Q: Do Pets Still Influence Real Estate Deals?

If you’re planning on selling your home, here’s how to handle your pets.

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If anyone is happy about us being stuck at home since March, it’s our pets. Owners have been constant companions to pets during this pandemic, providing extra attention and warmth throughout the work week for a change. 

According to reports from shelters across the country, people have been more eager to foster pets than usual. While pets are happier with us around, it’s clear that humans have been leaning into the opportunity to experience their companionship.

"Everyone loves pets, but not everyone loves yours."

How do our new in-home offices and furry coworkers affect how we buy and sell homes? A recent study by the National Association of Realtors shows that a pets’ needs are important to buyers, although only a small percentage will make a move to accommodate the needs of a pet. Pet-friendly features like fenced yards and pet doors were among those on many pet owners’ wish lists.

If you are selling your home, it’s important to erase evidence of your pets when showing it. It’s an important thing to keep in mind as you prepare it. Everyone loves their pets, but not everyone loves yours.

If you have any questions about selling a home with pets or selling a home in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Q: Does a Quick Offer Mean My House Was Underpriced?

Here’s why receiving an offer quickly shouldn’t be a red flag for sellers.

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Oftentimes, sellers will ask if a quick offer means that their home was priced too low. This is certainly a common conception, and an understandable one at that—no one wants to discover that they’ve done themselves a disservice by pricing their home below its actual value. Thankfully, this fear is almost always unfounded. 

Before listing, the homeowner and their agent will have already discussed their intentions, what the expectations are, what the timeline is, and how the agent can best serve the homeowner. A quick offer means that the home was priced properly. It doesn't mean that we’re undercutting the seller or that the home is undervalued; a home will never sell under the market value because market value is simply defined as what a buyer is willing and able to pay for the home. In other words, market values are set by the buyers in that particular market. A key aspect to remember is that market value and list price aren’t always the same. 

If you have any questions about this or any other real estate-related topic, please feel free to reach out to us by phone or email. We’re always ready to assist with your real estate needs, and we look forward to hearing from you. Stay safe and healthy out there!

Q: How Do I Know Which Offer Is Truly the Best?

Here are three things to consider when sifting through offers on your home.

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Multiple-offer situations are a common occurrence in our fast-paced, low-inventory market. If you list your home and it generates multiple offers, there are three key tips to keep in mind to ensure you select the right offer for you and your family: 

1. Qualify your buyers. You don’t want to get yourself entangled in a deal with a buyer who can’t actually make it to the closing table. Scrutinize the financial qualifications of each buyer so that you can weed out the ones who haven’t done their homework and are therefore more of a risk to your home sale than a solution. 

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A flexible buyer will offer you more time to prep your home and move out.

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2. Look for the best terms. These will include the buyer’s earnest money deposit and the amount they plan to bring to the closing for their down payment. This will let you know how much liquid cash each buyer has. Additionally, determine each buyer’s flexibility between the closing and possession timeline; more flexibility means more time for you to prep your home and move out. 

3. Have a backup offer in mind. When there are lots of qualified buyers in the market, the opportunity to accept a backup is important, just in case the first offer falls through for any reason. This way, you can keep moving forward with the transaction without having to start all over again and source a new buyer. 

As always, if you have questions regarding this particular topic or anything else pertaining to real estate, please feel free to reach out to us via phone or email. We at The Adler Home Team are here to be of service and help you realize your buying or selling goals; we hope to hear from you soon! 

Q: What Should You Do With Pets During Showings?

I’m here to give you tips on what to do with your pets during home showings

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What should you do with your pets when your home is being shown to prospective buyers? We love our pets, but they can sometimes cause problems.

First, what kind of pets do you have? When it comes to cats, you have some things to consider. If they like to bolt for the door, you don’t want to rely on whoever is showing the home to keep them in the house. Limiting them to one room or a kennel, if they can handle it, is the best practice for potential escapees. Do your cats like to hide under the furniture? Usually, as long as everyone knows there is a cat in the house, there shouldn’t be an issue.

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Buyers often want to explore the backyard during the showing, and a dog being back there makes it more difficult.

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With dogs, you have a few options. You can take them with you when you leave the property, kennel them, or send them to dog daycare. If you decide to kennel them, the best space for them (weather permitting) is the garage with the door open for a bit of fresh air.

Some people want to leave their dogs to roam the backyard. However, buyers often want to explore the backyard during the showing, and a dog being back there makes it more difficult. Dogs can be protective of their territory, and many people aren’t comfortable with them.

