How To Live In Your House While You’re Selling It

Selling your home can take time, and, especially in the robust real estate market of Bucks County neighborhoods like Jamison and Doylestown, can mean that a lot of extra activity is happening in the home. Between staging, open houses, and walk throughs, it can be challenging to keep a sense of normalcy. Here are some of our favorite tips to help you live well in your home even while you are selling it:

• View staging as a chance to clean house for you:
  In previous articles, we’ve talked about the benefits of staging, especially the fact that homes that are staged generally spend less time on market. The number one step to any staging you do is to declutter—give away, sell, or trash what is no longer useful or in good condition. This will certainly make your home more appealing to buyers, but as you’re working on it, consider how it will make your home more appealing to you. Getting rid of what no longer serves you and creating a more light, less hectic space is as good for you as it is for them, so enjoy it!
• Set your mind at ease:
  It can be unsettling to have strangers walk through your home if you are not prepared for the experience. People sometimes worry about their valuables or personal items like medications being visible to visiting agents and buyers. You can manage your uneasiness about this by planning ahead and creating a safe space for valuable or personal items you don’t wish others to have access to. Buyers usually like to open up closets to see the space inside, but perhaps you can keep your valuables in a small safe or a locked drawer.
• Do a little bit at a time:
  When a prospective buyer visits your home or it’s time for an open house, you take care to ensure every room is clean. This will seem less disruptive and overwhelming if you create a regular cleaning schedule so that when someone wants to drop in, you are not faced with a lot to do in a possibly very short amount of time. Again, keeping your home in this bright and welcoming condition does not just benefit prospective buyers, but benefits you and your family.
• Make it easy on yourself:
  Did you know you could request that you be notified an hour or even two in advance of a walk through? Talk with your real estate agent about how to establish boundaries that still make it easy for prospective buyers to see your home without putting you in a situation where you could be asked to step away at any time with little to no notice.You can also make it easier on yourself by keeping a few key items by the door. First, keep a bag there so that you will always have someplace to put essential items like your phone or laptop to take with you when you leave before a walk through. Prep in advance so that you can grab the bag and go without any hassle. You can also keep a little box or basket of booties by the door for visiting real estate agents and prospective buyers to wear when they are going through your home, reducing any clean up you might have to do when you get back.

It’s possible to still feel at home even when you’re selling! Use these tips to help you navigate the ins and outs of selling your home and contact Pauline McNamee today for more expert advice.

3 Ways Technology Can Make Buying Or Selling Your Home Easier

The continual advancement of technology has transformed every aspect of life, from the way we enjoy entertainment to the way we do business. The real estate industry has also experienced major changes over the years, and for those who are open to adapting to them, these changes can be a positive factor in your home buying or home selling experience. And if you’re in the competitive markets of Bucks County neighborhoods like Doylestown and Jamison, levering these advances can give you the edge you’re looking for to close your dream real estate deal.

Here are our top three ways that technology has revolutionized the real estate industry, and can do the same for you when you’re ready to buy or sell:

1. Online listings help you build a tailored list of homes to visit in person.

   The popularity and power of sites like Zillow and realtor.com have created a virtual database of options that can save you time while showing you a wider range of possibilities. If you had to physically visit every home you were interested in, you would only be able to do this with a limited number of homes, and may be less inclined to take a trip out to a location further away.

   With online listings, the number of properties available for you to look at is limitless, and you can gain a great deal of insight into whether the home might be a viable option for you without ever stepping foot out your door. Working in consultation with a trusted real estate agent, you can narrow down your list to make in-person visits more manageable and targeted for efficiency. Most online listing sites even have mobile apps, so you can always be kept up to date on what’s happening with properties that catch your interest.

2. Marketing your home online gives you unprecedented reach.
   Online listing sites are a boon for home buyers, but they are also an invaluable tool for homeowners wishing to sell. Using high definition pictures from a variety of angles including panoramic views along with descriptions that highlight your home’s best features, an online listing can catch the eye of prospective buyers and spark interest. Many buyers begin their search online to narrow their prospects, so maintaining an online presence in the marketing of your home is vital for the greatest possible reach.
3. 3-D and virtual reality can transform the way you experience a space.
   3-D technology and the increasing prevalence of virtual reality-based experiences have made the process of “visiting” homes even more immersive. As these technologies become more and more commonplace, buyers and their real estate agents will increasingly leverage them to further narrow the field. A couple who finds 10 properties online that look promising may sit down with their realtor to take virtual tours, and discover that only five of the homes are still appealing enough to them to warrant arranging a walkthrough in person.

