Staging your house can make you money. Fifty percent of homes increased in value when they were staged. Helping buyers fall in love with your property takes more than running the vacuum and fluffing the pillows: It’s all about decluttering, repairing, updating, and depersonalizing. Did you know that de-cluttered homes sell on average 80% faster? It helps buyers envision the home as their own. Before your eyes turn into dollar signs, keep in mind staging isn’t guaranteed to get you more money. But it’s an important marketing tool to help you compete at the right price, which means you can sell faster. So, as you are preparing to sell your home, think about what buyers will want to see as they walk through your home. 

Here is the ultimate home staging checklist to use as a resource as you prepare to sell your home:

LIVING ROOM:

* Remove unnecessary furniture...you want the room to feel spacious.
* Pull your furniture away from the wall and ...

I recently had the pleasure of working with a young and successful couple who moved to the Spokane area from the west side of Washington.  Like so many other Seattle city dwellers, their main reason for moving to Spokane was the unrealistic housing market that had driven out so many before them.  Familiar with the area, and with the help of friends and family, they decided to move on.

Not only were these two lovebirds successful in their own right, but they were also smart and well prepared.   They made the decision to compare lenders, get preapproved, and visit the area several times to look at homes before taking the leap.  They also heeded my advice every step of the way. 

One piece of advice that they really took to heart was that sellers are people too.  Families who are in the process of uprooting their lives have feelings attached to the home they are about to sell.  They may have raised a family there, inherited the property from a ...

Memories
Do you remember when you purchased your first home?  Aaaah the memories. You hired a Realtor (hopefully a good one), hired a lender and spent a sunny Saturday afternoon with your Realtor looking at homes. Easy right?  Well when you are planning on that second home, now you become a seller and a buyer. Yes it can be stressful and somewhat complicated, multi-tasking but hiring an expert Realtor (like myself) is all you need to make the process a little less stressful and complicated.
You’re 1st Step
Before you start looking at homes, make sure you have an understanding on what the current market is doing. Do some research or ask your expert Realtor (like myself) if it’s a seller’s market, buyers’ market and what are the interest rates doing right now. Planning is the key to buying and selling a home at the same time.
You’re 2nd Step
Now that you are knowledgeable on the market, you are now ready to start planning.  The first t ...

I have two dogs, who are incredibly important to me. So when I discuss pet odors, know that I struggle with the same worry about whether or not my home smells like pet odor. After all, when someone walks into my home, I don't want them to be turned off by being there - I want them to feel welcome. That starts with the smell. 

As a seller, eliminating bad odors from your home is incredibly important, you want to make sure you've removed them before putting it on the market. Often times, the first thing buyers notice upon entering your home, is how it smells. If there is an odd odor, it will instantly put them off. No matter how beautifully staged and presented it is, strong odors or stale air can make your home unappealing to prospective buyers. Opening windows and exhaust fans will only go so far in removing foul odors, but won't generally eliminate it completely. To ensure you don't lose potential buyers, follow these odor eliminating tips to ensure your home smells and feel ...

The Benefits of Listing with an Agent


By:  Amber Tice


The anticipation of starting a new journey with your family is nothing short of exciting.  You've decided to sell your home, start fresh, and maybe in the process make a profit from the blood, sweat, and tears you've poured into your wonderful living space.  Of course, this all sounds like a good plan, and in all honesty who wouldn't want to earn a profit on the sale of their home?  It's no secret that putting as much money as possible back into your pocket is your number one priority.  Money talks, right? 

Selling a home can be time consuming, frustrating, emotional, and confusing.  Going at it alone may seem like a good idea at first.  For one thing, you cut out the standard 6% commission you would be normally dishing out to the agents who get involved in the sale of your home.  But, is cutting out the professional really the best way to get the most out of your home?

Le ...