is the 14th largest metro area by population in the United States with about 4.2 million people in 2010. Phoenix is the county seat of Maricopa County, and is one of the largest cities in the United States by land area.
Club West in Ahwatukee - Great Park and Great Outdoor Amenities.
Club West offers world-class golf at the prestigious Club West Golf Club. this championship course boasts 18 holes consistently ranked in the top 20 golf courses in Arizona.
"36th Best Place to Live in US by CNN in 2010"
The nation's "top places to live and learn" by GreatSchools.org. Washington-based C.Q. Press rated Gilbert the "safest municipality in Arizona, and 24th safest in the nation.
Ocotillo in Chandler - Waterfront, Golf Resort, Oasis Indoors and Out
Renowned for its resort-like communities, Ocotillo offers luxury, sophisticated and yet afforable living experience.
Val Vista Lakes in Gilbert - Water Wonderland Paradise
Val Vista Lakes offerings are the result of an artfully master planned community consisting of 900 acres. This luxury development includes twenty-four subdivisions of exquisite properties, some of which have lakefront and several of which are custom gated communities.
Fed announces no changes to existing monetary policies
Mortgage rates eased slightly this week, staying near record lows amid uncertainty about the strength of the economic recovery.
The Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee said Wednesday that it expects to maintain "a highly accommodative stance for monetary policy" to support a stronger economic recovery, but announced no changes to existing policies.
Labor market conditions have improved in recent months, the committee noted, but the unemployment remains elevated. Despite some signs of improvement, the housing sector "remains depressed," the committee noted.
Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaging 3.88 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 26, down from 3.9 percent last week and 4.78 percent a year ago. Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages hit an all-time low in records dating to 1971 of 3.87 percent during the first three weeks of February.
For 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, rates averaged 3.12 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from 3.13 percent last week and 3.97 percent a year ago. Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages hit an all-time low in records dating to 1991 of 3.11 percent during the week ending April 12.
Rates on five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) loans averaged 2.85 percent with an average 0.6 point, up from 2.78 percent last week but down from 3.51 percent a year ago. Last week's rates for five-year ARMs were at an all-time low in records dating to 2005.
For one-year Treasury-indexed ARMs, rates averaged 2.74 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from 2.81 percent last week and 3.15 percent a year ago. Rates on one-year ARMs hit an all-time low in records dating to 1984 of 2.72 percent during the week ending March 1.
Looking back a week, a separate survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association showed demand for purchase mortgages during the week ending April 20 was up a seasonally adjusted 2.7 percent from the week before, to a level essentially unchanged from a year ago.
According to research from the National Association of REALTORS®' latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, FSBOs accounted for 10 percent of sales in 2011, down from 14 percent in 2003 and 2004.
Nearly half of FSBO sales were intrafamily transfers or other situations where the sellers already knew the buyers. Only 6 percent of 2011 sales were FSBO transactions in which the seller did not know the buyer.
Here are some of the key factors that deter most homeowners from selling without an agent.
1. The decline of print advertising as a major lead generator
In the past, newspaper ads would produce a fair number of calls on FSBOs. Today, a three-line ad in the local newspaper has little chance of competing with the wide array of information online, including video, color photos, 360-degree virtual tours, and a wealth of community and lifestyle data.
2. Buyers seek rich content
IDX and VOW solutions, Realtor.com, Trulia and Zillow provide access to virtually all the listings in most market areas. Most buyers comb these major sites simply because it's more efficient than searching for single properties.
3. Instant gratification
A third problem for FSBOs is that people who surf the Web usually are seeking instant gratification. In fact, most visitors will only visit a website once and stay for 15-30 seconds. If the FSBO has no strategy for capturing the lead's contact information or for immediately following up, the lead moves on to the next website. Even if the Web lead does contact the FSBO, unless the buyer gets back to the FSBO quickly, that lead is gone.
4. Buyers want the savings
Even for those who do search for FSBOs, most buyers automatically deduct 6 percent from the sales price because they want the savings in their pockets, not the seller's. The result is that many FSBOs end up selling for up to 20 percent less on average as compared with sellers who hire a Realtor.
