Entry: This is your first interior impression. Make sure it is well lit and clean. Repaint or re-paper walls if needed. Make sure the floors are shiny clean or if carpeted keep it clean. Make sure the switch plates are not cracked and cleaned.
Personalization: From this point on, keep the personalization low key. Make the buyer be able to visualize their family in this home. Keep family pictures at a minimum. A good rule here is that if something makes a strong personal statement, it may be better to pack it early, or change it. Examples include, but not limited to:
o Unusual wall colors
o Heavily patterned wallpaper
o Unusual art
o Strong political or religious statements
By showing the home as cared for and comfortable, we give the buyer the ability to step back and visualize themselves here, in “their home”.
Color: The most favorable reaction to homes come from seeing light, neutral colors on the exterior, and interior. Use bright colors ONLY to accent, such as, fresh flowers, area rugs, bathroom accessories, etc.
Light: A bright, well-lit property creates a favorable impression. Keep windows shiny clean, use adequate wattage light bulbs. If you have a dark spot in a room, consider track lights. They can be inexpensive and easy to install, yet provide great effort.
Sounds: Keep sounds minimal. Light classical or instrumental music can be upbeat. Loud rock can be noise pollution to some buyers. If in doubt, peace and quite may be best.
Smell: This is an area of GREAT IMPACT. Smell can work for you or against you. Let’s get right to the offensive stuff:
Pet Smells: Everybody loves their pets but nobody wants to buy your pet’s odor as part of the home. This is an area where your real estate consultant needs to reach down and muster all the courage they have to tell you honestly how Mr. & Mrs. Buyer will perceive your home if your pet’s odor is what greets them at the door. You have to be very diligent in this matter. It can cost you in time and money if it becomes an issue. Discuss what needs to be done to clean up the odors with your real estate professional. Don’t take offense. We are working together toward a common goal. Other offensive odors include tobacco, cooking odors, gas, oil, and mildew.
Good Odors:
o The Smell of Newness: This can be achieved by applying a coat of latex paint to the walls and a fresh coat of polyurethane to natural woods.
o The Smell of Cleanliness: This smell is vital. Don’t go overboard on the strong chemicals. Normal cleaning with regular cleaning supplies goes far in creating this smell. Lemon oil or lemon wax tends to linger without creating the overbearing chemical smells. Fresh flowers, softly scented candles, or potpourri will help. Place a plate of vanilla in a warm oven to create the smell of fresh baked cookies or bread. Put a fresh box of baking soda in the refrigerator to freshen in up.
For All Your Real Estate Needs or Questions, Please Feel Free to Call (920) 822-HOME (4663) or email info@countrypriderealty.com
How to sell your house for cash in Wisconsin during the winter….”no one buys houses in Winter”. “You can’t sell your house for cash in Wisconsin during the Winter” This is what you might hear but great news! Here’s how:
It’s one thing to try and sell your house during the winter. A Wisconsin real estate agent might be able to find you a buyer who wants to buy right away and can get financing without a lot of delays. But what if you want to sell fast, for cash this winter? Most people will tell you its best to sell your home either before or after the winter. Real estate agents will definitely tell you it’s the slowest time of the year. Not saying that it’s impossible, but there’s less buyers in the market. Trust us, we’ve sold house’s in the winter and it wasn’t exactly a breeze but it can be done.
The easiest way to skip the months of uncertainty and stress is to skip listing with a realtor and instead focus on finding a cash buyer who is able to move quickly, even during the winter season.
When you do find a cash buyer, they’ll want to view your house and then they’ll give you a cash offer. In some cases (such as when you work with us), there’s no obligation so you get to choose if you want to accept the offer or not. You don’t have to, but it’s nice to know what the offer is. If you accept an offer, tell the buyer when you want to close. If their a professional company, they can make all the arrangements for you. We work with local reputable Title company than can close in as little as 15 days or on your timeline. Also, make sure to ask if there are any commissions or fees to pay.
Why go through all that hassle? You’re already here and buying houses for cash is exactly what we do. We’ll get in touch to give you a fair all cash offer right away.
The fall real estate market is almost always a hot season. Home selling in autumn is the second-best time of the year to sell a home. Families have returned from summer vacations. Kids have gone back to school. The holidays aren’t yet upon us, at least not yet in an annoying way. We are set to enjoy 75 to 80 days of normalcy, and that’s a great time to sell a home.
In parts of the country with four seasons, we watch leaves explode in vibrant colors as for sale signs pop up in yards. People are happy and relaxed as the temperature begins to drop. It’s not just sweater weather that creates static electricity in autumn; it’s the scurrying of agents diligently working to pop a few more sales into the hopper before third-quarter sales results are posted.
