How Can a Seller Make More Money?

You have decided to sell your home! There are quite a few things that you should consider if you want to sell your home for the highest price the current market can bear in the least amount of time.

Home Improvement Projects

Repairing and updating items in your home that are not working quite right or could benefit from looking more visually pleasing is worth the effort. One of the biggest bang for your buck is painting. A fresh coat of paint does wonders when listing a home and the cost is minimal compared to the return you will receive. Homes that feel well maintained sell for more money and in a quicker amount of time.

Correct Pricing 

This is without a doubt the most important task when listing a home. The price can always compensate the condition, location or market so it needs to reflect these items accordingly. Many sellers feel they should start their pricing higher and they can always lower it later or someone can always write a lower offer. The most efficient way to sell your home is to price it correctly in the first place. Buyers are in the market looking at many homes so they know right away when a home is overpriced as soon as they enter the home. The home is usually below the standards of the other homes they are looking at so they are not even interested in writing an offer. If the home was priced correctly the right buyers would see it and they would write an offer.

Seller’s Role 

You should try to accommodate all showing requests on your home. The buyer may not reschedule to look at your home and may even buy a house the same day they were supposed to view your home. Having your home on the market is not easy. It means having your home show ready at all times and having to leave your home often. The only way to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time is to show it to as many potential buyers as possible.

Get Professional Help

Realtors are your best source for pricing your home correctly, marketing it to the masses, showing the property, negotiating on your behalf and facilitating an on-time closing. The commission paid is well worth all of the knowledge, experience and real estate tools. Realtors often bring in a higher sales price than a for sale by owner listing as well so it is worth talking with a Realtor.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when listing your home for sale. Taking these things into consideration up front can help you sell your home quicker and for more money!

Today's New Listings!

9135 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor

7625 Bar Harbour Ln, Mentor

4703 Farley Rd, Mentor

7093 Cornell Ln, Mentor

1640 Buxton Cir, Painesville

7615 Preserve Trl, Painesville

Today's New Listings!

10120 Orchard Dr, Waite Hill

7718 Ohio St, Mentor

8280 Starburst Rd, Mentor

6720 North Palmerston Dr, Mentor

1501 Easton Ave, Madison

Today's New Listings!

32033 Dickerson Rd, Willowick

39070 Arcadia Cir, Willoughby

8557 Harvest Home Dr, Mentor

10190 South Hampton Ct, Concord

4705 Riverwood Dr, Madison

Open Houses & Price Reductions!

Open Houses for April 29, 2018

3633 Samar Dr, Ashtabula
Open 2-4pm
$324,900
3bd 3ba

441 N Hambden St, Chardon 
Open 12-2pm
$115,000
3bd 2ba

10745 Holi Dale Cr, Chardon 
Open 1-3pm
$239,900 
3bd 3ba

6525 Bayside Dr, Madison 
Open 12-2pm
$149,900 
3bd 3ba

6531 Bayside Dr, Madison 
Open 1-3pm
$155,000 
3bd 3ba

6394 Timeless Ln, Madison
Open 10:30-1:30pm
$59,000
3bd 2ba

9009 Bluejay Ln, Mentor 
Open 12-2pm
$209,900
3bd 2ba

484 Riverside Dr, Painesville Twp  
Open 11-1pm
$154,900
3bd 2ba

2911 Maine Ave, Perry 
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$187,500
3bd 2ba

2996 Som Center Rd, Willoughby Hills  
Open 1-3pm
$155,000
2bd 1ba

 

Price Reductions

9853 Johnnycake Ridge #305, Concord
$650 NEW PRICE!

7466 Auburn Rd, Concord
$1,500 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listings!

74 East Shore Blvd, Eastlake

318 Parkway Dr, Eastlake

6127 Hopkins Rd, Mentor

5605 Orchid Ave, Mentor

7537 Parker Dr, Mentor

Today's New Listings!

9296 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor

8011 Barberry Hill Dr, Mentor

5550 Saw Grass Ct, Mentor

8042 Heatherglen Dr, Mentor

8160 Hermitage Rd, Concord

171 Amy Ave, Madison

Today's New Listings!

160 Pinehurst Blvd, Eastlake

9180 Hilo Farms Dr, Kirtland Hills

5348 Richards Dr, Mentor

2555 Spring Lake Blvd, Perry

8075 Autumn Dr, Leroy

Critical Steps to Buying a Home

Purchasing a home is likely to be the largest investment that a person makes in their lifetime. Therefore it is critical to be aware of the steps a purchaser should take when buying a home.

Be Credit Worthy
Chances are that you will have to depend on a loan to purchase your new home. For this reason, it is important to make sure that your credit is in good shape. A lender makes their decision to finance in a large part upon a borrower’s credit score. This will also impact the interest rates a lender is willing to offer which affects the monthly payment and the overall amount that you will have paid for the home.

