6 Tips For Staging Your Home To Sell

Are you trying to sell your home? It is important to make sure you stage your home to sell. Check out these helpful tips to get you started…

1. Curb Appeal

When a potential buyer drives by your home or even pulls up for a showing, the first impression they will get is the front of your home. Make sure that you prepare your home for it’s best first impression…

• Powerwash doorway, windows, garage door, etc.

• Touch up paint around front door and garage door trim

• Add flowers for a pop of color

• Pull weeds and make sure to mulch

• Cut grass and edge all the way around for those clean lines

• Touch up the driveway

2. Clean it up

Make sure to do a deep clean before listing your home for sale. For a deep clean you can hire some help your invite your family over to pitch in. Here is what to remember…

• Look up, there is dust and spider webs in the corners of your ceiling

• Vacuum and clean all floors and carpets

• Touch up paint around high traffic areas with scrapes and fingerprints

• Wash knobs, handles, cabinets, railings and anywhere else someone would touch

• Scrub appliances inside and out to make them look like new

There is more to the list for sure, so make sure you go through your home with great detail whether you are the cleanest person or the messiest person.

3. Declutter

This means rooms, closets, cabinets, basement, and even your crawl space. When a buyer comes into your home, they will probably not be looking for less closet space or not as many cabinets right? So show them the space your home offers by…

• Removing pieces of furniture to open up your living room

• Organize and remove items from your closets

• Organize your Kitchen cabinets and pantry

• Organize bedroom closets to show off the space

• Organize your basement whether it’s finished or unfinished

This is where a second opinion or an expert could come in handy. They will let you know how to stage and organize your home to sell.

4. Set the table

Giving a little push to let home buyers see themselves living in your home doesn’t hurt. Try setting the table with placemats, plates, cups, silverware, and a center piece. Don’t over do it, but just enough to make it feel like a staged home.

5. Neutral Colors

No one wants a hot pink Kitchen or a lime green bedroom. Well, maybe they do but make sure that you keep it neutral. If you have any dark colors or bright colors, you might want to repaint. Stick with the neutral white, off white, beige, tan, neutral grays and blues, etc. If there is a bold color in a room, if the home buyer doesn’t like it all they will see are dollars signs and work to fix it.

6. Define rooms and areas

Have you ever walked into a home with an awkward space or a small room and think to yourself, “what do we do with this space?” If you have something like this in your home, try to give it a definition. Whether it is just a sitting area, storage area, or a playroom make sure to stage it that way for the potential buyers. Having more space is not a bad thing, but when it is awkward space it might throw off the buyer.

What Does “FHA Approved Condo” mean?

If you’re looking to buy a condo, you may be wondering what FHA-approved means and whether or not it’s important for your purposes. (It is!) Whether or not a unit/building is FHA-approved will affect the type of housing loan you can qualify for. Recent changes in requirements by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have affected FHA approvals, especially regarding condos; now, the entire complex must be FHA-approved before the agency will agree to back a loan on any one unit.

FHA loans are often sought after by homebuyers because those who are qualified can purchase a home/condo for as little as 3.5% down, which is much lower than typical home loans will offer; conventional mortgage lenders usually require at least a 20% down payment, which isn’t feasible for many, especially first-time, homebuyers.

What this means for you as the buyer, is that the complex you choose to buy a condo in could very well determine your loan eligibility. If you move into a complex that isn’t FHA-approved, you can’t appeal to have your individual unit approved, and so you aren’t eligible for the 3.5% down perk. Putting less down on a property is ideal for many buyers because it means you may not have to spend money you don’t have.

Condo associations that aren’t FHA-approved typically have high delinquency rates, which disqualifies them for approval. Changes made by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have extended the ‘past due’ cut off for associations, so now, no more than 15% of the total units in a complex can be more than 60 days past due on assessment payments (versus 30 days past due before).

