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home rennovation

The 5 Best Home Updates

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You’re looking around your home and wondering, “What should I update?”. Better yet – what do you need to update? Maybe it feels like everything or maybe it feels like nothing, either way we’ve got a simple guide of the some of the best home updates. These are especially effective if your goal is to increase your home’s value. Whether you plan to put your home into this current seller’s market or potentially sell your home down the road, these updates will only be beneficial.

Minor Bathroom Remodel

Not every remodel has to be a complete gut and replace. In fact, very minor but effective touches can make all the difference in the world! Update your fixtures such as the hardware. A new toilet seat can go a very long way. If you want to do something a little bigger, add a window. Bathrooms with windows are significantly more appealing to buyers. Re-caulking your bathtub is also an easy DIY project that can put a finishing touch on an old bathroom.

Landscaping

If you watch Flip or Flop on HGTV you will notice how they always talk about the importance of good landscaping. Women, it’s like putting on lipstick. It’s a finishing touch but one that is most noticeable. Men, it’s like getting the right TV stand or mount. It’s just necessary to support an already valuable piece of property. Landscaping has a 100% return at resale every single time.

New Paint

Oh what a fresh coat of paint will do! Do not use the pain to hide any major repairs, such a water leaks. They will be discovered during inspection anyways and trying to make it look like a cover-up will only reflect poorly on you. However, a fresh coat of paint can make any room feel updated almost instantly. Consider painting the exterior of the home as well to increase the curb-appeal.

Replacement Windows

If eyes are the windows to the soul then the same goes for your home. Windows do so much for a house! Sunlight, especially in Tampa bay where we have plenty of sunlight, can make your home look bigger and feel more inviting. The warmth of the sunlight adds a warmth to the home. So make sure the next time you leave your home so your agent can do a showing, open up all the shades. Updating your windows can be expensive but the investment will yield a return during resale.

Updating Perception

Selling a home has a lot to do with perception. When a person steps into a house they start imaging what it would look like for them if they lived there. This is very hard to do if the house is already filled with what it looks like while you live there. In other words, you need to de-clutter and organize. Pack some of your belongings away and clear some of the space around the home.

Don’t forget you also have the option to do a pre-listing inspection. Our pre-listing inspections will inform you of any issues about your home before you list it and also shows home-buyers that you are serious about selling. Call us today to schedule one!

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Home Projects to sell your home faster

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“As is” isn’t usually good enough for most home buyers. Even if your home is in good condition or doesn’t need repairs, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t benefit from some home projects. If you have lived in your home for long enough chances are something needs updating or remodeling. It is truly amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do! Or new fixtures. There are many small changes you can make to your home that will sell your home faster and potentially for a higher price. Some of these home projects are DIY and some you will need to a hire a professional. All are worth considering.

Home Evaluation

Whether you are ready to sell now or in a few years, a home evaluation is a smart investment. Invite a real estate professional into your home to evaluate the current condition. If they are willing, ask them for a to-do list of things you can do to improve your home and increase the value. Even if you are not ready to list your home immediately, an agent who wants your future business would be glad to help. If you are planning on listing your home soon, a pre-listing home inspection is a great investment. A home inspection will give you significantly more detail about your home and allow you to address any issues that might derail the sale.

It’s not about you

There is one very common mistake all home owners make in selling their home – when they make decisions based around themselves. If you really want to sell your home then don’t paint it your favorite color. Paint it a neutral color. Don’t over-decorate because you think it looks nice. Keep the inside clutter-free and simple. Because it really isn’t about you. It’s about appealing to the traffic of people who like your home. They need to be able to “envision” themselves living there and they can’t do that if everything about the home screams someone else. Don’t take it personally, take it seriously.

Update your fixtures

Fixtures are such a great way to customize your home. Many times fixtures can be an inexpensive way to add your personal touches. But if you’ve been in your home for a long time then chances are some of your fixture might be outdated. Especially if your fixtures were “trending” years ago and are considered out of style now. This is where cost vs. value is important. Is the cost of the improvement worth the value it will add to your home? Is $100 for new kitchen handles worth the value increase to your kitchen? Aesthetically, it might be. This site is an excellent resource for a cost vs. value guide to home projects.

