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advice

Easy Room Makeovers

May 10, 2016 by Nicole

shutterstock_268789436

 

 

 

 

As much fun as it can be to decorate your home, it can also be pretty time consuming and cause you to put it off longer than you would like to. With Spring in full swing, the urge to redecorate is strong. We have some ideas for you that can make over your home in a flash.

Rearrange your furniture: A little feng shui can go a long way to changing up the look and feel of your home. For example, moving your furniture away from the walls of a room creates a more intimate setting for you and your guests.

Add color: The warmer months beg for color, so why not add it inside your home? Think cheerful colors like bright yellows, royal blues, crisp whites and intense greens. Use them on your bedding, as curtains, or any other spot in your house that needs a little brightening up!

Try a bold tablecloth: Just switching out your tablecloth can make a huge difference in your dining room. Strong color combinations and graphic patterns can add just the perfect amount of punch and take no time at all.

Show your shelves some love: Painting only the shelves in a room takes very little time, but can make a lasting statement. Go for eye-catching colors like orange and red, or use lighter complimentary colors that enhance what your space already has.

With these tips, you can freshen up your living space without spending a lot of time!

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate Tagged With: advice, decorating, diy, home decor, tips

Tips for a Successful Open House

November 13, 2013 by Dargan

You’ve set a date for an open house, and you want to be sure the right people show up. You have the basics down: declutter and ensure the home is clean and well-maintained, but what else?  Don’t worry; these insider tips should do just the trick.

Open House

Consider hosting an early showing of your home for locals only. If you’re planning an open house between the hours of 1 and 4 pm, invite your neighbors to stop by between noon and 1 pm. The invite will make neighbors feel appreciated and needed, but it will also allow your agent to focus on serious and interested buyers during the actual hours of the open house.

PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE. Bring awareness to your open house by uploading tons of photos, passing out flyers, and advertising in the local newspaper. Make sure your property is listed on the MLS and be sure to advertise the open house on websites like Trulia.com and Zillow.com. An added bonus: post an “Open House” sign in the yard a week before the event to let potential buyers that drive by the home know when they should come back.

Be absent. If you’ve hired an agent, there’s no real reason for you to attend the open house. Buyers need to be able to picture themselves in your home, as well as feel they can speak their mind freely, and it might be hard to do that if you’re there.

Secure your home and belongings. It’s okay to set some ground rules when you’re opening up your home to strangers. Require a signature and proof of ID (if you skip it, you run the risk of getting fake names and numbers) from every person who stops by the open house. Bathrooms are off limits–you never want a closed door between a stranger and your home. Dispose of any prescriptions you are no longer taking and/or take them with you, lock up and hide away all valuables, and ensure all guests have a chaperone at all times.

Consider choosing an “off” hour. Most open houses take place on Saturday or Sunday afternoon between the hours of 1 and 4 pm. Host your open house between 3 and 5 pm instead. An “off” hour ensures less open house competition and draws more attention to your property. An added perk: most buyers hit up several open houses in one day. At the beginning of the day, buyers are excited about the properties they are planning to see and fly through them because they’re eager to see what’s next. By knowing your property is the last open house of the day, the buyer can take their time viewing the property–and if they’re still looking–give you serious consideration.

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, open house, selling your property, tips

Top Real Estate Websites

November 5, 2013 by Dargan

There are thousands of websites on the Web that offer a wealth of information about real estate. Here’s a list of the best.

1. Zillow

Zillow is real estate marketplace that offers a living database of more than 110 million homes (including homes for sale–by owner and agent, homes for rent, homes in foreclosure, new homes, and pre-market homes), mortgage and refinancing tools and calculators, advice forums and message boards, local information, and more.

2. Yahoo! Homes

Yahoo! Homes is partnered with Zillow and also offers a database of homes for sale. It also offers the latest news stories about “Must See Homes,” home finance, and home projects.

3. Trulia

Trulia has an interactive website that is easy to use. It also offers a large database of homes available and helpful search tools. The search feature gives users the ability to search specific areas for crime rates, schools, and more. Users can even sign up for alert notifications when nearby houses are sold or prices are cut. In addition, users can post questions for local residents to answer.

