Your Zillow 'Zestimate' May Be Wrong

There's no denying the convenience and accessibility of online tools such as Zillow when it comes to buying and selling homes. Many use the home value estimate, or ‘Zestiment’, given by Zillow, as the correct home value when selling their home. But, is the convenience of Zillow's estimates too good to be true?   Third-party valuations are usually incorrect. Zillow and other third-party estimates fail to correctly price your home. Even Zillow itself gives a disclaimer suggesting that you get a professional appraisal. Many third-party valuations base their estimates on zip codes. This means that your recently updated home could be priced the same as one down the street that hasn’t been updated in decades. They also don’t differentiate between homes in different school districts or outside of city limits. Listing your home based on a third-party estimate is a recipe for losing money!   How experienced realtors properly price a home. Experienced realtors price a home through much more detailed methods. They consider updates and upgrades. Did you just remodel the kitchen or finish the basement? Your price should reflect this investment. Home conditions are also considered. This means how well the home was taken care of, if it has any major flaws such as roofing issues, or if maintenance has been kept up with. Location is a major factor as well. Homes in good locations, such as close to downtown, in a desirable school district, or in a nice neighborhood, are preferable for buyers and will be priced higher. One huge advantage experienced realtors have is recent sales data and knowledge of local microeconomics. With access to this information, they are able to see what similar homes have sold for recently, and therefore be able to give a more accurate valuation of your home.   Want a no-obligation home valuation from our team? Lysi Bishop Real Estate offers a no-obligation home valuation from an experienced agent at no cost. Go to this link to see what your home is really worth!

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Fall Home Staging Tips

The fall season has begun, and it's time to transition your home's interior into a cozy and inviting space buyers will “fall” in love with. This process does not have to be expensive, and even small seasonal touches can make a world of difference. Fall home staging is the perfect way to showcase your property's full potential and help buyers picture themselves living in your home during the cozy cooler months.   Cozy is Key: Photo Credit: Unsplash With the cold weather outside, make your home a warm and cozy haven that buyers will want to call home. Achieve this feeling through items such as shag rugs, fur pillows, and thick woven blankets draped on couches. If your home has a fireplace, make sure your fire is lit during open houses and showings to increase the homey feel the buyers will get! Make sure your home’s temperature is comfortable; aim for around 74 degrees for the goldilocks ‘just right’ temperature.   Choose Fall Moody Colors: Photo Credit: Unsplash A fall-themed color palette for staging can change the mood of your home and make it look like the perfect home for the colder months. Colors such as rust, caramel, dark greens, and dark reds are perfect for inspiring a warm fall feeling. If you do not want to invest in larger pieces of furniture in these colors, try adding blankets or throw pillows for a similar effect without breaking the bank.   Limit Seasonal Holiday Decor: Photo Credit: Unsplash Avoid seasonal holiday items such as Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations, as they can distract from the natural features of your home. Seasonal decorations can also turn away buyers who do not share the same traditions. To highlight the natural beauty of your home, keep to a simple fall theme and limit seasonal holiday decor.   Keep Up the Outdoor Spaces: Photo Credit: Unsplash With fall comes a new set of outdoor chores to keep your curb appeal high. Raking your leaves, patching brown spots in your lawn, cleaning gutters, and trimming back bushes all boost your home's outward appearance. To add extra life to your fall lawn, try planting fall-friendly flowers such as celosias, heleniums, spider mums, and pansies.  

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4 Easy Ways to Modernize a Dated Home

  Photo Credit: Blu Fish Photography Does your home make you feel like you're living in another era, and not in a good way? Whether you are sprucing up your home to sell, or just want to give it an update without doing a full blown remodel, this short list is full of affordable things to do to modernize the look and feel of your home! Most you can do yourself! 1. Update light fixtures: Think of light fixtures as the crown of the room. They can make quite the statement, so it is important to be mindful of the style and size you select to top your favorite rooms with. Start with light fixtures in big impact rooms, such as entryways, dining rooms, and living rooms to make the biggest difference, and then move onto bedrooms and bathrooms. Switching your light switch plates from the once popular ivory to a modern white is another easy task that you do not need an electrician to do. Photo Credit: Young House Love 2. Paint: Paint can completely change the look of a room. A home may feel dated when there are outdated color palettes or wood cabinets with a yellow or red stain. Freshen up dated wood cabinets with a few coats of neutral paint. Popular colors include classic white, light gray, and beige. Further modernize with new hardware. Avoid trendy colors like navy blue, emerald green or dark grays on cabinets since these are more labor-intensive projects. For a fun pop of color, paint a smaller space (like a powder room) or nook for a focal point. Tile is also able to be painted using special tile paint (try Rustoleum Tub and Tile) to give even the most dated print a new look in white or another color. You can even paint a linoleum floor, and there is a plethora of stencils online if you want to add a interesting design. Photo Credit: Wayfair 3. Replace plumbing fixtures: Most plumbing fixtures do not require a plumber to install and can really change the feel of a kitchen or bathroom. Just make sure the faucet you buy has the same hole configuration as your existing faucet. If you have gold plumbing fixtures from homes of the 80’s-90’s era, a quick way to modernize is to update to a brushed finish like a satin nickel or brushed brass. Photo Credit: The Handyman's Daughter 4. Change window treatments:  Changing old and dated window treatment out with a fresh, trendy set is another way to completely change the feel of a room. Whether you choose shades, drapery, shutters or blinds, changing out window treatments is a major step to making your home feel modern and new. Photo Credit: Jeanne Canto          

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