Here are some great tips for attracting the autumn home buyer:
1. Clean Up the Yard
Rake dead leaves and debris in your lawn. Don’t let overgrown vegetation block the windows or path to the entrance. Cutting bushes and tree limbs will let the sun inside and showcase the exterior of your home. Cutaway summer vines and cut down dead flowers. Make the most of the autumn weather in the fall real estate market.
2. Create Autumn Curb Appeal
The most popular autumn flowers are chrysanthemums (or mums), and they bloom for a long time. Marigolds are another idea for fall. Both mums and marigolds are available in yellow, which is my number one home selling color. Plant them in pots. Place pots on the steps and along the sidewalk. Accent with pumpkins or other types of squash.
3. Dress the Windows
Rain and wind from over the summer months can make your windows dusty and streaked by autumn. You might not notice smudges, but buyers will, if only on a subconscious level. Your windows need to sparkle to sell a home. Maybe your cats routinely rub their little noses on the inside glass while walking along window ledges. You’ll need to wash my windows inside and out every autumn. Remove screens and spray them down.
4. Check the HVAC
You want the air inside your home to smell fresh. When was the last time you changed your furnace filter? You can buy 90-day furnace filters. Check the HVAC system before you need to turn on the heater. Besides, the buyer will ask a home inspector to look at your HVAC. If you discover problems with your furnace, it’s better to fix them before your home goes on the market.
5. Clean Out the Fireplace for the Fall Real Estate Market
Ah, nothing smells like autumn than smoke from a wood-burning fireplace. However, in some parts of the country, burning wood indoors or outdoors is outlawed. In Sacramento, we have certain days when we are not allowed to burn wood in the fireplace. If you have a gas fireplace, light it when buyers come through. If the fireplace is filled with cobwebs because it hasn’t been used for months, vacuum it out and wash it down. Some home stagers arrange knickknacks in the fireplace in place of wood logs.
6. Prepare Autumn Edibles
Speaking of autumn scents, you might set out freshly baked pumpkin cupcakes or simmer hot apple cider on the stove. Put a tray of cinnamon sticks on the counter, dotted with whole cloves. Prop open a cookbook to an autumn stew. Fill a bowl with crisp red apples.
7. Set the Mood for Fall Real Estate Musically
When thinking of autumn music, beyond “See You in September” and “California Dreamin’,” polka music and accordions come to mind. German beer fests are always held in October. But that doesn’t seem appropriate for autumn home selling unless you’re entertaining a frat house. A home seller is better off with Enya’s “The First of Autumn” or George Winston’s new age piano album “Autumn.”
8. Utilize Autumn Accent Colors
You don’t need to dump a lifeless sofa when you can accessorize its dullness with bright red, orange and/or golden yellow pillows. Toss a quilt or autumn-colored throw over a chair. After you’ve cleared away the clutter and depersonalized each room, bring a few autumn hues to each room by placing bold-colored accent pieces in odd groupings such as 3’s and 5’s. Create an autumn centerpiece for the dining room table by arranging pine cones and nuts around orange candles, stick in a few leaves from the yard.
9. Turn on the Lights Everywhere
Above all, bring in the light. When days get shorter, the sun sets lower in the horizon and casts wider shadows. Pull up the blinds, open the shutters, push back the drapes on every window. Turn on every light in the house, including appliance lights and closet lights. Brighten darker rooms with few windows by placing spotlights on the floor behind furniture, and for goodness sakes, turn off the TV.
10. Offer Parting Treats to Potential Buyers
Maybe you could leave a guestbook by the door for people to leave comments about the home? Gathering buyer feedback can be crucial. And buyers will feel more compelled to leave you a note if you give them something in return, like tiny packets of candy corn or those snack-sized candy bars. Or you can go all-out and leave a tray of individually wrapped caramelized apples, tied with a curling ribbon.
Being a first-time home buyer can be a complicated process. Even if you have bought a home before, with the amount of paperwork and legal steps you have to take, it’s always a good thing to get a refresher on the process of buying a home.
That’s why we created a new 22 video series on The Home Buying Process from A-Z. So don’t forget to subscribe and hit that bell icon to be notified when the new video in the series goes live.
We’ll be covering a wide range of topics:
– The pros and cons of buying or renting
– How to find out how much home you can afford
– How to choose the right home for you
– How to understand the difference between Pre-Approved or Pre-Qualified
– What to look for when looking at properties
– First Time Home Buyer Tips and Tricks
– Explaining the costs of buying a home
– Explaining the different type of mortgages
– How to decide how much to offer
– What happens after approval?
– How to start saving for your home
– How much will the bank lend me?
