5 Quick Bathroom Updates to Sell a Home Faster

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modern bathroom photoIs your hoe not selling as fast as you would like, or are you getting ready to list your home for the first time? Either way, you’re probably looking for a way to get your property to snag the interest of potential buyers. There are a lot of different upgrades and changes you can make to your home to encourage people to look twice and even to make an offer, but the bathroom is a great place to get started with these. Check out the list below and see for yourself just how quick and easy it is to make some upgrades that will make your home sell faster than you may have expected.

New Lighting
Replace old, outdated, dirty, or damaged light fixtures with new ones that will make the space look bright and inviting. Be sure to choose something that matches the hardware and faucets in your bathroom to create a cohesive look. Always make sure the bulbs are new and functioning before showing your home.

New Paint
You may want to consider repainting everything in the bathroom, depending on what’s already there. A fresh coat of neutral colored paint on the walls and attention to repainting the trim around the bathroom can make a huge difference in its appeal to a buyer. Be sure to paint the cabinets if this is relevant to your particular bathroom, too.

New Hardware
Replace old cabinet handles and door hardware with new, stylish options that match your light fixtures. You may also want to go the extra mile and replace the faucets and showerhead with something new that matches and creates a flowing look throughout the bathroom space, too.  This is definitely recommended if you still have brass hardware and fixtures.

New Toilet
A new toilet may be the most expensive change you’ll want to make before trying to sell your home, but it can go a long way toward encouraging buyers to take a second look. Toilets are one of those pieces of your home that just do not age very well, but a nice, fresh, new toilet in an otherwise upgraded and clean bathroom will wow your potential buyers and give them the feeling of getting an added bonus if they decide to buy.

New Shelves
Many bathrooms are woefully lacking in storage space. By adding new shelves to yours, you may be giving your buyers something they truly want in a bathroom. Build shelves into existing cabinetry or hang durable shelves from the walls to give your bathroom some more storage options all around.

Are you considering selling your home?  We offer professional staging services.  Call us today to get started or click here to request a free home value estimate.

480.754.9477 or 480.754.9077

 

How We Determine Listing Price For Your Home

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Scottsdale house photoWhether you’re new to the world of real estate or you’re an old hat when it comes to listing and selling homes, there’s one part of the process that’s always more challenging than you may expect: coming up with the listing price.  It’s not a per square footage set point but a combination of the market trends in your neighborhoods, comps and what trendy features your home has that buyers desire.  I hope to pass along some of my favorite tips to you. This way, the next time you find yourself unsure about pricing, you’ll have some information to fall back on.

Comparative Market Analysis
The first and most important thing I do when trying to price a home for sale is to run a comparative market analysis check. This means I’m looking at homes in the area that have been listed recently and are similar in size and amenities to the one I’m pricing. From there, I’ll narrow down my results to houses that didn’t sell, houses that are still for sale, and houses that have sold. This will help me figure out, respectively, what price is too high for the area, what price is competitive, and what price is successful. The last category is the most important, but all three can help me figure out a reasonable price for a new listing. I’ll usually go with something like an average that falls into this range in a reasonable way.

Current Market Conditions
If houses in the same area are not selling well, that may mean I’ll need to adjust the listing price a bit lower. On the other hand, if buyers are eager to grab up anything in the area, I can encourage the price to go a little higher. Good neighborhood amenities can make a difference, too, including shopping, dining, parks, playgrounds, and more. And of course, the condition of the actual street on which the home is located can make some changes in the price, too.

Additional Home Features
Last but not least, I’ll consider the home’s features or lack thereof to figure out what may be a good asking price. If the home has a garage or a lot of bedrooms, it may drive the price up a bit. However, if the home only has one bathroom, for example, the price may dip a little because this is often seen as a negative by many buyers. I’ll also see which features have been demanding more buyer attention in the area recently when I consider this part of the pricing process, too.  Also, most home buyers love move in ready homes equipped with the latest design trends and luxury features. Tiled and wood floors are always preferred over carpeting; natural stone countertops, upgraded appliances, hardware and current kitchen cabinet trends will sell a home faster than a lower priced home with same floorplan in your neighborhood.

We offer professional staging services to get top dollar for your home.  Are you considering selling your home?  Get started with a free home value estimate or contact us today!

