Top 6 Appliances to Upgrade Before Selling your Home
50% of homeowners surveyed said they would upgrade their current appliances before selling to increase their home’s value. Homeowners believe that replacing their appliances would increase the value of their homes by nearly $14k.
Top 6 appliances to upgrade before selling:
Air conditioner
Dishwasher
Water heater
Oven
Washing machine
Refrigerator
Source: Realtor® Magazine, Cinch Home Services
Have a Great Day!
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125 or Go to Larry’s RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
These top 10 home trends will not only add comfort but might even add extra value to your home.
Zoom Room: A Zillow survey found a desire for a home with a dedicated office tops the list of reasons why Americans working from home say they would consider a move if they were to continue working remotely at least occasionally.
“HOMECATION” AMENITIES: Pool was the top Zillow keyword search term in 2020. Waterfront and dock also landed in the top 10. Additionally, homeowners want to create a luxury experience at home, upgrading to a spa-like bathtub or a relaxing rain shower.
INTER-GENERATIONAL LIVING: According to Generations United, about one in six Americans currently have multi-generational households. In 2020, the share of young people moving back home reached all-time highs as millennials and Gen Z-particularly renters-moved in with their parents.
GOURMET KITCHENS: With stay-at-home orders, many brushed up on their culinary skills, which has spawned a desire for gourmet kitchens.
BACKYARD OASIS: A Zillow survey from a Harris Poll found that 41% of people say they value a large outdoor space as a result of social distancing recommendations.
SMART AND SAFE TECH: With a desire to lessen the number of germs in the home, buyers are increasingly looking for items like touchless appliances and faucets, self-cleaning toilets and more.
SMALL CITY LIVING: With more opportunities for working remotely, buyers are looking into smaller, more affordable communities and open spaces.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS AREAS: If you don’t feel safe going to a gym, having an area in your home dedicated to your health and wellness is ideal.
PET-FRIENDLY LIVING: Pet adoptions increased in 2020, so homebuyers and renters are looking for more pet-friendly features, such as a pet shower or dog wash area.
NEW CONSTRUCTION: More than a quarter of buyers who bought a new-construction home did so to customize home features, while 37% chose new construction because everything in the home was new and never used, according to a 2020 Zillow survey.
If you have any questions about the Sarasota Real Estate Market Call or Text me @ 941-993-3125 Go to My RE/MAX Site and search all you like LarrySellsSarasota.com
Outdated kitchen. Overrun backyard. Unusable basement space. If you have a home renovation project on the mind, the first thing you have to consider is how you are going to finance it. Here are the most common options to make your dreams become a reality.
Cash – Paying in cash is the most straightforward financing option, just save until you have enough money to cover the expenses. This will help eliminate spending outside your budget; however, it can also extend your timeline.
Mortgage Refinance – If you’ve been making payments on your home for a few years and your interest rate is higher than current market rates, you may be eligible for a mortgage refinance, reducing your payments and freeing up some money.
Cash-Out Refinance – You can tap into your home equity and borrow up to 80 percent of your home’s value to pay off your current mortgage plus take out more cash to cover the renovations. This option is encouraged only when you’re making improvements that will increase the value of your home, as it can add a lot of interest and fees.
Home Equity – Getting a home equity line of credit allows you to borrow money against the value of your home. You receive usually up to 80 percent of your home’s value, minus the amount of your loan.
Retirement Funds – Homeowners can consider pulling money from a 401K or IRA account, even though they aren’t specifically meant to cover a home renovation. This option might incur additional penalties or tax payments, but may be worth it when making improvements that will benefit them financially in the long run.
Have a Great Day! Larry and Ann
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area call or text Larry @ 941-993-3125 Larry’s RE/MAX Site: (link opens in new window) LarrySellsSarasota.com
Create the Office of Your Dreams Now that many of us are working from home it is important to have a dedicated workspace designed to increase productivity and comfort.
Here are 5 ideas to create the office of your dreams.
Invest in a good office chair – Investing in an ergonomic office chair is essential. You may be spending anywhere from 30 to 50 hours a week sitting in it, so your back will thank you. Purchasing one with multiple adjustments is ideal so it fits you just right.
Switch up your lighting – Fluorescent lighting has been proven to be hard on the eyes. Make the switch to LED or halogen light bulbs in your home office and try to let in as much natural light as possible. Also, consider finding a desk lamp to reduce headaches and eye strain.
Keep essentials in reach and organized – Nothing says productivity like a clean, neat workspace. Select a desk with a lot of storage or install creative shelving to keep items like pens, pencils, extra batteries, calculators, notepads, and more stored within arm’s reach.
