The Importance of Home Staging

July 20, 2015July 20, 2015Leave a comment

We here at The Weaver Team are strong believers in the power of staging – you only have one chance to make a first impression and it’s important to create a positive impact on buyers the moment they enter a room!

Unlike interior decorating that makes a home appeal to its homeowner’s unique tastes, home staging makes the home appeal to a variety of tastes. The goal is to draw the eye to the best features of the home, and improve any weaker elements.

BEFORE

AFTER

The very first rule of staging is DECLUTTER! You want prospective buyers to see how much space your home offers, not how much stuff you have filled it with. Start by removing items you have no use for, if it’s been sitting in the basement unused for a year, it’s probably time to get rid of it. Separate items into piles to sell, donate, and store. If you don’t have a basement or garage to store items, rent a storage unit.

Updates as simple as rearranging furniture or adding new decor can make a world of difference. If you have very large furniture pieces, it’s best to remove them from a room all together to make the space look as large as possible. Also try floating furniture away from the walls and arrange sofas and chairs in conversational sets – this will open up the room.

BEFORE

AFTER

In some cases, you may need to take it a step further with paint and/or installing new fixtures. You may be thinking, ‘What’s the point in painting when the new owner will just come in and paint on their own?’ Buyers are fickle, and most cannot see beyond a simple fix like paint, or even your personal decor. Remember – you want your home to appeal to a variety of buyers, and while you may love your elegant eggplant dining room, it may be a major turn off to buyers. Stick with neutral paints for your walls and update any brass fixtures that tend to make a home look dated.

Can’t get enough of home staging tips? Like us on Facebook – we post a Tuesday Tip every week!

Selling A Home With Pets

May 14, 2015June 23, 2015Leave a comment

The Weaver Team loves pets. Carolyn shares her house with a cat rescued from North Beach in Burlington and Jennie’s dog Maddie looks forward to walks every day. When you put your house on the market it’s important to consider what you’re going to do with your pets for the showings.

Even when you think your pet is calm and well-behaved, Bella or Max may exhibit other behaviors when you are gone. In one case, a good friend of mine listed her house and I was very familiar with her dog, “Buster.” Because I had visited on many occasions, the dog seemed calm and content so I told my friend the dog was no problem and could stay in the home for showings. When I arrived at the house to measure, on my own, “Buster” turned into the Tazmanian Devil. This whirling dervish followed me through the house jumping and barking incessantly. When I tried to leave the house Buster ran out and jumped in my car. Needless to say the poor fellow had just sentenced himself to a day in doggie day care for the showings.

P: shorewest.com

Other pet situations sometimes involve pets escaping when other Realtors arrive at the house. One time, an owner let us know that their cat was shy and would hide. When we arrived and opened the door, the cat charged the door (and us!) and escaped into a hedge. Unfortunately, shaking the dry cat food box and calling, “Here kitty, kitty, kitty,” was futile. The seller had to leave a golf game to rescue Fluffy from the great outdoors.

For those of you who know us, our team is calm and we rarely panic. Recently, though, a Buyer’s Agent texted us from one of our listings asking, “Does the owner have cats? There are two in the yard.” The house had an indoor cat and we posted a sign, “Please Don’t Let the Cat Out.” Two? Outside? Before we could process this another text arrived, “They both have identical collars.” A quick read of the collars showed that the cats were the neighbors. Our seller’s cat was safely inside, asleep on a bed. Phew!

P: franklinteam.com

The point is to have a plan for your pets. We specialize in “pet tips” that we have accrued from our years of showing homes with dogs, cats, iguanas, guinea pigs, rabbits, snakes and ferrets. One time there was an empty cage … that’s a whole other blog.

Rebate Agent Vs. Traditional Realtor

March 23, 2015June 26, 2015Leave a comment

Rebate real estate brokerages have been gaining in popularity in the past few years with offers of money back at closing or charging a lesser flat fee rather than traditional brokerage commission rates.

So why would you want to pay more for the services of a traditional Realtor when there’s a company offering to do the same amount of work at a discount? Simply put – you get what you pay for! When you hire someone to do a job for half the cost or a straight fee instead of what they would traditionally make, you receive a different level of experience.

What can this different experience level mean for you?

Your home priced incorrectly – too high or too low
Low-level marketing skills and budget
Weak negotiating skills with offers or the purchase contract
Not available around the clock

These things can end up costing you money … more money than you thought you were saving by choosing a rebate agent.

Another disadvantage – rebate real estate brokerages rely on a high volume to stay in business, and have a high rate of expired listings that eventually end up with a Realtor at a traditional brokerage.

P: Shutterstock

In the end, the decision is yours – what type of real estate selling experience do you want? With The Weaver Team you can expect a high level of personalized service backed by years of experience marketing properties, accurately pricing homes, and negotiating contracts.

