Articles Tagged "Home Updates"

There's no better feeling on a cold winter night than settling in with your family or loved ones to chat about your day, enjoy dinner, or maybe watch a movie. Many of the best Ridgewood homes for sale are already quite cozy, but you can always make small improvements here and there.

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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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You spend much of your day indoors, and it's crucial that the air you breathe is as clean as possible. Our agents recommend taking the following steps to ensure the air within your home is as clean and healthy as possible.

1. Change the Filters
   It takes just a few minutes to change the filters on your HVAC system, and it's well worth doing this every month or two. Further, be sure to invest in a high-quality HEPA filter. It will trap the smallest particles and is highly effective at keeping everything from pet dander to VOCs out of your indoor air stream. Changing the filters also helps improve HVAC system efficiency and reduces wear and tear, saving you money in the long run.

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If your home's interior is looking a little dated, perhaps it's time for a fresh coat of paint to boost design appeal. Our agents know that new paint is an easy, affordable way to transform a drab, outdated space into a space with updated style and appeal.

A fresh coat of interior paint will quickly create a clean updated look that appeals to buyers looking for Ridgewood homes for sale. If you're ready to tackle an interior paint project and give your home a new, stylish look, consider these interior painting tips that will ensure successful results.

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There are plenty of great Ridgewood homes for sale, including some dating back to the Victorian era! Sometimes older homes need a bit of work, but updating a period home can be a bit of a mixed bag. A remodel is necessary, but a complete overhaul could end up destroying the home's unique, historic beauty and rustic charm. This is especially true in the kitchen. How do you strike a balance between historic charm and modern convenience? Here are a few tips.

• Plan. Go through the entire kitchen and determine what you want to keep and what you want to replace or add. Do the rustic, hardwood floors still work, or would you rather have modern tile? Perhaps the ornate faucets above the sink are worth keeping, but the pipes below need to be replaced. Talk to a contractor who understands old homes and can help you make these decisions.

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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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Contrary to popular belief, winter can be a prime time for completing certain home improvement projects. Without outdoor activities, vacations, and other warm-weather distractions, you can get more accomplished in a shorter time. This time frame is also an end-of-the-year slowdown for many businesses and contractors, which means you can negotiate on labor costs and get materials at a discounted price. Winter home improvement projects are less focused on curb appeal and more on making your interior more comfortable, liveable, and energy-efficient. So, whether you've just moved in or are planning to add your home to the list of Ridgewood homes for sale in the spring, here are a few home improvement projects to complete in the winter.

• Apply New Paint
  Winter is a great time to give your home a burst of life with fresh paint or a change of color. That dry air that affects your skin in winter can help your paint to dry more quickly. You may find better deals at your local hardware store, and if you're hiring a professional painter, chances are you won't deal with scheduling delays. You can choose to focus on one area or repaint all the rooms in your house.

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The trend for adding outdoor "rooms" to increase our living space just keeps getting more popular. The pandemic contributed to this trend, as homeowners sought extra space by building patios or enhancing existing patios. If you're like other homeowners among Ridgewood homes for sale and are thinking of building a patio, how can you make sure it suits your needs? Our agents have some great advice that can make a difference as to whether your patio accomplishes what you want it to do.

• How Big?
  Before you get immersed in how your patio will look, it's crucial to decide just how big it will be. Experts recommend 90-150 square feet for a 6-ft. table and chairs. A minimum of 550 square feet is a good rule of thumb, as is 25 square feet for each person. Try to locate your patio away from the foundation of the home. Most homeowners complain that the traffic flow of the patio, even when the square footage is adequate, is unsatisfactory, with people forced to squeeze around chairs, and access points requiring foot traffic to cut through the entertainment space.

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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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Ah, mulch. If some kind of wonder material in the landscape exists, it's mulch – that course jumble of ground-up stuff that not only gives your yard a finished look but also helps it prosper season after season. Looking to make your dream home from Ridgewood homes for sale a standout? Our agents recommend mulch as the finishing touch.

But not all mulch is equal. If you're wondering how to choose the right kind of mulch, here's some advice.

Mulch Basics

There are two types of mulch: organic and inorganic. Organic mulches are made of natural materials such as leaves, grass clippings, compost mix, cardboard and newspaper, bark, and softwood and hardwood chips – all of which decompose. When layered on top of the bedding areas, they break down and boost soil fertility, as well as provide drainage and aeration. They must be replenished regularly.

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For the better part of 2020, we logged way more time than ever before in the kitchen. This room has stepped up to be a makeshift office, schooling room, family room, and more. Now, we know what we're tired of looking at, what works and what doesn't, and what we'd want to change. In fact, there's been a boom in renovations with homeowners looking for stylish, yet functional ways to bring their kitchen to life. Investing in a minor or major kitchen reno can prove invaluable, while you live in the home and when you add it to the list of Ridgewood homes for sale. Here are the luxury kitchen trends that are bound to be huge in 2021 and beyond.

• Increased Storage
  Storage ideas are at the forefront for 2021 kitchen trends. Kitchens are working harder to accommodate higher volumes of groceries, utensils, and small appliances such as instant pots, air fryers, and bread makers. You'll see a lot of dedicated pantries, stand-alone freezers, enhanced cabinetry solutions, and kitchen organizers.

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