Episode 189 AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show

Guest Writer Ted James

By Guest Writer Sally Norton

Putting a home up for sale can bring a lot of money in hot real estate markets. But simply selling a house and selling it for a much higher price is not the same. Still, adding more value to the property requires some work and time. You'd be surprised how many budget-friendly curb appeal ideas for sellers there are that can work as a time machine on the look of your property. A splash of color here, some scrubbing there, a bit of mowing, and you start to wonder why you are selling such a lovely property in the first place.
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Wash and repair the driveway
Driveway maintenance is the first thing we notice coming to an open house. Poorly kept, dirty driveways will instantly give a bad impression to a potential buyer. Therefore, fixing and pressure-washing them is of utmost importance. Cleaning them will only require your time unless there are cracks that need to be repaired. In such cases, setting up a budget for repaving is an excellent idea since a fresh new driveway could significantly raise your property value.

​Dirty driveways can leave a bad first impression.

​Spruce up the house exterior
Fixing and refreshing the exterior when putting a home on the market could attract many potential buyers. No matter how well you've maintained your home, there will always be more improvements to make. However, not all fixes are budget-friendly, and how far you want to go will depend on your current financial situation. Of course, inspecting and prioritizing repairs on the house should be your first step. But after that, tackling details, like repainting doors, windows, shutters, refreshing the house number, and cleaning and replacing the light fixtures could transform your home.
Maintain the backyard
When you're done revamping the house exterior, it's time to take a look at the bigger picture. All of the additional buildings on your property need the same exterior treatment. That means sheds, detached garage, or any other outdoor storage could use some care as well. If repainting them is not an option, focus on cleaning and tackling entrance areas using light colors.
 
All the mess and the extra stuff you might have cluttering up your backyard needs to go either in junk or a proper storage unit. It's necessary to tidy up the place first, before decluttering. After you've restored some of your backyard's previous glow, add some cute budget-friendly curb appeal ideas, such as potted plants, new door handles, or attractive solar lights. Adding colors and shine to any place will do wonders.

​Refresh the stairs and leisure areas
Dedicating some love to the porch, patio, balcony, terrace, or other leisure places could mean a great deal to potential home buyers. That's why it is important to inspect, fix and thoroughly scrub all such areas before putting the house on the market. Start with cleaning the stairs and floors, from top to bottom. See if the wooden surfaces need repairing, polishing, or painting. Of course, tiles and stone floors will only need a deep scrubbing, so make sure to remove all the dirt from the gouts and uneven surfaces.
 
Naturally, clean leisure and around-the-house areas won't do much if empty. Even though depersonalizing a home for a sale is smart, adding some tastefully staged outdoor furniture to porches and patios can tickle the buyer's imagination. You can always borrow some items from your friends or relatives or simply refresh your benches, tables, and chairs using spray paint.

​Keep the lawn in top condition
Lawn maintenance can tell a lot about a home and its homeowner. It is a way of knowing how much love and care someone puts into their home. No matter how nice the home exterior is, poorly kept lawns could be a turn-off for anyone. That's why simple lawn maintenance and landscaping tips can draw a lot of looks.
 
The grass patches and overgrown bushes might need some tending, especially in shady areas around the house. If you have some trees on your property, check if they need trimming and mulching. You'd be surprised how a new layer of mulch and some decorative rocks could energize the landscape appeal.
 
When picking plants and flowers to decorate the front landscape, choose colorful low-maintenance kinds. It's always wise to go with native plants, especially if your home is in a tropical area, because such plants are more resilient and self-sustainable in harsh climates. Go for perennial flowers that won't cost much but still provide the vibe you want to achieve. But be careful not to overdo it with the color palette. Mixing three colors while repeating the pattern is the recipe for a successful, visually pleasing front yard.