Save Some Money
You should also be aware that most lenders require some type of down payment. Most financial institutions will not lend 100% of the purchase price so a home buyer will need to save at least 3% to 5% of the sales price unless a gift from family can be obtained for the down payment. A lender usually likes to see some type of money in the bank as reserves so a new home owner is not strapped with an unexpected expense.

Get Professional Help
Working with a Realtor® is crucial when it comes to purchasing a home. Realtors® are well aware of the current real estate market and they will help not only find the right home for the right price but they will assist throughout the home buying process. This will save a home buyer a lot of time and money.

These critical steps should be taken into consideration when deciding to purchase a home. They will save you time and money and insure a favorable outcome!

Today's New Listings!

4202 Amelia Ave, Willoughby

4487 Summit St, Willoughby

7085 Hoover Dr, Mentor

8696 Prairie Grass Ln, Mentor

70 Ridgecrest Dr, Painesville Township

Open Houses & Price Reductions!

Open Houses for April 22, 2018

8329 Bainbrook Dr, Chagrin Falls
Open 12:30-2:30pm
$619,900
4bd 3.5ba

10745 Holi Dale Cr, Chardon 
Open 1-3pm
$239,900
3bd 3ba

10925 Quail Hollow Dr, Concord 
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$399,999 
4bd 2.5ba

10948 Spear #7, Concord
Open 1-3pm
$225,000 
3bd 4ba

6525 Bayside, Madison 
Open 12-2pm
$149,900 
3bd 3ba

6394 Timeless Ln, Madison
Open 10:30-1:30pm
$59,000 

9009 Bluejay Lane, Mentor
Open 12-2pm
$209,900
3bd 2ba

18765 Auburn Glen Dr, Chagrin Falls 
Open 12-4pm
$499,900
4bd 5ba

 

Price Reductions

3633 Samar Dr, Ashtabula
$316,900 NEW PRICE!

1335 Perryville Pl, Ashtabula
$36,500 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listings!

7654 Kittery Ln, Mentor

345 Nelmar Dr, Painesville Township

10367 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Concord

8279 Whitney Ln, Concord

7918 Proctor Rd, Leroy

Today's New Listings!

459 East 328th St, Willowick

9364 Sunrise Ct, Mentor

9194 Sugarbush Dr, Mentor

792 Rivers Edge Ln, Painesville

200 Linden Dr, Painesville Township

1965 Paisley Rd, Madison

Today's New Listings!

10915 Worrell Rd, Kirtland

8192 Forest Ln, Mentor

9120 Ambleside Dr, Mentor

137 Colonial Dr, Painesville

1953 Fishermans Trl, Madison

Today's New Listings!

