IMPORTANT THINGS TO "FIX UP" BEFORE SELLING

When you’re preparing your home for sale, it’s not unusual to need to fix up a few things around the property. 

After all, you want your home to look its best to buyers, so that you get good offers, quickly. What do you need to fix?

Here are three categories that will help you create and prioritize your list.

Anything that squeaks or creaks. Is there something in your home that makes a noise it shouldn’t be making? Perhaps it’s a rattling closet door or a creaking floor board? You may be so used to it you no longer notice the sound. But buyers will. Be sure to get those items fixed.

Anything that’s unsightly. You don’t have to make your home look perfect. However, things that are unsightly will likely get buyers’ attention. You want them to focus on the terrific features of your property, not the scuff on the wall.

Take a walk through your property, including the yard. Pretend you’re the buyer. Do you notice anything that doesn’t look good? If so, tidy it up, fix it up or replace it.

Anything that’s broken. If there’s anything that needs repair — an outside tap that’s not working, or a sliding door that regularly careens off its runner — call the contractor or fix it yourself.

Getting these items fixed will go a long way toward making your home appealing to buyers. Want more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call today.

THE TRUTH BEHIND RENTING VS. BUYING A HOME

Thinking about buying? You’ve probably used one of those rent vs. buy calculators to help you decide. Well, here’s one giant fact those calculators often ignore…

Are you doing the math these days around renting versus buying a home? Trying to decide if you can afford to buy? 

If so, you’ve probably Googled one of the many “rent versus buy” calculators out there to help you get a handle on your budget.

True, they’re helpful, and they can also help clue you in to things like insurance expenses and property taxes, but they overlook a number of key factors in the decision.

A mortgage is a surefire way to build wealth. Provided you don’t buy more home than you can truly afford, your mortgage is like a mandatory savings account. A portion of your payment each month is going straight into your equity in your home. With renting, it’s your landlord who is building equity, not you. 

• The tax situation has profound implications, especially in expensive markets. Until the laws change (and there’s little probability they will any time soon), your mortgage interest and property taxes are deductible on your income taxes. (Of course these tax allowances are only valid in the United States.) In expensive markets, this can represent  massive deduction. (Also remember: Early on in a traditional mortgage you pay the most in interest and your deduction is the highest.)

• Renting puts your wallet at the mercy of the market more often than buying. If you have a year-long lease on an apartment, your rent could go up significantly should the rental market heat up. Your rent isn’t likely to stay the same over a long period of time. In most cities, in fact, it will steadily go up. With a standard mortgage, however, your payments are fixed and predictable. It might seem like a lot at first, but if you buy within your means, it’ll seem like less and less of an expense as the years go on. 

• A mortgage gives you more future financial flexibility. The longer you have a mortgage, the more equity you build. The more equity you build, the more options you have to borrow against that equity or use it in ways which may be advantageous for debt and tax purposes. With renting, no such long-term benefit exists.

The key here, of course, is accepting the fact that you must buy a home you can afford which is priced in accordance with the market. Even if you’re not ready today, having a conversation with a REALTOR® will help you prepare for tomorrow.

How does renting look now? Should we have a conversation? 

Visit my website: www.valeriemcconville.com

HOW TO CUT YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL IN HALF

You don’t have to freeze in the winter or start reading by candlelight to reduce your electricity bill. There are many simple ways to use less power with little, if any, impact on your lifestyle.

A good place to start is with your electronics. 

According to the David Suzuki Foundation, “Any gizmo that has a clock, digital timer, remote control or standby mode is sucking energy when it’s not being used (it’s called ‘phantom electricity’ — and it’s scary how much of it there is).” So keep them unplugged as much as possible. Also, unplug charger cords for phone and computers when not in use. Even when not connected to the device, they still suck power.

Another easy change to make involves your lights. Switching to compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED light bulbs can save you a lot of energy. They’re 75% more efficient.

Finally, the old-fashioned method of insulating doors and windows can work wonders for lowering your electricity bill. In fact, some particularly drafty homes can lose up to 40% of their heat. Check for drafts regularly and repair or replace insulation as needed. 

None of these ideas will impact your day-to-day living. Yet, they could potentially save you a bundle.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU'VE FOUND YOUR NEXT HOME

Are you preparing to move? Are you worried the sheer number of properties on the market will overwhelm your ability to decide? Here’s how to “check your buying temperature” and make an offer on the right home.

When you’re house hunting, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You’re making a big investment. You want to find a place which is “just right” for you (and your family). You can even get a little addicted to touring houses, always convinced the perfect home is just about to hit the market. Sometimes inability to pull the trigger on a house can cause serious shopper’s remorse. You could miss out on a home that, in retrospect, was ideal. 

So how do you know a home is “the one”?

Here are some useful ways to check your buying temperature and know when it’s time to make an offer:

1. The home fundamentally meets your needs. There’s plenty of compromise in home hunting, so when you find one that has the basics covered, take note.

2. You’d consider renovating for those luxurious little extras. Maybe the home is missing that pool you’ve always wanted, or is missing a detached workshop/garage space. Recognize when you find yourself thinking you’d be up to tackling a project to make it perfect.

3. You’re in love with the kitchen. Studies show we spend most of our waking hours connected to or using the kitchen. If you’re in love with the kitchen, but think the master bedroom is a little small, don’t make mistake. This could be the one.

4.The bathroom feels comfortable to you. Many times, other people’s bathrooms will give you the creeps. If you feel good about the bathroom, it’s a healthy sign. After all, you have to be naked in there. 

