SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE-SPEND A LITTLE…GET A LOT-SELLER TIPS PART 1

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE-SPEND A LITTLE…GET A LOT-SELLER TIPS PART 1


The” Spend a Little….Get a Lot” series will be very short articles with a few quick, inexpensive tips to help you get your home ready to sell, and to help you pocket more money .

 1.  Holiday displays, including Christmas cards, should be removed and stored by the first week in January.

    2.   Use degreaser and a razor blade to make basement windows crystal-clear.

     3.   Remember to put away valuables while showing your home. Expensive jewelry belongs in a safe  deposit box.

4.  Have long-stemmed artificial flowers to pack? Ask your local florist for a couple of boxes wholesalers use to deliver fresh flowers to florists.

5.  Even if your entire house doesn’t need to be painted, putting a fresh coat of paint in a new color on the door and trim may keep a couple thousand dollars on your sale price.

6. Don’t wait until the last minute to call professional painters because their schedules may be filled. Hire them as soon as you make the decision to sell.

HOW TO AVOID THE MOST EXPENSIVE MISTAKES THAT SMART PEOPLE MAKE WHEN THEY SELL A HOME…..

Basing their asking price on needs or emotion, rather than on market value.

Many times, people make their pricing decisions based on how much they paid for, or invested into their home. This can be an expensive mistake. Overpriced homes take longer to sell and eventually net the seller less money. Consult with a professional real estate agent. They can assist you in pricing your home correctly from the beginning.

SALEM OREGON HOMES 4 U - Tips for Selling Your Home-Part 2-The Bathroom

SALEM OREGON HOMES 4 U- TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME-THE BATHROOM PART 2
SALEM AREA HOME SELLER’S TIPS FOR GETTING YOU TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR HOME IN THIS SALEM, OREGON REAL ESTATE MARKET. THE BATHROOM PART 2.



Welcome to Part 2 of The Bathroom!! In Part 1 I talked about cleaning the vanity, cabinets and drawers, and also suggested some repairs that you may need to consider when selling your home. In Part 2 we are going to address some other tips to make your bathrooms sparkle and appeal to buyers.

Buyers will notice a filthy shower, and nothing turns a buyer off quicker. So, spend some time here.

Remove personal items – cleanser, shampoo and conditioner, shave cream, razor, body sponges – from the shower/tub area.

Discard items that are unnecessary and store the rest under the sink. Test the faucets and showerhead. Do the faucets turn off all the way? If not, change the washers. Is the water spraying freely from the showerhead? No? Then remove it and check to see if it’s clogged. If it still doesn’t work properly after cleaning, replace it.

Carefully examine tiles and the tub. Does the tub have chips and discoloration? It may need to be resurfaced or replaced.

How do the tiles look? Any loose pieces or chips? Are there cracks in the grout? Scrub the bathtub, tiles and grout until they are mold and mildew free. Regrout gaps between tiles. Scrape and replace discolored caulking.

When the shower and bathtub have been overhauled, top off your repairs with a new, crisp shower curtain or liner in a neutral color.

Take a good look at the ceiling and walls. Do you see any mold, mildew, fingerprints or grime? If so, scrub it with bleach. Cracking or curling paint should be scraped and repainted in a neutral color.

Here is a good rule of thumb: Place only three items on the vanity area. Many real estate experts suggest these include potpourri, a new or clean, filled soap dispenser, and a plant. It’s a good idea to keep the toilet tank top cleared as prospective buyers and inspectors may want to peek inside it.

After the big clean-up and repair job in the bathroom, it’s important to maintain the fresh smell and appearance each day the house is on the market. The space should be kept uncluttered, clean and sanitized. It should reflect well on the house of which it is a part and offer few glimpses of the personalities who currently live there.

At this point, a homeowner enters the sprucing-up stage. After cleaning every nook and cranny in the bathroom, it’s time to add the finishing touches. All dirty towels and wash cloths, bath mats and robes should be removed. A clean set of towels should be displayed before the house is shown. Trash baskets should be emptied and floors wiped daily. All personal grooming items – tooth brushes, make-up, combs and brushes, hair dryers, perfume, etc. – should be tucked away, preferably in a container and stored in a drawer or cabinet.

Now that you have your bathrooms sparkling, let's talk about something else that is important! CURB APPEAL!! That will be the subject of the next blog post in this series of Tips for Selling Your Home.

Wondering what your home may be worth in the current market? Request a complimentary market analysis from me. I will also include a copy of my "How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar, Fast".  You can also contact me directly at 503-931-1846 or email me at MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

Salem Oregon Real Estate-Today is the Grand Opening for Real Deals in Salem, Oregon.

There is a great new store in town!!  Today is the Grand Opening for Real Deals in Salem, Oregon. Real Deals will be open only two days a week-Thursdays and Saturdays! They are located at 1320 Liberty ST NE (corner of Liberty and Gaines). Hours of operation are 10-6 on Thursdays and 10-3 on Saturdays.

