Tips for Home Sellers - 5 Ways to Shorten the Selling Process

Maintenance Tips

Maintenance Tips:

• Inspect the water supply connector on dishwashers annually. Replace if bulging or you are unable to straighten out any kinks.
• Each year, check that the water supply hose on your washer is not kinked, bent or leaking.
• Once a year, pull your refrigerator away from the wall and check the copper piping and waterlines for leaks.

Water Heater Maintenance Tips:

• Before doing any maintenance on your water heater, shut off the power at the service panel.
• Once every three months, drain one gallon of water from your tank. If you have hard water do this every month to reduce sediment collecting in the bottom of your tank.
• Once every two years, have your water heater inspected by a service technician.
• Once every five years have a service technician replace the anode rod.

  

You are not alone. Should a water incident occur in your business, remove excess water if possible, remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying and place aluminum foil or wood blocks under furniture legs. These tips may help prevent further damage to your business contents.

Thank you ServPro for these tips!

10 Staging Tips To Get Your Home Sold Faster

People enjoy an outing on the weekend, touring model homes because they are in fact “models.” It is easy to picture oneself living in that particular home because everything looks and smells so pretty. If you are trying to sell your home on the resale market, there is hope for you! Read the following tips and your home will appear more beautiful to the prospective buyer.

1. Depersonalize the home. Remove items that make your house feel like your home. Examples include family photos, refrigerator art, collectables, toys, and things that distract a person from looking at the overall layout. People are drawn to look at people, so removing photos is a fabulous first step.

2. Remove large pieces of furniture that make a room feel crowded. If needed, rent a storage unit to free up some floor space so the room looks more open, less cluttered.

3. Stage each room so that the buyer knows its purpose. Prospective buyers need to understand what each room is. If you use a bedroom for an office, turn it back into a bedroom to make the home feel larger to accommodate a larger family. Using the dining room for the pool table? Now would be the time to take a pool break and replace with a table.

4. De-clutter countertops, closets and cabinetry. If the surface is flat, do not pile objects on top of it! Put the mail away and straighten up closets. Buyers will look in the closet so let them see how spacious, not how small it is because it is overflowing with items.

5. Go room by room and check paint on walls and baseboards. Make any necessary repairs now. A thorough cleaning and a fresh coat of a neutral paint will make the room feel and smell fresh. Clean carpets and flooring so that they sparkle. Replace worn carpet if necessary. Use a magic eraser on wall marks.

6. Lighten rooms so that they look large and cheerful. Check for burned out light bulbs. Remove heavy window coverings. Clean blinds and shutters. Trim trees that appear overgrown.

7. Make minor repairs like re-caulking tub and shower, fixing dripping faucets, changing AC filters, balancing a ceiling fan, or any other repair that indicates that the property is well-maintained.

8. Remove any evidence of pets or animals, especially litter boxes. Pick up dog messes in the backyard. Eliminate pet odors with a plug-in air freshener or diffuser.

9. Check the curb appeal of the home. Mow the grass and plant flowers. Cut back or remove overgrown shrubbery. Trim trees. Place colorful pots of flowers by the front door. Check the exterior paint. Repaint the front door and replace old hardware. Remove toys and sports equipment.

10. Give the home warmth and charm. Replace bedspreads and some new pillows. Hang fresh towels in the bathrooms and remove toiletries. Replace worn mats and rugs. Add a large mirror over a dresser or low piece of furniture to add depth to a small room. Set the dining table with chargers and glassware.

The Canaday Group has an in house interior designer. Call us today to schedule an appointment with her. www.FineHomes4Sale.com

Tips to having a not-so-stressful Thanksgiving

Have a plan: Sit down early to count the number of guests, plan a menu, and make the entire grocery list. Make sure to grocery shop early and try going late at night to avoid long holiday lines. Then, schedule a to-do list for Thanksgiving Day, starting with the time the turkey will be put in/taken out. This allows you to be confident you will have enough time!
Start early: Many side dishes and desserts can be prepared before the actual big day. Why not aim to have all of these finished the night before so that Thanksgiving Day goes smoothly. This leaves extra free time to mingle with guests instead of slaving over a hot stove all day.
Take care of the turkey: Try cooking a large turkey overnight rather than stressing over what time to start cooking it the morning of. To ensure the turkey’s moistness, cover the roasting pan with water until it reaches the roasting rack but doesn’t reach the bird. Stick it in the oven at 11 p.m. and take it out to cool at 7 a.m.
Have a children distraction: Make sure you plan activities for the little ones so they stay out of your way in the kitchen (at least stick them with another family member for the morning!)
Be prepared and don’t sweat it: Have an already prepared side dish and pie to make up for any last minute disasters. The more you stress, the more likely things are to go wrong. Don’t forget the main point of Thanksgiving is to be with loved ones!

Tips for what you can do NOW to Avoid Foreclosure

Don't wait. Expect long wait times when calling your servicer. Ask for the "home retention team." If you are put on hold, wait until someone comes back on the line. Keep a record of whom you speak to and what was said.
Know your options. The Making Home Affordable Mortgage Modification Program is the government's main program to prevent foreclosures. More than 2,300 servicing companies participate, covering about 85% of all single family home loans. Check with your servicer to see if a new loan that could lower your payments is an option. Check out HUD.gov or MakingHomeAffordable.gov
Build a budget. Make a list of your monthly expenses and ask what sacrifices you are willing to make to remain in your house.
Manage the process. You will have to fill out lots of paperwork. Take your time and be patient. Be honest and realistic when answering questions. Make copies of everything before you send. Verify the recipient received your docs.
Try again. You can reapply if you are turned down. If you don't qualify, maybe it is time to short sale your home. Exit gracefully before foreclosure is at your door.