Don't Advertise Your Kids' Names With Your Home!!

The weather in Rochester has not warmed up but the local real estate market has.  I've been out photographing numerous houses from Greece, to Brighton to Fairport that will be coming to market over the next few weeks.

The homes are all nicely staged and gorgeous but the kid's bedrooms are especially fun to photograph.  Of course, they leave me feeling deprived as I think back to sharing a bedroom with my two sisters without matching furniture nor color-coordinated drapes and bed coverings.  But that's another story.

I love the trend to decorate a child's room with his or her name until it is time to put the house on the market.  As you stage your home and child's bedroom, keep in
mind that these photographs will be all over the internet right there with your address.  While most kids are taught about stranger-danger, it can be confusing to them when a stranger knows their name.  So, just as a precaution, remove all the name art before the photo shoot.

It's also not a bad idea to put away anything that is extremely valuable so as not to temp burglars.   Of course, valuables can be replaced  but our precious loved ones can not.  

Please don't hesitate to give me a call if I can assist with your Rochester-area real estate needs.

Less Real Estate Drama With Home Inspections Before Listing

In a typical real estate transaction in the Rochester area, the buyers find a house, write an offer, comes to term with the seller,both sides celebrate, and then the home inspection happens.  Often there are surprises, both for the buyer and the seller and that's when the real drama can begin.  Buyers get frighten and sellers get angry.  It's no fun for anyone.

Last year I sold a few homes in which the property was inspected before the house went on the market.  Sellers have the opportunity to make repairs before the house is listed. And buyers receive the report before writing an offer with a pretty clear understanding of what's been repaired and what they will need to address as the future owners.  Buyers can make a fairer offer when they have all the facts and there is no re-negotiating the contract after the inspection.

Inspecting a home before it goes on the market is not cheap.  Expect to pay between $300 and $400 for a home inspection.  Plan on another $100 or so to make sure the furnace or boiler and in top working order and if there is a fireplace, you will also want to do a chimney safety check for approximately $75 to $100.  These fees add up but rarely is a buyer's request for a repair credit less than $1000.

Last year alone, I was involved in 3 transactions in which buyers made an offer based on there being an old furnace.  During the course of the inspections, cracked heat exchangers were discovered and guess what, each buyer ended up with a band new furnace.  Happy buyers for sure, but very angry sellers.

I'm all for less drama in real estate and believe that less surprises equals less drama.  I'd love to see all Rochester area sellers have there home inspected before going on the market, or at a minimum, have the furnace serviced.  If you'd like more information, don't hesitate to give me a call or send me an e-mail.

Buyers Want a Clean Slate and Fresh Start

One of the most important steps in preparing your house for market is de-cluttering and staging.  While common sense would tell you that all the clutter leaves with the seller, most buyers just can't see past it.  Maybe they have a clutter problem in their current home and a new home represents a fresh start.  They just can't picture that start in a cluttered house.

Sometimes we also need to give our walls a clean slate and fresh start.  There is an awesome colonial in Fairport that just hasn't gotten its fair share of attention and so the seller spent much of the holiday season stripping wallpaper.  Take a look that the before and after shots of their sons' bedroom.  The transformation is remarkable.

For more shots and details of this home, go to 81 W Church

Getting your Home Ready for the Photographer!

Fashion models don’t pop out of bed and get in front of a camera.  Houses shouldn't either!   When your home goes on the market, the buying public will truly scrutinize the photos of your home as they determine whether or not they even want to visit it.  

 Here are a few guidelines for getting home ready for a photo shoot.  As you go through each room, remember less is more because even the most attractive items can look like clutter in a photograph.

Outside

In winter, driveway and walkways clear of snow.

In summer, grass freshly cut and raked.

Hedges and bushes trimmed.

Trash cans, bikes, toys out of sight.

Porch, front stoop, front door decorated  but modestly.

Cars removed from driveway.

Inside

Kitchen

Clear counters.  Leave one small appliance and one or two decorative items (bowl fruit, etc.)

Hide dish drains, dish detergent, etc.
Eliminate refrigerator magnet clutter.

New or clean, fresh dish towels neatly hung.

Simple place settings at table or breakfast bar

Dining

Clear all clutter

China cabinets & curio cabinets sparsely furnished.  

Set table but keep place setting simple as to avoid a cluttered look. 

Living room

Eliminate newspapers, magazines, and other media.

Do not store items under the couches...they show.

Put away toys and simplify decorative items.

Turn off televisions.

Open curtains.  Turn on lamps (soft light is better than bright or harsh)

Bedrooms

Make the beds.  Every wrinkle shows up in photographs, so do it carefully.  Fresh pillow cases or pillow covers help. 

Either have a bed skirt or do not store items under the bed.

Put away personal belongings, eliminate clutter.

Open windows.  Turn on lamps with soft light.

Bathrooms

Eliminate all personal and beauty items

Hang new or clean towels.

Clean mirrors.

Close toilet seats.

Open curtains.   Turn on lights.