Category: Real Estate Tips

Buying your first house is equally exciting and intimidating. This is a huge financial and personal investment. As your greater Thurston County real estate agent, my job is to make the process easier on you and help to find the best home for your lifestyle. Here are some of my tips to get you the first house of your dreams.

When buying a home, create a checklist of needs. If you are a parent, look for houses in a good school district and close to a park. Location is one of the most important aspects of home buying, it’s ideal to be somewhere close to work, school and other daily activities. Another important piece of the checklist is what you need in the home. Are you looking for a one or two-story house? Does it need air conditioning? Should the backyard be big, perhaps fenced? These questions help you to narrow down the search and if you know your non-negotiables, you are even closer to finding the perfect house for you.

Another important thing to keep in mind is acknowledging this will probably not be your forever home. While Puget Sound real estate makes for a forever location, there are plenty of great homes to live in. Similarly, there is nothing wrong with going for a more affordable house at first, only to upgrade down the line. This house is an introduction to home ownership for you, not the final chapter. By choosing a more affordable home that might not have every aspect of a house you dream of, you are better suited to pay for a nicer house later down the road. When that time comes, don’t forget about your agent!

Finally, when looking for your first home, pay attention to the neighborhood’s residents and seek council from those around you. Ask your potential neighbors about the daily life in the area, as well as learn of any potential deterrents. Buying a house is a big commitment and you should feel good about the choice. Another great group of people to talk to are real estate agents like myself, as well as trusted family and friends who have gone through a similar process. Your first house affects not only you, but those close you, and second or third opinions will help you get the purchase right the first time.

Buying your first home is an exciting endeavor! When you’re ready to move to Thurston County, go ahead and give me a call and we can begin your journey to homeownership together.

Spring is here and now is the perfect time to sell your house. However, selling your house isn’t easy and there’s a lot that goes into process. Preparing before you even list your house is important. Not sure where to start? Follow these tips and you’ll be ready in no time.

Purge and Declutter

A cluttered home doesn’t look good in pictures which can potentially turn buyers away from even viewing your home.  You want your buyer to see the home for what it is, a beautiful structure ready for its next occupant. Purging will also help with your move to your new home.  You’ll have less to move and several items will already be packed and ready when the time comes.

Depersonalize

You want potential buyers to see their next home and not a house that is someone else’s. You want the home to be neutral and ready for those who walk through to visualize themselves living there. Replace family photos with easy prints from Etsy or that perfect sunrise photo from the other morning. Removing frames, kids’ artwork, toys and personal items from countertops will really help make the house feel ready for the next occupants. Not sure what to remove? Hiring a consultant to come in and help you determine what should stay or go helps tremendously.

Paint

As well as removing personal items, painting is a part of de-personalizing. Neutral walls create a blank slate for buyers as they tour your home, making it easier for them to see your house as their next home. Spackle and refresh paint in any room that needs it. Do you have white walls that are looking a little drab? A gallon of fresh paint can go a long way and really boost the sale quality of your home.

Outdoor Beautification

Curb appeal and backyards are just as important as the interior of your house.  When a potential buyer pulls up, the exterior of your home will be their first impression. Make it a good one!  Take a step back and look at the home with fresh eyes. What would you see as someone just coming to look at your house for the first time. Weed, remove unnecessary shrubs, plants and trees, lay fresh bark and pressure wash the driveway. Clean the roof by sweeping off debris and treating for moss. And don’t forget to refreshing the exterior paint if it needs it.

Fix It

Repair any damage and complete the projects you’ve been putting off.  Change your light bulbs, re-caulk your bathroom and kitchen tile and appliances.  Fix the leaky faucet and replace your broken trim. Start by walking through the house and making a list of anything and everything you can find, big or small. Completing your fix it list prior to listing your home to sell will save you some headaches later in the process.

Clean

It’s time to clean everything, from top to bottom.  This should be your final step before listing your house to sell. Take your cleaning to the next level with a deep, thorough cleaning. Wipe down your lights, walls, trim and cabinets. Clean the windows and gutters and don’t forget those pesky cobwebs in the corners!  Cleaning is something you can do yourself or you can hire professional to come in and do a deep clean.

There’s a lot that goes into selling your home. You want your home to feel comfortable and appeal to potential buyers.  If you take the above steps, not only will you prepare your house to sell but help sell it faster.

Ready to list your house? Contact me, I’d love to be your real estate agent.

We live in a DIY world and while doing the work yourself can be beneficial for many projects, some things are better left to the professionals. Home buying and selling is a huge undertaking, physically, financially and emotionally.  Having a real estate professional by your side, guiding you through the process, will provide support in many different ways. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t give up on hiring a real estate agent just yet.

Knowledge

Assisting in buying or selling your home is a real estate agent’s full time job. They come with the knowledge and experience needed to make this a smooth and seamless process. Their education and experience are key to handling this process with ease.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, the amount of paperwork involved can be quite grueling and time consuming.  As a client, your time is precious. Hiring a real estate agent allows you to ask questions and sign on the dotted line without having to worry about all the details in between.  Let them handle the who, what, why and where!

Professional References and Referrals

Having been in the field for a while, most real estate agents have collected the names of the best professionals in all areas needed in home ownership.  They can give you the dos and don’ts as well as who you should and shouldn’t hire. They know everyone and are more than willing to help a client out, even after the home purchase is complete.

Negotiations

Negotiations can be tricky.  In a perfect home transaction, the buyer and the seller are both reasonable, easy to work with people who get along.  However, that’s not always the case. Often times, they don’t see eye to eye and a real estate agent can play the middle man, negotiating your terms without emotions getting in the way of the transaction.

Market Analysis and Pricing

The housing market fluctuates on a daily basis and it’s a real estate agent’s job to keep up with the trends.  You may know that a house in your neighborhood was listed for $350,000, but your real estate agent knows that it only sold for $300,000 after sitting on the market for 45 days.   Setting a price too high for a home can be detrimental. Allowing a real estate agent to assist in setting an appropriate price can make for a quick and easy sale.

Emotional Support

Selling your home can be an emotional process and quite honestly frustrating at times.  Whether you’re selling to downsize or upgrade, there’s often an attachment to the home you are selling.  Real estate agents are there to assist through the entire process. This also means when things get emotional, they are right there to listen and help you through whatever you are feeling. They are there for you 100%.

There are many benefits to hiring a real estate agent.  We are here to make the process of buying and selling your home as seamless as possible.  Contact me today and let me help you make this the best experience you’ve ever had!