4. Realtor.com

Realtor.com offers real time MLS listings that are updated every 15 minutes. Users can find out how much homes are going for in a specific area and view a summary of statistics about the local real estate market. Advice and news articles are also available.

5. Homes.com

Homes.com offers a property database like the ones above it. In addition, the site offers an Idea Gallery to give users inspiration (and helpful information) for many different areas: Celebrity Living, Curb Appeal, Decorating, DIY Improvement, Entertaining, Green Living, Guides/Checklists, Holidays, Home Buying, Home Living Tips, Home Values, How-To, On The Move, Organization, Renting A Home, Selling A Home.

 

**The sites listed above are the top five most popular real estate websites as calculated by Alexa‘s Global Traffic Rank & U.S. Traffic Rank from both Complete & Quantcast.

 

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, real estate, tips, websites

The Importance of Home Staging

October 27, 2013 by Dargan

We cannot stress the importance of staging your home using the right methods.  It’s one of the single most important things a seller should do before they list their property for sale.

Let’s look at a few statistics.

  • According to the NAR (National Association of Realtors), the average staging investment is between one and three percent of the home’s asking price–which generates a ROI (Return on Investment) between eight and ten percent.
  • 90% of buyers begin their house hunting online. Listing your beautifully staged home with high definition photos, as well as quality videos, will force it to stand out from the competition. As a result, your showing numbers will increase significantly.
  • 95% of homes that are professionally staged sell in 30 days or less! Homes that have not been professionally staged remain on the market for an average of 145 days.
  • Homes sold in the first 4 weeks average 1% more than asking price;  4 to 12 weeks average 5% less; 13 to 24 weeks average 6.4% less; and over 24 weeks average more than 10% less.

YOU DO THE MATH.

Staging your home is actually based around behavioral psychology theories and understanding human behavior. It’s less about decorating and more about knowing how to get your buyers to envision themselves living in your home. You are selling a fantasy. Get rid of anything that detracts from that viewpoint.

Depersonalize. Remove personal pictures and anything else that makes the home feel more like ‘yours’ versus more like ‘theirs’. Clear off counters and shelves, pack away books, and take pictures down off the wall.

Keep furniture to a bare minimum if at all possible. You want just enough furniture to define a room’s purpose without making it feel crowded.

Aim for a cheerful and bright mood. If it’s a sunny day, open the curtains and blinds to let the sun in (but ensure the windows are spotless). If the windows look out into the yard, make sure the lawn has been trimmed and the hedges have been cut. If it’s a gloomy day, turn on the lights in every room to lift the mood.

Fresh flowers are one of the easiest ways to liven up the mood in a home; they make everyone feel good. Use them both inside and outside the home. Flower beds add to your home’s curb appeal, and a walkway lined with beautiful flowers can’t help but impress your buyers before they even walk through the door. Place a tasteful arrangement on a small table near the entry, a bowl of flowers or fruit in the middle of the dining room table, or a vase of flowers on a bedside table or dresser.

Neutral paint schemes create a blank canvas. No two buyers have the same personal preferences and a neutral environment showcases the potential of a home.

Appeal to all the senses. Keep the thermostat set at a comfortable temperature. Make sure your house smells fresh and clean. Sprinkle cinnamon and fresh orange peels in a pot of water and allow it to simmer on the stove for twenty minutes before a showing. Remove it from the stove and put away “the evidence” before the potential buyer arrives.

Bathrooms and kitchen sell properties. Make yours count by replacing old shower curtains and ensuring all fixtures, mirrors, porcelain, and floors shine.

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, selling, staging, tips

How To… Spot An Overpriced Home

September 29, 2013 by Dargan

Homeowners have a tendency to overprice their homes because their opinion of its true value is clouded with personal memories. Buyers have a lot of choices. If you’re selling your home, it’s important to list it with a fair and competitive price. Just as equally important, buyers need to know how to spot overpriced homes.

How To Spot An Overpriced Home

1. The home has been on the market for a high number of days.

A home is probably overpriced if it has been sitting on the market for a long time. Competitively priced homes bring in multiple offers and sell quickly.

2. Location, location, location.

Location is EVERYTHING.  A home is generally worth less if it’s located on a busy street, schools are poorly rated, and/or the neighborhood is filled with older residents. A home is generally worth more if it’s located on the water or has water views, schools are highly rated, and/or the neighborhood is associated with newer homes.

