If you are interested in selling your house, you need to make sure you get as much money for it as possible. There is never a second chance to make a first impression, and every detail matters when you want to get an offer on the table. That means you need to pay attention to the color of your paint as well. Even though this might sound like a relatively minor detail, the color of your paint does matter. What do you need to know about paint color and its impact on your home’s value?

The First Impression

First, the color of your walls matters because it is responsible for the first impression. Even though the buyer can repaint the house, the paint throughout your house will give the buyer a certain vibe. You want the people in your house to like it, so make sure you select colors that most people will be happy with.

Ease Of Matching 

When you are selecting paint for your house, you want to pick colors that are relatively easy to match. For example, gray will go with just about everything. On the other hand, colors such as lime green and pink are going to be harder to match. If more people can match their decorations to your home, you will have an easier time getting an offer on the table.

The Location Of The Colors

Finally, don’t forget that some colors are better in some rooms than others. For example, light blue is probably going to go well in the bathroom, but it might not go well with other rooms in the home. In addition, brown or red might be fine in your kitchen, but mint green is probably not going to look great in that room. Think about what colors are used in certain rooms of your house. 

Pick The Right Color For Your Home

While a potential buyer can simply repaint the house if they don’t like it, it will mean extra time and money that they need to worry about. Furthermore, remember that your paint will be responsible for the first impression you make on a buyer, so make sure you choose colors that other people will like.

Filed under: Real Estate by Julie Woodward
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There are a lot of people who are wondering if now is the right time to move or refinance their current home loan. With interest rates still favorable, a lot of homeowners have the potential to save a lot of money if they are able to secure a home loan with a lower interest rate. There are two ways homeowners can secure a home loan with a lower interest rate. The first is to refinance. The second is to move. Which option is better? There are a few key points to keep in mind.

Taking A Closer Look At Refinancing

There are a lot of homeowners who have an abundance of equity currently built up in their homes, making this a great time to refinance. With a refinance, there are multiple options available. Some homeowners might refinance to access the equity in their homes, allowing them to complete a project. Some homeowners might refinance in an effort to pay off their home loan sooner. If homeowners are trying to access more equity, or are trying to shorten the term of the loan, then refinancing might be the smart move.

Looking At The Option Of Moving

The other option is to get a new home loan entirely by moving. This is an attractive option for homeowners who might have a dream house they would like to move to. In particular, any homeowner who currently has a home loan with a high interest rate should consider moving into their dream home now. Because mortgage rates are low right now, this is a chance for homeowners to move into a larger house while keeping their mortgage payments the same or less by obtaining a lower interest rate.

Every Situation Is Different

In the end, every situation is different. Because interest rates right now are so low, now could be the time for homeowners to consider moving or refinancing. Switching to a home loan with a lower interest rate could save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Anyone with questions or concerns should reach out to a professional for help.

Filed under: Real Estate by Julie Woodward
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Whether you’re selling a condo at La Mirage or you’ve just listed your canal-front home on North Padre Island, you need to know a bit about seller etiquette.
Your Port Aransas Realtor® will walk you through the basics, but the bottom line is this: Leave the house when someone is showing it.

Why Should You Leave Your House When Someone’s Showing It?

Provided that you’re selling your house while you’re still living in it, it’s always—always—a good idea to let buyers and their agents tour your home without your input.
Why?
Buyers can’t explore comfortably when you’re there. They feel like you’re looking over their shoulders, even when you’re in another room, and they feel like they’re spying on your personal space. Buyers also can’t talk freely with their agent (or each other) when you’re within earshot. They can’t get comfortable enough to look at the home objectively, and that’s going to cost you the sale.
You may feel like you’re helping, or that you’re pointing out important features that the buyers wouldn’t otherwise discover—but remember, what’s important to you isn’t necessarily important to others. The last thing you want is for buyers to rush through and hurry to leave, but that’s what they most often will do when the seller is present.
Let the buyers explore your house, envision themselves living in it, and discuss it privately with their agent and each other so they can make the right choice. The only way to do that is to leave the home while buyers are looking—including during open houses.

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling by Julie Woodward
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For most sellers, whether they’ve put a condo at the Grand Caribbean on the market or they’re selling a canal-front home on North Padre Island, it’s a big question: Is it easier to sell a home while you’re still living in it, or should it be vacant before you put it on the market?
Not everyone has a choice; in fact, most people sell their homes while they’re still living in them because they need to sell the home in order to purchase another.
But is it easier to sell your home while you’re living in it?