9060 Hidden Glen Dr, Mentor

8268 Manor Gate Way, Mentor

11309 South Forest Dr, Painesville

1004 S/L Ava June Dr, Painesville Township

295 Stratford Rd, Painesville

1012 Ava June Dr, Painesville Township

12237 Meredith Ln, Concord

11804 Girdled Rd, Concord

Benefit of Home Improvements To Sell Your Property

Part of the process of remodeling your home includes finding out what your return on investment (ROI) will be. There are some projects you should never sink your teeth into because you’ll lose money on it. However, there are others that provide a pretty good ROI. Every year, Remodeling’s Cost vs. Value report is published. This report details which home projects offer the best ROI for any given particular year. HouseLogic has taken this data since 2002 and compiled a report of their own that tells us which projects continue to have the best ROI over time. This is what they found.
Steel Entry Door Replacements – 98.0% ROI
Replacing your front door is one of the most fun and valuable projects you can do for your home. New front entry doors come in three flavors – steel, fiberglass and wood. Steel entry door replacements offer the highest ROI.
There’s a lot to consider when replacing your front door. There is a ton of hardware to choose from including locks, door knockers, door handles, kick plates and more. Furthermore, there are other considerations such as your front door configuration, color, style, the type of glass it has and more.
Fiber Cement Siding Replacement – 83.9% ROI
Replacing your siding has ended up on this list three times. Of course, siding replacement remodels do not apply to you if you have a house made from of brick or stone. However, for the many houses that are made out of some sort of replaceable siding, replacing that siding with the fiber cement siding can offer a value of up to 83.9 percent ROI.
Fiber cement is among the strongest and longest lasting materials you can replace your current siding with. It is a manufactured material – it won’t rust or fray. If you choose the right color, you don’t need to paint it.
Minor Kitchen Remodel – 81.8% ROI
Minor kitchen remodels do not entail ripping out your entire kitchen and replacing it. Instead, we are talking about minor upgrades. In this case, the word “minor” is nothing to be scoffed at. Things like a countertop replacement or a stove upgrade qualify as minor upgrades. Other upgrades may include a new kitchen floor, new cabinetry or even a new faucet. When it comes to improving your kitchen, you can get the most out of upgrading the utilities. In other words, things that people need and use the most. These things include plumbing, lighting, stove and ovens.
Vinyl Siding Replacement – 81.5% ROI
Vinyl siding is the next cheapest and most economical option for replacing your current siding. As a manufactured material, it also doesn’t rust, fray or erode. Vinyl comes in several colors – eliminating the need to repaint.
Garage Door Replacement – 80.7% ROI
Garage doors have two functions – they open and close. Do you know what else garage doors do? It keeps your car safe from the elements. It keeps your workshop safe. It gives you a place to put dirty tools such as lawnmowers and leaf blowers. More often than not, you’ll see garages used as a storage area. They keep rodents, intruders, and inclement weather from damaging your stuff.
Wood Deck Addition – 80.6% ROI
Wooden decks are among the nicest features homes can have. At least, that’s my opinion. A wooden deck with a functional awning that keeps your deck shaded from the sun and protected from rain will allow you to go outside without really going outside. It’s great for backyard barbecues, having your friends over, or simply stargazing. Some people choose to build their wooden deck around an above ground pool, giving the illusion that the pool is actually built underground – when it’s not. See what I did there?
Foam-Backed Vinyl Siding Replacement – 79.5% ROI
Foam-backed vinyl siding placement offers an element of insulation to your home. This can have a direct cost correlation to your heating and cooling bills. Insulation keeps the summer heat out in the winter heat in. The beautiful thing about vinyl is that it can be made to look like other, more expensive materials such as wood, brick or even stone.
Attic Bedroom Remodel – 79.3% ROI
Turning your attic into a bedroom is one of the other areas that is proven to be an excellent investment for your home, year after year. It’s kind of a novelty when you lay down on a bed in an attic and you know that the roof is right there within arms reach. On top of that, you’re far above the ground, and heat rises, keeping you warm at night.
Vinyl Window Replacement – 78.6% ROI
When you replace your windows with a newer, vinyl window, you can expect up to a 78.6 percent return on your investment. Newer windows have many options – including insulating options. Double pane windows have pressurized air or gas in between the panes offering and element of insulation. Some windows have mini blinds built in between the panes, eliminating the need for you ever to buy window treatments.
Bathroom Remodel – 77.1% ROI
Finally, bathroom remodels always give the perception of being worth a lot. In this case, the more you spend, the more you’ll get in return. The cheapest bathroom remodels include tiling the bathtub area, replacing shower fixtures, and replacing your sink and accompanying cabinet.

Today's New Listings!

38 River Dr, Eastlake

37360 Harlow Dr, Willoughby

8411 Seaton Pl, Mentor

11520 Monarch Ct, Concord

VL Ashview Dr, Madison

Today's New Listings!

38256 Lakeshore, Willoughby

9272 Sugarbush Dr #Sublot 6, Mentor

1067 Ava June Dr, Painesville Township

7002 Easton West Way #1, Concord

2180 Evergreen Rd, North Perry

Open Houses & Price Reductions!

Open Houses for April 15, 2018

3633 Samar Dr, Ashtabula
Open 1-3pm
$324,900 
5bd 2.5ba

8329 Bainbrook Dr, Chagrin Falls
Open 12:30-2:30pm
$619,900
4bd 3.5ba

441 N Hambden St, Chardon  
Open 12-2pm
$115,000 NEW PRICE!  
3bd 2ba

9670 Alder Ct, Concord
Open 11-3pm
$289,900 
4bd 2.5ba

10925 Quail Hollow Dr, Concord  
Open 2-4pm
$399,999 NEW PRICE!  
4bd 2.5ba

6394 Timeless Ln, Madison
Open 11-1:30pm
$59,000 

9009 Bluejay Lane, Mentor
Open 12-2pm
$209,900
3bd 2ba

 

Price Reductions

762 Mentor Ave #11, Painesville
$899 NEW PRICE!

9432 Wilson Mills Rd, Chesterland
$79,900 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listings!

9461 Hoose Rd, Mentor

8227 Starburst Rd, Mentor

7573 Debonaire Dr, Mentor

484 Barrington Ridge Rd, Painesville Township

2815 Joseph Ln, Perry

Today's New Listings!

156 Larimar Dr, Willowick

157 Larimar Dr, Willowick

116 Larimar Dr, Willowick

4 S/L Ava June Dr, Painesville Township

9830 Wellesly Blvd, Concord

How Many Houses Do I Need to Look at Before I Purchase?