As technology continues to advance, the real estate industry will grow with it, expanding the opportunities for people to communicate, explore, and gain the most value when they buy or sell. Wondering how to use these technologies to your advantage? Contact Pauline McNamee today.

Homeowner’s Spring-Cleaning Guide

Spring is around the corner, and homeowners in Bucks County will soon have the chance to throw open their windows and enjoy the fresh air and blooming flowers as the weather warms up. As winter starts to wane and we open our homes up to sunshine and brighter days, spring cleaning is a must, especially if you are considering selling your home during this busy season. The following tips can help you tackle your spring-cleaning chores with ease:

• Create a plan: One of the most difficult things about spring cleaning is that it feels overwhelming. You’ll be much more effective—and feel much less stressed—if the first thing you tackle is the overwhelm. You can do this by creating a list of tasks, room by room, that need to be completed. Since this is spring cleaning and not just a little touch up, focus on the jobs you don’t do on a frequent basis, like cleaning the windows.
• Be realistic: How much help are you going to have doing the cleaning? How much time can you dedicate at once? How heavy-duty is the cleaning that needs to be done? Depending on your answer to these questions, set realistic expectations for what you can do in a day. This will help you to create a schedule that will ensure you get things done without feeling stressed or wearing yourself out.
• Remember that dirt settles downward. When you clean, start with the highest points in the room—your light fixtures or ceiling fans, and work your way down. If you clean your kitchen surfaces before turning your attention to your ceiling fan, all the dust and dirt from the fan blades will fall on your newly scrubbed counters.
• Give yourself less to clean. Before the actual cleaning starts, take a critical eye to your belongings. Is there clutter you can clean out? Are there items you no longer use? Gift, donate, sell, or dispose of what you can, and you’ll not only lighten your cleaning load but give your mood a boost as you enjoy a less crowded space.
• Citrus is your friend. Want to bring a fresh, spring scent to your kitchen? Cut a few small scraps of lemon or orange peel and run them through the garbage disposal with water. Keep the scraps small to prevent clogging, and be sure to follow up with water till all the peel has cycled through.
• Spruce things up. Take a good look at each room of your house. Chances are, there’s a little change you can make in every space that will brighten and freshen up the room. Change your shower curtain, replace a worn throw pillow, or add a vase with fresh flowers. You’ll find that these little touches can make a big difference in how your home looks and feels.

Keeping your home in tip top shape with spring cleaning will help you enjoy it more, and make it more attractive to prospective buyers. Contact Pauline McNamee today for tips on how to get your home ready for sale.

Top 7 Tips for Downsizing to a Smaller Home

People downsize for lots of reasons. Whether the kids have moved out or you’re just looking to simplify your lifestyle, moving into a smaller home can bring a host of benefits for homeowners, from peace of mind to lower utility bills. Bucks County neighborhoods like Doylestown and Jamison offer lots of options for individuals and families looking to downsize, from cozy single homes to townhomes with just the right amount of space.

If you are considering downsizing, the following tips can help you make the move with minimal hassle and maximum ease:

1. Take your time. Especially if you are downsizing from a much larger home, you may have to sell or dispose of a lot of furniture and other items. Give yourself plenty of time to go through your belongings so you can make careful choices about what you want to bring with you, and what you want to do with the things you won’t be taking to your new home.

2. Start with a simple yes or no. Go through your belongings carefully, and make one simple decision about each one. “Yes” items are those you are definitely bringing with you. “No” items are those you are not taking to your new, smaller home. Don’t give yourself the option of a “maybe” list, as this will lead you to endless debating and second guessing.

3. Be thoughtful about what happens with the “no’s.” Our belongings can hold sentimental value for us, and they can also be a source of joy for others. Take the time to thoughtfully decide what you will do with the items you will not be taking with you. Your options include gifting them, selling them, donating them, or throwing away items that are too old or worn to be useful to others.

4. Compare rooms. Take an inventory of the rooms in your new home and compare them to the rooms in your current home. Do you currently have a separate dining room, but are moving to a home with a combination kitchen/dining space? Perhaps you have a home office now but will not have a dedicated room for an office after you downsize. Comparing rooms will give you a good indication of which large pieces of furniture you will most likely have to leave behind.

5. Take stock of what you have. Do you have two coffeepots? What are the odds you’ll be using them both? When you downsize, space is at a premium, whether it’s counter space or storage space. If you have duplicate items, think carefully about whether you need more than one, or whether this is an area where you can cut down on your belongings.

