Showing posts with label adding value to your home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adding value to your home. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Two Listings Bring Multiple Offers Within 24 Hours

Two Listings Bring Multiple Offers Within 24 Hours 

The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team of Keller Williams Realty North Atlanta recently listed two homes in the North Atlanta area and within hours received multiple offers on the homes. Ever wonder how homes sell so quickly? It's finding the right agent who will utilizes the latest technologies, market research and business strategies to exceed your expectations. These quick sales are located in Duluth and Woodstock, Georgia.

2741 Old Coach Road, Duluth Georgia


Southern charm with over a half acre in Duluth, Georgia. Large covered front porch overlooks blooming shrubs. Light colored hardwood floors in the foyer continue into the bright kitchen complete with white cabinets and walls of windows overlooking the backyard. Home provides new carpet, paint and kitchen stove/oven. 4 bedrooms upstairs with 2 full baths and 1 half bath on main level. In-law or teen suite with full kitchen in the finished basement just waits for your personal decor.

401 Patton Court, Woodstock Georgia 
Hard to find family home with over a half acre in Woodstock, Georgia. Relax in your private backyard filled with shade trees. Fantastic kitchen displays granite countertops, tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and cherry cabinets. Light cherry colored hardwood floors flow through living area. Convenient bedroom on main level. New double pane Pella windows, A/C unit and hot water heater. Unfinished basement just waiting to become the entertainment central area of the home. 

Getting your home sold quickly takes more than just putting a sign in the yard. It takes marketing and advertising as well as preparing your house to look less like home and more like what the buyer wants to see. This is called staging and staging is not decorating it's depersonalizing. Below are some tips to stage your home for a quick sale. 

Top 5 Tips for Effective Home Staging 

According to home stager, Karly Howell, staging a home is one of the most important steps in a quick sale. With the abundance of design shows on TV today, many sellers think that staging only includes furniture and that it costs a lot of money, but neither is true. Here are 5 easy, low-cost tips to help prepare your home for sale.    


1)    DECLUTTER!

You think your cookie jar collection and prized comic book memorabilia are great, but your potential buyer doesn’t necessarily share the same opinion. The focus needs to be on your house and not on the objects inside or around it. Too much clutter is distracting, and potential buyers may miss the special features of the home with all the visual periphery. Two ideas to help cut down clutter are 1) rent a short term storage unit in which to place all the extras or 2) start packing early and place unneeded items away in a basement or closet.

2)    Clean-up

The house should shine both inside and out and look newly cleaned. Pay special attention to wood trim, ceiling fans, and windows. Again, you want to highlight the selling features of the house. If it’s noticeably dirty or there a foul odor coming from the pantry, buyers won’t stay long. Make it feel welcoming and fresh - think about your last experience in a nicer hotel. You’ll want to create the same experience in your home. Avoid using any heavy scented sprays that could be bothersome to your potential buyers.  

3)    Depersonalize

Take the time to remove family photos, monograms, or name decorations. Potential buyers want to imagine their family in the home and where their pictures and items will be placed. Help to create this experience by tucking away all personal things. Also, depersonalize to protect your privacy since strangers will be in your home.  In addition, objects that are considered controversial or offensive need to be removed too. Items that fall into this category are taxidermy, provocative images, and symbols associated with notorious groups/ideas.  


4)    Appropriate furniture
Furniture is a great benefit in staging a home because it helps potential home owners plan for their own furniture in a room. A few rules to follow: make sure the scale of the furniture is appropriate for the room size. A small kitchen table is not suitable in an oversized dining room. On the flip side, avoid placing oversized furniture, like a large sectional sofa in a small living room. It can make the space feel more confined and less functional. Too much furniture can become an obstacle to. It’s better to have nothing in the room then to have the wrong size pieces. It’s also important to make sure the furniture is appropriate for the location it’s placed in. Don’t place beds in living spaces, offices in dining rooms etc.

5)    Highlight special features

This seems obvious but sometimes is a missed opportunity. Special features can include anything that is visually appealing, helpful, cost effective, or just plain cool.  

Draw attention to these elements by showcasing them. If you have built-ins or architectural niches, place attractive, decorative items there and keep it neat. If there’s an uninviting concrete slab patio, show it’s functionality by creating a small seating area with potted plants and decorative accents. Work with what you have and draw out the positive attributes.

For professional staging advice, contact Karly Howell Design for a complimentary home consultation.  karlyhowelldesign@gmail.com

Let's list your home today! Your North Atlanta realestate experts are ready to assist you - The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team of Keller Williams Realty North Atlanta. 5780 Windward Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30005 www.northatlantaluxury.com 678.929.6529

Two Listings Bring Multiple Offers Within 24 Hours

Monday, September 30, 2013

Home Improvements Increase Home Resale Value

Home Improvements Increase Home Resale Value

The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team of Keller Williams Realty 678-665-2887

Home improvements increase home resale value and can energize your marketability. The two home improvement factors that can affect your resale value are location and state of the real estate market. Where your home is located can affect the value of your home improvements Some upgrades are popular only in certain area of the country. For example, depending on where you live, a swimming pool may or may not add value to your home.  And home improvements are likely to result in smaller returns in a weak real estate market than in a strong market. At the same time, specific home improvements in a weak market can help your house stand out and appeal to buyers compared to other properties in your neighborhood.

Specific home improvements that can help your house stand out and appeal to buyers are as follows:

Replacing exterior siding with fiber-cement.

Upgrade the kitchen flooring, add cherry cabinets and granite countertops.

Replace deck finishing with a high-performance, low-sheen composite.

Do an attic remodel and create an extra bedroom.

Install a new roof.

Increase energy efficiency with new windows.

Upgrade the master bath with tile and popular hardware.

Install a more stylish and energy-efficient front door for that "curb appeal."

Consider a new and stylish garage door replacement.

Are you looking to sell your home? Remember - Home improvements increase home resale value! For more tips and getting your home sold contact The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team of Keller Williams Realty 678-665-2887.

When it's time to move, you need someone who will advertise your home, show to prospective buyers, negotiate the purchase contract, arrange financing, oversee the inspections, handle all necessary paperwork and supervise the closing.

The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team can take care of everything you need, from start to close.

Oftentimes buyers don't visualize living in your home the way you do. We can make your home attractive to its ideal audience - which can help you get top dollar. Things like staging the home, making repairs or minor improvements, or even simply painting the walls can be the difference between a home resting on the market and one that's sold fast.

WHAT IS YOUR HOME WORTH? FILL OUT THE INFORMATION BELOW:


 Home Improvements Increase Home Resale Value