Sell Your Home
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27
Sellers: Guide to Cleaning Before Turning Over the Keys
After cleaning the home for potential buyers to view, you will need to clean it one last time before turning over the keys to the new homeowner. As a seller, you need to make the buyer feel confident about the purchase. One easy way is to hand them keys to a clean house. Here is a final cleaning guide for you from our real estate agents.
- Wipe the Walls
Get a bucket, fill it with water, add a little soap and get a sizeable smooth sponge to scrub your walls. Dip the sponge in the soapy water, squeeze the sponge to leave it a little soggy, and use it to wipe the walls.
Repeat the process when wiping the doors, window, window frame, sills, and baseboard. Wipe the walls from up downwards. You can buy an eraser cleaning supply to take out any scuffs.
16
Hosting a Garage Sale Before Selling Your Home
If you're selling your home, a garage sale is a fantastic opportunity to get rid of items you no longer need and earn a little cash. Our REALTORS® know that a garage sale is a useful way to reduce the clutter before putting a property on the market. Check out a few tips for hosting a successful garage sale.
- Be Picky When Choosing a Date and Time
Garage sales held on the weekend are usually much busier than those held on a weekday; conventionally, Saturday is the most popular day for garage sales. Stay away from holiday weekends and days with major local events.
You'll also need to decide on a time for your garage sale. Most garage sales start in the morning and end in the early afternoon, though there may be regional variations. Check out local listings for other sales in your area to get a better idea of when they typically start and end.
21
5 Benefits of Downsizing for Retirees
The kids have left, and your home is filled with memories rather than people. Besides, it's a lot of work to keep a big house in good repair. If you're retired and your house feels too big for you, it might be time to downsize and move into a smaller abode like these Albany homes for sale, which are designed to be a joy to live in.
In fact, if you're thinking of downsizing, there's no better time to do so than in today's seller's market. Our real estate agents can help you determine the best course of action and potentially lead a more leisurely lifestyle.
- You'll Save Money
A smaller dwelling means less space, but it also means less money spent on housing repair costs. Simply put, downsizing is a great way to save money. Think about it. A larger house equates to a larger mortgage, higher property taxes, and insurance costs. And you get to save on housekeeping costs too. You can also save on utility costs as you have less space to power and heat.
Downsizing saves you money, which can contribute to a more satisfying lifestyle in retirement. Your pension can go further, and you'll have more money to spend on yourself, like indulging in a shopping trip.
5
Sellers: Get Lighting Right With These Window Treatments
When selling your home it's important to make it as appealing to buyers as possible. And one thing they always want is a bright and inviting space. You'll want to let in as much natural light as possible by choosing the right window treatments. Letting in more light makes rooms look brighter, bigger, and generally more welcoming. So here's how to showcase your Albany homes for sale in the best possible light.
Choose the Right Style
- Consider the function of the room. Certain types of window treatments work better in certain spaces. For example, you wouldn't want drapes in the kitchen or on a porch door.
- Consider the style of the room. Your window treatments should fit with the overall style of the room and home.
1
Sellers: Don't Let These 5 Things Impact Your Property Value
Your home's value is determined by two types of issues: (1) things you can control and (2) things you cannot. Despite the things you can't change, you can improve your home's value to ensure that it's among the most desired Albany homes for sale.
Our real estate agents are familiar with the factors you can control and can help you maximize your home's value:
- Lack of Curb Appeal
As the old saying goes: You never get a second chance at a first impression. Curb appeal is shorthand for everything someone sees as they drive up to your home, including the front yard, windows, porch, front door, and exterior paint. If your front yard is a tangled mess of weeds and faded and chipped paint, all your potential buyers will see are the thousands of dollars they will need to spend to fix the curb appeal. Conversely, your home will shine with a manicured lawn, clean windows, and a fresh coat of paint.
1
Buyers Will Love These 6 Clever Storage Solutions
If we have the space, we tend to fill it. From the young family in a starter home to an empty-nesting couple preparing for retirement, everyone accumulates "stuff" along the way. And if you're considering putting your house on the market among Albany homes for sale, you'll need a storage place for all that stuff.
Our real estate agents know that some of the best storage solutions are about investing in underutilized space. Consider these tips:
- Go Low
Investing early and often in under-furniture storage options is a great way to control clutter and elevate your home. Everyone is familiar with under bed plastic bins that you can find at a big box store. These options are great if you want to keep these items hidden, but you aren't limited to these options alone.
28
Why Home Is Where the Square Footage Is
The concept of "micro-apartments" and small homes was recently thought to be a trend, especially in big cities. Most millennials enjoy a minimalist lifestyle, which has inspired many to move into tiny homes, donate their possessions, and enjoy "less stuff. But since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, our real estate agents have found out that many home shoppers are less interested in stainless steel appliances and granite countertops than they are in square footage. Buyers are looking at the actual space at the expense of condos and land. Here are some of the reasons behind the demand for large homes.
- Millennials are Dreaming of Bigger Places to Live
While millennials have been shown to be more eco-focused than the boomers, they still aren't that immune to wanting more space. Even environmentally conscious millennials are looking to move on up by a big margin. Given the choice, few millennials would prefer a smaller home than their current ones. This means that a typical millennial is less likely to want to downsize than a baby boomer or empty nester in the same neighborhood.
17
7 Last-Minute Staging Suggestions for Sellers
If you're thinking about listing your home, you want to make sure you can sell it quickly and get a great price. While there are a lot of important factors that go into making this happen, one thing our real estate agents know for sure is that the little details make a huge difference.
Most owners of Albany homes for sale have spent months getting their homes as close to perfect as possible. If you're looking to compete, you'll have to step up your game. These seven last-minute staging suggestions that can mean the difference between a lackluster showing — whether in person or virtual — and one that ends with an excellent offer.
8
How to Get Maximum ROI for Your Remodeling Dollars
Planning to put your house on the market this year? Sprucing up your home can help it stand out from the many beautiful Albany homes for sale. But before you embark on any remodeling project, you need to plan and be wise with your cash. The fact is, few remodeling projects increase the value of your home enough for you to realize a profit or recoup the entire remodeling cost when the house is sold. So, you want to be certain you're investing in upgrades that will maximize the return on investment (ROI). Here are some industry rules of thumb that our real estate agents want you to know before committing to a project.
- Consider the Market Trends
Renovations done to make your home more appealing to buyers do not have to align with your tastes. Buyers' expectations have risen thanks to the influence of home remodeling and buying TV shows. You need to keep your eye on what's working for others. For instance, homebuyers are hot on farmhouse kitchen sinks that are deeper than traditional ones. Also trending are modern bathrooms, new garage doors, and water-conserving landscaping.
11
Have You Cleaned Your Washing Machine Lately?
There are spots in every house we don't really think about cleaning very often. For most people, the washing machine is one of those places. The inside of the washing machine can harbor offensive odors, mold, or mildew. None of those things are good for your clothes or your washer! For Albany homes for sale, thoroughly cleaning is a must. You won't want to risk anything that could leave a bad smell and bad impression with buyers. Here's how to get your machine sparkling clean in no time.
Front-Load Washing Machines
- Make sure the washing machine is empty.
- Remove any visible debris and pet hair from the tub.
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More than any other real estate company in New York, Coldwell Banker Prime Properties has made a commitment to ensure the success of our agents in their effort to match the right home, to the right buyer, for the right price.
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