When you move into a new house it takes time to get settled. Finding the right spot for family photos and knick-knacks, proudly displaying your kid’s hand-print on the fridge, filling bookcases and countertops, are some of the things that help to make a house a home. But when it’s time to sell that home, success starts with turning it back into a house.
Packrat or not, people collect an amazing amount of stuff! These quick tips will help you to clean up your home and make it more appealing to buyers.
- If you don’t need it, get rid of it! A good rule of thumb to follow is if you haven’t used it in over a year it’s time to let it go. Go through every room in the house, including drawers and closets, and purge all toss-able items.
- Pack away knick-knacks, like that Chia Pet you started growing back in college. While the Chia Pet is awesome, you don’t want buyers wondering “Who has a Chia Pet? What kind of person lives here!?” Instead you want them thinking, “My Chia Pet would be perfect here!”
- Take down family photos and heirlooms. De-personalizing your house allows a buyer to see themselves living there, rather than you.
- Clear kitchen counters, including appliances like stand-mixers and coffee makers. Your kitchen will look cleaner and bigger.
- Put daily essential items into containers that can easily be stored away when it’s time to show the house. No one wants to see a crusty toothbrush and rusty razor.
- Move non-essentials into storage, like ottomans, extra blankets, board games, and coats hanging by the door. Too much furniture and unnecessary stuff in a room makes it appear smaller and feel crowded.
Remember, all this de-cluttering will give you a good head start on your eventual packing!
January 26 2012 · Filed in: Inside Knowledge
We take design very seriously here at AgentAce, so it feels fantastic to be rewarded with a nomination for an Awwward, probably the most respected award for web site design in all the land. If you have a moment, please head on over to Awwwards.com and vote for us… in return we promise to keep our design fresh and clean (and, of course, keep offering a free and awesome real estate service).
January 26 2012 · Filed in: Press
Investors and second-home buyers dominated the Southern California housing market in December, snatching up low-cost homes. This pushed the market’s median* home price down by 6.9% to $270,000, the lowest for the year.
Overall sales, totaling 19,247, were down 1.4% from December of 2010. Sales in San Bernardino fell most in the region, down 7.2%. While median* home prices fell most in Ventura to $325,000.
The winners? In both San Diego and Los Angeles Counties sales were up from December of last year.
What does this mean for you?
Sellers: If you’re selling a lower-cost home, now is a great time!
Buyers: If you’re looking to buy a home above the *median $270,000, the market is in your favor.
*Median home price means half of homes sold were above this mark, half were below.
For more, visit the LA Times
January 25 2012 · Filed in: Nerdiness | The Market
Woah, that was fast.
Pete & Paula of the Pacific Palisades just sold their 4 bedroom house in 8 days. It’s a new Agent Ace record!
It almost takes longer to read this post than to sell that house… so we’ll leave it there. Thanks guys!
October 24 2011 · Filed in: Testimonials
“I feel guilty for all the times I recommended my real estate friend.”
It’s clear to Stephanie, and many others, that referral is just not the way to go. Agent Ace finds the best agent in your area, so you’re guaranteed to have a top performer… not just a friend of a friend. Thanks Stephanie and congrats on selling your house in 6 weeks!
September 29 2011 · Filed in: Testimonials
She waited for 8 months. Then she tried Agent Ace.
Angie’s house was on the market for 8 months before she gave up on her “amazing” agent, who was referred to her by her hair dresser. Then she found Agent Ace. We put her in touch with a top performing agent in her area, who sold her house in 4 weeks. It’s as simple as that.
Thanks for using Agent Ace, Angie. It’s been our pleasure.
Check out Angie’s house.
September 29 2011 · Filed in: Testimonials
“My wife’s sister is an agent. Of course we had to go with her. Our house sat on the market for 8 months. I finally convinced my wife to try Agent Ace. It sold in 3 weeks.”
If we had a nickel…
Thanks, Austin, for the glowing review. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
September 29 2011 · Filed in: Testimonials