5. The needle-in-the-haystack effect
A major challenge for FSBOs is the needle-in-the-haystack nature of the Web. There are millions of websites including the hundreds of thousands of company and agent sites. Without search engine optimization, meta tags and a host of other branding strategies to achieve high Web placement, the probability of the Web buyer finding the FSBO's single listing online is small.
Of course, the buyer could post on sites such as ForSalebyOwner.com, ByOwnerMLS, or utilize the "Make Me Move" feature on Zillow. The challenge is that unless the buyer specifically wants to purchase a FSBO, it's much more efficient to search on the brokerage or MLS sites.
The FSBO could also put his home on Craigslist. There are two challenges, however. First, the FSBO has to repost the ad regularly for it to appear near the top where it can be found. Second, there have been so many rental scams and unsavory people using that site to identify targets for possible criminal activity that listing there could be a major safety issue.
6. Web leads are reluctant to share contact information
Another issue FSBOs must face is that most Web buyers are reluctant to provide contact information to a stranger, especially during the search process. Instead, buyers identify homes they want to see and then normally contact a single agent who can show them everything they want to see, not just a single home.
7. Availability for showings
Because FSBOs don't have lockboxes, that means the FSBO will need to be present for every showing. There are numerous challenges with this situation, the most important of which is safety. Is the person who wants to see your house legitimate or not? Even if you accept an offer from a potential buyer, how do you know whether the person meets the income and credit requirements to close the deal?
8. The proof is in the pudding
Here's a great closing question for sellers who believe that becoming a FSBO is a smart move. Did you know that Colby Sambrotto, founder of ForSalebyOwner.com, which is one of the most popular and robust FSBO sites on the Web, ended up listing his home with an agent AND paying a full commission?
If he couldn't get the job done for himself using his website, how effective do you think this approach will be in getting your home sold for the highest possible price in the shortest amount of time?
Located in the desirable Gilbert community of Seville. I'm longing for a family to occupy my 3 br/3 ba, den, & spacious floor plan! Enter my formal living/dining room w/ my wood laminate flooring throughout the 1st floor, & be captivated by my soaring ceilings! I miss the smell of home cooked meals coming from my fabulous kitchen. I have everything you need to help prepare great meals; island, pantry, & sleek black appliances! I love nothing more than spending time with the family, so my spacious family room is ideal for doing just that! Upstairs enjoy neutral carpet throughout, & only the best for the head of the household! Double doors lead to a great master suite!
Elementary School District: 080 - Chandler Unified District
Elementary School: Weinberg
Jr. High School: Willie & Coy Payne Jr. High
High School: Basha High School
* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Home prices are surging in metro Phoenix, climbing 8 percent in March alone and 20 percent in the past 12 months.
The median price of a house in the region climbed to $134,900, according to a new report from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
The trend is projected to continue throughout the year, although at a slower pace.
Mike Orr, director of the Center for Real Estate Theory at ASU, doesn't expect home prices to continue to climb as fast as they did in March over the next few months. But he projects metro Phoenix's housing appreciation for 2012 to reach 25 percent by September.
Orr credits the turnaround to steep drops in foreclosures and in the number of homes for sale, coupled with an increase in sales.
Fewer foreclosures means fewer inexpensive homes for buyers. The number of homes taken back by lenders in metro Phoenix is down 60 percent from March 2011.
Housing inventory has dropped steadily during the past year because of a record number of investors snapping up properties out of foreclosure.
Home sales are up 35 percent from a year ago as more regular buyers have joined investors in the mix.
"Prices have begun to rise at a fast pace, and bargains are no longer plentiful," Orr said. "Most homes that are priced well are attracting multiple offers within a couple of days, and many are exceeding the asking price."
March's price increase was the sixth in a row for Phoenix's housing market. Most real-estate analysts say the streak of rising home prices, along with slower foreclosures, is proof a housing recovery is under way.
A growing number of national real-estate analysts say metro Phoenix is leading the U.S.' housing market's recovery.
Metro Phoenix's median home price is still at least $130,000 lower than it was during the boom but almost $30,000 higher than it was in August 2011.
