selling Archives - Maura Allard Realtor

We’ve always been told that purchasing a home is one of the pillars to life’s success. We run through a checklist in our heads of what we hope to have by X age to make us feel accomplished. From marriage and children to a stable job that provides sufficient income and a nice car, a house is one of those achievements that tops the list for most. Rightfully so! Owning a piece of property that we can call our own is no small feat and should be an achievement we celebrate and strive for. Understanding when the right time to buy is key to getting the most out of your purchase. If your waffling between the ideas of buying and renting, consider these factors before making the leap.

Location, Location, Location

Are you comfortable in your current location? Is this spot somewhere you can see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? Reflecting on your location is key to deciding whether you should buy or rent in your current area. If you are unsure whether you want to stay put or take up space in another locale within the next 5 years or less, buying may not be right for you at this stage. Often we hear that renting is about pouring money into something that doesn’t belong to us, but in turn for the rent we pay we can get a pretty nice pad to stay in, so it’s not a total loss, especially if you don’t plan to be in the area forever. In contrast, if you feel as though you want to stay where you are for the long run it may be best to start the buying process so that you can invest in a property that belongs to you for years to come.

Purchasing power is key

Before you can make a sound decision on whether or not purchasing a house works for your lifestyle, you need to gage your overall purchasing power. There are various factors that play into your purchasing power including credit score, savings amount, down payment, debt to income ratio and payment history on major debts such as past mortgages, credit cards and car loans. When determining your pre-approval amount, a loan processor will look at these factors to determine whether or not you are sound enough to purchase a home, along with providing the amount of loan you will be allowed to borrow for your new mortgage. If you don’t meet all of the criteria requirements, or are on the lower end of the spectrum, when it comes to purchase power versus your wish list, renting may be the best option until you are able to bring all aspects to pristine health. During your rental period, focusing on cleaning up your credit and saving money diligently for your down payment are key aspects of growing your purchasing power.

The future is now

If you’ve decided that the home purchase route is the right one for you, consider what the future may hold for you. Reflect on questions such as:

Will I be married or have roommates now or in the future?
Do I plan to grow my family?
Do I want pets?
Do I plan to host holiday gatherings, events or guests at my home often?
Do I want to build on or renovate a home or do I prefer a move-in ready type?
What floor plan layout works best for my plans now and in the future?

Although you plan to purchase now, or in the near future, you must contemplate your wants and needs that may arise in the future. This way, your home will fit your changing lifestyle as you, and your family, grows and changes. If you are uncertain of your future plans or prefer not to completely reflect on them at this time, renting would be the best option as you can, oftentimes, choose between a long-term or short-term lease agreement.

When deciding whether renting or buying a home is the right option for you, there are many different factors to reflect upon before jumping headfirst into your option. Consider factors such as your financial buying power, your debt to income ratio, your savings and purchase plan and your future personal goals. Understanding the full picture will allow you to make the best choice for you now. Still not sure what the best option is for you? Contact me today, I would love to help walk you through the process to determine the best route for you.

If you’ve been planning to put your home up for sale but feel stuck with moving forward due to the current COVID-19 crisis, there’s actually some good news: this is a great time to work on getting your home ready to be put on the market and you can accomplish a lot, even while staying home.

Getting a home market ready takes some work, and many homeowners spend weekend after weekend repainting, making trips to the home improvement store, and rearranging furniture. Spending extra time at home means you can spread out projects over the course of several days or weeks, instead of giving up all your free time on the weekend. Plus, since you’ll be home, you might notice some smaller projects that need your attention, as you’ll be more focused on your space.

Deep Clean

You want your home to look and smell clean when it’s time for an open house and/or private showings. Of course you’ll need to dust and vacuum the day of, but most of us have areas of our home that need to be deep cleaned every few weeks. Being home right now is the perfect time to tackle some bigger cleaning projects. Not only will your potential homebuyers be more impressed with the state of your home, but it will make it more enjoyable for your and your family as well.

Bathrooms and kitchens are two spots that tend to need a deep cleaning every so often. Both areas are used frequently by everyone in the home, so naturally dirt, grime, mildew, and stains build up. Consider cleaning the floors, counter tops, sinks + faucets, the stove top, and appliances. In the bathroom, give your shower or tub a deep clean and notice how shiny and new it looks after. Your potential buyers will definitely take notice, and your family will absolutely enjoy using spaces that feel and look clean.

Patch Up Walls and Get Rid of Scuff Marks

Scuff marks happen from normal wear and tear. Usually they are pretty easy to get out, but some might require a little elbow grease. Mr. Clean Magic erasers are great for getting scuff marks out of walls and doors. If that doesn’t work, you might need to do a little paint touch up. And while you’re at it, patch up any holes or spots that have been damaged over time. Kids, pets, moving furniture, deliveries, family gathers, etc., all lead to things and people bumping into the walls.

Some areas, such as entryways, get a ton of use each day and can usually use a bit of a touch up. Baseboards also collect dust and can end up with cracks or holes, so don’t forget to look down when doing an audit of what needs some work. Doors can also get scuffed up, and it makes a big difference when a door looks clean and bright as you’re walking through a home. Remember — potential home buyers want to feel like they can move in without having to do a ton of work to fix up the home (can you say move-in ready?).

Repaint Using Neutral Colors

Many homeowners use paint colors to add style and personality to their homes. But, when it comes to selling a home, neutral colors go a long way. Buyers don’t want to have to picture what a space will look like in white, grey, or another neutral color. And you have to remember that not everyone has a good imagination, so you want to make things as easy as possible when it comes to what they see and take all the guesswork out of it. Plus, certain neutral colors will make a space look bigger + brighter. Making your dining room, living room, and other common areas seem more open and spacious gives interested homebuyers more possibility when it comes to how they see and feel about the space.

Declutter

Marie Kondo came into our homes and hearts (via Netflix) last year and taught us that we need to let go of items that don’t bring us joy. Decluttering your home creates mental space as well, and will make a world of difference in how your home shows during an open house. You might think that stuffing things into drawers and closets is a good temporary fix, and while it might work for a showing, it doesn’t help you in the long run. By getting rid of clutter now, you’ll make your upcoming home sale much easier. Don’t forget — selling a home means you’ll be moving too, so having less junk to sift through for your own move will make life much easier. If you’re living in the Northshore of MA, check out Junk, Junk, Baby for help with getting rid of furniture, appliances, and more. Your declutter project might lead you to toss large items as well, and having professionals help could make it easier and save you time.

In addition to Junk, Junk Baby, below are a few of my favorite local North Shore and Southern, NH vendors to help make selling a breeze.

If organizing is not your forte, My Mad Packers, is a local favorite to help keep things in order.
Love the impact of a deep clean but don’t want to do it yourself? Try Cleaner Details.
Does the idea of painting make you cringe? Patriot Painting does a wonderful job.
Staging can truly entice potential buyers to make an offer. If you need expert staging, I love JB Homestyle Interiors