Posted by Annalisa Burgos | October 26, 2009
You still have a chance to win $3,000 in our “Designed to Sell” Sell-It-Fast Sweepstakes. The contest ends Tuesday.
Enter now at
www.frontdoor.com/Sell/Designed-to-Sell-Sell-It-Fast-Sweepstakes-Entry/55243
And if you’re selling a home, be sure to check out our valuable tips and advice so you can get your home ready for buyers and make it stand out from the competition.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | September 29, 2009
FrontDoor.com is giving away $3,000 to one lucky winner in our “Designed to Sell” Sell-It-Fast Sweepstakes. You can enter once each day through October 27, so what are you waiting for?
Enter now at
www.frontdoor.com/Sell/Designed-to-Sell-Sell-It-Fast-Sweepstakes-Entry/55243
And if you’re selling a home, be sure to check out our valuable tips and advice so you can get your home ready for buyers and make it stand out from the competition.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | September 2, 2009
Happy September, FrontDoor friends!
The kids are back in school and the fall home selling season is underway. We’ve heard a lot of positive reports about home sales this summer, which shows that buyers are out there — and they’re hungry for deals.
The key to tapping this eager market is to prepare and price your home right before putting it on the market.
This month’s Top 10 is designed to help all you homeowners avoid the Top 10 Home Selling Mistakes That Can Cost You.
If you’re selling in this market, chances are, you’re motivated by something other than profit. But that doesn’t mean you should waste your time and money! Avoid the common mistakes sellers make and get your home sold and for top dollar (at least for this market).
Start with mistake #10: Waiting until spring to sell
http://www.frontdoor.com/Sell/Top-10-Home-Selling-Mistakes/55225/p10
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | July 17, 2009
In this week’s vlog, we hear from San Diego real estate broker and blogger Kris Berg about her tips for buying and selling a home in today’s market.
Homebuying and selling resources on FrontDoor:
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | June 30, 2009
During the real estate boom, no one really cared about staging — the act of preparing a home before putting it on the market so it can sell quickly and for top dollar. Back then, homes practically sold themselves. Sellers would get their asking price (or more in many cases) even if the place was dirty or filled with clutter.
Today, staging is the new buzz word. It’s become especially important in this highly competitive market, where traditional sellers are up against foreclosures and short sales (so-called distressed properties) that can offer rock-bottom prices for bargain hunters. And that’s what today’s buyers crave — a bargain.
But a nicely staged property offers that “move-in ready” appeal that buyers are willing to pay a bit more for. They want to see that the current owner is taking care of the home, not allowing it to fall apart, like the abandoned foreclosure down the street. If they see a fixer-upper, they’ll offer a fixer-upper price.
Luckily, you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on home improvements or hire a professional stager to reap the benefits of a staged home. There are simple, inexpensive things you can do, including:
1) Clear out the clutter. If you don’t use it, sell it, give it away or throw it out. Hold a garage sale, donate it to Goodwill or post it on Craigslist. People are always looking for free or cheap stuff. If you simply can’t part with something that’s taking up a lot of space, like your winter clothes, pack it up and put it in storage.
2) Clean and repair. Cleaniness is next to godliness, especially in real estate. And be sure to fix what’s broken, including a squeaky cabinet door, leaky faucet or a torn screen door. If you like, replace outdated hardware and fixtures. They’re inexpensive and add that shiny new feel buyers love.
3) Make room and lighten up. Remove extra furniture or use a smaller couch or bed if they’re too big. Cramped rooms give buyers the impression that your house is small and lacks space. Store some of your clothes so your closets look bigger. Choose window treatments and lighting that brighten each room.
We’ve got tons more staging advice on FrontDoor.com. Staging Diva and FrontDoor Insider Debra Gould shares her top staging tips, including replacing family photos and personal items with tasteful art.
And if you have a little bit of a budget, get inspired by the experts on HGTV’s hit show “Designed to Sell,” who find creative ways to turn a slow mover into a showpiece for under $2,000.
You can see the dramatic makeovers in FrontDoor’s Designed to Sell: Room by Room Staging Guide. Check out these before and after pictures. As you can see, staging doesn’t just refer to the inside of your home. See what a difference curb appeal can make?