6. Make sure the stuff you do want to take with you will fit in your new space. Have you decided you want to bring your sofa? Measure it. Make sure it will fit in your new home and make it through the doorway or hallways to get to its new destination.

7. Give preference to items that serve more than one function. In a smaller space, you want all of the items you choose to bring with you to help you maximize functionality. Multipurpose furniture like nightstands that double as storage can help you use your space to its best possible advantage.

Not sure whether downsizing is right for you, or how to go about it? Contact Pauline McNamee today to get started!

A homeowner’s checklist for what to do after settlement

You’ve sold your home, settlement is complete, and now you’re ready to hand it over to the new owners—but what should you do before you leave?

In our previous articles we’ve been talking about the closing process, where ownership of the home is officially transferred from you as the seller to the buyer. We’ve gone over what to expect, how to prepare, and what to bring with you. Now one final topic remains when it comes to closing. Here we’ll be sharing a checklist you can use for when settlement is done and it’s time to close the doors behind you for the last time.

1. Leave a clean home. When you walk into your new home, it will feel even better if the previous owner has been conscientious in cleaning, so be sure to extend the same courtesy to the buyers of your home. If you aren’t able to do a thorough clean yourself, it’s relatively inexpensive to hire a service to take care of this last detail.

2. Leave behind whatever the new homeowners will need. Do you have a garage? Leave the garage opener. Is there a key to the backyard gate? Make sure that is available to them. While it’s obvious that you should leave the keys to the house, go beyond what’s obvious and leave any other keys, openers, codes, or remotes that might be needed. You can go the extra mile if you leave behind any manuals you have for appliances as well.

3. Don’t leave any of your personal stuff. While there are certainly items you should leave behind for the new owners, unwanted pantry items, clothes, or other personal affects are not among them. Leaving things behind in cabinets, closets, shelves, and storage areas just makes extra work for your buyers on top of the already hectic process of moving.

4. Turn off appliances. Whether your old home is going to be vacant for a while or not, it’s a good idea to turn off and unplug appliances where you can. If you know the home will be unoccupied for some time before the new owners move in, you may even wish to switch off the circuit breakers and turn off the shut off valves for plumbing. Just be sure to let the new owners know you did that, so they don’t think there’s a problem!

5. Cancel your subscriptions and utilities. Do you have a newspaper delivered to your home, or a magazine? Be sure to cancel these subscriptions. Keep track as well of your utilities—call each utility provider to arrange for them to be turned off at your old home when you leave.

6. Lock the doors! Remember that your old home is going to be empty—whether for a few hours or possibly much longer. Close up house like you would if you were going on vacation to make sure that everything is safe and secure for the new homeowners to move in when they are ready.

There are many things to consider at every step of the process of selling your home, including this last step. For questions about how to have the best and most profitable experience in the sale of your house, talk to a trusted real estate agent today.

Selling your home? Here’s what you should bring to closing

One of the most exciting days in the process of selling your home is closing, also known as settlement. On this day, the ownership of the home officially changes hands from you to the new buyer. In a previous article, we talked about the things you should do to prepare for closing on the sale of your home, but in this post we’d like to focus on the day itself and answer some questions about what you can expect—and what you should bring with you to make sure the day goes smoothly.

When does settlement happen?

Generally speaking, closing day occurs four to six weeks after the sale agreement is signed.

Where does it happen?

Closing could happen at the office of one of the third parties involved, like the mortgage lender or the title agent. This, however, is something you should talk to your licensed real estate agent about, as you may be able to sign all of the paperwork ahead of time and avoid going to the meeting all together.

What should you expect?

This is the last stage of the selling process, and by this point all of the negotiating is complete. Closing day is simply about signing the deed to the house over to the new owner, and seeing that money is properly exchanged so that the transaction can be completed. After closing day, the house officially belongs to the buyer.

What should you bring to closing?

If you are the seller, there isn’t a whole lot you have to bring to closing. As mentioned above, you may not even have to attend settlement in person if your real estate agent advises you can sign the necessary documents ahead of time. If you do personally go to the closing, you’ll want to make sure you have proper identification with you, as well as the keys to the home to hand over to the new owner.

While these are the standard requirements, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your real estate agent in advance of closing to make sure there isn’t anything else you should bring with you. For example, if as part of the sale you agreed to make some repairs to your home, you might need to bring documentation with you proving that the repairs were done in accordance with your agreement.

Just like in every step of the process in selling your home, a trusted real estate agent can help you know what to expect, how to prepare, and how to successfully navigate your obligations to ensure that things go smoothly.