Use New Curtains

One of the easiest ways to update your home is to hang new curtains. They provide an elegant look to your space and can create a serene ambiance. Choose a fabric and color that complements your room’s existing decor, and be sure to consider how much light and privacy you need from your curtains.

Create a Gallery Wall

A well-curated gallery wall can be a stunning addition to any room. Displaying your favorite artwork or photographs on one wall can add character and personality to your space. Mix and match frames to create a unique look, and don’t be afraid to play with different sizes and styles.

Declutter Your Pantry

A cluttered pantry can make meal prep feel overwhelming. Take some time to declutter and organize it. Consider adding shelves or baskets to provide more storage solutions, and label everything clearly to make it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Get Attractive New Bedding

Investing in new bedding is one of the easiest ways to transform your bedroom into a cozy and inviting space. Choosing breathable cotton bedding can provide comfort and relaxation, ensuring a good night’s sleep. Consider opting for a duvet and matching throw pillows to create a cohesive look and feel. With personalized options available, you can choose from a wide range of colors and patterns to match your existing decor and add a touch of personality to your space. Upgrading your bedding to breathable cotton, duvet, and throw pillows is a treat that you deserve.

Pick a Statement Piece

Adding a statement piece to your space is an effective way to create a focal point and enhance the overall ambiance of your room. Whether it’s a bold artwork, a unique furniture piece, or an unusual lamp, a statement piece can add character and charm to a space. By strategically placing a statement piece, you can transform an ordinary room into a stunning and inviting space that reflects your style.

Paint Your Front Door

Your home’s exterior is just as important as the interior, and a simple update like painting your front door can make a big impact. Choosing a bold color can add personality and charm while creating a warm and welcoming entrance to your home. With the wide range of colors available, you can find the perfect shade to complement your home’s style and personality.

Make Room For an Outdoor Living Space

Creating an outdoor living space is a perfect way to enjoy the warmer weather and make the most of your backyard. By adding comfortable furniture, a stylish dining set, or a cozy fire pit, you can create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere for yourself and your guests. Whether you’re looking to entertain or simply relax with a book, an outdoor living space is a valuable addition to any home.

Update Your Home Office

An updated home office can help to increase productivity and creativity, especially with more people spending time working from home. Adding ergonomic furniture, natural light, and updated decor can make the space more comfortable and enjoyable. By making these changes, you can cultivate a functional and inspiring workspace that promotes your overall well-being.

Reviving and refreshing your home can be an enjoyable and fulfilling process. Use these tips to boost your home’s energy and give it a new look and feel. Whether you decide to hang new curtains, create a gallery wall, organize your pantry, or update your home office, remember that the most important thing is to make your home feel welcoming and inviting to yourself and others.

Are you planning to sell your home after you update it? Let The Collins Team help you quickly find a buyer. Get in touch by calling (928) 275-1152.

Photo via Pexels

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Did you know that the hardworking agents who make up The COLLINS TEAM, sold ELEVEN homes in January 2022 alone! If you’re looking to get the best price and sell your home quickly, you’ve come to the right place. Contact us today at (928) 275-1152 and get started by getting your Lake Havasu, Flagstaff or Sedona home value using the links below!

Get your home value:
Lake Havasu City: MyHavasuHomeValue.com
Flagstaff & Sedona: https://www.searchflagstaffhouses.com/homevalue/flagstaff

The post Top Selling Real Estate Agents in Flagstaff & Lake Havasu City – 11 Homes Sold in January 2022! appeared first on The COLLINS TEAM.

If you are putting your house on the market to sell, there is a lot of work involved to get it ready.  Deep cleaning, decluttering, repairs, and staging all take time and effort to get the job done right.  You may feel overwhelmed at the idea of finding the time and energy to devote to your home, especially if your day is already filled with a busy schedule of work and parenting.  Thankfully, if you’re willing to pay for the services, most everything that needs to be done can be outsourced.  Let’s go over the different options you have to hire a professional versus tackling it by yourself.

Declutter and Deep Clean

One of the first things to do when preparing your home for the market is to declutter and deep clean every nook and cranny. Decluttering is one of the few steps in this process that you probably really need to do yourself.  No one is going to be able to sort through your belongings to determine what needs to stay and can be tossed.  This won’t take you too long, especially if you include the whole family in the process.  After getting rid of your extra clutter, the next step is to deep clean your entire house.  This is not your normal daily dusting and wiping. Every area from light fixtures to inside cabinets to baseboards needs to be thoroughly cleaned.  You may want to hire a professional cleaning company for this part.  Most agencies are reasonably priced and can get your home spick-and-span in a matter of hours, saving you time and exhaustion.

After the big job of deep cleaning is complete, you should also implement a strategy to keep your house looking clean. Designate a few chores for each family member to tackle every day, and have a plan for those last-minute showings, like taking out the trash, wiping down the kitchen and closing toilet bowl lids and closet doors.

Repairs and Touch Ups

Once your house is clean and organized, you need to look at your home carefully from an outsider’s perspective.  According to Pacific Standard, it’s common to not notice things right in front of you when you are used to seeing them every day.  You will be surprised to notice dings in the wall or paint chips on the baseboard when you’re actually looking for them.  It’s important to repair any damage and to touch up the paint anywhere that needs it.  If you are handy, this could be an easy and quick task to check off your list.  If you don’t even own a screwdriver, much less have paint and spackle laying around, then this may be another area you outsource.  Ask friends for personal references or search reviews online to help find a reputable handyman, and be sure to get different quotes to avoid being ripped off.

