Holding a real estate agent’s or real estate broker’s license does
not make someone a REALTOR®. Here in Texas, membership in the National Association
of REALTORS®, the Texas Association of REALTORS®, and one of more than
90 local associations or boards entitles real estate licensees to use the term
“REALTOR®” on their business cards and in their marketing materials.
Hiring a Texas REALTOR® means you’ve retained someone who is committed
to continuing education, professionalism, and integrity. In addition to upholding
the strict REALTOR® Code of Ethics, many Texas REALTORS® (like me) hold
one or more professional designations—those letters behind our names indicating
advanced or specialized training in real estate.
Here are just a few of the various designations a REALTOR® may hold and
what they could mean for you:
The GRI designation is a mark of distinction that earns REALTORS® respect
and confidence from their peers and the general public, demonstrating their commitment
to advancing their knowledge in many aspects of the real estate profession.
Residential salespeople who hold the CRS designation specialize in listing properties,
selling, and investing, as well as mortgage financing and computer applications.
A buyer’s agent represents the buyer in a real estate transaction, just
as a seller’s agent is hired to obtain the price and sale terms sought by
the seller. The ABR is the only nationally recognized designation for buyer’s
agents.
The CRB designation is recognized in the real estate profession as the symbol
of management excellence and is awarded to brokerage owners and managers.
The e-PRO certification is the real estate industry’s first comprehensive
technology certification endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®.
The right landscape design can make all the difference to a prospective
buyer, especially when it’s beautifully and carefully executed. In fact,
REALTORS® and landscape professionals estimate that a well-landscaped yard
can add 5% to 15% to the selling value of a house. Houses that look good from
the road carry higher price tags—a fact that turns landscape investments
into money in the bank when selling a house. Here are a few ideas on how to improve
your landscape:
- One of the best investments you can make is a glorious stand of healthy trees
as part of a well-landscaped yard. REALTORS® across Texas and the rest of
the country know that healthy trees can increase the property value of a home,
as well as provide years of aesthetic benefits to owners. Trees also cut down
on energy costs. When Kiplinger published the 25 best ways to invest $1,000, buying
a big tree was at the top of the list. If your selling timetable doesn’t
allow for planting and nurturing a tree to maturity, remember this advice for
your next house.
- Since a tree is a long-term investment, it’s important to start with
a high-quality plant. In the case of trees, money definitely buys quality. Trees
that are 8 to 10 feet tall—either balled and wrapped in burlap or established
and growing in containers—are usually the best buy. Homeowners can expect
to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000 for a quality tree.
- Add a few plants around the foundation of the house and in “curb appeal”
areas such as near the front door. Or, consider using more permanent bushes, especially
those that flower in the summer and have colorful buds in the winter.
- Gardeners on a budget can buy a few plants, then, add more as your budget
allows.
- For an especially inexpensive jolt for your yard, flowers are a homeowner’s
best friend. Bright splashes of color add visual appeal, though they’re
usually temporary. For this reason, they’re great if you suddenly need to
put your house on the market and need a quick landscaping fix. At that point,
it’s best to stick to the basics, leaving more costly and permanent landscaping
to the new owners.
- Clean out closets, pick up clutter, and pare down what’s inside. That
goes for those treasured family photos and mementos, too. The reason? Besides
adding a spacious feel to the home, pared-down surroundings can help potential
buyers better envision themselves and their family photos in the house.
- Pack away items and special collections usually displayed in cabinets and
hutches, and move a few pieces of furniture out of the house. This will help buyers
to better see where their furniture might go in the house.
- Don’t forget to keep the house clean every minute it’s on the
market. This takes great effort, but the buyer may need to see it in the next
five minutes, and you’ll need to be prepared.
- So, you like your house to “say something” about your personality.
Well, it’s time to tone it down. Go buy some plain-vanilla paint to cover
those red-and-purple walls in your boudoir—it’ll make a difference
when you’re trying to sell your home. Many buyers can’t see your Picasso
genius (and just can’t get past the splatter-paint wall in the living room)
to visualize colors they’re more comfortable with.
- If you’ve got an Italian fresco on a living room wall that stops people
in their tracks, they may lose sight of the rest of the home’s wonderful
features. If you’re resistant to do anything about it, ask someone you trust
to give you an independent view of your home. Better yet, ask your REALTOR®
or an appraiser if the house looks cluttered or if any colors are too bright.
Some may see bright colors as gaudy. Listen to their answers and take their advice.
By “paring down,” organizing, and carefully sorting your possessions,
you’re ensuring that your home will appeal to the greatest number of potential
buyers. Remember to remove about half of the items stored in closets and cabinets
and toss or give away things you don’t use. Not only will de-cluttering
and cleaning help to sell your house quickly, you’ll be ahead of the game
when it comes to packing up and moving to your new location.
- Make sure your entranceway says “Hey, look at me!”
- Prune dead limbs from trees.
- Paint (or touch up) exterior, and repair screens and windows.
- Clean your windows.
- Check A/C and heating systems.
- Fix leaky faucets, toilets, and faulty lights.
- Vacuum drapes and carpets.
- Repair wall cracks, re-caulk bathrooms and kitchen.
- Clear out closets.
- Remove excess furniture.
- Keep cats and dogs out of visitors’ way.
- Mow lawn, edge driveway and walkways
- Ensure windows, doors, and locks work smoothly.
- Weed flower beds and trim shrubs.
- Throw out junk from garage and storage areas.
- Clean lawn furniture.
- If you have a pool, make it crystal clear.
You know you should clean everything and get rid of clutter. But aside from
that, how do you broaden the appeal of your house?
 Walk
through the house and prioritize things that, if changed, would increase the value
of your home. For example, repainting a child’s bubble-gum pink bedroom
may attract more buyers than something not as apparent, such as replacing an old
dishwasher.- You can direct a potential buyer’s eye away from something negative
or toward something positive. Use artwork or a room’s own features, such
as a fireplace, to capture a buyer’s attention. However, there’s a
fine line. You want buyers to be able to appreciate the room and not just focus
on the items in the room.
- Remove any furniture that tightens spaces. If a couch or chair makes you turn
your body as you walk by or just makes a passage look small, get rid of it. Everybody
wants more space.
- Rid the house of personal effects, and don’t forget simple things like
magnets on the refrigerator. Small distractions to the buyers’ eyes will
disturb their thinking, preventing them from picturing the house as theirs. And
while you want the rooms to look well-decorated and spacious, avoid turning the
house into a perfect home. Try to balance the brand-new look with some of its
lived-in warmth.
- Potential buyers often feel uncomfortable in bedrooms and bathrooms because
they are, by definition, personal and private places. To counter this reaction,
make bedrooms and bathrooms look like a model home (toss the lived-in feel out
the bathroom window). Clear off all surfaces of the bathroom—remove even
simple things like toothpaste and soap. Put out nice, fresh towels instead. The
goal is to make these rooms comfortable for buyers. When they’re comfortable,
they’ll linger and picture themselves in the house.
- Consider hiring a professional to improve your home’s visual appeal.
The fee charged by a “stager” can be worth it if the changes bring
a quicker offer or a higher sales price.
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the Best to Represent You
Landscaping:
Little touches make the difference
Reduce
clutter
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simple things to make your home more marketable