Showcase of Homes

May 19, 2011

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FEATURED INSIDE: • Why a home inspection is so important

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May 19, 2011 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — SHOWCASE OF HOMES

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BUYING A HOUSE IS A BIG INVESTMENT—the biggest most people make in their lives—but with some preparation and smart negotiations, you can ensure you’re well positioned to take advantage of the current market.

Finding the home of your dreams Choosing the right agent for a successful outcome

By KAREN BLOOM

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mple inventory, low mortgage rates and motivated sellers – all these key elements are present in the real estate market right now, indicating it’s still a great time to buy a house.

“Markets come and markets go,” says broker Myra Marashinsky, who c o - ow n s M a r a s h i n s k y & N u g e n t Real ty in Rockville Centre, with broker Pat Nugent. “Don’t wait for the ‘right time.’ If you’re ready to move, if you have outgrown your house or need to downsize, now is the time do it.”

People have to be motivated and understand the market, Marashinsky advises. “If the seller is realistic and sees their house for what it is and what the market is, it will sell,” she says.

“For the buyer, there are many great homes to choose from right now.”

If you’ re thinking of buying a house – whether it’s your first home or your fifth – you can help ensure you get the best possible deal by doing a few things before you get down to serious shopping.

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1. Check Your Credit You might think that getting preapproved for a mortgage is your first step in home-shopping, and it is an important one. But before you talk to a potential lender, you should check yo u r c r e d i t r e p o r t a n d s c o r e – because the mortgage company certainly will. Your credit score is a reflection of your credit status, and one that potential lenders will consider when assessing your credit worthiness. Knowing your credit standing can make you better prepared to secure the best possible conditions and rates for a home loan.

It’s a good idea to monitor your credit for a while before making a move to apply for a mor tg age. By

monitoring your credit, you’ll be able to see how changes in your credit report can affect your score, and you’ll receive credit-score alerts whenever your score changes.

2. Capitalize On Lender Competition When it’s time to apply for a mortgage, many people turn to the banks they’re used to dealing with on a regular basis. While banks are definitely a familiar source of home financing, they’re not the only one. Even after the mortgage crisis, you’ll still find many companies in the home-loan field. Wading through the plethora of claims from lending companies can be time consuming – but well worth it.

Despite the credit crunch – or perhaps because of it – competition is fierce among lenders to work with the best-qualified buyers. That means if your credit score and report are good, you could be in a position to snag the loan terms and interest rates reserved for the most-desirable borrowers. But you’ll still have to compare rates and offers from a number of companies.

Be sure to thoroughly investigate any lender you’re considering applying with.

3. Leverage A Realtor Relationship It’s true that many would-be homebuyers are now using the Internet to facilitate their search. Yet 79 percent of all buyers last year purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker, according to the National Association of Realtors.

While it is possible to buy a home without the aid of a local Realtor, working with one has several benefits.

Realtors strive to be experts about the communities they work in, so a Realtor can provide you with valuable advice on home prices, schools, recreation, and businesses, as well as other information about the area you’re interested in.

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Preparing for a home inspection

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uying a home is one of the biggest purchases of your life, if not the biggest, and thus, you surely would not like to go for anything that is unsatisfactory or unplanned. But unfortunately, due to lack of information or an impulsive decision, we often miss out on the very essential pre-requisite of getting our home thoroughly inspected by a reliable and registered home inspector.

However, this sort of negligence can actually be the reason for getting a dreadful home deal. Hence, whenever you are on a mission of buying a new home for yourself, make sure to get the assistance of an inspection firm, that will guide you thoroughly about the present condition of the home you wish to buy. You want a professional on your side to tell you if that colonial of your dreams is actually the perfect home or a ‘money pit’ with a rotting foundation, leaking roof and termites eating their way through the walls.

A home inspection is a visual inspection of the physical structure and mechanical condition of a home, from roof to foundation. The inspection is designed to identify problems that may exist, advise of repairs needed and, in some cases, provide preventive maintenance advice. A home

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inspection points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape.

A home inspector may be a residential architect, structural engineer or building contractor. Currently, home inspectors are not regulated by any federal government agencies, however, structural engineers must be licensed.

“A buyer should always get a thorough inspection,” says Myra Marashinsky, broker/owner, with Pat Nugent, of Marashinsky & Nugent Realty in Rockville Centre.

