Hello friends! Today I am doing a little bathroom makeover dreaming. One of the hopeful home improvement projects for the upcoming summer is an upstairs bathroom makeover. We gave the late 1980’s bathroom a make-do makeover with paint and new vinyl flooring when we moved in, but after five years it is in desperate need of a complete overhaul. We inherited a large whirlpool bathtub when we moved in, but unfortunately it doesn’t work very well and it also takes up way too much space. My husband mentioned the other night that he would like to replace it with a smaller tub and maybe have a separate walk-in shower. so of course I headed to Pinterest to get some ideas! I found five bright and beautiful bathrooms got inspiration as we begin the planning process for the makeover.
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Spring is a busy time in real estate and a great time to put your home on the market. As a licensed real estate agent, the granddaughter of a real estate broker, and successful “for sell by owner/house flipper” myself, I have quite a bit of experience in this area! Taking the right steps at the start will ensure your home sells quickly and for a great price.
If you are considering a big move, here are five tips for selling your home fast. *This post contains affiliate links and/or sponsored content.
1. Choose A Great Realtor
If you need to get your home sold quickly, exposure is key. Finding a reputable and knowledgeable realtor is important. A great realtor can really minimize the stress of selling your home. There are different ways to choose the right real estate agent, which include searching realtor websites, meeting with local real estate agents in person, and speaking to friends and family about their recommendations. Ask business experts and community leaders for recommendations as well.
You might want to choose an agent who is active on social media, as this will greatly increase the chances that your home will be presented to a wider audience than just the readers of a typical realtor’s ad in the Sunday paper.
2. Make Necessary Repairs and Home Improvements
While it might seem like a waste of money to make certain home repairs before selling your home, it could make a difference when it comes to receiving offers. Most people understand that there is some degree of work to do when moving into a new home, but many potential buyers aren’t going to be interested in having a long list of repairs to make. Cosmetic changes might not be too much of a deterrent to buyers, but problems with electrical wiring or plumbing really need to be fixed before listing your home, or you may have to lower your asking price. Getting these home repairs taken care of before selling might cost you money out of pocket, they’ll be well worth the return on your investment.
No matter how much you might love trendy colors, if you want to sell your home fast, I highly recommend painting all the rooms the same neutral color such as ivory, light beige or various gray tones. Use an egg shell or flat finish to minimize imperfections in the walls. Even if potential buyers plan to paint the rooms according to their decor preference, walking into a freshly painted home which is light and bright will make a positive first impression. Painting all the rooms the same color will make the house seem bigger and more put together. It will also give most buyers the ability to move right in without having to paint right away, since the neutral paint will work with any decor.
Home staging simply means to declutter your home and to decorate it minimally and stylishly, while removing some of your own personal style. This allows potential buyers to visualize themselves in your home with their own belongings. While you want may want to keep some decor on display, such as a nice mirror over the mantel as an accessory, it is better to pack away family photos, trophies, and knick-knacks around the house. Instead decorate minimally, with a a candlestick or two on the mantel and fresh flowers on the dining room table. If possible, remove excess furniture temporarily to storage and stick with the essentials to make rooms appear more open.
The first is that when potential buyers come to view your property they need to be able to see what space and storage you have available in your home. If your property is full of your personal belongings, furnishings and decor, then they won’t be able to do this and won’t put an offer in. You can invest in different shelves or storage options to store your items so your home looks tidier, you could use live edge products to make your home seem more rustic.
Don’t forget to address the exterior of your home when staging. Clean up your yard, and add a few pots of flowers to the porch for curb appeal and to create a warm welcome and you will bepresenting it well.
5. Be Your Own Agent
In addition to hiring an agent, you can also do some extra work to get your home sold faster. Taking good pictures is one of the best ways to set your home apart from others in a competitive price range. Not all realtors are photographers, so the photos they use in their listings and on social media may not really highlight your home’s best features. A real estate agent might do a rushed job when it comes to taking photos for their listing, so if you’re good with a camera or have a friend with a knack for photography, go ahead and take your own photos too.
Your agent should be happy to use the best photos. In addition, you might consider creating a free website or blog where you share pictures of your home in room tours, and highlight some of your favorite things about it. I was able to get our previous home sold in less than three weeks by creating a free blogspot blog specifically for selling our home. You can share the link to your blog on social media which will give potential buyers to check out more of your home in addition to the real estate listing.
Following these five tips really can help you get your home sold fast! If you have any other questions about selling your home or specific decorating questions for home staging, I would be happy to offer advice. I can also create a For Sale By Owner or Home For Sale blog for your home if you are interested in that service. Simply leave a comment below or message me via email. I love talking homes and real estate!
Creating a more modern home is easy with the abundance of technology available today. Many people are turning their homes into “smart homes”, where all their tech is connected. If you’re thinking of doing something similar, or just bringing your home a bit more up to date, there are pitfalls you need to watch out for. *This post contains affiliate links.
Installing Unnecessary Tech
It’s easy to get taken in by all kinds of shiny gadgets. People convince you that you should buy things you don’t really need. If you’re going to add new tech to your home, don’t buy anything just because it’s new—get it because it’s useful.
With any technology, there are usually one or two stand-out brands that people prefer. However, these aren’t always the best for your needs. It’s important not to get taken in by the name on the product, when it might not have the functions you require.
Not Ensuring Compatibility
If you’re planning on connecting various devices, they need to be able to communicate with each other. You should make sure you choose gadgets that have been designed to be compatible with each other, which will sometimes mean buying from the same brand.
Connected tech could leave your home open to criminal attacks. If you want to keep your home safe, you need to make sure you buy gadgets that are secure and use them appropriately. There are certain things you can do to decrease the likelihood of a security breach:
Refi Guide How to Stop Your Home From Being Hacked
I am not a techy person, but modern technology certainly is a necessary part of our lives society and these days. Research the best brands and gadgets that will fit your personal needs, and perhaps make your life a little less hectic. I am getting ready to make my grocery “click list” using the app on my smart phone. As much as I complain about technology, I love being able to shop from the comfort of my home and simply drive to the store where my order is waiting on me. I don’t even have to get out of the car! How do you incorporate technology into your daily routine?
When most people think of basements, images of cinder blocks covered in mildew, exposed pipes, spider webs, and hoards of old holiday decorations come to mind. If you have a basement that is unfinished, you might simply close the door on and try not to think about! Nevertheless, if your basement dry and confirmed to be mold free after proper testing, it can be a used in a variety of ways. Let’s take a look at a few basement ideas. *This post contains affiliate links.
If you are trying to make your property work for you, by utilizing as much space as possible and increasing your property value, then you really shouldn’t overlook the potential your basement holds. All it needs is a little bit of TLC and creative vision to become a usable space. You can create a family room, game room, utility room, storage room or even an apartment with the appropriate insulation and ventilation.Read more
