Prepping Your Home For Sale

August 12, 2015August 7, 2015Leave a comment

Hi everyone! This is Jennie, Marketing Director for The Weaver Team. I’m always posting tips on home staging, getting ready to move, etc. but I thought speaking from my own experience might really hit home for you all. My husband and I recently decided to put our condo on the market to move on up to our first house. SO exciting, but also SO stressful!

P: Shutterstock

Just looking at all of the stuff we’ve accumulated over the years was giving me heart palpitations. And I am a total neat freak – so it probably wasn’t even that bad. I had so many thoughts going through my head, there were so many things I wanted to clean or fix up before putting our condo on the market. There was just so much to do that I didn’t even want to start.

Once we started looking at houses, we decided it was time to buck up and get our condo on the market – sellers aren’t very enamored with offers contingent upon selling your current property. We were getting ready to head out on vacation for 10 days and I thought it would be the perfect time to list, that way the condo could be shown any time and we wouldn’t have to get out, figure out what to do with the dog, or clean up after ourselves.

So now we had a deadline to get our place ready, which was just the kick in the pants we needed. After all of the homes I’ve photographed and all of the staging tips I’ve poured over the past couple years, I knew the first step would be to declutter and depersonalize. We rented a small 5 x 10 storage unit for our ‘overflow’, I highly recommend a storage unit if you don’t have a basement or garage where you can store things.

We removed all photographs of ourselves, family, and dog – including from the walls, shelves, and refrigerator. We had a few ‘extra’ pieces of furniture including a console table, wine tower, and 2 dining room chairs that we removed to make the space look as large as possible, but without making it look sparse. We have storage under the stairs, so to show how large the space is, we packed it all up and put it in storage. The same for our closets, buyers are looking for storage space so if your closets are filled to the brim it gives a sense of very little storage space. We packed up seasonal clothes and shoes and off to storage they went.

Next we washed ALL of our walls and doors, just a bucket of water and a cloth, wiping them all down top to bottom. You will not believe the difference it made! And don’t forget the kitchen cabinets which tend to get extra grimy. We also wiped the ceiling fan blades, man those get dirty.

Once everything was hauled off to storage and everything had been wiped down, I went back through and redecorated. Yes you should declutter and depersonalize, but you don’t want your home to feel cold and unwelcoming. We have a cluster of shelves above the couch where I added candles and small picture frames will cool wallpaper. I put a runner on our dining room table with some candles and added a few small colored vases to a shelf above the TV.

Finally, as an added touch, we created a flyer that called out the features of our condo and also some additional perks like being within walking distance of the Village, local events, and being near the bus line. You don’t know if the agent showing your home is familiar with the area, so why not let them know why you love living there?

Let me tell you – staging works! Our condo, listed with The Weaver Team of course :), sold in 1 1/2 weeks! If you are going to list and have a vacation coming up, definitely list before you go, it will save you a ton of hassle with showings. And hopefully, like me, your home will sell while you’re away!

Stay tuned for my next post on buying a home.

Why It Does Not Make Sense To Buy Direct From The Homeowner

August 5, 2015Leave a comment

P: terencetait.ca

When searching for a home you are going to come across For Sale By Owner properties, either while looking online or driving through a neighborhood you’d like to live in. You may think that buying direct from a seller should be much simpler than involving real estate agents, but FSBOs offer their own set of challenges.

Before you take the plunge into purchasing direct from the Homeowner there are a few factors to consider:

The Homeowner is not required to disclose any information that is not in their best interest. They may have immediate answers to all of your questions but they do not need to be held accountable for any misinformation or “fluffing” of the facts.

Homeowners who are selling on their own have lots of time on their hands. They are in no rush to sell and will hold out for the highest price possible, even if it means waiting two or three years.

The Homeowners typically overprice their property. They are not saving you any money. They are saving themselves a fee for service that Realtors charge for selling the house and adding it to their side of the transaction. Many buyers fall in love with the “by owner” and are willing to overpay for the property.

You will feel pressured not to give the Homeowner accurate feedback about the property. Homeowners will try to convince you that their house is the best ever. They will take you through every nook and cranny to show the value of their house. It just isn’t human nature to give a truthful opinion to a Homeowner.

You never know if the Homeowner is really interested in accepting your offer. Many will tell you they have “another interested party” or an “out-of-state buyer” that is chomping at the bit to buy their property.

The best properties are listed with a Realtor who has taken the time to make sure all of the proper Seller Property Disclosures and inspections are in order.

With so many drawbacks to buying direct from a homeowner, it makes sense for buyers to focus on homes sold by agents. As a buyer it only benefits you to have a Buyer’s Agent (read our previous post on Why Do I Need A Buyer’s Agent) who will walk you through the entire purchase process from putting in an offer to closing – and make sure that you are getting the best value for your money.

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!

Pre-Qualification Vs. Pre-Approval – What Gives?

