Your Nashville Home Finder

How to Stage Your Kitchen to Sell Your Nashville Home

Your Nashville Home Finder — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:44:12 +0000

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It is where we all gather even when there is a fantastic living room right next to it. Buyers consider the kitchen one of the most important rooms in a house. In order to make your kitchen appealing to potential buyers, you must stage it. Now, this means clearing the countertops, clearing window sills, cleaning out the refrigerator and other appliances, cleaning the floors, wiping down walls (or painting them if needed). The kitchen should sparkle! The key to selling your Nashville home is making it stand out among the competition –so let it shine!

While your home is on the market, keep the countertops as clear as possible. It might look bare, but this will make the kitchen feel bigger and show the kitchen’s best features –rather than featuring your “stuff”. We’re selling your house, not your personal collections. The same goes for window sills, the refrigerator (front and top), and any other flat surfaces that tend to collect clutter. All those magnets, memos and photos on the refrigerator should be removed.

Buyers will open the refrigerator. A clean and organized refrigerator will leave a better impression on buyers than a smelly, junky refrigerator. Buying a home is a very emotional process and you’d be surprised at what can “turn a buyer off”. While you’re at it, put a box of baking soda in the refrigerator and freezer (they absorb odor).

Scrub, scrub, scrub! You’ve cleaned out the refrigerator, but don’t stop there. The inside of the microwave and range most likely need some TLC. Get all appliances sparkly clean inside and out. Use a cleaner that has a good fragrance. We don’t want buyers to be bombarded by icky smells of rotten food OR harsh chemicals. Speaking of smells, try to refrain from cooking foods like bacon and fish that will leave an odor in the kitchen and possibly the whole house.

Finally, since you’ve cleared off the countertops, a good touch will be either fresh flowers (if you keep them looking fresh!) or a bowl of fresh fruit. Oranges, apples, lemons, or limes are a small investment to make when selling your home. Not to mention you can eat them –a functional decoration! Remember to keep the counters clear of clutter. This includes dishes in the sink, small appliances, dish soap and sponges, etc. Oh, and don’t forget to open blinds and draperies to let the natural light in. Leave plenty of lights on as well. Under cabinet lights set the perfect mood for a showing.

When you are putting your house on the market, don’t overlook the other homes for sale in Nashville that potential buyers are considering. Take all steps necessary to ensure that buyers fall in love with your house. Get those emotions going!

I want to carefully guide my clients through the process of buying and/or selling, while offering them the tools they need in order to make informed decisions. Call me to schedule a showing or an appointment: 615-714-3665 or visit my site: www.YourNashvilleHomeFinder.com

How to Stage Your Master Bedroom to Sell Your Nashville Home

Your Nashville Home Finder — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:06:31 +0000

Commonly known as one of the most popular rooms in the home, the master bedroom is a very important space to focus on when staging your home to sell. Don’t sit back and take a chance on selling your house, take control of the situation. The fact is there are other homes just like yours on the market and you have to appeal to buyers and show that your home is better. Check out the other homes for sale in Nashville before you stage your home. It will give you an idea of what the competition is like.

First, stand in the doorway of your master bedroom and evaluate the room. Try to see the room as a buyer will see it. Does it make the impression that it should? If there is clutter, if there is an unmade bed or if the furniture is just not arranged right – it must staged! The best way to get started is to clear out the knick-knacks, extra furniture and personal photos. This will give you a “clean slate” to work with.

Next, arrange the bed and other furniture so it makes the room look its biggest. Try a few different layouts. You may be surprised at how much the furniture arrangement can affect the size and appearance of a room. Again, keep it simple. If you feel like there is too much furniture, remove a piece or two. Less furniture will make it feel bigger.

Once you have the furniture arranged, place lamps, accessories and art so the room is unified and simple. Remember when hanging artwork, the proper height of a painting (or any wall hung art) is eye level. Makes sense right? You’d be surprised at how many people don’t realize this. Oh and if you’re extra tall, hang the art at an average eye level. Also, if you need to consider new bedding, please do because it is not a huge investment and you can take it with you to your new house.

