10 Suggestions to Have Your House Ready for Sale

1) Clean, Organize, and Neutralize Your Space: Unclutter your house to make it look bigger and cleaner.  Buyers need to be able to envision their own belongings in the home, so avoid using bright colors and too many personal effects.

2) Keep your lawn green: Get your lawn in shape. A patchy lawn takes away from the home's overall appearance. Your local hardware store has supplies to re-seed those unhealthy areas.

3) Add insulation to save energy: The most inexpensive way to increase your home's energy is to add insulation which can reduce heating and cooling costs by more than 25%.

4) Update Kitchen Appliances: The kitchen is often the room that buyers gravitate towards first, and an updated kitchen can help sell your home. You don't have to remodel your kitchen to give it a new look. Updating your appliances to the current standard and replacing cabinet doors and hardware can make a big impact at a relatively low cost.

5) Update those bathroom fixtures: A little change can go a long way when it comes to the look of your bathroom. Updating simple fixtures such as your sink and faucet can give any outdated bathroom style. And, according to Bankrate.com, minor bathroom remodels typically return over 100% of the initial investment.

6) Build a fence: If you're trying to sell a house, the appearance of a fence adds value to the home overall. Buyers with children or pets will appreciate the privacy and security of an enclosed backyard.

7) Repair the gutter: Ensuring that your gutter is clean is crucial in protecting your home against water damage.

8) Light up the outside: An easy and inexpensive way to increase your home's outdoor space is to add lighting. It makes it more appealing and safer.

9) Store and organize: Ample storage space is a plus, especially when it comes to garages and closets.  Efficient closet structures can help keep your clothes organized  and can save space.

10) Polish off the basement: Rather than adding an additional room, it is more cost-efficient to remodel your basement. This adds value and usable space.

If you have questions and would like to talk, please give us a call 518-392-8484.  We are conveniently located in Old Chatham, New York.

Visit our website: www.ColumbiaCountyHomes.com


             Your Hopes, Your Dreams...Our VantagePoint

When considering your next real estate transaction

When considering your next real estate transaction and looking for real estate representation call us.   Keep in mind that we will do everything possible to make your buying or selling experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible.  With our experience in assisting with home buying and selling you can be sure you are receiving the best representation possible.

Owning property is one of the most exciting investments you can make, and it should be a fun and rewarding experience.  If you are moving out of the area or downsizing, and need to sell your home, we can help you prepare your home for sale, pricing your home right and marketing it effectively.

If you have questions and would like to talk, please give us a call 518-392-8484.  We are conveniently located in Old Chatham, New York.

Visit our website: www.ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

                           Your Hopes, Your Dreams...Our VantagePoint

Must-Have Home Features? It’s Your Call

Wanted to share this post from blog.rismedia.com - Hope it will be helpful.

Must-Have Home Features? 

It’s Your Call

Posted on Nov 30 2016 - 11:58am by Maria Patterson

An outdoor kitchen. Double sinks in the master bath. A wrap-around porch.  Solar panels. There are just so many things we want our new home to have.

However, when shopping for our dream home, it’s essential to steer the dream a little bit more toward reality. No home will have every single feature you desire, so before you set out on the search, sit down and think hard.

Also think long-term. While certain features may not matter to you, they may weigh heavily in determining your home’s resale value. According to a recent report by Kiplinger, there are seven features that will help sell a home faster: a laundry room; exterior lighting; energy efficient appliances and windows; a patio; hardwood floors; garage storage space; and an eat-in kitchen.

Related: The Future of Home Design: 4 Dominating Trends to Watch

For most of us, our must-haves are rooted in practicality – a classic case of needs vs. wants. Which would explain why some of the most unwanted features in a home, according to a National Association of Home Builders study, include a pet-washing station, an elevator and a wine cellar. Some important musts, therefore, often involve:

• The number of bedrooms and/or potential to turn a room into an additional bedroom – are you planning on children? Need space for an in-law to move in?
• The master bedroom – is it big enough for your king bed and does it include a master bath?
• The number and condition of other bathrooms
• The yard - how much space and privacy do you need to be happy?
• The kitchen – do you need a new kitchen with high-tech appliances or are you willing to update down the road?
• Closet space – is there adequate storage for your current belongings with room to expand?
• The school district – an obvious factor if you have or are planning to have children, but also important if you don’t as it will affect your home’s resale value
• Proximity to work – are you willing to commute or is a walkable community a high priority?
• New construction – are you looking for a maintenance-free environment or the charm of an older home with DIY options?

