All in the Day of a Realtor: Ten Things That Will Add Value to Your Home

All in the Day of a Realtor: Ten Things That Will Add Value to Your Home: "Fifth article of a ten-part series of things that will add value to your home Curb appeal The longer I'm in this business, the more I'm con..."

Ten Things That Will Add Value to Your Home

Fifth article of a ten-part series of things that will add value to your home

Curb appeal

The longer I'm in this business, the more I'm convinced about the importance of a home's "first impression" upon the buyers. It seems that in our very busy world, home buyers almost always favor a home that is in move-in condition. And since most buyers lack the imagination to see what a difference their personal touch could make on a home, it's very important to make a good first impression.

First impressions are everything. A house that appears tidy and well-cared-for will sell more quickly and for more money. A good first appearance can add as much as 10 percent to the value of the home.

A majority of home buyers decided whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appeal – this means the view they actually see when they do a drive by or arrive for a showing. To make it inviting enough for them to want to come inside your home, by spending a little time working on the exterior appearance can give you that leverage.

TAKE AN INVENTORY OF YOUR HOME…

One of the best ways to really see your home as potential buyers might see it as they drive by is the next time you come home, stop across the street far enough away from the driveway to get a good view of the house and its surroundings. Park where potential buyers would and walk towards the house and look around as if it were your first visit.

Take photos of the exterior of the home. It is better to do this in black and white because when they are in color it is distracting and it is easier to see existing problems.

1. What is your first impression of the house and yard area?

2. What do you consider your home or lot’s best features? How can you enhance them?

3. What are the worst exterior features of the house or lot? How can you minimize or improve them?

4. Is the walkway clean and tidy? What can be done to make it more attractive?

Start making a list of the problem areas you discovered. It is always best to start with the clean up and repair chores first, then start projects that will make the property more attractive.

• Clean windows and gutters

• Pressure wash dirty siding, decks and driveways

• Make sure the sidewalks are edge and remove any weeds between concrete or bricks

• Paying special attention to your landscaping is absolutely crucial during the selling process

• Keep your lawn freshly mowed, flower beds free of weeds, and add some additional outdoor lighting to brighten up the pathways.

• Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded

• Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home’s roof

• Kill mold and mildew on the house, sidewalks, roof or driveway

Don't Forget the Rear View

Expand your curb appeal project to include your back yard. Buyers doing a drive by will try their best to see your back yard if it is visible from another street or neighbor’s yard.

How Does Your Home Measure Up With Evening Curb Appeal?

• One of the best ways to improve evening curb appeal is with outdoor lighting

• String solar lights along your driveway, sidewalks, and near important landscaping element

• If your budget allows, add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch

• Make sure any lighting that's visible through front doors and windows enhances the home's appearance.

Unfortunately most buyers cannot visualize changes, and often won't take a second look at a house if the first look doesn't appeal to them. On the other end of the spectrum, those home buyers who can visualize changes, and are prepared to make them, expect you to reduce the price of the house to compensate for the work they plan to do. 

A Few Curb Appeal Tips

• If you can budget it, a fresh paint job does wonders for a dingy house. Make sure that it keeps with the look and time of the area. You do not want to paint with bright colors that will detract and turn off buyers but will also affect the value of your home and the neighborhood. 

• Install a more attractive front door, maybe something with leaded glass inserts.

• If your budget won’t allow the cost of a new door, consider replacing plain doorknob hardware with something more attractive.

• If new hardware is beyond your budget, repaint or stain the door and polish the hardware.

By making a list, taking pictures and brainstorming, you'll find that there's usually always a solution to most problems- one that lets you stay within your budget. The trick is to find the areas where improvements are needed and bring most value, then work on them within your means.

Shirlee McGarry® is a freelance writer and published author in Utah

Pictures -fotosearch.com

Five Things You Never Knew Your Cell Phone Could Do

For all the folks with cell phones.
(This should be printed and kept in your car, purse, and wallet. Good information to have with you.)

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

1. Emergency

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find Yourself out of the coverage area of your mobile network and there is an Emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

2. Have you locked your keys in the car?

Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other ' remote ' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

3. Hidden Battery Power

Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell phone will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell phone next time.

4. How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?

To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following Digits on your phone: *#06#. A 15-digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe.

If your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

And Finally......

5. Free Directory Service for Cells

Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800)FREE411 or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.

Photos from fotosearch stock photography

Ten Things that will add value to your home

Fourth article of a ten-part series of things that will add value to your home

People are into the “Natural” of Things

According to those in the industry that sell the newest of floor coverings, consumers definitely like natural material. It seems overall the general public have gone back to an appreciation for historically true materials. Very popular today is also the simulated variety which works just as well and the look is as popular as ever.

When it comes to bathrooms or kitchen floor coverings, the in-thing is tile or wood rather than the out-dated linoleum, which does not hold up as well and can tear, rip or gouge easily.

