7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House

Nice back porch with flowers and sunshine.Follow these tips to get the most out of an open house when selling your home:

  1. Ensure that the home is sparklingly clean from top to bottom. A clean home looks larger, better maintained, and more inviting to potential buyers. If you don’t have the time, consider hiring professional cleaners to do a deep clean in advance of the open house. This will also make the quick cleanups before showings easier.
  2. Eliminate clutter from surfaces, shelves, walls, floors, and even closets, cabinets, and storage areas.
  3. Consider the look of the home from the street. Make a great first impression with colorful flowers planted out front, hanging baskets or planters near the front door, and a tidy front yard and driveway or walkway. Consider repainting the front door if it is looking drab.
  4. Offer coffee and baked goods or other snacks at the open house. Your real estate agent may provide this, but offer to yourself if he or she is not planning on it.
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10 Ways to Make Your Home Irresistible at an Open House

Nice waterfront home.An open house is a great opportunity to have your home viewed by several prospective buyers and real estate agents. Even if you don’t receive an offer that day an agent might see it and realize it’s perfect for another client. Help your property shine by following these tips for open house success:

  1. Add pops of color with fresh flowers, decorative accents, or new throw pillows.
  2. Clear clutter and personal items from all rooms of the home.
  3. [Read more...]

Mortgage Rates Mixed This Week

Woman doing paperwork at home on her floor.30 year and 15 year fixed rates moved in opposite directions this past week according to the latest survey results from Freddie Mac. After eight consecutive weeks of declines, 30 year fixed rates inched higher averaging 4.50% with .7 points. This was a .01% increase from the previous week. 15 year fixed rate averages dropped .01% to 3.67% with .7 points. 5 year ARM rate averages also fell .01% to 3.27% with .6 points. While 30 year rates may have increased a bit over the past seven day, rates are still near historic lows. Last year at this time, 30 year averages, according to Freddie Mac, were close to 4.75%. [Read more...]

5 Tips For Getting The Most Money For Your Home

Young couple with child in front of home. Info on maximizing home value.These days selling a home is not so easy. Competing with short sales and foreclosures is tough and regular sellers are finding that paying attention to detail is a must. Here are five suggestions for pulling out all the stops to ensure that you get the most for your home sale.

Research Your Real Estate Professional - Before you pick up the phone to list your home, do plenty of research on your potential realtor. You want a resourceful individual who is familiar with the neighborhood market, and has a few sales under their belt. Interview your real estate agent, because essentially, they are working for you and should understand your expectations. Discuss how they will market your home and let them know that you expect a proactive approach, such as virtual tours, open houses, direct mailings, and print media coverage. [Read more...]