“The contract doesn’t talk a lot about the condition of the home. Buyers need to know everything that is going on with the home they intend to buy. Buyers need to be aware that there are two kinds of home inspectors, a general home inspector and an engineer. I advise buyers to get an engineer, they will do a more thorough examination of the structure of the house.”

It is up to the buyer to ask prospective inspectors questions about their experience and knowledge when deciding who to hire. When looking for a home inspector, the Better Business Bureau suggests the following general guidelines: Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations. Check with the Better Business Bureau if you have questions.

Look for someone who is familiar with the type of home to be inspected.

Does the inspector specialize in residential

A HOME INSPECTION is designed to give you the information you need to decide if you can accept the home as it is, if you'd be willing to buy it under certain conditions (such as the sellers addressing certain issues before closing or commercial property?

Ask prospective inspectors questions about their professional training, relevant experience and/or length of time in business. Find out if the inspector belongs to a professional association, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Society of Professional Engineers. Membership in professional associations may offer added assurance of an inspector’s qualifications and training.

Look for home inspectors who are committed to avoiding conflicts of interest, who refuse to be involved in any real estate transaction or to deliberately obtain work in another field that could benefit them financially as a result of their inspection work, and who hold the safety, health and welfare of the public paramount in the performance of their professional inspection duties.

Be present during the inspection.

The majority of inspectors will allow you to tour the home with them and ask questions during or after the inspection. The inspection can last anywhere from two to five hours, depending on the size of the house.

Ask how soon after the inspection will you receive a copy of the home inspection final, written report. Carefully read your home inspection report and make a list of items that need correction; this will help you to determine your future expenditures for repairs and maintenance. The report will contain useful information that serves as a reference for you in the future. A home cannot fail an inspection; understand that the home inspection report records the condition of the home, both positives and negatives.

Protect your investment Learn the basics of home warranties

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A HOME WARRANTY can help protect a buyer’s new investment and offer peace of mind.

uying a home is arguably one of the largest purchases a person will make. It can also be one of the most stressful. Individuals take quite a financial leap when buying a home. Even after careful consideration of funds and budgeting, it’s easy to become overextended. A home warranty can take some of the bite out of unexpected expenses.

Although home buyers are urged to hire an inspector and check a property and structure from top to bottom before signing on the dotted line, a home inspector cannot foresee everything that may crop up after a person moves into a home.

“When my home inspector reviewed the property he found only minor things that needed attention,” s ay s Je a n n i n e, r e c a l l i n g w h a t occured after she moved into her home last year. “After I moved in, we shortly learned that the crawl space had flooding issues that would require a lot of money to fix properly.”

Home warranties can be a smart investment that take some of the financial pressure off of new homeowners. They can also be negotiated into the sale terms of the home so that the seller is responsible for providing the warranty to the new buyer.

Home warranties do not negate the need for homeowner’s insurance, but they can add protection against large monetary pay-outs to repair many items around the house. Policies may differ as to specific coverage, but most home warranties will cover major

systems of the home, such as heating/cooling, plumbing, electrical, as well as certain appliances.

To decide if a warranty is the right investment, home buyers should consider the following: ■ Home warranties are only as good as the company backing them. Careful investigation into the trustworthiness of the warranty company and its track record should be completed.

■ Read the fine print of the warranty.

Learn what exclusions exist, which may not make the warranty practical.

■ Keep in mind that the warranty company reserves the right to determine if a repair or replacement is adequate in a claim situation.

■ In general, warranty companies work with their own set of contractors.

This means a homeowner may not be able to hire his or her own preferred contractors to do work.

■ There may be a deductible or a fee charged prior to having a technician assess a repair situation.

■ The warranty company may require inspection of the house to be sure items are in good working order before offering a plan.

■ If a warranty is offered through a home seller, there may be no negotiation on the coverage or company used.

Home buyers should keep in mind that there are many unforseen expenses that can arise when purchasing a new home. Having some additional protection, such as a home warranty, could mean saving money on out-of-pocket repairs.

SHOWCASE OF HOMES — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 19, 2011

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Room for improvement

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ome-remodeling projects can be a daunting undertaking, but they needn’t be. Upgrading an outdated kitchen or even building an addition are manageable with some advanced preparation and vision.