3. A home without updates has less value.

An outdated or unkempt property usually means money will be spent on updates and/or repairs. A home should be priced less if the house was built by a lower-end builder, fixtures are outdated, fence is rotted, paint is older or faded, cabinets are scratched, wallpaper is peeling or outdated, floor plan is awkward, lacks desirable traits (granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, energy efficient, great landscaping), or needs any known repairs.

4. Price is significantly higher than other homes in the same neighborhood.

Just because a home is a luxury estate located in a modest neighborhood doesn’t mean it’s worth more money. A home is only worth what buyers are willing to pay for it. Customized or unique amenities aren’t always clear indicators of the home’s value either. The previous owner may have spent a fortune installing a bowling alley, but that doesn’t mean every buyer wants or is willing to pay more to have one. The best indicator of a home’s value is to look at the listing price of other homes in the neighborhood or look at homes that have recently sold and for how much.

There’s an informative summary of a research project conducted on the value of housing characteristics on realtor.org. Listed below are some of the conclusions that were determined about property characteristics and the effect they have on the value of a home.

  • each full bath adds approximately 24 percent to the selling price
  • nine foot ceilings add approximately 6 percent to the selling price
  • a sitting area in the master bedroom adds approximately 8 percent to the selling price
  • each additional bedroom adds approximately 4 percent to the selling price
  • the negative effects of age are most noticeable for homes 21-30 years old
  • vinyl and aluminum exteriors sell for approximately 4 percent less than those with brick; stucco and wood exteriors sell for approximately 9 percent more
  • houses with flat roofs sell for approximately 10 percent less than those with pitched roofs
  • contemporary and Dutch styled homes sell for the highest prices
  • internal characteristics that add the most value: family room, dining room, whirlpool, and security system
  • a fireplace adds approximately 12 percent to the selling price
  • a garage adds approximately 13 percent to the selling price
  • in-ground pools add approximately 8 percent to the selling price but over-ground pools add no value
  • the most valued kitchen features: built-in refrigerator, an island, and a double oven
  • the most valued exterior features: sprinkler system, patio, paddock, and tennis courts
  • situated within close proximity to a golf course adds approximately 8 percent to the selling price
  • homes considered “fixer-uppers” sell for approximately 24 percent less than others

 

Still unsure if a home is overpriced?

Consult your real estate agent. He/she is familiar with the current market analysis and the value of homes in the area. He/she wants you to be happy with his/her service and should steer you away from overpriced homes.

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, buying, tips

Real Estate Hoaxes & Scams

September 23, 2013 by Dargan

Beware!

Unfortunately, the world of real estate is not exempt from scammers. It’s absolutely imperative to become familiar with real estate hoaxes to ensure you don’t fall victim to their ploys!

Please use extreme caution if you are contacted by an individual and it sounds completely bogus. Listed below are two examples of known real estate scams.

 

TIMESHARE MARKETING SCAM

Timeshare owners are being contacted by fake companies who promise to sell or rent the victims’ timeshares. Typically, the owner receives an unexpected or unsolicited phone call or e-mail from someone posing as a sales representative for a timeshare resale company. The individual promises a quick sale by using high-pressure sales tactics to add a sense of urgency to their deal. Some victims have stated the “sales representative” pressured them with claims that a buyer was on their other line or present in their office.

Owners who agree to sell their timeshare are told they must pay a fee upfront to cover listing fees, advertising, and closing costs. Many victims have provided credit cards to pay for the fees and have ranged from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Once the fee is paid, owners have reported that calls go unanswered, numbers are disconnected, and websites no longer exist.

In some instances, owners have even subsequently been contacted by a fake timeshare fraud recovery company. This representative promises to assist in the recovery of money lost in the previous sales scam.

If you happen to be contacted by someone who offers to sell or rent your time share, be very wary if asked for up-front fees. Read the fine print on any sales contract or rental agreement, and confirm the company is reputable by contacting the Better Business Bureau.