Revamp the entrances
Last but not least, when it comes to exterior improvements, is revamping the gates, fence, and mailbox. The treatment of the fence will depend on the material. Stone ones would benefit from a simple scrub, while wooden and metal fences might need some repainting. The same goes for the gates and mailbox. Even though these details might seem irrelevant to you, buyers will look at everything and take a peek everywhere because they are in search of a dream home. Thus, who can blame them for being curious and picky?
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Conclusion
Following budget-friendly curb appeal ideas for sellers, you will be able to make the most of your home. Even the smallest changes will mean a lot, but to be sure you're on the right path, ask for a second opinion. Your neighbors, family, or even social media friends could help you with objective tips regarding the things that stand out or the improvements that make the place even better. That way, you can be sure you will reach a broader home buyer "audience".

By Kelley Walters

Outdoor entertaining spaces aren’t always equal when it comes to home value (think about that house with the falling-down above-ground pool with no curb appeal at all). Homes that get them right, though, have patios and backyards that blur inside and outside spaces.
And the best thing: these outdoor entertaining space ideas have been working for decades — and adapt to most any house today. Here are five reasons why they work (and why you may want to add to your home):

#1 They Function Like Indoor Spaces

The more outdoor entertaining spaces mimic their indoor equivalents, the more functional they are. And you’ll get more than sunshine and memories: According to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS®, you’ll recoup 70% of your costs on resale after building a new patio. An outdoor kitchen gets 71%.
A couple of small ways to get more functionality in your outdoor space:

• Add built-in benches for seating.
• Hang a chandelier or pendant lights for functional lighting over a dining space.

#2 They Create Privacy Without Blocking Light

Precast-concrete geometric blocks protect privacy without blocking light or air in outdoor entertaining spaces. Plus, they’re super affordable and durable.
Use them to screen a patio or carport, fence in your patio, or as a vertical element to make small yards feel larger. It’s a small project with big impact.

#3 They Find Clever Ways To Provide Shade

Low, sloping roofs help transition from indoors to outdoors by casting shade and protection from the elements.
If extending the roof isn’t an option for your home or budget (fair), you can still make some shade.

For example:

• Try a pergola planted with vines.
• Or a retractable awning, which keeps the sun off when you want it to, and rolls back into place when you don’t.
• Tons of affordable, ready-to-hang shades and sails are available, too.
  

#4 They Use Lots of Windows-And Big Ones

Large windows help merge inside and outside living. Even if you don’t have the ultimate in window bling like this atrium, you can increase the natural light in your home.

Consider:

• Trading smaller windows and doors for big accordion, pocket, sliding or swinging doors, or replacing a plain wall with a wall of glass doors.
• Adding a corner window, to create the effect of an atrium or courtyard.

#5 They Take 'Entertaining Outdoors' Seriously

Though a sport court isn’t exactly a high ROI project, being the fun house on the block certainly does a little something to a home’s appeal.
And, after all, an outdoor entertaining space should do just that: entertain. Here’s to a fun summer season!

By Lisa Kaplan Gordon

Even the best vegetable gardeners can forget basics and make rookie mistakes. Here are 7 no-nos to avoid.

Avis Richards, whose Ground Up Campaign teaches New York City school kids how to grow their own food, reveals the rookie mistakes that all gardeners should avoid.

1. Unwise Watering
Too much, too little, too hard, too soft — they’re all watering mistakes that'll wreck your garden. Before adding water, poke a finger a couple of inches into the soil. If it’s moist, save the water; if it’s dry, train a gentle spray at the base of plants. Better yet, wind a drip hose ($13 for 50 feet) through your garden; that way, you’ll deliver moisture to the roots without wasting water on leaves and to evaporation.

2. Forgetting to Test
Even veteran gardeners forget to test their soil every year to make sure it has the pH and nutrients plants need. For about $10, you can send a sample to your state extension service and receive a complete analysis. Or, buy a DIY test kit at your local garden center. When you know what your soil is made of, either select plants that thrive in that type of earth, or amend soil to match your garden’s needs.

