How to Check Your Roof and Gutters

Welcome back to our video blog. Today I am excited to have Royse Cockrell from Quality Real Estate Inspection Services with us. I asked Royse to join us so that he could give us a few tips on how to check your roof and gutter for damages.

What is the first step in inspecting your roof?

One of the most important things to keep in mind is your safety. You need a good ladder. A lot of people like to use the step ladders, but what I recommend is an extension ladder. Make sure the ladder goes above the gutters by about 2-3 feet. Then make sure the ladder is locked. I also recommend wearing gloves to protect your hands.

What should you look for once you are on the roof?

Once you're on the roof, look for damaged shingles. Often high winds can cause shingles to raise up or be completely torn off.

It's also important to check for the wearing of granules; granules are what help protect your roof from sun damage. You can often check in the gutter to see.

If you have any questions about your roof, please give us a call at 254.226.9246

Thanks for watching!

Air Conditioning Systems - Chris Coffee from Texstar Inspections

Welcome back to our video blog. Today we have Chris Coffee from Texstar Inspections with us again. We wanted to talk about how to keep your air conditioning system in tip-top shape.

Did you know that on average 10 percent of your income is spent on utilities a year? That's a a lot of money; so it's important to make sure your air conditioner is running as effectively as possible. Here are three ways to keep your bills lower.

1. Get it serviced - When is the last time you had your system checked?
2. Change the air filter - You should change the air filter every 30 days. This helps prevent coils from getting dirty and restricting the flow of air. The harder it has to work, the more money it costs you.
3. Clean your condensate drain - Take some warm, diluted bleach water and funnel it into the tube. This prevents algae from building up and causing water leakage inside your home.

These three simple tips can help save you lots of money over the year.

I want to thank Chris for being with us today. If you have any more questions for Chris you can give him a call at 254-616-9399 or e-mail him at texstar.inspector@gmail.com. If you would like to know more information about Texstar Inspections you can visit their Facebook page.

If you have any questions, give either The Shine Team or Chris a call. We'd be more than happy to help you out.

How to Prepare Your Home for the Winter with Chris Coffey

Welcome to the Shine Team’s video blog. Today we have Chris Coffey from Textar Inspections with us. He is going to help us with some tips to winterize your home.

What are the most important things we need to do to prepare our homes for freezing weather?

Make sure to have your heating system serviced. You also want to check whether all the weather stripping around the doors and sealing around the windows aren’t cracked. If those are damaged they can let cold air in causing an increase in your heating bill.

How do you take care of the sprinkler system?

It’s really important to take care of these before the freezing temperatures come. It’s an easy homeowner’s fix or there are companies that can help with that.  They’ll also help with not only your irrigation system, but your exterior plumbing as well.

You can buy frost caps at your hardware store. They are very simple to install and they can save you hundreds of dollars.

Anything else?

Check out your roof. If you have any shingles missing or issues it will only get worse in the winter. Hire a roof inspector to make sure everything is in good shape.

I want to thank Chris for being with us today. If you have any more questions for Chris you can give him a call at 254-616-9399 or e-mail him at texstar.inspector@gmail.com. If you would like to know more information about Texstar Inspections you can visit their Facebook page.

If you have any other questions for me about how to winterize your home, please give us a call 254.690.4321

Texas Veteran Home Loan

Welcome back to my video blog.

Today, I have with me Cyd West from First Community Mortgage. She is the best lender I’ve worked with in my 35-year career. She’s going to tell us about the Texas Veteran Home Loan and how it can help many of you.

Cyd West

The Texas Veteran Home Loan is available to anyone who has served in the military in the past or is currently active. You must be stationed in the state of Texas and claim Texas as your home residence for tax purposes. You also must register with the state by filling out a short application form.

So, how can the loan help you? The Texas Veteran Home Loan can be combined with any VA, conventional or FHA loan. Most often it is paired with a VA for a no down payment option.

Texas loves its veterans and wants to make living here easy.  There is also a further discount for any veteran that received a service-related injury. In that case, the veteran would receive a half percent discount.

There is a one percent participation fee that is never waived. The VA funding loan is treated the same as a regular VA loan. If you are exempt from VA Loan funding fee then you will be exempt from Texas Veteran funding fee.

The Texas Veteran Loan also does conventional loans, but it does require a 10 percent down payment as well as private mortgage insurance.

I want to thank Jean for having me here today. If you have any questions about the Texas Veteran Home Loan, please give me a call at 254.690.3765 I’d be more than happy to help!