Such a modification to the requirements of the FHA-approval policy will allow more condo associations to qualify for FHA-approval, which means larger and better pickings for buyers looking for a condo. Additionally, another modification to the policy allows for mixed-use complexes (residential and commercial) to qualify for FHA-approval, provided they meet the other requirements. So if you find yourself looking at a complex with office/retail and residential space, don’t write it off because the association may actually be FHA-approved.

For any buyer who isn’t able or willing to put 20% down on a property, which is typically especially true for first time homebuyers, seeking a condo in an FHA-approved complex is the route to go. These properties are easier to finance because they meet requirements set forth by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, meaning these properties are typically in good condition and in good areas. Talk to your realtor and/or the condo association if you’re unsure of whether or not a complex is FHA-approved.

For more information on FHA-approved properties, check out this article from the Chicago Tribune or this one from the National Association of Realtors.

 

5 Tips To “Luxurize” Your Home

In a tight market, the little things can make all the difference to potential buyers. The more appealing your home is to them, the more likely they are to buy it. Your home is special to you, so you want it to be a reflection of the memories that you have made; however, you also want it to reflect how someone else can begin making memories in it, too. Here are five ways to “luxurize” your home to make it more attractive to potential buyers.

1. Deep Clean

This should go without saying, but you would be surprised how many people don’t even think about it. Before a showing, or maybe once a week, give your home a serious deep clean. Clean windows, vacuum and mop floors, and wash bedding and blankets. Cleaning is the easiest way to communicate to potential buyers that your home is a great home.

2. Use Air Fresheners

Believe it or not, one of the first things people notice in a home is the smell. You don’t want potential buyers to remember the stale smell of dirty laundry or strange smells coming from the kitchen trash, you want them to remember how beautiful your house is. Use plug-in or automatic air fresheners throughout the house to give a fresh, clean smell in every room.

3. De-Clutter

Along with the cleaning factor, comes the de-cluttering. There is nothing worse than opening the door to the master closet and seeing it packed full of stuff, giving the impression that the closet is too small to begin with. Use baskets and bins to organize folded garments and knick-knacks on the shelves, and use shoe racks on the ground to your shoes in order. If everything has an organized space, it gives the illusion that the closet is just fine no matter the size.

4. Use Comfy Throws & Blankets in Common Areas

Adding things like throw pillows and blankets to furniture in the family room is a great way to add a colorful touch to plain furniture. Try to match additions to the color scheme of the room so that everything ties together nicely.

5. Use Fresh, Clean Bedding

The first thing people see when they walk into a bedroom is the bed. Make a great first impression by using clean bedding in every room; additionally, make sure that each bed is made properly. Something as simple as that can add that extra luxurious touch.

Luxurizing your home is the easiest way to attract more buyers. Make your home so appealing that they will be able to see themselves living in it.

For more tips on making your home stand out to anyone, no matter what your motive may be, visit here.

3 Tips to Buying a Home in 2013

The real estate market is constantly changing. Over the past few years we have see a lot of ups and downs here in Northeast Ohio…

• An abundance of Short Sales and Foreclosure

• Investors coming out of the woodwork to flip homes to sell or rent

• Depreciation of home values in some areas

• First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Incentives

• Great deals for Buyers

• Low Interest Rates

• and more…

This year we are seeing a completely different real estate market. The inventory is a little lower, home prices are a little higher, and interest rates are changing. It looks like we are headed into a more stable market.

So what do you need to do to be ready to buy a home in 2013? Here are 3 easy tips…

1. Find a Lender

Having an experienced, reliable lender is one of the key factors to a smooth and successful home buying experience. Here are a few things to look for in a lender…

• Help you choose the right loan for you

• Educate you on what your options are

• Help to prepare you for what you need to do and know along the way

• Communication is key!

