America’s net home equity rose nearly half a trillion dollars during the fourth quarter of 2012, and $1.7 trillion since spring 2011,according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve, bringing an estimated 2 million homeowners into positive equity in 2012. Many of these people are finally in a better position to sell, so more houses will surely come on the market as we head further into spring. Getting in the market early will mean less competition and fewer days on the market if you are properly positioned. The market is starting to heat up here and we are seeing properties going under agreement within a week! They have all have a few things in common:
- Accurate pricing.
- New(er) kitchens and bathrooms.
- Good curb appeal, nicely staged and decluttered.
Residential Properties LTD digital presence expertly markets properties with an emphasis on high quality photographs and videos, but if a property doesn't look good from the street there won’t be many takers. Here are a few tips to help boost your curb appeal this spring:
- Give your home’s exterior a good scrub to remove cobwebs, bugs and dirt. Be careful if using a power washer, it may remove paint, making the house look worse than it was before you washed.
- Clean your windows inside and out, and remove screens to show off the windows and let light into the home.
- Trim trees and shrubs, especially those hanging over the house obstructing views or walkways, landscaping should complement your home, not hide it.
- Remove and store items like garden tools and stray hoses and toys.
- Clean your flower beds, add fresh mulch. A nice clean edge will really make your beds pop and keep the mulch from spilling into the lawn when it rains.
- Add Color, planting the same color annuals in beds, containers, hanging pots or flower boxes will give your home a unified splash of color.
- A pint of paint is all you need to spruce up the front door, add a fresh welcome mat and shiny new house numbers.
This week’s Real Estate Insight: According to NAR's latest survey of buyers and sellers, at least 50% of home buyers make their decision within seconds of pulling up in front of a house before they step inside the front door. Sellers can anticipate as much as a 10% premium in sale price of their home if it has good curb appeal.
Sprucing up your landscaping is a great low cost way to boost your curb appeal, then you can decide how to best invest in other improvements.
