Paisley Completed!

Check out the listing here for more details!

Choosing a color palette!

Finding a color palette that will be loved by many is not an easy task!

While many buyers are drawn towards a natural hue, adding a touch of color can really set you apart from the rest.

A colorful door can make a simple statement without requiring much of a paint job!

Using colorful accessories in your staging is a great way to catch someone's eye.

Or picking a color that pairs well with neutral tones can give it a more homey feel.

What kind of color palette are you drawn towards?

Paisley Punch List

Recently we went through Paisley and made a punch list to finish before the final reveal!

Exterior

• There are various areas the paint is bubbling around the fascia & some around the front window frame. We need to correct this.

• There are shingles to the right when facing the home that are sagging, like someone placed a latter over them. We need these straightened out so they don't look like old shingles.

• The front porch area & front posts need some touch up paint

• Need to caulk around the front fascia and around the windows so there are no gaps

• Need to add a little more mulch to the front where dirt is showing.

• There is a pile of wood on the side yard of the home if we can get hauled away

• Secure the TWC box to the home

• There are a few boards that are soft & need to be secured. There are also various areas of the deck that will need to be repainted. This includes around the bottom of the posts on the ground and board under bottom step.

• The lattice under the left side of the deck needs to be flush with the bottom of the deck. There are a few lattices missing under the step area.

• Remove shrubbery at the back of the home. There are various areas where vines are beginning to grow. If we could remove those vines.

Interior

• Need to finish the kitchen floor and add trim/threshold. Including both doorways, between the kitchen/dining room & kitchen/great room.

• The side door entrance that is being used needs to have the seal repaired or replaced and some touch up paint. There are cracks showing in the door frame.

• Replace small window in door.

• The bottom of the Refrigerator needs to be secured.

• Gloss spray paint the side top portion of the stove

• Need all the corners of the hardwood floors in the dining room, bedrooms and hallways sanded.

• Add light in the living room to the fan. We are aware this may be an additional cost.

• Remove all stickers from all windows or on any items.

• Need touch up paint throughout. Also need touch up paint on base boards.

• Need to fix the floor in the great room where the one piece is popping up.

• Spot on wall by air return in hall needs repaired then painted.

• Adjust hinges on hall bath vanity door. Not closing properly.

• Add the trim/threshold in master bath door

• The left side of the master bath vanity need touch up paint.
• Replace lights in master bath for updated lights

• Clean out air vent in master bath floor where debris has fallen down.
• Need to caulk master bath tile floor where it's dirty

• Touch up paint under the master bath window.
• Small spot in ceiling of the back bedroom needs touch up paint.
• Fill gap around the windows in back bedroom.

Getting close to finishing this one!

Great Descriptions equal great sales!

Selling a home isn't as easy as one would think. There are a lot of factors that are involved and then there's that terrifying word: marketing. Everyone knows enough to dabble in marketing but are you doing it well enough to grab the right people? Are you choosing your words carefully? What is the secret to selling a home fast?

There isn't one specific thing that sells a home fast. It's personal. When someone walks through the door, they either feel connected to the home or they don't. Sure there are pluses and minuses like does it have an office, is the backyard big enough, and is there enough space or storage. But what really pulls someone in, is the "Can I see myself living here?"

What I want to know, is can you get that question answered by someone who isn't even in the home? I bet you can. Words have transferred us to new places, given us a visual of what life could be like for decades in books, newspapers, and even blogs. Can words and pictures walk you through a home you've never been in and make you want to be there? I think so, and so does CEO Spencer Rascoff and Chief Economist Stan Humphries in their book, "Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate".

Real estate language and buyer language are quite different and very important in wording your descriptions of a home. Some are magical and some are very detrimental. Calling a home modern might seem like it's saying it's up to date, sleek, shiny, and new to a buyer, but calling a home modern in real estate means it was built in the mid-to-late 1980's.

Another example might be using words that say cozy, charming,  or quaint might seem like something that would bring a buyer who is looking for a cottage style home in, but to real estate agents you are saying it is less than 1,500 square feet. Small might not be the word you were looking for, but that's what it's saying.

So who are you writing these descriptions for? Buyers or Real Estate Agents or Both? If this were a few years ago I'd say you were writing descriptions for Real Estate Agents. These days, I say it's the buyers! With homes in books, magazines, blogs, and most importantly home websites like Zillow, it's the buyers searching through these listings and sending them to their Real Estate Agents for showings. It might be safe to cater towards both, but think with the buyer in mind and as long as you have great pictures to go with it, you are sure to win the hearts of many.