2. Find a Real Estate Agent

Some buyers do research and ask around to find their real estate agent, some do not and just start working with the first agent that comes along. You might get lucky, but the better option would be to find an experienced real estate agent. Don’t be afraid to interview several agents before choosing one that is right for you. Afterall, this is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make! Here are a few things to look out for in a real estate agent…

• Know the area

• Testimonials

• Communication

• Buy incentive and options

• Prepare you for what to expect along the way

3. Educate Yourself

It is important to do a little research and educate yourself before diving into the housing market this year. So start “googling”, interviewing lenders and real estate agents and get the info you need up front before settling down. Here are a few tips…

• Where do you want to live?

• What down payment do you need?

• What are the costs involved in buying a home?

• Make a list of things you HAVE to have, WANT, and DO NOT WANT in your next home.

• Who is involved in the final decision? Get them on board.

• Interview Lenders

• Interview Real Estate Agents

• Check your credit score

There are a lot of questions you might have about the home buying process. Make sure to ask the professionals and choose people who will support you along the way.

Events Near Lakewood, OH – April 2013

Check out the upcoming events near Lakewood, Ohio this month!

The House of Blue Leaves

When: Every Weekend, 8:00 PM (Friday and Saturday), 3:00 PM (Sunday)

Where: Mackey Main Stage

Price: $10 – $30

This is considered John Guare’s most popular and arguably most important play, starring an aspiring singer trying to pursue his dreams. It is the perfect show to see after a dinner date or on a rainy April afternoon.

 

Lakewood Police D.A.R.E. Basketball Tournament

When: April 13, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Where: Lakewood High School

Price: Free to attend

The Lakewood Police Department D.A.R.E. Unit is holding its annual basketball tournament for fifth grade students. Admission is free, so bring the whole family out to watch a day of friendly competition.

 

Heights Holistic Fair

When: April 13, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Where: The Open Office Community Space

Price $5

Spend the day learning about holistic health and sustainable living. The event includes products like organic clothing, jewelry and soap.  It also includes services like aromatherapy and yoga.

 

Spring Stroll & Fashion Show

When: April 27, 12:30 – 5:00 PM

Where: Lakewood Masonic Temple

Price: $25 in advance, $35 at event

Head out to Lakewood’s Masonic Temple for a day of fashion and fun!  The second annual spring fashion show will take place after a tasting of foods from a few restaurants and grocers.  Following the show viewers are encouraged to walk down Detroit Avenue, where participating merchants will be offering specials.

 

2013 Rockin’ Marathon Relay Cleveland Zoo

When: April 27

Where Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Price: $35 per person

Team up with your friends and take on 26.2 miles together.  Relay teams can consist of 2-4 people; while one person is running, the others are hanging out at the exchange zone.

 

Did we miss your favorite event? Let us know what fun things you’re doing this month!

 

What Does A Homeowners Association Fee Cover?

When looking to buy a home, make sure to check if the neighborhood has a Homeowners Association. An HOA will help regulate the neighborhood keeping up with common areas, restrictions and guidelines to keep the neighborhood in tip top shape, and more. If you are buying a single family home, there may not always be a HOA or an HOA fee to worry about. If you are buying a condo, there will always be an HOA with HOA dues that cover a laundry list of things for you.

Below are a few of the things that are covered but keep in mind each association is different and it depends on if you are buying a condo or single family home…

• City Services- Including services such as trash removal, water and sewage.

• Insurance- This only includes insurance for damage of the outside of the building and the property around it. You will still need to purchase your own insurance policy to cover everything on the inside of your home.

• Lawn Care- This covers snow removal, gardening and general lawn maintenance as well as essential tree removal and mulching.

• Pest Control- Most HOAs schedule a monthly inspection from a pest control company in order to avoid pest infestation.

• Maintenance and Repairs to the Outside of the Building- This includes things such as roof leaks, exterior painting, driveway pavement repairs, gutter repair, Carports, lighting, security systems, gated entries, mailboxes, etc.

