable sales that are like your home in style, construction material, square footage, number of bedrooms and baths, basement (having one and whether it’s finished), finishes, and yard size.
Amenities and upgrades: Is the kitchen new? Does the comparable sale house have full A/C? Is there crown molding, a deck, or a pool? Does your community have the same amenities (pool, workout room, walking trails, etc.) and homeowners association fees?
Date of sale: You may want to use a comparable sale from two years ago when the market was high, but that won’t fly. Most buyers use government-guaranteed mortgages, and those lending programs say comparable sales can be no older than 90 days.
Sales sweeteners: Did the comparable-sale sellers give the buyers downpayment assistance, closing costs, or a free television? You have to reduce the value of any comparable sale to account for any deal sweeteners.
Agents can help adjust price based on insider insights
Even if you live in a subdivision, your home will always be different from your neighbors'. Evaluating those differences—like the fact that your home has one more bedroom than the comparables or a basement office—is one of the ways real estate agents add value.An active agent has been inside a lot of homes in your neighborhood and knows all sorts of details about comparable sales. She has read the comments the selling agent put into the MLS, seen the ugly wallpaper, and heard what other REALTORS®, lenders, closing agents, and appraisers said about the comparable sale.
More ways to pick a home listing price
If you’re still having trouble picking out a listing price for your home, look at the current competition. Ask your real estate agent to be honest about your home and the other homes on the market (and then listen to her without taking the criticism personally).Next, put your comparable sales into two piles: more expensive and less expensive. What makes your home more valuable than the cheaper comparable sales and less valuable than the pricier comparable sales?
Are foreclosures and short sales comparables?
If one or more of your comparable sales was a foreclosed home or a short sale (a home that sold for less money than the owners owed on the mortgage), ask your real estate agent how to treat those comps.A foreclosed home is usually in poor condition because owners who can’t pay their mortgage can’t afford to pay for upkeep. Your home is in great shape, so the foreclosure should be priced lower than your home.
Short sales are typically in good condition, although they are still distressed sales. The owners usually have to sell because they’re divorcing, or their employer is moving them to Kansas.
How much short sales are discounted from their market value varies among local markets. The average short-sale home in Omaha in recent years was discounted by 8.5%, according to a University of Nebraska at Omaha study. In suburban Washington, D.C., sellers typically discount short-sale homes by 3% to 5% to get them quickly sold, real estate agents report. In other markets, sellers price short sales the same as other homes in the neighborhood.
So you have to rely on your REALTOR’s® knowledge of the local market to use a short sale as a comparable sale.
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
(520) 705-1798 Cell (520) 280-2766
Email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Friday, February 3, 2012
Importance Of Home Ownership | Home Ownership Matters | HouseLogic
Importance Of Home Ownership | Home Ownership Matters | HouseLogic
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner, REALTOR®, CDPE
Office (520) 836-6325 Cell (520) 280-2766
Email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
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| Our Name Says It All! |
Monday, June 20, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
Office (520) 836-6325 Cell (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
Office (520) 836-6325 Cell (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Do-It-Yourself Home Security Check: 5 Essential Steps
Conduct a do-it-yourself home security check by walking around your house to assess what needs to be done to reduce the risk of a break-in. Read
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Casa Grande Homes
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
Office (520) 836-6325 Cell (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
Office (520) 836-6325 Cell (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Whole-House Sound Hath Charms to Soothe the Savage in You
Whole-house sound sets the mood, reduces sound system clutter, and adds value. Run wires behind the walls or go wireless—there’s a system for every budget. Read
Friday, June 3, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
Office (520) 836-6325 Cell (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
If you have big dreams for a vegetable garden, but only a little space, plant intensively — a cheek-by-jowl, double-digging growing technique that yields two to six times the harvest of traditional vegetable gardens. Read
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
office (520) 836-6325 cell (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Property line disputes needn’t become Hatfield-McCoy feuds. Your property plat should settle the argument. If not, mediators and lawyers can help. Read
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
(520) 836-6325 (520) 280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Monday, May 30, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
(520)520-6325 (520) 280-2766
info@eliterealestatepros.com
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
(520)520-6325 (520) 280-2766
info@eliterealestatepros.com
99-Cent Store Solution #2: Torn Window Screen
Yesterday, we shared our discovery of the 99-cent store as a practical resource for home improvement supplies. We repaired a scuff mark on a countertop for less than $3. Today, we’re going to get rid of one of life’s greatest annoyances for less than $2. Read
Friday, May 27, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
office (520) 836-6325 cell (520) 280-2766
email info@eliterealestatepros.com
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
office (520) 836-6325 cell (520) 280-2766
email info@eliterealestatepros.com
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Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® | |
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
(520) 836-6325 (520)280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
(520) 836-6325 (520)280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
Ants, Wasps, & Mosquitoes: Do-No-Harm Defense or All-Out War?
This week we’ve been helping you make patios and decks more comfortable during hot and humid days. Today, we’re focusing on how to prevent ants (try Cream of Wheat), yellow jackets, and mosquitoes from ruining your outdoor fun this summer. Read
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Quick Ways to Make Some Shade, But Don’t Forget: Trees Are Best
If you prefer a drier cool, as opposed to the misters we mentioned yesterday, read on to find some quick ways to make some shade. Plus, get some tips on getting shade with some quick-growing trees. Read
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Patio Mister Systems to Fit Any Budget
Your outdoor entertainment area can become a horror show in summer. Heat, sun, bugs, and noisy/nosy neighbors can drive you inside when you should be watching fireflies from your patio or deck. Read
Monday, May 23, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
A Little Eye Candy to Inspire Your Deck Makeover
Looking for some ideas to jazz up your deck so you and your family can max out summertime fun? With Memorial Day just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to dress up your outdoor living area, or to start planning a brand-new deck. Read
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
Develop a Landscape Plan to Fit Your Budget
The success of any landscaping project depends on having a plan and sticking to it. Read
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Casa Grande Real Estate
(New!)
Poisonous Plants: Safe Substitutes
Poisonous plants may look good in your landscape, but they can harm children and pets. Here are alternatives that help curb appeal but don’t harm little ones. Read
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Real Estate Casa Grande
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Got Leaky Windows? 3 Low-Cost Tips to Fix Them
I used to hang an extra woolly robe in my bathroom because my post-shower route took me past a window so drafty it made me wonder about the etymology of “window.” Turns out it comes from the Anglo-Saxon “vindr” and “auga,” which translates as “wind eye.” How appropriate. Read
Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.
Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Elite Real Estate Pros
Neal Buckner, Broker/Owner
office (520) 836-6325 cell (520)280-2766
email: info@eliterealestatepros.com
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