VIRGINIA 8-14-23 by Top Agent Magazine

VIRGINIA EDITION

EASY AT-HOME DIY PROJECTS

FEATURED AGENTS

BRENDA RICH

BE THEIR REALTOR® FOR LIFE: HOW TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CLIENTS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME

RECONSIDER REFERRAL-ONLY WHEN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE COVER STORY

MELISSA LARSON

VIRGINIA EDITION

BRENDA RICH

Brenda Rich has been helping her face-to-face visits. “Century 7 16 neighbors make one of the biggest a great job of marketing the decisions of their lives since 1978. They have a very well-tho You’d be hard-pressed to find another and complete package. Th realtor who has deeper market experexperts that make sure all of tise, a more extensive network, or a mation gets out to where it better reputation in their industry. go,” she says. Backed by the “I know this area extremely well. I the Century 21 network, Bre know everyone in town, and they closes an average of $10-$1 know me. People know that I’m in transactions annually, with MELISSA LARSON BRENDA RICH extremely honest and very loyal. I have an extensive customer and referral percentage of around list of contacts, so my clients have access to anything they need,” she says. As a top realtor and Certified Through the years, she has also earned a n Buyer’s Agent with Century 21 New Millennium in prestigious accolades and awards. She was northern Virginia, Brenda specializes in residential Washingtonian Top Real Estate Producer i CONTENTS properties and farms in Fauquier County and its sur- Top 50 Century 21 Agent in Virginia in 20 and 2019; and a Masters Emerald Produce rounding area. ® 4) BE THEIR REALTOR 17) RECONSIDER She served as the Past President of the prominent the community providesREFERRAL-ONLY her Association of Fairs and worked with th FOR Her LIFE: HOWstatus TOinBUILD clients with a numberWITH of unexpected advantages. With Association of Realtors. Currently, A RELATIONSHIP WHENArea PLANNING FOR her CLIENTS in-depth knowledge the local real estate THE mar- FUTURE serves as the President of The Fauquier Co YOUR THATofWILL she can provide valuable insights about property “The Fair is a huge community event for us LASTket, A LIFETIME values, market trends, and investment opportuni- once a year, but I work on it year-round. 20) 3 doing EASY ties. The strong network of relationships that she’s it a AT-HOME long time, and it definitely helps 14) 5 SIMPLE DIY PROJECTS developed helpMINDSET boost her negotiating power. When visible in the eye of the public.” In her f SHIFTS THAT WILL HELP YOU TO INCREASE agents have good rapport and trust with each other, Brenda loves spending time with her three it’s easier for all parties involved to reach a mutuand six grandchildren. ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS PROPERTY VALUE ally beneficial agreement. Being well-connected also keeps Brenda in the know with the latest news on Yet even after decades in the business, Br schools and upcoming local events. Such informa- enjoys what she’s doing. “I like having Phonetion 310-734-1440 | Faxfor 310-734-1440 can be invaluable clients who need specific bility to make my own hours and work w information to make informed| decisions about buy- where I want to: in the office, at home, i mag@topagentmagazine.com www.topagentmagazine.com or on the I like helping first-time bu ing selling property. No portion of and this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of thebeach. publisher. Top Agent Magazine other homeowners their is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of publishedfind materials, Top perfect ho Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its authors. Brenda uses a number of tools to market her listings, I like having happy, satisfied customers. To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com. including web advertising, social media, post- is to give everyone a smooth transaction f Published in the U.S. card mailings, open houses, phone calls, texts, and to finish.” 2

For more on Brenda Rich, please call 540-270-1659, emailTop Brenda.rich@c21nm Agent Magazine https://www.c21nm.com/agents/brenda-rich/ or https://www.facebook.com/brenda.edwards.rich/ https://www.instagram.com/richbrendae/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendarich/ visit her Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube

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Be Their REALTOR for Life: ®

How to Build a Relationship with Your Clients That Will Last a Lifetime In the world of real estate, an agent’s relationship with their clients can make or break their career. This industry revolves around working well with people, and being able to develop a strong relationship with your clients is the foundation that you business is based upon. Just like with a house, if that foundation is weak, the rest of the structure is also going to be unsteady and fragile. The mark of a good REALTOR® is their ability to build up a good referral network and following of loyal clients. This isn’t something that just happens by accident. Building healthy, strong relationships with your clients takes work and knowing how to gain another person’s trust, respect, and friendship. Here are some ways to make sure you are building the right kind of relationship with your clients. 4