Foreclosures are down, and so are the sales of lender-owned homes. Since March 2012, the number of foreclosures resold by lenders has plummeted 61 percent. At the same time, regular sales, new-home sales, investor purchases and short sales have climbed. All those types of transactions have higher median prices.
The number of houses on the market across the Phoenix area is down 64 percent from March 2011.
Frustrated real-estate agents have buyers ready to sign contracts but can't find houses for them.
Don Paulsen of Peoria-based West USA Realty said the number of homes on the market is even lower when the number of homes that already have contracts written on them is subtracted.
An example would be a short sale in which the owner accepted an offer and the agent is showing the status as AWC -- active with contingencies -- until they get lender approval, he said.
"The reality is most agents will not show those homes because they know there is already an accepted contract on them," Paulsen said.
Orr also expects foreclosures to continue to fall, which means even fewer inexpensive homes will be for sale.
"The very low number of inexpensive homes available for resale means more buyers are considering purchasing new homes as an option," Orr said. "This signals the start of a distinct upward trend in new-home sales."
Pinal County home prices are up 21.3 percent in price per square foot from March 2011 to March 2012, with Maricopa County prices per square foot up 12.9 percent.
The areas showing the greatest increases are those that suffered the most price damage from the foreclosure wave from 2007 to 2011, Orr said. Examples include El Mirage, up 20 percent in average price per square foot; Maricopa, up 20 percent; San Tan Valley, up 31 percent; Tolleson, up 20 percent; Glendale, up 16 percent; Phoenix, up 17 percent; and Anthem, up 17 percent.
In contrast, some areas least affected by foreclosures are still showing price decreases. Examples are Paradise Valley, down 2 percent; Tempe and Fountain Hills, down 3 percent; Sun City West, down 12 percent; and Wickenburg, down 18 percent.
Owner-occupied home sales, which have been eclipsed by foreclosures and short sales in recent years, also increased 47 percent from March 2011 to March 2012.
Prices are still below March 2011, but Orr said the trend has reversed recently, with the price per square foot rising 8.1 percent from February to March. The median normal resale price is now $166,650, still 4.8 percent below the $175,000 in March 2011.
New-home sales are concentrated in the southeast Valley, with Gilbert and Chandler recording the most sales in March, Orr reported.
Gilbert is the most popular place in the Valley to buy a new home, with more than twice as many houses sold there in March than any other city in the metro area.
Buyers snapped up 167 homes last month in the town, compared with the next-best performance of 65 houses in Phoenix.
And Gilbert’s neighbors also showed strong activity, according to a report released Thursday by the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. It found 55 new homes were sold in Chandler, 42 in Mesa and 40 in San Tan Valley.
“The south East Valley is definitely the highlight for new home builders,” study author Mike Orr said.
Gilbert shares one other bright spot in the most recent look at the recovering single-family home market. The town’s new home sales exceeded the number of distressed sales or foreclosures. That wasn’t the case in any other Valley city. Orr said he was surprised at the finding because that hasn’t been the case for Gilbert at least since the foreclosure crisis was enveloping the Valley by 2008.
Gilbert’s improving housing picture also reflects a dramatic fall in foreclosures across the Valley.
The number of foreclosures in March fell 60 percent compared with March 2011. In other year-over-year improvements, median home prices rose 20.4 percent and new home sales shot up 35 percent.
Median home prices now stand at $134,900, up from $112,000 a year ago. The study area includes Maricopa and Pinal counties.
Prices are rising because the number of homes for sale has fallen sharply. Less than 22,000 homes were listed in March, down 41 percent from the previous year. And just 9,600 of those houses don’t have a contract on them, which puts the housing supply near record lows.
The shortage will continue to affect values.
“It will be a long time before it stops prices from going up,” he said. “At the moment, there’s an awful lot of stress on the market because there’s such strong demand.”
Buyers are increasingly frustrated because they usually compete with multiple bidders and have to pay more than asking price, he said. Some are choosing to buy a new home instead to avoid the hassle of the frenzied competition. The market is hottest for homes priced less than $250,000.
