Category Archives: real estate appraisal

Renovating to sell: You’re doing it wrong

Posted on July 30, 2016 | Leave a comment

When planning an upgrade to your property before selling, there’s often that dilemma about what to do and how far to go for the best return on your money. From the results I’ve seen, making the right changes to refresh your property and make it “pop” in the eyes of your buyers, is the difference between a quick, top dollar sale and a slow and unprofitable one.

Most “experts” would say that kitchens and bathrooms are the areas you should pour your money in to. I disagree: my view is that when you sell, the priority areas in order of importance are generally:

1. Exterior front

2. Kitchen

3. Interior living spaces

4. Exterior living spaces (depending on location)

5. Bathrooms and the rest of the house

This is not to say bathrooms (and bedrooms, laundry etc) don’t get a look in. They would definitely get some love, but the extent of work done would be less than other experts might typically advise.

I have proven the success of this theory over and over. Think about when you first saw the home you live in now. The first parts of the property you see are the exterior, then the living and kitchen spaces. I believe that these are the areas that provide the first impression and biggest impact.

Carefully assess what parts of your property would benefit most from an upgrade – before you start on anything. Ask real estate agents or research what the qualities are of the properties that sell quickest and for the most money in your suburb.

Father of the Bride House For Sale

Posted on June 19, 2016 | Leave a comment

In news that will delight fans of wedding movies, the iconic house from the Father of the Bride has hit the market.

For $US2 million ($2.7 million) buyers can snap up the house Steve Martin and Diane Keaton’s on-screen daughter was married in.

The colonial mansion sits on a suburban street in Alhambra, California on a huge 1624-square-metre block – the garden had to be large enough to shoot the film’s wedding scenes.

The Best Time to Sell a House, According to a New Study

Posted on April 23, 2016 | Leave a comment

In a new study, researchers at Zillow found that homes listed between May 1 through May 15 sold, on average, around 18.5 days faster than homes that weren’t listed during that timeframe. Homes that sold in the first half of May were also purchased for about 1 percent more than the average listing, which translates to a premium of about $1,700.

The spring housing season kicked off this year with a record low number of homes for sale. According to the National Association of Realtors, the number of homes for sale in December 2015 was down nearly 4 percent from the same time last year, while the number of homes sold was up nearly 8 percent. Even as new listings came on the market around President’s Day — the weekend real estate agents recognize as the start of the spring housing season — the inventory was still smaller than in years past.

“There’s a low supply of homes for sale this year, which has increased buyer competition,” Svenja Gudell, Zillow’s chief economist, told The Huffington Post. “Therefore, home shoppers who start their search in early spring may not be able to secure a house as quickly or easily as they’d hoped. By May they’ll be anxious to find a home before the next school year — and will be more willing to pay a premium to close the deal.”

disclaimer: for information and entertainment purposes only

Category Archives: real estate appraisal

Renovating to sell: You’re doing it wrong

Father of the Bride House For Sale

The Best Time to Sell a House, According to a New Study

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