Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: Tips for Buyers & Sellers

  • Market to Market

    Here’s what Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agents across the country are seeing in local markets.

    Based on the article “Owning It” in Better Homes & Gardens magazine, October 2023 issue.

    Will Palmer
    THOMASVILLE, GA
    “Homeowners should ask themselves: Are we doing the home improvement project for ourselves or are we doing it for resale? These are two vastly different things. If the seller is doing projects to sell the home—smaller projects like painting or freshened entries or porches—the reward will be almost immediate. Seller need to pick materials and projects that appeal to everyone and keep in mind they are doing it for return on investment, not for themselves.”

    Dot Frank
    BISMARCK, N D
    “Although house hunters should invest plenty of time ensuring a home’s foundation, appliances, shingles, and windows are in working order, it’s easier to get excited about pretty fixtures, contemporary paint colors, and modern flooring. If your home’s structure and systems are solid, turn your attention to the lowcost items that turn heads and offer a high return on investment, like fixtures, paint, and flooring. Projects that result in the lowest return are often those that are personal and involve continued maintenance, such as sunrooms or pools. Busy wallpaper and trendy tile also can cause buyers to bemoan the work they envision to remove and replace it.”

    Carol M. Buchanan
    WARWICK, N Y
    “My general rule is this: Put as little money as possible into getting your home ready to go on the market. If you replace all the carpet in the house, costing you several thousand dollars, realize the buyer may pull everything out and install wood floors. Your cabinet choice in the kitchen may not be a buyer’s taste either, so you don’t want to go to that expense.”

    Sunday Nguyen
    BERKELEY, CA
    “What excites buyers right now are turnkey homes with wood finishes, grand living rooms, office space for working from home, and walk-in closets. Beyond that, replacing fixtures (such as faucets, interior door handles and hinges, and wall/ ceiling LED lights) and improving curb appeal through landscaping can increase a home’s value and attractiveness to potential buyers.”

    Crystal Ledbetter
    CARY, N C
    “Most garage doors are front facing and can add or diminish curb appeal. Invest in a beautiful one. When you’re ready to sell, a deep professional cleaning is advised. I wouldn’t remodel right before selling; leave that for the new owners.”

    Randy Kennedy
    CELEBRATION, FL
    “A homeowner should look at their neighborhood before beginning a huge remodel. You don’t want to have the fanciest house in the neighborhood. Insurance companies in Florida now look at the age of the water heater and will make you replace that sooner than later. They will not insure a roof over 15 years old either. Many times, these items become financial concessions at closing. Also very few of my buyers like carpet, and most are suspicious of HVAC systems over 10 years old.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Remodel for yourself, not to sell your house. If you take on a project in order to sell, you’ll rarely get your money out of it. Making improvements benefits the buyer, not the seller.
    —CLAIRE WARREN, BHG real estate agent in Houston

    Sal Rondinelli
    CHARLOTTE, NC
    “The best returns on curb appeal come from professionally designed landscaping, as the average homeowner may be tempted to overcrowd small spaces or not create enough visual impact with large spaces. Beyond that, affordability excites buyers now. Great values reign supreme. Updated kitchens and bathrooms, energy-efficient appliances, and smart home technologies are attractive to buyers. Before remodeling a basement, make sure you understand the moisture levels in your house. You may need a professional to seal the area and install systems to keep the moisture down before you ever begin putting up walls.”

  • A Few Helpful Gutter Cleaning Tips for Your Home

    Autumn is one of the most seasons. The crisp air and changing leaves make even a walk through the neighborhood feel like an event. Those leaves, however, have to go somewhere and many of them end up in the gutter. We have a few helpful gutter cleaning tips to keep you safe and prevent property damage.

    Let someone know what you’re doing

    Of all the gutter cleaning tips, letting a friend, family or neighbor know what you’re doing is the most important. It is helpful to have someone check up on you. Also, make sure to have your cellphone somewhere near you in the unlikely event of an accident to easily call for help.

    Use a safe and sturdy ladder

    Using a sturdy ladder will keep you safe. Before stepping onto the first rung, check to see that the hinges are completely open and that the ladder is in good shape. A four-legged ladder is easy to transport and use for a single story home, while a two-legged extension ladder is the best choice for homes with multiple floors. A ladder can get heavy, so if you have a heart condition or other health issues, know your limits and ask for help moving it around your home.

     

     

    Use a sand shovel

    Don’t try to use metal gardening tools, as they’ll only scrape and potentially damage gutters. Instead, pick up a small plastic scoop or a kids’ sand shovel.The trick isn’t to try to remove all of the leaves and other debris at once, but remove a little bit at a time. This will lighten the load of each sco and save your back.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 4 Important Purchases to Make for Your First Home

    Congratulations! You’ve just purchased your first home. There’s no denying that this is a very exciting time in your life. Becoming a homeowner will bring many new opportunities your way, the first one being a chance to go shopping! As a first-time homebuyer, there are some things you need for your home that you may not have needed previously.  So grab a piece of paper and pen because it’s time to create the ultimate first-home shopping list.

    Bhgrelife.com - 4 Important Purchases to Make for Your First Home1. Lawn Equipment

    One amazing thing about owning a home is that you own the lawn, the grass, the flower beds, and everything else comes with the property. However, this also means you have to take care of what you own, and unless you’re hiring a landscaping company, you will need to purchase some lawn equipment. Here are a few useful tools to help with lawn maintenance and get you started in your outdoor maintenance:

     

     

     

    • Lawn mower
    • Weed whacker
    • Weed puller
    • Water hose and sprinkler
    • Ladder

  • 5 Tips for a Hassle-free Home Purchase

    You will often hear how exciting it is to buy a home, but it’s rarely discussed that the entire experience can sometimes feel overwhelming; you’re making a large investment up front for the down payment, with a lifetime commitment attached. However, buying a home is a fantastic step, and when you’re prepared, it can be exciting and fruitful. The good news is that an experienced real estate agent will inform and advise you as you go through the process. There are also many additional tips you can take in advance to further ensure a hassle-free home purchase.

    5 Tips for a Hassle-free Home Purchase - bhgrelife.com1. Determine Your Wants and Needs

    Before you start looking at homes for sale, you need to determine your wants and needs. Start a list and carefully assess the kind of home you’re interested in, features it must have, and additional amenities that you could live without if the budget calls for cutting. Be as specific as you can so you can find homes for sale that meet your particular requirements.

  • 5 Etiquette Rules Every Seller Should Know

    The process of selling your home can be a tough one. You’ve spent a significant amount of time staging it and even scrubbed every room top to bottom. It’s in immaculate shape, but what may surprise you is that your behavior also plays a vital role in the way potential buyers feel. Here are the 5 etiquette rules every seller should know to ensure that her or his home is showcased in the best possible light.

    1. Le5 Etiquette Rules Every Seller Should Know - bhgrelife.comave your home during showings

    When there is a showing, it is important to leave your home and let your real estate agent do their job. Although you’re dying to see the reaction potential buyers have to your home, remaining there will make them feel uncomfortable. Removing yourself during a showing also allows the buyers to more easily visualize living there themselves, which is a huge selling point.