Get to Know Your Real Estate Agent: Jean Shine Biography

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to my video blog. Yesterday one of my clients asked me to tell them a little bit about myself. I was taken aback at first, but I thought that maybe you would like to know too.

To a lot of people’s surprise, I am not a native Texan. I am honored to say I am a true army brat. I was born in Germany and raised in France. My father got stationed in central Texas when I was in the fourth to ninth grade and I fell in love with it all.

I love the people, the community, everything about it! Unfortunately, we had to move again, but I still kept in contact with the friends I had made. Years later I came back for a wedding. At that wedding I met my husband.

He is a native to Bell County, eight family generations, actually! We married while he was in the service. After he served in Vietnam, he had the opportunity to get involved in his family’s business. So, we started our young, married life together. I have loved every minute of it. I was fortunate to be able to stay at home with my two sons as they grew up.

Some friends had encouraged me to get into real estate. I wasn’t sure if I would ever become a realtor, but I got licensed just in case. Slowly, I got more and more involved and found that I loved it. I wanted to help families integrate into our wonderful community. When you buy a home, it’s about more than just that property, it’s about the community, the people, everything!

My career started to boom once my boys went off to college. I am fortunate and honored to have been one of the top agents in the area for 20 years. And now I am part of a wonderful family team. My husband, both my sons and my nephew all work with me. I have the best of both worlds!

Thank you so much for watching. I hope my story helps you understand how much I truly care about our Central Texas community.

Cyd West Discusses Why It's a Great Time for a Loan in Central Texas

Hello everyone! When you are considering buying a home, you not only want a realtor you can trust, but a mortgage lender, as well. That’s why I have with me today, Cyd West.

Some of you may have worked with Cyd before, but those of you who haven’t, I assure you, she is the best!

Cyd West

Jean and I have a lot of experience working together. Never in my career, have I seen such a wonderful time for buyers. With low prices, low interest rates and motivated sellers it’s just a phenomenal time to be in the market.

One of the advantages we have right now in our local market is doing lots of VA Loans. The underwriting process for VA Loans has changed much less than others. You have the option of no down payment, rates are low and the underwriting rules are designed to understand people who move around the country a lot.

Some of our smaller communities in Central Texas also have the option of USDA Financing.

I strongly encourage anyone thinking of buying to do so now! There has been a lot of talk about the recent increasing interest rates. The Federal Reserve recently announced they are stopping quantitative easing after this year. Because of this, the ability to get a mortgage loan is becoming increasingly harder.  While I do not expect rates to skyrocket, they definitely won’t remain this low!

One of the recent changes to underwriting is the Ability to Repay Test.  Many lenders before the housing market crash did not stress so much over your ability to repay as long as you had a good credit score and large enough down payment.

I am proud to say that First National Bank has always abided by the Ability to Repay Test; we want to protect the money from our clients and not just hand it out freely.

I want to thank Jean and everyone from the Shine Team. If you have any questions, please call me at 254.690.3765.

Interest Rates in Central Texas

 

What’s happening with interest rates in Central Texas?

Hi everyone! The market is on the move. We predicted it; those interest rates rose from 3.25% to 4.75% in as little as just a month! Sadly, yesterday we had a client who didn’t qualify for the home she wanted because of that increase. It is important for buyers to move now before rates get any higher.

Now, I bought my home 35 years ago when interest rates were 8.75%. I late became a realtor when rates were 10% and during my career I saw as high as 22%! I begged my clients not to buy a home with a new loan with that rate!

The point I am trying to make is interest rates are still historically low; they are super fantastic! So, I encourage you to buy now! Don’t pay rent somewhere and give your money away. Buy your home!

How is the July Housing Market in Central Texas?

Hello from the Shine Team!

We’ve had great sales in May! In fact, this May was higher than both those in 2011 and 2012. The entire market has been moving forward.

What used to be a buyers’ market is now a normal market in our area. Sales have increased across the board, which is great news for sellers in central Texas!

The average-days-on market is 141. Now, keep in mind that is market-wide, meaning it groups together all price ranges and all neighborhoods. That number is dropping! We are expecting a great summer!

Give me a call at 254-690-4321 and the Shine Team can help you buy or sell your home!

5 Things to Do Before You Move In

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Moving into a new home can be an extremely exciting time in a person’s life.  However, it can also be incredibly hectic.  There are some things that can be placed on the back burner during the move in process.  With these five easy tips on moving into a new home, you can be sure to have your home as safe and cost efficient as possible.

