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Contract
December 12, 2017

Geek Speak: Home Warranties

What’s the scoop with home warranties? Are they important? Do I need one?

Unlike a manufacturer’s warranty that covers an appliance for a certain amount of time, or a homeowner’s insurance policy that protects a home against catastrophic damages, a home warranty provides coverage for day-to-day breakage due to normal use.

A home warranty doesn’t expire–the plan can be renewed year after year.  Coverage can extend from appliances like dishwashers and water heaters to whole-house systems such as plumbing and electrical. Terms and limits vary by company and some offer additional coverage for specialty items like pools or wells. One of the companies we work with even covers the cost of re-keying an entire home–a huge benefit for a buyer right after a move.

Who Buys a Home Warranty?

That depends. In a competitive market, sellers may include a home warranty in the purchase price of their house. If buyers have concerns about dated appliances, they might ask a seller to include the coverage as part of the purchase agreement. Home warranties can also be purchased directly by a homeowner. They don’t have to be part of a home sale.

Kitchen AppliancesTop 3 Reasons to Purchase a Home Warranty:

Peace of Mind for Buyers – As a buyer, there’s comfort knowing that if something goes wrong, you won’t be out the expense of having to replace or repair an item in addition to all of the other moving and closing expenses.

Attractive Advantage – If a buyer is undecided between properties, the addition of a bonus like a home warranty may provide the deciding factor between homes.

Limited Liability – With a home warranty in place, a seller won’t have to worry about an appliance giving out and having to come up with the extra funds for replacement while their home is for sale.

If you’d like more information about home warranties, contact on of the geeks or tune in for this week’s episode of Grill The Geeks on The Property Geeks Facebook page where we’ll be talking to a colleague of ours who works for a home warranty company. We broadcast live every Thursday at 12pm Central time. Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

By The Property Geeks
Tips for Holiday Decorating
November 28, 2017

Top 5 Holiday Decorating Tips When Your House Is For Sale

We get asked this question a lot… “Should I still decorate my house if it’s for sale over the holidays?”

The short answer is yes, of course. Your home may be for sale, but you’re still living in it and should be able to celebrate whichever holidays your family holds dear. But… we do have some advice to offer if you don’t want to put off a potential buyer who doesn’t quite embrace your level of Ho-Ho-Ho. Here are our top 5 tips:

1 – Whether you’re going all out with a huge tree, snowglobes on every surface or just putting a few things up around the house, try to coordinate colors and themes if at all possible. In a perfect world you’d have color-coordinated ornaments, a tree full of sparkling clear lights and stockings to match. Think the best of Seasonal Concepts. But… the ornaments the kids painted in Kindergarten and the stocking your daughter crocheted when she was eight are some of your favorite items. We get it. The goal is to be festive without being too cluttered or too personal.

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2 – Watch the breakables. This might not be the year to set our your great-grandma’s heirloom nativity set. Families may be coming through with small children. If you have to put family treasures out, make sure you put them out of reach of small hands.

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3 – For outdoor decor, you’re not going for a Griswold family Christmas. No friendly competition with the neighbors or contests to see who can fit the most reindeer on the roof or inflatables in the front yard. White lights are best, but even if your family tradition calls for the multi-colored ones, just keep it simple. And keep the extension cords to a minimum. You don’t want a prospective buyer tripping over something you’ve strung across the sidewalk.

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4 – Make sure your home looks, smells and feels welcoming. During these colder months, the sun can dip behind the horizon well before dinnertime. Keep things cozy by shoveling the driveway, salting the walk and turning the thermostat up so buyers don’t enter a cold home. And nothing says home for the holidays better than the smell of something fresh out of the oven. Fake a fresh-baked apple pie by simmering some apple cider with cinnamon in a slow cooker on low.

cider spices

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 – A little effort can go a long way when showing your house over the holidays. Leave bottles of water, Christmas cookies or a bowl of candy canes on the counter when you know someone is coming through. The buyers will appreciate the thoughtfulness and special touch.

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If you need help deciding if you’ve got too much holiday spirit showing, ask a neighbor or your realtor to take a look. Often times their first impression will differ from yours, providing some much needed perspective on your level of holiday cheer.

With a little extra effort and a lot less decor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy the season, even when you’ve got your house on the market.

Happy Holidays!

 

By The Property Geeks
Home Staging Kitchen
November 14, 2017

15 Before & After Photos that Prove the Power of Home Staging

There’s no denying it: Homes that receive effective home staging definitely stand out. Not only does the right amount of decluttering, organizing and accessorizing make your home more attractive, it can actually increase its value.

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report, 32 percent of buyers’ agents believe their clients are willing to offer one percent to five percent more for staged homes. What’s more, 81 percent of agents said home staging made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home.

