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People are always asking how they can get more money for their house when they put it on the market. While some of the things that determine your home’s value are out of your hands (location, age, layout), many buyers are willing to fork over a little more when certain upgrades have been made. Below are some suggestions for projects and improvements that can increase your home’s resale value.
Invest in Energy Efficiency
It’s the 21st century, and green is the name of the game! Not only do energy-efficient updates help protect the environment, they also save you more money by reducing utility bills. Now we’ve all heard of those little energy-saving hacks like unplugging your phone charger and washing your clothes in cold water — but those aren’t the kinds of things that are going to add value to your home. If you want a greater resale value, you have to think bigger. Consider one of these upgrades:
Make Roof Repairs
If you don’t plan on replacing the roof, you’ll still need to make sure it isn’t in need of major repairs before selling. A well-maintained roof can mean a quicker sale, since potential buyers will notice its appeal during showings. It’s best to hire a contractor to inspect the roof and give you an estimate for any necessary repairs. If your budget allows it, definitely schedule for the repairs. If not, you’ll need to decide if it’s worth leaving the roof as-is, keeping in mind that it can affect negotiations with the buyer and result in a lowered home price.
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It’s spooky season! We know that every year when fall rolls around, many of us create our October bucket lists: visit a pumpkin patch, watch Halloween movies, visit a haunted house, and throw a Halloween party. But if you’ve never thrown a spooky event before, where do you start? Now that Halloween is right around the corner, here are some tips, tricks, and treats to planning the best Halloween party for your family.
Festive Invitations
One of the most fun parts of planning a seasonal party is creating festive invitations. But since this is a kid-friendly party with your family, get your kids involved! Work together to create fun and creative party invites and let your kids decide which Halloween characters, colors, and icons you want to represent. You can take a look at fun ideas here. After you create the invitations, you can mail them out, or you and your kids can hand-deliver them to friends and family while wearing your Halloween costumes to get in the spirit from the start!
Spooky Decorations
Next up: the decorations! If you’re throwing a Halloween party and you want to surprise your kids, then you can check out our post all about how to create the spookiest haunted house that your family will love. But another fun idea is to get your whole family involved and create some adorable spooky decorations together. This post shares some awesome crafts like toilet paper roll bats, Q-tip skeletons, paper plate ghosts and more fun decor ideas that your kids will love making for the party. Remember that the decorations are what will make your party spooky but not so scary. No tricks and only treats here!
Themed Food
What would a seasonal party be without some ghoulish grub? Put on your festive fall apron and get ready to cook up some themed Halloween party food that’s easy, delicious, and totally photo-worthy. This list of Halloween snack recipes is perfect for parties that take place at any time of day for all ages, and your kids can even help you with the cooking! Don’t worry — these snacks aren’t difficult or time consuming, so you can create them the day of your event or even the day before in no time at all.
Happy Haunted Games
No party is complete without some games, and all ages can enjoy having fun at the spooky soiree you’re throwing this season. A costume contest is always a go-to at any Halloween party, but why not take your event to the next level and host a haunted Olympics? Games like a haunted scavenger hunt, balloon stomp (with orange balloons to mimic a pumpkin patch), a pumpkin carving or decorating contest, and a witch hat ring toss are definite crowd pleasers that all ages can have fun with. Check out this list of awesome Halloween party games!
Overworked. Stretched too thin. Struggling to balance it all.
This was how Lindsay Herrell of Escondido, Calif., felt when she signed up for a Buffini & Company real estate coach back in 2015. As a former lawyer, Herrell was quite familiar with the effects of an unbalanced work and family life—and what happens when you let it get out of hand.
“Real estate can be a 24/7-type business, and my personality is not very good at saying no to things,” Herrell said. “I was finding myself just putting business before family again.”
As a mom of three children, finding that family balance was important to Herrell. That’s why right away, her real estate coach helped her prioritize boundaries.
“She established these little systems during that first call that put really amazing boundaries in my life, so I could be very present for my family and very fulfilled by that,” Herrell said. “Then, when I was working, I could be very present in my business and for my clients.”
