It is universally accepted that the master suite and kitchen in any property are where sellers can get the most “bang for the buck” when making improvements. These two areas are where buyers focus when making a purchase decision. It is often said that for every $10 spent, you can get $8 or $9 of it back at the time of sale in these two rooms of the house.
I’m one that really enjoys DIY, or “Do it Yourself” projects around the home. For instance, I’ve changed many a light fixture and painted many rooms in our home. I get real satisfaction from seeing a job well done, and knowing I did it myself. However, a $20 light fixture is dramatically different than attempting making decisions in regards to your largest financial asset without counsel. That’s something I definitely would not recommend at all. Read the rest…
When preparing your home for the market, don’t overlook “wowing” buyers with the great features your property has to offer. This great video shows how just a few changes (and a few hundred dollars in materials) with a little effort can take a home from blah to impressive. When crafting your “to do” list, be sure to take a moment to reflect on your property’s key features that attracted you to purchase it originally. Those are the elements to show off to impress buyers today. Make sure that clutter, too much furniture, too much decoration do not compete for the buyer’s attention with the key elements that will sell your home. Read the rest…
I’m sure many of you might find this post a bit odd, coming from me. However, I want all potential clients to have information and lots of it. It’s the only way to make an educated decision, especially with your largest financial investment. Check out this video on how to find a great real estate agent to work for you.
Home sweet home – that is, until it hits the market. Then your beloved property becomes just another piece of inventory. Unfortunately for sellers, your home isn’t as special to buyers as it is to you. With competition at its peak this time of year, there are many properties vying for the buyer’s attention. Read the rest…
You see the late night infomercials touting “EASY PROFITS!” But if it was that easy, wouldn’t everyone be doing it? Time to blow away the smoke and mirrors to the truth on short sales, folks. It’s a time consuming process that is a difficult (and not always successful) method to purchasing a home with a substantial discount.
Read the rest…
Has the Columbia, South Carolina housing market fully rebounded or is it still in a slump? How does one know when things are improving? According to bankrate.com, there are two key indicators: 1) a decreasing unemployment rate, which shows residents of the area are going to work and companies are confident in their abilities to remain profitable and 2) a decreasing number of properties that remain unsold on market.
Well, here I go again, on another political rant. (At least I warned you.) As a result of the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac fiasco, there has been a lawsuit settlement reached between the NY Attorney General, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. While the proposed law seems good on the surface (it’s meant to protect us, right?), there are some serious flaws that will hurt borrowers, sellers, lenders and real estate agents. It will most likely hinder efforts to sell property in the future. Read the rest…
Got the itch to move up? You’re not alone. The spring and summer selling seasons are typically the hottest, not just temperature wise, but by the amount of properties that hit the market for sale. Inventories are typically higher this time of year than at any other point in the calendar. Read the rest…
I thought I’d take a quick look at what has been happening in the Columbia, Irmo, Chapin, Lexington, Ballentine, Blythewood (and so on) markets. Our Multiple Listing Service covers areas as far northwest as Newberry, as far west as Aiken, South Carolina and southeast to Orangeburg. In that coverage area, during the first quarter of this year (January – April 2008), we had 19,035 residential houses available for sale. At that time last year, 18,782 properties were for sale. Read the rest…
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