Piedmont-Triad Homes Tips
6 Tips to Radically Update Your Home
1. Raise the roof!!!!
Not literally but gut the attic and raise the ceiling in, at least, the living room. Older homes typically have 7 foot ceilings and it’s one of the first characteristics that buyers notice. It’s relatively inexpensive when you compare your return on investment.
2. Knock down walls!
Knock down as many walls as you can and still retain the integrity of the home, and the NECESSARY separation of rooms. If you compare older homes to newer homes, you’ll notice that older homes are typically “choppy” while newer homes feel open and airy.
3. Overhaul Your kitchen and/or Master Bathroom!
These are the two rooms in the house that you can go overboard on and still get your money back when you sell your home. Refinish or replace the cabinetry, put in new tile and sinks, even install a new, stand-up shower. When you put your house on the market you should see a great return on investment.
4. Add a Master Bathroom!
The one bathroom houses from the 1970s and earlier are now obsolete. We have decided that we like a private bathroom for ourselves and another one for guests and our children. A master bath addition is a fantastic way to add more value to your home.
5. Put in Wood Floors!
You won’t always get your money out of installing wood floors but if the cost of installing wood floors and some other floor covering is negligible then go with wood - it appeals to most buyers.
6. Paint!
Painting your home modern, neutral colors makes a HUGE difference in the appearance of the home. The cost is minimal and neutral colors when you’re selling a home will appeal to the widest audience.
Baby Boomers
Everyone seems to be talking about Baby Boomers and for good reason. 78 million boomers turned 60 in 2006, and many are considering retirement. For millions this life change will include deciding whether to buy or sell a home, relocate or invest in a second home. Many baby boomers who own their own home and want to downsize will buy a smaller home rather than rent. When they buy for retirement three quarters of boomers say they want to head for the warmth of the south. Where they settle will depend a lot on the availability of health care facilities and cultural opportunities. With that in mind where better than the Piedmont Triad area of North Carolina. Winston-Salem has two excellent medical centers. Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Forsyth Medical Center. As for cultural opportunities the North Carolina School of the Arts makes it?s home in Winston-Salem. Reynolda House Museum of American Art is here as well as a wonderful symphony. There is a Shakespeare Theatre in nearby High Point, and the list goes on.
New construction is at an all time high with a choice of downtown condo/lofts to homes with main level master suites and manageable sized lots. The prices are still very affordable as is the general cost of living. Many people are relocating here from the North, West and Florida where home prices and taxes have reached ridiculous highs.
For information on re-locating to the Piedmont Triad area please contact Pauline Leggatt at Pauline@piedmont-triadhomes.com or by phone at 336-682-8809.
Welcome to North Carolina
On December 22, 2006 the Census Bureau released its annual state population estimates. North Carolina had an estimated population of 8,856,505 as of July 1, 2006, up 2.1 percent over the previous year. North Carolina passed New Jersey to move into the number 10 most populous state right behind Georgia.
According to Bill McCoy a consultant for the Urban Institute at the University of NC at Charlotte, North Carolina is becoming more and more a place where people are either moving here to retire or to start a new life. Compared to other parts of the country, NC has lower house prices, mild winters and a choice of mountains or beaches.
North Carolina is a prime destination for ?halfbacks.? Those are people that go to Florida and come halfway back. Florida has become really expensive and one can buy something for less money here in NC.
If you would like free information on re-locating to North Carolina please contact me by e-mail at Pauline.Leggatt@prucarolinas.com or by phone at 336-682-8809.
Home Staging
Have you been hearing a lot about home staging in recent weeks? What is Home Staging? Staging is the process of preparing a home for sale. When you place your home on the market for sale it then becomes a product. The product has features and benefits as well as pros and cons and of course competition.
Why should you stage your home? In order to compete with the competition you must be priced right and look better than the other products on the market. Your home is no different; it is one of many homes for sale and should be presented to buyers in the best possible light.
Home Staging has proven to help sell homes faster and/or for more money. A house should be “detailed” like you would detail your car if it were for sale. Before you show your home to a potential buyer be sure to go through your whole house with your agent to finish the Staging process. Here are a few tips to get you started:
INSIDE:
- Clear away all unnecessary decorative objects; keep collectibles to no more than groups of 3 or 5 on a piece of furniture. The general rule of thumb is “less is more.” A sparsely decorated home will help the buyer to mentally see their own things in the house.
- Rearrange or remove some of the furniture in your home, if necessary. Thin out overcrowded rooms to make the rooms appear larger.
- Clear as much as possible from the kitchen and bathroom countertops. Remove magnets, pictures and messages etc. from the refrigerator.
- Patch and paint walls if necessary.
- Clean carpets and drapes if needed.
- Clean windows.
- During showings turn on all lights and lamps.
- Play light music for all viewings.
OUTSIDE:
- Go around the perimeter of the house and yard and remove all wood scraps, extra building material etc.
- Check gutters and roof make sure gutters are cleaned out.
- Prune bushes and trees, you can’t sell a house if it can’t be seen.
- Keep your lawn freshly cut and edged.
- Check the condition of the paint especially the trim and the front door. The first impression or ‘curb’ appeal is very important.
For more tips, or questions about your real estate needs please contact me, I’m here to help. Just fill out the form below and click Submit to contact me.
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