Get It Sold

Your home is one

of the single most important financial investments that you can ever make in your life. When the time comes for you to put your home on the market, you want to make sure that you get the maximum return for your investment. To assist you in that process, your friends at Signature Properties Group have put together a few practical ideas that will hopefully help you as you navigate these waters.

get itSold

This home is available for sale on SignaturePropertiesGroup.com.

Preparing Your Home for Selling by Anna Johnson and Kay Love

The sheer logistics of tangibly getting your home ready for the market can be a daunting, sometimes unnerving, task, especially if you have occupied the house for quite some time. Since sorting through all the “stuff” that comes with preparing your home for sale can be overwhelming, we offer these simple suggestions that you can implement to make sure your house is ready when that time comes. DECLUTTER. That “stuff” accumulates the longer that you live in a place. A good rule to follow is if you haven’t worn it in the last year, give it to charity. This will help thin out those closets and make them look more spacious. If you’re downsizing, it might be time to decide that there’s just no room for those old high school trophies that have been collecting dust in the attic for years. A good idea is to take pictures of such memorabilia to preserve the memory without taking up space. Discard furniture you no longer need or put items in storage in order to make rooms feel more spacious.

Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce up your home, and it can be a great DIY project.

REPAIR DEFECTS. Does your house have leaky faucets? Rusted drains? Loose drawer handles? Making these small fixes can make a big difference to those potential buyers with detail-oriented minds.

ADDRESS WATER STAINS. Your old water heater in the attic may have leaked before replacing it with a new one; however, the leftover water stain is still visible on the ceiling below. This could be a negative trigger for a prospective buyer and may mislead them into thinking that the problem still exists. Double check that the issue that initially caused the leak is resolved, then make any repairs to the walls or floors affected.

CURB APPEAL. Dressing up the outside as well as the inside will show buyers that your home is the complete package. Clean walkways and driveways, set out seasonal flowers and plants, trim hedges and trees, and fill in mulch and gravel.

Kitchens and bathrooms generally sell homes, so it is crucial that you update cabinetry, repair countertops, or install new faucets and sinks. Spending the time and resources to update an outdated kitchen or bathroom may very well be worth the investment.

FLOORING. Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure that they look their best by fixing scratches and addressing dull areas. If your carpets are worn or stained, consider replacing them. Also, don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathroom. Regrouting can go a long way to make dingy tile look brand new.

DEODORIZE. This is especially true for the pet-friendly home. Candles and sprays merely mask odors. You can deodorize your house by sprinkling baking soda on floors and furniture and vacuuming it up. Baking soda neutralizes odors instead of just masking them.

Of course, the extent of any improvements and modifications is ultimately dependent on the age and the condition of your home. But rest assured that upgrading your house can make the difference between getting retail value for your home as opposed to wholesale value. For more advice and information for preparing

Originally from Scotland, Anna Johnson came

to the US in 1991

and has been

selling real estate since 1996. Kay Love left a career as a registered medical technologist to become a real estate professional in 2001. In 2011 they joined together as a Professional Real Estate Team, providing their clients and customers with 40 plus years of combined knowledge and experience. They are currently real estate professionals with Signature Properties Group. You can reach Anna at anna2278@att.net and Kay at kaysnotes@msn.com.

The Value of Using a Real Estate Professional

by Ken Sausedo

Your home is one of the most significant financial investments you can make and when it comes to selling your house, you want to make sure you get top dollar for your investment. As the owner, you have every prerogative to undertake the selling of your property yourself. Why should you employ the services of a realtor when you could keep that portion of the proceeds in your bank account and sell your house yourself?

Many have ventured to answer that last question by attempting to market and sell their home on their own, only to succumb to the solution that was always their first and best option:securing the services of a real estate professional. Those who choose to go the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route find very The two main concerns for anyone selling their home is setting the right price and finding a buyer who is willing to pay that price. Employing the services of a real estate professional ensures that you will have the tools, the resources, and the connections to sell your home more efficiently than doing it yourself. Real estate agents have access to the most up-to-date information about the recent sale of comparable homes, as well as other current listings in the neighborhood. Your agent has the education and experience to help you price your home appropriately to reflect the current market conditions. Most who choose the FSBO route tend to overprice their homes, which discourages buyers and results in having their property on the market for a lengthy period.

As for finding buyers, your agent will be aggressive with a marketing plan that includes showcasing your property to other agents and prospective buyers with professional photographs, open houses, as well as online marketing through multiple listing services, internet websites, and social media.

The listing of your home is only the beginning of the job for your real estate professional. Your agent will be actively showing your home to prospective buyers, and negotiating terms of the sale whenever a client is secured.

Phoebe Hoaster has been a REALTOR® for 42 years and was one of the founders of Signature Properties Group when it opened its doors in 2003. She has witnessed firsthand the exasperation of the homeowner who tries their hand at FSBO and offers some friendly advice for those contemplating that same decision.

“If people really knew what a real estate agent does, they wouldn’t hesitate to go with us,” says Phoebe. “Once you get a buyer for your home, there is a ton of paperwork that is involved. Once we are under contract, then (continues)

there are lawyers to call, inspections and appraisals to schedule, and lenders to work with. And with each one of those, there is a deadline to meet, so you have to be on your toes. Otherwise, it could end up delaying the process and costing the buyer and seller precious time and money.”

