Posts with tag 'Home-selling tips'

As homes become more wired and technologically sophisticated, buyers are looking for smart home features to make their lives more convenient and secure. And it's not just younger buyers who want smart home features - they appeal to buyers of all ages.

Our real estate agents point out the following smart home features that today's buyers are looking for:

1. Home Security Cameras
   Many different types of smart home security cameras are available, but they usually have the following features: motion sensors, night vision, and two-way talk capabilities. Also, your smart camera system will come equipped with an app that gives you access to a live feed of camera views if you're away from home.
   
   
2. Programmable Thermostats
   These smart home features make your home more comfortable and can even help reduce your heating and cooling bills. They can be programmed to turn on before you wake up in the morning or return home in the evenings. Over time, they'll learn your habits and respond accordingly, keeping your home comfortable without running your HVAC unit unnecessarily.
   
   
3. Lighting Control System
   Smart lighting involves replacing your traditional light bulbs with smart bulbs, which work in your existing sockets. Using a hub that's connected online, you can then adjust your lighting from anywhere. You can program your lights to turn on before you come home from work or slowly get brighter as you prepare to wake up in the morning.
   
   
4. Smart Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors
   These detectors may not be the most glamorous smart feature, but buyers appreciate the convenient safety enhancements they offer. If they detect smoke or carbon monoxide, they'll send a text alert to your phone and will also warn you if their batteries are getting low.
   
   

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When you have to move quickly, your home may be vacant when you put it up for sale. Like anything else, there are pros and cons to selling a home that isn't occupied. Although you don't have to deal with the hassle of prospective buyers coming in and out while you're still living there, vacant Brighton homes for sale can be harder to unload because buyers may wonder why they're empty and if there's something wrong. Whether you're still in your home or need to move and sell it while it's vacant, our real estate agents can help you understand how to make it more appealing.

1. Make a Good Impression Online
   If you're going to be moving soon, clean up, stage your home and take photos of it before you move the furniture out. Send the photos to your real estate agent to add before it's listed online. An empty house may not seem like a big deal, but buyers who are looking for homes online often skip the vacant ones because it's hard for them to envision their furniture and possessions in the space. Some companies do virtual staging, which adds computer-generated furnishing to photos of the rooms.

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Listing your house in the winter involves a slightly different approach than attempting to sell in the warmer months. With the holidays and weather conditions impacting the way you present your home, you need to proactively take steps to ensure every showing is a success. Here are a few tips our real estate agents encourage homeowners to follow when selling your home during the winter months.

1. Consider Inspections in the Fall
   If you're hoping to list in the winter, we encourage you to get your home inspected in the autumn. Focus on inspections that cover these areas: the roof, HVAC systems, gutters, fireplaces/chimneys, air sealing windows/doors, pests/rodents, and mold/mildew. Fixing these problems ahead of your listing helps ensure that inspection issues won't disrupt the negotiations.
   
   
2. Prioritize the Exterior
   Curb appeal is important all year long, which is why you can't neglect your landscaping. Remove dead tree limbs or debris around the property and consider planting perennials to spruce up the space. You also want to remove hazards around the home like icicles or patches of ice and slush to ensure a safe space for your potential buyers. Make sure you keep the entranceways of the home clean as well.
   
   
3. Keep Holiday Decorations to a Minimum
   We recommend that sellers refrain from decorating their homes for the holidays. However, we also understand that many homeowners want to enjoy one last holiday season in their house. If you must decorate, we encourage you to choose lights and decorations representing the winter season and doesn't cater to one specific set of beliefs or traditions.
   
   

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Selling your home during the holidays presents the opportunity to add a splash of festivity to your home staging. But there are some popular decorations you may want to leave in storage until next year. Decorations that complement the existing look of your home can be a great way to make your home feel warm, cozy, and inviting to buyers. Our REALTORS® know what it takes to stage a home during any season, and we've got some tips to help you stage your home for sale during the holidays.

1. Less Is More
   Whether you normally go all-out with holiday decorating or opt for simple decorations, less is more when staging your home for sale during the holidays. Large lawn decorations and extensive outdoor lighting may be fun, but they're not the best choice when competing with other Brighton homes for sale. Instead, opt for simple outdoor lighting that highlights the best features of the home, and small, tasteful touches indoors.

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You know your home's perks and issues better than anyone. Buyers want to know about any known issues so they can factor repair costs into their offer. Know what you need to disclose during the sale process. Our real estate agents are here to help you with every step of selling a home, including our guide to what sellers need to know about disclosure.

Why Disclosure Is Required in Real Estate Sales

Let's say you're shopping for Livingston homes for sale. Wouldn't you want to learn everything about the potential investment? As a seller, you have a responsibility to disclose certain known issues to buyers. Not only is disclosure the right thing to do, but it's required by law. Exact disclosure laws vary by state, but most require known, significant issues with the home to be disclosed.

Failing to disclose issues with the home can lead to a canceled sale, or potential fraud litigation if the buyer discovers issues that should have been disclosed after closing. By disclosing issues truthfully, you can avoid these potential snags.

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