Would You Remove Your Own Appendix...

Would You Remove Your Own Appendix...much less overhaul your vehicle's engine? The fact is that, whether a Doctor or a Car Mechanic, most people turn to those with professional experience to get the results they want. In the case of selling a home, there is too much riding on the outcome to hope that a homeowner can do the job himself or herself. While potential FSBO's (homes 'for sale by owner') nearly uniformly focus on saving money, experienced Real Estate agents usually pay for themselves by getting higher prices more quickly. They do this by setting a realistic asking price, advertising the property thoroughly, networking more effectively, qualifying buyers better, and negotiating a better selling price, circumventing potential problems.


I am fully licensed in both NY & MA and bring with me the skills for service & dedication.


Your Hopes, Your Dreams...Our VantagePoint

HINT: From getting a property ready for market to negotiating with buyers, experienced real estate agents take the emotion out of the home-buying process and produce bottom-line results.

Call Us - 518-392-8484

The value of any Real Estate Firm is its ability to provide seamless access to the best information, quickly and accurately.  Here at VantagePoint Realty, we specialize in this ability; we have the tools, including award winning web sites, updated and cross-linked to countless search engines, allowing us to be head & shoulders above the competition.  Call us; see why now, more than ever, it's so important to follow success!

Call Us VantagePoint Realty  518-392-8484

or

e-mail: info@ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

Visit our Website:  www.ColumbiaCountyHomes.com

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.

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