If that’s not enough to convince you, take a look at these before-and-after photos to really illustrate how powerful home staging can be.

1. Cool kitchen

Attractive barstools and place settings make you want to sit right down for lunch! The hardware upgrade on the cabinets makes a big difference too.

2. Dining room do-over

A fresh coat of paint and right-sized furniture create an appetizing room that’s welcoming without being over-the-top. (Removing that potty chair from the picture was a wise move as well.)

3. Room with a view

This living room went from sad to sophisticated with the help of the right furnishings and accessories. Who could focus on that stunning view with those flimsy outdoor chairs in the way?

4. The personal touch

Homeowners are often advised to keep their rooms neutral and remove many of their personal effects. But by adding a few well-placed items to the countertops, this kitchen just became a lot more enticing.

5. The beauty of decluttered space

Organizing and decluttering go hand-in-hand with home staging. It’s a shame to bury a fireplace behind so much stuff.

6. Updated decor

Many consumers have a hard time envisioning themselves in a space if the decor is too distinctive or distracting. Keeping items current and appealing to all is a way to attract as many buyers as possible.

7. Bedrooms don’t need to be bold

While you may love the idea of an extreme shade, not everyone wants to wake up to dramatic hues. In addition to lightening the wall color, moving the bed away from the window enhances the view.

8. Brighter bathroom

Nothing makes a bathroom sparkle like clean, cream-colored walls. Fresh-flowers, white hand towels, and an elegant soap dispenser take this bathroom from drab to eye-catching without any remodeling required..

9. Gorgeous guest room

This stunning space was packed with potential but failed to live up to it. In addition to new chairs, the right lighting and taking the photo from a better angle transformed this room.

10. Wall art adds a wow factor

The right wall hangings can take a room from comfortable to curated with minimal effort.

11. Less is more

Home stagers will often suggest placing some of your items in a storage unit to make your rooms appear more open and spacious. This photo illustrates why that’s such a smart idea.

12. Accent on color

The walls can stay neutral but adding a pop of color through accent pieces like throw pillows and well-placed chairs pull a room together.

13. Let there be light.

This attic bedroom went to dim and dreary to quaint and cozy with the addition of a nightstand and table lamp. The complementary geometric patterns bring interest to the small space without overwhelming it.

14. Empty just isn’t as appealing

Even if an empty room looks great on its own, showing buyers how to show off the space is inspiring.

15. Every detail counts

In case you needed any additional convincing that home staging makes an enormous difference, this montage of makeovers should do the trick.

We hope you agree that staging can take a home from okay to awesome! And if you have questions about selling or staging your home, feel free to give us a call or tune in to Grill the Geeks every Thursday at 12pm CT on our Facebook page.

By The Property Geeks
Apple Cider
October 17, 2017

Sarah’s Double Duty Mulled Cider

Property Geek Sarah recently spoiled us with one of her family’s traditional fall treats — Mulled Apple Cider. The perfect combination of sweet and tart, it combines two of our favorite fall highlights… sipping warm beverages and being able to use some of the apples we picked from our local orchards.

For as long as she can remember, her mom has made this mulled apple cider one time each year – on Thanksgiving. When she got old enough, it became her job to put the recipe together before all of their extended family descended on the house for a traditional Thanksgiving. About 10 years ago, Sarah and her cousins started taking over hosting the holidays from their parents. Since her mom had always been in charge of Thanksgiving, the responsibility for that holiday fell to her. Obviously she had to keep doing the cider, so her mom’s old percolator and the secret recipe was passed down to her. Rumor has it the percolator is the original one her grandma has always used so it’s doubly sentimental making the recipe in her vintage container. Now that her own children have gotten older, they love to help make the cider as people are arriving, just like she did.

Sarah took it a step further and added her own special tweak to the recipe — for adults only! She’s found that adding a dash of caramel vodka into the cup makes for some delicious warm caramel apple cider. A drizzle of caramel in would also be a great touch!

We decided to call it Double Duty Mulled Cider because not only does it taste fabulous but it will also make your house smell delicious.

 Double Duty Mulled Apple CiderPercolator of CiderMulled Apple Cider

Sarah’s Recipe for Double Duty Mulled Apple Cider

If you don’t have a percolator, you can add all of the ingredients to a large stockpot or your slow cooker and simmer gently.

In the percolator basket, add:

½ large orange, sliced
8-10 whole cloves
3-4 cinnamon sticks
A few handfuls of brown sugar
One gallon of plain apple cider.

Let us know what you think if you decide to try it. And if you’re a seller who’s having a Fall Open House, having a batch of this brewing for when potential buyers come through wouldn’t hurt!

