Spring has Sprung! With the passing of tax day and many people looking forward to refund checks I thought I would share with you some great ways to spruce up your home. If you are looking for way to have you home stand out because you are trying to sell it this could be your advantage, or if you are just looking for some quick inexpensive fixes for brighten up your dwelling for spring, these helpful hints from Realtor magazine should do the trick!
source: Excerpted from the HomeGain's 2011 Home Sale Maximizer Survey, www.homesalemaximizer.com.
TIPS IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO SELL:
1)Clean and Declutter : this cost the average home owner $290 and returns $1,990!
This includes, cleaning from top to bottom and organizing closest, shelves, and personal items
2) Brightening: The average cost for this $375 and returns $1,550
This includes cleaning windows inside and out, removing anything that blocks light from coming into your home
3) Smart Staging: The average cost is $550 and brings a return $2,194!
Rearranging furniture, and adding just a few accessories and small furnishing to enhance your rooms really adds a lot. When you have a showing, bake some cookies for a warm comfort smell and play soft music setting the background.
4) Landscape Enhancements: Average Cost : $540 Return : $1,932!
Your curb appeal brings buyers inside! Add some bark mulch, small bushes, and flowers around the front and to a back yard or deck and make sure the entry way and walk way are well kept and clean so that your home is welcoming and reflects the best it has to offer!
5) Repairing Electrical and Plumbing: Average cost: $535 Return : $1505
Fixing leaks under the sinks, removing mildew stains in baths, and make sure all plumbing is in good working condition. Replace burned out light bulbs, fix any lights or outlets that don't work and update your old fixtures with new safety fixtures.
6) Shampoo or Replace dirty carpets: Average cost: $647 Return: $1,739
This will help make the home look new and give a nice clean smell to space.
These six tips could help bring you over $10,000 toward the sale of your home! That would be a great place to invest a tax return and get your home sold!
Welcome Spring with these Staging Accessories to Spruce up your home!
1) Sheer Curtains: Buy using a tension shower curtain rod you don't need any tools to hang the rod, which makes this quick and easy. Choosing a sheer curtain in spare bedrooms, living rooms or other areas of the house allows for a soft effect while dressing up the windows and light still shines through!
2)Side Tables: A side table really is just somewhere to place a glass, prop up a photo, or lay down a book. Consider using great finds around your home or from a store as a side table that may not be a table. For example trunks or small suite cases add interest in an unexpected but appealing way!
3) Dimmers for lights: Adding a dimmer to any room changes the feel. You are able to adjust the setting to the right amount of light given the time of day and feel of the setting. An inexpensive and energy saving idea!
4) Fabulous Fabric: You can get fabric by the yard at local stores, one of my favorites in Atlanta is Forsyth Fabric. Pick the texture and pattern that best suites your style and then incorporate in many ways in different rooms. To make a headboard simply by a canvas and cover the canvas with it, fold it and use it as a faux throw at the end of a bed or the back of chair, have drapes made out of it! This one accessory can change the feel of a room or your entire house!
5) Fresh flowers: What says spring more than flowers! Use even just 1 small bloom from your backyard in a powder room or guest bath to give that soft spring touch to the entire room!
Hope these tips help you enjoy your home and if you are thinking about selling give me a call and we can discuss more ways to help your home stand out on the market!
Lindsey Cheney
Helping you move through life!
404-824-4403
Http://Lindsey.Cheney.HarryNorman.com
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Lucky
March is usually associated with luck thanks to St. Patrick's day which falls tomorrow. People have different views and beliefs about luck and "being lucky". If you ask me luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. And right now when those things combine in the world of real estate you will feel very lucky.
