Category Archives: RE/MAX

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

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

Fetching Top Dollar for Your Home

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

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

Feeling Grateful

Despite such a challenging year of 2020, with the Pandemic, low inventory of homes, etc. we are very honored to have been among those achieving the Circle of Excellence Award from the 400 North Board of Realtors.

While it’s an honor and I’m very grateful to receive these accolades, honors, and awards, it’s not necessarily my goal that I set out to achieve each year. My goals are to give my clients the best possible service possible, whether it is to help them list, stage, and get the best price for their home or to find them their perfect new home.  My passion is helping people.  As a result, by providing this high level of service, I have many repeat clients as well as referrals of friends and family over my 19-year real estate career.  For this, I am truly grateful for their trust and confidence.

One of the other ways I service my clients is my knowledge of the market.  I ensure I am well versed in all matters of real estate.  As a realtor, we are tasked each year to accomplish so many education units.  I typically go beyond what is required.  I have been 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

The Dinsmore Team

Experience, Passion, and Commitment to Excellence

Why selling your home during holidays can be a good thing

Most people think that spring is the best time to sell their home because everyone wants to buy as soon as school is out and get settled before the new year school year starts.  With COVID this year, you can throw out almost all the ‘normal’ statistics from the past.  As with this year, even though inventories were and are still low, it has been a record-breaking year for real estate.  This year has proven, there is no ‘ideal time’ to buy or sell.

Because inventory is low, it is definitely a seller’s market.  Typically, before a home is ever listed, we can put out a notice of ‘Coming Soon,’ and have multiple appointments for showings before it ever shows up on FMLS.  For one such home recently, I had 9 appointment showings prior to it being formally ‘listed’ and a cash offer.

So, what does this have to do with selling your home during the holidays?  Here are some reasons:

  • You have very motivated very serious buyers that possibly have had to rent temporarily until they could find what they wanted
  • Because inventory is low, you can usually get near or sometimes above the asking price, as many homes are receiving multiple offers now
  • Because homeowners decorate and make their home feel warm and inviting sometimes invokes the buyer’s emotions as to which home they choose.
  • And plus, it makes an Awesome gift to the family – so get them what they really want

There are many reasons some do not want to list during the holidays.  They are worried about showings and people being in and out of their homes.  Right now, it has turned into a very quick process with multiple showings as soon as it’s listed.  Most all listings right now are going very quickly.  Buyers around the holidays are very serious.  They are not just ‘window shopping.’  They are ready to pull the trigger when they find what they want.

Another reason some people sell and buy the last couple of months of the year, is due to job offers and transfers.  They can’t wait until Spring.  Most companies want their employees in place the first of January.  They figure that the extra holidays give time to pack and move.

Lots to think about with the new year fast approaching.  Housing costs will probably rise as well as the interest rates.

If you want to explore the possibilities, give me a call, and let’s talk.

Marie B Dinsmore
Certified Negotiation Expert
RE/MAX Around Atlanta
Marie@DinsmoreTeam.com
www.DinsmoreTeam.com
770-712-7789