• Amenities- HOA can sometimes cover community amenities such as a gym, tennis court, walking trails, pool or playground. It will also cover the cost of maintaining these amenities.

• Special Assessments- This is an account that the HOA uses to pay for unexpected communal expenses. If a tornado or fire destroys communal property for instance, HOA fees can cover a percentage of the repair costs.

• Premiums for Disaster Insurance- Keep in mind they do not pay for individual homeowners insurance coverage.

If paying HOA fees every month doesn’t bother you then you should consider purchasing a home with a Homeowners Association and the labor-free amenities it comes with. You do want to keep in mind however, that HOA fees can increase each year as the cost of services increases.

Read more here.

 

Fix These 4 Things Before Selling Your Home

With the housing market continuing to improve every year, it’s important to be smart about selling your home in 2013. With more and more homes on the market to compete with, you need to make sure that your home is looking fabulous if you want to get top dollar for it. A little TLC and the help from a handy friend is really all you need to get your home ready to sell. Pay special attention to fix these 4 things before trying to sell your home!

1. Out-of-control landscape: The first thing buyers will see when they come to your open house is the exterior. You need to make a good first impression with a nicely pruned and well-taken care of landscape, or else you run the risk of buyers driving right on by to look at houses that have better curb appeal. This is a cheap, and easy fix, so there’s no excuse to skip it! Depending on the weather in your area, you’ll need to mow the grass and water the plants, or shovel the snow off the driveway and walkways, or rake the leaves out of your yard.

2. Out-of-date paint: While whites, beiges, and other neutrals are the safest paint colors to choose when trying to sell your house, it’s okay to have some variety and add a little bit of oomph to your home with other colors. However, the paint inside of your home should follow a color scheme; that is, don’t try to sell your home if you have a purple kitchen with bright yellow trim next to your chartreuse living room…chances are that color combination won’t appeal to most of your buyers. If you have crazy, bright, non-matching, or out-of-date paint colors in your home, it’s time to repaint!

3. Wallpaper and paneling: Just like with your paint colors and scheme, it can be hard to sell a home if your wallpaper is out-of-date. Stripping wallpaper can be a time-consuming process, but with a little elbow grease and help from some friends, stripping that old wallpaper and repainting can lead to a great ROI (return on investment) for your hard work. If you have old or damaged paneling, you’ll need to remove or replace that as well. This is a bigger and more time consuming task than removing wallpaper, but again, its something that will really make a difference when you’re trying to sell. Talk to your real estate agent or even an interior decorator about your options for updating your paneling.

4. Check your closet doors: Missing, damaged, or old closet doors are a hot button for many buyers. Before you try to sell (or even list) your home, make sure that all of the closets in your house have up-to-date doors, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to match them with each other and the rest of your home. Additionally, make sure that all of the doors are installed and working properly!

 

For more tips on selling your home, check out this article from Inman News.

How To Win The Multiple Offer Bidding War

The current housing market is still in a slump, meaning that it’s a good time for buyers because house prices are still relatively low. However, low prices and a surplus of buyers means that you’ll have to compete to get the home you want. Many sellers are receiving multiple offers for their homes, so it’s important to know how to win the multiple offer bidding war. Here are some tips on how to compete as a buyer in today’s market.

Start by doing some research in the area in which you’re looking to buy. This includes looking at houses that are for sale and particularly at houses that have sold. The goal is to figure out the average selling price of comparable (to the home you’re looking to buy) homes in your area. This will help you determine if the home you want is over or underpriced. Knowing the average selling prices in an area will also allow you to understand what is and is not a reasonable offer to make.

It’s imperative that you make an offer that is reasonable for both you and the seller the first time around. This is because, in a market where you’re competing for a home, you may only get one chance to make an offer. Don’t make an offer that you aren’t comfortable with though, because you don’t want to have to worry about backing out of an offer once its been accepted.

