Sunrise Homes & Renovations, Inc.

Summer Staging: How to Stage Your Home to Appeal to Young Families

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Summer Staging: How to Stage Your Home to Appeal to Young Families Young families often look for many different things in a home than older couples with teenagers or those with an empty nest may look at. Many real estate agents will tell their clients to stage a home so that it appeals to those who are most likely going to be interested in buying it. For sellers who have a family home in a safe, kid-friendly community, staging a home to appeal to young families is a great idea and can be accomplished with a few easy steps.

Clean Up The Back And Front Yards

Young families may spend as much time focusing on the interior of the home as the exterior of the home. While a real estate agent may have made suggestions for sprucing up curb appeal in general, making the area kid-safe and friendly is also a smart idea. Remove any dangerous areas that may be concerning to parents of young kids, and define play areas in the backyard or show off how much space there is for kids to run and play.

Define Family Areas

Inside the home, spend ample time staging family or communal areas, such as the family room, game room and kitchen. Adding a few kid-friendly features to stage these areas can go a long way toward appealing to young families, and one idea is to add kid-sized sitting chairs in the family room. Parents should be able to envision themselves as well as their kids living in the space when an area has been properly staged.

Make The Space Safe And Tidy

Young parents are finely attuned to the dangers all around them, and some may instantly and actively seek out danger areas in the homes they tour. This can distract them from focusing on the many wonderful benefits and attributes of the home itself, so removing these distractions is imperative. Remove sharp objects, glass table tops, small choking hazards and more throughout the home so that parents with young children can feel more at home in the space.

While other basic staging steps should also be taken when preparing to list a home on the market, these are steps that can help a seller create a family-friendly ambiance that appeals to home buyers who have young children or who may be planning to have children soon. For those who need more information about selling their home or who want personalized staging advice, contact your trusted real estate agent for a consultation.

Niche Marketing: How to Market Your Home as the Perfect Rental or Investment Property

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Niche Marketing: How to Market Your Home as the Perfect Rental or Investment Property When a homeowner is preparing to sell a home, it can be beneficial to determine the target audience that is most likely to be interested in the property as an important initial step. In some cases, it is advantageous for a homeowner to position a home as a great rental property or investment property, but this requires the right strategy. By adopting a few niche marketing steps, homeowners can work with their trusted real estate agent to market a property appropriately.

Create A Cash Flow Sheet

Buyers who are searching for a rental or investment property are looking for a return on their investment in most cases, and they also may want to see how large of a down payment is needed in order for the property to realistically turn a profit. A real estate agent can work with a property owner to create a cash flow sheet that details all of this information for a buyer.

Show Comparable Rental Properties

A real estate agent can also research comparable rental data to help a property owner determine what a realistic rental rate may be. Property buyers want to know that the information provided to them in the cash flow sheet is realistic, and comparable rental data can give buyers the details they are looking for. More than that, this information may also show the average number of days similar properties stay on the market for rent and how many similar properties are available for rent in the vicinity.

Appeal To Agents Specializing In Real Estate Investments

Some real estate agents specialize in assisting investor clients, and some have standing clients that they actively seek great properties for. A skilled real estate agent may announce the listing to these agents so that they can bring the property to the attention of their clients. This focused marketing effort can yield considerable returns, but the real estate agent generally must take the initiative to contact these agents.

Some properties may be marketed as family homes or vacation homes, but others are well-suited for being rental or investment properties. Homeowners who are preparing to sell their home can work with a real estate agent to learn more about who their target audience is and how to market specifically for them. Those who are interested in learning more about how to sell their home quickly can set up a consultation with their trusted real estate professional.

Selling Your Home? 3 Reasons Why You May Need to Accept a Bid That’s Below Your Asking Price

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Selling Your Home? 3 Reasons Why You May Need to Accept a Bid That's Below Your Asking PriceWhen a homeowner makes the decision to sell his or her property, it is most common for a skilled real estate professional to provide valuation services so that a reasonable asking price can be established. While the asking price may seem fair to the homeowner, the fact is that not all properties will sell at the original asking price. There are several instances when a homeowner may need to consider accepting a bid that is below the asking price.

When The Property Has Been On The Market For A While

Most homeowners will learn about the average listing time for similar properties in the market through their trusted real estate agent, but some homes will remain on the market for longer than average. When this happens, a homeowner may begin to get concerned, and the real estate agent may even bring up the idea of reducing the asking price. When an offer is received below asking price in this situation, a homeowner may need to consider the offer.

When There Is A Question About Property Style Or Condition

There are many factors that will play a role in the desirability of a property in the marketplace, and some of these factors relate to the property style and condition. Some similar homes in the local area may be selling more quickly or for a higher price than others due to better overall condition or improved style. If the homeowner has concerns about this or if the real estate agent or others who have toured the property have voiced concerns about style or condition, accepting an offer below asking price may need to be considered.

When The Homeowner Needs To Sell Quickly

Even if property has not been listed on the market for a long period of time or the property style and condition are desirable, the owner may consider accepting the first offer received regardless of the asking price in some cases. For example, a homeowner may need to sell the property quickly due to financial issues, because of a job relocation or to take advantage of other financial opportunities. Unless the offer is unreasonable, the homeowner may consider accepting a lower bid in these situations.

Homeowners often wonder if they should wait for a higher bid or accept the offer that has been presented to them. Each situation is unique, so there is not a catch-all answer to this question. Those who are thinking about selling their home in the near future can contact their trusted real estate professional for further assistance.