The tight supply of homes has limited the number of sales. March transactions fell 9 percent compared with a year ago, Orr said.
Home builders are ramping up construction to meet demand but they can’t up production like they did during the boom because so many builders went out of business and many construction workers have left the area, Orr said.
“They are responding as best they can,” he said. “This isn’t a surprise to them. They thought it would come back.”
Fall in love with this darling 3 bedroom, 2 bath home situated in the desirable town of Gilbert. Vaulted ceilings throughout boast plenty of natural lighting. Open living room is ideal for entertaining and oh how you'll adore the darling kitchen, furnished with gas oven/stove, dishwasher, and island! If privacy is what you're looking for, then privacy is what you shall have. The master bedroom is roomy and features a walk in shower and spacious walk in closet! Out back you'll have a clean slate for any landscaping idea you might have up your sleeve
Elementary School District: 041 - Gilbert Unified District
Elementary School: Mesquite Elementary
Jr. High School: Oak Tree
High School: Mesquite High School
* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Say hello to your new 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in Chandler! Bring your own personal touches to this fantastic find and you'll have a street pleaser in no time! Enter an inviting carpeted living room and make way to a bright kitchen that boasts vaulted ceilings and skylights! Super roomy kitchen with island will have you whipping up great meals in no time! Tiled dining room features French doors leading to a covered patio and spacious backyard complete with RV gate for parking all your toys! Private first floor master is ideal for relaxing and upstairs loft is great for intimate family time.
Elementary School District: 080 - Chandler Unified District
Elementary School: Knox
Jr. High School: Michael Anderson
High School: Chandler High School
* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Perfect Chandler location near the 202 freeway and in lovely gated community!! 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car attached garage.
Elementary School District: 080 - Chandler Unified District
Elementary School: Erie
Jr. High School: John M Andersen Jr High
High School: Hamilton High School
* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
A solid game plan can help you narrow your homebuying search to find the best home for you.
When looking for your new house, make sure to take into consideration how long you plan to stay there.
House hunting is just like any other shopping expedition. If you identify exactly what you want and do some research, you’ll zoom in on the home you want at the best price. These eight tips will guide you through a smart homebuying process.
1. Know thyself
Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a multistory home? If you’re leaning toward a fixer-upper, are you truly handy, or will you need to budget for contractors?
2. Research before you look
List the features you most want in a home and identify which are necessities and which are extras. Identify three to four neighborhoods you’d like to live in based on commute time, schools, recreation, crime, and price. Then hop onto REALTOR.com to get a feel for the homes available in your price range in your favorite neighborhoods. Use the results to prioritize your wants and needs so you can add in and weed out properties from the inventory you’d like to view.
3. Get your finances in order
Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you’re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing.
Gather your financial records and meet with a lender to get a prequalification letter spelling out how much you’re eligible to borrow. The lender won’t necessarily consider the extra fees you’ll pay when you purchase or your plans to begin a family or purchase a new car, so shop in a price range you’re comfortable with. Also, presenting an offer contingent on financing will make your bid less attractive to sellers.
4. Set a moving timeline
Do you have blemishes on your credit that will take time to clear up? If you already own, have you sold your current home? If not, you’ll need to factor in the time needed to sell. If you rent, when is your lease up? Do you expect interest rates to jump anytime soon? All these factors will affect your buying, closing, and moving timelines.
5. Think long term
Your future plans may dictate the type of home you’ll buy. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in the home for five to 10 years? With a starter, you may need to adjust your expectations. If you plan to nest, be sure your priority list helps you identify a home you’ll still love years from now.
6. Work with a REALTOR®
Ask people you trust for referrals to a real estate professional they trust. Interview agents to determine which have expertise in the neighborhoods and type of homes you’re interested in. Because homebuying triggers many emotions, consider whether an agent’s style meshes with your personality.
Also ask if the agent specializes in buyer representation. Unlike listing agents, whose first duty is to the seller, buyers’ reps work only for you even though they’re typically paid by the seller. Finally, check whether agents are REALTORS®, which means they’re members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. NAR has been a champion of homeownership rights for more than a century.