If you have any further questions about what to do with your pets while your home is being shown or other real estate topics, please feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Q: How Can You Move Safely Amid the Pandemic?

Here are three tips that will help you move safely amid the pandemic.

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A pandemic isn’t an ideal time to move, but some people simply don’t have a choice. If you’re facing a move in the coming days or weeks, here are three tips that will help you do so safely and as easily as possible:

1. Remember that it’s worth spending extra money. The American Moving & Storing Association recommends passing on free recycled boxes from supermarkets and opting for new ones if possible. The reason is simple: Doing this minimizes your exposure to the coronavirus. Also, stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment. If it makes sense in your situation, hire a moving company to handle the move for you safely and strategically. Many moving companies currently provide virtual estimates and contactless moving.

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  Stock up on adequate disinfectants and wipes for yourself, your moving truck, and any shared equipment.     

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2. Remember that preparation is more important now than ever. A move can sometimes become a disorganized affair, but now is the time to make it as neat and orderly as possible. By minimizing the moving time, you’re minimizing contact and exposure. 

3. If you’re doing the move yourself, clean the truck and any shared moving bins or boxes. If you’re hiring a moving company, inquire about the specific measures they’re using to deal with the pandemic, both with their equipment and employees. A move can be a frustrating experience, but don’t throw caution to the wind and get careless. Be mindful of ongoing advice about masks, social distancing, and hygiene. 

As always, if you have questions about this or any real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to help you. 

Q: What Projects Have the Best ROI?

These three simple home updates will get you the best ROI when selling.

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What upgrades will get you the best return on your investment when selling your house? To get the maximum value out of your home projects, focus on smaller tasks; they can actually have a larger impact on the aesthetic appeal of your house without breaking the bank. Here are three of the best ROI updates:

1. Small bathroom remodel. This could be as simple as getting new countertops, repainting to a brighter color, or re-tiling the shower. All these projects will have a massive impact without having to completely demolish the bathroom. These projects alone can bring a 102% return on your investment.

2. Update landscaping. Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your property, aka curb appeal. You can simply add fresh mulch and plant flowers. You only get one chance to make a wonderful first impression, and vibrant landscaping can certainly boost curb appeal. The average investment for landscaping is a bit pricier: $3,500. However, it almost always has a 100% return on investment.

3. Minor kitchen facelift. Repainting the cabinets and getting new hardware will make an outdated kitchen feel new again. These modest changes can bring around a 97% return on investment.

Landscaping is the first thing buyers see when looking at your home.

We have excellent connections with contractors and designers that can help with any of your home project needs. If you’d like a referral or have other real estate-related questions, please feel free to give us a call at (201) 825-1266 or email us anytime. We’d love to hear from you. Most importantly, at this time, please stay safe and healthy.

Q: Which 3 Home Staging Essentials Should You Have?

Here are three great home staging items you can buy at a bargain. 

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If you want to sell your home quickly and for top dollar, it’s important to make sure that visiting buyers never have to stare at any empty rooms or bare walls. The “deserted warehouse” look is out, so if your home isn’t staged attractively, you’re missing out because plenty of other houses will be.

The good news is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively. Buying expensive items to upgrade your home isn’t necessarily the way to go if you don’t have the budget for that. One unexpected place to look for staging props, for example, is Walmart. A few dollars spent on the right items there can go a long way. Check out the bargains they offer to amp up your home staging without breaking the bank.

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  You don’t have to spend a lot of money staging your home attractively.    

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Here are three items you can buy that will do the trick:

1. Fluffy bathroom towels. Bathrooms are the second-most important area and selling feature in a home (next to the kitchen), and fresh, fluffy, colorful towels are the perfect accent for them.

2. Faux plants. If you (like me) struggle to keep real plants alive, then faux plants are a great addition. There are some absolutely beautiful ones out there, and they sometimes look so real that it’s easy to assume they are.

3. Candles. Candles add warmth, character, and an inviting scent to your home. You can get LED candles or the real thing, but LED candles don’t provide the same ambiance that real ones do, which is why I prefer the real deal. Remember to be responsible for where you place your candles.

Bonus tip: Pictures and other accessories help divert a buyer’s attention away from a part of the home you may not like that much.

If you’d like to know more home staging tips or have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m here to help. 

Q: How Can I Market My Pet-Friendly Home?

You can attract more buyers by promoting your home as pet friendly.