Of course, your musts are very unique to you and, therefore, may vary from the above. The key factor in determining a must-have from a nice-to-have is whether it is something that can be cost-effectively and efficiently accomplished down the road, such as crown molding or a fire pit. Musts should be those features that are difficult and costly, if not impossible, to handle on your own, such as a bigger garage or a new roof.

Remember that above all, your “dream” home will be the one that grabs you for some intangible reason or for a combination of unexpected features you never knew you wanted until you saw them. So try to keep your must-list to a minimum and your open mind to a maximum—and most of all, enjoy the process.

Prequalify or Pre-approve a Home Purchase

You can boost your purchasing power when seeking a home by making sure you are prequalified or pre-approved by a mortgage lender. VantagePoint Realty helps buyers pre-qualify for mortgages every day. 

Our office is conveniently located, where personalized, fuIl-service is not only the expectation - it's our guarantee! Whether you're looking for a vacation or second home, or primary residence in Berkshire or Columbia counties, or the Capital Region, contact us. 

We are fully licensed in Massachusetts and New York, and have the skills, dedication and expertise to help you. For further information on all of the services available to you, contact us today.

Visit our Website: Visit Our Website

E-mail at info@ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

or

Call - 518-392-8484

Tips to Add Value to Your Home

1) Clean, Organize, and Neutralize Your Space: Unclutter your house to make it look bigger and cleaner.  Buyers need to be able to envision their own belongings in the home, so avoid using bright colors and too many personal effects.

2) Keep your lawn green: Get your lawn in shape. A patchy lawn takes away from the home's overall appearance. Your local hardware store has supplies to re-seed those unhealthy areas.

3) Add insulation to save energy: The most inexpensive way to increase your home's energy is to add insulation which can reduce heating and cooling costs by more than 25%.

4) Update Kitchen Appliances: The kitchen is often the room that buyers gravitate towards first, and an updated kitchen can help sell your home. You don't have to remodel your kitchen to give it a new look. Updating your appliances to the current standard and replacing cabinet doors and hardware can make a big impact at a relatively low cost.

5) Update those bathroom fixtures: A little change can go a long way when it comes to the look of your bathroom. Updating simple fixtures such as your sink and faucet can give any outdated bathroom style. And, according to Bankrate.com, minor bathroom remodels typically return over 100% of the initial investment.

6) Build a fence: If you're trying to sell a house, the appearance of a fence adds value to the home overall. Buyers with children or pets will appreciate the privacy and security of an enclosed backyard.

7) Repair the gutter: Ensuring that your gutter is clean is crucial in protecting your home against water damage.

8) Light up the outside: An easy and inexpensive way to increase your home's outdoor space is to add lighting. It makes it more appealing and safer.

9) Store and organize: Ample storage space is a plus, especially when it comes to garages and closets.  Efficient closet structures can help keep your clothes organized  and can save space.

10) Polish off the basement: Rather than adding an additional room, it is more cost-efficient to remodel your basement. This adds value and usable space.

Visit us at:  ColumbiaCountyHomes

The Two Secret Ingredients in a Quick Sale

A fresh coat of paint may help, and skillful marketing is certainly important, but only after a key ingredient is in place—a realistic asking price.  Buyers are comparative shoppers, and an overpriced house won’t fool anyone.  How do you figure out a realistic price for your home--With the help of a second ingredient, probably the most important—an effective Broker.  They determine a realistic price upfront, through careful analysis.  Only then will they advise you about such things as fresh paint, and go on to aggressively market your home.  If you want a happy ending, the one place to begin…is with a topflight broker.  Why not begin now ---with a call to me.

