Staging Your Home On A Budget

 

Staging is an important step in getting your home sold for the best price. Home sellers will often receive back double their staging costs when the staging is done correctly.

As you work through each room of staging your home, here are a few rules to consider.

1. De-clutter -  I can't say this often enough or more emphatically. Sometimes sellers get excited and want to start bringing in items that they think will enhance the home. The declutter step is skipped over and a seller will begin "staging" before unnecessary items are removed from the potential buyers' line of vision.  

2. Closets - Organize your closets and use only one color of coat hangers. White hangers are best and can be purchased cheaply at several discount stores. Same color hangers are a subtle way to help give an organized look. Group your clothes colors together. This also contributes to an overall sense of order. Purchase stacking boxes (again inexpensive) and pack whatever you won't need for awhile. These can be stored in the closet or in the garage. Tip:  Buy the plastic stacking boxes instead of trying to make it work with cardboard. It's a better look even in the garage. Remove all wire hangers! These steps will help modernize your closet and make it feel more luxurious.

3. Kitchen - Countertops should be clear of anything that is not absolutely needed. Personally, when I know that the home is being shown, I will even put the sponge and the soap dish in the cabinet underneath the sink. That bottle of wine which has always been sitting there because you like the way the bottle looks, the clock radio or phone, sugar bowls etc. should all be out of sight. And while we are in the kitchen, plastic trashcans should be nowhere in sight. If you absolutely have to keep one in your kitchen, put it in the garage during the showing. Rugs in kitchen should be removed or neutral in color, similar to the flooring. Random scatter rugs in kitchen can make it look dated and small.

4. Deep Clean - If you need help, consider paying someone to come in so that the home is squeaky clean. The main emphasis should be on kitchen and bathrooms and don't forget the windows and window tracks. Cobwebs on the front porch and exterior lighting should be washed off. All overhead lighting in the home should be washed. The difference this small tip makes is amazing!

5. Clean up your yards - Mow, water and trim. Then plant a few blooming plants here and there. Patios should be free of clutter and all unnecessary items. You might want to consider having a garage sale or donating if you don't know where to put everything.

6.  Paint - It's surprising how many sellers don't think that their home needs to be painted. Worn corners, scuff marks on walls or baseboards and an overall dingy look can cost you thousands of dollars when selling. Don't be cheap and only paint one wall, or worse, touch up a wall that really needs to be painted. Paint touch up is fine in some instances, of course, but if at all in doubt, go ahead and paint the whole room and yes, the hall!  

7.  Decorating - I highly recommend that you consult with a staging expert before spending money unnecessarily on staging. Many times, the steps taken above are enough to make your home shine and stand out from the rest. If you have a talent for color and decorating and feel comfortable proceeding on your own, keep in mind that less is more when trying to sell your home.

For more tips on how to stage your home, you may call, text or email me anytime. My initial consultations are free and I always enjoy hearing from you!

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Nancy Puder & Associates, the premier real estate boutique company in Arroyo Grande, CA. Nancy Puder is one of the largest listing brokers on the Central Coast. Call or Text Nancy (805)710-2415 with your questions anytime. She always enjoys hearing from you! To access other real estate articles written by Nancy Puder, go to www.nancypuderassociates.com or email nancy@nancypuder.com 

 
 

The Market Never Lies

Have you heard the expression " the real estate market never lies"?  It's a true statement. It is also true, however, that the market readjusts every three weeks and reserves the right to change its mind at any time!

These days, it's easy to get a general idea of what properties have been selling for by going on Zillow or similar websites like Realtor.com or Trulia.  The problem with depending on those sources entirely is that they often don't reveal certain specifics about the property that may have affected the sales price.  

Here are just a few Issues that contribute to the market value of a property.

