MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK BIGGER WITHOUT REMOVING WALLS

10/23/2015 | Author: Ward Lowe

Instead of just asking me to help with his kitchen remodel, my friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse: Want to come over and knock down a wall?

While that's one way to make your house feel bigger, it's probably not the best option if you're putting your house on the market. Here are a few easier ways to add a sense of space.

Cut the clutter
Everyone knows they should do this, but few people go far enough. Don’t put books and magazines in neat piles—get rid of them. Put knickknacks in storage, and pare down your furniture. It’s better to have a few large pieces than several small ones.

Take a walk
Every house has natural paths, from the kitchen to the dining room or from the living room to the bathroom, and these walkways must be clear. You may not mind detouring around a large sectional to get from the TV room to the kitchen, but buyers will think your TV room isn’t big enough.

Look around
Related to clear walkways are clear views. Keep tall furniture like bookshelves away from doorways, and pull back the shower curtain to expose the entire bathroom. Don’t block any part of windows, sliding glass doors, or French doors.

Pick the right paint
If you plan to repaint some rooms, choose colors that feel cool, such as light blue or light green.

Add light
Not only will light colors create a sense of openness, actual light helps, too. Open curtains or blinds to let in sunlight, and consider adding a lamp to dark corners.

When you’re done with these changes, ask us for objective feedback. We know what buyers will focus on when they enter your house and which rooms might need more work.

Give us a call to get YOUR house SOLD!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

Megan Forsberg, REALTOR

325-513-6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.tinabackus.com

The Best Resource for Pricing Your Home

10/30/2015 | Author: Marty Kramer

You’re ready to sell your home, but you’re not sure what to ask for it. No problem … a neighbor just sold her home for $329,000, so you’ll just ask for the same amount.

Wait. That was what she asked for her home. You’re not sure what it actually sold for.

Oh, hey! Didn’t your coworker sell his home for $275,000 a few months ago? That’s solid information. Maybe you should ask for that. If the market hasn’t changed much since then.

Sure, the coworker’s house isn’t in your neighborhood, but it has the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms as your home. Or maybe you should go with the asking price to the neighbor’s house. She probably sold it for close to that number. The house isn’t as nice as yours, but it’s a little larger. And it has beautiful landscaping. That adds some value, but how much?

Putting those two homes aside for a bit, you go to a website that promises to tell you what your home is really worth. An actual number. Now you’re getting somewhere ... if the value isn't off by the 20% margin of error you read about in the site’s disclaimer.

If only there was a way to process all this … pull in more data … make sure it's accurate … account for differences in the properties ... factor in what's going on with real estate prices in your neighborhood. If you could just find some to do all that, analyze it, and guide you toward the highest price that will actually get an offer. Sounds to me like you're ready to work with Backus Real Estate Group!  Give us a call and we will schedule a time to look at your home so we can get it SOLD!

Tina Backus, REALTOR

Megan Forsberg, REALTOR

(325)513-6990

tina.backusrealtor@gmail.com

www.tinabackus.com