5 minute read
Home Improvement
UPDATES TO HELP SELL YOUR HOME
By James Judge
Homeowners across the Valley are getting ready to list their homes this spring, which, according to a recent Zillow analysis, tends to be the best time of year to sell your house.
Scottsdale-based HomeSmart found the best months in the Valley has varied between May and July during the last three years, which is a good indication that 2019 won’t be that different. Therefore, if you’re thinking of selling, now is the time to get ready!
An essential first step in the home-selling and improvement process is to find an agent who can help you. It’s important to work with someone who understands your neighborhood, the value of your home and what you can do to stand out among the competition. Today, so many people’s first impression comes from the listing photos because buyers are browsing online before they look at a home in person. It’s so important to make sure your home is picture-perfect before listing! As a designer and Realtor, I work with my clients to enhance their homes with staging, DIY improvements and essential repairs before listing it for sale. With just a few simple changes, a property sells faster and for top dollar. We all know that decluttering, removing personal belongings and cleaning are important when selling a house, but in today’s market, it’s important for sellers to take things a step further. For about $500 or less, sellers can dramatically improve the appearance of their home to help attract buyers.
THE POWER OF CURTAINS
Curtains are low cost but make a huge visual impact because they add color and help frame a view. Hanging them 12 inches above the window and extending them to the floor can help make ceilings feel taller and the room seem bigger. My Designer Tip: Install the same solid color curtains on all the windows in the house to create a neutral appearance. My Favorite Place to Shop: IKEA
EMBRACE THE TRENDS
Changing light fixtures can make a home go from feeling dated to looking stylish. Foyer lights are essential because this is the first thing a buyer sees when they enter a home, but a dining room chandelier is where you’ll get your biggest impact because it’s typically one of the largest lights in the home. Make it count!
My Designer Tip: Keep it consistent so that all fixtures are of the same metal finish and a similar style to help buyers feel like the home has a unified design. My Favorite Place to Shop: Stardust Building Supplies. With two locations in the Valley, you can find amazing second-hand light fixtures and home items for great prices. Total Estimated Cost: $50-$200
STAGE TO SELL
Is your dining table too big for the space? Go to your local thrift store to find one that fits the space better. People are not usually buying the furniture, but they are looking at it. Stage your home
to emphasize its highlights. Total Estimated Cost: $30-$150
My Designer Tip: Things don’t need to match perfectly, but having the right scale is essential so buyers can imagine their own things in the home as well. My Favorite Place To Shop: Goodwill. Bigger furniture items are so affordable and you can fill in missing pieces of your home without breaking the bank. Total Estimated Cost: $5-$100
Getting a home ready to sell can be a lot of work, but these simple changes are money and time well spent to help your home be the best it can be. If you start now, you can enjoy the DIY part as well. Spray paint is one of the easiest DIY tricks you can use to update a light fixture and completely transform it from blah to beautiful. Gel stain is another simple solution for wood pieces because it allows you to touch up scratches without completely resanding. This can easily turn a thrift-store find into a stylish piece of furniture. If it’s time to sell, it’s time to get started.
James Judge is a designer and HomeSmart Realtor.
Spring Spring SPECIAL OFFERS!
0% for Up to 72 months OR Up to $1,000 Trade in Allowance (on qualifying equipment) Expires 5/31/19
$25 OFF Repair Expires 5/31/19
Call Today! 602-944-9585
The Wells Fargo Home Projects® credit card is issued by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., an Equal Housing Lender. Special terms for 6 years (72 months) apply to qualifying purchases of [$X,XXX] or more charged with approved credit. The special terms APR will continue to apply until all qualifying purchases are paid in full. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional (special terms) period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For new accounts, the APR for Purchases is 28.99%. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. This information is accurate as of 02/01/2018 and is subject to change. For current information, call us at 1-800-431-5921. Offer expires [05/31/2019].
A/C • Heating • Sales • Service • Installation
WE MANAGE, SO YOU DON’T
HAVE TO
Peace Properti es is a full-service property management company that specializes in providing excepti onal customer service on all levels. Please contact one of our agents to begin to experience the very best in customer sati sfacti on for your real estate needs. Feel free to contact us for a no-obligati on consultati on. When you place your property with us, you will truly be at peace!
