Archive for October, 2017

Why It’s Best to Make Upgrades Before You Move In

Monday, October 30th, 2017
Upgrades

Before you move into your new home, make upgrades that will add functionality and value.

If you’re able to, make upgrades before you move in. And there are five great reasons to make them before you do:

  1. Upgrades add value to the investment you’ve made in your new home
  2. They improve the function of your home
  3. Upgrades help you convey your personality
  4. They make your new home feel like home right away
  5. And inconveniences, later on, are brought to a minimum

Which Upgrades Should You Make Before You Move In?

  1. Kitchen

The kitchen is the most expensive room in the house. A great one meets your family’s needs. And upgrades that improve the quality and function of your kitchen add value. You’ll gain a deep appreciation for your home, too.

  • Replace the old appliances with high-end, energy-efficient, or water-saving appliances.
  • Most breakfast bar counters or islands are 42” high. Lower yours to 36 inches to make it more accessible.
  • Change the countertops to quartz.
  • Brighten up the countertops. Add lighting under the cupboards to illuminate your workspaces.
  • Make fixtures match your hardware. A brushed bronze faucet should match your brushed bronze cabinet pulls.
  1. Bathroom

When updating your new bathroom(s), think about the needs you have currently as well as those you’ll have in the future. Will your family grow? Do you plan to entertain often? The answers to these questions and others like them will help determine the upgrades you will want to make in your bathroom(s).

  • Install a double sink
  • Build walk-in showers
  • Use decorative shower, floor, or wall tile.
  • Add custom lighting or fixtures
  • Hang lots of shelves for more storage
  1. Kitchen and Bathroom

Cabinets in both the kitchen and bathroom affect the function and appearance of your home in a big way. Installing new cabinets before you move in and start unpacking helps you get and stay organized right off the bat. But don’t throw out the old cabinets. Hang them in the garage or attic to help you get and stay organized there, too.

  1. Floors

I’m sure it goes without explanation, but it’s definitely easier to upgrade flooring while the new home is empty. There’s no furniture to contend with!

  1. Electrical Wiring

Older homes usually have outdated wiring. We discovered the need for additional outlets throughout our 80-year-old home. There aren’t many, and the ones we do have are in odd places.

Walk through your house and plan updates for the electrical wiring. Then, hire an electrician. Discuss adding outlets and light switches for better function. There may even be some light switches that need to be rewired to properly connect with the right light fixtures.

  1. Internet Service

Research and find a company that will improve security and internet speed in your new home. Also, consider having the internet wired throughout the whole house. This will allow you to install electronics such as security cameras, for example, in any room. And when the internet is wired throughout the whole house, you’ll keep outside users and hackers from accessing your network. Full-house internet is a plus for home security!

  1. Storage

If your new home is light on storage, you might want to seriously consider installing closets throughout your house. Storage helps you unpack completely and organize your home the way you want at a pace you want. You can never have too much storage!

  1. Laundry Room

If your new house includes a laundry room rather than a laundry closet, turn it into a pantry, drop zone, and/or mud room. Utilize it fully! Rearrange the washer and dryer hookups to make room for pantry storage and a utility sink. If it’s located close to the garage door where your family enters the house, add a bench, boot tray, hooks for shoes and umbrellas, and cubbies for backpacks.

Do yourself a huge favor. If you’re able, make upgrades before you move in. As you can see, the benefits are extremely homeowner-friendly. You’ll enjoy them right away and long-term.

Need more suggestions on what to upgrade in your new home? Ask Charles D’Alessandro. With over 30 years of real estate experience in the Brooklyn area, he can tell you which upgrades will give you “the most bang for your buck” and those that will serve you and your family well. Contact Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate, at (718) 253-9700 ext. 206 or click here.


Charles D’Alessandro

Your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate

718-253-9600 ext. 206

[email protected]

5 Steps to Ease the Stress of the Sale of Your Home

Sunday, October 15th, 2017

Ease the stressSince you’re convinced that the fall is a good time sell, here are some often overlooked steps to take to ease the stress of the sale of your home. Staging is one of them. Here are another five that will help you sail through the sale.

Ease the Stress of the Sale of Your Home

  1. Make a list of improvements you’ve made and any issues you’ve experienced while living in your home

Highlight and disclose improvements you’ve made in addition to any issues you may have experienced while living in your home, especially if you’ve owned your home for a while. For example, chimney fires, water damage, a flooded basement, or the addition of a French drain system, too.

  1. Be aware of how your listing appears online

Get online and Google your address. Why? Because almost all buyers search online for homes these days. And you need to be aware of how your listing looks on the Internet. For example, not all of your recent home improvements show up on Google Maps’ street view. You need to flag each one of those updates that aren’t showing up.

And what does the site give as an estimated value for your home? It may be very different from the asking price you’ve put on your home. Sometimes tax records have the wrong information about the number of bedrooms or bathrooms in your home. Not to worry. Just be aware and get it fixed. It’s easy to do.

  1. Take a look at your home from the curb

What do you see? Cosmetic repairs, even minor ones, can cost you the sale if they’re not taken care of. First impressions are that important and can make all the difference when it comes to a sale. When your home is well-kept, it gives a good first impression. It shows you take great pride in your home. The buyer sees the care you have taken and translates that into less energy and cost for themselves as they prepare to move in.

  1. Clean every nook and cranny

Potential buyers look everywhere! They look inside drawers, cabinets, closets, even the dishwasher and washing machine. Potential buyers judge how clean everything is as part of that first impression mentioned in step three. Spending the time and money needed to deep-clean your home will come back to you ten-fold.

  1. Let your agent know which items aren’t to be included in the sale

From custom window treatments to appliances, if they’re not included in the sale, tell your agent. Unless specifically excluded in the contract, the law says that anything bolted to the wall or ceiling goes to the buyer. If you want to take your flat-screen TV, chandelier, or custom pot rack, play it safe. Pack it, replace it, or label it as soon as you list your home on the market. Don’t let buyers bank on owning the items and be disappointed when they move in. Read Fixture Feuds for a little insight on potentially bad situations.

As I like to say, look at your house through the eyes of a buyer. Would you want to buy your house? What needs to be repaired or updated? Fix clean, update, and get the clutter you see outta there before you list your home. Selling a home is stressful, but you can ease the stress with these five simple steps.

Charles D’Alessandro is a great agent who will help ease the stress of selling your home. With over 30 years of real estate experience in the Brooklyn area, he knows just what to do to prepare your home for sale. Contact Charles D’Alessandro, your Brooklyn real estate agent with Fillmore Real Estate, at (718) 253-9700 ext. 206 or click here for suggestions and tips on how to prepare your Brooklyn home for sale now.


Charles D’Alessandro

Your Brooklyn Real Estate Agent with Fillmore Real Estate

718-253-9600 ext. 206

[email protected]