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1. Use Your Friendliness and Optimism to Win Them Over: No one wants a pushy, overly confident salesperson for a REALTOR®. Clients are much more inclined to put their trust in the hands of someone who is friendly when it comes to one of the biggest financial transactions of their lives. A pleasant, outgoing disposition will win you more clients as well as friends. You want to establish rapport in the first few minutes of first meeting prospective clients. Rather than starting with business right off the bat, begin your meeting with some small talk such as similar interests, hobbies, and family life. This will immediately help to put your clients at ease, and show that you are not simply trying to “sell” them something. People also respond well to optimism. During what can be a very stressful time, clients need someone to help them stay positive when a situation looks difficult and challenging. Optimism also tends to radiate charisma, and people want to be around and do business with charismatic people. You want to learn how to understand, motivate, and inspire people.

2. Be an Inquisitive Learner and an Empathetic Listener:

On the other side of this coin is knowing how to listen empathetically. Empathy involves actually putting yourself or your mind in their shoes so you can genuinely understand their concerns, needs, and opinions. That understanding and empathy is then reflected in your conversation with that client. Your clients want to know that you care about their situation, and that they’re not just another sale for you to make. People are much more willing to put their trust in you when they can sense that you are actually making an effort to feel what they feel in order to understand their situation. Showing your interest through questions, and then thoughtfully listening goes a long way towards gaining trust. Showing empathy and acknowledging the feelings and emotions involved in your clients situation helps build a relationship founded on genuine care and trust.

3. Watch for Nonverbal Clues:

Don’t be afraid to show your curiosity and ask your clients a lot of questions. Some of these questions may even be difficult and uncomfortable. You want to discover and learn as much as you can about your client. Don’t make the mistake of jumping straight into the role of the know-it-all. Every different client has unique needs, so you want to learn as much as you can about their specific situation before trying to propose a solution. You want to uncover their primary motive for buying or selling, and flush Top Agent Magazine

out any potential concerns they might have. After you’ve gained as much information as possible, you can then gauge their interest in your possible solutions by asking “what if” questions. Being inquisitive also demonstrates to your clients that you are genuinely interested and invested in their situation.

Most communication happens nonverbally, so knowing how to interpret your client’s body language can be incredibly helpful. Here are a few things to pay special attention to: Eye contact: Be careful with the level of eye contact you use with clients when first meeting. Too much and too little eye contact can send the wrong impression. You want to try and maintain eye contact around 70 percent of the time. That is the amount that most people are comfortable with. Pay attention to your client’s level of eye

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contact to determine how comfortable they are. When someone avoids eye contact that could mean they are not engaged in the conversation. A good way to quickly build a feeling of rapport when first meeting clients is to make eye contact when you first meet them and then start nodding yes to what they’re saying. If the client reciprocates the eye contact and nodding, you’ve established a connection.

4. Prove your honesty and credibility:

Choose the right handshake for each client: One handshake does not fit all people, and that first handshake can be crucial to making a good first impression. The way to do a good handshake for each client is to try and mirror the other person’s handshake in strength, keep your shoulders aligned as you are preferably standing when you shake hands. While you shake your client’s hand make sure you make eye contact and give them a sincere smile.

Showing a little weakness can actually be to your advantage in this situation, and will actually make others more inclined view you as honest. You don’t want to come across as too good to be true. When revealing this weakness, however, the key to coming out on top is turning what sounds like a weakness into a strength. For example, your service may be more expensive, but that’s because you offer more personalized and extra services than your competitors.

Honesty and integrity are the two traits that 98 percent of buyers and sellers report are qualities they consider “very important”. The thing is you can say you have these traits all you want on your website, bio, etc., but trust has to be earned, and the only way to do this is to prove your credibility.

Here are a few tips for how to sound more credible:

When you talk to your clients avoid using filler words such as “um” and “uh”, which can decrease your credibility. You also want to watch the tone of your voice. People tend to translate a deeper tone as sounding more credible.

