Increase Your Alpharetta GA Home's Value With Curb Appeal

Increase Your Alpharetta GA Home's Value With Curb Appeal

Increase Your Alpharetta GA Home's Value With Curb Appeal, Tip 5 by The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team 678.929.6529 www.mevhomes.com

First impressions count. Similar to a fresh coat of paint for a room, a yard that has the grass cut nicely goes a long way. Walk outside and look at your front yard and the front of the home. Does the front of the house need paint or residing? Are there any broken windows or shutters that need repair? Does the yard need cleaning? You do not need to hire a landscape architect, but you want to make sure that your yard looks clean and nice. Be sure to pick up any items in the yard, position trash bins so that they are not visible from the street and any other general cleaning / maintenance that might be needed. If you need information for a someone that does this type of work, let us know and we can send you a couple of names. 

Increase Your Alpharetta GA Home's Value With Curb Appeal, Tip 5 is based on my team's real world experience both selling homes for homeowners and helping buyers buy homes.  We want to get your home sold fast and with the fewest issues as possible. My team and I are in the Alpharetta area constantly with clients, so if you need us to come over for a few minutes to give any real world advice from a buyers perspective just let us know. Using our experience and knowledge now, BEFORE you are ready to sell, will go a long way in getting your more money, faster and easier when you ARE READY to sell.  The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team - Keller Williams Realty - North Atlanta 5780 Windward Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30005 

Get a Professional Valuation for Your Alpharetta, Georgia Home now. We will provide you with the same information that lending institutions and appraisers use to evaluate home values and prices along with a professional evaluation so that you know right now what your home is worth today. You can use this information when talking to lenders, banks, appraisers or Realtors so that you know the true value of your property in today's market.

Increase Your Alpharetta GA Home's Value With Curb Appeal

Open House Tips and Tricks

Open House Tips and Tricks

Presented By The

 Happiness Is Our First Concern

First impressions matter! These Open House Tips and Tricks will give your home the best first impresssion when buyers come to visit. As you begin the process of selling your home, contact The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team at 678.929.6529 or visit us at www.mevhomes.com. Our team specializes in Luxury Real Estate in the communities of North Fulton and Forsyth Counties in Georgia.

Curb Appeal
Yard landscaping and exterior of your home must look clean and tidy.

• Plant colored flowers in pots, cut and edge the lawn, and place a fresh layer of mulch/pinestraw in the planting beds. 
• Clean up any random debris or toys lying around. 
• Take a look at your front door and remove all cobwebs and consider a fresh coat of paint. 
• Be sure you have a bright, fresh doormat. 
• Check the entry way and don't leave shoes on the floor for visitors to stumble on, and get rid of that stack of mail on the hall table.

Clear the Clutter
It is difficult for prospective home buyers to envision living in a house filled with someone else's personal items. Make sure every surface of your home is clean and clear of clutter.

• Kitchen: Uncluttered counter tops for buyers to envision how their own appliances would fit.
• Bathroom: Put away all personal items, including toothbrushes and toiletries.
• Bedrooms and Living Area: Pack away personal items that might prevent buyers from imagining themselves in the house.
• Don't hide the clutter in the closets or cupboards. Most open house guests open closets and many look in kitchen and bathroom cupboards too. So, don't hide anything in the house you wouldn't want to be seen.
• Take down the family pictures, special collections and displays.
• Pack a few boxes early. 

Clean, Clean, Clean! 
Be sure buyers remember that your house is spic and span and not dirty and smelly. 

• Wash the carpets the day before the open house.
• Wash windows inside, outside and including the tracks.
• Dust everything.
• Make the beds, and do the dishes. 

Organize Closets and Storage Spaces
Storage space is a key concern for most home buyers.

• Clean out any extra items and make sure these spaces are well-organized. 
• Make closet floors free from clutter and shoes. 
• Investing in some shelving and stackable bins to really show off the space.

Set the Table
Buyers will find themselves picturing what it would be like to entertain in the home.

• Arrange the dining room and kitchen tables with your best tableware. 
• Add some fresh flowers and candles.

Leave Out Treats
You want your home to feel inviting and welcoming. 

• Put out a plate of cookies or brownies, or individually-wrapped candies or chocolates. 
• Offer bottled water, hot cocoa or lemonade.
• If you live in a region that is known for a specific type of food consider offering a “taste” of the area. 

Lock Up Valuables
When you leave for the open house, don't assume that all of you possessions are safe.