– How to improve your credit score and why it matters
– The many steps to buying a home, looking at a holistic view of the process
– Understanding the different type of homes being sold on the market
– First Time home buyer government programs
– Why you should get a realtor in your corner
– The moving process into your new home
– How to negotiate
– What to expect in a home inspection
– Should you buy a home warranty
– First things to do in your new home
Country Pride Realty is located in Pulaski, Wisconsin and services Northeastern Wisconsin with professional real estate services. We serve Brown County, Shawano County, Oconto County, Outagamie County & Marinette County. If you are looking to buy or sell residential real estate, commercial real estate, vacant land, farm land, condos, townhomes, new construction, hobby farms, acreage, cottage, cabins, waterfront or vacation property in Northeastern Wisconsin contact Country Pride Realty today at 920.822-HOME(4663)!
As experienced real estate professionals, Country Pride Realty will provide you with valuable resources. From precisely defining the real estate price, writing and negotiating real estate offers, keeping you informed of the real estate inventory both residential and commercial.
It’s Never Too Early to Start Spring Cleaning!
By: Lori Stephan, Country Pride Realty, Inc. Broker/Owner since 1999
ABR, CRS, CRB, GRI
When refreshing spring weather begins to roll in, wouldn’t you rather be outside enjoying it, rather than inside cleaning? This year, tackle those spring cleaning jobs early so that spring can be a time of relaxation and enjoyment.
Even during the dreariest months, there are many tasks that can be completed. Here are some tasks that don’t need to wait for warmer weather:
• Polish your wooden cabinets. You don’t need to replace wooden cabinets when they lose their luster. A thorough cleaning, followed by a moisturizing polish, can make old cabinets look new. The most common method of cleaning cabinetry is with a little Woolite and water. But if you want to restore luster and shine, try a product like Touch of Oranges Wood Cleaner, followed by Touch of Beeswax Wood Preserver. Simply spray the cleaner on a wooden surface, wait a few minutes, and then rub 0000-grade steel wool in the direction of the grain. Finish cleaning by wiping the wood with soft terrycloth, then use the preserver. Cabinets will shine, giving your kitchen a spring fresh look.
• Clean your carpets. Carpets can be a major trap for dust and pet hair, not to mention the salt and dried mud that have been tracked in from winter shoes. There are many professional services to choose from, but for those do it yourselfers, renting or buying a carpet cleaner can save bundles of money. The Oreck Rinse-A-Matic can shampoo, rinse and dry carpeted floors, and, as a bonus, can also rinse, scrub and dry kitchen floors.
• Say goodbye to mineral stains. Mineral deposits look depressing on windows and shower stalls. And while cleaning the windows is often a warm weather job, there’s no reason to put off cleaning the bathroom. Hard water stains on glass shower doors and windows look unattractive, so remove then with specialized products like CLR, Lime Away or Bring It On Cleaner. Some hard water stains will often yield to scrubbing with white vinegar and a non-scratch pad. If you find that vinegar is ineffective, resort to stronger chemicals.
For All Your Real Estate Needs Call (920) 822-HOME (4663)
Country Pride Realty is located in Pulaski, Wisconsin and services Northeastern Wisconsin with professional real estate services. We serve Brown County, Shawano County, Oconto County, Outagamie County & Marinette County. If you are looking to buy or sell residential real estate, commercial real estate, vacant land, farm land, condos, townhomes, new construction, hobby farms, acreage, cottage, cabins, waterfront or vacation property in Northeastern Wisconsin contact Country Pride Realty today at 920.822-HOME(4663)!
As experienced real estate professionals, Country Pride Realty will provide you with valuable resources. From precisely defining the real estate price, writing and negotiating real estate offers, keeping you informed of the real estate inventory both residential and commercial.
By Lori Stephan, ABR,CRB,CRS,GRI Broker/Owner Since 1999 Country Pride Realty, Inc.
Whether you want to sell or just improve your home’s value before you tap into your equity, here are a few things experts suggest you consider before calling your bank or putting the “for sale” sign on your lawn.
Make only renovations that count. Experts agree that the right renovations, especially bathrooms and kitchens, affect the marketability of your home.
Improve what you can’t renovate. If you can’t afford to renovate, update and refresh key rooms instead.
Maintain where you can. Depending on age of your house, you can expect to spend between 1 and 3 percent of its value every year on maintenance and repair.
Don’t over-improve. If your house is improved beyond the scope of all the neighborhood homes that surround it, it is likely that the value of your home won’t be realized when it comes time to sell.
For All Your Real Estate Needs Call Lori Stephan @ 822-4663
Country Pride Realty is located in Pulaski, Wisconsin and services Northeastern Wisconsin with professional real estate services. We serve Brown County, Shawano County, Oconto County, Outagamie County & Marinette County. If you are looking to buy or sell residential real estate, commercial real estate, vacant land, farm land, condos, townhomes, new construction, hobby farms, acreage, cottage, cabins, waterfront or vacation property in Northeastern Wisconsin contact Country Pride Realty today at 920.822-HOME(4663)!
As experienced real estate professionals, Country Pride Realty will provide you with valuable resources. From precisely defining the real estate price, writing and negotiating real estate offers, keeping you informed of the real estate inventory both residential and commercial.