Spray for Bugs
Right when you get your keys, before you start moving in furniture, have an exterminator come out to your property and spray for bugs. A thorough spray before you move in will save you the hassle of clearing everything out for the exterminator at a later time. Make sure you are the only tenants of your new property and that there are no pesky pests sticking around!

Change the Locks
At closing time, the seller of a house turns over the keys to the new owners.  Many times, though, the previous owner will have given a spare key to a friend or neighbor in case of emergency.  Enlist a locksmith to come to the house and change all of the locks and get new keys made.  This final transition from one owner to the next will give the new homeowner peace of mind. 

Reprogram Your Garage Door Remote
Along with changing the locks of your home, reprograming your garage door remote will ensure the safety of your house.  Depending on the brand of remote, steps in reprograming it may differ, but the process is simple for nearly all brands.  Most remotes have a “Learn” button, which you must hold until the indicator light blinks.  While the indicator light blinks, press the button on your remote.  This should reprogram your garage door opener remote.  If this does not work, contact your remote manufacturer or local hardware store for assistance. 

Change Your Home’s Air Filters
Most air filter manufacturers recommend that you change the HVAC air filters once every month. Due to the increased amount of activity of moving furniture in and out of the house, a larger concentration of dust will collect in the ventilation system.   In order to improve the air quality in your home and increase heating and cooling efficiency, make sure you change your air filters right when you move in.

Install New Batteries in Smoke Alarms
When a person is selling their home, there are many different procedures they must do to ensure that it is ready for sale.  Often times, during the stress of the home selling process, the smoke alarms are forgotten about.  Ensure the safety of your home and family by changing the batteries in the smoke detectors when you move into a new house.  This cheap and quick home improvement has the potential to save your family’s life.

Sellers Have a Lot More Than Sale Price to Consider When Negotiating a Contract

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When an offer comes in on a property, most homeowners naturally gravitate to the sale price and consider whether that is an acceptable amount or not. But purchase agreements have a lot more to them than just price. Here are other factors that we consider when looking over an offer received on your property for sale.

Dates, Times and Possession Windows

One of the most overlooked items on a contract that sellers neglect to review thoroughly is the date range of when the buyer will take possession. Depending on the area and corresponding Realtors’ Board, there will be a place on a typical contract that outlines a closing date range. With today’s changing marketplace, it’s important to review whether those dates match up with your needs as a seller.

Other important dates to look at include the date by which the buyer promises to have their loan approval done by (also known as “loan approval date”) and also the number of days within which the buyer must complete all inspections and other investigations.

Mortgage, Sale or Inspection Contingencies

Many buyers place contingencies on their offer; some more standard such as inspection or mortgage contingencies and others like a grant contingency. It is critical to carefully review each aspect of an offer for these items that could later become a caveat to the process and result in a transaction that falls through. Down payment assistance programs are a good example of a less-than-perfect offer since the buyer is stating they will not buy your home unless they receive that assistance.

When there are multiple offers at hand, these things will be the factors that will make one offer much stronger than another.

Items That May or May Not Be Included in the Sale

Oftentimes agents do not realize there may be some reserved items on an MLS listing and those items can get left onto a contract. For example, some homeowners prefer to take their water softener with them and may choose to reserve that item. Unless it’s written in the contract, buyers could end up with the item if it is not addressed in the contract. This also holds true for things like window treatments, pool accessories and even rose bushes!

Local Marketplace Statistics and List-to-Sale Ratios

A good agent will carefully consider recent comparable properties to evaluate market activity in your neighborhood and compare the offer price to other homes also being sold nearby. List-to-sale ratios are also important to look at; are homes in the area selling at or close to the listing price or are there other trends that seem to be shaping up the market locally?
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When you work with the Shine Team, you’ll be comforted to know that we go through these and many other aspects of your contract to make sure you are getting the most for the sale of your home. To us, it’s not just about price either. We need to be sure that the experience is as comfortable and hassle-free for you as possible! We invite you to contact us today if you’d like to list your home with us or for any other real estate needs you may have.

Have a great Texas day!

Central Texas Shines Among the Stars of America

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If you are looking for somewhere to live, then look no further than the Central Texas Killeen-Temple area.  You may think that it is just a sleepy little town in the heart of Texas but it’s quite the opposite. The accolades it has collected make us stand way above any other area in the nation and definitely make you want to call this place home.

