3 Easy Home Improvements to Help You Sell

Forget, for a moment, about market trends and interest rates. At any given time, no matter the state of the economy, someone somewhere is selling their home. In any market, homeowners can up the odds that a home sells as quickly and as profitably as possible by giving it a facelift.

Sellers should focus on home improvement projects that either add value to the home or that attract buyers' eyes and pique their interests. Make them forget any other houses they viewed and want your house instead.

Don't randomly select home improvement projects based on your own tastes or suggestions from friends, either. You won't be the one living in the home, after all. Research houses in your community and compare features and appraisals to get a better idea what people in your area want. A swimming pool may be a popular upgrade in a Southern suburb filled with young couples and families, for instance. But in the North, a hot tub will have greater appeal. A community with older people, no matter where in the country, will probably value a car port or garage over a pool or spa.

Here are three home-improvement project categories that almost anyone can tackle without a large capital investment.

1.Boost Your Curb Appeal

You'll never get a second chance to make a first impression. When potential buyers drive up to your home, if they don't like what they see immediately, they may not get past the exterior to find the great things inside.

It's not about planting expensive trees, installing fountains or other fancy upgrades. In fact, some of the most value-added outdoor home-improvement projects cost little to nothing, except for your time. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) suggests some of the following property improvements:

Get out your pruning shears: If your home is on the market, keeping the lawn mowed is a given. Keeping plants and flowers watered is also essential. Pruning trees, shrubs and other greenery is more easily overlooked, but it is one of those touches that will make your home stand out. Follow a pruning guide, like the one provided by Better Homes and Gardens, to get the most out of your efforts.

Dig into some mulch: Mulching is another often overlooked landscaping project with a tremendous impact. It helps conserve moisture, protects roots, discourages weeds, and other benefits. You can choose between all-natural mulches and decorative mulches, such as stone. You can even use compost that you create yourself or mown grass and fallen leaves.

Show off your green thumb: Purchase outdoor containers that complement your home's style and plant something unusual or interesting, NAR suggests. Place plants on the patio or around the home's entrance to immediately create a more appealing exterior. Plant bright flowers and foliage to provide a splash of color.

Clean up your home's exterior: Spend a weekend cleaning your gutters, windows and especially your siding, among other exterior items. Rent or purchase a power washer for a very affordable price to really make your home shine.

2. Add a Coat of Paint

Like a wash and wax for your car, a new coat of paint makes anything look better and brighter. To improve your home's value and attract buyers, consider a fresh paint job, inside and out.

The "safe" advice is to choose neutral colors, such as beige and off-white, and to avoid vibrant or gender-specific hues such as orange, purple or red. However, safe isn't always the best bet, argues real estate agent Todd Kroepel. "Keeping a home vanilla so that buyers can choose their own style and décor … ignores the fact that most buyers lack the ability to visualize the home differently," he cautions. Don't be afraid to add splashes of color and a touch of texture—it can be good to leave a dash of style evident.

Consider painting an accent wall in your living room with a contrasting color, or add some texturizing product instead. Adding hand-painted borders in the bathroom, by using stencils that run vertically or horizontally, is another classy touch.

Before painting, outside or in, ensure that the surface is clean and properly prepared. Use a primer to cover previously unfinished areas or bare wood, to better cover over dark or bold colors, or to block out stains. Inside your home, sand surfaces slightly if you don't use a primer, to help paint adhesion.

3. Update the Kitchen or Bathroom

Everyone appreciates a well-put-together and comfortable bathroom or kitchen. Renovations to these two rooms usually generate buyer interest and offer a high rate of return on investment when it comes time to sell.

Updates don't always require a large expenditure and a messy, lengthy remodeling period either. Some of the simplest things can change the entire feel of the room. Do as much, or as little, as you choose—just don't get too attached to the results.

Replace sink and bathtub fixtures: Switch out generic faucets and handles for newer, better-quality hardware. Think about using brass for a startling contrast, or select a style completely different from the current one.

Install a new sink: As long as you're replacing faucets and such, why not replace the bathroom or kitchen sink as well?