June 1, 2015June 26, 2015Leave a comment

You’ve been looking at homes online for a while, when all of a sudden your dream home appears! You call your Realtor and they ask if you have been pre-qualified for a loan with a mortgage loan officer.

“What? All I want to do is look at a house.”

The mortgage loan officer will give you a price range that fits with your current income so that you know what you can afford. You don’t want to walk into your dream home and walk out not being able to make an offer.

Our friend and Senior Loan Officer with PrimeLending, Heather Torre tackles a common question amongst buyers – what’s the difference between getting pre-qualified or pre-approved:

I get asked this question numerous times a week: “What is the difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval?” Over the years, my answer has changed. Here’s the history…

When I first started lending back in 2002, I counseled buyers and Realtors alike to be sure they were getting a “pre-approval” before they got in the car and went looking at homes. Back then, a pre-qualification was nothing more than an educated guess given by a Loan Officer taking basic information, punching numbers on a calculator and giving a hopeful client a number to go shopping with. A pre-approval went a few steps further… the Loan Officer gathered pay stubs, tax returns, W2s, bank statements and pulled credit reports. They then used factual data to produce the number thier buyers eagerly awaited – and could count on.

Today, with mortgage regulation changes, we have shifted the terminology a bit. A pre-qualification now requires all of the same work and documentation that a pre-approval used to. The term “pre-approval” has virtually disappeared as it now represents a loan commitment – basically a conditional commitment issued by an underwriter after review of the same documents a Loan Officer would have looked at, but they can go a step further and review any potential issues, as well. In some cases, we do offer these – when there is something we just cannot approve on our own upfront, or feel that it warrants having the person who will do the ultimate approval review up-front.

Bottom line – regardless of the terminology, if your Loan Officer has not asked you for any documents nor have they pulled your credit, ask them to – or find someone who will go the “extra” mile (it’s their job!) and make sure that you can confidently go find the home of your dreams!

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.

It’s All About Location

April 16, 2015June 23, 2015Leave a comment

It’s all about location and lifestyle. Do you see yourself living in this house? When you walk into a house for the first time you will have an immediate reaction, “Yes! This is what I’m looking for” or “Ick! Who picks that color for a countertop?” Many objections relate to cosmetic issues. Appliances, countertops, vanities, toilets, floor plans, lights, even floor plans can be changed.

As fans of all HGTV and FYI network shows, The Weaver Team at KW Vermont stays up-to-date on trends all over the country. We are especially attracted to shows that feature “fixing up.” From Love It or List It to Flipping Boston the theme of the shows is to increase the value of the house through renovations. Love It or List It, though, also focuses on whether or not the current homeowners will stay in their current house (post renovation) or sell their current house. These Canadian homeowners are trudging through the snow to see if they can be persuaded to list and move. More often than not the homeowners “Love It” rather than “List It” due to the main factor of location.

The homeowners love their neighborhood. They love the proximity to amenities. They feel comfortable where they live. They enjoy their lifestyle. What they don’t “love” is the outdated floor plans and lack of updated decorating. Not to sound cliché, but in real estate location is everything. When looking at houses it is important to look beyond the items that need updating, changing, or fixing to accommodate your needs. As evident in these “fixer” programs, you can change just about anything to suit your tastes, however, you cannot “fix” the location. Depending on your priorities, say, Green Mountain views for here in Vermont, you are limited to the number of houses that meet that criteria.

When you find a house that meets your criteria such as views, schools, size, price, access to amenities, etc. then you need to think like the “Love It” part of the show. If the house is in your desired location and meets your requirements in almost all categories then you should purchase it and focus on changes that you will make to suit your taste and lifestyle. So, look at that house that doesn’t quite meet your living needs, decorating taste or ideal floor plan, then imagine the possibilities.

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.

Spring Cleaning Tips

March 16, 2015June 26, 2015Leave a comment

P: lambertwm, flickr

Spring is just around the corner (March 20th to be exact), which means warmer temps, green grass, beautiful blooms and everyone’s favorite – Spring cleaning!

Here are 6 of our top Spring cleaning projects to get you started:

Complete a Thorough Dusting – You may swipe your Swiffer duster through the surfaces of your home on weekly basis, but we’re talking about getting down and dirty here. Remove all of the items from shelves and tabletops and give the surface a good wipe down with a multi-surface cleaner or furniture spray. Now is also the time to tackle ceiling fans and the top of cabinets.

Wash Walls, Cabinets, and Baseboards – Vertical surfaces may not look dirty, but enough dirt and dust cling to these surfaces to justify a seasonal cleaning. Use a clean sponge and water mixed with a few drops of dishwashing liquid to wipe down walls, cabinets, and baseboards.

