5 Tips for Selling Your Home

Selling a home is a process that requires a lot of planning on the part of the owner. Simply putting a “For Sale” sign in the front yard will not automatically sell your home, and certainly not for the desired price you are looking to receive. Most of the time, the problem with preparing to sell your home is not grasping the fact that just because you were once satisfied with your home, means that every potential buyer will be equally as satisfied. After all, you have enjoyed your home for a period of time, but your home may appear to lack years of maintenance attention.

Here are a few valuable tips for selling your home for top dollar:

1. Great Curb Appeal Is Essential

Potential buyers will notice the curb appeal first as they drive by looking for property. Without good curb appeal, the buyers will just pass on by. Curb appeal means a well-trimmed and mowed lawn, plenty of colorful flowers planted, and shrubs and trees that are well trimmed. This is one of the most important tips for selling a home.

2. De-clutter Your Home

Homeowners may think that all of their artifacts and mementos from their leisurely vacations look great adorning the bookshelves and other visible places, but the potential buyer may only view this as clutter. De-cluttering your home is an easy way to make it look appealing to potential buyers. The kitchen is another area of the home that can become cluttered. Cook books, cooking utensils, cooking devices and mixers should be stored out of sight. De-cluttering your home will make each room look clean, organized, and more spacious.

3. Move-out Unwanted Furniture

Similarly to items cluttering a room, furniture can do the same. The overuse of furniture makes a room look small and the space poorly planned. Rent a storage locker for a few months and move all of the items that you are willing to remove from the home into the storage unit. For example, furniture items that have been passed down through each generation within your family may appeal to you, but these may not appeal to the potential buyers.

4. Remove Signs Regarding Political Affiliation

Signs that represent a view on a national debate or can be considered controversial, are best if they are put away before trying to sell your home. Potential viewers should only be focusing on the appearance and functionality of your home, not an opinionated issue. It’s even encouraged to remove any sports memorabilia from your home. Not only can it cause a controversial issue between sporting fans, but it can take away from your home’s overall appearance.

5. Clean Out Your Home

This includes cleaning the carpets and washing or painting the walls. Clean all of the windows and doors in your home. These are simple ways you can impress buyers with the cleanliness of your home, making it look as good as new. Very few buyers will show interest in a home that is dirty, unorganized, or appear to be falling apart. Let alone will they be willing to pay the asking price for a home that appears to have been neglected.

For more information regarding real estate tips, visit Kathy McCarthy’s website or Facebook page!

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5 Cost Efficient Ways to Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly

Many homeowners believe that reducing your home’s negative impact on the planet will cost a lot of money and a lot of time. But, there are many different cost efficient and easy ways to make your home more eco-friendly. Going green doesn’t always require homeowners to spend a significant amount of money on expensive gadgets. Simply by being consciences of the energy that you are using will save you money and prevent waste. Here are 5 easy, cost efficient ways to make your home more eco-friendly.

1. Replace Your Light bulbs

Homeowners save 66% more energy by replacing incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) or LED lights. CFL and LED lights only use a fraction of the wattage that incandescent lights use.

2. Unplug Unnecessary Cords

An easy way to save energy and electricity is to unplug devices and appliances when they are not being used. For example, TVs, radios, phone chargers, coffee pots, toasters, lamps etc. are typically only being used for a small portion of the day and left plugged in. By unplugging unused devices and appliances, you can conserve electricity and save money.

3. Open The Blinds

Believe it or not, homeowners save 10% of energy on heating when they open the blinds during the day to let the sunlight in. However, when it is necessary to use your heater, every degree that you turn down will save approximately 1% on your energy bill. Sometimes we forget how easy and effective it can be to open the blinds, turn on a fan or a space heater, or simply open the windows in order to control your home’s climate.

4. Microwave vs. Oven

Microwaves use 50% less energy than a conventional oven. Heating your meals in a microwave rather than an oven is an easy way to conserve energy. Or if a meal requires you to use an oven, try to use both oven racks at the same time to bake, roast, or warm up the food. That way you are using your energy wisely and efficiently. Also, when using an oven, avoid opening and closing the oven door while your meal is cooking! The oven temperature can significantly drop each time you open the door and it uses more energy to reheat.

5. Conserve Water

Sometimes we forget how easy it is to turn off the faucet while brushing our teeth or when shaving. There are many different ways to conserve energy, whether it’s turning off the faucet, installing a low-flow showerhead, or fixing leaky toilets or showers. Conserving water is an easy way to save money and prevent waste.

For more information regarding real estate tips, visit Kathy McCarthy’s website or Facebook page!

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