Raleigh Remodeling Services By Blue Ribbon Construction

Thinking of Selling Your Home?

April 3rd, 2012

So, thinking about selling your home? Just throw it on the market and see what happens.

Wait for it. There it is—the sound of Realtors all over the Triangle coughing up their breakfast at the very idea. You’re courting disaster with that willy-nilly approach, but, unfortunately, that’s how many would-be sellers start out.

“If you haven’t taken care of the condition of your home before you list it, you’re in trouble because you’ve already shown your property to people looking online, and they’ve already discounted your property off their list because you didn’t do the things up front,” says Keith Bliss, owner of The Bliss Real Estate Group, a team with Keller Williams Realty in Cary.

Isn’t that what feedback is for, you ask. Why not fix the things you get negative feedback on and ask the potential buyers to come back? It won’t work. Your dirty, cluttered house with its cooking odors and loud colors (those are the biggest buyer turnoffs) gives off a bad vibe. Your buyers are moving on.

The truth is, you’ve got to put your best foot forward the very first second your home is on the market. In 2011, nearly 600 real estate professionals nationwide were surveyed (HomeGain’s 2011 Home Sale Maximizer Survey) to discover which do-it-yourself improvement projects brought the biggest return on investment. Here are five, with good feedback from both local sellers and Realtors.

1: FINISH PROJECTS

Bliss recently listed Kristy and Craig Brown’s 1,700-square-foot Apex home for $225,000, but not before the couple, with two young sons, completed a few assignments.

“We were fortunate to find a great contractor who did pretty much all of the things we needed to get our house market-ready, which included finishing projects — little things like putting a railing on the front porch, replacing the front steps, replacing recessed lighting fixtures that were outdated, painting and removing outdated florescent lighting in the kitchen and master closet,” says Kristy Brown.

2: PAINT

Donald and Janice Jones, formerly of Apex, spent about $1,500 to get their home market-ready. The majority was spent on painting.

“I painted outside and inside but also had the help of a professional painter,” says Donald Jones. “The painting bill was about $1,300 but that covered all the doors, door frames, base boards and the majority of rooms. I do think it helped. The house showed as if it had been kept lovingly and it was. I think that makes an impression on the buyers and helps them envision doing the same.”

The 2,100-square-foot Jones home sold fast, spending just 33 days on the market and selling for nearly full price at $234,000. “Janice and Donald were very diligent in a minimal amount of time with lots of elbow grease and effort,” says Mary Krabacher, the listing agent for the home and a Realtor with Fonville Morisey/Long & Foster Realtors.

3: CLEAN, DE-CLUTTER AND  DE-PERSONALIZE

This costs nothing but time, a little money and probably a sore back.

Getting a house clean is one thing. Keeping it that way is an entirely different matter. Both the Joneses and the Browns moved out of their homes before putting them on the market, avoiding that issue altogether.

The Joneses also paid for a deep-cleaning once they moved out. The Browns moved in with family and cleared out all the kids’ toys and personal family items but left the big furniture for staging purposes. “Not having to worry about getting the dogs and kids loaded up and cleaning up whatever messy toddler craft project we might be working on at that time is a big relief,” says Brown. “We wanted to make the viewing of our home as convenient and easy for the buyer as we would want it to be. We think this will help sell our home, hopefully.”

One word of advice on this front, too. If your home is not clean and ready to show, then don’t show it, says Bliss. You can say no.

4: STAGING

“The key piece is that people today want to see homes look like a model home,” says Bliss. In other words, don’t live in your home like you usually do.

Most would-be buyers search on their own before asking to see a home, using photos to make their decision. “Photos are extremely important because you want that buyer to say ‘Wow; I want to see this one,’” says Bliss.

When it comes to staging, Krabacher suggests arranging furniture in a way that maximizes space. You may have to put oversized pieces in storage. You want each room to look spacious, clean and welcoming.

Bliss advises clients to invest $100 or less in a nice bedding set for the master bedroom. People like to come into a home and see a really nice master bedroom,” he says.