RENTAL SCAM

Property owners who have rental property advertised online have been contacted by someone claiming they are an interested party. Once a rental price is agreed upon, the “interested party” sends a check for the deposit. The check is often written for an amount over the amount required and then they ask for the remainder to be sent back to them. In other cases, the check is written for the correct amount, but the interested party backs out of the agreement and requests a refund. In instances where the bank does not place a hold on the funds, the property owner has immediate access to the funds and believes the check has cleared. Unfortunately, the check is found to be counterfeit and the property owner is held responsible by the bank for the loss.

A different type of scam involving rental properties occurs when the scammer posts an advertisement for an available rental property. The scammer duplicates a posting from a real ad and alters it. They even go as far as creating an e-mail address with the broker’s real name to appear more legitimate. When an interested renter contacts the scammer by e-mail, they receive a response from “the owner” that states he and his wife are currently doing missionary work in another country. The “owner” indicates they need someone to rent their property while they are away and request the funds to be sent to them in the foreign country.

 

Those are just two examples of the hundreds out there. The links provided below contain a list of known scams related to each topic, as outlined by usa.gov.

Foreclosure Scams

Mortgage Scams

Rental Home Scams

Home Improvement & Repair Scams

Managing Debt Scams

Loan Scams

 

REMEMBER! It’s always important to check out any activity that seems suspicious to you.

Here are a few ways you can protect yourself:

1. Call the company directly to determine if an e-mail is trustworthy. Do not use contact information provided on a website connected a request.

2. Do not reply to unsolicited e-mails even if the sender threatens to disable an account.

3. Never reveal personal or financial information through e-mail.

4. Report any suspected scams to the federal government.

5. If it seems too good to be true… it probably is!

 

 

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, hoaxes, scams

What is Curb Appeal?

September 20, 2013 by Dargan


thisoldhouse

 photo courtesy of This Old House

Curb appeal is the attractiveness of a property’s exterior appearance. Several attributes that help create great curb appeal include pleasing color schemes, inviting landscapes, and charming walkways.

Thinking about adding to your property’s curb appeal?  A few ideas are listed below to help you get started!

10 Ways to Increase Curb Appeal

1. Give the front door a punch of color with a fresh coat of paint. Garnish your new door with a wreath that reflects the interior style of the home.

2. Replace old hardware (house numbers, knobs, wall-mounted overhead lights, etc.).

3. Add outdoor lighting by illuminating a walking path. Consider solar lighting if you don’t have the wiring capabilities.

4. Makeover the mailbox or replace it altogether. Consider painting the wooden post a color that matches the home or plant a few flowers around it.

5. Add shutters or accent trim to plain windows. Consider adding a window box with plants or fresh flowers.

6. Renew paint, siding, and trim to keep things fresh.

7. Edge the driveway with bricks or stone. Get creative with different patterns.

8. Install new garage doors.

9. Manicure the lawn by cutting back trees and bushes.

10. Rinse dirt off the property’s siding, shutters, gutters, and sidewalks with a garden hose or consider renting a pressure washer.

hgtv

 photo courtesy of HGTV

CurbAppeal

photo courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

 

Can you think of other ways to increase curb appeal?

Let us know!

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, curb appeal, tips

Advice & Tips: Repairing Bad Credit

September 19, 2013 by Dargan

Unfortunately, there’s not an easy fix for bad credit. Repairing negative credit history takes time and patience, but there are several ways to get a jump start on the process.

Step 1: Check Your Credit Report

You are entitled to a free credit report each year and can request a copy at annualcreditreport.com. It’s important to obtain a report that pulls information from all three credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian) because they can all indicate a different credit score. Creditors aren’t required to report to all three bureaus, and typically only report to the bureau with which they subscribe.

It’s essential to check your credit report each year to ensure it reflects accurate information. Be sure to check for erroneous late payments, and verify the information listed under the “amounts owed” field is correct. If you discover an error, dispute it with the credit bureau and reporting agency as soon as possible.

In addition to obtaining your annual credit report, you can also obtain credit scores year round at creditkarma.com. They typically aren’t scores used by lenders but should give you a general overview of your credit report’s current status.

Step 2: Set Up Payment Reminders

Making payments in a timely fashion is one of the largest contributions you can make to your credit score. Some financial institutions offer payment reminders via online banking, e-mail, and text alerts. Automatic payments can be set up if you have a really difficult time keeping up with due dates. But, keep in mind, this method doesn’t help instill a sense of money management with creditors because automatic payments only deduct the minimum payment due.