As you know rates are low and it's a great time to buy for anyone if you have prepared for this opportunity. First time home buyers may have a hard time knowing if they are prepared, do they meet the requirements? The best way to find this out is to get pre-qualified from a reputable lender. The lender checks your credit and looks at your income compared to the bills you currently owe. Then they give you an idea of what your payments will be based on any money you are able to put down toward a home with an interest rate that you personally qualify for. Once you know what the bank will loan and what rate you will pay you then can understand what it means to purchase a condo, town home or single family home at various price points.
The process of purchasing your first home is huge. For many Americans its the largest investment of their lifetime. I am a realtor with Harry Norman and we offer a one stop shop transforming the process from a complex overwhelming situation to, an educational and comfortable transaction. When you work with me you work with a team of services. I help you find your home, our in house lender which is an affiliate of wells Fargo helps you with the finances, our insurance provider can help you with home owners insurance and our title and closing attorneys at Campbell and Brannon make sure the legal part is done with the utmost attention to detail. Through out each aspect as your Realtor I am there to facilitate the process and stay in touch to make sure everything moves forward and that you are comfortable with every aspect of the transaction. And it doesn't stop there. After you close on the house Harry Norman works will "All Connect" 1 number to call and hook up all your utilities at the lowest prices. They shop your gas and cable everything is done right over the phone with one call. I also have a list of vendors whom Harry Norman has worked with in the past for every home project you can imagine. My goal is to give you undivided attention, unparrelled professionalism and unsurpassed customer service so that at the end of the process I have earned your loyalty.
The opportunity on the market is amazing. With a large amount of inventory in every area and price point there is a home perfect for you. With the low interest rate you will see that moving from renting to owning maybe an easier transition than you think. You maybe able to get a larger home for the same amount you pay in rent or move to area of the city that you didn't think you could afford.
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Don't let your luck run out call me today.
Lindsey Cheney
ARS SFR Realtor Harry Norman
As you know rates are low and it's a great time to buy for anyone if you have prepared for this opportunity. First time home buyers may have a hard time knowing if they are prepared, do they meet the requirements? The best way to find this out is to get pre-qualified from a reputable lender. The lender checks your credit and looks at your income compared to the bills you currently owe. Then they give you an idea of what your payments will be based on any money you are able to put down toward a home with an interest rate that you personally qualify for. Once you know what the bank will loan and what rate you will pay you then can understand what it means to purchase a condo, town home or single family home at various price points.
The process of purchasing your first home is huge. For many Americans its the largest investment of their lifetime. I am a realtor with Harry Norman and we offer a one stop shop transforming the process from a complex overwhelming situation to, an educational and comfortable transaction. When you work with me you work with a team of services. I help you find your home, our in house lender which is an affiliate of wells Fargo helps you with the finances, our insurance provider can help you with home owners insurance and our title and closing attorneys at Campbell and Brannon make sure the legal part is done with the utmost attention to detail. Through out each aspect as your Realtor I am there to facilitate the process and stay in touch to make sure everything moves forward and that you are comfortable with every aspect of the transaction. And it doesn't stop there. After you close on the house Harry Norman works will "All Connect" 1 number to call and hook up all your utilities at the lowest prices. They shop your gas and cable everything is done right over the phone with one call. I also have a list of vendors whom Harry Norman has worked with in the past for every home project you can imagine. My goal is to give you undivided attention, unparrelled professionalism and unsurpassed customer service so that at the end of the process I have earned your loyalty.
The opportunity on the market is amazing. With a large amount of inventory in every area and price point there is a home perfect for you. With the low interest rate you will see that moving from renting to owning maybe an easier transition than you think. You maybe able to get a larger home for the same amount you pay in rent or move to area of the city that you didn't think you could afford.
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Don't let your luck run out call me today.
Lindsey Cheney
ARS SFR Realtor Harry Norman
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Feel the love!
With Valentine's day starting this week it seems that love is in the air and on the minds of most of us here in Atlanta especially with the early spring like week.
Usually we think about family and those we care about this time of year but shouldn't we also think about where all those memories occur with friends and family? The place that shelters those we love and is a reflection of ourselves? Your home is a huge party of your life, those time spent alone relaxing, visiting with friends and laughing with family about past memories and making future plans.
