C Star Real Estate Blog

Selling your house can be and often times is a tiresome process. Often you may have people coming through the house when it is inconvenient. All the while trying to keep the house clean and dealing with the disruption in your life and schedule. If you ask anyone that has ever tried to sell a house it is likely they will agree the faster the sale the better!

By making your home more attractive to buyers this will help them picture themselves living in the home. And by staging your home you can help bring in a higher sales price and increase marketability.

Maybe you have just redecorated your house. That's not staging. Redecorating shows your personality. While, staging focuses on buyers views. The owner through staging will learn how to arrange art work, furniture, accessories, etc. in the best light. It also helps enhance the following functionality, flow, aesthetics, and balance in a room.

If you choose to pay someone to stage it would more than likely be expensive, so here are a few staging ideas to try on your own. Following these guidelines.

(Clutter) Remove clutter room by room. Organize toys in bins and boxes (label if need be). Cabinets and bookcases should be neatly kept with some decoration (acessories) spread throughout. Closets should be organized and clean with only clothes visible. Put seasonal clothes in storage. Pack up all clutter as well. Keep it in storage until moving day. It will make the transition easier.

(Lighting) Rooms should be well lit and all lights in working order (use higher watt bulbs, clean globes and shades).

(Painting) A crisp looking coat of paint helps to make a first impression and by using a neutral color palate it enables buyers to see themselves and their personal items in the home. Remember a neutral color does not have to mean colorless. Grays, browns, beige's, varying shades of white and off white make good neutrals. Interest can be added with color in drapery, accessories, pillows, throw rugs, candles, etc..

(Kitchens) Should be very clean. Remove all the "stuff" off of the front of the fridge. Keep counters clean and clear of all items. Clean and organize under the sinks, in the pantry and inside cabinets. Paint cabinetry if needed. Put on new knobs, pulls and hinges for a updated look.

(Bathrooms) Think stain free and no discolorations. Make sure counters are clean. Any shower curtains, drapery, towels, wash clothes, soap dishes, etc. need to be clean. Place nice looking soaps in soap trays.


(Furnishings) Should be cozy, but not crowded in the room. Leave space between furniture and remove what nots or knick knacks. Place your best looking piece of furniture on the wall you see first as you come into the room. Put away any CD's, DVD's and videos so that they cannot be seen. Group pictures on walls and hang at eye level. Place accessories out in groups of odd numbers. Clear the mantle off on the fireplace and place something simple and eye catching out like a floral arrangement, candle arrangement or clock for aesthetics.

(Curb) Make the first impression from the curb. "Curb Appeal" selling your home from the outside. Garages or yards should be clean and well trimmed. (Don't leave stuff lying around the yard.) Plant some shrubs or flowers to enhance the appeal and help welcome buyers (you might try lining the side walks to the front door). Trim any bushes that need it. Keep the yard mowed and watered to help give a cared for look. Paint exterior and trim outside if you need to help give that maintained look too. Make sure any pools or fish ponds are clean and cared for.



Up Coming Events for Stillwater:


(Stillwater on Ice) - The ice rink is open! November 12 through January 3rd and is located on 9th at the corner of Husband and 9th. Holiday hours and weather closings will be posted on facebook, www.facebook.com/stillwateronice . Normal hours of operation are 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. on Friday, 12-11 p.m. Saturday and 12-10 p.m. Sunday. The costs is $8 for 11 and up, $7 for OSU students must have valid student ID, $6 for children 6-10 and little kids 5 and under skate free, but have to be accompanied by an adult. They have gift certificates, season passes and group rates available. You can get a commemorative t-shirt! Skaters must sign a waiver before entering the rink. The form can be downloaded from the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce website. You can bring the completed form with you to save a little time!

(The Tony Rice Unit) - Feb 5th, 2011 at 7:30 pm. Is a range of acoustic music, from bluegrass to jazz from songwriter to oriented folk. City of Stillwater Community Center on Feb 5, 2011 at 7:30 pm.

Mary Kelly

405-762-6719 Cell

405-533-3800 office

http://marysworldofrealestate.blogspot.com/

C Star Real Estate

In my last blog (http://larrytherealestateguy.blogspot.com/) I talked about upgrades that were more on the "major" side of things.  Installing new cabinets, counter tops,  new flooring and removing walls are projects that some homeowners may consider to be out of their league.  Aside from the complexity of some of these projects they can be expensive and time consuming.  If you are considering putting your home on the market, you may want to carefully consider the economic benefit of such major renovations.  Most can and will add value to your home...value that is reflected in the sales price and the time frame involved in selling a house.  If you will recall from my last blog, studies have shown that homes with upscale renovations tend to sell quicker... and at higher prices...than similar homes that have not been renovated and upgraded.

So let's suppose you have decided to put your house on the market but major renovations and updates are out of the economic question.  There are still some simple, relatively inexpensive things that you can do to add value to your home and may give you an edge in the market.

• Add paint.  In the last few years there has been an explosion of color ending up on the walls of homes everywhere. Bright, intense, contrasting color!  Color is a very personal thing.  Some people love green...others blue.  Accent walls of bright or intense color DO NOT necessarily add to the marketability of a home.  A fresh coat of a neutral paint in a subtle color to add "warmth" is the best choice of you intend to put your house on the market.  The best thing you can do is create a "homey" feeling for those interested in your home.  Paint is the key in creating that feeling.  Paint also hides a great deal of wear and tear.   Purchase a quality product, get the right tools for applying the paint and seek expert advice if you have questions.

• Consider adding a tile back splash in the kitchen and bathroom.   Feel a little intimidated by the thought of do it yourself tiling projects?  Most home improvement stores offer in house classes on tiling.  I have done a number of tiling jobs, including all of the floor tiling in my son's new house.  If I can do it you can to.  A tile back splash can add a custom look to your counters while adding a hint of color to the room.