You want to develop a relationship to last a lifetime when interacting with your clients. There are many things you can do to accomplish this, and using these tips can take you from getting just a few referrals and repeat customers to gaining a loyal client following. Taking the little extra time to make sure you are projecting the right attitude and making sure that you are doing things to gain your client’s trust can make a world of difference for your business. 6

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MELISSA LARSON Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Melissa Larson learned from over 35 years of experience what it takes to be the Top Agent for New Construction in the Washington DC Area as well as Lake Anna. As the daughter of a REALTOR®, Melissa Larson found a passion for the business early on. “My mother opened the first female-owned real estate office in Vienna, Virginia, which is always one of the top 100 neighborhoods in the United States, so she was very busy,” Melissa recalls. “I’m an only child, so I grew up in the real estate office! That was my day care, and I learned a lot.” Melissa joined the business herself in 1994, and ever since then she has been connecting clients 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

with their homeownership dreams. Experience Matters when dealing with so many other professionals when tearing down and re-building homes, as well as how to determine a good lot, determine the cost to construct a home, and adhere to timelines. The floorplans are important - the process is priceless! Understanding the process is the key to success. No one is better at walking clients through the complex maze of building than Melissa. Top Agent Magazine

Melissa has worked in many areas of real estate sales, over her 35 years as a REALTOR®. She works solely in Virginia and has a primary focus on Northern Virginia and Lake Anna, including Vienna, Arlington, McLean, and Falls Church. She does a strong business based on word of mouth and referrals. “Since I started selling new construction 25 years ago, I have personally helped over 800 people,” Melissa says. “When I have the opportunity to talk with clients who are thinking about becoming a hero and building a new home that fits their needs, why would you want to go it

alone? Many people who talk with me say I have a wealth of information. Really, I am an expert in this part of the business. Many agents know how to list and sell but few understand the complex world of new construction the way I do. This is not the time to try to go it alone!” Melissa works with her business partner, Fred Reitzel, who networks to find off-market opportunities for clients. “Finding lots is the gateway to your new home dreams. Fred has dedication to finding the lot that wins the hearts of our clients. Building in the best neighborhood where their family currently lives

“Since I started in new construction 25 years ago, I have helped over 800 people build their dream home, without doing any marketing,” Melissa says.

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As a mother of 4 boys, one grandson and a happy husband Melissa understands the family structure. is always a goal, even if the community was built in the 1950’s.” Working in a niche teardown and rebuild market also serves to set Melissa apart. “I have a unique New Home product when offering new construction,” Melissa says. “When building a new home, you get exactly what you want!” Melissa is a big fan of holding web meetings and seminars to educate prospective clients on all that the new construction process entails. “When you consider that I’m asking people to buy a home they can’t see or touch, they need to understand how the process works. Understanding all the steps required is foundation to a good new home build. Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

If I ask a client to follow me, they need to know where they are going.” Melissa has learned over 30+ years not just what the process details, she has earned the trust of her clients who follow her into the new home process. Families deserve a place to call home. That may be a tagline to some, but to Melissa, it makes the difference in how people live and how they enjoy their dream homes. Learning what people want, need, must have, and can afford is an art. Most family members have never talked about their dreams or what features matter to them, and many of Melissa’s clients have owned homes before and simply purchased what they believed was nice enough, fit the budget, and worked with the timing. “What I am asking my clients to do Top Agent Magazine

is to invest the time with me, revising plans and options and discussing their dreams. In the end, they get a house that better fits their needs, and my goal is to keep them on budget.” Custom homes provide a level of satisfaction for Melissa and her clients that can’t be matched. “I absolutely love putting the dream together,” she says. “I get to gain my clients’ trust, perform and deliver what I set out to deliver. It’s very rewarding, and the customers are getting houses for far below what they would have paid otherwise.” Melissa loves to give back to her community, and she saw an opportunity in the number of old houses that get torn down and are simply trashed. Now Melissa is Vice President of the Empowered Workforce Association, a nonprofit she started with her husband to recycle the houses that they remove. “When a customer wants to tear down

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Melissa Volunteers at a local Dog Rescue as well as serves as the VP of the Empowered Workforce Association.

their house, all the items are given away to the community at no charge,” Melissa says. “We do it strictly because it is the right thing to do.” Together with her husband, Jim Larson, Melissa has started a custom home-building company at Lake Anna - Larson Custom Homes, LLC. By listening to what clients want, and designing waterfront and water access homes that meet the needs, budget, and market at Lake Anna, the Larson Family has opened their new construction team with several new homes to be delivered in the Spring/Summer of 2024. The Larson Custom Home team is just what Lake Anna

needed. An affordable new home in the top investment area 2 years in a row! “I am so excited that we are able to use our skills and life lessons to help others enjoy what Lake Anna has to offer at an affordable price.” Melissa always gives thanks to all the thousands of clients and agents who have entrusted her with their biggest investments. With care and compassion, Melissa and her team will be here to help anyone up for the adventure of building. “Most people don’t think they can build a new home, but I’m here to tell them that may not be the case. I’m very fortunate in that I have great customers who trust me and let me hold their hand all the way through.”

For more about Melissa Larson, please call 703-929-5427, email larsonrealtor@gmail.com or visit landbuildlive.com www.