7. Be realistic
It’s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don’t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded.
On the flip side, don’t be so swayed by a “wow” feature that you forget about other issues — like noise levels — that can have a big impact on your quality of life. Use your priority list to evaluate each property,
remembering there’s no such thing as the perfect home.
8. Limit the opinions you solicit
It’s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. But remain true to your list of wants and needs so the final decision is based on criteria you’ve identified as important.
Nice and spacious home on a huge backyard. fenced diving pool, sports court, 8 person spa in a ramada, family room is off the kitchen and has a cozy fireplace. Master bedroom has big walk in closet and a computer/sitting area. Master bath has a separate exit that leads outside to the patio.
Elementary School District: 004 - Mesa Unified District
Elementary School: Jordan
Jr. High School: Hendrix
High School: Dobson
* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Home is located in a desirable area of Ahwatukee Foothills. Rolling golf courses, astounding mountain views are all included. No wasted space floor plan with great room, living, dining, kitchen area. Laundry room doubles as a huge walk in pantry. Kitchen has a multitude of cabinets and includes a kitchen island with additional storage. One half bath downstairs for convenience. 3 bedrooms and large loft area upstairs. Easy maintenance small backyard and desert front.
Elementary School District: 028 - Kyrene Elementary District
Elementary School: Kyrene de la Sierra
Jr. High School: Kyrene de la Sierra
High School District: 213 - Tempe Union High School District
High School: Desert Vista
* Important Disclosure: This property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Located in the desirable neighborhood of Power Ranch in Gilbert! This charming home features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, and a great floor plan! Enter an inviting living/dining room that will then lead you to a readily equipped tiled kitchen, complete with island, and white built in appliances! Family room features wood flooring and leads to a cozy covered patio and a grassy backyard with low maintenance landscaping! Master bedroom is relaxing with its separate shower/tub, double sinks, and walk-in closet! Enjoy the amenities this neighborhood has to offer, from its community lake, clubhouse, tennis courts, play grounds, and several community pool/spas!
School District: 060 - Higley Unified District
Elementary School: Power Ranch
Jr. High School: Power Ranch
High School: Higley
* Important Disclosure: The property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Help Keep Phoenix Beautiful on Earth Day 2012
Come celebrate the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day! Join Keep Phoenix Beautiful in downtown Phoenix on Friday, April 20th 2012 from 11am-1:30pm at our adopted park, Cesar Chavez Plaza, directly across from City Hall. You'll learn about recycling and sustainability, take home useful giveaways and share your enthusiasm with thousands of environmentally minded attendees! Click here for more info
Adding solar panels or upgrading to eco-friendly appliances can result in long-term savings, but often with a high upfront investment that not everyone can afford.
In honor of Earth Day (April 22), U.S. News talked to several eco-experts to uncover more affordable ways to go green. These habits take minimal time while benefiting the environment—and your wallet.
Skip conventional cleaning products. Commercially available cleaning products are convenient but they aren't always your safest—or cheapest—option. "If you look at the label on most conventional cleaners, you'll see a warning: 'hazardous to pets and humans,'" says Beth Greer, healthy homes expert for Veria.com and author of Super Natural Home: Improve Your Health, Home and Planet ... One Room at a Time. That's why Greer suggests alternately spraying countertops with white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, each in a metal spray bottle. "Using this method kills 99 percent of E. coli, the same way that your conventional cleaner does but it costs pennies and it's totally safe and nontoxic," she says.
Other household substances can serve as inexpensive cleaners as well. For instance, Greer uses half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of baking soda to remove water stains from the shower or to clean chrome and bathroom mirrors. Baking soda on a damp sponge can also be used as a scouring tool.
Avoid air leaks. Improving your home's insulation means fewer drafts and lower heating bills. But if you're a renter or have a limited budget for insulation, you have a few inexpensive options for reducing drafts and air leaks. Shel Horowitz, author of Painless Green and founder of the Hadley, Mass.-based consulting firm Green and Profitable, suggests using outlet protectors (the kind you'd use to baby-proof a home) and foam insulating pads to plug air leaks in outlets on exterior walls.
