Pump Up the Curb Appeal when Selling Your Home in the Summer!

 
Selling a home in the summer isn't rocket science but with a bit of thought a home can sell quickly and for top dollar. With the nice weather many more buyers are searching for their dream home and not just on the internet. They will drive by homes in the warmer months to check out the neighborhood and what the exterior looks like in person. During the winter about all you can do is hope for a fresh blanket of snow and shovel the sidewalk to jazz up the exterior of a Minnesota home. But in the summer, there is ample opportunity make a statement with curb appeal.

1. CUT GRASS If you home is on the market you have to make sure the lawn is manicured to perfection at all times. In fact, it is a very good idea to make sure all trees and shrubs are trimmed to show of the home too.

2. PAINT the FRONT DOOR There are no excuses for having a dirty, scuffed up front entry with peeling paint. If you want to sell to an FHA buyer, you need to address the peeling paint issue anyway so why not make a great first impression with a freshly painted front door and entry?

3. ADD POPS of COLOR Even if you don't have a green thumb, invest in some bright colorful hanging baskets full of annuals for your front porch. Or put some planters with assorted plants on your front stoop. However, if you think you will be too busy to water the plants, it might be best to get a colorful flag or entry wreath instead. Dead plants in the doorway will be noticed too.

4. SEAL COAT the ASPHALT If the driveway is looking more gray than black, a fresh coat of sealant can make a world of difference.



Copyright 2014 www.terieckholm.com

6 Spring Home Maintenance Tips for your Honey-Do List!

Yesterday was the warmest Minnesota day so far in 2014. In fact, it was the warmest day since mid-October of last year! It finally feels like spring is here. Soon many homeowners in the Minneapolis/St Paul metro will be starting "honey-do" list of spring projects. Keeping your home in tiptop shape is essential in maintaining your property’s value. Even if you don’t intend to sell your home this summer, there are a few essential things to check, repair and or replace after a long winter.
 

As a Minnesota REALTOR®, I see often see homes that have not been properly cared for. Throughout Anoka County, Chisago County and northern Washington County, the areas where I work extensively, I have seen houses with interior ceiling damage from leaking roofs, severely cracked driveways and worn out decks that are frankly too scary to stand on.

Surprisingly, some of these properties are not foreclosures or distressed sales. Some sellers just don’t want to make repairs prior to selling for a homebuyer’s benefit. But since they deferred all the maintenance for several years, they are faced with having to make thousands of dollars in repairs in order to sell for top dollar. Not making the repairs means being priced to compete directly with distressed properties selling at thousands less. Neither choice is appealing to a home seller.

With hindsight being 20/20, many of these property wish they could turn back time and keep the home in better condition all along and enjoy the benefits of a well maintained home. There is less sticker-shock if  you assess your property on an annual basis and make necessary repairs as required rather than all at one time just prior to selling.

Here are 6 spring maintenance tips that will not only beautify your home, but also aid in retaining your home’s value for years to come:
 
Roof—Walk around the exterior of your home with binoculars if necessary and check for any missing shingles that may have been blown off during a winter storm. If any shingles are missing or you see other concerns such as curling or broken corners, bring in a contractor to assess the situation. Make repairs promptly to avoid water damage to the interior of your home.

Siding—Power wash debris buildup from vinyl or aluminum siding. Buildup can stain siding overtime. Be thoughtful of where you place your sprinklers and BBQ grill. Iron rich water can cause staining and a hot grill near vinyl siding will cause it to melt.

Deck—Check for any settling or worn boards on your deck. Pay special attention to any steps as damage often occurs in the corners where wet debris can collect and rot the wood. If the supports of your deck appear to be pulling away from the home or if the boards are weather-worn, have it reviewed by a professional before that first summer barbeque.

Paint & Stain—Did the harsh winter sleet, snow and ice cause the paint or stain on your siding, trim or deck to start to peel? Make repairs promptly to minimize damage to wood below.

Gutters—Gutters filled with leaves? Take the time to clean out to prevent water backups. Keeping water away from the foundation is the best way to keep water out of your basement. If your gutters are clogged, they cannot do the job and the rains will pour right over the clogged-gutter’s edge near the walls of your home. Consider adding screens or guards to prevent leave buildup in the future.