No need for a lot of accessories in the master bedroom. A bedroom is meant to be relaxing and tranquil, and clutter is NOT relaxing. In some cases it may be as easy as cleaning up and making the bed (everyday). In other cases, a few more of the above steps may be needed to make master bedroom show-ready.

Ways to Redecorate Your Nashville Home for Free

Your Nashville Home Finder — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:22:45 +0000

Redecorating can be costly. The trick to saving money when redecorating is reusing what is already in your home. So, let’s go shopping!—in our homes, not in the stores. Whether you are re-decorating to live in your Nashville home or staging to sell, these are simple and inexpensive (or even better… free) ways to update! If you are selling your home, Nashville Realty is a competitive market and you must take the necessary steps to market correctly.

Re-use Your Own Furniture First, we’ll begin with your furniture. Most rooms can be laid out in at least a couple of different ways so don’t feel stuck with the current layout. If you find yourself unable to “picture” it any other way, have someone you know help you (or better yet, hire an Interior Designer). A fresh pair of eyes can make a world of difference. After we look at something one way for a long time, it gets harder and harder to imagine it any other way. Plus, someone may have a great idea that you did not think of.

Re-use Your Own Accessories Next, look around your whole house and take a mental inventory of what accessories and art you have. Chances are your home has fantastic accessories, but their placement simply needs a change. A vase that you have in your living room might really enhance the look of your master bedroom or vice versa. Lamps can possibly be switched around to freshen and update. Most lamps have a versatile style and go just about anywhere.

Re-Decorate with Functional Items Another simple way to decorate your home without emptying your wallet is to use items that have a functional purpose. One good example is in the kitchen fill a bowl with fresh fruits and/or vegetables. Yes, as you eat them, they will have to be replaced, but this is an easy way to be able to change the colors in the kitchen as often as you want. Other examples of functional knick-knacks are market baskets to hold blankets, antique boxes that can store remote controls, musical instruments, and books. These are all items that are multipurpose and just might be sitting around your house (in storage) waiting to be put to use. Candles are a good touch in kitchens and bathrooms.

Be creative when you are redecorating your home. Don’t think you have to go out and spend a lot of money to update the look of your home. Sometimes it may be helpful to have a friend come over to get a fresh pair of eyes on the matter.

How to Stage Your Living Room to Sell Your Nashville Home

Your Nashville Home Finder — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:50:20 +0000

A spacious living room is a good selling point for buyers. When your Nashville home is on the market, the best way to appeal to buyers is to remove as many personal items from the living room as possible. A room with lots of clutter is going to look smaller than a room that is clear of clutter. The living room is most likely going to be the first room buyers see when they enter the home. The key to staging any room is to keep it simple. Pretend that you are the buyer. And remember that buyers are looking to buy the house, not your furniture and accessories.

The first step in preparing your living room for staging is to clear tables and surfaces. This will allow you to start fresh with accessorizing. Once you have removed personal photos and such, you can begin re-accessorizing your living room. Stand in the doorway and take a quick mental picture of the room while it is clear of all clutter and knick knacks. This is will allow you to see the bones of the room. Pretend that you are the buyer and remember that buyers are looking to buy the house, not your furniture and accessories. Use one large piece of art for the walls as opposed to multiple small pieces. Blank wall space is not a bad thing when trying to sell a home.

Remove any extra furniture from the room. Decorating a room to live and staging a home to sell are completely different. Furniture that you feel is necessary for “living” may not showcase a room well. For example, buyers love a fireplace. In this case, place the furniture in a way to make the fireplace a point of interest. No matter what feature you are showcasing in the living room, whether it is windows, a fireplace, built-ins, etc., the furniture should be arranged to make the room look spacious.

Another trick to make the living room look bigger (and better) is to use as much natural light as possible. Open blinds and draperies to let light into the room. Where there is not much natural light, place lamps to create the illusion of natural light. The more light, the bigger the space will feel. Always open all window treatments and turn on lamps when the home is being shown to a potential buyer.

Make your home look better than the competition! Don’t just expect your house to sell itself. It’s all about marketing and making a good first impression. With a struggling economy and an extremely competitive real estate market, homes for sale in Nashville must step it up to stay ahead of the game.