During this time, Herrell was expecting her third child. The structures suggested by her coach helped her do something she had been unable to do before—take a planned maternity leave from her business. She spent time with her now-complete family without scrambling to manage her real estate business, and she even closed a few deals.
“While I was on maternity leave, the leads were still rolling in, and I actually earned Agent of the Month at my firm because of the deals I had put together before I had my daughter,” Herrell said.
Another huge win for Herrell with One2One Coaching™ was the introduction of her annual client party. A people person at heart, Herrell has always loved that Buffini & Company systems include several client appreciation events. She had always dreamed of hosting an Easter egg hunt and brunch for all the families in her database. Within her first year of coaching, this became a reality.
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A welcoming and well-organized entrance will make your home feel inviting and set the tone for the rest of the home. But with the need for storage, seating and decor, what design concepts best fit your home entryway?
Open Concept
If you open you door to a large and empty space, it’s a good idea to take advantage of the open space but carve some clearly defined zones meant for specific purposes. Adding a large bench or sofa against your sofa can help define the entrance. Another way to make your own entry is to put a piece of furniture used to hold scarves, jackets or other outdoor accessories next to the door. This way your guests and yourself can enter the home and know what that space is intended for.
Efficiency
Maybe you have the opposite problem of an open concept and your home has a very small space for guests to put their belongings. This is when focusing on efficiency is important. With lack of floor space, use the walls to put up some deep shelves and coat hangers. The shoes can be easily put on the shelves and you make the most room for people standing. Another great tip for making any room feel bigger- add a mirror!
Fun and Funky
Having a place where you can sit and take off your shoes is essential in many homes. This seating is a great way to start showing off your unique style that is carried throughout the rest of your home. A patterned bench, a funky shaped chairs or soft sofa cushions are all fun ways to morph personality and functionality.
Hardworking Floors
Large families or homes with young kids may not get the chance to focus on style and instead need a room that is functional and durable. Installing tile, if your home doesn’t have it already, may be a big investment but it is definitely worth the pay off. Busy households are going to want floors and features that are easy to clean and weather resistant. Another design tip would be to put distressed furniture in the room. This way any nicks or scrapes will escape unnoticed by those coming and going.
No matter the purpose or personal style you want to add to your entryway designs, there are different ways to welcome guests and feel at home the moment you get back from a long day.
By now, you’ve probably started thinking about the 2020 business plan and income goals you’d like to achieve. In order to start Q1 strong, you’ll need to generate a few high-quality real estate referrals now! When those transactions close early next year, you’ll be on track for a great 2020.
However, many of us know real estate referrals aren’t just given—they are earned! Invest in building relationships with your best people, so in return, they will refer you to their best people! This season, put in place these five surefire ways to earn more real estate referrals.
Stay in touch with current and past clients by checking in with a phone call. Maybe you’re assisting them with a transaction currently, or just checking in to see if they received a note you sent. Unlike a cold call—which has a very low probability of success—this is a call to someone who knows you and enjoys hearing from you! Your never know when someone has a referral to send you, so this is a great way to remind folks that you are there to help with all real estate needs.
Make time in your day for client “pop-bys”—visits to your clients at their home. Bring a small gift with a message that says you are never too busy to help with their referrals. The holidays are a great time to get creative with these gifts—they could be anything from Halloween goodie bags to turkey basters to wrapping paper. This visit and pop-by gift reinforce an exceptional level of service that these clients will be eager to refer to others.
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Realty Executives agents are real estate experts. They have the education and expertise you need to navigate through the process of buying or selling a home. From listing at the right price to making the best offer, our Executives have witnessed the best - and most regrettable - decisions homeowners and homebuyers can make. Every day, they are immersed in every aspect of real estate that includes comparable home price analysis, property surveys, credit reports, open houses, HOA agreements, lenders, title companies, homeowners’ insurance, walk-throughs, terms of sale or purchase, repairs, concessions and closing documents. Let our accomplished Executives help navigate you through the process of buying or selling a home.
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