Whether you are a seller that could use some new home decor for staging your home, or a new home buyer looking for some home decor for your new home,  Real Deals has some great items for you!!!    As a seller in the  Salem Oregon Real Estate market, you know that a little staging can make all the difference in having your home stand out to our Salem area buyers.

If you are just getting started with the home buying or selling process, please visit my website for some great tips for buyers and sellers, and also free reports. 

Happy Shopping!!

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE NEWS-NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT AIMED AT HELPING HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE NEWS-NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT AIMED AT HELPING HOMEOWNERS FACING FORECLOSURE.

Oregon homeowners facing foreclosure have new rights thanks to a new Oregon law-Senate Bill 628.  This law now requires lenders to meet with borrowers, either in person or by phone, to determine whether or not they qualify for a loan modification.  A loan modification could lower house payments and allow homebuyers to remain in their home.

Oregon RealEstateRama has the complete article along with tips for homeowners to follow once they have received their Notice of Foreclosure.

If you know someone who is struggling to make their mortgage payment, please forward this article to them.

SALEM OREGON HOME SELLING-100 FALL DECORATING IDEAS

SALEM OREGON HOME SELLING-100 FALL DECORATING IDEAS FROM SOUTHERN LIVING.

As we say goodbye to Summer and head into fall, if you are currently trying to sell your Salem Oregon Home, you may be looking for some quick decorating ideas to "spruce up your home" for a Fall look.  The Salem Oregon Real Estate Market currently has many options for buyers looking to purchase a home in our area.  Make your home stand out by feeling warm and inviting, while sporting a new fall look.  Here is a two minute video highlighting some great decorating ideas for you!

Make your pumpkins stand out with these great pumpkin carving designs.  Need some more pumpkin carving ideas?   Be sure to check out the other videos on the sidebar of the 100 Fall Decorating Ideas to see all of the great party ideas such as spooky trees, ghost cakes and how to use all of those pumpkins for decorations.

Happy Fall Everyone!!

Salem Oregon Home Buyers-How to Cut Your Spending up to $500 a Month.

Salem Oregon Home Buyers-How to Cut Your Spending up to $500 a Month.  CNN Money shows us how! 

Whether you are saving for your first home, or a homeowner already, we can all use some tips to save money on our monthly expenses. If you are saving to buy a home in Salem, Oregon these tips can help you get your downpayment together in no time.  If you save $500 a month for one year, you will have saved $6000 which is enough for a downpayment on a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in our area.  These tips cover savings on everything from grocery shopping to insurance savings and more.


If you would like more information on the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market or buying or selling a home in the Salem Oregon area, please let me know.

SALEM BUYERS-TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT-FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND GET THE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

SALEM AREA HOME BUYERS-TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT-FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND GET THE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

There are only a couple of months left to qualify for the $8000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit that is currently available to buyers who qualify. The last day to buy a home and qualifty for this credit is November 30, 2009. This means your home purchase must close and fund by that date. In order to meet that deadline, it is best to have your home picked out by September 30th to insure that you allow plenty of time for all of the paperwork to be completed for your home purchase.

The Salem, Oregon Real Estate Market has many homes to choose from currently. If you need further assistance or have additional questions about buying your first home, please feel free to contact me.

Happy House Hunting!!

OPEN HOUSE-PRICE REDUCED!! SINGLE LEVEL IN SOUTH SALEM

Please visit my Activerain Blog for all of the details and to see my latest listings. Also, be sure to join my fan page on Facebook where you can keep up to date on local real estate news, and search for your new home!!

SALEM OREGON OPEN HOUSE-FIRST TIME OPEN-NEW CONSTRUCTION IN SOUTH SALEM

SOUTH SALEM OREGON OPEN HOUSE-FIRST TIME OPEN!! New construction-Just completed!! Open house from 12-2 pm 7/19. 3 bedroom, 2 bath + office.

Downpayment Assistance for First Time Homebuyers available July 1st.

Great news for the Salem/Keizer Oregon real estate market. The City of Salem will once again re-open their program for downpayment assistance for first time homebuyers that are buying in the Salem/Keizer area. New funds will become available the first of July. This is a great program for buyers who can afford to make a monthly mortgage payment, but do not have the available funds for the 3.5% downpayment that FHA now requires. There are certain requirements that buyers must meet to obtain the downpayment assistance.

The first step to starting this process is to find a mortgage broker/lender that has your best interests at heart. You will need a trusted advisor skilled in working with the City of Salem program. I work with several trusted professionals that would be happy to assist you in your quest to buy a home using this downpayment assistance. I would be happy to refer you to my trusted partners. You can call me direct at 503-931-1846, or email me at MelWagnerBroker@msn.com for the names and numbers of these professionals.