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3 Improvements for ROI on Your Home's Exterior
Photo credit to Lysi Bishop Real Estate The exterior of a home makes the first impression. Whether you're planning to sell your home or simply want to boost its curb appeal, improving the exterior can yield significant returns on investment. Here are three of the best upgrades to invest in that can enhance both the aesthetic appeal and value of your home. Fresh Exterior Paint: One of the most impactful ways to give your home a facelift is by applying a fresh coat of paint to the exterior. Weather exposure over time can cause paint to fade, peel, or chip, leaving your home looking worn and outdated. A new paint job breathes fresh life into the appearance of your home, while also protecting it against the elements. Be sure to choose a timeless, neutral color that fits your home’s architecture and surroundings. New or Repainted Front Door: Photo credit to Unsplash As the focal point of a house’s exterior, the front door draws the eye of viewers. A rough front door can take away from the overall aesthetic of your home, while a fresh, well-maintained door can instantly elevate its curb appeal. Consider giving your current door a fresh coat of paint for a more cost-effective option, or invest in a new door. Make sure to choose a color or door that compliments the rest of the exterior, and try increasing the sophistication of your door with stylish door handles, knockers, and decorative accents. Quality Decking and/or Patio Cover: Photo credit to Unsplash Outdoor living spaces are highly sought after in today’s real estate market. From hosting a backyard barbeque, relaxing in the sun, or dining outside, building decking or a patio cover can create a much more versatile and attractive outdoor space. Investing in premium materials like composite decking (e.g., Trex) can offer a much more durable, rot and insect-resistant, and low-maintenance deck than traditional wood. Adding a stylish patio cover, such as a pergola or awning, can provide shade and shelter for your outdoor space, making it more inviting and functional year-round. Budget Friendly Honorable Mentions: Photo credit to Unsplash Wash windows. Newly cleaned windows not only enhance the overall appearance of your home but also allow more natural light to filter indoors, creating a brighter, more inviting atmosphere. Powerwash patios & walkways. Refresh your patios and walkways by scrubbing the dirt and grime away and restoring them to their original beauty. Add color with plants/flower pots. Add curb appeal and visual interest through bright pops of color in the form of plants and flower pots, bringing life to the exterior of your home. Tidy up landscaping. Cleanly trimmed bushes, weeded garden beds, and a freshly mowed lawn create a neat and polished look for the exterior of your home.
Top Strategies for Selling in Spring
As the flowers begin to bloom and the temperature rises, the real estate market experiences a surge of activity. If you're planning to sell your home, the spring season is a great time to capitalize on the new energy and enthusiasm that comes with Spring. Shake off the cold, dark days of winter and check out these top strategies for selling your home in the spring! Up your curb appeal: Credit to Unsplash First impressions are paramount in selling a home, and you want your home to make a good one. Your home's curb appeal entices potential buyers and gets them excited about your home. To give the exterior of your home a spring boost, take a critical look at your home and consider what simple yet impactful changes can be made. Whether it's freshening up the paint on the fence, updating or repainting the front door, or adding some vibrant flowers or potted plants, there are plenty of simple and cost-effective ways to make your home more appealing. Do some spring cleaning: Credit to Unsplash Buyers want to see a clean and well-maintained home that they can picture themselves living in. Before you start hosting open houses, try setting aside a day to declutter and clean your home. The chores to focus on are cleaning and decluttering countertops, organizing cabinets and storage areas, and dusting shelves, cabinets, baseboards, and light fixtures. A spotless home looks more inviting and will keep potential buyers interested! Focus on your landscaping: Credit to Unsplash The landscaping of your home is a key element in creating a positive first impression. As the grass begins to turn green again and bushes come back to life, stay on top of your yard by trimming overgrown bushes, weeding flower beds, and even adding fresh mulch. Make sure to rake away dead leaves or branches from the winter season. Consider planting seasonal flowers to add blooms of color to your yard. Well-maintained landscaping enhances the overall aesthetic and conveys a sense of care and attention to detail to your potential buyers. Clean out the rain gutters: Credit to Unsplash Rain gutters can be full of leaves and debris after the winter season, which can lead to drainage problems and an unkempt look. Cleaning out the gutters is as simple as getting a ladder, scooping out the muck in the gutters, and rinsing them out with a hose. This also prepares your home for spring rain showers. This small detail can show potential buyers the level of care given to your home. Powerwash the driveway and wash the windows: Credit to Unsplash A clean, well-kept home includes more than just the yard and the interior. The driveway and windows are major parts of the overall look of your home, and it is important they are unblemished. Powerwash the driveway to remove built-up grime and make it look like new. Additionally, cleaning the windows allows natural light to flood your home, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. For the best results, clean windows from both the outside and inside. These simple yet meaningful tasks contribute to an overall sense of cleanliness and maintenance in your home.
The Importance of Pre-Approval in the Home Buying Process
Photo Cerdit: Unsplash Embarking on the exciting journey of buying a home? Before you dive headfirst into searching for houses, there is one step that can make the whole process smoother: getting pre-approved for a mortgage. What is Pre-Approval? Pre-approval is a process where a lender evaluates your financial situation and determines the maximum amount they are willing to lend you for a mortgage. Lenders do an in-depth analysis and consider credit score, assets, financial history, and other details in your finances. This is different from pre-qualification, which is a less detailed preliminary assessment of your finances. How long does it take to get Pre-Approved? Mortgage pre-approval takes different amounts of time depending on the lender you go through. Typically, you can expect it to take around 10 business days after you send in all of the information needed. For more specific information on timeline and financial information needed, ask your lender. Benefits of getting pre-approved: Setting a realistic budget: By finding out the maximum amount of money you will be able to spend on your future home, you are able to narrow down your search into houses that fit your budget. This gives you peace of mind as you look at homes, knowing you will be able to afford them! Getting a Competitive Edge: In the real estate world, having a pre-approval gives you a distinct advantage over other buyers. When a seller receives an offer from a buyer with a pre approval, it shows that the buyer has the funds to back the offer and is serious about buying. This can make your offer much more appealing and increase the chances of your offer being accepted. Expediting the Closing Process: Pre-approval expedites the closing process because the loan process has already begun and the initial financial assessments are completed. This makes the time between your offer being accepted and closing on the house faster, allowing you to get into your new home sooner!
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