Articles Tagged "For Sellers"

With homes flying out of inventory, many sellers are asking themselves why they should bother to stage the house before listing. The answer is simple: Staging helps prospective buyers fall in love with the house creating the potential for a bidding war and increased profit. Your best course of action would be to consult with our agents to ensure you don't invest more in staging than it's worth. But no matter how much or little you choose to invest, a few basics are critical to a quick sale at or above your asking price. 

1. Don't Skimp on Housekeeping
   It's amazing how many sellers post photos of their beautiful homes showing a basket of laundry on the bed. Even if you have invested in professional deep-cleaning, keeping it as clean as possible throughout the showing process is important. Cameras will pick up every dust bunny in a virtual showing. When the house sparkles, it tells the potential buyer its owners have taken good care of it. It may be helpful to pack and remove things you rarely use to ensure that clutter doesn't creep back into the picture.

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With only a slight uptick in mortgage rates, 2022 is still expected to be a seller's market. If you're looking to sell your home, now's the best time to do so. A few things should top your to-do list before listing your property. Our agents can give you a firm idea of what to expect when selling your home and what you can do to help your home sell faster.

For one, you'll need to have a good understanding of the housing market. Typically, spring is the best time to put your home up for sale. However, the pandemic has usurped the real estate market a bit. For instance, real estate sales generally cool off when the weather starts to cool, but this hasn't been the case these last two years.

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Looking to sell your home? When selling, you need a certain level of familiarity with the local real estate market. Our agents can help you navigate the sales process without stress and provide tips to ensure you get the best possible price for your property.

So, how can you increase property value? Some age-old practices include upgrading to high-demand finishes, increasing square footage, and sprucing up your landscaping. But perhaps one of the best things you can do is to upgrade your home's appliances.

Most buyers start by looking at the kitchen. Here are the appliances that will make your house more appealing.

• Refrigerators
  Before choosing the sleekest fridge on the market, there are several factors you should consider – energy savings being the most important. Homebuyers nowadays are tech-savvy and are aware that old refrigerators are the biggest electricity hogs in the average home. Be sure to leave the "Energy Star" tag on the appliance to entice your buyers.
  
  Consider getting smart refrigerators with French doors and built-in water and ice dispensers, which will undoubtedly add to the appeal.
  
  
• Built-In Stoves
  Stoves are typically the longest-lasting kitchen appliance. The kitchen is the heart of the home, so you want the hearth to be as inviting as possible.
  
  Get a stove with a built-in feel that has flat tops or a self-cleaning function. The return on investment will be worth it. How about an induction cooktop that heats pots and pans directly with electromagnetic fields? Induction cooktops ensure burners aren't hot to the touch, which is a safety feature that could appeal to buyers with small kids.
  
  
• Ventilation
  Ventilation hoods are one of the most overlooked appliances in the kitchen, which is surprising considering all the steam and smoke that cooking generates. A contemporary range hood will provide good ventilation keeping the kitchen safe and comfortable.
  
  
• Non-Conventional Ovens
  Today, there are so many types of ovens in the market that it can be challenging to choose. You might consider getting a steam or a speed oven. Steam ovens can be used to reheat meals, and since they use hot steam to cook food, they minimize the need for baking with oil.
  
  Now speed ovens are where it gets interesting. Gone are the days when it took over an hour to roast a chicken. Speed ovens combine convection cooking and microwaving to create a versatile, faster cooking experience.
  
  
• Microwave Drawer
  While not an appliance upgrade in itself, switching up the microwave drawer is a minor kitchen update that carries a great impact, especially if you have a small kitchen. A microwave drawer conceals the appliance within your lower cabinets, keeping it out of view yet within reach.
  
  
• High-Efficiency Washers
  You'll be hard-pressed to find a buyer who'll overlook the washer and dryer. It's always best to invest in a high-efficiency washer and matching dryer that runs quietly and can handle an entire family's laundry.
  
  
• Bonus Tip: No one wants white appliances anymore. Stainless steel is all the rage nowadays. It's durable, shiny, and gives your kitchen a clean, fresh look. Plus, it creates uniformity in your kitchen, which adds to the appeal.

Kitchens Sell Homes!

Families spend a lot of their time in the kitchen. Upgrading your appliances is a cost-effective way to increase the appeal of your home and raise its market value.

Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about the home buying process. We'd love to help you out. In the meantime, check out these Ridgewood homes for sale since you might be looking for a new place to call home soon.

If you've been in your home for a long time, chances are you have a garage or attic full of boxes you have stored for future needs. But, after not opening them for five years, they suddenly seem more of a burden than a treasure. If the time has come to add your house to the list of Ridgewood homes for sale, it's also time to shed that burden. One of the best ways to do that is to host a garage sale. Our agents have some suggestions to help maximize your profits while minimizing the hassle.

• Investigate regulations and restrictions
  The first question to ask is whether your HOA has any special rules regarding garage sales. If you aren't allowed to conduct a sale on your own property, is there a clubhouse or other option that you can use as an alternative? Check for any restrictions on signs, whether by the HOA or the city. Does your community require that you purchase a permit? Take the time to make a few phone calls to make sure you are within compliance.

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As the world becomes more dependent on internet shopping than ever before, our agents will tell you that the real estate market is no exception. In order to compete with other Ridgewood homes for sale, you'll want to show it at its best in an array of listing photographs. But as you've heard, photos don't lie. Even the best photographer needs good staging to create the perfect portfolio. Here are a few tips to help:

• Kitchen
  Every cook wants a spacious kitchen with plenty of counter space. You can make your counters appear larger by eliminating everything that sits on them. It's time to put away the air fryer, the toaster, the espresso machine, and all the other small appliances you have collected over the years. When all the surfaces have been cleared, clean the entire room until it sparkles. Polish stainless steel and cabinet hardware to a bright gleam. Remove all personal items such as children's art on the refrigerator door or Grandma's cookie jar. Throw open the curtains and let the natural light shine in. Make sure that the view to the outside reflects a similar orderly environment without exterior clutter.

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As people stayed home last year due to the pandemic, families found themselves using their outdoor areas more than ever. During the warm months families were cooking out and dining outdoors, upgrading a patio space into an outdoor kitchen with all the conveniences, or just adding some extra outdoor furniture for social distancing and sharing drinks with friends and family. 

But over the winter, you may have started thinking about adding extra buildings on your property. Maybe it's gotten a little too crowded in the house with so many people home and one or more of you feel the need for a little place a bit removed from the main house. Or, you're thinking about a space you could use during the colder months.

Before you decide on an outbuilding, think about when you want to list your house among Ridgewood homes for sale. Which outbuilding will help sell your home? Let's consider whether the structures described below will enhance your property's value.

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