• Overall Condition - On a scale of 1-10

• Updates - Done professionally or Poorly

• Landscaping - Easy to Maintain & Inviting

• Floor plan - Nice Flow or Poor Design

• One or Two Levels

• Repairs Required

• Distress Sale

 If you are thinking about selling your home this year or gearing up to buy one, my best advice is to contact a Realtor who you know you can trust and who is currently active in the marketplace.  This way you can obtain the most up-to-date information on sales prices and market conditions. Remember..knowledge is power.

 A great Realtor will easily navigate you through the selling or buying process and help you to avoid negative encounters along the way.  It can be difficult or awkward to switch gears once you've made the wrong decision on which professional will best serve your needs.  

If you are seeking professional real estate guidance or representation, call or text me at (805)710-2415 or email nancy@nancypuder.com. My initial consultations are always FREE.

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker with Nancy Puder & Associates, the premier real estate boutique company in Arroyo Grande, CA. Nancy Puder is one of the largest listing brokers on the Central Coast. Call or Text Nancy (805)710-2415 with your questions anytime. She always enjoys hearing from you!  To access other real estate articles written by Nancy Puder, go to www.nancypuderassociates.com or email nancy@nancypuder.com

 

3 Reasons to Make 2015 Real Estate Goals Today

 

 

Do you confuse goals with typical New Year's resolutions?  Resolutions are born out of fleeting emotions, whims or a general dissatisfaction of where we are in life. People poke fun at resolutions because they are rarely kept.  The following year, the extra 20 pounds are still there and it seems like there is more debt than ever and so on.


A goal, on the other hand, is accompanied by serious thought as to why you want to accomplish that goal and then it always works best if you take the time to formulate a plan on how to get there. It's really not hard. In fact, the hardest thing about it is picking up the pen. If this is not you, perhaps you could share this with a friend!  


Here are 3 great reasons to make 2015 Estate Goals today.

• Avoid Procrastination

Are you a procrastinator?  Many of us don't like to admit it and some even brag about it. It's hard to believe, but before you know it, we will be halfway through this year and well on our way to 2016. If you have been thinking about selling a property or purchasing one in 2015, take the first step by making the goal and write out your plan.  This is as simple as making a short list starting with what you need to do first. Put that first step on your calendar and be sure you follow through.

 

• Get in the Game

Are you always lamenting about and living in the past? It's time to accept the current state of the market and get in the game. I hear people moaning about how much they could have sold their home for several years ago and just will not let that number go. What they often don't realize is that while they are focusing on the past, the present is here and ripe with new opportunities. Others are holding onto the hope that prices will decline and they want to wait for a better deal to come along. The truth is that this is a great time to buy or sell. Remember if you don't play, you can't win.

• Enjoy the Benefits

Aside from the wonderful feeling of making a goal and accomplishing it, owning your own home allows you to keep more of your hard earned money at the end of the year instead of giving it over to Uncle Sam. If you have needed to downsize or move up for awhile now, imagine how great it will be to have finally taken the steps to do that. Will the family be happier and will you be in a better financial place once you have taken the necessary steps?

 

My initial consultations are always FREE. If you would like to have a "no obligation" discussion about how to set a real estate goal, implement a plan or just talk to someone who understands the real estate market, call, text or email me at (805)710-2415 or nancy@nancypuder.com.

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker with Nancy Puder & Associates, which is a premier real estate boutique company in Arroyo Grande. Nancy Puder is one of the largest listing brokers on the Central Coast. You are invited to contact her with questions concerning your property anytime as she always enjoys hearing from you!  Text or phone (805)710-2415 or email Nancy@NancyPuder.com.  To enjoy other real estate articles written by Nancy, go to www.NancyPuderAssociates.com or Facebook.com/Nancy Puder Realtor

 

3 Costly Mistakes Homeowners Make

Not Using Bathroom and Laundry Vent Fans

Because of the high humidity in bathrooms and laundry areas, vent fans should never be disconnected or unused.   The fan should always be turned on during use of the room even if it is noisy. Failure to use vent fans can result in water vapor getting into the drywall, electrical outlets and even the framing members. Over time, mold, mildew and fungi may grow in these areas. Water vapor that condenses on walls and windows can eventually find its way into the walls of the home and weaken the structure through dry rot. Rooms where humidifiers are used should also be well ventilated. Tip:  If you are not using your fan because of noisiness, I suggest that you have the fan replaced with one that is advertised as low noise or quiet. Fans are relatively inexpensive and in the long run could save you thousands of dollars in moisture related repairs.

