Are you planning to sell your home in 2020? If you want to make your home more appealing to potential buyers, continue reading and discover a few of the most notable features first-time homebuyers are looking for today.
The younger generations of homebuyers today are especially interested in updated kitchens and bathrooms. Understand that you will be at a major disadvantage to other home sellers if your kitchen and bathroom(s) are outdated. Many sellers today will invest in new countertops and bathroom fixtures before they list their homes on the market.
The younger generations of homebuyers are especially interested in energy-efficiency. In addition to being good for the environment, energy-efficient appliances can save a homeowner a considerable amount of money on their utility bills over time. Examples of such include LED lighting, energy star-rated refrigerator, low-flow plumbing fixtures, double-paned windows, and additional layers of insulation in the attic. Don’t be afraid to highlight any energy-efficient features you have in your home listing.
Many first-time homebuyers today are interested in open floor plans. These buyers do not want to be confined to small rooms inside of their homes. They want large spaces that provide functionality. This is why many home sellers today have been knocking down walls before listing their home for sale. It is especially beneficial to eliminate any walls blocking the living room from the kitchen. People today want to be able to interact with each other from these two rooms.
Are you getting ready to list your home for sale? In addition to home staging, there are a variety of steps a homeowner can take to boost their home’s property value. A few additions/alterations can prove to make a significant difference in the return of their investment. Keep reading and discover three clever ways to boost your home’s property value in 2020.
Many homebuyers today have smart appliances near the top of their wishlist. In most cases, when a homeowner invests in smart appliances, they won’t need to undergo significant renovations in their home. In many cases, old appliances can be easily swapped out for smart ones. Examples of smart enhancements include items like fire detectors, keypad door locks, thermostats, and security cameras. Smart home technology is one trend that does not appear to be losing any steam going into the new year.
Carpeting is becoming less desirable every single year. Today, modern homebuyers are looking for sleek hardwood floors. If you don’t want to break the bank with authentic wood flooring, there are cheaper alternatives, like laminate, for a fraction of the price.
Home sellers need to understand that the kitchen is without question the most important room in the eyes of homebuyers. An outdated kitchen will significantly bring down your home’s appeal. If your kitchen currently features old laminate countertops, you should consider investing in a material like quartz or granite. An investment like this will improve the appearance of your kitchen and boost the value of your home.
Buying or selling a home can be an overwhelming process. When you have a reputable real estate agent in your corner, you rely on their expertise with every step along the way. This is why you want to interview an agent before you hire them to represent you. With this, here are a few interview questions that homebuyer should ask before they hire a real estate agent.
A reputable real estate agent who has been in business for multiple years should be able to provide you with a list of references. If you do not feel comfortable requesting references, turn to the internet and see if you can find any reviews online. The more positive reviews you can find, the better you should feel about hiring the agent.
This is one of the first questions you should ask an agent before hiring them. They should have a plan of attack to help you be as competitive as possible. Real estate is after all one of the most competitive industries today, and you need a plan of execution. Whether it is marketing or how you are going to compete against other buyers, you should know ahead of time how an agent plans on helping you.
When interviewing an agent, you want to be sure to ask what makes them different from other agents in the area. If you speak with multiple agents, be prepared to hear a variety of responses. They may tell you they are trustworthy, great negotiators, honest, and are easily accessible. You have to decide what characteristics and credentials are most important to you.
Listing photos can be the difference if your home flys off the market or sits for several months. High-quality images should help to generate a considerable amount of interest online. Keep reading and discover a few helpful tips on how to prep your home for listing photos.
One of the best steps a home seller can take when selling their home is to eliminate the clutter. If you want to capture the best photos possible, you will need to clear almost anything that isn’t essential, like furniture and lamps. Ideally, you want to get any knick-knacks out of the house; however, if you can’t, you should pack them away in boxes in your garage. The issue with clutter is that it makes a home appear smaller in pictures, which can turn away potential buyers.
Homebuyers want to see the driveway in listing photos. With this, do not block your well-paved driveway with cars, storage containers, and any other objects for listing photos. People want the full view of your home in your listing photos. When your driveway is not clear, they are unable to get the whole picture.
It is essential to rid your home of all personalizations before any pictures are taken. Any family pictures or any personal items will not help your home to sell. You want to give your potential buyers with almost a blank canvas so they can envision themselves moving into the home. This is hard to do when your walls, shelves, and fridge feature pictures of your family.
Are you in the market for a home? Many homebuyers are hesitant to hire a real estate agent because they do not think that it is worth the investment, while others believe that agents are only concerned with closing deals. If you are considering the challenge of purchasing a home without a real estate agent, you may also consider the potential risks beforehand.
Negotiation is an important aspect of the homebuying process. Without a real estate agent in your corner as a buyer, you are fully responsible for your own negotiations. Experienced real estate agents will have a better understanding of the negotiation process, and this process can be exceptionally difficult to navigate without context. When you have a real estate agent working for you, you can rely on both their knowledge and experience to negotiate for the best deal possible.
The homebuying process requires a significant amount of paperwork along the way. An experienced agent can help to guide you through the documents that may require your signature. Your agent will also help you by answering any questions that you may have, providing you with peace of mind that everything is running smoothly.
When you choose to buy without a real estate agent, you must independently determine which types of inspections to select based on the needs of the home. The majority of buyers today are unsure of how to spot potential problems within a home, such as mold and structural issues.
Are you looking to buy a home in the near future? The process of buying a home is long, with many steps along the way. Also, there are many common misconceptions about buying a home that trips up buyers every single year. With this, the more you understand about the home buying process going into it, the smoother of a process you should expect it should be. Continue reading and discover a few crucial points to understand about buying a home.
It is incredibly beneficial to have a reputable real estate in your corner when purchasing a home. An experienced real estate agent should be able to guide through you the entire home buying process, such as schedule home inspections and showings. They are also there to answer any of your questions. Many homebuyers are hesitant to hire a real estate agent because they do not think it is worth the investment.
Did you know that you don’t necessarily need to put down 20 percent down to buy a home? Many people are under the misconception that you shouldn’t even consider making an offer on a home. Today, people make lower down payments all the time. They are not necessarily bad and can allow people to purchase who would otherwise be unable to make the downpayment.
Many first-time homebuyers do not factor in closing costs when they set their initial housing budget. In some cases, closing costs can put a home out of a buyer’s price range. In most cases, closing costs will run you 2 to 5 percent on the loan amount.