3. Planting Garden Divas
Of course you love summer tomatoes, but they can be tricky to grow during summers that are too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry. So newbies should try growing a couple of tomato plants just for fun, then load gardens with foolproof veggies and herbs, such as beans, peppers, oregano, and parsley. If you must grow a tomato, plant cherry tomatoes that can survive anything summer can throw at them and even yield fruit into fall.

4. Raising Too Much
One cherry tomato plant can yield 80 fruit, and a single zucchini plant can keep your neighbors in zucchini bread through winter. So don’t plant more than you can eat, put up, or share with friends. The National Gardening Association says an edible garden of about 200 sq. ft. should keep a family of four in veggies all summer. If you do grow more than you need, donate it to a local food bank or plan a swap with fellow gardeners.

5. Growing Everything From Seed
Some crops, such as salad greens, radishes, carrots, peas, beans, and squash, are easy to grow from seeds that germinate in a couple of weeks. Experience will tell you that eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, and tomatoes are better grown from seedlings, which someone else has nurtured for months. Pick plants that are short and compact; avoid leggy plants with blooms that are liable to die on the vine as the plant acclimates itself to your garden.

6. Assuming You Know
Gardeners often read seed packages and figure they know everything about growing vegetables. Wrong! The more you know about your hardiness zone, soil, weather, insects, and vegetable varieties, the better your garden will grow. So curl up with a good gardening book, and surf the web for garden bloggers that share your passion. Better yet, join a gardening club where you can share tips and seeds.

7. Relying on Pesticides
Don’t bring out the big guns, which can contaminate the watershed, until you’ve tried less-toxic ways to get rid of garden pests. Ladybugs and praying mantis, which you can buy at garden supply stores, will eat garden intruders, such as aphids and beetles. Non-toxic insecticidal soaps will take care of soft-bodied insects (don’t use if ladybugs are around).

Guest Writer Sally Norton

Image courtesy of Unsplash

You have saved enough money to purchase your first home not long ago, but don't be so excited just yet. There may be some additional expenses coming your way. Being a first-time homeowner, chances are you've acquired a property that isn't all that perfect - either due to the lack of knowledge or money. However, that doesn't mean your home can't become perfect. With certain adjustments, you can very well turn that ugly duckling into the house of your dreams. This article will cover all the necessary information regarding the improvements first-time homeowners should tackle first. And don't worry, most of them are actually inexpensive while still providing a significant return on investment.

Improvements First-Time Homeowners Should Tackle First

A house doesn't instantly become a place you can call home. It takes days of adjusting it to actually become worthy of that title. Some properties require little to no investment, while the others use up your money, along with your time. Regardless of the amount of work needed around your house, it would definitely flourish if you were to improve it slightly. With that in mind, keep on reading to find out just what you can do to spruce up that latest asset of yours!
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Repaint Your Home
​You may not believe it, but paint can actually give a whole new life to an otherwise lifeless property. It's also one of the most straightforward projects you can tackle. You can even DIY it! The amount of money you will spend on painting, of course, varies based on the size of the property. Nonetheless, painting the entire house shouldn't cost you more than a few hundred bucks. Furthermore, these days, companies producing paint have improved their products significantly. This means you can easily achieve good coverage with just one coat, thus contributing to lower costs.
 
To ensure none of your belongings get paint smeared all over them, perhaps, you are better off coating your walls before moving in. Once that has been dealt with, you can continue bringing things to your home. Remember, your possessions should only be handled by reliable movers you can trust. When looking to pick a reputable company for the task, perform your due diligence by reading through moving reviews. Only this way will you be able to spot a potential scam.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Brighten the Place Up
​Much like paint, lighting has a way of drastically impacting the perception of one's home. Poorly lit areas can make a person feel cramped - almost as if they were trapped in a tiny space. Bright rooms, on the other hand, give off a feeling of spaciousness. You definitely want this for your house, too, so pay special attention to lighting! Of course, this doesn't mean you must invest in brand new fixtures, lamps, and chandeliers. In fact, you will still see a great difference by simply switching regular bulbs with their LED versions. The latter come in a variety of colors, too. It's up to you to choose the one you believe best suits your interior.