To make the process less daunting, consider the advice of Veronica and Bob Krendel, owners of R.A. Krendel Contracting, Inc, in East Rockaway.

K n ow why yo u ’ re remodeling. Are you selling? Addressing changing family needs or just upgrading? Your reasons for remodeling can impact yo u r d e c i s i o n s , s ay s Veronica Krendel. For example, if you’re selling, your choices may be more about buyer appeal than personal taste. On the other hand, if you’re building your dream kitchen, you may not want to compromise on certain features. Evaluate your project in light of your property value and return on investment and look for options that meet your overall needs.

Make a wish list/scrapbook. Use the Internet to peruse articles, look at decorating magazines, and, of course, visit local showrooms. Get brochures, color samples and fabric swatches, and cut out or print pictures that show features or details of work that you like. Take pictures of other homes, and keep a scrapbook of ideas. These ideas can help your home-improvement specialist achieve

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the look you want.

Know your budget. A realistic budget can help you prioritize options. In your bathroom upgrade, will you really use that expensive spa tub, or are luxury shower heads, bath fixtures, and a towel warmer more important? If you want a contemporary, industrial look in your kitchen, can you compromise elsewhere so that you can afford concrete or stainless-steel countertops?

Remember that “form follows function.” Look at your existing space critically.

Evaluate how you use it.

Assess high-traffic areas, kitchen work triangles, and overall flow. Define what already works and what doesn’t. Get input from all family members, even children. The “look” of your new space should be secondary to layout and function. You can work on achieving that “magazine” look after you have the basics.

Research products. Research your options for features like countertops and flooring. Manufacturers’ Websites are a great place to start, and most companies have an 800 number for product questions. Evaluate the pros and cons for each product type to determine which options suit your budget, lifestyle, and taste the best. For example, cork flooring is quite popular but soft, so it’s not suitable in high traffic areas. Consider something more durable, like tile. If you have children or elderly family mem-

SHOWCASE OF HOMES — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 19, 2011

Taking the stress out of upgrading your home

THINK CAREFULLY about the purpose of your remodeling project. If you’re planning to sell your home, you’ll want to make choices that will attract potential buyers. bers, slippery surfaces like marble or polished tile may not be suitable – laminate wood flooring or vinyl may be safer.

Some up-front planning and research

can make your remodeling project go a lot smoother and help ensure that you’re satisfied with the end result.

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It’s 4 bdrms and 2 ½ Baths are meticulously kept.The eat in kitchen has been updated with granite.There’s a lovely den to relax in and enjoy the view of the landscaped yard and patio.This home provides spaciousness and comfort.

Enclosed front porch leads to a Living room with gas fireplace. A Formal Dining room opens to a new large Kitchen with adjoining Family room (with second gas fireplace).There are 4 bedrooms and a full bath on the second floor. Deep property, Immaculate!

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Birchwood Side Hall Cape - $475K This house sits on a beautifully landscaped street with oversized property.The living room has a brick fireplace and leads you into the dining room.There’s a lovely sunny den which overlooks a landscaped yard.The kitchen is eat in and is bright.The first floor is completed by 2 bdrms and 1 full bath.You’ll find another 2 bdrms and a full bath on the second floor.There’s plenty of potential!

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This charming and clean 3 bdrm, 1.5 bath home is ready for move- in day.There’s beautiful parquet floors which are really special.The living room with w/b fireplace and the formal dining room are spacious and perfect for entertaining.There’s a sunny den off the living room which offers a view of this tree lined street.

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ross over a “moat” filled with koi and enter through bygone era iron gates and massive clavo wood doors into entrance foyer with fireplace. LR boasts magnificent wood moldings and leaded glass windows with stone fireplace and period sconces and fixtures. FDR has built in cabinets with leaded glass doors and wainscoting. Turreted side den affords a family room with space and light for entertainment. Large eat-in kitchen has granite counters, subway tile backsplash and 2 large pantries. Royal king

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A little warmer, a little cooler.

About 47 percent of the average household’s annual energy bills stem from heating and cooling. Every degree you raise your thermostat in the summer will reduce air conditioning bills by about 2 percent. Lowering the temperature by one degree in winter will save you 3 percent on heating bills.

Home appeal Revive your house with inexpensive fixes

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hether you’re updating your home for your own enjoyment or to attract potential buyers, the thought of home improvement can send some people running for their hammers and others running from them.