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5 Simple Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is one of the key steps to achieving success. It’s very easy to let negativity bring you down and oftentimes, people end up quitting at the first set back. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a negative person, you’re probably doing numerous things you don’t even realize are holding you back. Recognizing these negative mindsets, and then implementing simple mindset shifts, are sure to help you not only create a more positive outlook, but a more successful outcome to whatever goal you’re trying to achieve. 14

Turn jealousy into admiration

It’s very easy to look at someone who has what you want, and feel envious, which quickly turns into criticism and excuses about why you weren’t able to get what they seemed to get with ease. This is something successful people never do. Instead, they recognize that the only thing keeping them from success is themselves. If you want what someone else has, you should look to them as a role model. What

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are they doing that you aren’t? There’s probably more to their story than you’re giving them credit for. Someone else’s success doesn’t hinder your ability to do the same, but constantly having a ‘life’s not fair’ attitude definitely will.

Tackle the things you dread doing first

We all procrastinate to some extent. Usually it’s things we don’t want to do. But when you put something like that off, it creates a serious cloud over your whole day. Experts recommend getting those things out of the way first. Not only do get it crossed off your list, but you will feel energized by your accomplishments and tackle the day with even more force.

Don’t make decisions based on emotion

Reaching goals, especially long term ones, can have a lot of ups and downs. The key to achieving them is to stay level-headed during setbacks, really focusing on your plan and how the setback fits into your long term vision. If you have a solid plan in place, you could be destroying months of hard work with one rash emotional decision, that is probably coming from a place of panic. When you’re feeling emotional...wait. It really is that simple. Wait it out until Top Agent Magazine

you’re back in a rational state of mind and take it from there.

Learn to love feedback

It’s very easy to be thrown off by negative feedback or constructive criticism. No one likes it. But when it comes to achieving your goals, you need to be able to hear it, assess it and then make an unemotional decision about what it means to you and your success. In fact the business world’s most successful leaders are there because they not only take in that feedback, they actually constantly ask for it. Fresh perspectives on what you’re doing are always valuable. When you’re in the thick of it, it can be hard to see what needs improvement. Asking a trusted peer or advisor can be instrumental in keeping the momentum on reaching your goal going.

Replace a fixed mindset with a growth mindset

You might be wondering what the difference between the two are. A fixed mindset thinks that growing intelligence or skills is impossible, while a growth mindset thinks those things can be developed. People with a growth mindset are more likely to expand beyond their comfort zone, since they really believe almost anything is possible with hard work. And if it isn’t? They’re willing to give it a try. Being willing to try and fail, is a key element to reaching even the most lofty goals.

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BRENDA RICH Brenda Rich has been helping her neighbors make one of the biggest decisions of their lives since 1978. You’d be hard-pressed to find another realtor who has deeper market expertise, a more extensive network, or a better reputation in their industry. “I know this area extremely well. I know everyone in town, and they know me. People know that I’m extremely honest and very loyal. I have an extensive list of contacts, so my clients have access to anything they need,” she says. As a top realtor and Certified Buyer’s Agent with Century 21 New Millennium in northern Virginia, Brenda specializes in residential properties and farms in Fauquier County and its surrounding area. Her prominent status in the community provides her clients with a number of unexpected advantages. With her in-depth knowledge of the local real estate market, she can provide valuable insights about property values, market trends, and investment opportunities. The strong network of relationships that she’s developed help boost her negotiating power. When agents have good rapport and trust with each other, it’s easier for all parties involved to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Being well-connected also keeps Brenda in the know with the latest news on schools and upcoming local events. Such information can be invaluable for clients who need specific information to make informed decisions about buying and selling property. Brenda uses a number of tools to market her listings, including web advertising, social media, postcard mailings, open houses, phone calls, texts, and

face-to-face visits. “Century 21 does a great job of marketing the listings. They have a very well-thought out and complete package. They’re the experts that make sure all of the information gets out to where it needs to go,” she says. Backed by the power of the Century 21 network, Brenda now closes an average of $10-$15 million in transactions annually, with a repeat customer and referral percentage of around 75%. Through the years, she has also earned a number of prestigious accolades and awards. She was named a Washingtonian Top Real Estate Producer in 2022; a Top 50 Century 21 Agent in Virginia in 2021, 2020, and 2019; and a Masters Emerald Producer in 2022. She served as the Past President of the Virginia Association of Fairs and worked with the Greater Area Association of Realtors. Currently, she also serves as the President of The Fauquier County Fair. “The Fair is a huge community event for us. It’s held once a year, but I work on it year-round. I’ve been doing it a long time, and it definitely helps keep me visible in the eye of the public.” In her free time, Brenda loves spending time with her three children and six grandchildren. Yet even after decades in the business, Brenda still enjoys what she’s doing. “I like having the flexibility to make my own hours and work when and where I want to: in the office, at home, in the car, or on the beach. I like helping first-time buyers and other homeowners find their perfect home. And I like having happy, satisfied customers. My goal is to give everyone a smooth transaction from start to finish.”