Choosing a Real Estate Agent Who’s Right For You: Nashville Realty

Your Nashville Home Finder — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:35:40 +0000

Possibly one the most important and biggest purchases you will ever make is a home. To ensure that you get through it with minimal problems, you should take the time to choose the right real estate agent for you. Nashville Realty is an ever changing and fast moving industry, so you should find someone who will have your best interest at heart.

When choosing an agent to represent you in a real estate transaction, you need to think about what you need from your agent. If this is your first transaction, you will most likely need an agent who will devote extra time in providing information and explaining the process. If you are familiar with the process and don’t require as much “hand holding”, you may want an agent who will carry out each step without as much explanation.

First and foremost, before you begin interviewing, talk to others who have recently bought or sold a home using an agent. What’s more important than a good reputation? The opinion of family members, friends and colleagues is one of the most trusted sources available. Talking to people you know and trust is a good way to find out an agent’s work ethic.

You might be spending quite a bit of time with your real estate agent. Some situations may require less contact than others, but just in case you end up spending hours in the car searching for homes with your agent, your home search will be much more enjoyable if you get along. And while you are assessing whether you will work well together, think about whether this agent will work well with other real estate professionals. It won’t be any help to you if your agent is avoided by other agents because they do not like working with them. An agent who is a pleasure to work with will make everything go much smoother for everyone.

If you are selling your home, find out what marketing techniques and strategies each agent has and what services they provide when they list a home. Selling your Nashville home can be stressful, so let a real estate agent guide you and relieve the stress. If you are buying a home, find out what kind of time an agent is willing to spend with you. Some agents that are known as “the best” are extremely busy and you might not be able to get the attention you want or deserve.

30-Year Rates Set a Record Low- Nashville Realty

Your Nashville Home Finder — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:02:28 +0000

December 3, 2009

The government is working hard to strengthen the economy. Interest rates are being pushed down aggressively. The average interest rate is at a record low of 4.71%. The interest rate is the lowest it has been since Freddie Mac has been tracking it beginning in 1971.

Freddie Mac was created by Congress in 1970 to do 3 things: ensure that mortgage institutions have money to lend, make it easier for consumers to afford a decent residence, and stabilize residential mortgage markets in times of financial crisis. During one of the worst housing and financial crises in decades, Freddie Mac is working to support the housing market and answer the nation’s call to assist with its recovery. Freddie Mac’s top priorities are providing essential liquidity to the market and helping to stem the foreclosure crisis.

Freddie Mac collects mortgage interest rates from lenders across the country every week, Monday through Wednesday. Although mortgage rates are remaining low, they do fluctuate even on a day–to-day basis.
Buyers are still having trouble qualifying for loans though. The low interest rates are available to those with solid credit and a 20% down payment. Despite the government’s assistance, lenders are buckling down on their requirements.

Not only are consumers having trouble qualifying for loans at these low interest rates to purchase a home, but many current homeowners would like to take advantage of the low rates for refinancing. With prices continuing to drop, homeowners in some areas owe more than what their home is worth. Approximately 11 million households, or 23% of homeowners with a mortgage, owe more on their home loans than their house is currently worth according to First American CoreLogic, a real estate information company.

Anyone who can take advantage of the support from the government has probably already done so. If you need more information regarding the Housing Recovery, call a Real Estate Professional in your area. You too can take advantage of the low interest rates and tax incentives. Homes for sale in Nashville continue to sell, but prices are dropping. It is also a good time to take advantage of lower prices.

What is Radon and Should Nashville Area Homeowners Be Concerned?

Your Nashville Home Finder — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:13:55 +0000

What is Radon?

Radon is a colorless, odorless, inert radioactive gas that comes from the natural decay of radium and uranium found in the soil beneath a house. Radon levels vary from house to house. Many factors determine the level of radon that enters each home including soil chemistry, soil porosity, and suction within the home. Houses act like chimneys and the radon is sucked out of the ground up through the house and out. It only takes tiny cracks or holes for the radon to enter.

What are the risks of Radon?