480.754.9477 or 480.754.9077

A Few Tips When Traveling With Pets

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Frontier Town Cowboy statue photoWhen you’re planning an upcoming move or just taking a trip, you may not think twice about bringing the family pets along. You’ve got packing, buying and selling, and tons of other changes to make, but don’t forget about your furry companions in the midst of all the moving chaos! Pets can be difficult to relocate, depending on the type of animals your family has, so it’s always important to brush up on the best tips and suggestions for ensuring that your animals have the smoothest and safest relocation experience possible.  After all, they’re members of the family, too, so don’t leave them out when you’re making plans for how to handle your big move.

Identification and Certification
Whether you’re going to be traveling with your pets by car or by air, you need to make sure you have everything within quick and easy reach before you set out for your new home with your furry friends in tow. Make sure your pets’ identification tags and paperwork are either on your pet’s collar or in your purse or other nearby travel luggage. ID tags should include your pet’s name, your new address, your name and a telephone number. You should also consider getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already.

Collars, Leashes, and Carriers
Your pet should always be wearing a collar and kept on a leash or in a carrier when traveling. Once again, this is applicable when traveling by vehicle or by air. You may think it’s alright to put your pet in the car without a collar or leash on, especially if you’ve got a pet who loves to ride in the car. However, a long trip and a lot of chaos and confusion could cause your pet to jump out of the vehicle at a pit stop, and having identification on will make it much easier for you to find your furry friend if this happens.

Food, Water, and Pit Stops
Always provide your pet with plenty of food and water when traveling. And if you’re driving, be sure you stop for potty breaks as often as necessary, too. You wouldn’t expect your kids to hold it for more than a few hours on the road at a time, so don’t expect the same from your pets. Cats will need access to a litter box in the car, while dogs will be happy to just stretch their legs and do their business on a leashed potty break.

 

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market December Update – November 2017 Stats

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Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for December 2017, which shows 7,187 homes sold in the month of November compared to 6,905 homes in November 2016. This is a 4.0% increase for the number homes sold year over year. And the average sale price is up 8.7% year over year. The amount of listed homes is down by 12.9% to 18,448 from 21,025 in November 2016. Inventory of listed homes is still well below last year at this time. And demand continues to remain strong going into the Fall/Winter. The average days on market is down 13.7% from November 2016 to 63 days. (Click on the link below or the image to view the full Market Report)

Click here to see the full November 2017 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this fall/winter, as the strong market continues to be good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and helpful articles.

Popular Farmers’ Markets Around The Northeast Valley

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Carefree Farmers market banner photoIf you live in the Northeast Valley or in any of the neighboring areas, maybe you are wondering where you can go to find the best farmers’ markets in the area. After all, farmer’s markets are a great opportunity to find locally-grown high-quality fruit and vegetables as well as cuts of meat, eggs, and homemade goods that are created and sold by your neighbors. Buying from a farmer’s market gives you the chance to support local merchants and help give back to your community by keeping your spending local. But it’s hard to do all that if you don’t know where the best markets are! Take a look at our list of the best farmer’s markets in the Northeast Valley to help you plan your next shopping day.

Scottsdale

  • Old Town Farmers’ Market: If you’re looking for the true farmers’ market experience in Scottsdale, Old Town Farmer’s Market is the way to go. This is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. It’s a large market packed full of all sorts of different types of food for sale from local vendors.  Even the parking is easy at this one, but make sure to arrive early so the vendors don’t run out of high-quality organic produce!
  • Singh Farms: Stop by on Saturdays during the open farmer’s market season to visit Singh Farms in Scottsdale. Here, you can find all sorts of fruit and veggies as well as locally-made dips, spreads, cheeses and more. Be sure to keep your eyes open for homemade bread and pick up some excellent jams or jellies to eat with it while you’re there. Take note, however, that dogs aren’t allowed in this market.

North Phoenix

  • Uptown Farmers’ Market: The Uptown Farmers’ Market in North Phoenix is another favorite among the locals, and it’s picking up a lot of steam with visitors to the area, too. You can find a variety of different ethnic foods at this market as well as plenty of your favorite locally-grown vegetables too. Be sure to check out the vendors that sell lunch and snacks on the go if you get hungry while exploring everything this market has to offer!
  • Open Air Market: The Open Air Market is a year-round farmers’ market that takes place every Saturday at the Phoenix Public Market in North Phoenix. This is a smaller market than the others listed here, but it’s still worth checking out if you’re looking for somewhere to buy sustainable and locally-sourced food from the region. Be sure to check out the café next door if you get hungry while you’re there, too!

