Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Don’t Drench Your Home Sale by Ignoring Plumbing Issues
By Ruben Gonzalez Jr.
Prudential California Realty (DBA)
A plumbing checkup
should be among your top priorities when preparing your home for sale. Your
buying prospects might flush toilets, turns on faucets and inspect the
shower heads, while more seasoned “experts” will look under the cabinets for
leaks and check for water spots around key areas. The last thing you want is to
drench a buyer’s enthusiasm because you didn’t fix a simple plumbing issue.
Major plumbing
renovations may be huge selling points, but many homeowners can get as much credit
by simply fixing leaks and changing out a few faucets. If you can’t make
repairs yourself invest in a reputable plumber.
Before allowing
prospective buyers into your home, make sure you have strong water pressure and
that there are no stains on any of the porcelain. Hire a local housecleaning
company to remove difficult stains.
If you do nothing
else, take care of any leaks in your plumbing system, as these will be instant
deterrents for buyers. Check as much of your plumbing as possible for corrosion
or rust. If your house has more than one story, a smart buyer will look at
ceilings for water stains from leaking pipes. Make sure to paint the ceiling following
repairs.
Prospective
homeowners tend to focus on places where they can use their hands, so make sure
that all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn, and that the faucets do
not leak. Also ensure that sinks and tubs drain easily.
Finally, updated
fixtures catch the eye of prospective buyers. A relatively small investment for
new faucets can pay off when prospects walk through.
No buyer wants
problems. Take care of simple plumbing issues and keep your sale from going
down the drain.
Ruben Gonzalez can be
reached at (562) 507-0754 or Email me.
Prudential (dba) is an independently owned and
operated broker member of BRER Affiliates Inc. Prudential, the Prudential logo
and the Rock symbol are registered service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc.
and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used
under license with no other affiliation with Prudential. Equal Housing
Opportunity.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Setting the Stage for a Home Sale
By Ruben Gonzalez Jr.
Prudential California Realty (DBA)
“You
never get a second chance to make a great first impression.”
This
saying strikes a chord in the real estate industry, where many buyers are quick
to jump to a conclusion about a potential home after just one glance. That’s
why an increasing number of homeowners are employing professional home stagers
to prepare their homes for sale.
“Much
of what staging accomplishes happens on a subconscious level,” said Carla Grammatica, a consultant
with Stage Setters in New York ’s Westchester County
With 91% of
buyers searching first on the Internet for homes, MLS photos and virtual tours
are extremely important in the selection process. Staging, as a priority
instead of as a last resort, will give sellers key advantages.
Stagers
help eliminate clutter, give advice on adding colors, help in rearranging
furniture and bring in various items to help spruce up a home.
“One
of the most important things is getting rid of things that look messy,” Grammatica said. “Life
can get messy, especially with kids and storage issues, but you have to pretend
that’s not how you live. You have to pretend your house is [always] neat and
well maintained.”
That
means picking up shoes from the hallway, removing papers from tables and
furniture and even taking down personal items—such as diplomas, pictures and
trophies.
—that clutter the walls.
Professional
stagers take into account buyer demographics and buying psychology, and they
use design elements in planning out the rooms, space and lighting. “Some
people think that staging is simply cleaning and packing up some of your
things, but it is so much more than that,” said Linda Barnett, a certified
staging professional with Indianapolis–based Home Matters. “Understanding
traffic patterns and highlighting the positive attributes of a home while
downplaying its negative features, all go into play.”
One
tip homeowners can do to stage their home themselves is to pack away unneeded
items—such as seasonal clothes and old books—and put them in storage.
It’s
also important not to overwhelm potential buyers with wild colors and
furniture, even if you think it makes your home “special.”
Remember,
making your home look like a model rather than lived-in can make all the
difference in selling a home.
Ruben Gonzalez can be reached at (562) 507-0754 or Email me.
Prudential (dba) is an independently owned and operated member
of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing
Opportunity .
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Setting the Stage for a Home Sale
By: Ruben Gonzalez Jr.
Prudential California Realty (DBA)
“You never get a second chance to make
a great first impression.”
This
saying strikes a chord in the real estate industry, where many buyers are quick
to jump to a conclusion about a potential home after just one glance. That’s
why an increasing number of homeowners are employing professional home stagers
to prepare their homes for sale.
“Much
of what staging accomplishes happens on a subconscious level,” said Carla Grammatica, a consultant
with Stage Setters in New York ’s Westchester County
With 91% of
buyers searching first on the Internet for homes, MLS photos and virtual tours
are extremely important in the selection process. Staging, as a priority
instead of as a last resort, will give sellers key advantages.
Stagers
help eliminate clutter, give advice on adding colors, help in rearranging
furniture and bring in various items to help spruce up a home.
“One
of the most important things is getting rid of things that look messy,” Grammatica said. “Life
can get messy, especially with kids and storage issues, but you have to pretend
that’s not how you live. You have to pretend your house is [always] neat and
well maintained.”
That
means picking up shoes from the hallway, removing papers from tables and
furniture and even taking down personal items—such as diplomas, pictures and
trophies.
—that clutter the walls.
Professional
stagers take into account buyer demographics and buying psychology, and they
use design elements in planning out the rooms, space and lighting. “Some
people think that staging is simply cleaning and packing up some of your
things, but it is so much more than that,” said Linda Barnett, a certified
staging professional with Indianapolis–based Home Matters. “Understanding
traffic patterns and highlighting the positive attributes of a home while
downplaying its negative features, all go into play.”
One
tip homeowners can do to stage their home themselves is to pack away unneeded
items—such as seasonal clothes and old books—and put them in storage.
It’s
also important not to overwhelm potential buyers with wild colors and
furniture, even if you think it makes your home “special.”
Remember,
making your home look like a model rather than lived-in can make all the
difference in selling a home.
Ruben Gonzalez can be reached at (562) 507-0754 or E-mail me.
Prudential (dba) is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal HousingOpportunity .
Prudential (dba) is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing
Friday, December 7, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Don’t Curb Homebuyers’ Enthusiasm with a Shabby Exterior
By Ruben Gonzalez Jr.
Prudential California Realty (DBA)
Home
sellers spend so much time preparing their interior for the sale that they can
easily overlook what’s going on outside of the home. Yet great curb appeal can increase the value of a property by as much
as 15-20%.
Mario
Garcia, a landscaper in Bethesda, Md. who helps prepare homes for market, says
a well-manicured lawn is a magnet for buyers. On the other hand, overgrown
trees or large bushes hiding the house are a no-no.
“Buyers
associate the condition of the exterior and landscape with the condition of the
interior,” Garcia explained. “Curb appeal must invite buyers to
view the rest of the property.”
Landscaping
fixes include adding flowers or sprucing up the property with decorative
grasses or Japanese maples. Accent the trees with rocks or boulders for a bold
statement. Consider adding a modest fountain to the yard or garden.
In
addition, rake leaves, wash windows and skylights, clean gutters and trim
shrubs. Add low voltage lighting to highlight the yard, trees and the home’s
exterior.
And
you needn’t spend a ton of money to make a difference. “Do something as simple
as putting up a new mailbox and address decals on your home,” said Anne
West, owner of Wilmette, Ill.-based Redesign Doctor. “Also, adding a new
welcome mat with a grouping of potted plants by the front door makes things
more inviting.”
Ruben Gonzalez can be reached at (562) 507-0754 or Email me.
Prudential (dba) is an independently owned and operated member of
Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential company. Equal Housing
Opportunity.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
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