Best in Affordability, Best City to Live In, Best Place for Jobs

Killeen is ranked by Milken Institute as the fifth overall in the Nation’s Best Performing Cities;

Ranked Number One Best Cities for Jobs in 2011.

Named  in the Top Ten Media Metro Areas for Military Retirement.

The cost of living is 19.4% lower than the average town in America and it’s the third most affordable place to live in the nation according to the Kiplinger.

Excellent Food, Education, Health Care

The Central Texas Killeen-Temple area is an exciting place to live. Fort Hood is the heartbeat of the area and is home to a military base. You will never be short of medical assistance either as the area has several excellent hospitals. Construction of the brand new Seton hospital has just been completed this summer and in two years, a huge army hospital in Fort Hood will be also completed. Plus there is a large hospital in Temple as well as a Metroplex.

What’s more,  the area’s school districts have as many as 48 different languages within the school system – a welcome melting pot of diversity and a variety of educational opportunities for children.

What’s so special about the community?

In the Central Texas Killeen-Temple area, the community is constantly changing due to the military bringing a wealth of knowledge and influence to the area. It is also a very young, vibrant and interesting community with an average age of about 26 making it a great place to live with all the bustling activity.

America is discovering the Central Texas Killeen-Temple area, why don’t you? 

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If you have any queries don't hesitate to call us at (254) 690-4321 or send an email to Jean@ShineTeam.com. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Key Questions To Ask When Interviewing a Real Estate Agent

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For most people, their home will be the largest financial transaction in their lifetimes so it is critical to carefully choose whom to work with to market your home if deciding to sell. If buying a home is your goal then finding someone that truly understands your needs is essential.

All Realtors® Are Not Created Equal
The most important decision you can make when selling your home is who to work with as a real estate agent. In fact, there are many agents that choose to work primarily with one side of the transaction. Without properly investigating the person you are considering working with, you may never find out if you end up listing your home with an agent that specializes in assisting buyers.

Find Out What They Can Do for You
Just like any other service, some professionals provide a higher level of service while others don’t have as much to offer. Your goal should be to find an agent that delivers the most value to you. That’s why each interview for each person will be different. Your primary goal might be financially motivated. In that case, you may be more concerned with finding an agent that deals with more volume. If customer service is a priority, you would likely want to work with someone that services their clients carefully and thoughtfully while keeping their needs constantly in mind.

How Do They Operate Their Business?
Ask how they run their team and conduct their business, both as individuals and as a cohesive unit. Find out what each team member’s strengths are and decide whether they fit in with your real estate goals. Ask for proof of results, through market reports, company-wide statistics and client testimonials, to find out what they will do to get your home sold.

Time and dedication is another important factor. Do they engage in their real estate business on a full-time basis or is just a part-time endeavor while they have a day job somewhere else? How accessible are they to you and how quickly can you expect responses to your inquiries?

Investigate Their Track Record
Don’t be afraid to ask for evidence of other clients’ experiences. Rather than asking to see a list of references, request a list of their ten most recent transactions and current clients. This will provide an accurate picture of what you can expect through the process of working with them. Find out how many transactions they go through each year – is it the typical 6 to 8 or is it a super team that you’re potentially dealing with?

Decide What Sets Them Apart From Others
In today’s technology centric world, it is critical to find someone that is knowledgeable and in tune with what today’s buyers and sellers want. Ask what they will do to sell your home differently than every other Realtor®. Find out what their marketing methods are and request a look at their sales metrics that prove these methods to be successful.
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At the Shine Team, you know you’re in good hands. Not only because we have a team of dedicated individuals that each specialize in a particular area of real estate, but also because we have years of track record, positive client experiences and countless transactions to show for it.

Contact us today for a custom consultation on how we can help you make your real estate dreams become a reality!

Improving Curb Appeal for Your Home

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Home sellers these days have a lot of things to contend with. Unless the property is absolutely gorgeous the homeowner will need to do something to attract attention and entice buyers to come in.

Like the old adage says, “the first impression is the last impression” and it has a lot of weight when it comes to selling a home. Of course we have all seen those TV shows that depict expert gardeners spending hours, days and maybe even weeks preparing a home’s garden and lawn. But is that even realistic for most of us?  Here are some tips on how you can achieve top-quality results in landscaping and curb appeal without spending lots of time to accomplish it.

Invest in Low-Maintenance Plants, Shrubs and Flowers

Depending on the position of your home you can plant things that do not require much attention. There are plenty of low, medium and high light plants and flowers that can easily function without much attention through an entire season. Some plants even work well with less water – ideal for homes in drier climates.