Should You Sell Your House While You Still Live in It?

There are a few aspects of selling that are tougher while you still live in your home, such as having to keep the house spotless and ready for a showing at any time or having to leave the house (and drop what you’re doing) every time someone comes to see it.
However, if you’re still living in the house when you sell it, you have some distinct advantages on your side.
First, it’s already halfway staged; second, a vacant house feels empty to buyers—and it may not give them warm-fuzzy feelings about buying it, either.
Homes show better when they’re occupied. Buyers don’t have to guess at whether their bed will fit in the bedroom or if they’ll need to buy a bigger dining room table. They can also identify each room’s purpose—provided that you’ve staged it properly.
The bottom line: Even if it’s tougher (and it is, sometimes) to sell your home while you’re still living in it, it’s probably a good idea because it’ll sell faster—and maybe even at a better price—than it would if you left it vacant.

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island.
 
 
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling by Julie Woodward
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When your home is on the market, it’s like everything is on hold. You can’t make a mess—what if someone stops by to see the house?—and you have to be ready to vacate on a moment’s notice.
So rather than running yourself ragged, follow these tips to help you and your family live (somewhat) normally while your house is on the market.

Put a Lid On It

Now is the perfect time to invest in lidded baskets and a lidded hamper, too. Ideally, you’ll have a basket with a lid in all the most highly trafficked rooms in your house (we’re looking at you, kitchen and entryway). That way, you can whisk everything out of sight when you need to without creating a jumbled mess that you’ll have to deal with later.

Stock Up On Disposable Cleaning Wipes

Run through your kitchen and bathrooms wielding a disposable cleaning wipe in each hand. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can transform a slightly messy surface into an impeccable one.
Here’s a tip, too: baby wipes work just as well if you’re more worried about wiping away fingerprints and dust than about killing 99 percent of germs—and they’re more affordable than wipes marketed exclusively for house-cleaning.

Fresh Flowers, Fresh Fruit, Fresh Look

It’s always been a good idea to brighten your home with fresh flowers, live plants and bowls of fresh fruit. These investments are affordable and simple to implement, and they can make a huge difference in selling your home—so why not grab a potted plant or two, buy yourself some flowers, and snag some healthy snacks the next time you’re at the grocery store?

Are You Selling Your Home in Port Aransas or South Padre Island?

If you’re selling your home, we’d love to help you do so quickly and at the right price. We’ll be happy to give you a free comparative market analysis so you know exactly how much your home is worth. While you’re here, you can also download our free home-selling eBook and read our useful tips for selling your home faster.
When you’re ready, call us at 361-563-7788 or contact us online to find out how we can help you sell your home in Port Aransas or South Padre Island.

Filed under: Blog, Selling, Staging by Julie Woodward
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With dozens of horrible storms in the rear-view and more on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to invest in a home generator. With the right preparation and planning, you can avoid power outages and their aftermath.
But where do you even begin your generator-shopping journey?

How to Buy a Generator for Your Home

There are two types of generators you can purchase for home use: small, portable options and large, standby generators.

Small, Portable Generators

Typically, small, portable generators cost between $500 and $1,500. However, that affordability comes at a price.
Small, portable generators for home use can power your home’s essential appliances, and their simple to set up. However, these types of generators require manual operation. You’ll also have to monitor these generators closely.
In order to get your portable generator running, you must be at home when the power goes out. These types of generators run on fuel—and their tanks hold between three and six gallons, on average—so you’ll need to be on standby for a fill-up.
Because there’s a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine exhaust, your portable generator must be at least 10 feet away from your home (that’s something to think about during inclement weather). As an extra precaution, you may want to hook up a carbon monoxide detector when you’re running your portable generator.

Standby Generators

Standby generators are equipped to automatically start when the power goes out.
However, these generators typically cost about $10,000. Maintenance is necessary every two years, and it does need to be performed by licensed technician. Large, standby generators have about a 15-year lifespan, provided that they are properly maintained.

Should You Invest in a Generator?

There’s no question that power outages are inconvenient—but for some people, they can be deadly, such as those who rely on home medical equipment.

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas?

Whether you’re looking for a home for sale in Port Aransas orNorth Padre Island, we’d love to help you find the perfect place to live.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll start searching right away.
In the meantime, check out our:

• All-in-one mortgage calculator
• Free homebuyer handbook
• Free eBooks about buying a home (and more)

Filed under: Blog, Buying, Consumer Tips by Julie Woodward
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