You’ve probably heard the phrase, “going the extra mile.” What does that really mean?

I have given that question a lot of thought because I build my business through repeat business and referrals. I couldn’t do that without “going the extra mile” for my clients. I do my best to be the kind of REALTOR® who provides clients with a great home buying or selling experience — before, during and even after the transaction.
I hope you know I’ll go the extra mile for you, and your referrals

Take the Personality Out of Your Home

Does your home have a lot of personality? There’s nothing wrong with that.

In fact, you may have pictures on the fireplace mantle showcasing happy family memories over the years… or trophies and other awards in the kids’ bedrooms that represent achievements that make you proud… or a fridge door covered with notes, a calendar and other items that make it a de facto family bulletin board!

These are all things that help make a house truly a place to call “home”.

But when it comes time to sell, all that personality can work against you. When buyers view your property, they want to visualize themselves living there, not you and your family.

Have you ever noticed how model homes are often furnished and decorated? All the rooms look beautiful and enticing. They draw you in. Why? Because, although all the rooms in the model home look great, they’re also impersonal. There’s no uncomfortable sense that you’re in a stranger’s home. You can easily see yourself living there.

That’s exactly what you should strive for when preparing your house for sale.

You can’t get rid of every personal item. That would be impractical. But there’s a lot you can do to depersonalize your home. For example, you can:

Take down family pictures
Clear items from the fridge door
Store trophies in a box
Remove personal knick knacks and similar items
Keep only general titles on a bookshelf and store the rest.
The more easily buyers can see themselves living in your home, the more likely they are to become interested in it and make an offer.

Want more ideas for making your property look even more appealing to potential buyers? Call today.

Making Sure You Get What You Need

When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s a good idea to create a check-list
of what you want and what you need. It keeps you on track to ultimately find the property that best fits your requirements — and those of your family.

However, there’s a big difference between want and need that is important to understand when house hunting. A ‘need’ refers to a feature that is an absolute must in a new home. A ‘want’, by contrast, is a ‘nice-to-have’.

Some home buyers make the mistake of choosing a ‘want’ at the expense of a ‘need’.

For example, say you ‘need’ four bedrooms in your new home but ‘want’ a golf course located nearby. It can be tempting to fall in love with a property that has a beautiful golf green just a couple of blocks away, even if it has only three bedrooms. You may find yourself signing the offer while dreaming of Saturday morning tee-offs, only to awake to the realization months later that the lack of an extra bedroom has become a serious inconvenience to you and your family.

Of course it is possible to get most, if not all, of what you need and want in a new home. But if it comes down to a choice, it’s usually a good idea not to sacrifice something you really need in order to get something you want.

So when you’re making your house hunting check-list, be clear about what is a need-to-have and what is a nice-to-have.

Don’t forget that some features you want — like a wrap-around backyard deck, for example — can potentially be added to your new home later. Want more tips for getting what you need and want in a new home? Call today.

Home Selling Advice from Hoteliers

When a hotel wants to make a room look inviting, they start with the bathroom. They clean it until it sparkles. They place fresh towels everywhere. They make sure the soap bars and shampoos are new. Some hotels even fold the end of the toilet paper into a nice neat triangle!

Why all the fuss?

Hoteliers know that if a customer is impressed with the bathroom, they will likely feel the same way
about the rest of the property.

Something to think about when selling your house.

notable, quotable… quotes!

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it,but that it is too low and we reach it.”

Michelangelo

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”

Chinese Proverb

“I’m a great believer in luck. And the harder I work, the more I have it.”

Stephan Leacock

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