Home Improvements: Get The Most Bang For Your Buck

December 8, 2014June 26, 2015Leave a comment

P: hellopamevans.com

When you purchase a new home you envision tons of ideas on how to make the space your own – from cosmetic improvements like painting and flooring to major renovations. But how do you prioritize your honey do list? Get the most value for your money by choosing projects that combine benefits, adding to your home’s style, comfort and energy efficiency. Here are our top 5:

Redecorate – Simply rearranging your furniture can dramatically change the feel of a room, making a smaller room feel open or a large room feel more intimate and cozy. A fresh coat of paint will make the walls look like new and window treatments will add a touch of luxury to your home.

Update Appliances – The kitchen is the heart the home, and a huge selling point … or detracting factor. Investing in new, Energy-Star appliances will give the space a fresh look and can also save you money on electric and water bills. Kitchen updates often return more than 100% of the cost.

P: HGTV

Add a Backsplash – Backsplashes are a great solution to protect your walls from water damage, food stains and scratches and will give an updated look to your kitchen and/or bathrooms. There are so many different tile and stone styles to choose from or you can use other materials like faux tin ceiling and wine corks. Check out Pinterest for some great DIY ideas.

Install a Ceiling Fan – Not only will a ceiling fan cool rooms in the summer months, but if you reverse the spin direction, the fan blades will push warm air back down to reheat rooms during the winter. Ceiling fans come in all sorts of designs and colors so it should be no problem to find one to fit your style and give your cooling and heating systems a bit of a break.

Plant Perennials – Is your landscaping lacking? Boost your curb appeal with colorful plants and flowers like peonies, daffodils, lilacs, or hostas. Perennials will come back year after year, and often continue to grow, so you don’t have to buy replacement plants.

Ready To Make The Move?

October 23, 2014June 26, 2015Leave a comment

P: keydoorsolutions.co.uk

You’ve found the perfect new home, made it through negotiations and are finally ready to close! Now, what about getting all of your stuff to your new digs? Moving can be stressful, so here are a few tips/ideas on how to make the process run as smooth as possible.

Have a yard sale. Downsizing before you move will make the process much simpler and likely cheaper. Go through your house and gather everything that you have not used, or perhaps have even laid eyes on, in at least a year. Looking forward to purchasing new furniture? Great! Sell your current set on Craigslist. Movers base their prices on the amount of stuff you are moving, so if you have less to put on the truck you can keep more money in your pocket.

Do your research when choosing a moving company. Before you load your entire home’s contents onto a truck, make sure you trust the movers and aren’t getting scammed. Check http://www.protectyourmove.gov for information on how to avoid scams and search for registered movers. Ask around for recommendations,

Do a final walkthrough. Check every drawer, cabinet and closet to make sure you haven’t left anything behind. Survey the space for any damages – if you dinged the walls moving your furniture out be sure to fix it before you leave, you don’t want to haggle with the buyer or lose your deposit on a rental.

P: jenniferfieldsrealestate.wordpress.com

Unpack your new home. All of your boxes have made it to your new house, but now unpacking everything may seem like a daunting task. Don’t put it off, you’ll feel much more settled and at home once your belongings are in order. Take it one room at a time – start with the kitchen since it tends to be the heart of any home, and you will be able to cook for yourself and ditch the takeout.

Get to know your new neighborhood. Explore your area and find your nearest grocery store, post office, bank, pharmacy, etc. Go to your new town office and register to vote in your new district. Talk to your new neighbors to get recommendations on the best places to eat in the area.

Announce your move. If you haven’t already, go to the post office to get a change of address form, or file it online for $1. Let your friends and family know your new address – you can send personalized announcements from a number of online print shops. If you’re up for it, throw a housewarming party! Use evite.com to create an invite to email to friends, family and neighbors to get everyone together to celebrate your new digs.

Is Fall A Good Time To List?

October 8, 2014June 26, 2015Leave a comment

P: guardiancarpetcleaning.com

The question that crosses every seller’s mind – when is the best time to list? Spring is the busiest season for buying and selling, so most sellers think it’s best to wait to list their home. But what if you need to make the move now? Good news – fall is the 2nd busiest season in real estate!

Buyers looking at homes in autumn tend to be more serious and motivated to move than the numerous window shoppers that come out in spring. There are many reasons – job relocation, downsizing, change in family status, etc. and most want to buy by the end of the year.

Fall offers certain benefits to home buyers including:

Year-end tax breaks – Both mortgage interest and property taxes are deductible from gross income, so purchasing a home and making a payment prior to year’s end will give you an extra deduction. In addition, if you have prepaid some interest prior to your first payment, that interest can also be deducted.

Pleasant weather – Fall is an ideal time to plan a move, the weather has cooled from the heat and humidity of summer and you get out ahead of the freezing temps and icy conditions of winter.

Broad selection of homes – With a bit less demand than spring, buyers will find a wider array of homes available in the fall, increasing the odds of finding the perfect property.

P: betterdeco.blogspot.com

A bonus for fall sellers – autumn decorations and colors will make your home feel more inviting and warm to potential buyers. Put some brightly colored mums and pumpkins on your front porch to up the curb appeal. Add a couple gourds and colored candles to your dining room table or fireplace mantel. Always remember to keep it simple – people hate clutter!

The Weaver Team

Your guide to VT Real Estate | Home Staging | Decor | DIY | General Awesomeness

Category: Sellers