#5 LANDSCAPING

Krabacher received great feedback on the Joneses yard. And Craig Brown laid mulch one morning in 19-degree weather to get his home on the market. Landscaping really is important.

“People are looking at curb appeal right from the street — from edging your property to fresh mulch,” says Bliss. “You can’t just throw a little bit of seed out there either. You’ve got to really get a professional out there getting your yard looking really good. That’s another expense, but how many people are actually going to take 12 to 30 hours to do their landscaping before the house goes on the market?” One compromise: Get the major stuff out of the way and then work on it yourself.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: PRICING

What if you’ve spent a little money and a lot of time and your house still isn’t selling? “If you get ten showings with no offers or you go two weeks with no showings, and we’ve taken care of the marketing and you’ve taken care of the condition, then we know its price,” says Bliss.

“Really what it comes down to is price, condition and then location,” Bliss continues. “It used to be location, location, location. But the market has shifted so much that buyers are really looking for the best price first. I’ve got agents coming from further and further away to show my listings than ever before.”

Krabacher agrees that sellers must price appropriately. The Joneses did so and had multiple offers, not common in this market, but they still had to negotiate. “While this home sold for near asking price, the sellers agreed to pay towards the buyers’ closing costs and a home warranty,” she says. “Qualified buyers are enjoying the current interest rates, available inventory of homes and are looking for a good deal.”

http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/24/1880668/top-five-seller-fix-ups.html#storylink=cpy

Southern Ideal Home Show – Raleigh – Spring Friday April 13 – Sunday April 15 2012

March 29th, 2012

Spring has sprung early and there is no time like the present to do some spring cleaning or better yet some Spring updating. Whether you are looking for some fresh ideas or in the market for some quality home renovations please come out and see us at the Southern Ideal Home Show the weekend of April 13 – April 15. The Masters will be over and this will be a prime opportunity to get the better half away from the big screen!

TIPS FROM THE DIVAS………….

March 26th, 2012

Painting Tips

Paint not only come in thousands of colors, it’s also available in many finishes…..Flat, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-gloss, Gloss. Remember that the shinier the finish, the harder or more durable the finish. That is why you will find doors and trim painted in semi-gloss or gloss. Also know that the shinier the finish, the more surface flaws you will see. Avoid this finish on older plaster and damaged sheetrock…you will see every lump and bump.

Rule-of-thumb:

FLAT, non-reflective finish on ceilings and walls
EGGSHELL, slight sheen on kitchen, bath walls and high-traffic areas.
SEMI-GLOSS, moderate sheen on trim and doors
GLOSS, high sheen on trim and doors

If you want a really great job, use a good painter. If you want the right colors, call a designer. (We can suggest 2 great gals!) There is more to painting than just putting paint on your walls!

Newly finished master bath BEFORE & AFTER

March 23rd, 2012

Hi Everyone, We have just finished another master bathroom that turned out just awesome. I think the owner is in love with us…. Maybe she could adopt me so I can use her shower, good idea, what do you think? The tile, granite, glass partition style, faucets & cabinets that the owner selected are just awesome. There were many features incorporated in this bath that although not obvious are part of our accessible design concept. A barrier free shower, blocking behind the drywall for future grab bars, lever handles on faucets, comfort height commode, turning space in the event someone uses this bath with a wheel chair are the main features. Comment so I know if you like this bathroom AND if you like it, maybe you want one too. Just saying.

Oh, I forgot we also changed the closet around and installed custom shelving.

TRIANGLE HOMES SALES JUMP 35% IN FEBRUARY!

March 19th, 2012

NEWS & OBSERVER:

The Triangle housing market had its best February in four years as sales increased 35 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

While some increase was expected given the dismal market conditions early last year, the size of the jump offered renewed hope that a key component of the region’s economy is on the mend.

“We know there’s a lot of pent up demand,” said Phyllis Brookshire, a senior vice president with Allen Tate Real Estate. “There’s a lot of inventory that’s come off the market so the supply and demand gap has gotten smaller. When that happens market factors just take over.”

