Meli Gerogianis Clarksville Real Estate

• Lots of color can be added to the décorby using inexpensive and colorful accessories suchasrugs, flowers, matching towels, curtains, and so on.This works better than trying to add color with paint, carpet,tile or countertops.

• Make sure the doorbell or door knocker works and is in new condition.  Many buyers have commented on a non-working doorbell with something like:I wonder what else in this house isn’t working”.  Their"problem-finding" radar switches to high beam immediately.

• You never want a buyer to pause and wonde rif something is or can be a problem.  Clutter tends to make buyers think defensively and wonder what all that stuff is hiding.

• As one experienced home decorator put it: making a home attractive to the buyers is one-third de-cluttering, one-third cleaning, and one-third prepwork.

• When you use terms in your advertising like discounted, best offer, moving must sell, and so on all you do is attract price shoppers who make low offers.  Your client will net more money if instead you show them how to make their home more attractive and highlight the home’s desirable features in your ads.

• If you are working with up scale properties, most sellers will interview agents not only on their selling skills but also your showcasing skills so you can walk through their home and list the problem areas and help them get the most for it.

Interesting websites for decorating and showcasing ideas:

www.interiordec.about.com

www.hgtv.com

www.getdecorating.com

www.homeandgardenmakeover.com

www.cozylighting.com

www.housekeepingchannel.com

How can you remodel a kitchen while keeping an eye on the bottom line?  Today, a variety of products and remodeling methods help homeowners change or update the look of their kitchen for far less than the thousands of dollars it may cost to gut a kitchen.

When contemplating a kitchen remodel, one rule of thumb suggests never spending more than 15% of a home's current value on the project. In fact, spending less while creating a more functional and elegant room is possible if the project is researched and budgeted carefully.

One way to dramatically change the look and style of a kitchen can be accomplished by resurfacing kitchen cabinets. In fact, some manufacturers offer peel-and-stick veneer for do-it-yourselfers to make the job simpler. No matter if it's peel-and-stick veneer or cut to size, it is always better to measure twice and cut once. The job can also be outsourced to professional kitchen remodelers. In this case, carpenters remove doors and drawer fronts and cover all exterior surfaces with a veneer of prefinished wood. The new doors and drawer fronts are made to match. With this method, costs may range from $100 to $300 per linear foot of cabinetry.

Thermofoil doors are another relatively inexpensive option. These doors are created by using heat and pressure to seal a thin layer of plastic coating to fiberboard, resulting in an incredibly durable door. The doors can be made to match any interior design or décor.

It is also possible to replace just the panels on cabinet doors, while leaving the boxes intact and in place. Filler panels available today include glass that can be clear, etched, tinted, or patterned. Metal doors are also becoming popular and can be made from stainless steel or patterned tin. Even replacing cabinets altogether is less expensive than gutting a room and moving plumbing and electrical lines. A smaller change that can leave a big impact is concentrating on one major upgrade in the kitchen; such as new window treatments or adding colorful pendant lights to create a stunning effect.

New countertops can also provide a dramatic change in a kitchen, and prices can range from very inexpensive to costly, depending on the materials chosen. Laminates are among the most economical of countertop surfaces, and are considered stain and heat resistant. Solid surface countertops made from acrylic are stain, moisture and heat resistant, and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Because this material is molded, a sink can be integrated into the countertop for a seamless installation. Granite continues to be a popular, although a more expensive choice, because of its strength, stain and scratch resistance, and the visually pleasing effect of natural veins, specks, and swirls.  A change in flooring color and material can make a kitchen feel brighter and even larger, often for surprisingly less. Vinyl flooring is affordable,moisture-resistant and durable.

For a larger investment, ceramic or natural stone floors are also a good choice for a kitchen. Ceramic tiles are produced by firing of clay in a kiln at high temperatures. Different types of clay are used to produce different textures and colors. Tiles made from natural stone are also a popular choice, including marble, granite, and slate.

To finish the remodel, bold colors can make a statement and tie various kitchen accents together. Rather than using color sparingly, it can be spread across the entire kitchen. Some of today's most popular colors include teal and mushroom.

Source:Nashville Home Inspection, John Watkins

• Had a short sale or foreclosure in the past 24 months lowering your credit score - now renting
• Credit score not high enough for other reasons - but have good renting history

Please read this article from the New York Times and feel free to pass it on to anyone you know that can benefit
from the information.