For windows, Horowitz recommends using rope caulk to weatherproof the perimeter. "It's much more aesthetic than covering your windows with plastic, and you can keep it in a plastic bag to reuse it the next year," he says. "Particularly in old houses, this is a very easy, cheap way to prevent drafts."
Make the most of your appliances. Running a refrigerator can account for as much as 15 percent or more of a household's electric bill. As Danny Seo, green lifestyle expert and author of the syndicated column "Do Just One Thing" points out, "you can't just unplug it" like you could with a TV or computer when they aren't in use. However, Seo suggests defrosting frozen foods in the fridge rather on the counter. "One, the refrigerator keeps a constant temperature, which is safer [than leaving frozen meat on the counter]," he says. "Also, because it's a block of frozen whatever it is, it keeps the interior of your refrigerator cooler."
Then, when you transfer food to the oven, don't line the racks with aluminum foil, as this reduces airflow and uses unnecessary foil, Seo adds. While you're heating up the oven, why not add other items you need to bake later in the week? Horowitz suggests consolidating your baking to save time and energy. For instance, bake five or six potatoes instead of just one, and eat them over the next week.
Use light strategically. According to Seo, you can boost the light output and efficiency of bulbs by unscrewing and dusting them. "The dust that builds up on the top of light bulbs can be an economic hazard, since built-up dust covering the bulbs limits the amount of light it emits," he says. "It also causes the bulb to burn up faster than a clean one."
Earn rewards for your eco-friendly efforts. As you develop greener habits, you could earn rewards by signing up for websites like Recyclebank.com or Greenopolis.com. Actions like signing up for paper billing, recycling at home, or using less energy earn Recyclebank users points that are redeemable for coupons, gift cards, and free offers from major retailers. Greenopolis offers points for using Greenopolis recycling kiosks. Once you've deposited enough glass, plastic, or aluminum containers into the kiosk, you can use the points you've earned for discounts or coupons for dining, travel, or other services.
"If you're gonna be doing all these green actions, you might as well get rewarded for it," says Seo. "You would never get on a plane without joining the airline's frequent flyer program. Why go green and not get points for doing it?"
From the moment a potential buyer steps through the threshold of your home, they’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s inside. From the grass lawn care, to the paint on the door, to the smell of fresh cut flowers in the foyer – everything adds up. With a little effort, you can create a home viewing experience buyers won’t soon forget.
It’s all about the entrance
To a buyer, little things go a long way. Adding a dash of color to the front door, replacing the hall mat, baking before an open house and making sure the floor, walls and mirrors are spotless will all ensure your home gets off on the right foot with potential buyers.
Every room counts
When you walk into your home, you can probably see more than just the entranceway. If you have an airy and open space, consider adding common elements that will draw the viewer’s attention from one room to the next – a great way to give your home added continuity.
Clear the clutter
Coat racks are a staple in most homes. Doesn’t mean you want to show yours off during an open house. To add size to the front area, lose the hats, shoes, coats and jackets. For furniture, make sure it fits in the space and is more than a great aid for tying hard-to-reach shoelaces.
Make flooring your forte
Is the laminate in your 70-year-old bungalow a turn-off? Sellers should strive to make the entrance as welcoming as possible–that includes getting rid of any flooring or materials that dramatically dates your décor. Before listing a property, you should consider making some minor remodel upgrades. Because the front hall is normally a smaller space, it may be a good place to invest some extra effort and give it a more modern appeal.
Get a handle on it
What's the first thing people touch when walking into your home? If your door handle is in need of a polish or needs to be changed, it may be worth hiring a handyman to install a quality piece of hardware. If the door jams or squeaks, give it some TLC before you throw the welcome sign on the front lawn. There is nothing more embarrassing than a home in disrepair.
Mirrors and artwork
If the entrance is small, a mirror can create a trick of the eye and expand the space. A powerful piece of contemporary art can also create a memorable entrance for a purchaser. Whichever you choose, remember the first impression is the one that lasts. Take the time to ensure that every potential homebuyer feels welcomed when walking in.