Refinish the cabinets: Solid wood responds well to sanding and refinishing with stain and a polyurethane top coat, or even paint. Newer cabinets often require refacing with veneer instead. Veneer kits make the job fairly simple: Adhere the material to the cabinet box (the portion left after removing doors and drawers) and then purchase new drawer fronts and cabinet doors to complete the makeover.

Upgrade your countertops: Replace laminate with stone, tile or even a concrete countertop. If you have old ceramic tile, clean or regrout to refresh the look.

Add lighting and accessories: Think in layers when it comes to lighting. Adding accent lights or task lights in any room of the house makes it more visually appealing. Other little touches include changing door knobs, light switch and outlet covers, or installing ceiling fans or a medicine cabinet. Consider swapping old light switches with dimmer switches or energy-saving, programmable lighting controls.

Highlight energy-savers: Speaking of saving energy, programmable thermostats, upgraded insulation and proper weatherproofing are music to many home buyers' ears.

While you can hire professionals to do the work for you, rolling up your sleeves and doing it yourself will increase the amount you recoup when you sell your home. Each project will increase the value of your property, no matter where you live, and help you sell your home faster.

Your local San Diego real estate expert,

Stephen Nissou
Nissou Realty Group   |   Keller Williams Realty
Direct 619-250-4541  |   Office 619-873-2772

Stephen@StephenNissou.com

CalBRE # 01443193

Should You Sell Your Home Before You Buy - or Wait?

If you are a current homeowner that wants to purchase a new home, you're most likely asking yourself a question common to folks in your situation: Should I sell before I buy?

The answer to that question depends on several factors.

Your Personality

Just the thought of having two mortgage payments—even for a short period of time—can cause massive anxiety for some people. Even if your lender has assured you of a simultaneous close on the two homes, uncertainty may linger.

Then, there is the pressure to accept an unattractive offer just to ensure that the home sells in time. If you wait to buy, you'll have the luxury of being able to negotiate offers as they come in.

If you crave certainty, you should probably wait until the current home sells to take on the purchase process.

There are, however, those who deal with uncertainty better than others. If that describes you, then starting the purchase process before you sell your current home probably won't faze you.

Your Finances

Regardless of your personality, if you just don't have the money to support two mortgage payments at the same time, then you have no choice but to sell your home before you purchase another.

Further, if you need the proceeds from the sale of your current home to use to buy a new home, you'll need to wait until after you sell, or attempt a simultaneous close. (We explain that process below.)

The Market

A seller's market is the ideal situation when you're selling your current home, but it can be difficult if you hope to purchase at the same time. In a seller's market—where there are few homes available and lots of buyers competing for them—sellers are in the driver's seat. With multiple offers coming in, homeowners are not likely to accept an offer that is contingent upon another home selling.

On the flip side, in a hot seller's market, homes that are in good condition and are located in decent areas will sell quickly.  If your house is among them, you take on little risk if you wish to purchase a new home before selling your current one.

Ascertain if the current market caters to sellers or buyers before making the decision of whether to buy before your house sells. Your real estate agent is your best source for this information.

Achieving the Simultaneous Close

Selling one home while purchasing another can be a bit of a balancing act. If you try to time the closings to occur during the same period, you run the risk of ending up with two house payments at once.

If you allow too much time between closings, on the other hand, you may find yourself renting a temporary home and, thus, moving twice.

The ideal situation is to plan for a simultaneous closing, where both transactions occur on the same day. However, this process comes with risks, too. If anything should go wrong on the first transaction you could end up not being able to close on the second.

For the simultaneous closing process to go smoothly, it's important to choose the right buyers for your current home. How much do you know about their finances? How firm is their offer? What do you know about their motivation to purchase? How badly do they want the home?

Since the process is a bit like a string of dominoes, and the buyer of your home is the lead domino, it's crucial to choose a buyer you know will consummate the deal.

The key to success is hiring an experienced, professional real estate agent. Your agent can guide you through the process and steer the transaction to keep it on course.

For information about home prices in your area, or to find out how much your home is worth, please contact me at 619-250-4541 or Stephen@StephenNissou.com! 