Decorate bright – Pick a color you love and use it to spice up the room. Use cheery yellow or red or relaxing tones like green and blue, instead of beiges and browns.
Aim for the view – If possible, place your desk so you are facing a window instead of a blank wall. Natural light can do wonders for staying alert and you can give yourself a short mental break when necessary by looking to the outdoors.
Stay Safe Larry and Ann
As always, for all your Real Estate needs in the Sarasota Area, Call or Text Larry @ 941-993-3125 Larry’s RE/MAX Site: (opens in new window) LarrySellsSarasota.com
Restoring or Replacing your deck will add to your home value
Hanging out with your family or hosting friends on your old, dingy deck is not very appealing. Lucky for you, refreshing it doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Try your hand at the makeover ideas below!
Restore your decking: Depending on the shape it’s in, sometimes all your deck needs is a little love. If it’s still fairly new, your deck might just need a deep cleaning and a new coat of sealant. There is a multitude of deck finishing and cleaning solutions on the market to choose from to achieve this. However, if it’s more worn down, the rejuvenation process may be a bit longer, including searching for larger repairs, tightening any hardware, giving it a good cleaning, applying a stain, sealant, and paint, and more.
Add lighting: Ambient lighting can completely transform your outside space into a relaxing, cozy oasis. Consider adding solar lights that don’t require a plugin or battery replacement. The lights turn on automatically when the sun sets, making your deck come alive. You can also consider paper lanterns, rope lights, mason jar lamps, or small twinkle lights, depending on the style and mood you’d like to set.
Build a privacy screen: Privacy screens come in all styles, shapes, and sizes. Consider purchasing and installing bamboo fencing or lattice panels for a quick and easy solution. Or, if you are feeling a little more adventurous, you can build a wooden frame and grow climbing plants or vines or stretch outdoor fabric in between. Whichever route you end up choosing, make sure you get the most out of your efforts by evaluating all lines sight before building.
Have a Great Day! Larry and Ann
As always, for all your Real Estate needs, call or text Larry @ 941-993-3125 Larry’s RE/MAX Site: (link opens in new window) LarrySellsSarasota.com
When you own your home, things are going to break and, unless you want to spend your money on visits from a neighborhood handyman, you’re going to need to fix them yourself. Luckily, you don’t need an arsenal of tools to handle most home maintenance fixes. These five tools will cover most of your basic projects.
Cordless drill. A cordless drill is a must-have for installing cabinets, drawer pulls, hinges, picture frames, shelves and hooks, and more. Whether it’s for do-it-yourself projects or repairs, you’ll use your cordless drill just about every month.
Drain cleaners. Shower and bathroom sink drains are susceptible to clogs because of the daily buildup of hair and whisker clippings. You can use chemical clog removers like Drano, but they’re expensive and the lingering chemical scent is unpleasant. Instead, buy some plastic drain cleaners that can reach into the drain to pull out the clog of hair and gunk. You can purchase them on Amazon or at a local hardware store for a low price.
Shop-vac. No matter how careful you are, spills and accidents will happen and there are some tasks that just can’t be handled with paper towels or a standard vacuum, like pet messes or broken glass.
Loppers. Even the minimum amount of care for your landscaping will require some loppers to remove damaged branches, vines, thick weeds, and any other unruly plants in your yard.
Flashlight. You’re going to want something a little more powerful than your iPhone flashlight when you’re in the crawlspace!
Have a Great Day! Larry and Ann
As always, for all your Real Estate needs, call or text Larry @ 941-993-3125 Larry’s RE/MAX Site: (link opens in new window) LarrySellsSarasota.com
When you’re getting ready to list your home, it’s of the upmost importance to ensure you are showing it in the best light. Taking time to highlight its strengths and fix up some of its possible weaknesses can make a big difference in how fast it sells. Here are our top four recommended repairs to make before selling your home.
Repaint walls: Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce it up, and generally, it can be a do-it-yourself project. Make sure cover any walls with scratches and chips and consider updating any accent walls with a more neutral coat.
Repair floors: Hardwood floors are a very desirable feature in a home, so you want to ensure they look their best by fixing scratches or dull areas. If your carpet is worn or stained, consider replacing them. And don’t forget the tile in your kitchen or bathrooms. Re-grouting can go a long way in making dingy tile work look brand new!
Refresh the landscaping: Show buyers your home is the full package by dressing up the outside as well as the in. Clean walkways and driveways, plant seasonal flowers and plants, trim hedges and trees, install outdoor décor pieces and fill in mulch and gravel.
Have a Great Day Larry and Ann
As always, for all your Real Estate needs, call or text 941-993-3125. Larry’s RE/MAX Site: (link opens in a new window) LarrySellsSarasota.com
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