Paradise Valley

  • Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market: The Roadrunner Park Farmers’ Market doesn’t have as many arts and crafts vendors as some of the others listed here might have, but if you’re looking for a great selection of food from the area, be sure to check it out. You can find lots of breakfast and lunch options among the quality fruit and vegetables, too.

Are you considering moving to the northeast valley?  Click here to learn about neighborhoods and view home for sale listing by map.

Stages Of The Home Buying Process

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Central Scottsdale home photoBuying a home, whether it’s your first time or your fifth, is a complicated process with a lot of different stages to keep in mind. When you go shopping for a house, it’s not as easy as just looking at a few, picking the one you want and then purchasing it. There are things you need to do before you can ever look at a house in the first place, and there are stages that take place after you pick the house you want to buy, too. If you find yourself confused about these stages or wondering where you are on your own personal homebuying journey, check out the information below.

Qualifying for a Loan:  The first thing you have to do before you can buy your home is to qualify for a loan. And in order to do this, you need to speak with your bank or a lending company. The place where you go to get your loan depends entirely on your needs as well as which lenders will offer you a loan at a reasonable rate. While it’s okay to check around with a couple of different lenders for mortgage loan quotes, make sure you don’t do this too much, or it will reflect negatively on your credit report. (If you get a few quotes in a short amount of time and then apply for a loan, the lender will usually forgive the flag on your credit report because it is clear you’re shopping around.)

Finding a Realtor and a Home:  Once you know how much you’ll be able to spend on your home, you should find a realtor you can work with. It’s okay to try a few realtors before you find someone you get along well with and someone who is really focused on helping you find what you need. With your realtor, you’ll check out several homes before you find the one that’s right for you. Don’t be afraid to take your time with this process!

Making an Offer:  Next, you’ll make an offer on the home. The realtor you’re working with will help you negotiate with the seller and will make sure you include specifics in your offer, such as a home inspection. There may be a lot of back-and-forth during this time, and it’s important to remember that the first home you offer on may not be the home you end up purchasing.

Signing:  When the offer is accepted, you’ll meet with your realtor, the seller, their realtor, and any lenders who need to be present. Everyone will sign all the appropriate documents and the homebuying process will be complete. You will receive the keys after signing.

Are looking for a house?  Click here to create a custom home search.

5 Most Common Mistakes When Shopping for a House

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Scottsdale house photoWhen you’re looking for a new home, it’s easy to fall into some of the mistakes many other homebuyers just like you have made countless times before. If it’s your first time buying a home, the risk of making a mistake is a lot higher, but even old pros who have been through the routine a few times already may hit a pitfall without even realizing it. It’s important to know what you’re up against when you’re going shopping for a house, and it’s especially a good idea to familiarize yourself with the most common mistakes made by people in your position.

Unrealistic Budget:  This is probably the worst and most common mistake made by homebuyers. If you don’t know how much you can spend on your home, you’re going to be in a bad situation from the very beginning.  Start with getting pre-qualified with a lender and communicate with your realtor clearly that you cannot go over this price. In a best-case scenario, you’ll have to find another home when you try to qualify for a loan you can’t afford. And in a worst-case scenario, you’ll end up buying a home you can’t pay for and will have a lot of financial trouble down the line.

Forgetting Expenses:  Don’t forget that the cost of the home isn’t the only expense you’ll have at closing. Closing costs, taxes, and a host of other expenses will come your way. If this is your first home, you’ll also need to factor in home insurance; if you’ve already been owning a home, this may be an expense you’re used to.

Pickiness:  Being too picky may mean you’ll never find the right home. If you have a specific budget, you can’t be so choosy that you turn down every home that doesn’t meet every item on your checklist. Prioritize a few items that are most important to you (no major renovations needed, big backyard, located in town) and leave off the ones that you can live without (updated bathroom, fence around the yard, already landscaped).

Emotional Investment:  It’s hard not to get attached to a home you feel is perfect for you, but the truth is that you’re probably not going to get the first home you fall in love with. Try not to get emotionally attached to a home until you’ve signed the contract.

Ignoring Home Inspections:  Some buyers just ignore what the home inspection says and only have one done because it’s required, either by the law in their state or by the contract they have. It’s always a good idea to pay close attention to what the inspection tells you so you can decide whether or not to progress with the purchase.

We have local area experts in the northeast valley.  We can connect you with a trusted lender and find a home that fits your needs and budget.  Contact us today!