Did You Know? The Location of Your Home Plays a Role in Your Selling Price – Here’s Why

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Did You Know? The Location of Your Home Plays a Role in Your Selling Price - Here's Why One of the most common questions homeowners have before listing their home for sale relates to the selling price. Understanding the value of the home is about far more than just comparing the square footage of the space with other homes that have recently sold in the area. While there are many factors that will play a part in a selling price, location is an important factor for several different reasons.

Neighboring Properties

The properties that are located next to the home for sale are critical to the property value. For example, a home that is located next to a park or a beautifully maintained home may have more appeal than a home located next to a strip center or a gas station. Even with homes that are located just a block or two apart, this difference in adjacent properties can have a dramatic impact on properties values.

Safety Concerns

When a home is located in an unsafe area or an area that is riddled with crime, safety concerns can lower property values. Many home buyers will review crime statistics about a location before making a buying decision, and high crime areas are far less appealing to buyers. Properties are ultimately only worth what someone will pay for them, and buyers may overwhelming opt to purchase homes in safer locations unless the sales price is lowered.

Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic

There are some advantages to being in an area with heavy vehicular or pedestrian traffic, such as if you live in an urban area and are searching for a property that offers this lifestyle. When a home is located in heavily trafficked areas in a suburban or rural location where a quieter way of life is desired, these can be drawbacks that impact the selling price. If one home is located on a busy street corner and another similar home is located a few blocks away removed from traffic, the home with a more desirable location will typically have a higher selling price.

Desirability is often directly related to property location, and homes in more desirable locations will therefore have a higher selling price than those in an undesirable location. For those who are thinking about selling a property soon and who want to learn more about its value, a consultation with your trusted real estate agent can provide you with helpful information.

Received an Offer for Your Home? How to Respond with a Counter-offer Asking for a Higher Price

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Received an Offer for Your Home? How to Respond with a Counter-offer Asking for a Higher PriceGetting an offer on your house is the first step in getting it sold, but buyers often feel that they have to come in lower than your asking price. After all, everyone wants the deal to work out in their favor. If the offer you received isn’t quite what you hoped, you can always make a counter-offer. Getting the details right can help make your deal go more smoothly.

Deciding On A Price

When your real estate agent helped you set the price of your home, you already had an idea of what it should fetch in the marketplace. If the offer wasn’t far off from your asking price, it’s acceptable to counter with your original asking price. Many buyers could be willing to pay full price. If you feel that technique is a bit brazen for your style, you could instead drop the original price by a few thousand dollars.

Another technique is to try to “meet in the middle”. For example, if there’s a $10,000 difference between the asking price and the offer price, you might offer to drop the price $5,000. Of course, the bigger the difference, the less enthusiastic you’ll be about dropping your price.

Factors To Consider

Keep in mind that the actual selling price of the house isn’t the only thing that will be negotiated. If you’re giving in a little bit, then you should expect to get a bit in return, but the same is true for the buyer. For example, a first-time homebuyer might not have a lot of money for a down payment. If you counter with an offer that’s too high, they might respond with another offer accepting the price, but asking for seller’s concessions at closing time.

Additionally, as you start to come down in price, you might consider taking out items that you might have included in the original offer, such as high-end appliances.

Don’t Forget The Fine Details

Discuss the details of what you want with your real estate agent. They’ll be able to let you know if you’re making the right move, considering the current market in your area. They may also have information about the buyers, such as an educated guess about how high they’re willing to go. Your agent will also have all the paperwork you need readily available. In most cases, all you have to do is fill in the blanks in a few spaces.

You want the highest price for your home, but getting the best deal is often a delicate dance. Know your limits and work together with the buyers to reach an agreement that is mutually beneficial.

You Ask, We Answer: How Does the Escrow Process Work when Buying a Home?

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You Ask, We Answer: How Does the Escrow Process Work when Buying a Home? When you purchase a new home, escrow is a word that you will hear numerous times from different parties. There are several types of escrow accounts that will be established, and you may be wondering where your money will go when placed in an escrow account or how it is applied to your transaction. By taking time to learn more about the escrow process, you can be a more informed buyer.

Your Initial Escrow Deposit

Within a short period of time after your offer is accepted by the buyer, you will be required to make an escrow deposit to the title company. Typically, you will write a check for the escrow deposit, and your title agent will hold the funds in a non-interest bearing account. These are funds that will be applied to your down payment at closing, and they serve as a good faith of your interest to proceed to the seller.

In the event you back out of the contract after the option period has passed, the escrow deposit may be handed over to the seller and would not be refunded to you.

Escrows for Taxes and Insurance

In addition to this type of escrow deposit, you may also hear about an escrow account for your property taxes and insurance. Setting up this type of escrow account may be a requirement by your lender, but it is not always required. Essentially, this is the account that your property taxes and homeowners insurance will be paid out of. You will pay a specified amount of money into the escrow account to establish a balance at closing, and a portion of your monthly payments will be applied to taxes and insurance as well.

The amount of money that is required at closing will be dependent on the month that you close as well as the annual costs for taxes and insurance.

Essentially, escrow accounts are established to pay for specified expenses that you are required to pay for as a buyer. The initial escrow deposit for the sales contract is a short-term type of escrow account, and the property tax and insurance escrow will remain intact until your mortgage is paid off in most cases.

Now that you know more about the escrows that you will be required to contribute money to as a buyer, you will be a more informed buyer when making your real estate purchase.