One easy to care for flowering plant is the daylily. These garden wonders are pest-free, cover a good amount of ground or border space, grow quickly and withstand both hot and cold climates. Colorful additions include plants like rhododendrons and peonies – both available in a variety of colors and each low-maintenance. Be sure to talk to a garden expert where you buy these plants to check on planting location for each.

For greenery and fullness you can add ferns – a plant that is available in thousands of varieties and very easy to care for. Perfect for shady spots in your lawn, ferns also do well in other parts of your landscape area without needing a lot of attention.

Arrange Colorful Patio/Porch Accessories

When you are done planting, the next thing you should do is to make sure the immediately visible exterior portions of the home and the driveway are both clean. A warm and inviting entryway will almost always attract buyers and entice them into wanting to explore behind the front door.

For inspiration, check out some of the home design magazines online or go window shopping online on websites such as potterybarn.com or pier1.com so you can see how their displays infuse bright colors in a warm and inviting way. You don’t have to go all out and spend too much money – just enough to add some dimension and interest to the space. Just one chair with colorful cushions, bright flowers in a striking planter and a topiary or two might be all you need. Of course you also want to invest in a brand new welcome mat that literally welcomes buyers into your home.

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Enhancing curb appeal does not have to break your back or your bank – but by spending just a little bit of time you can spruce up your place enough to make buyers head your way rather than to the neighbor thatdoes have a green thumb and plenty of time!

Should I Refinance My Home Mortgage?

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I would like to share with you some very important information to be considered. This will help you make the decision of whether to refinance or not. My views of this topic seem to be right on track with Cyd West, Senior Vice President of First Community Mortgage. I asked Cyd, the expert lender, to share her thoughts with you. If you have any questions, please be sure to contact us.

Chances are you’ve been asking yourself this question lately.  Like most other big decisions, the answer is not “one size fits all.”  There are many variables to be considered and your situation is as unique as you are.  

One thing to be considered is your current balance and the remaining amortization.  If you only owe $40,000 and have less than 10 years left to pay you probably won’t benefit much from refinancing.  The costs would greatly outweigh any monthly savings unless you spread the balance over a much longer term.   This could be a good move if you plan to remain in your current home for a long time and desire a lower payment.  However, most homeowners dream of being mortgage free and if that is your goal you don’t want to incur cost or lengthen debt repayment.  

Another important factor is your current interest rate.  If your interest rate is less than one percent above the rate being offered for the refinance it’s probably not worth the expense of refinance unless you have a large mortgage balance, say over $250,000.  The more you owe, the more you will benefit from any reduction in interest rate.  

Even though most refinance offers tout “no money out of pocket to close” there are almost always costs.  If you don’t pay these in cash at the closing of the refinance loan, they are added to your loan balance.  It’s important to weigh the cost vs. benefit and calculate the period it takes to recover the cost and reduce the new loan balance to the pre-refinancing level.  Your mortgage professional can provide this information for you, but it’s up to you to ask the questions.  

Don’t forget that most mortgage payments include additional items such as deposits to escrow for taxes, insurance and sometimes private mortgage insurance or HOA dues.  The escrow account must also be analyzed and reestablished when the mortgage is being refinanced.   Depending on when your annual taxes and insurance are due to be paid there may need to be large amounts set aside to sufficiently set up the escrow.  For most homeowners the largest of these expenses is property tax, so chances are the escrow account for taxes will require a healthy initial deposit if it’s near tax time.  For example, the taxes in Bell County are billed in October with a discount incentive to pay early.  All servicers will attempt to take advantage of that discount, so there must be an amount equal to a full year’s tax bill (plus the allowable cushion – usually 2 months) in the account on October 1.  If you are refinancing in August, that means that you’ll be required to put 12-14 months of tax deposits into the new escrow.  You can see how this amount can greatly increase the amount required for closing or increase the balance of your loan if you are “rolling in” costs.  

A surprise benefit is often a refund check from the escrow account that was being held for the loan that was refinanced.  When the new loan (refinancing) pays off your previous home loan, the servicer has no need for the escrow account.  You will receive a refund check for the balance of the escrow within 30 days of the payoff of the previous loan.  It’s your money to do with as you please.   If you chose to roll the cost of establishing new escrow accounts into the new loan it is smart to take the refund from the old account and pay it to principal on the new loan.  If you were able to pay the costs of refinance out of pocket, the refund will help you to recover those expenses.  

