Filed under: Buying a Home, Home Maintenance, Home Values, Real Estate | Tags: Cheryl Brenna Group, Home Inspections, Purchase a home, Real Estate, Twin Cities Metro Area
Consider Re-Sale When Purchasing a Home!
Buying a home can be one of the most emotional events in your life. And it should be! The purchase of a home will most likely be one of your largest single expenditures. It is your sanctuary and possibly the place you will raise your family. You want it to fit you!
Looking for a home seems fairly easy. You drive around neighborhoods, visit open houses and search real estate web sites to find properties that interest you. Things become more complex when you become serious about putting in an offer on a home. Whether it is new construction or an existing home, the time to avoid re-sale problems is when you decide to purchase.
It may be hard to think about re-sale when you are just considering buying a home. However, some time in the future you may want or need to sell that home. Remember, no home will be absolutely perfect. But once you find the home that fits your needs, it would be wise to look ahead and consider any possible issues that could affect the re-sale of the property. You will want to have a home that is in high demand by future buyers and one that will get you the highest price possible in the market at the time you decide to sell.
Here are a few potential items to consider in order to avoid future re-sale problems:
1) Lack of Yard
Buyers may pass on a home that has a significantly smaller or unusable yard.
2) Unusual Easements or Restrictions
If unusual easements or deed restrictions are discovered on the title work, it could be cause for re-consideration and it would be in your best interest to carefully evaluate the situation before making a final decision. Some examples: Is there an access easement to another property? Is there an encroachment on the property? Is flood insurance required? Is there a lot boundary issue?
3) High Tension Wires
The general reaction by buyers to nearby high tension wires is to simply cross the property off their short list.
4) Steep Driveway
From past experience if a drive way is too steep, some buyers won’t even get out and view the home.
5) Busy Street
The noise and traffic related to a busy street is a turn off to many buyers regardless if the street is located in the front or to the rear of the home.
6) Uncommon Style
Homes that are atypical for the neighborhood may be problematic in selling in the future.
7) Non-Functional Floor Plan
Floor plans that make living in the home difficult may turn buyers away. Some examples: Excessive level changes, low ceilings and rooms that are out of proportion.
8) Water Drainage Problems
Poor water drainage can create serious and costly structural remediation problems.
9) Over Improved
It may be difficult to recoup the cost for homes that are over improved for the area. Some buyers may feel safer purchasing at the mid level of a neighborhood.
10) Inspection Issues
Excessive repairs noted in your inspection report may indicate the house was not maintained or was poorly constructed.
These are just a few of the things to consider when purchasing a home in order to avoid re-sale problems in the future. Some of these issues may be fixable but be sure to thoroughly assess the situation and get expert advice when considering the cost of repair or improvement. Now is the time to look ahead and anticipate possible sales objections that you may encounter with this property.
The Cheryl Brenna Group is committed to helping you find a home that you will love to come home to! Choosing the right real estate agent to look after your best interests is critical. You want a professional who is highly knowledgeable of the market as well as in tune to your specific needs. We want to find the right home for you!
Filed under: Home Maintenance, Home Staging, Selling a Home | Tags: Cheryl Brenna Group, Home Staging, Selling Your Home, Preparing Your Home for Sale, Twin Cities Metro Area, home sales
Tips for Making Your Home More Photogenic
According to re
cent statistics, up to 85% of prospective homebuyers are turning to the internet first to view their local real estate market. Therefore, good photos are essential! Great houses can be overlooked due to poor photography that does not represent how the home really looks. Listings without photos or only with an exterior photo are often overlooked. Buyers are visual and without good photos your home could be passed over or ignored.
They way you present your home to prospective buyers can make all the difference towards the successful sale of your home. Buyers don’t always have a vision so sometimes it is necessary to help them. First impressions are all too important. You want buyers to have an immediate sense of pride of ownership as they approach your home. Here are some helpful tips to make your home look great while preparing your home for sale and for taking attractive home photos:
1) Curb appeal:
- Have a clean, manicured lawn.
- Paint or stain your front door and update trim.
- Maintain an impeccable front entry.
- Update exterior light fixtures.
2) Get rid of clutter:
- Have clean, 
de-cluttered counter tops.
- Streamline shelves and built-ins. Visually place items in groups.
- Minimize! Less is more!
- Pristine condition is a must.
3) Paint:
- Update paint colors.
- Neutralize paint colors.
4) Lighting:
- Update light fixtures.
- Clean all light fixtures.
- Have all lights on.
- Have a glowing fireplace.
5) Windows:
- Windows should be clean and sparkling.
- Replace broken or cracked windows.
- Replace broken hardware.
6) Accessories:
- Update cabinet hardware.
- Have new towels and shower curtains.
- Have flowering plants.
- Add pops of color with fun pillows.
- Get rid of all dried flower arrangements.
7) Other things to remember: 
- Take summer exterior photos. It is nice to be able to display these photos when listing your home in the winter.
- Your home should smell clean and “homey”.
- Carpet should be clean and fully stretched.
- Wood floors should be clean and scratch free.