Before you get a hammer involved, or any other serious home-improvement tool for that matter, think about making small changes. You may be surprised how just a few inexpensive, and quick, home fixes can improve the mood and value of your home. Here are several home-improvement tasks that you can complete in less than a day and on a limited budget.

Color: A gallon of fresh, new paint will do wonders for any room. Neutral,

earth-tone colors such as leafy greens, sky blues and cream-colored whites will all add a clean, serene touch. Additionally, a fresh coat of paint helps solve another home dilemma – stubbor n room odors.

Scent: Speaking of odors, air fresheners are an inexpensive way to revive any space and make it welcoming to both your family and potential home buyers.

Textures: Make your home feel good! Try updating area rugs, blinds or throw pillows to include natural fibers that add texture and flair to your home. Bamboo mats or faux painting techniques can make your home more appealing and make you feel good, too.

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or years, the conversation about strengthening your home’s value has revolved around interior projects. However, by keeping the focus inside, you might be ignoring one of the most effective ways to bring your property value up: the garden.

When discussing home value, “garden” means more than just flower beds. It includes your lawn, gathering spaces on your property, paths and walkways, in addition to the trees, shrubs and flowers that HOMES LOOK THEIR BEST surrounded by a lush decorate the space. In a housing market where garden and blooming flowers. i t ’s s t i l l d i f f i c u l t t o power tool maker Husqvarna. stand out, turning your In terms of return on investment, attention and efforts to these areas might be just the thing that will attract maintaining an attractive lawn and garden was shown to return $1.80 per dollar buyers.

It’s a simple concept: A more attrac- spent. For those who want to improve tive house is a more valuable house. And their home’s value but can’t afford to since your yard and garden are often hire contractors for major interior what buyers see first, it’s your best repairs, garden improvements can be an opportunity to set the tone as they con- affordable alternative.

Armed with the right tools, most sider your property and what they’re willing to pay for it. In fact, well- homeowners are capable of tackling gardesigned landscaping was shown to den projects that can improve their raise perceived residential property property value, and at a relatively low value by as much as 18 percent, in a Continued on next page study recently released by Swedish

Residential SHOWCASE OF HOMES — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — May 19, 2011

Think outside the box – literally– to improve home value

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Seeing green

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ciency. These devices trol the temperature at certain hours of nighttime or when away from home.

Seeing green Continued from previous page cost. Simply edging your yard with a string trimmer helps create a clean, finished look outdoors and can be achieved for less than $200.

While many homeowners are reluctant to spend much on their yards – some 65 percent of people spent less than $400 on it annually – keeping return on investment in mind can help you make better smarter decisions. If you want to call in the pros, consider projects that are highly sought-after, like in-ground irrigation systems.

Those not sure where to start can look to a variety of sources for inspiration and practical tips. Some of the t o p - r a n ke d g a rd e n at t r i bu t e s fo r improving home value include: ■ A well-maintained lawn ■ An inviting social area ■ Stone paths and walkways ■ Decorative trees, bushes and shrubs ■ Well-kept hedges ■ Nicely designed flower beds Gardening season and the high real estate season coincide for a reason: Houses look their best surrounded by growing plants and blooming flowers.

As the war mer months pro g ress, remember that not only can investing in your garden give you a good return, it could also be the deciding factor in drawing a buyer to your property.

The energy crunch Get the most bang for your energy buck With demand for electricity and natural gas rising along with energy costs, homeowners can easily spend hundreds of dollars a month on utility bills. This is certainly something that impacts both homeowners selling their homes and potential buyers.

“From air conditioning larger homes to powering today's high-tech electronics, we are using more energy than ever and that is certainly hitting many homeowners in their pocketbooks,” says Victor Gonzalez-Maertens, an energy efficiency expert with Lennox Industries, a leading manufacturer of home heating and cooling equipment. “But there are ways to stretch your dollar further by evaluating how you spend money on energy and learning how to control those expenses.”

Gonzalez-Maertens explains that there are four key areas of energy consumption for the typical household: heating and air conditioning, applianc-

es, water heating and lighting. Here is his advice for getting the most bang for your energy buck: Heating and air conditioning Heating and cooling accounts for about 46 percent of the average home's utility bill and is typically the largest energy expense. To cut down on climate control costs, be sure to schedule annual routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system to ensure it's running as efficiently as possible.