Overloading Upper Cabinets

When stacking heavy dishes and glassware in an upper cabinet, a homeowner can load the cabinet beyond its capacity. This can result in sagging shelves, or worse yet, detachment of the cabinet from the wall. Heavy china and cookware should always be placed in the lower cabinets. Do not overload cabinet drawers with heavy items and take care to not pull drawers out too far. This can result in the plastic guide being snapped off at the back of the cabinet drawer.  Tip: Lower cabinets rest on the floor and are a better choice for storing heavy items.

Tinting Dual Pane Windows

Homes with dual pane windows (also known as double-glazed windows or insulating windows) have two panes of glass that are separated by a spacer up to 5/8 inch in thickness. The air space between the dual panes is “dead air.” This area is so tightly sealed that air can neither enter nor leave the space. By placing a tinting film on the inside of the window, the sun’s rays are reflected back into the dead air space. The temperature in this space can become so hot that it may cause the elastic seal to rupture, causing the insulating value of the window to be lost.  Windows with broken or ruptured seals are easy to identify: they have moisture between the panes of glass. Homeowners should never tint a dual pane window on the inside unless it is specifically approved by the window manufacturer.

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker with Nancy Puder & Associates, the premier boutique real estate company in Arroyo Grande. You are invited to contact Nancy with questions concerning your property anytime as she always enjoys hearing from you!  Text or phone (805)710-2415 or email Nancy@NancyPuder.com.  To enjoy other real estate articles written by Nancy, go to www.NancyPuderAssociates.com or Facebook.com/Nancy Puder Realtor.

 

Realtors Urge Congress To Support Home Ownership

 

Recently, the National Association of Realtors told the U.S. Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing that Congress and the administration must address key issues in order to create a healthy real estate market that helps current and future homeowners as that will drive the national economy forward. 

“The housing market hasn’t been this unwelcoming to first-time buyers since 1987,” said 2014 NAR Conventional Finance and Lending Committee Chair Mabel Guzman, broker for AT-Properties in Chicago. “Tight credit, high fees and low inventory have combined to make it prohibitively expensive for millions of responsible, creditworthy prospective buyers to own a home. If this is the direction that the housing market is taking, we’re headed down the wrong path.”

Realtors report that home prices and sales, as well as household wealth, are all up from a year ago, but  constrained access to mortgage credit for minorities, young buyers, and low-and moderate-income earners remains a serious problem.

NAR says that restrictive pricing policies at the Federal Housing Administration and the Federal Housing Finance Agency continue to disparately impact individuals with shorter credit histories and lower down payments, making it harder for them to buy a home.

One significant issue is that according to NAR estimates, nearly 400,000 creditworthy borrowers were priced out of the housing market because of high FHA insurance premiums in 2013.

NAR supports developing policies that will provide potential buyers with access to more flexible and affordable financing opportunities and a wider choice of approved condo developments.  Currently the majority of condo financing is hard to get for any buyer which makes no sense to me at all.

While in Washington, NAR also called on Congress to offer permanent help for those who short sold in 2014 so that these same homeowners can re-enter the market now and continue to have taxation relief. With the current policies, a vast majority of homeowners are being hit hard.  First with a staggering loss of equity and forced to short sell and then again, not being allowed to re-enter the housing market for an unreasonably long period of time.