As with any holiday we begin to think about where we were this time last year, or what has changed in our life, often times buying or selling a home goes along with that. For many of my clients Valentine's day seems to be a day that directly corresponds with buying or selling property or moving to a new city.
This is also the time of year we begin thinking about taxes and preparing those. Many home values declined over the past years due to short sales and foreclosures in many neighborhoods, did you know you have the right to appeal your tax bill? If you would like more information on this process please feel free to contact me.
And as always as the first month of the year is behind us and the rest of year is in front of us we plan for our future, and right now is the best time to invest in a home. If you a first time home buyer looking for a move in ready house there is one for you, if you are skilled investor looking for a great location with potential prices remain low with low interest rates, and if you are looking for the home of your dreams now more than ever your dollar goes further.
So with love in the air, think about the place that houses all your memories, your home!
If you or anyone you may know could use help, information on assistance in either the purchase or sale of a property please contact me directly.
Lindsey Cheney
Lindsey.Cheney@Harrynomrman.com
HELPING YOU MOVE THROUGH LIFE!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
2011 the market
Over the weekend after our freeze out ice storm. My husband and I were walking our dog Georgia around the neighborhood. An interesting question came up from one of our neighbors, how does the market look for 2011? I wanted to give you my thoughts on the subject. If I could predict with certainty what was going to happen I would be sitting pretty, but based on research of fellow realtors at GAR and NAR I do have some suggestions as to whats going on.
Most people who have been holding on thier homes hoping the economy would recover in the past two years have come to the realization that the market is not going to bounce back as quickly as it dropped. Those people who now have to move for whatever reason are serious about getting their home sold and are more realistic on where there price needs to be. I think we will see interest rates remainig low at least in the near future which will help those buyers who are in the market.
Once some of the these home sales that are not foreclosures or short sales go through the market will rise slightly to more of a stable place but you are not going to see any drastic price increases or value increases in the next few months.
It remains a great time to buy with home prices low, rates at historic lows and still a lot of different types of properties on the market so finding what you are looking for is easier.
If you are considering selling or you need to sell now more than ever is when you need a realtor. Because of the number of homes on the market you need to have your property in as many databases as possible, staged to appeal more to buyers then once similar to yours and also priced at a point that compells the buyer to make an offer on yours over another because it is true value.
To accomplish this you need a realtor who puts your interest first and is there to help you with this decision and the next one of where to go from here. I live my a personal mission statement, "helping you move through life!" to learn more about how i can assist you in your search for a rental home, dream home or get your property sold please visit my website at http://Lindsey.Cheney.harrynorman.com I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Most people who have been holding on thier homes hoping the economy would recover in the past two years have come to the realization that the market is not going to bounce back as quickly as it dropped. Those people who now have to move for whatever reason are serious about getting their home sold and are more realistic on where there price needs to be. I think we will see interest rates remainig low at least in the near future which will help those buyers who are in the market.
Once some of the these home sales that are not foreclosures or short sales go through the market will rise slightly to more of a stable place but you are not going to see any drastic price increases or value increases in the next few months.
It remains a great time to buy with home prices low, rates at historic lows and still a lot of different types of properties on the market so finding what you are looking for is easier.
If you are considering selling or you need to sell now more than ever is when you need a realtor. Because of the number of homes on the market you need to have your property in as many databases as possible, staged to appeal more to buyers then once similar to yours and also priced at a point that compells the buyer to make an offer on yours over another because it is true value.
To accomplish this you need a realtor who puts your interest first and is there to help you with this decision and the next one of where to go from here. I live my a personal mission statement, "helping you move through life!" to learn more about how i can assist you in your search for a rental home, dream home or get your property sold please visit my website at http://Lindsey.Cheney.harrynorman.com I look forward to hearing from you soon!
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