Soles Home Team

Getting ready to sell

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 18:57:00 GMT

What to do to add value to your home before going on the market.

Clients are always asking, “If I do “X” to my house, will I get that back when I sell it?” Or “How much will “X” add to the value of my home?”

The true answers to these questions will change depending on what you’re doing and what geographical market you’re in–think swimming pool in Arizona vs. swimming pool in Pennsylvania. In one of these markets a pool is considered almost a necessity, in the other, it can be seen as a liability. Online search engines are full of such examples—for example, one boasts you can get 102% return on your investment by installing a new steel front door. Is that true? There’s no way to know for sure. Perhaps that study was done by a steel door manufacturer…

The two main things you have to consider when you are selling are: local market conditions and what your target buyer demographic is. These are the MOST important considerations for how to prepare your home to sell. Before you ready your house for sale—identify your buyer pool, and then prepare your house with them in mind. One example would be a single level home in Northern Virginia is a sought after home style at present–that’s your market condition. Who’s buying these homes? That’s your target demographic. The group buying these homes are the empty nesters—the aging Baby Boomer generation. What do they want?—conveniences and no stairs. Knowing that, add those things to your home that will make life convenient for these buyers—-think shower stalls and upgraded electronic interfaces throughout the house. These types of upgrades will appeal to a broad range of buyers, but especially to your most likely buyer.

What also helps is a consultation with a professional stager. A simple consultation can yield benefits that pay dividends to your bottom line. Stagers will walk through your house with you and discuss each space/room for its primary use. Then they will offer suggestions of how to arrange items you already have to present the space at its best. We live in “our stuff” daily. It’s hard to see our own home through the eyes of someone else, but it is essential when getting your home ready to sell. This is where the advice of valued professionals comes in.

If you need help figuring out what to do to get your home ready for sale, call or email us for a no obligation review. We are ready to help!

Curb Appeal - It matters

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 21:06:00 GMT

The outside of your home should be a preview to what’s inside your home

When getting your home ready to sell, remember to pay attention to the exterior. The appearance of the outside sets the stage for the buyer walking in. Studies show when a favorable mindset is achieved prior to entering a home, a more favorable impression is made overall and a better outcome will result.

So the question then becomes—what should a homeowner do to enhance the curb appeal? First you want to take an objective look by walking around the house making notes on what needs attention. Dead and dying shrubs need to be removed and flower beds should have fresh mulch. Overgrown shrubs that crowd the entryway should be removed or pruned back. Are there leaves clogging the gutters? Be sure to get them cleaned out. Survey the lawn—does it need weed control or fertilizer? Consult with a lawn care professional if you think you need guidance on what to do and when to do it.

Next, look at the house. If you have vinyl siding it could probably benefit from power washing. While you’re at it, check the front walkway and deck (if present). Do they also need cleaning? Power washing gives a fresh new feel to any home and is well worth the investment of time or money to have it done. If you can, wash the windows or have someone do it for you–it adds an extra sparkle. If roof shingles are missing, have them replaced. Check the front door and shutters—do they need a fresh coat of paint? Does the door handle and lock set on the front door work properly? Make sure they do. Is the storm door opening and closing properly? Is there any loose weather-stripping that needs to be replaced or re-fastened? Take a look at your exterior lighting—has it weathered? Is any glass broken? Are the bulbs burned out? These are things buyers see and pay attention to. Resolving issues up front shows a buyer the home has been cared for.

Now turn your attention to the driveway. If it’s concrete, it may also need a good power washing. If it’s asphalt, fill in any cracks with crack filler and have the driveway sealed with a nice even coat of sealant.

Set a timeline and schedule to do the things you want to do or have done by professionals—don’t try and do everything in one weekend, give yourself time.

Give your home a welcoming appearance that invites buyers inside and you will be rewarded with good offers! These are just a few things you can do to increase the value and salability of your home. If you aren’t sure what to do or have specific questions about enhancing the curb appeal of your home, call us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.

Title Insurance

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 13:22:00 GMT

What are “Closing Costs?”

Sat, 11 Jul 2020 12:24:00 GMT

An answer to the most frequently asked question I get.

What are my closing costs going to be? This is the most common question in real estate. The answer is “It depends.” What it depends on is if you are the buyer or you are the seller. There are different fees associated with each side. For instance, there are “lender associated fees” that are charged to the buyer which the buyer pays at closing. An example of seller closing costs would be state and county Transfer Taxes—these are paid by the seller at the time of settlement.

But these are just two examples. To really understand all the fees being charged, you have to understand how many services are involved in any given transaction. Need a survey done? There’s a fee for that (buyer pays). Pest inspection shows active termites and the damages need repairing? There’s a charge for that repair service (seller pays). Deed preparation, settlement fee, recording the mortgage and deed transfer, review of title, Realtor fees, septic and well inspections, homeowner’s insurance, VA Funding Fee (for VA loans only), local and state government fees and local and state real estate taxes are just a few examples of fees that are charged in every transaction to either the buyer or seller.

To know what closing costs you’ll be charged, ask a professional. That person will review with you what your scenario is and will be able to tell you what fees you will be charged. While the exact amount will depend on factors such as when closing occurs, you will have a good idea of the cost of your transaction. Keep in mind, there is no “one size fits all” scenario, as every transaction is unique.

If you have specific questions about your real estate goals, reach out to us and we’ll be happy to offer you relevant and accurate information.

The Home Inspection

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 15:37:00 GMT

How to avoid problems when it comes to the home inspection.

The home inspection. It’s a worry for every home seller. Face it, you haven’t kept up on every maintenance item you should have over the years (most people don’t). Between work, family and general life schedules, repairing the torn window screens and mulching the flower beds just haven’t been a priority. Now you are thinking about selling your house and you remember a horror story a friend told you about a home inspection done on the home they were selling and you worry about that happening to you. How can you avoid that? Where do you start?

Now that you’ve made the decision to sell your home, the best course of action is to be proactive—get ahead of any issues that might derail a sale. What we recommend to our clients who’ve been in their homes and might have deferred routine maintenance is to hire a home inspector and have a “pre-listing” inspection done by a trusted and licensed professional home inspector.

Home inspectors in Virginia are licensed by the state and are required to take coursework, pass certification exams and do an apprenticeship. It’s a fairly robust education. When you hire a home inspector, you want someone who approaches it from a position of identifying current deficiencies AND items that could present problems, and costs, later down the road. To do this, they examine the house from roof to basement, looking at the home’s systems, think HVAC and plumbing, to safety issues, think smoke detector and carbon monoxide systems. What they can’t do is peer through walls or see how the foundation is holding up (unless there are telltale signs above ground of trouble).

Once the inspection is done, a report is issued to the homeowner within a day or two. The report reviews the entire house and describes what, if any, problems there are. Photos of problem areas are usually included with the report. It’s best to then review that report with your real estate professional. They can help you identify and organize the items that would be deal breakers from those that are less important. Finally, once you’ve made a list of things that need attention and/or repair, hire the correct professional to do the work—it is worth the money spent and will save you possible sleepless nights.

If you need recommendations for a home inspector or other repair professional, call or email us with your questions and requests. We are here to help make your move a smooth one!