How Can You Be Sure Your Next Home Is Pet-Friendly?

If you’re a pet owner looking for your next home, there are a few additional things you must keep in mind during your search.

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If you’re a pet owner, you’ll need to keep your furry friends in mind when making the transition into a new home.
I’ve got a few tips today that can help you make your move as pet-friendly as possible.
1. Be aware of local pet laws and regulations. If you are moving into a homeowners association (or HOA), you should be able to find this information available through the community guidelines. Even homes outside of an HOA may have restrictions, though. Make sure you do your homework before you make your move.

2. Does the home have a fenced-in yard? This is a major factor to consider when buying a home as a pet owner. If the yard isn’t fenced-in and you need it to be, you’ll need to make sure this is allowed within your neighborhood. 

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Your neighborhood should be as good a fit for your pets as it is for you.

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3. Is the area safe for pets? Your neighborhood should be as good a fit for your pets as it is for you. One thing I always advise my clients to do is to take tours of their soon-to-be area. Check out the neighborhood you’re interested in at multiple times of day and at various times of the week. This will give you a feel for whether or not the community would be a good fit for you and your pets.

4. Is the house pet-friendly? When looking at homes, make sure you keep your pet’s needs in mind. Adequate space is one major aspect to consider during your home search.

5. Can your pet handle the stairs? If you have an older pet, or one who is too small to handle the steps, stairs could definitely be an issue.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

8 Tips to Prepare Your Home for the Winter Market

What do you need to do to prepare your home for the winter real estate market? I have eight tips for you today.

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It is important to pay attention to the seasons when you prepare to sell your home. If you plan on selling this winter, here are a few things you can do to prepare your home accordingly: 1. Take photos as soon as possible. Hopefully, you can get listing photos done while there is some foliage on the trees and the bushes are still blooming. Depending on the area, the earlier you take photos, the better. 2. Take it easy on the holiday decor. Some people have a lot of fun and go crazy with holiday decorations. You may love your holiday decor, but keep in mind that less is best for home showings and listing photos. 3. Always keep your curb appeal in mind. Take a step back and make sure your curb appeal is still nice and neat during the winter months.

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Buyers love walking into a bright home, so make sure all your lights are on for showings.

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4. Safety matters. Make sure that your home is safe and easy to walk around. Shovel and salt the driveway and sidewalks, and put a mat down in the entryway or foyer. You don’t want anyone to hurt themselves or break anything when they come in for a showing. 5. Remove clutter. This is always true, but it’s especially important in winter when people tend to have more stuff. Get rid of as much as possible. 6. Make sure that everything is functional. Make sure the HVAC works and that all the lights turn on. 7. Light it up. Speaking of lights, buyers love to walk into a bright home. Whether you or your agent turns on the lights, or you use a remote control light system, turning all the lights on before a showing is key. 8. Consult with your real estate agent about pricing. The winter market is a little different, so be sure to get an updated comparable market analysis to make sure your home is priced to sell this winter. If you have any other questions about selling your home this winter, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

We’d Like to Help You Sell Your Own Home

If you’re trying to sell your home on your own, we’d like to help you through the entire process.

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We speak to many people who consider selling their home as FSBO (or For Sale By Owner), so if you’re a home seller and you’re thinking of doing the same thing, we have an offer for you. First, there are a couple statistics regarding FSBOs that you need to be aware of, as reported by Inman.com and the National Association of Realtors: • 90% of all homes sold are sold with a Realtor. Of the 10% that are sold as FSBO, the majority are short-arm transactions, meaning the seller knew the buyer beforehand. • Sellers typically earn 18% more when they work with a Realtor.

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We’re here to help all the FSBOs out there.

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However, there are some FSBOs out there who are having success, which is why I’d like to reach out to you if you’re an FSBO home seller and say that we’re willing to help you—for free. We’re here to help you while you go through the entire process of selling your home on your own. Think of us as a lifeline—we’re an expert in the business that you can call anytime for help. What typically happens in this case is we help get your home sold. As a result of that, hopefully you’ll refer us to one of your friends or family members who need a Realtor to help them sell their home. It’s a win-win situation—you win because you get your home sold, and we win because we get to help you and potentially get a great referral along the way. If you have any questions about this offer or you’re curious about what’s happening in our market, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to help you.