To Paint or Not to Paint? To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade?

Aug 12, 2022 8:19 am
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According to a RE/MAX agent and interior design specialist, Jeannie Do, a home’s color palette can make a significant impact on prospective buyers.  Here’s why.

Using color throughout a home can be expressive, creative, and hold cultural significance.  But what happens to that level of personalization when it’s time to sell?

According to our design specialist, homeowners preparing a property to sell need to look past their own emotional connection to color and focus on what changes – like a fresh coat of paint – can elevate their home’s overall aesthetic, appeal to buyers, and potentially increase ROI.

Reconsidering bright colors –

Colors used to express yourself can oftentimes be a reflection of your personality, mindset, and values.  For instance, in many Asian households, you may see the color red because it represents good fortune and is very auspicious.  Red is a color of high energy and it can relate to the dynamic of Asian families who cherish their extended family and host lively gatherings altogether.

Red is typically a color we would avoid in home staging because it’s seen as a statement color.

Many home stagers agree that while color is a great way to be expressive while living in a space, it’s often best to eliminate brighter shades when preparing a home to sell in order to appeal to more buyers.

When it’s time to sell, you should aim to remove yourself from the house and make it a blank slate – almost like an art gallery.  Galleries usually have white walls because it allows the art to shine without making an impression on it.  Setting up your house as a neutral gallery for the buyer to see as their next piece of art, says our design specialist.

Aligning with trends –

While neutral paint colors are typically timeless, there can be a place for brighter colors to stay up or be added in when preparing a home to sell.  If the seller’s goal is to match their home with current design trends, like around mid-century modern style, for example, then in-theme colors may be embraced by prospective buyers.

Homes vary in size, have unique layouts and receive different quantities of natural light, thus requiring different shades and undertones of paint even within one color family.  All of this needs to be considered when choosing paint colors.

Consumer preferences also have a longstanding history of mirroring societal trends. While cooler grays were preferred for a period of time, warmer neutrals are rising in popularity.

Because of the change in lifestyle due to COVID-19 in the last couple of years, people are actually starting to favor warmer tones for their mood-boosting and comforting effects.  It’s all about psychology.  Because people are so uncertain about what’s happening in the world, they want to come home to a place that makes them feel safe.

Creating a synchronized space –

Wall color surely sets a backdrop.  But the rest of the elements within a home’s interior have to align to create a space that buyers can envision themselves and their families living in.

Your furniture and décor pieces have to be cohesive with the wall color.  If you have really modern furniture but dated wall colors, the interior can feel disconnected.  It’s harder for buyers to picture how they would personalize, furnish, and decorate the home when it doesn’t feel natural.

Sometimes it’s not in the budget to make big changes to a home before listing it on the market.  In addition to decluttering the space, there are a few other tricks for staging with existing items within the home.

Lighting and window treatments are a relatively easy way to elevate a space.  It can even be as simple as moving your curtains all the way up to the ceiling to visually elongate the walls and make the ceiling seem higher.  Bring in as much natural light as you can. In smaller spaces, consider swapping out heavier curtains for ones that are sheer to really optimize sunlight.

A qualified seller’s agent will have insight onto the local housing market, have seen comparable properties, and can provide further suggestions to help prep a home to sell.

When it’s time to sell, just keep in mind that you’re trying to appeal to other’s tastes, not your own.  Getting rid of personalization and loud wall colors can help the process move along much smoother and attract more buyers along the way.

Article information from Jeannie Do, an agent and member of the International Group with RE/MAX Professional in Lakewood, CO.  She holds a BFA degree in Interior Design.

In Appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Excellence

Celebrating 20 Years!!

Jul 20, 2022 7:21 pm
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Today is a day of celebration and reflection for me.  I celebrated 20 years in real estate as I received my real estate license on July 20th 2002.

Many people ask me why I got into real estate.  I got into real estate because a relative of mine told me I should consider real estate and I listened because she was older and wiser, and the bible tells us to listen to our elders and I’m glad I did.  I love real estate because it allows me to use my passion, which is helping people.

A lot has changed over the years, but I navigated the highs and the lows.  The mortgage interest rate in 2002 was 6.54%.  The highs in the last 20 years were the last two years when it was a TRUE Seller’s market.  It was great for my Sellers that could sell and take advantage of the craziness and had a place to go live.  The lows were in the 2007-2008 downturn when I was doing short sales as my clients were losing their homes.  I’m so glad I listened once again and got my CDPE – Certified Distressed Property Expert designation.  It gave me the ability to assist my Sellers by doing a short sale for them vs. them going into foreclosure.