We just added 21 new videos and slideshows, so you get more cool ideas to bring out the best in your home!
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | June 17, 2009
You’ve probably heard about the marital problems of Jon and Kate Gosselin, who along with their eight children (fraternal twins and sextuplets), star in the popular TLC reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8.”
The couple recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary, but apparently not together. While raising a huge family is stressful enough, imagine having to deal with the media and allegations of extramarital affairs and child abuse. And to add insult to injury, the couple can’t seem to sell their former home in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
The 3,446-square-foot, 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath Cape Cod has been on the market for four and a half months, and counting.
On average, similarly priced homes in the county take about 116 days to sell, according to Lancaster Online.
The Jon and Kate house is listed for $325,000 and features new bamboo hardwood floors, a security system, large rear deck and laundry room with two sets of washers and dryers.
The Gosselins paid $280,000 for it in 2006 and made some improvements to it during their TV show.
Judging solely on these pictures, I’d suggest the home needs some staging to compete in today’s challenged real estate market.
My tips? Remove the dreary blinds and bring in bright window treatments. Replace outdated fixtures and ceiling fans.
You can kind of see the deck through the blinds in this picture. Why not open them, so we can get a great view of the outdoors? Let the sunshine in!
And you can rest assured that the kitchen can handle a lot of cooking. That’s a picture of Kate with her eight children when they used to live in the home.
Last October, the couple moved 40 miles northeast to a $1.35 million, 24-acre estate in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, where they can spread out and have more privacy. (You can see the new home in that last picture.)
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | April 8, 2009
I’m still hunting for that perfect home to buy, and my real estate agent hit a snag when trying to make our home tour appointments for this weekend — it’s Passover and Easter and no one is available! Now, I’m Catholic (albeit a non-practicing one, but still Catholic), but I’m still bummed. After all, I’m too old to dye and look for Easter eggs and my family is all on the West Coast.
That said, your friends at FrontDoor want to you wish you a wonderful Passover and Easter, whether you celebrate these holidays or not.
If you happen to be selling your home right now, go for tasteful seasonal staging! Like Thanksgiving and Christmas, holidays give you the opportunity to add warmth and create that real feeling of “home” that can be missing with standard staging. Plant bright beautiful flowers in your front yard for Easter or showcase your grill and outdoor patio around Independence Day.
Put away personal knick-knacks and tone down the religious decor so potential buyers can envision themselves in the space. You don’t want to distract them.
For instance, your favorite Easter bunny chandelier that Aunt Martha gave you may not appeal to most buyers, but a bunny statue in your garden can be a cute touch. Read more helpful staging tips for the holidays.
Staging your home right is critical to creating a great first and lasting impression for buyers. It can mean the difference between you getting an offer or none at all. Remember to clean, declutter and highlight your home’s best features. And get more expert tips and advice in FrontDoor’s Home Selling Guide.
Posted by Annalisa Burgos | March 20, 2009
Happy first day of Spring! In celebration of the traditional kickoff to the busiest season for real estate (and this one will definitely be busy, what with interest rates as low as 4.3 percent!), FrontDoor.com is bringing you helpful tips to make the most of your homebuying and selling experience.
Sellers, we know this may be a challenging market, but the good news is that you have the potential to showcase your home to a large number of buyers who are out in force trying to take advantage of low interest rates. If your home is in great shape and priced competitively, you’ll have every buyer’s attention. You may even spark a bidding war. Get your home ready with our Staging Tips for Spring and be sure to visit FrontDoor’s Home Selling Guide for more tips and advice on selling in a buyer’s market.
Buyers, you’re in a wonderful position! There are great deals out there. But before you start looking for houses, call at least three lenders, compare rates and terms, and get a preapproval. It’ll help you determine how much house you can afford. Check out our Home Finance Guide for more tips and advice on shopping for a loan.
If you’ve never owned a home, check out FrontDoor’s First Time Homebuyer’s Guide. We’ve broken down the entire process in simple terms, complete with checklists and worksheets, so you’ll know exactly to expect. Did you know there are cities suited for first time homebuyers?
And buyers and sellers, consider going green in honor of spring. FrontDoor’s Green Real Estate Guide is chocked full of information on how to make affordable green updates and how to find a “green” home.
Happy house hunting and selling!
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