Driveway—This past year’s brutal winter with its deep was especially tough on roads throughout the metro. Your asphalt driveway might have taken a beating too. Cracks and holes need to be filled or they will get worse. It is recommended that blacktop driveways also be seal-coated every 2 years and possibly more often if located in an open area with long term sun exposure.

 
Copyright 2014 www.terieckholm.com

Rebounds Not Exclusive to Basketball—Housing Prices have Bounced Back!

I have no ability when it comes to basketball but as a REALTOR® with well over a decade of experience in the Twin Cities north and east metro, I do know a housing rebound when I see it. Since last fall there has significant activity in the Minneapolis/St. Paul housing market. In the north and east metro, I have witnessed the market turn. The extreme low interest rates have brought out the first time buyers who have literally bought up almost all the listed houses. This is good news…unless you are a first time buyer.

Once again, there are multiple offers on home. In one situation I was in this past fall, there were 12 offers by the time the highest & best deadline arrived. Not familiar with the term highest & best? When there are multiple offers on a home, the seller’s agent notify all interested buyers to submit their highest and best offer so the seller can choose which one to work with. In this situation the seller’s agent said she had another dozen buyer’s agents contact her AFTER the deadline. More than 2 DOZEN interested parties on one home! This is driving prices up again.

 The real estate market has seen a rebound this market and it is good news for any seller that has been waiting for the right moment to sell.

Before the holidays, I was asked by a number of clients what they should do to do to get their home ready for selling in the spring. My advice was, “If you are ready now, go for it! Don’t wait until spring!” There is no reason to wait out the winter. Buyers are looking now and writing offers now as there are very few good homes on the market. The clients who took my advice saw their homes sell quickly…in many cases in just days.

Tips for Sellers in this Rebound Market:

• Get your home picture-perfect ready and on the market as soon as possible. Don’t wait as there will be more sellers competing in the spring.
• Stage your home. It will stand out compared to foreclosures.
• Price it right from the start. Just because pricing is up, doesn’t mean the sky is the limit on pricing. Buyers are too savvy…and so are appraisers! Trust your REALTOR® to help you find a realistic listing price.

  Tips for Buyers in this Rebound Market:

• Work with a REALTOR® from the start. I am able to find homes for my buyer clients and get them out to see them within hours of hitting the market.
• Get Pre-approved for a home loan. Sellers will not consider an offer without a pre-approval letter or proof of funds if it is a cash offer.
• Educate yourself on the market and work with an agent that knows the area so you won’t have to hesitate to write an offer. Waiting a few days to think about it may not work in this fast paced market.

Copyright 2013 www.terieckholm.com 

Looking HOT from the Street!—Curb Appeal Tips to SELL your Minnesota Acreage Home Quickly

Curb Appeal Tips to Sell Home Fast

CURB APPEAL that Screams, "BUY ME!"

Inventory is down in the Minneapolis/St. Paul north and east metro but what will happen come spring? If all the calls I have been receiving from interested home sellers are an indication, the market is going to be competitive. This means that homeowners that want to see a sold sign in front of their Minnesota home sooner rather than later, will make Curb Appeal a priority as they prepare their home inside and out!

Last week, I had the opportunity to show a “just listed” Forest Lake home a few days after our massive spring snowstorm. The unpaved, unplowed 400 foot long driveway was a muddy mess but that was only part of the immediate turn off for my buyer. The front yard was a disaster with debris and dirt from the driveway to the front door. It was less than welcoming; it was a turn off!

Selling a home in this changed real estate market is tricky. Whether you are selling a lakeshore cabin, an executive, acreage home or a convenient townhome, your house needs to look HOT from the outside in! As a REALTOR® in the north and east Minneapolis/St Paul metro area, I have been showing homes all over Anoka County and Washington Counties, from Blaine to Lino Lakes and Forest Lake to Hugo. As the snow melts, some yards are looking not only boring but down right dirty. The market is starting to pick up and soon buyers have dozens of homes to choose from. Decisions can be made in a split second from a photo on the computer screen to the moment a potential buyer drives up to the curb. It takes only a few moments for a buyer to assess a home’s potential.