Over the years I have learned how to do what I do better.  I have sought out training and certifications to further help me further my knowledge of the industry so I could help my clients. My certifications are listed in the ‘About‘ section.

What advice would I give someone considering a career in real estate?  The advice I would give to someone thinking about getting into real estate is, that if you are willing to work 24/7, 365 days a year, and you are passionate about helping people with the largest investment they will ever make, then get into real estate and treat your clients and agents like you want to be treated and you’ll be successful.

It’s my passion.  I love it.  Thank you to each and everyone who has given me the opportunity to help you buy or sell.  I am truly grateful.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Home Ownership – The American Dream

Jun 6, 2022 7:29 am
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History of National Home Ownership Month

June is National Home Ownership Month.  Do you know the history of the American Dream of home ownership?

In the 1800s, most Americans had no way of really owning a home.  Mortgages became common only after the U.S. banking system came into being after the 1860s National Bank Acts.

During the time of the Great Depression, the banks did not have any money to lend and the average borrower didn’t have any cash.  As a result, people couldn’t afford to buy homes, while existing homeowners often failed to pay their debt.  To stabilize the housing market, the U.S. government created the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation in 1933, the Federal Housing Administration in 1934, and the Federal National Mortgage Association (now known as Fannie Mae) in 1938.  All these institutions took homeownership to new heights and helped prevent a crash in the housing market.

What changed the face of the housing industry, along with that of the American economy, was the G.I. Bill of 1944.  This bill provided subsidized mortgages for the veterans of World War II.  Another milestone in the history of American housing came when Congress passed the Fair Housing Act of 1968.  The Act was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and banned discrimination in housing based on religion, race, gender, and national origin.  It came into being only a few days after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In its 87 years of existence, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has saved America an almost $4 trillion loss of household wealth.  It has helped more than 44 million citizens to become homeowners.

National Homeownership Week began in 1995, which was a strategy of the administration under President Bill Clinton to increase homeownership across America.  Later, in 2002, President George W. Bush expanded the period of observance from a week to the entire month of June.  National Homeownership Month reinforces the belief that owning a home is one of the steps toward achieving the American dream.

My passion is helping people home ownership and finding their dream home.

Information derived from NationalToday.com

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

Fetching Top Dollar for Your Home

Apr 12, 2022 8:33 am
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Perhaps you have bought and sold a home before, regardless with this crazy market you want to do the things that will help you get top dollar.  This list adds some elements that you may not have considered.

  • Make Your Mailbox look Amazing – First Impressions are key, and your mailbox is definitely part of that first impression. Curb appeal always needs to be a consideration.  In addition to the mailbox, is the driveway cracked?  Does it need pressure washed? Is the yard well kept?
  • Make the right use of your rooms. Maybe you use your dining room as your kid’s playroom or an office.  You might want to stage it before having potential buyers visit.  Buyers want to see the room the traditional way.
  • Update your bathrooms. Reglaze especially if you have an outdated color like green or pink.  Reglazing a bathroom to white can make is look 20 to 30 years younger.  Bathrooms and kitchens sell houses so the smallest of improvements can make a world of difference.
  • What is your neighborhood like? Include in the listing description.  What is nearby? i.e. coffee shops, shopping, walking trails, etc.  What’s the culture like?  More than just what school district the house is located.
  • What extras are included? e., motion-sensitive outdoor lighting, smart home technology, security system, camera doorbell, etc. These little things make seem trivial to you but may sway a buyer.
  • In addition to great photos, do a video tour pointing out all the unique selling points.
  • Get a home pre-inspection – Your buyer will have an idea of the property’s condition before making an offer.

We are here to help you every step of the way whether buying or selling.

In appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence!

Circle of Excellence 2021

Feb 21, 2022 7:38 am
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2021 was another challenging year both personally and for real estate.  With the pandemic still looming and low inventory of homes, etc., we were still able to help many clients with their real estate needs. We feel very grateful and blessed to be honored again and to be among those achieving the Circle of Excellence Award from the 400 North Board of Realtors for 2021.

While it’s an honor and I’m very grateful to receive these awards, it’s not necessarily my goal. My goal is to give my clients the best possible service possible, whether it is to help them sell their home or to find them their perfect new home. My passion is helping people. That is why I strive for a high level of service and as a result, I have many repeat clients as well as referrals of friends and family over my 20-year real estate career. For this, I am truly grateful for my client’s trust and confidence.