The following EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Radon risk chart shows Radon as a serious health problem:

If 1,000 people were exposed to this level over a life time who are:

Annual

Radon Level….Smokers………….Never Smokers

20 pCi/L….14% or135 people…..0.8% or 8 people could get lung cancer

10 pCi/L…..7% or 71 people…..0.4% or 4 people could get lung cancer

4 pCi/L……3% or 29 people…..0.2% or 2 people could get lung cancer

2 pCi/L……2% or 15 people…..0.1% or 1 person could get lung cancer

In 1988 the United States Congress passed legislation, directing the EPA to work toward a long term national goal, “The air within buildings in the United States should be as free of radon as the ambient air outside of buildings.”

What do studies show about Radon risks?

The EPA studied the lung cancer risk of uranium miners exposed to 400pCi/L. They assume the risk of a homeowner exposed to 4pCi/L to be one hundredth as much. Based on this assumption, the EPA guideline level of 4pCi/L represents a much greater risk than allowed for other environmental pollutants.

Other scientists have tested more than 70,000 homes across the United States. This study shows the counties with the highest average radon levels had the lowest incidence of cancer. Perhaps, breathing the low levels of radon found in the home environment might not be harmful. Neither of these studies actually take into account the many factors that cause cancer, so the real answer to the question is somewhere between the two.

Radon in Middle Tennessee

According to the EPA, Middle Tennessee including Davidson and Williamson County have some of the highest concentration of Radon in the state. An article in The Tennessean in January 2007, stated that Governor Phil Bredesen proclaimed January as “Radon Action Month”. Nashville area homes are being tested more and more in real estate transactions because knowledge of Radon is spreading.

What should I do if my home has Radon?

If your home tests high for Radon, there are radon mitigation systems that can be installed within the home. A result that shows 20pCi/L or higher should most likely be mitigated. Most experts agree that levels of 4pCi/L and below do not pose a significant health risk. There is, however, the gray area between 4pCi/L and 20pCi/L. The closer the level is to 4pCi/L the better, but the homeowner has to make the decision to mitigate or not to mitigate.

Today, most relocation companies insist that the house test below 4pCi/L before they will buy it. Some buyers have adopted this position; anything below 4pCi/L is fine while anything above 4pCi/L is unacceptable. This unfortunate misinterpretation of EPA guidance could cause you to pay for a radon mitigation system when selling your home.

Take the time to educate yourself about Radon and its potential health risks. Keep in mind that there are options for treatment of your home if high levels are found. If you are selling your home, you should know what Radon is and that mitigation might be required by the buyer in order for your home to sell. If you are buying a home, consider having the home tested for Radon but know the levels and the health risks before mitigating. Nashville Realty is becoming more and more familiar with Radon testing as buyers are taking the opportunity to test for the gas.

Quick Guide: Preparing Your Nashville Home to Sell

Your Nashville Home Finder — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:56:06 +0000

The biggest mistake you (the seller) can make is put your home on the market before it is ready. The first impression is the most important for buyers. Make sure your Nashville home is staged to appeal to all buyers immediately when they walk through the door.

Preparing Your Home for the Market

Wash and dry windows until they sparkle.
Clean the front porch or entryway of all debris, dust & spider webs.
Clean smudges from front door, railings; touch up paint if needed.
Remove any “clutter” from counter tops, end tables, etc.
Pack personal photos, etc, so buyer can visualize their family in this home
Consider storing some furniture pieces if rooms are crowded
Clean closets, organize shelves and hanging spaces, store off-season clothes
Revitalize flower beds with fresh, blooming flowers or plants in season.
Trim shrubbery and refresh mulch in beds.
Keep the garage doors closed, storing garden hoses, bicycles and toys out of sight at all times.

Preparing Your Home for Showings

Keep fresh or citrus fragrant scents in use at all times.
Place all dirty dishes inside dishwasher.
Tidy all rooms, make beds, fluff & place pillows.
Clean bath rooms until they sparkle and close the commode lids
Make sure dirty laundry is inside basket or hamper
Confine your pets to keep them safe and out of the way of people who may be afraid of or allergic to animals.
Open curtains and shutters and turn on lamps (lights) in all rooms for every showing.