Are there other ways you can go wrong in your description? Yes there is! Not using the allotted words in the description section are a waste of a great opportunity. If you have 250 words available to you, use every last one of them. People want to know everything there is to know about the home and they are willing to research and read all about it. Give them what they want, and who knows maybe those last three words are what grabs them the most!

Lastly, if there's something original, amazing, breathtaking about the home you are selling. Don't sell it short. This is competition!  Like Rascoff and Humphries advise, "If you've got it, flaunt it." and I think you should do just that.

Finnegan Final Photo's!

We hope you liked the before and after of Finnegan. Here are all the finished photo's of Finnegan:

What do you think?

Finnegan Before & After!

I love before's and afters! Check out our latest:

More After Pictures to see soon!

Paisley's Outdoor Finishing Touches

Paisley's curb appeal has gotten a major makeover!

What do you think?

Quick Tips on TIPA-RESPA by C.L.A Title

There are changes in the air! Starting this August you will be seeing new Disclosures and regulations on Loans. Don't worry though, we have all the facts thanks to clatitle.com!

"On August 1, 2015 the HUD 1 will be replaced by the new Closing Disclose and the new Loan Estimate will be replacing the Good Faith Estimate and the Trust in Lending Disclosure." - C.L.A Title

Closing Disclosures forms are going to be 5 pages long instead of 3 pages and must be given to the borrower 3 business days before closing! This is much earlier than the original 24 hours prior to closing. The Closing disclosures has much of the same info as the Trust Lending form and the HUD 1 explanation of fee's and closing costs is closely resembled in page 2 and 3.  There is more explanation on cash to close, which is wonderful, and page 4 has an easy to read section explaining escrow. The last page is a quick summary of loan calculations, contact information, and other disclosures.

Lenders are now going to be required to provide the borrower the Loan Estimate 3 business days after the application has been submitted by the consumer. The first page contains information on the breakdown of loan terms, projected payments, and closing cost. The second includes the break down information of the closing cost. The third page explains additional information about the loan along with the APR.

About C.L.A Title: 

C.L.A. Title is a nationwide title company providing title services for lenders nationwide. For more information please visit our website http://www.clatitle.com/

Paisley Progress

We are In Paisley and making Progress!

Things are getting cleaned up.

Things are getting torn down.

Plans are being made for the renovation!

And new products are being purchased.

We are so excited to get moving on this property.

Welcoming Paisley!

Introducing our newest home! 1614 Paisley was purchased last month and we are excited to get working on it!

We are so excited to get working on this property. So much potential!

Market Price vs. Market Value

Do you know what the difference is between Market Price and Market Value?

Inmann.com just recently posted a great article explaining this and I thought I'd take the time to briefly explain it to all of you!  Market prices is the number attached to the home that the owner has decided is worth the sale of their home. Now many things will come to play in this number like; a realtors suggestion, how much it's worth it for the seller to move, and a market value.

A market value is researched information and numbers that calculate what the worth of the home might be. For example an appraiser, competing homes, seller and buyer demand really play a role in coming up with this "number".

Do you know what your homes market value is, and if so, what would be your market price?

Finnegan Progress Preview!

Finnegan is starting to look brand new!

Fireplace is getting an udpate!

We are picking out all the finishing touches!

Old flooring is being replaces by new!

The bathroom is getting a complete overhaul.

The kitchen cabinets are in and are gorgeous!

Tiling is looking great.

And the outside is getting a little TLC!

Stay tuned next week for the video tour and more details!

Get Your Home Ready for Spring

Spring is here and it's time to get back to bringing the outdoors in and spending more time outside than inside!

Here are some simple ways you can get ready for spring this year:

Declutter! If it's not useful, get rid of it! You'd be surprised how little daily cleaning and picking up you can get rid of when there isn't things to clean up and get rid of!

Bring the outdoors in! Keep something fresh and alive in your home at all times. It's a great pick me up and fills the room with a beautiful scent.

Decorate your door! Give it a more welcoming feel.

Keep surfaces and windows clean. Let the warm sunlight in and let it shine on all the reflective surfaces!

Get your hands dirty! Adding simple touches outside can really change the look of your home!

Step up your outdoor space! Make it a place where you actually want to spend time.

Now is the time to buy!

Real estate is taking a turn for the better! With the warm weather right around the corner, summer only months away, and the potential for a whole new life only a few clicks away, real estate search engines are seeing a huge increase in activity!

Whether you are looking for a seaside escape ..

A city with so much to offer ..

A cozy  neighborhood ..