First impressions make or break potential sales.  Buyers will judge the integrity and honesty of a seller based on the condition of the property they visit.  If you do not take care of small repairs, buyers may assume that bigger repairs have likewise been neglected.  Eliminate buyers' doubt by ensuring that your property is clean, tasteful, and attractive before the open house. 

Touching up

• Freshen up interiors with new paint. Use neutral colors like light tan and cream.
• Light up rooms.
• Remove outdated wallpaper and textured ceilings.
• Resurface or paint dated or used cabinetry in the kitchen.
• Fix and replace damage floors, leaky fixtures, and defective lighting.
• Patch up cracks in the sidewalk. Caulk windows and doors. Replace leaky roofs.
• Mend broken locks, door knobs, and fences.
• Add new towels, knobs, and shower curtains to make the bathroom attractive.

Clean & Declutter

• Organize closets, basements, and attics.
• Eliminate clutter. Donate things that you have not used in over a year.
• Emphasize spaciousness.
• Wash windows thoroughly, inside and out.
• Remove odors and do not use perfumes to cover up odors. Perfumes may trigger allergic reactions.
• Clean bathrooms until they sparkle.
• Get rid of any insects or pests.

Curb Appeal

• Prune shrubs, trim trees and lawns and plant seasonal plants and flowers.
• Paint the front door and make sure the house number is visible to visitors.
• Make sure walkways are clear of debris.
• Clean gutters.

1)    Before Selling or Listing

• Research the neighborhoods to which you plan to relocate, and then get pre-approval for a home loan before pricing yours on the market.
• Calculate your current mortgage payoff. Get your home appraised to estimate its current worth.
• Calculate the costs of selling and buying a new home, and figure out the estimated proceeds.
  

2)    For Sale by Owner

• Study housing markets and prepare professional fact sheets, contracts, and forms. Assemble documents and get home repairs and cleanup in order for the sale.
• Familiarize yourself with the neighborhood so you can answer questions & price your home accordingly with comparable properties.
• Consider listing our home for a flat fee with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

3)    Interviewing Real Estate Agents

• Ask how many years they have worked in the real estate business, and how many homes have they sold in the area?
• Ask how many total homes they have sold, and what percentage were sold at the original asking price or better?
• Ask what are the commission rates, and if they are negotiable?
• Ask how the home will be marketed and how will meetings with potential buyers be coordinated? 

4)    Pre-listing Inspection

• Hire a license or certified Home Inspector to help set realistic price expectations and to see the home through a third party.
• Inspections provide opportunities to make repairs and prevent delays in obtaining use and occupancy permits.
• It establishes trust and peace of mind, alleviating a potential buyer's concern or suspicions about the property.
• Make copies of the inspection and repairs available to buyers. 

5)    Disclosures

• Note "material" problems to the buyer in writing.
• Disclose plumbing or electrical issues; hazards such as asbestos, radon gas or lead paint; foundation, roofing, pests and heating and ventilation issues; alterations to the properties without a building permit.
• Shift as much responsibility as possible to a paid professional.
• Check your state's housing authority for legal disclosure rules. 

6)    Creating First Impressions

• Conduct curb-to-door cleanup. Prune shrubs and trim trees and lawns, paint the front door and plant seasonal plants to enhance the attractiveness of the home.
• Remove clutter and make the home look spacious.
• Depersonalize - let the buyers imagine the home as their own.
• Remove religious, political, and social artifacts before showing the home. 

7)    Setting a Price

• Prices can vary for comparable structures and depend on current market conditions.
• Take current market conditions into consideration when pricing your home for sale. Is it a buyer's, seller's, or balanced market?
• Study market listing no more than half a mile away from your home for pricing guidelines. Look for common patterns.

Rural, Clarksville  -  Announcing a price reduction on 1039 Eljie Rd, a 2,871 sq. ft., 3 bath, 3 bdrm single story. Now MLS® $329,000 - Reduced!.

Property information

We've all had that experience with a client where you drive up to a house and they don't even want to go inside. It's an immediate "un-appeal." You may know the inside of the house shows much better, but you just can't convince them to spend the time to even go inside. In today's market with lots of homes available to the buyer, why should they?

Here is a little list I give my clients to help them change the "un-appeal" to "curb-appeal". Some are easy, inexpensive fixes that will help create that outside look of the buyer's "dream home" and get the seller one, giant step further to a sale.

1. Paint or stain the front and garage doors, especially if they show any weathering. These are the first visuals where a potential buyer focuses. If garage doors are metal and dented, they may need to be replaced.