Make yourself look more appealing to sellers by getting preapproved for a home loan. Sellers are more willing to work with and accept offers from buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan, because those buyers are less likely to be unable to pay for the home they’re bidding on. Also those buyers, who can afford to pay the down payment with cash look more attractive to buyers.

Avoid making too many contingencies in your offer. When you’re facing competition for a home, it’s advisable to limit your contingencies. Otherwise, the seller might be more inclined to accept another offer that doesn’t require as much out of them during the home buying/selling process.

Don’t skip the home inspection. You don’t have to request that all of the problems you find with the home be rectified in your offer. There’s a difference between wanting and needing something fixed. You should have the house inspected by a home inspector before you sign anything.

For the full article, click here.

Things To Do Near Rocky River, Ohio

Do you live near Rocky River, Ohio or are you looking to relocate? Check out some things to do near Rocky River, Ohio…
Location
Only 20 minutes from downtown Cleveland via I-90, approximately nine miles from Public Square, Rocky River’s location is convenient. Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is only a 15-minute drive, and both I-71 and the Ohio Turnpike can be reached in 20 minutes.  Bordered by Lake Erie on the north and the Rocky River and Cleveland Metroparks on the east, the City’s location is unique.  Residents can boat, fish and swim on Lake Erie and take advantage of nine City parks and the Metroparks for woods, playground equipment, picnicking, fishing and countless other activities.

Background
Rocky River has beautiful residential homes, some along the Lake; new residential developments including clusters homes and townhouses; a wide variety of retail businesses for shopping; corporate facilities as well as other commercial developments; two theaters; many restaurants; and two private clubs (Westwood Country Club and Cleveland Yachting Club).

Things To Do:

Cleveland Metroparks
Fishing, Hiking, Biking, Skiing, Golf and Horseback Riding are just some of the many activities that the Cleveland Metroparks offer to the public. Cleveland Metroparks offer activities all year round for every season.

For more information visit the Cleveland Metroparks website.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is a 165-acre zoo in Cleveland, Ohio. The zoo is divided into several areas: the RainForest, the African Savanna, Northern Trek, the Australian Adventure, and the Primates, Cats, and Aquatics House. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & The RainForest is open all year and home to more than 3000 animals representing 600 species.

For information on prices, hours, and upcoming events visit their website.

Upcoming Events

“The New Barleycorn” Irish Folk Singers
Friday, March 15
1:30 Program
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at RRSC with The New Barleycorn Irish Folk
Singers. Enjoy Irish music, storytelling and a lively sing-a-long with
Alec DeGabriele and John Delaney.

12 Noon Lunch
Please note entrée choice when registering
Corned beef & cabbage OR baked scrod, boiled red skin potatoes, baby
carrots, Jello salad, rolls, apple pie, coffee/tea. Catered by Novotny’s.

Tickets:
Lunch & program $23; program only $8. Non-residents add $1.
Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for ticket return.

For more information about upcoming events in Rocky River, click here.

Tips For Buying A Home in Shaker Heights, Ohio

The process of buying a home can be tiring and very confusing, regardless of whether it is your first time purchasing a home or you are an experienced homebuyer. However, if you’ve narrowed your search down to Shaker Heights, that’s a good start! Here are the some other important tips for buying a home…

1. Don’t Buy If You Can’t Stay Put: If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner — even in a rising market.
2. Start By Checking Up On Your Credit: Since you will most likely need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct and fix any problems you discover.
3. Aim For A Home You Can Really Afford: The general rule is that you can buy housing that runs two and a half times your annual salary.
4. Buy In A District With Good Schools: School districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values.
5. Get Professional Help: Even though the Internet gives buyers access to home listings, most buyers are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

Before you sign anything, make sure you get a home inspection. A home inspector will inspect the home and inform you of any major issues with the property. The sellers may be willing to fix some of the issues that the home inspector finds, but if not, at least you’ll know what needs to be fixed before you move into the home.

For more tips on buying a home click here.