Your Local San Diego Real Estate Expert,

Stephen Nissou

Nissou Realty Group  |  KW Realty El Cajon

619.250.4541 Direct  | 619.873-2772 Office

Stephen@StephenNissou.com

www.StephenNissou.com

Selling Your Home: 3 Must-Knows Before You List

Sometimes the hardest part of selling a home is making the decision to sell it. Our homes give us roots, provide sanctuary, house memories and, hopefully, give us some financial security. It's a huge decision to sell a home.

Once made, however, additional decisions will come fast and furious, so take some time now, before the frenzy, to understand three salient points about the successful sale of a home in today's real estate marketplace.

What is Market Value?

One of the most challenging aspects of selling a home is determining the list price. Many homeowners will go online to find homes nearby that are for sale and base their price assumption on those that are most similar.

The list price of a home, however, is a fantasy. It represents an amount of money the seller thinks, or hopes the home will bring. Until the home sells, he may be right or he may be wrong.

Buyers set market value for homes. What a knowledgeable, willing, and unpressured buyer pays for a home is the home's true market value. Therefore, when pricing a home for the market, one must always look at the sold prices of similar homes nearby.

This is the method both real estate agents and appraisers use when determining a home's market value.

First Impressions Matter

Think back to when you were house hunting. Were there houses that you arrived at that you just couldn't bear to get out of the car to look at? Chipped or peeling paint, sagging window and door screens, and overgrown or dead landscaping do not make a good first impression.

Before you do anything else, clean your house, inside and out. Make cosmetic repairs, especially outdoors where the house makes its first impression. Even if it's merely a new coat of paint on the front door, shiny new house numbers and some fresh mulch in the planting beds, it may help folks want to see more.

Don't neglect the interior either. If you don't know where to start, take a look at some websites with ideas on how to declutter and stage the home.

Don't Attempt This on Your Own

I know what you're thinking: Of course a real estate agent is going to tell me not to take the for-sale-by-owner route. So, I won't ask you to take just my word for it. Let's look at the cold, hard numbers.

First, only 9 percent of homeowners attempt to sell their homes without the aid of an agent, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Of those, almost half said they took this route because they were selling their home to someone they knew.

The next most commonly stated reason that a homeowner gave for not using an agent was that he or she didn't want to pay the real estate commission. That's understandable when one isn't sure exactly what an agent does to get a home sold. Once you get a look at that list, you'll understand that you definitely get what you pay for.

You should also take into consideration the fact that a home that is for sale by the owner is considered a bargain to most homebuyers. Many will walk in expecting you to kick back some of that money you're saving by not using an agent. This is why, according to NAR, homes sold by agents sell for 16 percent more than those sold by owner.

Selling a home is a big deal and, thankfully, something we don't often do. When it's time to sell yours, start with the basics, as outlined above, and you'll be ready to list your home before you know it.

Your Local San Diego Real Estate Expert,

Stephen Nissou
Nissou Realty Group   |   Keller Williams Realty
680 Fletcher Parkway, #100
El Cajon, CA 92020
Office 619-873-2772   |   Cell 619-250-4541
www.StephenNissou.com   |   www.NissouRealtyGroup.com
Stephen@StephenNissou.com

CalBRE # 01443193

Protect Your Home While It's Still On The Market

Ready to sell your home? Besides dusting every nook and cranny and pulling weeds from the garden, don’t forget to protect yourself and your home when it’s on the market! Here’s a few ways on how to protect your home while it’s on the market so that you can feel more at ease.

Hide the Valuables

Don’t keep high-end valuables visible in your home while it’s on the market, including jewelry, collectibles and other items that are easy to steal. Keep a safe in the home with the valuables locked up, or secure a safe deposit box at your local bank to keep them in while your home is for sale. Another thing to hide? Your social security number, bank information, blank checks, prescription medications, and anything else that someone is able to snatch while undetected. 

Inform Your Neighbors
Had an open house or buyer showing? If you’re not returning home directly after, inform the neighbors to check to be sure the doors were locked in the home. This will keep your home safe from unwanted visitors who know your home is for sale. 

Accidental Property Damage
Potential buyers want to know the ins and outs of your home. Many will want to test the appliances and facets for functionality. Will they remember to turn off the gas burners and the bathroom sink? Avoid property damage that’s caused by fires, water damage and other threats by asking your realtor to communicate these concerns to the selling agent. The selling agent can double check to be sure everything is OFF before leaving the property. 