With current interest rates being the lowest in modern history, it would not be wise to take an adjustable rate.  There is nowhere for that rate to go but up.  A long term fixed rate is highly recommended.  Lock it in while interest rates are at rock bottom.  

It’s crucial to consider your future plans for the house.  Will you continue to own the property for several years?  Is it likely that you’ll be moving soon?  It would be unwise to incur the costs of refinancing if you don’t plan to own the house long enough to realize the maximum benefit of the lower payments.  Additionally, the added cost of refinancing may increase the new loan balance to the point that you cannot make a profit on your sale or price your home competitively to sell.  Again, it’s important to share your goals with your mortgage professional so that the proper analysis can be done to determine your best options. 

Beware of high pressure, predatory lenders who come to your home.  You should be highly skeptical of any in-home mortgage lenders with handwritten disclosures and “too good to be true” examples of how much you can save with their super-duper refinance product.   It’s always best for you to make the initial contact with any financial professional.  Consult your personal banker for a recommendation or the local Better Business Bureau.  

Finally, don't be caught up in the frenzy. Just because all of your friends are refinancing or you can't listen to the radio without hearing a new offer, refinancing your mortgage may not be the wisest choice for you. Sometimes the hardest (and the wisest) thing to do is to do nothing.

How to Make a Buyer WANT Your House! Staging Your House, Before It’s Too Late and You Lose the Sale

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If you’ve shopped for a home, chances are you’ve come across one that you really wish you hadn’t visited in the first place. True, houses for sale ought to have a certain “lived in” quality to them, because they are to be lived in after all, but the art of tactfully balancing just the right amount of hominess with neutrality is not so simple. You need to know what you’re doing when you prepare to set up your house and show it to potential buyers. We’ve put together some great tips for home-sellers so you can get the same results you’d get by hiring a professional staging company.

Fix Up the Place

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make before putting their house up for sale is to neglect areas in the house that need attention. Folks, don’t leave that faulty step unrepaired, only for a potential buyer to step on, slide off of or worse, get injured on – FIX IT! You might think potential buyers won’t notice but they are walking around on your premises like hawks, noticing each little detail. The good news is that they are noticing the first-rate stuff too, so as long as you have the home’s amenities in order and other major areas in tip-top condition, you should be in good shape. Here’s how:

Get Rid of the Clutter

If you want to successfully sell your house, you need to get those potential buyers to imagine they already live there. Too much clutter, hobby-oriented items or personal possessions that most people may not be able to identify with, can easily get in the way of that vision. Organize things in stylish storage bins or better yet, have a garage sale before listing the house to get rid of unwanted stuff. You have to move soon anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone? A clean and organized home will seem like a clean slate to buyers, who can then see themselves moving in without much hassle and settle in effortlessly.

Stay Neutral

Skip the tie-dye sofa cushions, shaggy 70s rug and don’t light incense before a showing. While you’re at it, don’t fill the space with gender-specific things either. Buyers should walk into a neutral ground – literally. Light to medium colors, preferably in beige tones, are the simplest way to pull buyers’ attention away from other personal aspects of your home that they may not be able to identify with. Beige goes with almost anything so if someone considering purchasing your home can imagine their things in the space, then you’ve just crossed one of the most major hurdles in home-selling – making a buyer identify with the home.

Make It a Modern, Inviting Environment

If you don’t already have them, invest in a few modern decorative accessories to improve the look of your space while lending an air of style and taste and making it more enticing. It doesn’t have to take much but depending on how you set it up, you can enhance a given space with a few simple additions and deletions. Take your over-crowded study and rearrange the bookshelf to display only a few strategic but essential books, like a leather-bound set of encyclopedia or some literature classics. In the same way, leave a few children’s toys in a child’s room but be sure to display them tastefully.

Put a Few Finishing Touches in Place

The idea is that you want your house to be sold – and you probably want it sold fast. If you are careful to respect the people who are visiting your space to decide whether it’s the right one for them, then you are doing something that a lot of homeowners neglect to consider. Taking down a piece of controversial artwork that may make a potential purchaser uncomfortable could be the one bargaining chip that could make or break the sale. Arranging for all those who currently live in the home to be away during showings is also a great way to tip the scales in the right direction.

It’s very simple. You need to make the potential buyer feel right at home from the get-go. Of course, a signature on the dotted line is where the real success lies and as long as the buyer feels at home, chances are that if everything else lines up – the sale is a winner!