The number of homes on the market has been falling for months, and was 26 percent lower in February than it was during the same period a year ago. The Triangle’s housing inventory increased just 3 percent from January to February – a time in which traditionally many people put their homes up for sale.

Buyers are also being lured back by declining prices. The average price of the homes that sold in February was $216,600, down 3 percent from a year ago.

“Sometimes it’s just a little bit that makes a difference,” Brookshire said.

A better measure of the strength of the housing recovery will come later this year when the sales numbers are benchmarked against numbers that weren’t as heavily influenced by the federal tax credits, said Stacey Anfindsen, a Cary appraiser who analyzes Triangle Multiple Listing Services data for area real-estate agents.

The credits expired at the end of June 2010, but sales were depressed for an extended period afterward.

“The percentage numbers look good because February (2011) was so bad but when we get to July we’ll start to see 1 to 2 percent comparisons,” Anfindsen predicted.

The next few months are traditionally the strongest ones for home sales. February data on pending sales, which were up 30 percent, and showings, which increased 9 percent, offered further evidence of growing momentum in the marketplace.

Still, the housing market has been presumed to be on the road to recovery multiple times in recent years. Previous recoveries have failed to gain traction even though declining prices and historically low interest rates have made owning a home much more affordable.

‘It’s hard to know’

Jane Smith, 30, has been sporadically house hunting in Raleigh for the past few years but only recently got more serious about her search. She believes she’s been renting longer than she should, but gauging where the market is headed has been difficult.

“It’s hard to know,” she said. “I’ve been keeping my eyes open in the real estate market for a couple years now and things haven’t changed much.”

Smith, a financial adviser with Oxford Investment Group, has seen firsthand how recent gains in the stock market and positive economic news has made many people, including her, more willing to consider purchasing a home.

Smith has yet to make offers on any houses, but she’s under no pressure to buy. She’d like to take advantage of interest rates before they rise.

“I think some are a little overpriced right now,” Smith said of the homes she’s looked at. “… We’ll see, I think there’s still some room. Because it’s a buyer’s market there’s some negotiating room.”

The health of the housing market is intrinsically connected to the job market, which only recently has begun to post the kind of gains necessary to make a dent in the unemployment rate. Brookshire said it’s likely the cumulative effect of a gradual drumbeat of better economic news is drawing buyers off the sidelines.

“I think consumer confidence is improving and I think everybody feels like the economy is improving,” she said. “… It was a lot of little things from different places that kind of added up.”

Bracken: 919-829-4548

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/03/15/1930946/triangle-home-sales-jump-35-percent.html#storylink=cpy

IRS modifies regulations regarding business cell phones.

March 18th, 2012

A major change but quite simple to understand – if an employee has a business cell phone as a “benefit” it can be taxable. However, if the cell phone is specifically for business use it is not considered taxable. Make sure you and your accountant dot those “i’s” and cross those “t’s” in preparing your business taxes.

Sometimes giving back to your community is right at your back door.

March 13th, 2012

With the economy in the shape it has been non-profits have been hit hard. Raleigh has seen the YWCA shut its doors this month which provided services for children and their families that were not otherwise affordable. A lot of parents have lost their childcare options. However, a hidden treasure “Learning Together” which is located in downtown Raleigh on E. Lenoir Street services children of all abilities. Their Developmental Day program is an inclusive program of children with developmental delays as well as typically developing children. Approximately 99% of donations given to Learning Together go directly back into their programs to helping children of all abilities.

Master Bathroom a step above the ordinary.

March 12th, 2012

March 5th, 2012

All of the people I know in the remodeling industry can see an improvement in business. Is it time to pull the trigger on that project you talked about?

Master Bath Renovation

How about a new front porch?

March 4th, 2012

Here is the newly created front porch on a very nice home in Cary, NC. The porch was added to solve several problems. The first was to re-direct water away from the front of the home so additional siding damage wouldn’t take place. The other is to make the entry more inviting. I think you will agree, the plan worked. In this photo the roofers are taking care of things and installing the standing seam metal roofing.