Step 3: Reduce Amounts Owed

Easier said than done, right? It’s worth the hard work and sacrifice because it’s far more satisfying to pay off debt completely than it is to improve your credit score.

A great debt reduction method:

Stop using credit cards.

Determine the amounts owed on each account you have open, as well as the interest rates associated with those accounts. Establish  a payment plan, and apply the majority of funds allotted for debt payments toward the highest interest accounts first.  Continue to pay the minimum amount due on your other accounts. Once the account with the highest interest rate is paid off, move on to the account with the second highest interest rate. Continue paying off debt using this method until all accounts have a zero balance.

Tip: Change payment due dates on several accounts if a large number are due around the same time.

Credit Score Facts

– Your payment history accounts for 35% of your calculated credit score.

– Paying off a debt will not remove it from your report; it stays there for 7 years.

– Delinquent payments–even one day late–majorly impact your FICO score.

– Amounts owed account for 30% of your calculated credit score.

– Keep balances low. Pay off debt rather than transferring or moving it around to other accounts.

– Don’t open new cards you don’t need just to increase your credit limit; it could backfire and lower your score instead.

– Don’t open multiple accounts within short time frames. A flood of new accounts look especially risky if you’re a new credit user. Apply for and open new accounts only as needed.

– In general, credit cards and installment loans will rebuild your credit score. An individual who doesn’t have any credit cards tends to be a higher risk than an individual who has credit cards and manages them responsibly.

– Adding an installment loan (personal, auto, mortgage, student), if you don’t already have one, shows you’re responsible with both major types of credit. If you choose to add an installment loan, make sure it reports to all three credit bureaus. You can find the best deals at a local bank or credit union.

Made a bad decision once or twice?
Most creditors look for patterns of payment rather than focusing on one-time or rare occurrences. So, don’t panic if you’ve had one or two slips in the past.

If you want to learn more about rebuilding your credit–radio host, Dave Ramsey, offers a lot of great advice on many different financial topics.

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, bad, credit, mortgage lending, tips

Buying A Home? There’s an App for That!

September 8, 2013 by Dargan

With today’s advanced technology, there’s an app for everything and purchasing real estate is no exception. The five apps listed below can offer helpful assistance during the home buying process.

Trulia – real estate search with interactive maps

Trulia Collage.jpg

Features

  • separate sections listing homes for sale and homes for rent
  • search limitations by lot size, year built, property type, price range, square footage
  • an open house tab allows you to view open houses on any given day
  • heatmap feature displays neighborhood crime incidents, rental prices, or homes prone to flooding
  • amenities tab displays restaurants and schools nearby
  • syncs with Yelp! and displays a map with nearby gas stations, grocery stores, shopping plazas, and more

Credit Karma – free credit scoring on the go

credit karma

Features

  • free credit monitoring
  • notification when important changes are made to your credit report
  • credit report card displays factors influencing your credit score
  • free membership
  • financial education and free tools allow users to take control of their credit score

Homesnap – creative home search powered by MLS data

Homesnap

Features

  • snap a photo of a house for sale and read MLS data about it
  • displays estimated value, last price home sold for, number of bedrooms and baths, local schools nearby, interior pictures + more
  • save favorites and share with friends
  • see what homes your friends have searched for or saved as a favorite

Zillow Mortgage – mortgage calculating tool

Zillow Collage.jpg

Features

  • calculate the maximum amount you can afford on a home
  • determine the monthly mortgage payment or if you should refinance
  • shop current mortgage rates
  • live mortgage rates and trends
  • side-by-side customized loan quotes
  • compare lender ratings and reviews

Houzz – interior home decorating and design ideas

Houzz

Features

  • over 1,500,000 photos of interior homes
  • browse by style (modern, traditional, contemporary, eclectic, mediterranean, farmhouse, industrial, rustic)
  • browse by room or location
  • save the ideas you like to your favorites for quick access

 

Do you use an app that you find particularly helpful that isn’t on our list?

Share it with us!

Filed Under: Myrtle Beach real estate, Myrtle Beach SC real estate Tagged With: advice, apps, technology, tips

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