• Change the hardware on your cabinets.  If you re not replacing cabinets or vanities a change of hardware can add a new look for a relatively small investment.  There are hundreds of different knobs and handles to choose from and installation is a snap.  A word of advice, take one of your old handles with you when you shop for new ones.  Make sure that the spacing between the bolt/screws holes on the new hardware matches the old and you are good to go.

• You can also paint your cabinets and vanities.  Again, a fresh coat of paint will add eye appeal and can be used to add a hint of color to the room.  Don't be afraid to use complimentary colors on the upper and lower cabinets to add a designer look.  

• Adding under counter lighting in the kitchen and laundry room is a custom touch that is made relatively simple with LED light kits.  These kits provide energy efficient lighting in an easy to install package.  Hidden from view these lights wash counter tops and work areas in soft appealing light.  

Remember, you are trying to sell you home for the best price in the quickest amount of time.  Your marketing approach should be to appeal to the broadest selection of buyers.  Floorplans can't be changed.  Brick can't be replaced with stone.  You can't pick up your house and move it across town.  Some things you just can;t change.  What you can do is invest some time and money in making your house more appealing and saleable than the other houses on the market in your price range. Take your personal tastes and preferences out of the equation.

As always, if I can help you with your real estate transaction, whether buying or selling, please let me know 

Larry Brown

C-Star Real Estate

405-533-3800 office

405-564-3109 cell

All you first time home buyers...listen up.  The 2011 Homebuyer Education Class schedule is out and it is not too early to sign up.  The Homebuyer Education Course is free and is an excellent first step towards realizing your goal of home ownership.

Topics covered in the one day...that's right only ONE DAY....course include--

• preparing for home ownership
• loan applications
• financiang
• purchase contracts
• home,inspections
• homeowners insurance
• mortgages
• credit counseling
• money management techniques

If you are a faithful follower of this blog you are well aware that financiang and credit has undergone some changes in the very recent past.  This course can help you take an objective look at your finances and help you prepare to meet the financial criteria for a loan.  The course will also discuss all of those little financial things that you may not be aware of...insurance, taxes and homestead exemption.  Most importantly, you will gain a better understanding of home financing...how it works, what options for financiang are out there and how you can work to better your position as a borrower.

The course is held at the Stillwater Public Library, starting at 9 AM and ending up around 3:30 PM, and is, once again, free.  Heck, you even get lunch and all of your study materials...gratis. Seating is limited, however. First come first seated, as the old saying goes.  This course will give you a pretty good overview of the ins and outs of buying, contracting, inspecting and managing your own home. 

Dates for the 2011 Homebuyer Education Course are

• January 29, 2011
• March 26, 2011
• May 14, 2011
• July 9, 2011 and 
• September 10, 2011

One added benefit...successful completion of the Homebuyers Education Program makes you eligible to participate in the homebuyers assistance program.  The homebuyers assistance program will provide qualified applicants with financial assistance up to $5,000.  While there are a number of requirements that must be met in order to receive funding from the program...the "A" number 1 qualifier...applicants MUST have completed the Homebuyer Education Course.  You can find out more about the Homebuyers Assistance Program here--

 http://files.stillwater.org/Forms/2010/HBA_APP_PACKET.pdf

So check it out and take advantage of this great program.  You are never too old nor is it too late to learn something new.  Oh yeah, did I mention that this is FREE...and you get food!!??

To register for a class session call City of Stillwater, 742-8345

As always, if I can be of service regarding your commercial or residential real estate needs...call me

Larry Brown

Stillwater's Real Estate Guy

C-Star Real Estate

405-533-3800 (office)

405-564-3109 (cell)

Considering purchasing a new home...that vacation spot on the lake...some acreage outside of town to build your dream home?  If so, one of the first stops you make should be your banker.  The best thing you can do is to get pre-qualified.  Going through the pre-qualifying process is relatively painless and it will certainly save you some possible heartache on down the road.

Lending requirements have become tighter in the last month or so.  Pre-qualification will give you a solid picture of where you stand relative to credit-worthiness as well as helping to answer the most confusing question of all..."how much can I afford".  Working with your financial partner early in your home buying process also helps to assure that when the time comes to sign on that dotted line and commit yourself to 30 years of payments you won't get blind sided at the closing with loan or credit issues.

I would also recommend that, as a buyer, you look at ALL financing options available to you.  FHA, often thought of as the stepchild of financing, may offer a viable alternative to conventional loan financing plans.  With interest rates as low as they are right now, 15 year mortgages may be manageable and could cut your interest costs tremendously.

One criteria that will come into play is that nefarious credit score that all those late night television advertisers tell you about.  Both conventional and FHA loans have raised the minimum scores for applicants seeking lending under those programs.  FHA minimum score is lower than conventional financing but checking early with your banker or mortgage broker, even if you have run the financial gauntlet in the last few months, is advised.

So do your homework before you step into the market.  You owe it to yourself to make sure that what is traditionally the largest purchase you will make is the right one and one that you can afford.  You know, the term afford means different things to different people.  While you may be able to "afford" a $300,000 house...it ain't much fun if you live paycheck to paycheck...can't go out for pizza and a movie once in a while cause if you do you will be short on your house payment.

So from my point of view, involve the professionals early.  Your realtor can help you with selecting a home within your price range and your banker or mortgage broker can help you decide what the price range is.  And you can do all this before you hit the market.  Knowledge is power...and knowing where you stand when it comes time to make an offer and negotiate a sales price is power you just can't do without

Welcome to the C Star Real Estate Blog. You will see blogs from several of our REALTORS on this site. We hope that our information if helpful to you and we look forward in helping you with any of your real estate needs.