Category

Sellers

Sep 14
0

Sept 14: Sell your home – smell does matter!

By | Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

mirjamnew.jpgWith the current sellers market it’s wise to work with an agent who follows up after your home has been shown. This week I received feedback on one of the properties I am currently selling that the home had a strange smell. The agent was so kind to mention this. When you live in your home you are used to ‘the smell’, only when you come back into your home you will notice this or, when somebody else comes over to visit. After discussing this with my client, we came to the conclusion that is had to be the fact that she had fish for lunch.

A poll by Canadian real estate company Royal LePage shows that the odor of a home has a huge impact on buyers’ decisions about whether to buy a home. According to the poll, 53 percent of buyers said strong odors such as pet and cigarette smells had a stronger impact on their impression of a home than overall tidiness and cleanliness, strong wall colors or an outdated facade and landscaping.

Here are some tips for making sure your home has good scents:

  • Don’t mask smells with candles or potpourri. Buyers will wonder what odor you are trying to hide.
  • Keep the exotic spices and fish to a minimum when cooking the night before a showing.
  • Work toward achieving a “clean” smell.
  • Remove animals and litter boxes from the property.

Getting rid of repellent scents is the first step, but some staging experts also advise using “homey” smells to entice buyers. After all, who doesn’t love the aroma of freshly baked cookies or pie?pie.jpg

Some numbers, just for fun: as of this morning, there are 3285 active listings in Sonoma County and there are 422 properties in escrow or pending. That is quite a bit of inventory!

However, in the last 30 days, 445 properties did sell!

Have a great day!   

Sep 02
0

Be Wise With Water, same some H2O

By | Buyers, Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

mirjamnew.jpgThe average American uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water per day. Not surprisingly, cutting back on your water consumption is necessary for the environment and it will save you money. With the lack of rain last winter we are feeling the “D” problem and it is important to save water. The Sonoma County Water Agency is a great resource for rebates and Conservation tips. The experts at www.earth911.org, an environmental resource network, have some tips to decrease your water usage so you don’t get soaked by your water and energy bills.

Indoors
The bathroom consumes the most water in the house, and a leaky toilet is often the culprit. To determine if you have a leak, drop some food coloring into the toilet tank. If that color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Check for worn-out, corroded or bent parts. If your toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position and the water is constantly running, replace or adjust the handle. And if your toilet is already in good working order, you can still conserve water by avoiding unnecessary flushing. Dispose of tissues and similar waste in the wastebasket instead.

To reduce water consumption even more, consider purchasing some of the low-flow products and attachments at your local hardware store. A low-flow model toilet can reduce your indoor water usage up to 20 percent, while an ultra low-flow shower head can save up to 2.5 gallons of water per minute.

Outdoors
Be careful not to over-water your lawn. Generally, lawns only need watering every five to seven days, and a heavy rainstorm might mean that you don’t need to water for a couple of weeks. Try to water during the early morning hours, which reduces evaporation. Micro or drip sprinklers and soaker hoses are the most water-efficient systems to use.

Have a great day!

Mirjam de Rijk

Aug 31
0

Sell Your Home – Set the Stage!

By | Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

mirjamnew.jpgIf you’re planning to sell your home, you should hear your REALTOR® suggest staging, which helps to set the scene in your home, making it more appealing to buyers through renovation or redecoration. It can help make your abode more appealing by allowing prospective buyers to envision themselves living there.

With proper staging, something as simple as painting your walls can go a long way towards selling your home faster and for the best possible price. According to a 2006 study by Accredited Staging Professionals, homes listed for sale without being staged lasted, on average, 163 days on the market. Staged homes averaged only 8 to 13 days on the market.

Staging costs vary depending the scope of the project. Some staging techniques, like rearranging furniture or simplifying the décor, are free. Other projects, such as installing granite countertops or new kitchen appliances, can be costly but might help boost your home’s appeal. Costs also differ depending on where you live. According to Barb Schwartz, author of “Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House For More Money,” the cost of staging a home on the West coast averages $2,800, compared to $1,800 in the Midwest and approximately $3,800 on the East coast.

kitchen.jpegDon’t let these numbers deter you from the idea of staging, most of the time staging is as much as cleaning out your clutter and start packing the things you won’t need for a while and need to move anyway. There are many reasons to stage your home. For a complementary staging service and a specific plan for your home, call or text me!

Mirjam de Rijk

Mirjam@C21Alliance.com

707-486-2638