A potential buyer’s first impression is extremely important and can set the tone for the entire showing of your home. When a house has plenty of emotional appeal, it generally sells more quickly and for a higher price. The competition is strong in Nashville Realty. Get a head start and have your home show ready and in its best condition!

Understanding Home Appraisals-Nashville Area Homes

Your Nashville Home Finder — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:53:58 +0000

When you buy a home, you automatically think it is worth what you paid for it –or maybe even more. But a lender has to look at many different factors when deciding how much to lend against a property. The lender wants to be sure that the property will most likely sell for enough in the future to repay the loan if the borrower defaults. As in most cities at this time, lenders are being extremely cautious when appraising Nashville area homes.

Lenders order appraisals to find out what the home’s neighborhood conditions are as well as looking at the home itself. Today’s appraiser has to fill out a market conditions addendum in addition to the regular appraisal. It includes an exhaustive analysis of housing values and trends where the property is. If your neighbors don’t pay their mortgages and the street is full of foreclosure sale signs, you are out of luck. Your neighborhood will be tagged with the label “declining.” Not only does this create problems for you, the seller, but it also makes things difficult for a potential buyer. The best mortgage rates out there may not be available, and a higher-than-usual down payment may be required.

You can rest assured that if your home has a better lot than the house across the street, it will add to the appraised value of your home. A house that backs up to a golf course will appraise for more than the exact same house in the same neighborhood that backs up to a supermarket.

Although you want your home to be valued at its highest, you have to be careful with home improvements. It is possible to “over-improve”. In a “cookie-cutter” neighborhood, a house that stands out with a huge addition and major improvements will not appraise for more simply because there are no comparables. It is best to stay within the means of the neighborhood as a whole.

When pricing your home to sell, take the time to compare your home to the others in the neighborhood, taking into consideration as many factors as possible that may determine the value of your home. Just because you think it is worth a certain amount, does not mean the market will allow it to appraise for that amount. Improvements and updates can definitely raise the value of your home if done right. Nashville realty has slowed with the dragging economy and prices are dropping. Know you area or neighborhood what is happening with its value.



Holiday Home Buyers-Nashville Area Homes
Your Nashville Home Finder — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:54:28 +0000
We all know that the most popular to time for buyers to look for a home is in the Spring and Summer.  Children are out of school, it’s warm outside, and there just aren’t a bunch of commitments to work around.  However, when buyers choose to look for a home during the holidays, it might mean they are serious buyers and they don’t want to waste any time.  You can compare these home buyers to holiday shoppers on a mission to get those perfect gifts for family and friends in a timely manner.
If you have your home listed during the holidays, you need to keep in mind that your home is on the market—which means it is now a commodity.  It must appeal to any buyer that walks through the door.  Nashville, TN is a desirable city to live in.  Whether a buyer is already a resident of Nashville or if they are new to Music City, you never know when they might be looking at Nashville area homes with the intensions to buy quickly.  Your home might just be the one!
Keep your holiday decorations simple.  You do not want to overwhelm buyers.  Remember it is about showing the house, not your decorations. 
Keep your home clean and tidy.  Anytime a home is on the market for sale, it should be kept as clean as possible.  You can get a call for a showing at anytime and sometimes it can be last minute.  By keeping your home clean and tidy all the time, you can be ready for that otherwise inconvenient phone call. 
Be flexible.  Sometimes it is not easy to schedule showings that work for seller and buyer, but if you are flexible and easy to work with, it just may pay off. 
Warm it up.  “Baby, it’s cold outside!”  Immediately upon walking in the door, a buyer should feel warm and cozy.  The emotions they feel will determine whether your home will be a consideration or not.  Leave a few candles burning or through some logs on the fire.
Bake cookies and leave apple cider simmering on the stove.  The smell of hot apple cider and baked goods scream “feels like home”. 
Although some might tell you it’s best to wait until after the holidays to put your home on the market, you might just be able to get a head start on the competition.  Homes in Nashville for sale are really having to step up the staging techniques. 
I want to carefully guide my clients through the process of buying and/or selling, while offering them the tools they need in order to make informed decisions. Call me to schedule a showing or an appointment: 615-714-3665 or visit my site:  www.YourNashvilleHomeFinder.com