For more on Brenda Rich, please call 540-270-1659, email Brenda.rich@c21nm.com https://www.c21nm.com/agents/brenda-rich/ or https://www.facebook.com/brenda.edwards.rich/ https://www.instagram.com/richbrendae/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendarich/ visit her Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7cF2oEMBZ37vJ_L5cZyEIg/about

Reconsider Referral-Only When Planning for the Future

A 100% referral rate is a testament of client happiness. But even a 30% referral rate is proof of client satisfaction. It’s all relative, say some agents. One number pays tribute to past success, which is certainly a story worth telling. But the other might better predict the future. Many agents plan for the idea that Top Agent Magazine

working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector. Unless you are clairvoyant enough to flawlessly predict every market change or every

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Many agents plan for the idea that working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expand into a new sector. life change that your clients and referral partners may experience, it’s wise to maintain an active marketing presence. The reasons vary, however, depending on the goals and trajectory of each individual’s business. If long-term success, a growing team, a legacy or expansion into new areas are not priorities, then working a sphere of influence may be enough for some agents, especially those who may be in the industry mostly for the love of the business. But for a majority of agents, no matter how much they love their work, their real estate and mortgage businesses are careers, first and foremost. Let’s start with the team-builders and mentors. Agents and brokers who are building teams are wise to invest in business marketing, advertising and community outreach. Ty Hutchins, who owns and operates Ty & Company Real Estate in Colorado’s Front Range, says that, while she could personally live off referrals alone, her goal is to build up her agents. “I do the marketing piece for my team, so I can help them succeed,” she says. That marketing includes running commercials on TV and in movies theatres, as well as lead generation that identifies potential buyers, sellers and 18

investors between the Colorado Springs and Denver markets. Her team’s goal, she adds, is to promote their reputation of being honest, hardworking professionals with the reach of a major brand but the personalized approach of a boutique. Then there are the growers. Khrista Jarvis and Nicole Jung of The Khrista Jarvis Team in the San Francisco Bay Area, are on a considerable growth track. “We’re the #1 team in our area and the top team in Compass Real Estate nationally,” explains Khrista. While high marks for service on behalf of their clients have led them to these heights, they know that they must continue to evolve and market their brand. “We do a good deal of social media marketing for our listings and for our business,” she says. Their names, therefore, are frequently linked to sentiments of trust, dependability and market knowledge, both in their marketing and in their reviews. Next, there are those who weathered the worst of times. Susan Roche entered real estate sales in 2003, following several years of property management in North Carolina. The key to her sustained triumphs through major market swings lies in her long-range planning. “If the market starts to dip or fall,

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I have safety nets in place,” says Susan Roche, team leader of Simply Real Estate, based in Charlotte. “When it’s a seller’s market, I still plan for a buyer’s market and when it’s a buyer’s market I plan for a seller’s market..” In other words, no matter how comfortable her existing work may feel, she networks consistently. She also employs a full-time marketing director who leads several projects including ongoing research, events and social media exposure in addition to listings marketing. By staying ahead of market changes, Susan knows she can unfailingly represent her clients’ best interests while still maintaining a safety net for her business. Even professionals with more than three decades’ experience and deep referral networks know the importance of business

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marketing. Cathy Richards, co-owner with Nancy Dalaska of Epic-Wasatch Homes in Park City, UT, entered real estate in 1987 and still draws at least a fifth of her business from lead generation, social media marketing and community outreach. Her business partner, Nancy, adds that real estate is about much more than their own business. “We love collaborating and brainstorming with other agents to help them prosper,” says Nancy. “We believe the healthier the market, the better we all are.” Regardless of market conditions, even the best reputation can’t guarantee long-term success. To sustain and grow, it’s wise to feed your business by increasing exposure, remaining flexible and maintaining systems for customer service, networking, research, marketing and lead-generation.

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3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The 20

list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.

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Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value. In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.

Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways Top Agent Magazine

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you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage. Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios 22

neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.

Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces. Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,

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bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures,

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or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look. No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition. Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.

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