2. Any old, basically abandoned sheds or small structures, must be removed, the area graded and the grass replaced.

3. Change any dated and/or non-operational, outside light fixtures.

4. Fix that driveway. If it is blacktop, make sure cracks and crumbling areas are dug out and filled and then the whole driveway sealed. If it is cement, have large cracks filled and repaired professionally. The buyer must at least feel they can drive the moving truck in confidently!

5. Make sure landscaping bricks are in their proper placement. Mowing, weed-whipping sometimes moves them and this is something the homeowner rarely notices, but makes the property look unsightly.

6. Fill in bare dirt under large shade trees. Plant shade-tolerant plants in defined planters or groundcover. Landscape properly for that area.

7. All landscaping beds should be cleaned out and updated for the time of year it is in your region. Place new bedding material down.

8. Have trees and bushes pruned and trimmed. If a bush or tree is looking old or about to expire, remove it and replace it with a similar size and type if you can. If there is a tree limb(s) over the roof, have them removed.

9. If the house needs painting and a full paint job is not in the cards; have it touched up professionally in the worst, most visible spots. Paint shutters and fix them if they are hanging crooked. At least this may help get your client in the front door, even if they negotiate a full paint job into the sale later.

10. If the house is sided, have it power-washed and have gutters and windows cleaned. Window cleaning inside and out makes the house feel updated and fresh, rather than old and dingy.

11. Make sure grass is in good shape, weeds are removed, trimming done regularly. So many sellers fall down on this job the minute the house is listed, and this is critical to selling a house quickly, especially one where the owners have already moved out. In snowy climates, removal must be done regularly too. If owners have moved out, make sure you have an HWA Home Warranty to re-assure buyers.

12. Keep garbage and recycle containers inside the garage, along with all toys and equipment. Make sure the garage is neat and organized. Painted walls and floors also go a long way in this area and are inexpensive to do.

13. Decks should be washed and repainted or re-sealed; plantings around them cleaned, weed-free and looking good. Patio furniture should be in excellent condition. Even though it is in the backyard, this is the area where the family can envision enjoying the warm days and the new yard.

14. If the roof has missing shingles and they can be replaced inexpensively, suggest this be done as it may save negotiation over a completely new roof. Roof repair needs and costs should be minor or the homeowner might as well replace the entire roof.

15. If the homeowner wants to do a bit more, suggest solar lights lining the driveway or installing a more attractive front door with lead glass inserts and replacing plain doorknobs with something more custom.

16. If you have an evening showing, make sure lights are on outside and inside the house. This is warm and inviting.

17. If it's a holiday season, by all means decorate the home! Just like sugar cookies or vanilla scent on the inside of the house, this really says "it's a home" and I can see myself enjoying life here! In the least, always have some greenery or flowers for the season on the front step or porch; even a birdbath with a little garden around it says home.

Each house is different and  might not need all of the items listed done to it. But if there are items that need to be done, do it! And remind the sellers that, most home buyers cannot visualize even these simple changes and clean ups in a house. And the ones who can ... will be looking for a reduced price. So to sell the house at top dollar and quickly, make it "appeal" to the many who will be seeing it! And don't forget to update the pictures on the internet once everything it's done!

I've represented several buyers in the last few months that purchased new constructions. I always make it a point to tell them about home inspections and the benefits of it. Some of them are reluctant to pay for an inspection since the house they're buying is brand new, (what could be wrong?) and most of them have a minimum 1 year builder's written warranty so they think that will cover everythin!. That is great but I got news for any "would be buyers" out there.

Two months ago one of my clients agreed to pay for a home inspection and among the things the inspector found incomplete were both attic space and crawl space had partial insulation done. Part of the crawl space was missing the insulation under the floor, and part of the attic had insufficient insulation. And this was a new construction!

Last month I had another client that purchased a new construction and I had a hard time dealing with the builder. The inspector found among other things that the yard was graded wrong, so the the rain water was going toward the house instead of away from the house. The builder refused to fix it claiming it was fine the way it was. I wanted to make sure that my buyer was protected so I advised him to put a specific clause in the builder's warranty that if at anytime during the next 12 months there was standing water in the yard or water was coming in the crawl space, the builder would have to come and correct that! And this too was a new construction!

So, new or not, always get an inspection. When buyer does his or her walk thru and check the house out, they think that is enough. However, there are many things that you cannot see with the naked eye or without knowing what to look for or where to look (Would your buyer crawl under the house?  or climb in the attic? or check out the electric system or plumbing? - most likely NO) The small investement of a few hundred dollars upfront, would save you a lot of money in the long run and a lot of headaches too!