Month: February 2020

Spring is one of the most active times of the year to list your home. It also can be one of the most beautiful times of year to enjoy your home (depending on El Nino of course!). Maintaining your home helps you retain its value and enjoy the beauty of spring, without worry or having to make emergency maintenance calls. Whether you plan on relaxing on your deck, or considering selling your home, check these maintenance tips off your to-do list.

1. Survey Your Home and Yard for Winter Damage

The last thing you want is a limb to come down unexpectedly. During a sunny day, take a walk around your property to look at your doorways, siding, woodwork, and trees for damage.

If you suspect any of your trees may be ill or have some unhealthy limbs, it’s best to call an arborist.

2. Check Your Roof Winter Damage

If you want an excuse to buy a drone, here’s one: you can use it to check your roof.

With or without robotic help, take a peek at your roof to make sure your shingles are in place. Winter storms and ice haven’t knocked off any gutters, and you don’t have damage to your chimney, pipes, or powerlines.

It’s always a good idea to check out your attic as part of your survey. Look for visible water damage and staining.

3. Reseal Your Deck and Other Outdoor Wood

Buyers love decks. They also love privacy fences, but damaged wood can be an eyesore and a red flag. Even if you’re not moving this year, maintaining your woodwork will keep it in much better condition in the long run.

Re-stain your deck if it’s faded, and make sure to seal it, before the summer sun has a chance to scorch it. Look for water damage while you’re at it. Replace any rotting wood or loose railings.

4. Inspect Your Driveway and Walkways

We’re lucky to have beautiful white winters here in the Twin Cities, but the ice really does a number on our roads. It affects your driveway and walkways, as well. The expansion from freezing, and the water left behind during thaws, can cause and worsen cracks. While a small crack may not seem like a big deal, it can lead to crumbling, possibly requiring costly replacement, instead of just a repair.

Aside from aesthetics, cracks in the sidewalk, walkway, and driveway can be tripping hazards for your family, guests, and buyers.

5. Paint and Repaint

When the weather is nice and dry, pull out your brushes and rollers to freshen up your paint, inside and out. The spring sunshine gives you great visibility to see areas that need touching up.

Mild (and steady) temperatures are ideal for drying paint, and the wonderful weather also makes getting outside and painting a lot more enjoyable.

6. Check Your Sprinklers

As you survey your house and yard, turn your spigots back on, and check that your sprinklers work. Inspect hoses and water lines for leaks.

Sometimes sprinkler heads get trampled after a heavy snowfall, so give these a quick check as well.

7. Dust Around the House and Open Your Windows

Help your space feel fresher by dusting those hard-to-reach places and areas of the room that collect cobwebs during the winter.

Circulate fresh spring air by opening your windows to eliminate the musty winter smells that we all experience here. Check your screens and window sills for damage, and make sure all locks are in working order.

If you want to go the extra mile, clean the interior and exterior of your windows to maximize natural light.

Make the Most of Your Spring Maintenance and Let’s Sell Your Home

Whether you’re selling or staying in your home, make the most of your spring maintenance to enjoy and show off your space. As you check these items off your list, you’ll gain peace of mind, and that oh-so-rewarding pride of ownership feeling. If you want to get a headstart and list your home this spring, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me today!

Image credit: irina88w | iStock | Getty Images Plus

There’s no reason why gray weather should put a damper on a potential buyer’s reaction to your home. While you will read again and again that you should wait for a sunny day with clear blue skies to take photos for your listing, you may be waiting awhile. Minnesota springs can sometimes feel like living in Seattle. Luckily, there are workarounds and other tips that can turn gray photos into a buyer’s dream.

Listing photos are the first impression buyers will have of your home. Good pictures can be the difference between a showing or a no-show, so put your best photos forward with these tips to help photograph your house for a sale when it’s gray in Minnesota.

1. Use a Professional Photographer

Professional photographers know what they’re doing, and they offer high-quality photos. When sellers use a professional photographer, the listing averages twice as many views, and the home can sell 50% faster.

A professional can take the guesswork out of your photo shoot. Real estate photographers know what angles work best and what features to highlight. Professional photography is included with every listing we put on the market. It’s vital in today’s market!

2. Check the Weather

While blue skies are beautiful, gray skies can create striking photos. Avoid the rain though, and skip days that show puddles or standing water around your house.

Overcast skies can actually reduce distracting shadows or intense brightness that can highlight imperfections. In fact, often interior and exterior photos often look a lot better than blue-sky, noon-time photos.

3. Use a Sky Replacer

Some professional photographers can reimagine the weather and replace a gray sky with a bright blue one, helping buyers focus on the beauty of your home, rather than cloudy conditions. Many sellers choose this option. Why? Buyers are purchasing your house, not the weather. We include a blue sky guarantee with all our listings!

4. Avoid Anything that May Discourage a Showing

Powerlines are often a problem when photographing properties. You may not even notice them in person, but they could be a deterrent for some buyers. Get a shot as wide as you can to photograph the outside of your home. Avoid any potential eyesores, including your neighbor’s houses, so the focus remains on your property alone.

5. Highlight Unique Selling Features

Do you love the view of your backyard from your family room? Buyers will too! Including unique features in your listing gives viewers the feeling of what it’s really like to live in your home. Take photos of new light fixtures, high ceilings, custom cabinets, etc., to make your real estate listing stand out.

6. Give Buyers a Taste of Your Neighborhood

Because buyers look through pictures before reading a property’s description, use photos to highlight any surrounding amenities. Add a few images of places nearby that make your neighborhood amazing, including parks, restaurants, the library, and natural areas. Don’t go overboard, but if your area is known for one of these, don’t be shy about it.

7. Take Photos from Varying Angles and Give Yourself Options

Sometimes the best real estate photos require unique perspectives. Have fun, get low, then pull out the ladder. Walk to the road, or to the back of your property, and snap some shots from there.

Choosing the right photos can be trickier than taking them, and having options can make a huge difference. Don’t hesitate to push the button and release the shutter.

American photographer Berenice Abbot is quoted as saying, “Photography helps people to see,” and your potential buyers need to see themselves living in your house. Great photos set your listing apart from the rest and attract the right offer for your home. Embrace your inner photographer or hire a professional and let’s get to work selling your house in Minnesota this spring.

 

Image credit: marchello74 | iStock | Getty Images Plus