5. You start to see your possessions in the house. If you’re thinking “ah yes, the flatscreen could go on that wall” and “wow, my bed would fit perfectly in this suite,” then you’re starting to imagine the house as your own.

6. The idea of someone else buying the home gives you a pit in your stomach. If you’re “sleeping on the decision” and the idea that the home is no longer an option makes you anxious, pay attention. It could be offer time.

So… are you ready to buy? Contact me today at valeriemcconville@gmail.com or you can visit my website at www.valeriemcconville.com.

CLEVER DESIGN UPGRADES TO HELP SELL YOUR HOME FASTER

Why does one home stand out over others in a market? Sometimes it’s the tiny things which sway a buyer’s interest. Here are a few clever design upgrades to gain an edge in your neighborhood.

What is it about a home that catches a buyer’s eye? Why is it when two homes are comparable to one another, buyers go with the one that just “feels right”? Sometimes the difference is so small, they don’t consciously notice. Little touches can give a home a major edge in the market.

In fact, here are five clever design upgrades which can provide your home with that indefinable feeling that it’s of higher quality than the competition:

1. Light switch plate upgrades. Homeowners always overlook their own dirty, chipped, or cheap-looking switch plates. If you spend a few bucks to swap out switch plates, any room in the house will seem a tiny bit fresher. Better yet: In the bathroom and kitchen, match the color of your new switch plates to the tile. Look at the accent color in the bathroom or the backsplash in the kitchen for inspiration. 

2. Dimmers on major rooms. Bright lights are great for showing off a home, but there’s a little sense of luxury when the overhead lights in living, dining, family, and master bedrooms are on dimmer switches. For fixtures controlled by one switch, get single pole dimmers. For those controlled by two, you’ll need 3-way dimmers.

3. Tasteful crown molding. For rooms without crown molding, adding this touch can really make a plain room feel high-quality. Entryways and master bedrooms are good choices if you have a limited budget, but if you want to go all out, include the other bedrooms as well. The key is adding molding which doesn’t seem ostentatious or inappropriate given the size and existing decor in the room.

4. Custom home address plaque. For between $50 and $100, you can have an address plaque created with the home’s number and the street name spelled out. Look online for inspiration and a design which fits your home. This is a killer upgrade and many homeowners overlook it when they’re trying to add curb appeal to their house.

5. New cabinet and drawer hardware. It’s astonishing how much modern handles and drawer pulls go towards rejuvenating tired or outdated storage. At a minimum, concentrate on the kitchen, but if you want to go all out, look for options to upgrade the bathroom as well.

You might not be able to quantify the exact return these clever upgrades will net you, but you can bet they will help your home stand out from sellers who won’t take the time to make some simple changes.

Are you ready to sell? Contact me today! valeriemcconville@gmail.com Or you can visit my website at www.valeriemcconville.com.

RENOVATIONS WITH THE BEST RETURNS FOR 2017

Are you thinking of a home renovation project? Why not pick one which has the highest rate of return when you go to sell your home? This list of renovation winners may surprise you.

If you’ve been kicking around the idea of some home improvements, but aren’t sure which ones make the most financial sense, don’t miss “The Renovations That Will Pay Off the Most for Your Home in 2017” published by Realtor.com. 

While some renovations sound like they’re a home run for your home’s value, in actuality big-ticket projects recoup far less than some of their simpler counterparts.

For example, adding fiberglass insulation to your attic has an astonishing estimated return of 107.7% compared to a bathroom addition, which averages only a 53.9% return. 

The report compares the average cost of the project to the expected value at the time of resale. Here are the top 10 projects and their ROI percentage:

1. Fiberglass attic insulation (107.7%)
2. Steel entry door upgrade (90.7%)
3. Manufactured stone veneer (89.4%)
4. Minor kitchen remodel (80.2%)
5. Garage door replacement (76.9%)
6. Siding replacement (76.4%)
7. Wooden deck addition (71.5%)
8. Second-story addition (71.1%)
9. Basement remodel (70%)
10. Family room addition (69.3%)

You can read a more detailed analysis of the projects (plus the next 9 projects in the ROI list) here: http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/best-and-worst-renovations-to-make-in-2017/

Of course, ROI is only one factor in choosing a home renovation. Some projects pay huge dividends in the pleasure they give you while you live in your home. Having a second bathroom with two teenagers in the house? Priceless! 

Which renovations are you considering? How concerned are you about your return on investment when the time comes?

When you’re ready to cash in on your investment, get in touch with me! I’m here to help you get top dollar for your home: valeriemcconville@gmail.com

YOUR EXIT PLAN IN CASE OF FIRE

In almost every movie featuring a house on fire, the actors seem to be able to move around the house and see just fine, while beating back flames with a shirt or coat. Of course, that’s not what happens in real fires. 

When there’s fire in a home, there is typically complete darkness (because the power goes out) and a cloud of spreading thick, black smoke makes it difficult to see and breathe. 

That’s why knowing how to get out of your house — fast — is crucial. 

Experts recommend rehearsing what to do in case there’s a fire. Make sure everyone in the family has an exit plan. Each should know exactly how to get out, including primary and secondary exits, and where the family will meet once safely outside. 

Never attempt to take anything with you. It may seem like you have plenty of time to grab a coat or purse, but the characteristics of a fire can change in seconds. 

As a fail safe, in case you can’t exit through a door, you should determine in advance which window has the safest exit. Make sure that the window opens easily and everyone knows how to remove the screen or any other obstruction. 

Finally, don’t call the fire department from inside your house. Get out first, then make the call.