P: Total Perfection Cleaning

Wash Windows – Step it up a notch from your normal Windex and paper towel routine and really take a minute to get your windows to sparkle. Vacuum the inside panes, sills, and window frame. Choose a cloudy day to clean your windows to prevent streaks – heat from the sun will dry the glass too quickly. Create a window wash solution by combining 1/2 cup sudsy ammonia (which is a specific type of ammonia), 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, and 1 gallon of water. Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

Refresh Window Treatments – Just like your walls, they may not look dirty, but dust clings to everything! Take down and throw washable fabrics in the washer and air dry. Intricate curtains and draperies can be cleaned using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum, or you can take them to be dry cleaned. To remove dust from sheers, toss them in the dryer on low with a fabric softener sheet.

Clean Carpets – Rent a carpet cleaner and start with a hidden spot of carpet to make sure the treatment will not cause discoloration. To save yourself some time, move furniture slightly rather than clearing out a room. Place wax paper squares under the feet of furniture to protect the carpet and keep the furniture from getting wet as the carpet dries. Open windows to speed up the drying process. Don’t feel like all the work? Hire a professional to take care of the carpets for you.

P: trendecoration.com

Freshen Your Space – Not so much a cleaning project, but a quick and easy makeover for any room is changing up or adding textiles! Put a brightly colored table linen on your dining room table, spruce up your living room with fun throw pillows or a patterned rug, swap out your bedding, or switch out the towels in your bathroom – any of these will revive your home for Spring.

If you need a list to stay focused, or if you love the satisfaction of checking off a task when completed, we found a very thorough downloadable Spring cleaning checklist on the blog The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking.

Why Do I Need A Buyer’s Agent?

February 23, 2015June 26, 2015Leave a comment

P: Chicago Agent Magazine

You’ve been searching for homes online for months, browsing through hundreds of photos, reading about features and amenities, and narrowing down your favorites. So why do you need a buyer’s agent? An agent is no longer the keeper of the listings, but rather your guide through the home buying process, master negotiator, and voice of reason. While you may be able Google anything you’d like to know about buying a home, there is no substitute for the experience and knowledge that a licensed agent offers.

Here’s a shocker – not all of the info you find on the Internet is true or accurate! Especially when it comes to home estimates, the most popular being real estate site Zillow’s Zestimates. A recent LA Times article stated that “nationwide Zestimates have a “median error rate” of about 8%.” An experienced agent will know the local real estate market and will be able to determine the market value of a home for you.

Just as you can’t believe everything you read, don’t believe everything you see. Online listing photos are taken in a way to paint the property in the best light, which is why it’s beneficial to go and look at homes with a buyer’s agent who has your best interest in mind. When you tour a home with your agent, he/she can point out features that are upgrades or are not common in the price range. Your agent can also compare the house you are viewing to homes that he/she has personally toured or sold in the area. You will gain insight into how one house compares to other houses in the same price range and neighborhood or county.

Do you know how much paperwork is involved in the purchase of a property? A lot. Luckily your buyer’s agent will handle it all for you – he/she will write up an offer to include all the necessary contingencies and will deal with the seller’s agent directly so you don’t have to.

P: iStock

Once an offer is accepted, your agent will keep you on track to make sure you hit all necessary deadlines. If there are any issues found in the inspection, your agent will advise you on what requests are reasonable and will negotiate the problems with the seller. In addition, if any problems arise with the appraisal or financing, your agent will be able to give objective, professional advice to resolve issues and move the transaction to closing.

Buying a home is a major life event and is most likely the biggest financial transaction you will ever have to navigate. Having a buyer’s agent to guide you through the process will not only save you time, but will give you much needed piece of mind. And with the seller paying the agents’ commissions, what’s there to lose on your end?

The Best Apps To Help With Your House Hunt

February 2, 2015June 26, 2015Leave a comment

In today’s increasingly mobile world, there’s usually an app for that – and house hunting is no exception! Want to see homes for sale nearby? Find out what you can actually afford? Keep track of the pros and cons of the homes you’ve seen? Here are our top picks of apps to simplify the home buying process:

Bankrate Mortgage App: Lusting over million dollar properties? Perhaps it’s time to get realistic and see what that new home will cost you. This app is great for calculating monthly mortgage payments with easy-to-use sliders to adjust the loan amount, term, and interest rate. It also provides a pie-chart to see how your total monthly payment is broken down. If you are seriously looking to purchase a home, you should see about getting pre-approved to know exactly what your budget is.

Doorsteps Swipe: It’s like the Tinder of the real estate world – swipe to “like” and the listings will be saved to your account. The app provides stats on the homes you’ve saved so you can see what your type really is and what is most important to you in a new home.

House Hunter: This app allows you to keep track of and compare all of the homes you’ve seen. Start by scoring home features on a scale of 0-10 by importance to you, then the app will give each home a score based on your criteria. You can also add your own photos and notes.

Keller Williams App: Okay, so we may be a bit biased since this is our app, but it is super handy! If you’re driving around checking out new neighborhoods to see where you may like to live, open the app and you can see all the homes for sale nearby. See something you like? Contact your agent right from the app.

AroundMe: It’s all about location! Use this app to find the closest necessities like banks, grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.

Your agent is also a wealth of local knowledge, so if you have any questions – ask!