“Most urgently, Congress should take action to help all of the distressed homeowners who completed short sales in 2014 by passing the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act. This bipartisan legislation will extend an expired provision that has helped millions of distressed American families by allowing tax relief for homeowners when lenders forgive some portion of the mortgage debt they owe,” said Guzman. “If this provision is not extended, hundreds of thousands of American families who did the right thing by short selling their home will have to pay income tax on ‘phantom income.’”

Nancy Puder is a Real Estate Broker in Arroyo Grande CA with Nancy Puder & Associates. If you have questions or concerns regarding your property, call or text Nancy at (805)710-2415 or email Nancy@NancyPuder.com.  You may also go to Facebook.com/Nancy Puder Realtor and "like" her page to access other real estate related articles.

California Housing Forecast

Home prices are expected to rise in 2015.  The number of sales for existing homes is expected to also rise. This is good news for homeowners who have waited a long time for their home equity to be restored.  While many owners have seen their equity return since the recession, there is still a significant number those who have yet to see home values increase to at least the amount at which they had originally purchased.

In a report released by the California Association of Realtors this week, it is summarized that "Existing single family homes sales are projected to decrease 8.2 percent from 2013 and are forecasted to increase 5.8 percent in 2015. Also, the annual median price for 2014 is expected to rise 11.8 percent year over year and will further increase by 5.8 percent in 2015."

 

Home sales spiked upward in 2013 and have since decreased, however, they are on the way back up. Job growth is slowly improving and home prices will be going up at a healthy pace which is what we want to avoid another bubble.

 

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, whether buying or selling, call me anytime. I always enjoy hearing from you!

 

Nancy Puder is a Real Estate Broker in Arroyo Grande CA with Nancy Puder &Associates. If you have questions or concerns regarding your property, contact Nancy at (805)710-2415 or email Nancy@NancyPuder.com.  You may also go to Facebook.com /Nancy Puder Realtor and "like" her page to access other real estate related articles.

 

 

3 Steps To Buy a Home in 2015

You have made the decision that you are going to buy a home in 2015 no matter what!  This is either your first home purchase or perhaps you have been out of the real estate market for a few years due to a foreclosure or a short sale. Whatever your reason is to enter the housing market in 2015, now is the time to get started!

Contrary to what you may think, if you wait until January or February, you probably won't be into a home until at least March or April. By then, you will have missed out on 25% of your potential mortgage deduction for 2015 taxes. In addition, if you take some basic steps now to get started, you can avoid unexpected issues that may arise causing unnecessary disappointment and stress.

Here are a 3 simple steps that you can take now to help you start the home buying process.

1.  Check your credit score - When you purchase a home, the mortgage lender will collect your credit information from different sources. Go to www.myfico.com to read about how credit scores work. You can sign up for a monthly monitoring system if you wish or for a free report you must order from all 3 of the following www.Experian.com, www.Transunion.com, www.Equifax.com. These are the three major credit reporting agencies that your mortgage lender will order from. Ordering from these companies should not affect your credit score and you are entitled to one free report per year.

2.  Get some referrals to a local mortgage company. Your choice of who to use for your mortgage is a critical one.  Be careful not to "chase" the interest rate and I will caution you not to make the interest rate the deciding point on which lender to use.  Rates change several times per day and an honest lender will tell you that.  Realtors will also tell you that the biggest reason sales don't go through is because of lenders who do a great sales pitch in the beginning but don't deliver when it's time to close.

3. Speak to a trusted real estate broker. There are few agents in any area who really run a professional estate business and will deliver you exceptional service.  Unfortunately, many people don't realize that and hire anyone with a license to help them with the biggest investment of their life!

 

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, whether buying or selling, call me anytime.  I always enjoy hearing from you!
 

Nancy Puder is a Real Estate Broker in Arroyo Grande CA with Nancy Puder & Associates. If you have questions or concerns regarding your property, contact Nancy at (805)710-2415 or email Nancy@NancyPuder.com. You may also go to Facebook.com/NancyPuder Realtor and "like" her page to access other real estate related articles.