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When selling your home, one of the ways to attract a different breed of buyers is to promote your house as pet friendly. You should appeal to those who plan to share their new home with their animal friends. Almost any house can be marketed to pet owners, and if you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker. You can tell your real estate agent that it’s fine for prospective buyers to bring their dogs along to scope out the home. Buyers are often impressed when sellers show their affection for pets. The best pet-friendly investment is to install a wooden or electric invisible fence around the perimeter of your yard. Also, the latest trend is to put a pet bath in the laundry room or garage, which is a sure-fire attention grabber.

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If you take a little extra time to highlight the pet-friendly aspects of your property, it could sell quicker.

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It’s equally crucial to hide those parts of the house that might initially turn off even the most ardent pet lovers. Agents everywhere love to use Febreze. Spritz it all around the furniture and pet beds before a showing to eliminate any odors. Even pet owners don’t like smelly houses. Also, be sure that your lawn is immaculate when showing your property; you can even hire a pooper scooper service. As always, please feel free to call or email us if you have questions about promoting your home to pet owners or any other real estate-related topic. We are always here to be of service to you, your friends, family, or anyone else you know that could benefit from our real estate expertise. We look forward to hearing from you!

Q: What’s Been Happening in Our Real Estate Market?

Entering May, here’s a quick look at how the real estate market is doing.

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We’re back with our monthly real estate market minute for May. First and foremost, we hope you’re staying safe and healthy. We’re here for you to help with whatever you need during this time—just reach out. Our real estate market is moving along, as over 1,000 homes were listed in April and 480 went under contract. The fact that our market is so active is good news. To learn more about what’s going on in real estate and how we can help you, watch the short video above.

Reach out to Us If You Need Anything

If you need anything at all while the country practices self-isolation and social distancing, let us know. We want to help.

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We just wanted to reach out to let you know that our entire team is ready to be an ally to you during these challenging times. Over the past few weeks, our team has been able to provide a variety of services, like running errands for the elderly and providing meals to those in need. We also helped find college students to tutor the children of parents who needed support with their homeschooling. If you need anything at all, reach out and let us know! In the meantime, stay safe and healthy. To see our full message, watch the short video above.

How to Get the Edge on Your Competition

What’s the trick to buying a home in a frenzied spring market? Here’s how we’ll help you find success.

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To increase your chances of buying the home you want in our competitive spring market, you need to have a strategy that gives you an edge. Here are a few key tips to ensure your success: 

1. Be prepared. If you’re new to the town or area you’re buying in, it’s a good idea to spend a few weekends there before the home-buying season starts so you can get to know the area.

2. Scope out the neighborhood. Drive around the neighborhoods you like best at different times of the day so you know what to expect in terms of traffic for your morning and evening commutes.

3. Hire an agent who knows the area. Our team is familiar with many towns in our area, and our collective knowledge will be a valuable resource for you.

4. Make an offer. Focus more on how much the home is worth and less on what the seller is asking for, even if that means paying the list price (or more). Ask your agent to show you a comparative market analysis of sales to determine the actual value; we’ll look online to see what other similar homes have sold for. This will help you to make the best possible decision.

5. Trust your intuition. Every first-time homebuyer has a little bit of fear about buying a home, no matter the season, but the most important thing to consider is whether it feels right to move forward. If it doesn’t, another home will come along soon.

As your real estate agent, we will always be of service to you. Feel free to reach out to us anytime for your real estate needs. Hope to hear from you soon!

 

How Expectation Differs From Reality When Buying a Home

These are the three home design trends you’ll want to keep an eye out for in 2020.

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When’s the right time to purchase your first home?

The answer varies across age groups. One out of every five parents expect their child to own a home by age 25, but this doesn’t quite align with reality. Younger adults tend to feel the most pressure owning a home, but they’re still waiting on their own terms. Millennials between the ages of 25 and 34 have been slow to catch up to the rates of homeownership that Gen Xers and baby boomers did when they were in that age range. 

Millennials are marrying at later ages and have high student debt to blame for delaying their homeownership debut, and they now represent the largest home-buying force in the housing industry.

One out of every five parents expect their child to own a home by age 25, but this doesn’t quite align with reality.

Overall, millennials tend to feel the most judgment from their parents in relation to their life goals, whether that pertains to buying a home, getting married, or gaining financial independence. 

Purchasing a home is one of the most complex and expensive decisions most of us will make, so it’s easy to see how not choosing the right style, location, or size can invoke criticism from relatives. This is why it’s important to work with an experienced Realtor when making this milestone decision.

As always, if you have questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to call or email us. We’d love to help you.