If the air conditioning system is more than 10 years old or the furnace is more than 15 years old – the average life spans of cooling and heating units – consider replacing them with a new, Energy Star-qualified system that will be more energy efficient and can help lower utility bills.

Pro g rammable ther mostats are another way to maximize energy effi-

automatically conto use less energy the day, such as homeowners are

Household appliances and electronics Household appliances and electronics are responsible for about 28 percent of a home’s energy bill, according to Energy Star. Make sure appliances are clean and free of dust and lint to ensure proper ventilation and to increase their efficiency. In addition, check refrigerator and freezer doors to ensure they are sealed tight to prevent cool air from escaping.

When washing dishes, use the air-dry setting on automatic dishwashers rather than heated drying to conserve energy.

Finally, be sure to unplug TVs and other digital devices when not in use, as they consume energy even when they're turned off.

Water heating Heating water is another major energy expenditure and accounts for about 14 percent of a household’s energy bill, according to Energy Star. Consider insulating the water heater with a water heater jacket that can be purchased at most hardware stores. Homeowners also can lower the temperature setting on the water heater to save energy. Some water heaters come from the factory already set at 140 degrees or higher, but a setting of 115 degrees can provide comfortable hot water for most uses. Finally, consider replacing a water heater if the existing one is more than 10 years old, as the average life span of a water heater is 10 to 15 years.

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May 19, 2011 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — SHOWCASE OF HOMES

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Pest control

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By MICHAEL A. DEUTSCH M.S., BCE Carpenter ants are a nuissance to many people and can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes.

Identifying and treating carpenter ants can prevent financial consequences from this invading pest.

Both carpenter ants and termites cause damage to wooden structures.

When you compare individual carpenter ants and individual termites, it is the carpenter ant that causes more structural d a m a g e . H o w e v e r, a mature ter mite colony contains more than 250,000 workers but a mature carpenter ant colony may contain less than 1,000 workers. Individually, a single carpenter ant can do more damage than a single termite but termites do more dollar damage because of the number of individual termites in a typical mature colony.

Carpenter ants are large black ants that excavate and hollow-out voids in wood to use as nesting sites. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not ingest wood. Carpenter ants tear out large chunks of wood with their powerful jaws and remove them to the outside of the nesting site. This discarded wood material may be discovered during an inspection for carpenter ants. It is referred to as “frass” and may be the only indication of the presence of these

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destructive pests.

Carpenter ants look for a rotting log, tree stump or similar location to establish a nest. They seek wood that has sustained water damage and remains moist.

Structures that were not properly repaired after a flood may be ideal for carpenter ants. Structures with faulty plumbing and/or chronic water leaks are also preferred by carpenter ants because of the moisture.

Generally, carpenter ants establish nests outdoors in tree stumps, wood piles, under debris on the ground and at times, even in living trees. However, when the nests become over crowded or disturbed or the queen dies, workers will migrate into structures to establish secondary nests. Finding suitable conditions, carpenter ants will establish galleries in structural wooden members. Carpenter ants will also attack sound wood that is adjacent to moisture-laden wood.

An inspection by a professional pest management technician is indicated if ants are found roaming around inside the home, crawling on the foundation, if the home has a chronic water condition, and if ants are observed on trees a d j a c e n t t o a n d / o r t o u ch i n g t h e structure.

The technician looks for the “signs” of ant activity. These include the presence of frass or sawdust, live or dead ants, ant body fragments in spider webs,

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damage to wooden structural members and ant trails in the lawn. The best time to look for carpenter ant activity is after sun down. Carpenter ants are much more active at night.

Treatment for carpenter ants is aimed at locating all the nests and physically eliminating those using vacuum

cleaners and/or removing the infested wood. Sometimes this is not possible. In these situations, chemical pesticide treatment may be a better option.

Michael A. Deutsch M.S., BCE, is an urban entomologist with Arrow Exterminating Company, Inc. in Lynbrook.

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Get insurance quotes prior to making an offer.

Obtain insurance quotes on each and every home of interest; two homes of the same age and quality of construction can differ dramatically on the cost of insurance coverage due to prior claims, neighborhood and other factors. Calculate the total cost of home ownership, not just the minimum monthly mortgage payment, when comparing homes.