In this market, buyers are putting homes into two categories: Well-Maintained Homes to pay top dollar for and Not-Maintained Homes to get at rock bottom prices. A serious homeseller does not want his home in the second category as it includes most foreclosures, short sales and other less than desirable properties. In my 10 Tips For A Quick Sale, jazzing up the Curb Appeal is the number one recommendation I give to homesellers.

Screaming “Buy Me” from the Curb Stand in the street and look at your property from a buyer’s eyes. If your home is not screaming, “Buy Me” from the curb, now is the time to spice up the exterior! Here are a few quick tips and reminders:

• Flowers add color! Since spring gardens haven’t bloomed yet, try a dried floral wreath or colorful flag.

• Spruce up the landscaping with new wood chips. Make certain all of the landscaping bricks in the retaining walls and pavers in the sidewalks are secure.

• Pick up all debris and trash from the yard!

• Rake any leaves as soon as the snow melts.

• Fix up that banged up, rusty mailbox at the end of the driveway.

• Seal coat the blacktop drive as soon as weather permits.

• Move Boats, Trailers and Campers to another location.

• Wash dirt and cobwebs from front of home paying special attention to door where buyers will enter. Paint door if necessary.

• Replace tattered American flags with new ones. (Remember proper to dispose of old one properly.)

• Repair any wind damage to gutters, siding, shutters and storm doors. If the shutters or trim has faded, replace or repaint.

• Paint or stain siding, porches and decks as necessary.

Though sprucing up curb appeal may seem like common sense to a home seller, it is amazing how many homes on the market have awesome interiors but dumpy exteriors. Addressing curb appeal is one way to get serious homebuyers through the door!

Copyright 2012 www.terieckholm.com

The Real Estate Market is Changing—HOMES SOLD in DAYS in Minneapolis/St. Paul!

Homes sold in Days in Mpls/St Paul

All this past week, KSTP, one of our local television stations promoted a feature on how to get your home sold quickly. They looked at homes that sold in “days” across the Minneapolis/St Paul area and the segment promised to give sellers “tips” on get to get their home sold quickly. As a REALTOR®, I knew I wanted to see this feature.

The segment ran Sunday evening but was a bit disappointing. There was some good information and tips, yes, but they only looked at THREE houses. Not enough of a sample to show a ground-breaking trend. Each of the three agents of the sold homes offered a few reasons as to why the homes didn’t languish on the market as many others have, but there were no specific trends…all the reasons given were different.

It seem to me that the basic reason all the homes that sold quickly, is they were starter homes in lower price points for the neighborhoods they were located in. Each home was properly prepared for sale and made available for showings. The homes were all offered by traditional sellers; not foreclosures or short sales requiring mediation from a bank. The homeowners painted, repaired, inspected and staged their homes. At the end of the piece, the anchor did acknowledge that the sellers PRICED their home properly. Bottom line, that is the essential KEY to seeing a SOLD sign hung quickly!.

So what if, anything, did potential Twin Cities home sellers learn from this hyped-up, “homes-are-selling-in-just-days” feature? Not enough in my book, but the reporter made a good effort in this 2+ minute feature. And I have to give kudos to them for starting the conversation. HOMES are SELLING in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and can sell in days!

As a REALTOR® who had helped several traditional sellers in the north and east Twin Cities metro find homebuyers in a matter of days recently, I wanted to offer a few more ideas and tips:

• PRICE the Home Properly—An overpriced home will not sell, plain and simple.
• REPAIR Everything!—Buyers inflate the cost of repairs by thousands if they are left to make them.
• PAINT—Neutral colors are always preferred.
• DECLUTTER—People cannot see the home if there is too much junk.
• CLEAN Carpets—Replace if necessary.
• MARKET the Home—Find a REALTOR® that has a plan to sell your home not just list on the MLS!

These are just a few quick ideas but I do have more specifics on how to get a home sold in the Minneapolis/St Paul north and east metro area as quickly as possible. For the details, feel free to call me to learn more.

Copyright 2012 www.terieckholm.com