Update Flooring
Many first-time homeowners lean towards hardwood flooring rather than tiles. Over the last couple of years, the quality of synthetic flooring has significantly improved. Thanks to that, those interested in updating their flooring have a chance to do so at an affordable price. They also needn't worry about rapid deterioration. Nevertheless, tiles are still a popular option and are easier to maintain. As far as how much the actual undertaking costs, the answer largely depends on factors such as the chosen material, square footage, the cost of labor, and even location. On average, though, you are looking at $10 to $15 per square foot of tiles and as little as $6 to $23 per square foot of hardwood flooring.

Renovate the Bathroom
On the list of renovation projects that improve a home's value, bathroom remodeling ranks exceptionally high. Full-on remodeling, which includes new plumbing, complete retiling, flooring installation, and more, is pretty costly. At the same time, certain cosmetic upgrades aren't that ridiculously priced but will still improve the appearance of your home. This can be anything from replacing the old toilet with a new one to covering walls with aesthetically pleasing wallpaper. Of course, if your property is in such shape that it requires you to spend thousands of dollars on a bathroom renovation, then, sadly, there isn't much that can be done in terms of lessening the financial burden.
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Renovate the Kitchen
Alongside bathrooms, kitchens are the selling point of properties. If you were ever to sell, remodeling your kitchen would have proven a smart idea as it drives the home's worth up. A kitchen is also one of those high-traffic areas, so it isn't unusual that many first-time homeowners want this room in its best shape possible.
 
Depending on the condition of the current kitchen, you are either going to deal with a large-scale remodel or a minor one. You may want to change the layout altogether, switch the old appliances, replace cabinetry and countertops. The project can end up being pricey, with it costing more than $30,000 even. Naturally, it all depends on the materials and the size of the kitchen.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Fix Up the Systems
​Prior to purchasing, you've probably been made aware of the faults in the HVAC and electrical systems, if there were any. After all, a home inspector's job is to inform you of these. If yes, you already know what must be fixed, and it's better to do so as soon as possible to avoid having to deal with additional problems. This isn't something you can do on your own. Enlist the help of an experienced electrician or contractor to fix everything up for you.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

This isn't the end in terms of improvements first-time homeowners should tackle first. It all comes down to the condition of the property upon purchase. If the house has been recently renovated, there may be absolutely nothing for you to do other than decorate. We sure hope that is the case!

Episode 187 AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show

You’ve made the decision to sell your house. You’ve deep-cleaned your bathrooms, repainted your living room walls, and replaced the kitchen cabinets. That doesn’t mean you’re ready to place the house on the market. There’s far more to staging a home for photos and open houses than just making sure it’s free of dirt and has showy upgrades. Read on for some tips on how to declutter your house and make sure that future buyers will see its potential for the future, not its history.

The Big PictureIf you want to facilitate a quick sale without dramatically dropping your asking price, you need to ensure that your home will make the best first impression on buyers. Most modern buyers do their research online.
 
If potential buyers are looking through real estate listings, pictures of a home cluttered with personal belongings, family photos, and years of accumulated junk won’t generate a lot of excitement. Try to see the house from a buyer’s perspective and consider the big picture: you want your home to look clean, inviting, and ready for move-in day.

The Importance of Removing ClutterEvery family accumulates a certain amount of clutter after years of living in the same home. Recently, scientific evidence shows how decluttering homes can improve mental and physical health, but that hasn’t stopped homeowners from accumulating more than their fair share of knick-knacks and keepsakes. You don’t have to toss all those family mementos in the trash but they have no place in real estate photos and videos.
 
Arguably the best way to deal with large amounts of family keepsakes is to rent a small storage unit. It’s an affordable option that gives homeowners an alternative to giving away or tossing sentimental items. Items that don’t have sentimental value can always be sold at a moving sale or donated to Goodwill.