There are plenty of options to find for you next chapter. Contact us for more information on what we have available and how fast we can buy your home to get you started on your next adventure!

Home Office Inspiration

When you are a work from home employee, there are certain things you might be looking for when purchasing a new home.

Is there space? Home offices do not need to take up much space, especially if you aren't hosting clients in your home office. In this case, you can get creative with smaller square footage.

Are you going to be able to concentrate? Sometimes other things make it harder to focus when working like dirty dishes in the sink or little ones running around. In this case, you may want a door you can clothes to hide from all those distractions.

Does it make you happy? There's no point in having an office in your home if you are dreading it the second you walk in. Make sure it's in a spot where you love to be!

Look at the big picture. When you are searching for a home, the room might be labeled as the dinning room, a bedroom, a nook. Think outside the box and really imagine yourself in it, where your things would go, and how you'd spend time there. It is your office after all.

Understanding How To Sell to the Current Buyers

With the economy rising and the next generation ready to move forward, we are seeing younger home owners more often! Are you selling to the right crowd or are you stuck marketing for the past buyers?

One of the most important things to do is market your home for the most current buyer. This generation of buyers is much different than what we have seen the past. Are you up to speed?

This generation is familiar with what life is like when you spend all your time working and no time enjoying what you have. High end items are out and working with what you have is in.

It isn't about having the best and living above your means. It's about picking what you enjoy and making it what you want it to be. You love huge windows and natural light, that's what you go after.

Great kitchens have always been a trend and to some extent they still are. This generation is eating out less and staying in more. They are enjoying their kitchen but they want it to reflect that as well. Bright happy rooms with a touch of character seem to draw us in more.

Most of us are working from home! We've figured out what a great savings it is, you get to be where you are investing most of your money into, and you have more time for family and events now that you aren't commuting! This generation is looking for a space we can easily place an indoor office.

It's not about the square footage. It's about how you use it. Is there enough of storage? Are all my basic needs being met? Can I spend a majority of my time here and be happy? Those are the things current buyers are looking for.

Finnegan Update

The fencing is going up around Finnegan to give it some privacy.

We are cleaning up the outside and working on finishing touches like the patio.

and some window shutters.

We also finished the patio ceiling, front door, and added a gorgeous light.

There's so much happening!

Are you getting the bang for your buck?

Finding the best home and getting the best bang for your buck don't always go hand in hand. Are you having to choose a good bargain for a decent home? Are you settling for something you didn't want just because it's a good deal?

Getting both a great deal and a great property has been a struggle for most but there is a solution. Buying a renovated home isn't going to cost you an arm and a leg, and you are going to get some high end materials out of this deal! Reno'd homes are usually purchased for near fair market value or a little less of the current state of the home.

Because renovator's do this often the usually have great deals for high end materials that you couldn't get on your own, they always work with the same contractors and designers to guarantee great quality. Because they are saving money, they aren't having to rack up their prices in order to gain as much profit as if a home owner would if they put their own personal money into a home.

This provides you with a move in ready home for a fraction of the cost. Are you ready to get your dream home and get more bang for your buck?

Less Is More

It is said that living with less gives you more when it comes to life. I realized in our latest move that going through everything we owned, the less we packed, the less we had to carry with us! It is always said that those who move often tend to have less in general. I can imagine that since I wouldn't want to pack and repack items that aren't worth my time.

I am curious to see if living less would suit you? Do you think you could get rid of most of your items and be happy with the bare minimum?

There'd be less time cleaning, that's for sure! If you have less clutter you waste less time shifting that clutter around.

Some people would even say that having less makes you less stressed. You learn to live with what you have and then you aren't wasting your time or money on useless things.

If that were the case, getting rid of all the things I have would free up so much of my time and money, I could actually put more money into the actual home I am buying instead of the things inside it.

Where would you put your time and money?

Why Zillow is Changing Real Estate

As we all know technology keeps getting better and the way we do things with it are expanding our opportunities. It was predicted by zillow that more homes would be sold this winter do to being able to view the properties online prior to going house to house to find the perfect one. I feel like the were right on cue and there's only more to come

With a zestimate to see what our current house is worth, what fees to expect, how much your mortgage is and how much you can put down. There are so many feature's that zillow has provided for us to make the thought of moving and searching options easier. They found an opportunity in what was lacking in the real estate and have changed the way we have viewed home buying.

Now they have come up with a new book about the rules of real estate. It talks about the new challenges to home buying and data providing insights on what we once thought were some of the most important aspects in searching for a home like "buy the worst house in the best neighborhood". Is that the best way to buy a home now?

Looks like we'll have to find out!