Friday, June 27, 2014

Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale in Pineville La 71360

Working to get your home ship-shape for showings will increase its value and shorten your sales time.

Many buyers today want move-in-ready homes and will quickly eliminate an otherwise great home by focusing on a few visible flaws. Unless your home shines, you may endure showing after showing and open house after open house—and end up with a lower sales price. Before the first prospect walks through your door, consider some smart options for casting your home in its best light.

1. Have a home inspection

Be proactive by arranging for a pre-sale home inspection. For $250 to $400, an inspector will warn you about troubles that could make potential buyers balk. Make repairs before putting your home on the market. In some states, you may have to disclose what the inspection turns up.

2. Get replacement estimates

If your home inspection uncovers necessary repairs you can’t fund, get estimates for the work. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home and the repairs. Also hunt down warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for your furnace, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items you expect to remain with the house.

3. Make minor repairs

Not every repair costs a bundle. Fix as many small problems—sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, dripping faucets—as you can. These may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression your house isn’t well maintained.

4. Clear the clutter

Clear your kitchen counters of just about everything. Clean your closets by packing up little-used items like out-of-season clothes and old toys. Install closet organizers to maximize space. Put at least one-third of your furniture in storage, especially large pieces, such as entertainment centers and big televisions. Pack up family photos, knickknacks, and wall hangings to depersonalize your home. Store the items you’ve packed offsite or in boxes neatly arranged in your garage or basement.

5. Do a thorough cleaning

A clean house makes a strong first impression that your home has been well cared for. If you can afford it, consider hiring a cleaning service.
If not, wash windows and leave them open to air out your rooms. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Wash light fixtures and baseboards, mop and wax floors, and give your stove and refrigerator a thorough once-over.
Pay attention to details, too. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, clean inside the cabinets, and polish doorknobs. Don’t forget to clean your garage, too.

To LIST your home to SELL FAST .. CLICK HERE!



 
JoAnn Deville Smith REALTOR 318.451.2385

 
Licensed in the State of Louisiana
Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated




 














Read more: http://buyandsell.houselogic.com/articles/5-tips-prepare-your-home-sale/#ixzz35s76mOJ4

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Make the Home Improvements Buyers Most Want in Pineville LA 71360

      Make the Home Improvements Buyers Most Want in Pineville LA  71360



Remodeling with an eye toward resale lets you enjoy improvements now that attract home buyers later.

The most important home features buyers want are the ones that keep them cool, entertained, and give them room to store their stuff.

Central air conditioning, a walk-in closet in the main bedroom, and being pre-wired for home entertainment and Internet were the three home features most valuable to buyers, according to the 2013 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Buyers’ Home Features Preferences.
 
If resale is important to you, the survey offers insights on improvements that can help when you’re ready to sell and add to your enjoyment of your home now.
Chances are your home already has air conditioning — most owner-occupied U.S. homes do. But you can add a master closet for roughly $3,000 to $10,000. Get the most from your new master closet by including a laundry area, lighting, and ventilation — three features that will make it extra special.

If you already have a master closet, improving the organization and layout will make it function better for you now and appeal to buyers if you later sell your home. 
Other features you can add that are “very important” to home shoppers:

En Suite Master Bath
Of interior design features, an en suite bath was the second most important to buyers. Adding a bath can run you more than $37,000 on average. So carefully evaluate your house before doing a bathroom addition to weigh what’s important to you in terms of resale versus your own enjoyment.

Eat-in Kitchen

When you’re doing your next kitchen remodel, leave room for a table and your home might have better resale value. An eat-in kitchen is buyers’ fourth-most important interior design feature. If you can’t fit a table with chairs on both sides, you can squeeze a table in front of a window seat with storage.

Hardwood Floors

If you live in the northeastern U.S., hardwood floors are going to be especially popular with home buyers in your region. If you end up redoing the subfloor when you add hardwood, consider radiant heating. It’ll keep your tootsies warm in winter and might be a selling point later.

New Kitchen Appliances

One-third to one-quarter of home buyers are looking for new kitchen appliances, but plenty of people end up buying homes with older appliances. The buyers who didn’t get those shiny new appliances said they would have paid only an additional $1,840 to get a home with them. You can probably find an entry-level stainless steel kitchen package deal for that price. Choosing energy-saving appliances over old energy hog models can help cut your utility bill.
 
 
JoAnn Deville Smith REALTOR 318.451.2385
 
 
 
To get your Home SOLD FAST ... CLICK HERE!
 
 
Licensed in the State of Louisiana,
Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated



 





 




















Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/news/home-improvement/make-home-improvements-buyers-most-want/#ixzz35lILWzrY