By The Property Geeks
July 26, 2017

8 Home-Selling Superstitions That Should Seal the Deal

Once homeowners have arrived at the decision to sell their property, most want the transaction completed as quickly as possible. Sure, you can hire the best agent in town, price your home just right, and then market the heck out of it, but having a little bit of luck on your side never hurt either.

When it comes to getting the deal done in a timely manner, sellers and agents have been known to rely on time-tested superstitions. Let’s take a look at 8 that are all but guaranteed to get that “Sold” sticker slapped on your “For Sale” sign in a hurry.

1. Appeal to the senses.

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Even if you’re not the least bit hungry, there’s something inherently appetizing about walking into a home and smelling a freshly-baked treat. While some experts recommend whipping up a batch of cookies, others say bread emits a scent that’s heartier, lasts longer, and offers greater olfactory appeal to buyers. Non-bakers will be glad to hear that sprinkling cinnamon inside a stove and turning it on low even for a few minutes will do the trick. Fans of savory versus sweet swear by roasting an onion, which is said to be enough to fool would-be buyers into envisioning hosting their very own Thanksgiving feasts in that home.

2. Bury a statue of St. Joseph in the yard.

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Though St. Joseph was a carpenter by trade, he’d have made a pretty great Realtor ®, some say. It’s believed that burying a statue of the saint upside down (because this way he’ll want to get out faster) seems to have a mythical ability to sell homes in record time. Unlike costly home renovations made in the hope of a quick sale, this statue won’t blow your budget. Kits, which include an accompanying prayer, start at $6.95.

3. A dimmer switch is a bright idea.

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Some believe putting lights in dining rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and family rooms on dimmers will attract buyers who are drawn to the control they offer but wouldn’t necessarily devote to the time or trouble to adding the feature themselves.

4. Skip the zeros.

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While it might be tempting to price a home at a nice even number, superstition dictates that you’d be much better off choosing a random figure as it lends intrigue. Just do yourself a favor, and leave unlucky “13” out of it.

5. Throw in some amenities.

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Buyers often fall in love with certain features only to be turned off when they learn that the exquisite chandelier or state-of-the-art appliance they coveted is leaving with the homeowner. Consider sweetening the pot by offering up a highly-desirable item and watch the bids roll in.

6. Create a warm welcome.

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If the home boasts a fireplace, and weather permits, set it ablaze. A roaring fire adds warmth — literally. Creating a charming ambience will definitely distinguish one property from another in a buyer’s mind.

7. Pretty it up with fresh flowers.

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When you’re selling a home, you want it to look as fresh and inviting as possible. Flowers go a long way toward adding color and character to any space — even a pint-sized powder room. This trick holds true for the outdoors as well. Good landscaping has been known to shorten a property’s time on the market by as much as six weeks, experts note.

8. Smudge it.

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Some believe a home may have a “negative energy” lurking inside, which of course, can cause it to linger on the market long after it should’ve been sold. Smudging is a Native American ritual, in which cedar and white sage are burned either together or separately. Next a prayer or intention is said requesting that only positive energy enter the space as the negative flows back out. It’s said that strangers often feel these emotions more strongly than the home’s inhabitants.

There you have it, eight superstitions that should get your home sold in a flash. Do you have any others to add to our list?

By The Property Geeks
Independence Day, Real Estate
June 27, 2017

What Do Real Estate & Independence Day Have In Common?

What’s the first thing you think of when you think 4th of July?

Probably fireworks, right?

Okay, maybe you think about barbeques, pool parties, or parades first.

The point is, the first thought for most people isn’t about the nitty-gritty that we’re actually celebrating — our independence as a nation.

Deep down, we all know that’s what it’s all about. And we respect it. But, we’re also human. Who can blame us for enjoying our freedom watching fireworks, without giving all that much thought about everything our founding fathers did to get us here?

So it is in real estate…

There’s a lot of focus on the “fireworks” in real estate. The big, glorious, flashy, exciting moments. Like…

  • The moment your house first hits the market.
  • Seeing the pictures of your house all over the Internet.
  • Throngs of people walking through your first open house.
  • Receiving offers from buyers…maybe even multiple offers.
  • Going under contract.
  • Walking into “the” house, and falling in love with it.
  • Making an offer on the house you love, and having it accepted.
  • Closing on the sale or purchase of your home.

All really exciting “firework” moments.

But they’re not the full story. There’s a lot of stuff behind the scenes in order to get to those fun, celebratory moments. A lot of thought, knowledge, skill, and work… Not necessarily fun, or exciting stuff. But it’s all important. It’s all necessary to get to those spectacular “fireworks” moments.

Not that the behind the scenes stuff should be something you think about. As a consumer, you should enjoy the glorious moments. Leave the nitty-gritty to your agent.

Just know that there’s more to it than the “fireworks” you want to see when you buy or sell a house.

By The Property Geeks