Simple Staging Hacks That Make a Huge Impact
It is important to understand that the way you live in your home and the way you market and sell your home are two different things. The first impression is the most important, you never get a second chance to make a first impression on buyers. Luckily, staging doesn’t have to be a large, costly project. Check out how to dramatically polish the look of your home into prime selling shape with just a few simple staging hacks. Roll out the Welcome Mat.Prospective buyers tend to linger by the front door before the real estate agent opens a home for viewing- so an enticing entrance is key. What’s the best bang for your staging buck? A new welcome mat, which can cost as little as $15. Curb appeal is just as important, if not more important, than your home’s interior when it comes to first impressions on the buyer. Mount Mirrors in Strategic Spots.Spruce up dim hallways where natural light doesn’t reach with a mirror. They add light to the space and make the area feel more spacious. Set Tables and Serving Areas.Set the scene so that buyers can picture their friends and family gathered around the table for events and holidays. This will show the buyer that the home is primed for entertaining, which is a must have on many buyer checklists. Replace/Remove Personal Pictures.You want buyers to envision how their lives will be spent living in your home, and sometimes your family photos and children's artwork can cloud this vision. Remove those personal items and replace them with artwork. The artwork will look great in listing photos and add a focal point to the space. Outfit a Bathroom with White Linens.Add some new fresh white linens to lightly stage your bathroom. Buyers tend to prefer bathrooms with an eclectic, elegant feel over themed bathrooms. White is your best bet to appease all buyers. Plus, white will make the bathroom feel extra clean, which is very important. Buyers will be turned off by a dirty bathroom. Add Pillows.By simply adding a few patterned or colorful pillows, your space becomes more put together. You’ll be surprised how much decorative pillows strategically placed on your living room couches will elevate the interior design of your space. Here are just a few of our before and after transformations from our in-house Lucido stagers who worked with our sellers at little to no cost.
Is Your Home Fire Safe for Your Pet?
National Pet Fire Safety Day on July 15th is the perfect time to make sure your home’s fire safety plan includes getting your pets to safety, as well as the people, in the event of a fire. Taking preventable measures can protect your home, your family, and your pets in an emergency situation. Many times our pets are the cause of a fire when we don’t take these precautions. PET FIRE SAFETY TIPS: Extinguish open flames. Wagging tails and curious kitties can haphazardly knock over candles. Consider using flameless candles. Remove knobs from the stove when not in use. Dogs may jump on the stove and accidentally turn a knob with their paw without anyone realizing it. Use plastic or metal water bowls for outside, not glass. Glass can actually heat up from the sun to the point of starting a fire. Keep leashes, collars, cages, and carriers close to the exit(s) on your fire escape route plan. That way you have a better chance of grabbing them as you exit the home with your animal. Garages tend to be a good spot. Fire can happen when you aren’t home to rescue your pet- so you need to have a plan just in case this happens: First, take them to a kennel or family member’s if you plan to be gone for an extended period of time. If you don’t have that option, or aren’t going to be gone long, then make sure your pets are secured in the main living area- this is where firefighters will look for them first (or that you have fire alert window clings, see next). Purchase and place fire alert window clings to help firefighters identify how many pets are in the home, and the rooms they may be hiding in (if your pooch prefers your bedroom to hang out in, cling it to your bedroom window- because it is likely that’s where they will be). Put your phone number on them as well. Determine which family member is responsible for which pet in the event of a fire. Go over these plans and practice getting you and your pets out of your home to safety! Source
INVESTING + PITFALLS
Investing can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. I made a few mistakes early in my career as an investor that have taught me the smartest ways of doing business. Now, I’m confident that my strategy works to curate the most profit, and I have had the success to prove it. In 1987, I made the decision to invest in what was then called the Easton Building in Old Ellicott City on Main Street. With the help of 2 partners, I bought it for $90,000 with the intention of selling it quickly for $300,000. We achieved this, but ended up having to put another $100,000 into it on top of the initial $100,000 we spent on renovations. Needless to say, we barely broke even. This was a tough loss, but it taught me some of the most important lessons about investing that have guided me to great success investing since. The first lesson is knowing your why. There are many reasons why you should consider buying an investment property. My reason was my daughter, Lauren. I wanted to fund my daughter’s future college education with my investment property profit. Your reason may be to pay less in income taxes, generate wealth for retirement, be financially independent, etc. The reasons to invest are expansive, but you should have a specific reason of your own. Narrowing your goal will help you narrow your path to achieve it. Once you have your why, the second lesson is knowing who you are. Knowing who you are is crucial. The outcome of my first investment deal showed me who I was early on. I did not like being ‘the money guy,’ the one who finances the project, and I knew I wasn’t the ‘hammer guy,’ the one doing all the fixing up. My skills allow me to successfully play the part as the ‘rainmaker,’ the person who finds the deal and makes it happen. Taking ownership of your skill set is important when deciding who you want to be and what role you will best play in the investment deal. The third lesson is setting an objective. When investing, your goal should either be to 1. repair, renovate, and turn a quick sale for profit or, 2. buy and hold for more money, tax savings and appreciation. Keep in mind, it is very difficult to make quick money. I always think long term. By following these lessons as guides, I achieved my goal. I paid for my daughter’s Bucknell University college tuition using only the profits from one investment property in Columbia, MD. pitfalls to be mindful of: Don’t buy the deal - first buy the location and community. Be careful owning an ink pen! [Watch what you sign and guarantee.] Be careful of the potential liabilities - lead paint, communities, asbestos, etc. Consider local properties that you know rather than a great deal out of your state/neighborhood. Know the laws regarding leasing so you can avoid violating any laws. Partner with people you trust. Use only licensed, insured, and bonded contractors. [Uninsured contractors are a huge liability.] You do not necessarily need a property management company. Engage a REALTOR® you can trust with a spotless reputation and career history of integrity. Google any Realtor you are considering and check the Maryland Real Estate Commission judiciary case search. After you have accumulated a strong equity position in your property, consider refinancing rather than selling to avoid tax consequences. . Remember, the hardest thing to do is buy your first rental property, the easiest is to buy the second! If you want to learn how to buy your first investment property for college fund, retirement or just to build wealth, visit RealBobLucido.com. I will be glad to show you how you can become a millionaire using the same framework I myself used to become a millionaire by the age of 30! -Bob Lucido, CEO + Associate BrokerBob Lucido Team of Keller Williams Lucido Agency + Lucido Global
Categories
Recent Posts