Extra nice corner lot with outstanding landscaping front and back! Nice, open kitchen into great room vaulted ceiling and plant shelves. Split bedroom floor plan seems larger than sq footage the way rooms are arranged. close to shopping
School District: 041 - Gilbert Unified District
Elementary School: Finley Farms
Jr. High School: Greenfield
High School: Gilbert High School
* Important Disclosure: The property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
In so many homes, the garage is a cluttered dumping ground where you stick things that don’t otherwise seem to have a place to live. Sometimes, this is so much the case that there’s not even room to park your car. Sound familiar? If so, now might be the perfect time to transform your garage into a useful work and storage space. Doing so can add significant value to your home in the eyes of potential buyers. Best of all, a garage re-haul project doesn’t have to involve a huge investment of either time or money.
Out with the Old
It may sound tedious and labor intensive, but the best way to tackle a cluttered garage is by hauling everything out to the driveway where you can sort and organize it. In the bright light of day, it will be easy to see what holds value and what needs to get chucked. Fortunately, once it’s in the driveway, it’s that much easier to send unneeded items on their way to the trash or the Salvation Army.
Once you’ve cleared away what you don’t need, sort what remains by function. Tools with tools, sports equipment with sports equipment – you get the idea. Doing so will help you get a handle on what you have and help you think through how best to store it in an orderly fashion.
In with the Organization
Now that you can clearly see what really belongs in the garage, you can start to think about how best to make it all fit. The next order of the day is to consider what type of storage system or systems will keep things organized and accessible. You can choose from cabinets, shelves or wall-mounted racks – and you can go with a pre-fabricated mix-and-match modular system or you can build your own from scratch.
Cabinets and drawers, among the more expensive solutions you might consider, offer protection from dust and moisture and hide clutter from sight. Shelves, a cheaper option, are efficient uses of space that keep items visible, making them easy to locate and access. Wall-mounted racks are among the most affordable systems you might install, great for hanging tools and other equipment. The right solution for your garage will depend on your individual needs and budget – and it may be that a combination of storage types works best. Also keep in mind that plastic storage bins or containers can provide protection from dust and moisture for items that require it if you don’t include cabinets or drawers as part of your overall mix.
Remember to Look Up
In the garage especially, don’t forget the ceiling as you are taking inventory of your available storage space. Hooks can be a great way to store bikes and other unwieldy items, off the floor and out of the way but easy to get down when you need them. Standard wire shelving installed overhead between ceiling joists can also provide a valuable place to stash items that you need less frequently – such as seasonal sports equipment or holiday decorations. Ladders, too, can be kept out of sight and out of the way on hooks suspended from the ceiling. Obviously, if you have an automatic garage door that opens into the garage overhead, make sure to avoid installing any ceiling storage that might impede it.
Large living area with tile and fireplace. Vaulted ceilings in family room. Beautiful and updated Kitchen with lots of storage, all white appliances with Breakfast bar. Spacious Master bedroom with large and upgraded bathroom. Oak Railing at stairs and loft. Close to Freeway.
School District: 041 - Gilbert Unified District
Elementary School: Pioneer
Jr. High School: Greenfield
High School: Highland
* Important Disclosure: The property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
Beautiful 5 bedroom home in the amazing community of San Tan Heights. Tiled flooring through out the downstairs. Family room and kitchen are open. Enjoy the admirable kitchen features such as granite counter tops, dark wood cabinets and track lighting. Keep the bedrooms cooled with ceiling fans. Large master bedroom with walk in closet that has shelves for easy organization and spacious master bathroom with tiled floors. Backyard is perfect for your future pool. Take a walk through the community and stop by the playground for some weekend fun.
School District: 0021 - Coolidge Unified District - Pinal
Elementary School: San Tan Heights
Jr. High School: San Tan Heights
High School: San Tan Foothills
* Important Disclosure: The property is available at the time of this ad creation. It is very possible that an offer has been submitted or even accepted since that time. If you are interested in this property, Please call 480-721-6253 to check on its current availability.
