Thinking about selling in 2015

If you are wanting to sell your home now is the time to start preparing to list it for a spring market. Take the next couple of months and declutter, organize and spruce up your home. Here are some tips to help get you moving in the right direction. 

• Work on one room at a time. 
• Clean out cabinets, closets, storage areas, etc. 
• The 3 box system works well for most people.
•  Keep, Donate, Discard. 
• On the items you decide to keep, if they are not items you use everyday consider placing them in a moving box and labeling. Then store these boxes in a basement area or garage. This will help to cut down on clutter. By labeling you can always get to the item quickly if needed.
• Once you decide on items to keep in the home, organization cabinets, drawers and linen closet shelves with baskets, etc. 
• For bathroom items that you use daily keep a basket under the sink, when we call with a showing appointment you can quickly place items in the basket inside the bathroom cabinet. 
• Same goes for children's toys. Place a laundry basket inside their closet for all those small toys and stuffed animals. 
• Take a good look at the inside of your home. Clean windows, light fixtures, ceiling fans. Wipe down baseboards. Use a magic erasure for scuff marks on walls and floors. Touch up paint if needed. Freshen up trim with a coat of white paint.
• Scrub outside of doors and window trim. Replace any broken windows. 
• Give the landscaping some attention. New pine straw or mulch, weed flower beds, trim shrubs, etc. 

For more great ideas visit my pinterest page here and you can find me on facebook here

If you are considering selling your home I would love to help. Give me a call 706-351-1577 or email me at dianafoster1@gmail.com

New Listing 169,000 3 bedroom 2 bath Athens GA

New Listing, Athens, GA. 169,000 3 bedroom 2 bath well maintained home. New roof, flooring and paint within the past 2 yrs. Home is located on corner lot in the Orchard Subdivision. Convenient to shopping, dining and loop 10. Paved RV parking pad in rear of home. Split bedroom plan. Double sinks, over sized tub, large walk in closet in master. Laundry/Mud room off 2 car garage. Formal dining room with plantation shutters. Fireplace with gas logs in living room. Great deck for entertaining off of living room.

Sellers take note: Buyer Incentives

Recently I read another agent's blog post on seller incentives to help buyers choose their home. In this market most buyers expect sellers to help with closing costs. Here are some other great ideas that can easily be implemented by the seller.

• In addition to offering a gift card to a home improvement store for remodeling purposes, the gift card could also be used for updating paint within the home. Everyone's taste are so different and painting is usally top on the list for alot of buyers.  

• Leaving appliances including refrigerator, washer, dryer, upright freezer. Leaving flat screen t.v. especially if it is already installed in the wall. Outdoor patio furniture, gas grills, etc. For first time homebuyers these are items that may not be in the budget.  

• If the kitchen appliances are older upgrading with new ones.       

• Provide gift card for moving expenses. 

• Paying for home inspections, 1st years homeowners insurance, home warranties.

• Landscaping and garbage pick up services. 

 

 

 

 

In this market it takes everyone working together to finalize a transaction. These may seem like small things but that may be all it takes to get the buyer to look at your listing over another. I work with alot of first time home buyers and these are expenses they share with me all the time. 

Diana Foster

Realtor Braselton Real Estate Group

Cell - Voice/Text 706-351-1577

Email - DianaFoster1@gmail.com

Website - dianafoster.georgiamls.com

Berry Hill Estates  195,000

4 bedroom 3 bathroom Ranch home on a full finished basement. Open floor plan with hardwood entryway. Breakfast bar in Kitchen, large great room with vaulted ceilings and fireplace. Bonus room ready for sheet rock and flooring. Master suite has his and her walk in closets, double vanity, over sized tub. Full basement has bedroom, full bath and walk in closet. Over sized finished area in basement currently used as a second living/recreation room and office area. 2nd large open area just needs sheet rock and flooring.  Storage areas galore in basement. Deck off of living/dining room overlooking private wooded partially fenced backyard. Home has 2 water heaters, 2 heat pumps with downstairs being installed in 2012. Low HOA fee per year. Located in the Jackson County school system. 

View of living room from foyer

Kitchen open to living room

Foyer area

Dining Room open to living room

View from back deck off Living/Dining

Beautiful craftsman 4 bedroom 2.5 bath with master suite on the main floor. 225,000

2 story home on large lot in the East Jackson School district. Subdivision is within walking distance of schools. 4 bedroom 2.5 bath. Open floor plan perfect for entertaining. Large custom kitchen with breakfast bar open to breakfast area, granite, tile back splash and all stainless appliances stay with home. Master on main, bath with double vanities, jetted tub, tiled shower. Beautiful wide wrought iron stairway leading to upstairs over-sized loft area with exposed beams. 3 bedrooms upstairs share a large bath with double vanities. New landscaping within the past year on corner lot.

Custom kitchen, granite counters, all stainless appliances stay, decorative tiled back splash

Formal Dining Room

Master Bath, Double vanity with granite, jetted tub, tiled shower and floor

Large master closet off master bathroom

Large bath upstairs with double vanites