Gun Safety and Dog Bites
You might think your gun is well concealed in your bedroom closet or nightstand, but potential buyers will poke around to get an idea of storage space. If you keep a gun in your home, make sure it is unloaded, locked in a gun box and completely out of sight. It will prevent accidental injuries and theft. And if you’re a dog owner? It’s best to remove the dogs from the premises. It will make your home more appealing to non-animal lover and eliminates the threat of dog bites. If you can’t remove your pets from the home, secure a crate that can be placed indoors or out, so that the animal is safely contained during the showings. 

Slips, Trips, Falls
If someone gets hurt on your property, they may hold you liable and sue. Since potential buyers aren’t familiar with your home, make sure to prevent inquiries and lawsuits with preventative measures such as; repairing loose and uneven flooring (check porches and decks), remove ice and snow from the walkways and steps, secure rugs with non-slip padding, keep hallways and stairwells clear of clutter, and make sure your home is well lit (both inside and out).

Got any other tips and tricks we should know about? Leave them in the comments section below!

Your Local San Diego Real Estate Expert,

Stephen Nissou - Nissou Realty Group

Keller Williams Realty
Office 619-873-2772

Cell 619-250-4541

Stephen@StephenNissou.com

www.StephenNissou.com

Top 5 Reasons to Sell your Home in 2014

Why is 2014 the perfect time to sell your home with me?

1. Low Inventory! The number of homes for sale have dramatically dropped and so homebuyers are lining up to make offers on homes for sale. 

2. Home prices are up, up, up! There are more homes in demand which are helping to drive home prices. 

3. And to think it couldn't get any better - LOW Interest Rates! If you sell now, take advantage of financing new homes with low interest rates!

4. With low inventory, buyers are contributing to sales of homes. They are asking less for the seller. 

5. STEPHEN NISSOU, of course! I have a proven track record for selling homes quickly and efficinently! What's even better is my personal AND extended marketing plan that helps you sell your home, sometimes within 30 days or less!

How many more reasons do you need to sell your home San Diego's real estate expert? 

Call me today! 619-250-4541 or visit www.StephenNissou.com!

Your Local San Diego Real Estate Expert,

What's the Value of my Property?

A local realtor can help when determining the current value of your property. The agents  knowledge is going to be one of the best references to use. A realtor will take the time to do a market analysis on their property. Take advantage of their knowledge.

If you prefer to look up the value of your property without the help of a local agent, try Zillow.com or Trulia.com. These websites are a great guide to help you figure out the value of your property by looking at the estimations of the property value of your home. Take note that sometimes it’s not the most accurate, since it is looking at all properties in the area that are not the same style and age as yours.

Finally, take a look at your property tax bill. This is meant to determine the assessed value in order to calculate your property tax amount. Look at the “market value” section of the bill, as this is more accurate than the assessed value on the tax bill.

If you need assistance with determining the value of your property, give me a call. There is no obligation that you have to work with me. I am more than happy to assist you in whatever you need! 

To easily find out what your home is worth, go to www.NissouRealtyGroup.com/sell.

Your Local Real Estate Expert,

A Quick Update on Economic Housing

It seems as though this cold San Diego weather is having a negative impact on housing sales for the month, as well as for the rest of the country. Sales of many existing "SFR", or Single-Family Residences, dropped 5.1 percent to an annual rate of 4.62 million in January of 2014. That's down from 4.87 million in December.

Much of the 5.1 percent drop is from the cooler weather the rest of the nation is trying to recover from. But is there a different reason for the huge drop? There's many factors to consider as to why home sales have dropped significantly. According to Economic Advisor Lawrence Yun, much housing activity is usually delayed until the spring, when weather begins to get warmer and people begin to venture out of their homes a bit more. Limited inventory is also playing a large factor of the drop in residences, as many people are not selling like they did in previous years. Tight credit, higher prices, and higher mortgage interest rates are also all factors in the drop of existing sales.

So there's an update on the economic housing for this week. If your still considering if you want to sell your home, or are just curous to see how much it's worth, head on over to www.NissouRealtyGroup.com/sell to find out just how much you could get for your home. 

Your Local Real Estate Expert,