Three Easy Ways to Increase Your Home Value

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A question I've been getting lately is what can I do to add more value to my home before I put it up for sale?

So, today we're going to talk about 3 very specific things you can do to add more value to your home when you go to sell it.

1. Declutter and depersonalize your home. So what does that mean? Well, you're going to be moving so whatever you're not going to need for the next - let's say 90 days or so - you can put that stuff in storage or your garage. This allows your home to feel open and inviting vs cramped and cluttered. If you have lots of pictures on your walls and hallways, take them down. You don't want the buyer focusing on anything else but your home. Think about it like this, the way we live in a home and the way we sell a home are completely different. 
2. Improve your lighting. Everyone loves light and buyers are willing to pay for it. So take down those drapes, wash your windows, and let that natural sunshine pour into your home. Trim back bushes by your windows, replace your lampshades and install high wattage bulbs everywhere. Both manufactured lighting and natural lighting are a fantastic selling point in any home. Brighter homes always sell better.
3. Don't overlook your front yard and entryway. I've been showing properties for over a decade and I'm convinced that the buyer decides if they're going to buy your house within the first 10 seconds of seeing it. I suggest that you set your stopwatch and take note of what you see in the first 10 seconds of walking up to the house. Chances are you'll need to do some yard-work, power wash your entryway, get rid of the cob webs above your doorway, plant a few inviting flowers, and paint your front door and trim. While you're at it, check to make sure your doorbell works. 

A bonus item is re-painting your home, and my advice is just to do it. If your home has not been painted in quite a few years, adding a coat of paint will help immensely. Just remember to keep the paint light and bright, and go for neutral colors like earth tones.

Everyone has different circumstances for their property and we can always talk through what your property might require to fetch top dollar on the market. Just reach out to me...call or email me for your free real estate consultation.

Why Is Our Market so Active Right Now?

There are many great Orange & LA County area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today I want to bring your attention to something that you should be aware of as a home seller. Recently, I did a video about the best kept secret in real estate, which had to do with putting your home on the market in the winter rather than in the spring or summer when the natural swell of the market occurs.

So far in January, we have sold 4 properties, have 3 new escrows, and are currently negotiating 3 contracts. I am seeing one common theme in the market, for both buyers and sellers: there is no good inventory out there.

Right now, any time a decent home hits the market it sells immediately. Why is this happening? Well, for starters, interest rates are phenomenally low right now, below 4%. Money is cheap right now, and buyers understand that.

In addition, a lot of people are not ready to put their home on the market yet. If you are in this situation, today is a great day to take advantage of our market. In every home we have sold this month, we have gotten multiple offers. Buyers are being aggressive and just waiting for a home like yours.

If you are thinking about buying or selling, I recommend that you contact a real estate professional like myself to talk over your options before you make a decision. Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to hearing from you.