When you’re selling your house, you want it to be as appealing to buyers as possible while increasing its value… and one way to do that is to make all kinds of upgrades everywhere, right?
Not necessarily.
You could be wasting your money on upgrades and improvements that your home doesn’t really need to appeal to sellers.

3 Improvements and Upgrades That Don’t Necessarily Increase Your Home’s Value

Every home is different, which is why it’s so important to talk to your Realtor® about what you should (and shouldn’t) do before you put your house on the market.
With that said, these three improvements and upgrades aren’t likely to bring you much (or any) return on investment.

All-Out Professional Landscaping

Your yard needs to look its best. Pick up sticks, rake the leaves, clear out grass clippings.
But it doesn’t need to look like the South Texas Botanical Gardens. If you overdo the landscaping, you could send buyers the message that they’re looking at a high-maintenance home; that’s the last thing you want to do.
Landscaping choices are personal to many people, so you could even drive off potential buyers with your handmade bridge over the flowing creek to the koi pond.

Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs

Install a swimming pool if you’re doing it for yourself, your family, and your friends.
Don’t install a swimming pool because you think buyers will like it.
The cost of installing swimming pools and hot tubs doesn’t usually work its way back into your bank account once you sell a home. Instead, focus on the fact that some families just won’t buy a house with a pool.

A New Roof

The average lifespan of a roof is about 30 years. If your home’s roof is older than that, replacing it isn’t really considered a home improvement; it’s just good maintenance. If it’s not and you replace it early, buyers are likely to think that’s a nice touch… but you might not want to expect any return on your investment through the sale.

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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If you’re thinking about remodeling your condo so you can sell it, you’ll love knowing that there’s plenty of inspiration right here.
Just remember: before you spend big bucks on a remodel only to sell your condo in Port Aransas, make sure you talk to your Realtor® first. Not all remodeling projects bring in a good return on investment, so ask your Realtor for specific guidance before you shell out any cash.

Remodeling Your Port Aransas Condo to Sell It

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Are You Selling Your Condo in Port Aransas?

Call us at 361-563-7788. We can help you sell your condo in Port Aransas quickly… and at the right price.
 

Filed under: Blog, Selling, Staging by Julie Woodward
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In some cases, it really pays off to list your Port Aransas condo for sale during the winter months.
Why?
People who look for new homes during the winter, particularly in a great spot like North Padre Island or Port Aransas, may be a bit more serious about buying than those who come “kick the tires” during spring and summer.

Selling Your Port Aransas Condo During Winter

Sure, lots of homebuyers go into hibernation during the winter. Your condo may drum up less interest during December, January, February, and March than it would during warmer months… but the interest that it does generate may be from more qualified buyers.
It’s not necessarily the number of people who come through your condo that matters; it’s the number of qualified buyers who are ready to make a purchase that matters.
If you’re thinking about selling your condo, grab a free local market report. We’ll tell you about Port Aransas home values and North Padre Island home values so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
We’ll even be happy to perform a free comparative market analysis to show you how much you could get if you put your condo on the market today. Your CMA will include:

• Similar properties that have sold and closed within the past 6 months
• Similar properties that are on the market right now
• Similar properties that are in a “pending” status (they’ve sold, but they haven’t closed yet)
• Similar properties that have expired (they didn’t sell during their listing period)
• A detailed report on your condo and how much it’s worth based on today’s market

Let Us Help You Sell Your Port Aransas Condo

We can help you sell your Port Aransas condo quickly and at the right price. Call us at 361-563-7788 today to learn how we’ll market your condo and get it in front of all the right buyers — even during the winter.

Filed under: Blog, Home Seller Tips, Home Selling Tips, Selling by Julie Woodward
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When your home is on the market, lenders typically want to see a current appraisal—but for many homeowners, that’s a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat experience.
While we all know our own homes, what will an appraiser see when he or she walks in? How will the appraiser judge its appearance, state of repair, and value?
The good news: if you’re prepared for the appraiser, you don’t need to lose any sleep.
But how do you ensure your home is ready for an appraisal?

How to Ensure Your Home is Ready for an Appraisal

Double-check all the maintenance around your home. Is there chipped paint? A stain on the carpet that you’ve covered with a rug? A loose tile in the bathroom?
The appraiser is going to look at how well your home is maintained, and everything that could use some work is going to chisel away at the value.
Other things to check:

• Make sure appliances are in good, working order
• Trim bushes and clean up flower beds
• Find and repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways
• Tidy up your yard
• Repair damaged or loose fence slats
• Check the roof for loose shingles
• Check your gutters for blockage, bowing or other damage

Does Cost = Value?

Cost doesn’t equal value.
What that means is that if you spent thousands of dollars on a master bath makeover, you may not recoup it all when you put your house on the market.
(It’s always a good idea to think about resale value when you’re making home improvements, and if you’re not sure—or if you’re thinking about making improvements just to sell—talk to your Realtor® to be certain you’re making the right choice.)

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: Appraisal, Blog, How-To, 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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