For the rest of the house, it is agreed that wood or laminate products have definitely taken over in popularity over wall-to-wall carpeting. If you do have carpet, you should make sure it is well-maintained so when potential buyers walk in they don’t think…”Gee, I’m going to have to spend thousands of dollars to replace all this carpeting.

Shirlee McGarry® is a freelance writer and published author in Utah

Pictures - Fotosearch stock photos

ShirLee McGarry Receives VIP Woman of the Year from NAPW

ShirLee McGarry, Realtor in Salt Lake City Receives VIP Woman of the Year from NAPW - National Association of Professional Women

Click here to see the Website online or paste the following in web browser:

http://www.napw.com/profile/10396870/ShirLee-McGarryMFACPSGRISFRAuthor/

The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) is one of the most exclusive and rapidly growing associations of female executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs in the United States

The National Association of Professional Women is an exclusive network for professional women to interact, exchange ideas, educate, network, and empower. NAPW members enjoy a wealth of resources and services dedicated to the enhancement, empowerment and promotion of their careers.

NAPW provides seminars, podcasts, webinars, keynote speeches, educational tools, and fosters career development skills that enable our members to achieve personal and career success.

Ten Things that will add value to your home

Third article of ten-part series of things that will add value to your home

MASTER SUITE - WALK-IN CLOSET

No doubt about it, one of the top on the wish list that adds excitement to buyers motivation, is all about having a master suite with the luxurious bathroom,  lounging area and if space allows don’t forget the walk-in-closet.

However, sometimes this just isn’t an option so you have to put your thinking cap on and get creative with making the most of limited space. It’s amazing what little touches and a great deal of organized thought can do to give the appearance of a well thought out closet while getting rid of the dead spaces that collect everything forgotten in the pile of heaven only knows area.

Even if you do not have the space needed for a walk-in closet, you can give the appearance of a much larger area by careful planning and use of the closet organizers you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot. You can even find a variety of quick put together vinyl closet organizers at Wal-Mart that are easy to install. The effect created from the unorganized closet to an organized closet is amazing.

The use of baskets to store items on closet shelving is also effective, again freeing up clutter and allowing more space.   In many of the older homes with small closet area, there is a lot of lost cubicle space lost, especially with the top shelf that leaves empty space clear up to the ceiling, which could possibly give you two additional shelving areas.

If your budget is limited the use of plastic containers are also effective especially for shoe storage. You can also use the back of the closet door to mount various types of racks to hang or store items.

Again, think cubicle and plan to use every available nook and cranny of the smaller closet and stack or make additional shelving in this area, you will be amazed at how much more room it gives you eliminating all the clutter and items left on and/or around the floor area.

Shirlee McGarry® is a freelance writer and published author in UtahPictures - Fotosearch stock photos 

Ten Things that will add value to your home

Here is the second article of a ten-part series of things that will add value to your home

MODERN BATHROOMS

Today it’s all about the ‘Master Bath’ as buyers are looking for “The Ultimate Master Bath” that will give them more than a little room to roam. The big plus is the “Queen Bee Bathroom” as I call it; this is the dream bathroom that has a garden tub that is a spa or a whirlpool tub, separate shower, and separate room for the commode.

It always brings a smile to my face when I ask clients who have this feature how they like it and how much they use it. It is amazing to know just how many do not use the jetted tub very often for one reason or another…it is mainly there to use just in case they get in the mood. Regardless, it is a big feature to most buyers. I can guarantee I would use a jettedl tub at least once a week with all the aromatherapy candles and oils available to soothe this tired bod at the end of a hectic week!

Another feature that buyers want is separate showers with steam and/or multiple jets. A must is the double sink, and a separate room for the toilet. I remember an article that interviewed the actor Michael Cain and when asked what contributed to the success of marriages, he said, “having a double sink in the bathroom.” I have to totally agree with him because we women need our space!

As with all bathrooms, it is very important when remodeling to accommodate all these neat features so they run properly by making sure that the plumbing and water heater can handle the job. What good is it to have a $25k bathroom with new fixtures but no one thought it important to upgrade the pipes? 

Piping has to be large enough to carry an adequate volume of water. Equally as important, the water heater has to be big enough to accommodate it. In reality, you need a minimum of a 75-gallon hot water heater but today most of my clients have opted for 100-150. With all the energy efficient water heaters available today, your costs are kept to a minimum as opposed to having an old unit that can’t handle the job efficiently. Nothing could be worse than taking a shower and suddenly being doused with ice water from the arctic! That would be a wake-up call after-the-fact!

When remodeling, you can find  many money-saving rebates on qualifying energy-efficient appliances or upgrades for your home.
Rebate website
Energy Star

Shirlee McGarry® is a freelance writer and published author in Utah
Pictures -  Fotosearch stock photos