More than any other room in the home, the kitchen can be the deciding factor that sways a potential buyer toward – or away from – a purchase. With this in mind, most experts agree that even if you aren’t planning pre-sale updates anywhere else, the kitchen is the place to make them. But if a move is nowhere in your immediate future, improvements to your kitchen still almost always add directly to the eventual resale value of your home.
Sounds good, but what if your budget doesn’t allow for a wholesale remodel complete with new granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances? Fortunately, there are a slew of more nuanced alterations you can make – including many you can make yourself – that can add beauty and functionality to your kitchen without leaving your wallet significantly lighter.
Clear the Counters
Clearing clutter as a general rule is one of the best places to start whenever you’re thinking of showing your home. Perhaps nowhere is this more important than in the kitchen.
You may be a gadget guru with countertop appliances for everything from juicing beets to mixing margaritas, but your first order of business should be to put those appliances away. Where you see prized possessions, others just see crowded countertops. Keep gadgets to a minimum – a toaster and coffeemaker, perhaps – and show off sparkling, clutter-free countertops instead. Doing so can help even cramped kitchens feel spacious.
Quick Cabinet Overhauls
Rather than replacing cabinets, which can be an expensive and labor-intensive project, consider ways to refurbish those you have. Depending on their finish and its relative wear, you might consider a simple paint job. With a fresh coat of paint and new knobs and handles, old cabinets get an instant injection of new life.
A slightly more complicated and expensive job, but still a savings over installing all new cabinets, involves replacing the existing doors and drawer fronts. This is a good alternative to consider when these outward facing parts of the cabinet show significant wear but the interiors are still in good shape.
In either case, also take the time to clean and reline the interior shelves and drawers. Inexpensive contact paper can leave cabinet interiors looking fresh and updated in no time.
Everything but the Kitchen Sink? Think Again
In fact, replacing the kitchen sink is a great way to add major bang for the buck. Compared to appliances like a range or refrigerator, you can swap out your stained or damaged sink and faucet with a new stainless steel model for about $300. For a little extra, consider splurging on a double-bowl or deeper-bowl model, either of which provides more work area for bigger jobs. (Bear in mind that these options may involve more refitting of your existing counter space.)
In terms of a faucet, you can feel good investing in a solid middle-of-the-road model and saving the hundreds of dollars you could spend on a top-of-the-line designer number. For all intensive purposes, these more expensive options don’t really clean dishes any better, and cheaper models incorporate an increasing degree of style and design sense themselves.
Organize, Organize, Organize
What potential homebuyers don’t want to imagine their new kitchen as the paragon of order and organization? Help them do so by bringing order and organization to yours. Even if you’ve been perfectly content for years with cabinets overflowing with unidentified bags and containers of this and that, take time now to assign a proper place for everything and put everything in that place. Clean and ordered jars that showcase grains and pasta, an alphabetized spice rack, drawers of utensils sorted and stacked by function – you’ve seen it on television cooking shows. It won’t take as long as you think, it might actually make your life easier, and it will impress and attract potential buyers.
Window Dressing
It doesn’t get much easier than this: Swap out tired, worn curtains, kitchen towels, and pot holders with a fresh set in an updated whimsical print or a solid accent color that adds vitality to the room as a whole. It’s an instant, effortless injection of style.
Set the Table
If yours is an eat-in kitchen, take the time to set the table. An attractive tablecloth or placemats can add another dash of accent color, and a nice set of dishes arranged with a little flair can help give the room a pleasant lived-in feel. Other ideas include putting out a bowl of fresh fruit, coordinating candlesticks and salt and pepper shakers, or a couple of recent cooking magazines in an attractive rack or basket. Again – a little bit of effort here can go a long way toward setting the stage.
The Nose Knows
This tried-and-true real estate trick may seem like low-hanging fruit, but what’s wrong with that? If you know your house is scheduled to be shown, bake a batch of homemade cookies – or throw a frozen apple pie in the oven to thaw. Scent is one of our most powerful senses, and the smell of something wonderful cooking in your kitchen will make everyone feel instantly at home. Just be sure not to burn anything!
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
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Swee Ng