If you need a pre-listing home inspection we can take care of that for you. If you need a home inspection for a home you are considering purchasing we can do that too! Basically, we do it all. So just give us a call or schedule your home inspection right here on our website.

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Have a plan before you sell your home

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Who says you need a plan to sell your home? The market is hot, people are buying and selling all over Tampa Bay! So you can just stick a “for sale’ sign in your front yard and that’s it, right? Not exactly. Especially if you plan to sell your home yourself and without an agent – you’re going to need a plan. Because the reality is, if sticking a sign in your front lawn was enough then realtors wouldn’t exist.

Create a Marketing Plan

Why do you need a plan, specifically a marketing plan, to sell your home? It’s not about just throwing any price on your house, it’s about selling it for all it’s worth. A plan is the source of getting top dollar for the least amount of hassle and within a reasonable time frame.

Exposure is Key

Sure you can throw your house up on Craigslist, Zillow, Trulia, etc. You can also host your own open house. But how will you get people to attend your open house? Who will manage the listings or inquiries made on your home from all of those online platforms?

More is More

The more buyers you can attract, the more competition among buyers, the higher the price. The more expansive the exposure of your home, the more buyers you can attract. The goal is generate multiple offers. This is what will sell your home for top dollar. Even if you don’t get multiple offers, more exposure means increasing your changes of selling your home within a reasonable time frame. Every home owner that wants to sell their home has the same goal: to sell for top dollar, in a reasonable time frame, for the least amount of hassle.

Statistics show that listing your home a real estate professional will produce more money in your pocket at the end of the sale than by selling your home on your own. Even so, there are a few things you can do to ensure you are working your way toward that top dollar. Getting a pre-listing home inspection, for example, is an excellent way to sell your home. Call us now to get more information or schedule your inspection right here on our website.

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First-time home buyer program now includes Home Inspection

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We may be able to learn a lesson from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development in Glens Falls. Their new home buyer program now requires a home inspection as part of the application process. According to the Department, the inspection rule is in response to a tendency for first-time home buyers to decide on a house based solely on price, not condition, and then not be able to pay for the repairs necessary to keep it in livable condition.

Why are home inspections still just an option?

We have heard horror story after horror story of home buyers running into major repair issues in their new home. These issues at the very least could have been expected if the home buyers had an inspection done on the home first. In Florida there are many incentives and first-time home buyer programs. Some of them even include money towards the down payment. None of them require more than learning about the home inspection process.

Home inspections should be a requirement and a decision you make before you complete any purchase on a home. Every single home, even new builds, have the potential to need repairs. If for nothing else, a home inspection will give you a heads up of what to expect instead of a sudden major issue with a heft repair bill.

It’s your choice, so make the right one.

A home inspection should be as necessary as a down payment. Some banks might require a home inspection, but don’t depend on them to make that decision for you. Sellers may take the initiation to get a move-out home inspection or even a pre-listing home inspection. In these cases we still recommend scheduling your own home inspection. You can contact Divinity Inspections anytime for a residential or commercial property inspection.

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Breaking Down the Cost of Your Home Inspection

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Have you ever wondered why a home inspection costs $400 and up? We here at Divinity Inspection Services think it might helpful if you knew the break down of the cost of your home inspection. Where the cost of your home inspection really goes. The cost is in the details and the details matter. Property inspection reports are often a dozen pages or more, detailing various components about the property. Hopefully after reading this blog and understanding the fees, you will feel that the investment is well worth it.

Tools and Equipment

Your home inspector will walk through every single room in the house. They will also inspect the roof, the attic, the basement, under the home, and every access. Home inspectors will inspect the foundation of the home and everything outside around the home. Common equipment used by all inspectors include flashlights, ladders, screwdrivers, and infrared cameras. Some inspectors, if needed, will also use a mold test kit, a radon test kit, or other certified material testing products.

Time and Experience

Each state has different licensing and certification requirements. Above that, the experience of your home inspector increase their value. A good home inspector will not only know where to look but what to look for that may be signs of an issue not otherwise obvious to the untrained eye. Time is also a huge contributor to a home inspector’s fees. The larger the home the longer the inspection. Often a home inspection takes no less than 2 hours to complete. If you stick around for the inspection, your inspector may walk you through some potential concerns. Some inspectors may even offer solutions, referrals, or estimated costs for repair. These details can help homebuyers make an informed decision before completing a purchase.