So spring is finally upon us. I think I speak for all when I say, “YES!” It is again time for holiday fun, flowers, longer days and a nice large helping of sun. Along with the fun of spring come responsibilities. It can’t all be Spring Break fun, but it can be rewarding none the less. Buying and selling homes in the spring is a perfect time to take advantage of viewing homes in their best and their worst. When selling, your property pictures will be sunny and beautiful. When buying, you have the opportunity to view and inspect a property, or hire a professional to do that for you. Whether buying a land or home you can see if it say: has water problems; nature or erosion issues; homes with bugs or foundation deterioration; or has other trouble that is obscured or even undetectable in the winter months.

Buying and selling a home or property is certainly not like window shopping and is far more important than buying a car. The difference is that most agents will do the bare minimum required. Many won’t even take on listings they consider less profitable or substandard in some way. This is a shame, because many properties just need the right level of attention and representation to expose their true potential. This process usually takes time and it’s important to keep up on the listing and make sure it still has the best exhibition necessary throughout the representation and transaction process.

With all of the day time cable television shows available we all know about how curb appeal can help those who wish to get a better price for their home. Many tricks of the trade involve complex remakes of houses and lawns. However, even simple steps like cleaning up a yard and trimming the trees can help. When it’s time for an agent to come learn about your home and take pictures it’s important for your home to look clean and maintained. Not necessarily as you would like, but as others would find typical and attractive. On the outside, many underestimate the simple benefit of a low power pressure washer. Cleaning agents and/or 1,800psi are about all you need to get a good finish or paint job looking great. Each situation is different and it is important to know when cleaning won’t help. If your siding is severely weathered or paint already chipping it would be too late for that. Then more drastic steps may be needed.

Yards are important, but so is the inside. A home can sell just because of a good kitchen. Oddly colored cabinets can be a trial to resurface. It’s often spendy to redo the kitchen and replace appliances, basins and cabinets. But if you are leaving some of your major appliances behind, just purchasing a new oven/range has marginal costs and can make a big difference in the look and feel of your home. Nothing is more disconcerting for a new buyer than to walk into a home and see an existing oven, stove or refrigerator as old as the hills. Even if it works amazingly well, if they don’t have their own appliances, they’ll assume that’ll be an immediate expense down the road.

Most of all, with the real estate market the way it is currently it is more important than ever to ensure you find a knowledgeable and professional agent that, whether buying or selling, can get you the best fair prices and knows exactly what someone does and doesn’t need. When selling your home, high quality pictures taken from key vantage points are critical. That’s the buyer’s first introduction to your property or home. This critical step, done wrong, can make a potential interested party move right along to the next listing. The current interest rates for buying a home are still at an amazing level right now. It is a great time to invest in a home; the right home! While having a real estate agent can get the job done; there are none more knowledgeable than Realtor’s®. These high quality professionals are highly trained and conform to the highest level of professionalism and skill when it’s time to buy or sell.

I am proud to say that I am both a real estate agent and a Realtor® working for the local RE/MAX® office. If I sell your home you get the service you want and need. The attention to detail in the property market is critical to success. I don’t want to just hammer a sign at your location and be done. Equally bad is to just lead others to various signs in any given neighborhood and call it good. I want you to get the total package! Your home listing and its pictures go on our MLS system accessible by any other legitimate agent and searchable to millions of interested customers worldwide. But beyond that is where an experienced and motivated agent really counts. Your listing will always go on my primary website. But then will also be syndicated and advertised with many popular real estate sites around the world as well, representing your interests or needs to even more people looking to buy or sell. Allow me to provide you with the professional service you need anytime! Please feel free to drop by my website and give me a call or use the email contact form to get started and let me know how I can help you.

Jake Oliver – Realtor

JakeTheRealtor.net