• Lock up, or pack-up and remove your valuables (i.e. jewelry, coin, cash, special antiques, etc.) 

Let It Shine!
Buyers are looking for a place to live, breathe, and relax.

• Be sure that as much natural light as possible is entering the home - open curtains and shades.
• Turn on all the lights. 

Skip Smelly Scents
Anyone who has ever faced seasonal allergies knows how annoying a little pollen can be. For those with permanent allergies, even a burning candle can induce an allergy attack that will force your potential buyer back to their car and headed to the hospital.

• Consider opening a window to air out the house - weather permitting.
• Looking for allergy-free options like making hot apple cider to clear the air before the open house.

Set Music
Light and music can subconsciously impact how a potential buyer feels about the home.

• Play some soft music throughout the house.

Easy Access
Open Houses may be difficult for potential buyers to navigate – especially when parking is difficult to find.

• Move all cars are out of the driveway.
• Consider asking neighbors to move their cars from nearby curbs to make room.

Educate
An open house is a great opportunity to inform potential buyers about all the details critical to selling the house.

• Include information related to inspection reports, appraisals, major repairs, and blueprints. 
• Inspection and blueprints inspire a potential buyer to make possible additions. 

Show and Tell
A picture is worth a 1,000 words.

• Consider creating a picture bulletin board of what the home (and it’s surrounding foliage) looks like throughout the year.

Let In The Nosy Neighbors
We all know how nosy neighbors can be – and what better chance to fulfill their needs and yours than to hold a special preview just for your neighbors?

• Consider opening the doors an hour early for a “Neighborhood Preview Only”. 
• Create a few special flyers for the neighbors advertising these “special hours”. 

Leave Flyers and FAQ Sheets
An informational flyer with one or more high quality photos of the home can be a great selling tool.

• Offer insider information about the neighbors, the local school system, and any other benefits to the area.

Make Yourself Scarce
You shouldn't be home during an open house.

• Buyers will feel more comfortable asking questions to the realtor, and discussing the benefits and drawbacks of your home. 
• If you have pets, make sure you take them with you.

For more Open House Tips and Tricks contact:

The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team of Keller Williams Realty www.mevhomes.com
678.929.6529  
5780 Windward Parkway
Suite 100
Alpharetta, GA 30004

Open House Tips and Tricks

Should I Sell My Home Now?

Should I Sell My Home Now?

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

Should I sell my home now? Many homeowners are asking this question given the fact that inventory and mortgage rates remain low. Stage your home well and market it well, and your home will sell.

Below are The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team's home selling tips to consider when asking "should I sell my home now?"

Price Your Home Right. Real estate agents know the market and know what kind of prices homes are selling now. Pricing the home too high discourages offers. Real estate agents can provide a comparative market analysis which is KEY to pricing your home.  

Market Your Home. Use all the marketing options available such as internet advertising, blogs, craigslist, real estate sites, paper promotions, and open houses. A top-notch real estate agent can do this for you! Remember, the more people who see your house, the better your chances are of selling it. It's an internet world today and you need someone experienced in technology. 

Rely On Your Agents Knowledge & Experience. A realtor knows what’s selling in your area, and what prices are right. An experienced agent can tell whether an offer is reasonable, and help you negotiate the transaction. As you look for an agent, be sure to ask for references, conduct interviews, go with someone with a proven track record who knows and sells in your area. 

Fix Things That Are Broken Or Worn. The front door and entry way gives off the first impression. Repair loose hand rails, uneven steps, torn screen door and old hardware.  Move on inside and review each room and what is needed to be repaired as well.

Let Go! Your home's space needs to be as neutral as possible. You want buyers to envision themselves living there so eliminate those colored walls and trim. Your house should be the house that most people would love to live in. Your agent can assist you with what needs to change. Do what he/she says and your house will sell.  

De-clutter! Remove all your personal knick-knacks and family photos. You want the buyer to stay focused on the house and how they will place their personal belongings. Your personal items can become a distraction to the buyer. 

Stay Positive. Low bids are not bad they are just an opportunity to negotiate. Most buyers will come back with a second or third offer. When they do you know they want the home and what they actually may be willing to pay.  

Stay Smart. Some buyers may ask for your curtains, patio furniture or something else. Don't let the deal fail just because you can't part with an item. If you own something you can not part with, then remove it prior to putting the house on the market.

As you consider selling your home, you will want to know what your home is worth.  You can find your homes value simply by completing the form below:

Should I Sell My Home Now?