Staging for Success

One of the most important details in getting your home ready is to properly stage it.  According to Forbes, homes will sell faster and for more money when they are well staged.  Staging your home involves setting up your furniture and décor to show off your home’s best features and to neutrally appeal to everyone who walks through your home.  Unless you are an interior decorator by trade, this is a great moment to bring in a professional and it could be worth the expense. Regardless of the direction a professional thinks your décor needs to go, they will certainly ask you to remove all of your personal items and photos.  You want potential buyers to walk into your home and imagine themselves already living there.

Whether you’ve chosen to hire people to help you or you’ve ended up tackling it all yourself, your home is now clean, tidy, and showroom ready.  Hopefully with all the hard work you have put in, your house won’t be on the market for long!

Photo Credit: pexels.com

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Realtors often advise their clients to avoid making major home renovations and instead concentrate their efforts on small, affordable, cosmetic upgrades that make a positive initial impression on buyers. It’s considered a better use of one’s money because a costly structural improvement may not earn the anticipated return on investment (ROI).

According to a recent survey conducted by a national brokerage consulting company, there’s another way to make impactful improvements without risking coming up short when your home sells. Forty percent of realtors polled said they find that houses featuring smart technology sell at a faster pace and are particularly effective at helping sellers earn their asking price. Consider these smart-home features if you’re looking for improvements that entice buyers.

Smart hub

A smart hub is the nerve center of the home, controlling lights, locks, appliances, thermostats and more. It’s just the kind of improvement designed to attract young homebuyers. And at 36 percent, millennials comprise the largest group of homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors. As a generation accustomed to living with technology, millennials find such technological conveniences and efficiency to be quite appealing and preferable to homes that lack such technology. And if you’re on the fence about adding smart tech to your home, consider this: According to HomeAdvisor, smart homes tend to sell for 5 percent more than homes that don’t incorporate any technology.

Electrician

If you choose to incorporate automation technology, seek an electrician who has experience working with smart home automation features. Some lesser aspects of installation can be done DIY (i.e. LED light bulbs), but when it comes to networking an entire system, it’s best to leave it to the professionals, who can handle it efficiently and affordably.

Smart appliances

Smart appliances increase average ROI by more than 10 percent over homes with standard appliances and yield major energy savings. A smart refrigerator, for example, maintains precise temperatures in both the refrigerator and freezer components, while touchscreen controls operate water and ice dispensers (many are also compatible with Amazon Alexa).

Shades

One of the great advantages of integrating smart technology into your home is that it can be done affordably, and one component at a time. Homeowners can save considerably on energy costs with smart shades, which may be operated with Android and Apple devices. And at under $200, it’s an intelligent and cost-efficient addition to any home.

Lighting

Automated lighting is an increasingly popular feature among homeowners these days because they have a high rate of ROI. Buyers like smart lighting because it can save as much as 75 percent over standard lighting (thanks to smart LED bulbs), and because of the ease and convenience with which they can control lighting throughout the home. The energy savings and reduced utility costs are major selling points for prospective buyers.

Smart security

With smart locks, which can be controlled with Bluetooth or WiFi technology, there’s no need to worry about forgetting or losing your house key. It’s also a timesaving technology because locks can be programmed to unlock on arrival and can be programmed to admit specific individuals who need access, such as family members or maintenance workers, meaning no one needs to be home to let them in.

Smart home technology offers a happy medium between impactful home upgrades and simple improvements. Smart home features can significantly increase ROI and appeal to younger buyers who have come to expect the convenience and “cool factor” of technology in many aspects of daily life.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

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This is a common question of homeowners who want to sell. Truth is there’s not a one size fits all answer. It all depends on the circumstances. To arrive at the best answer for any situation I would recommend that a seller have an honest conversation with their listing agent about it. That conversation will uncover the details about what’s right for their specific situation.

Many things come into play when selling a home. Arriving at satisfying end result always comes down to the two most basic fundamentals in real estate: the price and condition of the property.

Every market has a price range concerning like for like properties. If a home is free of any defects, appears well maintained, and all finishing’s are current with modern trends, it can be expected to bring a price near or at the top end of the price range for the particular market it’s in.

If it does have defects, the final purchase price will be lower than the top of that range. Just how much lower will be determined by the specifics of the defects it has. If a seller desires the absolute best price for a property, then it’s recommended that all major repairs be completed before listing the property for sale.

One must consider, however, that not all repairs or improvements made to a property will provide a return. Some items such as new flooring or a new roof are viewed as maintenance items and simply bring the home to the expected standard. I can’t stress enough that when considering what should be repaired and what may be acceptable the way it is, a seller should have an honest conversation with their listing agent about it before taking any action.

There are a few other scenarios that can make a situation unique when considering what to repair or improve prior to selling a home. The first is that major repairs can be expensive. Not every seller is in a financial position to make major repairs if needed.

If the seller doesn’t have the money to make the repairs, then any defects need to be made known to potential buyers on the seller’s disclosure. Recall that everything comes down to price and condition when selling real estate. If major defects or needed repairs exist, the property should be priced accordingly.

The other scenario is that a seller may not have the time to make the needed repairs. Several reasons could cause this, such as a relocation due to a job transfer or medical condition. In such scenarios, a seller needs to have reasonable expectations about the final outcome of a sale if major repairs are required.

The bottom line in answering the “Should I make repairs before selling” question comes down to that critical point of having an honest conversation with the listing agent before doing anything. I’ve seen far too many people take action without having such a conversation and regret it later when they realized they weren’t able to financially recover the amount they invested.

This blog post was facilitated through the fastest growing network for real estate marketing, BuildMyAgent.

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