Preparing an Online ListingIt’s best to discuss options for improving your home’s chances of a quick sale with a real estate agent who has experience selling other homes in your neighborhood prior to listing your home. You may feel as if you know your house best, but your real estate agent can be objective in ways that you can’t.
 
Depersonalizing your home is just as important as removing clutter. Potential buyers want to see themselves and their families living in their future homes, not their current occupants. Plus, not everyone shares the same taste when it comes to home decorating, furnishings, artwork, and decor.
 
Remove artwork and family photos from walls and take a look at the home’s furnishings. Period or date furnishings only appeal to other consumers who’re in love with the unique aesthetic created by antiques or retro furniture. No matter how much you love that 1960s-style couch, it has no place in real estate photos and you’ll need to remove it prior to the first property tour or open house.
 
If you’re going to keep your furniture in your home while staging it for buyers, make sure your pieces are modern, in good condition, and clean. If any furniture is stained, you can hire an upholstery cleaner to remove the stain. Avoid companies who use all-in-one cleaning solutions. Before hiring furniture cleaners, visit a site like Angi to compare customer testimonials and look for potential deals. 
 
Your realtor can help you determine how to make your home appeal to the widest audience, but homeowners will only be able to move forward with this process after they’ve removed their own personal touches. Saying goodbye to a beloved home can be hard, but don’t use that as an excuse to put off getting organized, decluttering the house, and preparing it for sale until the last minute. It could have a substantial impact on how much you get for your house and how quickly it sells.
 
Your real estate agent is your most valuable resource for information and help with selling your home but you have a lot of work to do, too. Get the process of preparing to stage the home started well in advance, then consult a real estate agent for advice about how to arrange furniture, improve lighting, and attract a wider range of buyers. With the right strategy, you’ll see a Sold sign in your front yard in no time.
 
Ready to sell your home? Expert Realtor Jason Gelios can ensure you earn the maximum for your sale. Call 586.419.2231!

Article by Laura Woods With GoBankingRates
Featured expertise by Jason Gelios REALTOR

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the real estate market into a wild domain. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you’re likely eager to know how long this will last.
In June 2021, home prices across the U.S. surged 24.8% year-over-year — to a median sale price of $386,888 — according to Redfin. During the same time period, the number of homes sold increased 20.6% and the number of homes for sale tumbled 39.6%.

By Erica Sweeney

A guest article by David Allen.  A 7 minute read

​If you're planning to sell your property, one of the first and most important decisions you'll have to make is whether you'll hire a real estate agent or not. Even though selling a property is a complex and time-consuming process, many people are still reluctant when it comes to paying commission for agent services. Some homeowners simply prefer to go solo with their home sale, although they often realize that they've made a terrible mistake. If you want to avoid the risks of many complications along the way, you should consider the reasons why selling without an agent is a recipe for disaster.
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You don’t have home selling expertise and knowledge. If you want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, you'll need a local agent with experience in selling homes such as yours. The most important factors why people hire a real estate agent are:

• Because they are familiar with the local market and current trends
• They can provide insights that are hard to get otherwise
• They have specialized knowledge that is impossible to find online
• Agents always work in the client's best interest, trying to sell each home for the maximum price
• They analyze all the relevant data and ensure that the client and the home are fully prepared before hitting the market
  
  

A real estate transaction is a significant financial transaction, and selling your home is a major event in your life. So, it only makes sense to work with a professional that will help ensure all goes smoothly.

​You need valuable professional advice.

Sellers usually pay a commission to their chosen real estate agent at the closing after all the important work is already done. If you know anyone who has recently sold a home, you may ask them if they find an agent's services valuable and worth the money.
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Real estate agents sometimes offer certain perks at no additional cost. Those may include the services of a professional photographer, staging advice, some home improvement tips, etc. All these extras can make your home sell more quickly and for a better price. Also, agents have a vast network of clients and other agents. That can prove helpful in bringing more potential buyers to look at your home. Years of experience guarantee that your agent has valuable connections in the industry, and that's exactly what you need.