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May 19, 2011 — HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS — SHOWCASE OF HOMES

10

Sold!

Outside-the-box secrets to help sell your home

By MARGARETTE BURNETTE Everyone who’s trying to sell a home in today’s real estate market has probably heard the same advice many times: Clean everything, declutter and depersonalize to appeal to buyers. But beyond following the usual rules, what other ways can you make your home stand out from the rest?

“Sellers need out-of-the-box ideas to have a better chance of selling,” says Michelle Lohr, a designer, who soon will be putting her own house on the market.

Though the real estate industry is depressed, she believes that with today’s low mortgage rates, she’ll find a buyer for her home if she uses good, unique home-selling tips.

If you’re also trying to sell your home in this highly-competitive market, here are five outside-the-box secrets from agents and design pros on ways you can make your house irresistible to buyers.

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Create photos of hotspots You’ve probably heard that you should depersonalize your home by removing photos of family and friends before showing your property. But instead of leaving the walls and tabletops bare, one secret is to

replace them with artwork that showcases nearby hotspots, says Kara Russelo, owner of Little Virgo Organizing & Home Staging.

Put up black and white photos of local landmarks, and colored photos of great views or landscaping, she says. By doing so, you help buyers envision themselves in your home, which needs to happen before a sale, she says. “You can even include menus from nearby restaurants. Place these items throughout the home to give it a sense of local flair,” Russelo says.

Sweeten your home’s scent In the past, home sellers have attempted to make their homes smell like freshly baked chocolate chip cookies to charm buyers. But according to Russelo, a better tip is to put a warm loaf of bread in the oven. “The cookie smell does work, especially when buyers get to eat some on your home tour, but I’ve found the warm bread smell often works better for sales,” she says.

Regardless of whether you have cookies, bread or nothing at all, make sure your home has a soft, pleasant smell. “If you don’t have the opportunity to pop something in the oven right before a showing, then the home should smell like clean laundry, lavender, or no scent

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Make a smart move.

Instead of buying moving boxes ask grocery stores, printers, etc... for their used boxes. It may take a little bit more time but it will save trees, energy, and the chemicals and emissions of creating and then recycling boxes unnecessarily.

at all,” Russelo says.

If your home has a strong odor – from pets or heavy cooking spices, for example-use an odor neutralizer so that the smell isn’t too harsh for buyers’ senses, she says.

Go to other sellers’ open houses Check out the competition to help you understand what you need to do to get your own home ready to sell, says Maria O’Dell, a real estate agent with Realty Executives of Kansas City in Leawood, Kan. “The homes that are selling are the ones that are in the best condition. Going to an open house lets the homeowner see what they’re up against,” she says.

Lohr, who also owns GnM Lohr Homes, a design company, says that she gets staging and design ideas from open houses. “After touring other homes, I can analyze other properties and think about what makes my house different. Then, I can make sure that difference is mentioned in the listing remarks,” she says.

Upgrade online pics Many buyers will look at a home’s photos on the Internet before deciding if it’s worth driving by to make a visit, so good photography is critical in marketing a home,” says O’Dell.

If your listing photos aren’t taken in bright sunlight and show clean, uncluttered rooms, you may need to hire a professional photographer to re-take them, she says.

(Many Realtors offer professional photogra-

phy as a part of their services. Otherwise, the homeowner could expect to pay around $150 for such services, says O’Dell).

Another tip for homeowners is to create a video walkthrough of their property, but it would have to be done professionally, too, often at a cost of more than $250, O’Dell says.

“If your budget requires choosing between a video or high-quality pictures, get the pictures,” she says.

Write a letter to buyers Another rarely used secret is to write a note to the people coming to view your property, says Russelo. “In the letter, mention all the reasons you bought the home in the first place, like a family-friendly kitchen, great storage or good schools nearby,” she says.

“A letter lets you make the connection between the features in your house and the memories that can be made from them,” adds O’Dell.

It’s important to be sincere, however. Be sure to not make the note unrealistically positive. For example, don’t mention that no appliances have broken down if it’s not true, O’Dell says.

Instead, create a letter that helps buyers understand how you’ve created wonderful memories in your home, and now they’ll have an opportunity to do the same.

Especially in today’s competitive real estate market, sellers need all the help they can get to set their homes apart. Sometimes all it takes is for you to think outside the box.

11

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