One of the other ways I service my clients is my knowledge of the market. I continue to make sure I am well versed in all matters of real estate. As a REALTOR, we are tasked each year to accomplish additional education units. I typically go beyond what is required. I am certified in negotiating, probate, distressed property, luxury home market, iRep Pro, etc. So, please know whatever someone’s real estate needs are, I will always do my very best to deliver the ultimate service experience.

For a list of certifications and awards, please see our ‘About’ page.

In Appreciation,

Marie Dinsmore

RE/MAX Around Atlanta

Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Tips for Selling Your Home in 2022

Jan 17, 2022 7:07 am
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Thinking about putting your house on the market?  There are a few things that should be at the top of your to-do list before you even consider contacting the realtor and listing your property. You might think your home is perfect, but that’s because you live in it. You need to take an outsider’s perspective. Let’s have a look at some top tips to sell your home.

Four things that many people need to consider before putting their house on the market are to declutter, deep clean, make vital repairs and consider the exterior. If you follow these simple steps before selling your property, you’re likely to sell your home much quicker. So, let’s get started.

Declutter

Decluttering is a very important task you must do or should we say endure to sell your home. The reason behind decluttering is to get rid of all your stuff that is laying around and find a home for it. This is done for two reasons.

First, when prospective buyers come and take a look around your home they don’t want to see your belongings cluttering up the place. They need to be able to envision their own items filling the spaces. Second, if you spend some time decluttering then you are opening up the rooms and making them seem more spacious. Bigger homes command bigger places. Decluttering increases the size of your home in the minds of potential buyers. It’s like magic.

One major tip for decluttering is to go through each room and sort your belongings into three different piles. First, you should look at the items you want to keep. Second, stuff you want to throw away. Finally, a third pile should consist of the items you want to sell. Holding a yard or garage sale is a great way to make a little extra cash on the stuff you no longer want.

Although this task can appear a daunting one, there are a few ways to make it easier. Don’t try and do everything at once, start with 5 minutes stints throughout the day. Give items away, choose one to two and give them away daily. Donate things you don’t use or wear. Envision your home as a potential buyer, or ask a friend to. This will help you get rid of those items you’re unsure of letting go. Make, and refer to a decluttering checklist. Again, when you find it difficult to let go, this list will remind you of why you’re doing this.

Deep Clean

After you have spent time decluttering you must deep clean your home from top to bottom. This is to ensure that there is no dust or debris leftover from the time you have spent there. If you have pets it is a great way of getting rid of pet fur and dander that has gathered in hard-to-clean or reach places.

Notorious places that gather excess dust seem to be the extractor fans and oven hoods. You should make sure these aren’t missed when you thoroughly clean your property.

Worried that you won’t do a good enough job? Or perhaps you simply don’t have the time. Why not call in the professionals? There are cleaning companies out there who are used to doing major house cleaning. They will ensure your home is sparkling and looks brand new. Especially important for when the photographer comes to take pictures of your home.

Make Repairs

Decluttered and cleaned your property? Next, you should make sure you mend any repairs that need doing. You may have been putting these off for some time, but they need to be done. This is one of the top tips to sell your home that many forget. You can claim on your home warranty if you have any general wear and tear problems within the home. You may notice your roof has been leaking, this is covered under your home warranty.

Repairs do need to be done, even if it seems easier to leave them to the next owner. When you sell your home, the buyers will send in a home inspector to report on the house. If they find any damage this will be in the report and some buyers could pull out of the sale. Buyers don’t generally want to carry out repairs on a property they move into.

If the leaky roof has caused damage to the walls then you will need to fix these. Give them a fresh coat of paint to repair the damage to make them look brand new. This is a sure-fire winner.

Consider the Exterior

One final thing to mention before you list your home on the market is to make sure your exterior matches the interior. The outside of your property is the first thing buyers will see when they drive up to view. It is important this looks appealing and welcoming. Make sure the grass has been mowed and any weeds are gone. You could add some flowers to bring a bit more color to the property.

Make sure windows and doors are not looking worn and tired. If they are you could paint them to bring them back to life. Another thing to mention is once you have revived the doors be sure to give the door handles a lick of shine.

One way to check what the house looks like from the outside is to take a view as if you were the buyer or get a family member to do it. They will give you an honest opinion on how your home looks and how you could improve it to make it seem more welcoming.

We hope these top tips to sell your home help you understand what you need to do before you get your house listed on the market. Fingers crossed you get a speedy sale at a great price. And if you’re moving on to somewhere new. Good luck with that too.

We are always here to help.  Give us a call.

Marie Dinsmore

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion and Commitment to Excellence!