As the saying goes…”A picture is worth a thousand words!” All of these tips will help you prepare your home for sale and make it more appealing to all of the potential home buyers that will see your home on-line. It is important to create a neutral, inviting environment in which buyers can picture themselves. Our Home Composing team at the Cheryl Brenna group understands what buyers are looking for. We don’t get bogged down with emotional attachment. More importantly, we do create meaningful spaces buyers can’t resist. Give us the chance and watch us transform your home into a buyer’s showplace!
Filed under: Green Living, Home Maintenance, Home Staging, Selling a Home | Tags: Cheryl Brenna Group, currenty home inventory, existing homes, home sales, Home Staging, new listings, Preparing Your Home for Sale, Real Estate, Selling Your Home, Woodbury Housing Supply, woodbury minnesota realestate, Woodbury Real Estate News
5 Easy Steps to Increase Interest in your Home
Traditionally, spring is the most popular home buying season of the year. Which means, with spring just around the corner, now is the time to think about sprucing up your house before putting it on the market.
It’s true that the housing industry is in a slump right now, but people are still buying homes. Buyers are taking advantage of the record low interest rates and lower home values. The goal is to make sure that your home stands out from the crowd to get your home sold!
Should you invest in large makeovers and major updates? That depends on the condition of your home. The challenge is to choose home improvement projects that will not only add value to your home, but will also make it stand out in a crowd. If you are unsure, it might be a good idea to consult with a real estate agent. The Cheryl Brenna Group has over 20 years combined in the real estate business, diverse backgrounds and Cheryl comes from a building family. When you list your home with the Cheryl Brenna Group, you receive two free hours of Home ComposingSM. Our approach is to make the best of what you have without making costly replacements and changes.
Here are 5 easy steps for homeowners preparing to sell their home:
1) First Impressions: Curb appeal plays a major role in creating a favorable 
first impression. Your front porch is often the first thing a potential homebuyer will see. It should be in perfect shape. Add a fresh coat of paint, touch up the trim, add charming chairs and bright flowers in colorful pots.
2) Look Behind You: Don’t neglect the backyard. Outdoor living spaces grow in popularity each year. Impress potential homebuyers with a backyard to die for. Add overflowing garden boxes, nice wooden furniture, a new deck or perhaps a gazebo.
3) Molding: Adding decorative wood molding or a simple chair rail can completely change the look of a room. High ceilings with deep crown molding are highly popular and can make an amazing impact.
4) Floor them: If your flooring is worn or dirty, consider new plush carpet or real wood floors. This does not have to be an expensive undertaking with all the current flooring options available.
5) Add a visual surprise: A little visual pop that no one expects can make your home stand out among the rest. For example, you could add bead board paneling or paint your kitchen island a fun accent color.
The most important thing is to update the most visible areas. When doing any home improvement projects it is smart for homeowners to select “green” building materials. Today, most consumers are being conscientious about buying sustainable, natural building products.
Article Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press and Metro Creative Graphics
Filed under: Green Living, Home Maintenance | Tags: Conserve energy, Eco-Friendly, Environment, Going Green for the Holidays, Holiday season, Living Green, Minnesota
Living Green ─ Giving Green!
Let’s face it…everyone is talking about going green these days to conserve energy and save money. Doing a total remodel is one way to go green. This can be costly but you will save money in the end. However, when it comes to the environment small actions can create big changes! There are many economical things you can do in order to conserve energy, save money and do your part for the environment.
Energy conservation begins at home. There are a number of strategies we can implement to help reduce our fuel bills during the cold winter months in Minnesota. For example, installing a programmable thermostat and wearing appropriate winter clothing will reduce monthly gas and electric bills. It is extremely important to maintain your heating system by merely changing the filter out on a monthly basis. Scheduling an annual check up with a licensed contractor can prevent system failures during the coldest time of the year and un-planned expenditures. Turning off lights and caulking around windows and doors are also low-cost solutions for conserving energy at home.
You can also keep your green efforts on track during the holiday season! You can make your holidays greener by following these simple ideas:
1) Real vs. Artificial
Going Real: Getting a real tree can generate oxygen and can benefit the soil if used as mulch in the spring.
Going Artificial: Getting an artificial tree will save trees plus they are fire retardant and look real without the hassle of vacuuming up needles.
2) Decorate Wisely
Beautiful holiday lights can be a drain on your energy bill. Switching to LED lights and limiting the amount of time you keep them on will reduce energy costs.
3) Re-use and Re-wrap
Did you know that most mass-produced wrapping paper we buy in stores is not recyclable? Try re-using last year’s wrapping paper or wrap your gifts in fun graphics including old maps, comics or your children’s artwork.
4) Eco-friendly Gifts
Eco-friendly gifts are sure to be a hit this holiday season! This can be as easy as choosing gifts that are made with durable, quality, non-toxic materials. Or, simply search the internet to get creative green gift ideas!
By educating ourselves we can make informed decisions that will allow us to better protect our environment. We may even inspire a family member, friend or neighbor to start thinking green. Go Green, Live Green and Give Green today, during the holiday season and always!