If you hope to do it all on your own, you’ll lose a lot of precious time.

Most sellers simply don't have time to lose, and that's the main reason to hire an agent. It takes a lot of time to schedule and manage appointments. If you have a very demanding job and you don't have a lot of spare time, you can rely on your agent every step of the way. While you're on a business trip or a vacation, they can handle showings and negotiations, so you won't have to turn off any potential buyers. It also takes a lot of patience to respond to agent and buyer questions, concerns, and objections professionally. Trying to do everything independently and selling without an agent may significantly prolong the home selling process.

​All your marketing strategies might be in vain.

Most sellers don't know how to successfully market their property. To be able to do so, you need to be familiar with the buyer demographic for your neighborhood. You need to know how to target and reach prospective buyers. When it comes to effective marketing, an experienced real estate agent is your main ally. They know the best ways to reach and appeal to a targeted group of buyers. Also, they have access to predictive analytics, and they know how to strategically promote your home. They can make the best use of traditional as well as modern (online/social media) marketing methods. With the right marketing campaign, you will be able to attract lots of buyers.

The closing can become a nightmare.

The agent's role is crucial during the closing. Closing implies signing a lot of paperwork and dealing with complicated terminology. A real estate agent should be there to help you with all the paperwork, double-check the legal matters, and answer any questions you might have before you sign the documents.

It can prolong the process of moving to another home.

Another reason why selling without an agent is a recipe for disaster is that it can significantly prolong the process of moving to another home. If you don't set the right price for your home, don't stage it properly, and don't invest in a successful marketing campaign, the selling process may postpone other planned events in your life, such as buying another home and moving there. You may not be able to concentrate on many important tasks ahead of you, and you may even end up selling your home for a much lower price than its actual value.
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On the other hand, if you hire a reliable real estate agent, the whole process will be much smoother and probably faster as well. After the closing, the real estate agent will explain when you should have the house vacant and what the condition of the house should be when you are moving out. Meanwhile, you should also find someone to take care of everything related to your relocation. If you hire full-service movers, you can rely on them for packing, furniture dissembling, storage solutions, safe transport of your items, and much more. Then, you'll finally be able to relax knowing that your belongings will be safely transferred to your new property with utmost care.
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Final thoughts.
Selling a property is not as easy as it may seem at the start. Finding the right buyer and getting the price you want requires a lot of patience and confidence, and selling without an agent is a recipe for disaster on many levels. If you have an experienced agent by your side, you'll be able to minimize the stress that occurs during the sale process. Also, you'll avoid many risks along the way.

Episode 186 AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show

By John Carlucci | Prudential Cal    

Buying a condo can be the perfect way to live in affordability and style, without getting into the hassle of single-family home-ownership. Condos are usually less expensive and usually offer amenities that you won't get at home, like a pool or gym membership for an extra fee.
Buying your first condo, you’ll need to understand all the factors that matter when checking out the best suitable one for you. 

Laura Woods - Yahoo Finance Writer
Featuring expertise by Realtor Jason Gelios
4 minute read

By Whitney Coy-Realtor.com

Episode 185 AskJasonGelios Real Estate Show

Realtor Rant-Jason Gelios

I had the pleasure of being a part of this great article by Andrew Lisa and GoBankingRates. 

As a real estate agent, you get the privilege of helping people find their dream homes. With that privilege comes the responsibility to know and abide by fair housing laws. But what are they and how do you follow them? Here's all you need to know. ​

An article by Shawn M. Carter. Featured expertise by Jason Gelios

The median cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment is climbing in many parts of the country. That’s a scary prospect for the Americans who are still financially recovering from the pandemic.
In fact, 2 in 5 renters say their housing budget is already stretched to the max and they wouldn’t be able to handle a $150 monthly rent increase, according to a new survey from Rent.com. Researchers at the site polled 1,200 people, ages 18 to 70, to understand how the Covid crisis changed their finances and how it could affect their ability to afford the area where they live.