Stephanie W. Samuelsohn

Call me:       518-392-8484

E-Mail me:    info@ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

Visit our Website:  www.ColumbaiCountyHomes.com

People tend to think the winter season is 'off- time' for buying or selling a home. 

Nothing could be further from the truth. There is an honesty and warmth that animates both sellers and buyers alike during this season - the result is a greater willingness to share and to agree.

So, instead of 'putting off' until after the Holidays, call us. You may end up enjoying a very special New Year's celebration.

Do call us, join in our journey through these "interesting times."

Call VantagePoint Realty and ask for Stephanie 518-392-8484 or

E-Mail me at Stephanie@ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

Check out our NEW website"  at:  www.ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

Why Winter May Be The Best Selling Season

"Real Estate activity has remained strong right through the last Winter...and will almost certainly be strong this Winter, thanks to a strong economy and a greater awareness of the area.  In addition, "Winter Buyers" have always been a special breed--they're not lookers or joy-riders, they are serious, motivated people out to buy.  For these reasons, "waiting until Spring" to list your home--once good advice--is no longer recommended.  It not only delays selling your home, it will cost you additional money each passing month.

If you have been thinking of selling, keep thinking that way.  Call me.  Le me see your home and let me show you my successes and you may be spending next Spring--in a new life."

Aggressive Selling Strategy

Circumstances in the real estate market dictate that sellers list their homes with agents like me, who will market their properties aggressively. These efforts begin with a market analysis, which involves comparing the home to similar homes in the area that have sold recently, forming the basis of a listing price that appeals to prospective buyers and ensures sellers of a proper return on their investment. Then it’s my responsibility to "get the word out" by advertising on the Internet, in newspapers, in magazines, and listing the property on Multiple Listing Services and connecting with buyers and brokers on the Internet. Aggressive marketing increases the likelihood of selling a home in a challenging market. We are on many websites, such as:


ColumbiaGreeneNorthernDutchessMLS.com ~ Berkshirerealtors.com ~ Realtor.com ~ Google.com ~ Trulia.com ~ ColumbiaCountyHomes.com~ TimesUnion.com ~ Hot Pads.com ~ Homes.com ~ Albany.Backpage.com ~ RealEstate.yahoo.com ~  Oodle.com ~ CLRsearch.com ~ Zillow.com ~ NewYorkStatemls.com ~ HotFrog.com ~ Gaylesbiandirectory.com ~ IQRealEstate.com ~ RealEstateActive.com ~ HomeHippo.com and, and, and more......

HINT:  It has never been more imperative that sellers price their properties correctly in accordance with the prices of competing properties and local market conditions.

Visit us at: http://www/ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

E-mail me at: Stephanie@ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

Call me at: 518-392-8484

Your Local Forecast

The real estate market is somewhat similar to the weather. That is to say that it seldom, if ever, happens that one gigantic weather pattern engulfs the entire nation. While it may be raining on the other side of the country or in several isolated areas, you are not similarly affected if the sun is shining where you live. Similarly, while national media constantly discuss the national housing downturn, not all areas are affected similarly. The real estate climate on the coasts may be different from that of the nation’s interior, and there may also likely be differences between metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas. In short, all real estate is local. Ask a real estate professional about your local conditions.


The challenge in the housing market is for sellers to price their home to meet the local market, and for buyers to realize there is no phenomenon that will send prices to new lows. No matter what your real estate needs are I’ll be there for you. For further information on all of the services available to you, contact the office or visit my website today. I love what I do and it shows. Conveniently located, let me show you what the right realtor can do for you. Buying a home, or selling a home can be a challenging endeavor. Let me help you make it an exciting adventure.


Hint: All you need is one buyer to buy your home. If personal circumstances are forcing you to sell, it is just as likely that some potential buyer in your area needs to find a place to live for reasons of his or her own.

Call me at 518-392-8484
or
E-mail me at: Stephanie@ColumbiaCountyHomes.com