Every buyer is different and therefore the number of properties a buyer will look at prior to purchasing will be an individual choice. There are some factors to take into consideration though to reduce the number of houses viewed in person yet still feel comfortable that you have done your research and found the best home for you.

Online Search
Many home buyers will start their search online. This is a great time saver. Buyers can quickly get an idea of the types of homes, features and pricing of certain homes in desired areas. Since it often takes 20-30 minutes to go through a home in person plus the drive time to and from each property, it is easy to see why viewing homes online is ideal.

Must-Have Features
Be sure to create a list of your desired features in your new home: the city or area; the number of bedrooms and bathrooms; and if a garage, basement or certain size lot is important. Once you know your must-have features, it will be easier to narrow down your search and avoid looking at homes that do not meet these criteria. Be sure to only list your must-have features so you do not miss out on a great home.

Pre-Approval
Getting pre-approved before beginning your home search is key. Otherwise you could waste valuable time and have your heart set on something you cannot afford. When you have a lender pre-approve you to purchase, you will know your required down payment, your cash needed at closing and your monthly payments. You may realize that you qualify for more of a payment but decide that you will feel more comfortable with your monthly payment in a lower range. Having a lender review your finances prior to beginning your home search will save you time.

There are no set rules when it comes to how many homes a buyer should view before making an offer. Being prepared though will save you time. Prepared buyers on average see approximately 5 to 6 houses in person before deciding to make an offer. This could change though from buyer to buyer depending upon their home work!

Today's New Listings!

8453 Hilltop Dr, Mentor

10948 Spear Rd #7, Concord

591 North Settlers Ln, Painesville

7489 Kellogg Rd, Concord

5796 Homestead Dr, Madison

Today's New Listings!

9223 Amber Wood Dr, Kirtland

10729 Worrell Rd, Kirtland

4781 Orchard Rd, Mentor

5562 Grace Dr, Mentor

8030 Carriage Hills Dr, Concord

Today's New Listings!

151 Larimar Dr, Willowick

35940 Matoma Blvd, Eastlake

5746 Grovewood, Mentor

8694 Prairie Grass Ln, Mentor

9718 Martinique Dr, Concord

 

Open Houses!

Open Houses for April 8, 2018

8329 Bainbrook Dr, Chagrin Falls
Open 12:30-2:30pm
$619,900
4bd 3.5ba

10925 Quail Hollow Dr, Concord
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$409,900
4bd 2.5ba

9670 Alder Ct, Concord
Open 12-4pm
$289,900 
4bd 2.5ba

9009 Bluejay Lane, Mentor
Open 12-2pm
$209,900 
3bd 2ba

484 Riverside Dr, Painesville Twp
Open 2-4pm
$154,900 
3bd 1.5ba

2911 Maine Ave, Perry
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$187,500 
3bd 1.1ba

3633 Samar Dr, Ashtabula 
Open 12-4pm
$324,900 
5bd 2.5ba

Today's New Listings!

9627 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor

7373 Salida Rd, Mentor-on-the-Lake

1648 North Shore Dr, Painesville Township

7865 Painesville Ravenna Rd, Concord

Today's New Listings!

6499 Fairfax Dr, Mentor

8939 Jackson St, Mentor

7884 Southern St, Unionville

5379 South Ridge Rd, Madison

Today's New Listings!

484 Riverside Drive, Painesville Township

9670 Alder Ct, Concord

2911 Maine Ave, Perry

4681 Regina Ct, Perry

Curb Appeal Affects Real Estate Sales

The first thing a buyer notices when they pull up to a home is the curb appeal. The home’s exterior including the siding, windows, garage door, front door and roof as well as the landscaping, decks and patios all need to show well!

More Showings
Having great curb appeal will create more showings on a property. Real estate is often a numbers game, meaning the more people that see a property, the more likely it will sell. Some buyers may decide not to even go into a property if they do not like the curb appeal. A favorable curb appeal will capture a client’s interest and make them want to see more.

Sell Faster
Of course more showings should help a home sell faster. Another reason a home might sell faster with good curb appeal is that when the initial impression is favorable, that feeling will last with the buyer as they go through the home. They will assume that the same care has been taken inside the home as well.

Sell For More Money
Realtors rank curb appeal as the most important in selling a home for top dollar. Buyers start deducting right away when the exterior of the home is not meticulous. When you are meticulous with the outside of your home, a buyer will assume you are meticulous with the routine maintenance of the home as well. Investing in the home’s exterior appearance is a good return on investment as well because a seller can expect to see return dollars for their efforts.

Conclusion
A buyer will look at a home as a total package but it is the curb appeal that makes the first impression that will stick with them. When they come back for a second showing and pull in the driveway, they will remember the home right away and how it made them feel. It is that emotional connection that will make them feel like this is home!