But the more considerable benefit that a real estate professional provides is their availability

and the comfort of having that knowledgeable and competent friend to walk with you through every step of this daunting process. “In some ways, I feel like a counselor,” says Phoebe. “Sometimes it’s not just about all the nuts and bolts of a real estate transaction. Sometimes it’s about helping my clients walk through an issue that has absolutely nothing at all to do with real estate. Knowing that I have helped relieve my client of some of the stress and anxiety that comes from selling or buying their home gives me great satisfaction.”

Even with more information about the market readily available online, studies are showing that fewer homeowners are choosing to sell their house on their own, and with good reason. Nothing beats having the expertise and experience of a personal real estate professional guiding you through this significant time of your life.

Phoebe Hoaster has 42 years of experience in retail sales and can help you buy or sell your home. visiting St. Simons Island since the 1990s

and purchased his first home here in

2012. As a Real Estate

Professional with Signature Properties Group, he can share that same passion for the island with others. You can

contact Ken at KenSellsSSI@gmail.com.

The Importance of Home Staging

by Ann Barnes

The potential buyers of your home aren’t just looking for a place to sleep, they’re looking to fulfill their dreams, make memories, and improve their lifestyles. Staging your home for selling helps to achieve those dreams and creates a more emotional purchase that can generate more money for the seller. When I speak with my seller clients about staging their home, I am referring to a manner of decorating that is designed to showcase their home’s best assets, impress today’s buyers, and sell it as quickly as possible for the highest price possible.

STAGING HOW-TO’S

While there are plenty of room-specific staging tips, if you’re on a limited budget, it’s best to focus on big-picture improvements in the areas that will make the most significant difference in your home’s selling price. First, target items that need to be repaired and then focus on cosmetic issues. Start with the exterior and entrance since these are the first areas people see, then work your way through the living room, kitchen and bathrooms, the master bedroom and the outdoor living space, such as a back patio. The following items can and should be employed in as many rooms of the house as you can afford and have time to address. DEPERSONALIZE. Buyers need to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove all the family photos, items with family members’ names on them and refrigerator art.

DEFINE ROOMS. Make sure each room has a single, defined purpose. Also, make sure that every space within every room also has a specific objective so that buyers will see how to maximize the home’s square footage.

FLOORING. Dirty, stained carpet is unattractive. Hardwood floors add value and elegance to a home and are perfect for buyers with allergies. Vinyl plank floors are gaining in popularity, having the look of hardwood while costing much less. Common areas like the living room, dining room and kitchen should be your primary focus for flooring; however, your bathrooms should take precedence as well.

FURNITURE. Make sure furniture is the right size for the room. Furniture that is too big will make your room look smaller, while a room that is sparsely furnished can make a space feel cold. You may even want to employ the services of a professional stager to rearrange your existing furniture, or also provide rental furniture, to make your spaces more buyer friendly.

The living space on the opposite page has been professionally staged. You can see that the rugs define the space making the most of two areas and giving them a good flow. The family room furniture is brought closer, the coffee table is the center of the conversation area, and the rug in the middle brings everything in the room together. The dining room is placed at an angle to give it more interest and defined with a rug to keep everything from looking too much the same.

You can hire a professional stager for a consultation for $100 to $150 per hour. The stager will walk through your home, advise you on the changes you need to make, and will leave the actual staging up to you. For full-service staging, professionals may have

BEFORE

Pictures courtesy of George Ingram George.TeamHoaster@gmail.com Staging by Emmy Parker Temples Posed Homes Staging and Redesign emmy@PosedHomes.com | 404.290.8585

Ann Barnes has been

living on St. Simons Island since the early 90s and has been

selling real estate since 2000. She joined Signature Properties Group in 2004 and has become a top producing REALTOR® both in sales numbers and in customer

satisfaction. You can contact Ann at

Ann@CoastalGALifestyles.com.

a specific charge per room, while others will charge you a percentage of the sales price, typically between 1% and 3%. The price usually includes the services of the stager, as well as the rental of the furniture and accessories for a set period of time.

LAST TOUCHES. Just before an open house or showing, make sure that your staging efforts go the extra mile with a few last-minute touches that will make the home seem warm and inviting. These include fresh flowers, letting fresh air into the house for at least ten minutes beforehand so it isn’t stuffy, adding a pleasant scent and putting new, plush, nicely folded towels in the bathrooms.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Overall, to get the most bang for your buck, your home staging efforts should be designed to appeal to the broadest possible range of buyers. As a service to my sellers, I offer to come by and help stage your home free of charge before listing. We walk through together and make a list of things that need to be done. As a service to my clients, I do have a handyman on retainer to come to your aid so you don’t have to be on a long waiting list to get these items accomplished. My goal is to work together to get your house sold for the most money in the shortest amount of time!

BEFORE

About Signature Properties

Signature Properties Group, Inc. is a locally owned and operated brokerage that has been a leader in residential real estate listing and sales for 16 years. It is the mission and vision of Signature Properties to provide outstanding customer service through leadership, experience, and knowledge while maintaining a high degree of integrity and honesty. The agents of Signature Properties are among the best in the area and are dedicated to providing both buyers and sellers the best possible experience in all parts of the property transaction process. At Signature Properties Group, Inc, customer service is a top priority and it shows! Find us at SignaturePropertiesGroup.com or call 912.638.9995.