Phoenix/Scottsdale Real Estate Market November Update- October 2017 Stats

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Here is the Phoenix/Scottsdale area Monthly Real Estate Market Report for November 2017, which shows 7,410 homes sold in the month of October compared to 7,104 homes in October 2016. This is a 4.2% increase for the number homes sold year over year. And the average sale price is up 4.3% year over year. The amount of listed homes is down by 8.9% to 19,235 from 21,093 in October 2016. Inventory of listed homes is starting to rise as it does this time of year, but is still well below last year at this time. And demand continues to remain strong going into the Fall/Winter. The average days on market is down 12.2% from October 2016 to 65 days. (Click on the link below or the image to view the full Market Report)

Click here to see the full October 2017 Market Report & Statistics

Give us a call or text us at 480-754-9477 or 480-754-9077 if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home this fall/winter, as the strong market continues to be good for both buyers and sellers, or if you have questions about this information. And don’t forget to explore our website AzDreamHomesScottsdale.com to see Scottsdale area homes and helpful articles.

Storage Tips for Small Kitchens

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small kitchen photoDo you have a small kitchen? Are you looking for ways to spruce up your space and make the most of what you have to work with? Whether you live in an older home with a more old-fashioned kitchen design or you live in an apartment without a lot of space to work with, don’t worry. You have options when it comes to figuring out the best way to put your kitchen storage to work for you. Check our tips below to help you find the best options for your needs.

Tall cabinets

There’s no reason why you can’t stack cabinets or install tall ones that go all the way to the ceiling. Although this may be a unique design option, it’s sure to give you plenty of space to store everything you need in your kitchen. Just make sure you put the items you don’t use as frequently up on those high shelves, and don’t forget to keep a stepstool or ladder close by so you can reach the higher items as needed.

Hanging Pots

Hang up your pots and pans suspended from the ceiling to maximize the storage space you have in your cabinets. This will help you keep everything much more organized and will give you plenty of room to store other items, such as your dishes or your slow cooker.

Drawer organization

Purchase some low-cost draw organizers to help you keep your utensils in the right place at all times. Don’t waste a drawer in your kitchen on a “junk drawer,” and try to maximize the amount of drawer space you have to work with.

Wall-mounted shelves

Hang shelves on the wall and use them for storing things like mugs, dishes you use frequently, and other items you’ll want to reach on a regular basis. This is also a good place to keep spices if you don’t have a specific spice cabinet, but take care not to let it look too cluttered or end up overflowing with spices, either.

Try an island

Some kitchens are too small for an island, and if that’s true of your kitchen, there’s no need to try to squeeze one in. However, if you have enough room for it, put in a small island and be sure to choose one that has built-in shelves, drawers, or both. This will give you a chance to store even more using the new space you’ve created. Try a rolling island that you can move out of the way as needed if you’re having trouble finding space for a stationary one.

Are you looking to purchase a condo or downsize?  Contact us today  or click here to create a custom home search 

 

 

Do Open House Events Still Work?

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Cave Creek home photoHaving an open house can often go a long way toward helping you sell your home, but there are some pros and cons you’ll want to consider before you plan to go this route. You can expect a lot of  traffic from potential buyers and agents if the event is staged effectively, correctly and at the right time.

The goal of an open house is to bring traffic to your home from people who are looking to buy a home in your area.  A seasoned agent will schedule the event shortly after your home is posted for sale to take advantage of the “new listing” status.  Your realtor will post the open house date in MLS, social media and real estate websites such as zillow.com and realtor.com so that buyer’s agents and anyone who may be interested is aware of the upcoming event.

Open houses offer low-pressure opportunities for buyers to take a look. Your realtor should let people look around while being close enough to answer questions but not to overpower the potential buyers. This usually encourages buyers to think fondly of your home when they look back on the properties they’ve visited. Keep in mind, some visitors may be looking on behalf of their friends and/or family.

Your realtor will be able to talk to new potential buyers who may be coming back for a second look.  This is also the opportunity to share information about the home that is not specified in the listing information.  Interested buyers will connect with their agents, who will communicate with your realtor to get more information about the home and your motivation to sell.

Go above and beyond to make sure your house looks at its best while it is on the market.  Your agent will guide you as to how to make your home attractive to buyers and may suggest home staging services to show your home’s best features.

It is not very common to make a sale during the open house itself. This is an event that’s more about gaining interest and getting the word out about your home rather than necessarily finding a buyer that day.  Of course, you never know what could happen!