How to Close on a Home With Fewer Headaches

Here are some of my tips that will help ensure you have a smooth closing process.

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Here’s what you need to do in order to have a smooth close: 1. Use professionals to make the repairs. I’ve had many sellers try to do their own repairs, only to find out that it wasn’t up to a professional standard. In the long run, it delayed closing and cost them more money.

There may well be things that could possibly delay your closing—just try to focus on the fact that you will get to the finish line eventually, and keep your cool.

2. Make sure all utilities are on for the home inspection. Also, be sure that your property has been dewinterized so the inspector can turn everything on to inspect it. 3. Be patient during the closing process. There may well be things that could possibly delay your closing—just try to focus on the fact that you will get to the finish line eventually, and keep your cool. If you have any questions about this or about buying or selling a home, you’re more than welcome to reach out to us. The Shine Team Realtors are here to help with any of your real estate needs.

3 Home Improvement Projects That Buyers Will Love

To increase your odds of selling in this market, you might want to look at completing a few home improvement projects. These are the three that we recommend.

Looking to sell your Central Texas area home? Get a free home value report

 Looking to buy a Central Texas area home? Click here to browse Central Texas Homes for sale

As we slowly shift to a buyer's market, it’s time to make some adjustments. For one thing, it's worth looking at some simple home improvement projects that can help ensure you sell your home quickly and at a top price. The thing is, when it comes to selling your home, not all home improvements are created equal. That's why I've collected the three top home improvement projects that homebuyers love, according to a report by the National Association of Home Builders: 1. A laundry room. More than anything, homebuyers currently want a separate room for washing, folding, and ironing clothes so they can keep the mess out of their living space. If you have an unused basement, it makes a lot of sense to put the laundry room there because all of the utility lines will be accessible and you probably won't have to demolish anything. A new laundry room could cost as little as $1,000 and could contribute a lot more than that when you look to sell your home.

90% of buyers want energy-efficient windows in their home.

2. Exterior lighting. Exterior lighting is the most desired outdoor feature by homebuyers, appearing on the wish list of 92% of them. Your options for exterior lighting include spotlights, walkway lights, and pendant lights. Fixtures range in price between $65 to $132. Exterior lighting will present your home in the best possible light, impressing these potential buyers and increasing overall interest in your home. 3. Energy-efficient windows. Most homebuyers today care about energy efficiency. Specifically, 90% of them want energy-efficient windows in their new home. A set of energy-efficient windows will drive down the costs for your utilities, improve comfort inside your home, and increase your home's curb appeal. That's why, whether you are planning on staying in your home for a while or are looking to sell quickly, energy efficient windows are worth considering. In fact, that's true for all of the above projects. If you have any questions about any of these projects or what else you can do to add value to your home before selling, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.

Three Things to Prepare Your Central Texas Home for the Market

Looking to buy or sell a home in Central Texas? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call us at (254) 690-4321 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Earlier this week, someone came up to me and asked, "What do I need to do to get my home ready for sale? I'm not ready to go on the market right now, but a few months down the line I will be. What do I need to do?" These are the three things I told her.

1. Maintain curb appeal. Work on that ahead of time. Make sure everything is trimmed up and looking good each season of the year since you don't know exactly what month you're going to put your house on the market. Think about the seasons. Get those plants ready. Get the paint taken care of and make that house shine. Take pictures now! In early fall, the yard should still be green and pretty. Even fall foliage photographs well.

2. Staging is critical. I am certified by two national programs in staging. It makes a difference. You will make so much more money on your home when it is staged correctly. Start today with painting. Ensure the lampshades will show the home in a flattering light.

3. Get an inspection before listing. You don't want to negotiate to your lowest dollar only to have the inspection come back with major repairs you didn't know about. If you knew about them, you might not have negotiated to the lowest dollar in your contract.

If you have any questions about this or anything else regarding real estate, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!