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A CLEAN HOME IS A HAPPY (HEALTHIER) HOME

C21 HOMETOWN’S – 7 DAY PLAN TO A HAPPY, HEALTHIER HOME

We’ve all heard the old adage “a clean home is a happy home.” It’s pretty safe to say a clean home is also a healthier one as well and we call use an extra dose of healthy! In the world of real estate, “Spring Cleaning” a house before selling is always key in making sure the house sell faster and even for more money. Since we all find ourselves home a lot more than expected these days, we’ve come up with a 7-day “Spring Cleaning” to keep us productive, healthier and even prepare your house to hit the real estate market if you’re interested. WIN…WIN…WIN!

Cleaning the entire house can feel overwhelming, but if you take a little at a time, one day at a time, your house can be spotless in no time.

DAY 1 – KITCHEN

We’re going to break down Kitchen cleaning into two days.. Take the time to not only clean but declutter as you go.
• Wipe down all the same surfaces as you did for the bathroom. Use that hot water, soap and start scrubbing those surfaces. Great time to work out all that Corona-virus frustration!
• Wipe down the walls, the outside of the cabinets, the handles on the cabinets and disinfect the inside of the sink basin as well.
• Open cabinets and neatly organize anything that looks out-of-place and purge any-thing that no longer is needed.
• Wipe down the floor and call it a day!
Seller’s Tips –
• Now that your Kitchen is sparkly clean, make sure the room is bright with sunlight.
• Also, be sure to repair any leaky faucets and pipes.

DAY 2 – KITCHEN AGAIN

We’re baaaack! Look around, you have to admit it’s looking good and we’re feeling good, right? Today, we finish the Kitchen by tacking those appliances.
• Let’s start with the fridge. Empty the shelves to wipe them down, double-check the expiration dates on the items that remain in your fridge. If they are no longer any good, it’s time to get rid of them! Scrub your fridge ’all those questionable drips and rings are gone then load back up the condiments and food items.
• Now let’s tackle the oven and cleaning the range. Choose a cleaner that is effective but that won’t damage your skin or unhealthy to breathe. Clean the range, then open the oven. If your oven is self-cleaning, hit the button! If not, start wiping down the inside of the oven to make it shine.
• Wipe out the inside and outside of the microwave
• Turn off the kitchen light, your work is done for the day.
Seller’s Tips –
• Make sure all stove, microwave, and refrigerator lights are working.
• Repair all loose handles and knobs. Your dishwasher must be working.
• Go and buy new stove plates or burner covers.

DAY 3 – BATHROOMS

Let’s face it, if we want to be healthier, bathrooms are the perfect place to start!
• Clean the entire parameter of the room from right to left.
• Wipe down door handles, light switches, walls, sink, countertops even base-boards…anything that has a surface, wipe it down with disinfecting products!
• Scrub the toilet, the shower, the tub, the shower head and don’t forget to wipe down the mirrors.
• Once all the surfaces and items in the bathrooms are cleaned, be sure to empty out the trash and wash the floors. DONE!
Seller’s Tips –
• Replace old toilet seats and make sure that every toilet is flushing perfectly. (People often flush the toilets to see if your plumbing is working.)
• Check your grouting and repair or replace any missing tiles.
• Buy new shower curtains and be sure there is no mildew anywhere.
• Put new caulking around toilets and showers.
• Take off any mineral deposit or soap deposit film on your shower doors and walls.
• Organize under the sinks and medicine cabinets (yes, people will open everything). Put away anything personal or dangerous.
• Check ceilings for cracks, stains, and moisture problems.

DAY 4 – LAUNDRY ROOM

Let’s take one of the smallest but busiest rooms in houses with kids, the Laundry.
• Start one of the never-ending loads of laundry.
• Wipe down the tops of the washer and dryer.
• Clean out the lint traps.
• Clean and pick up anything that’s fallen between or behind either unit.
• Organize your detergents so they are all nice, neat and stocked appropriately.
• Sweep the floor.
Seller’s Tips –
• Dust and clean your appliances like washers, dryers, hot water heaters, and furnace.
• Check for any leaks. If your basement has a musty smell (hopefully your friend who did the house tour will have told you) pour bleach down your drains, do not have damp clothing.

DAY 5 – LIVING ROOM

Even though the Living Room is one of the largest spaces, it’s generally one of the easiest to clean and freshen up.
• Wipe down all surfaces, baseboards and light switches.
• Dust any shelves, and also the backs and legs of furniture. Be sure to declutter any shelves of unnecessary items.
• Open up your windows and let that fresh air in and while you’re at it, clean the in-side and outside of those windows as well.
• Vacuum if you have carpet, or sweep if not.
Seller’s Tips –
• Be sure to fill holes and patch any other problems.
• Straighten the furniture, and be sure that the cushions are plumped and smoothed.
• Clean the fireplace and do not forget to use glass cleaner on both sides, if you have glass doors. Put a bowl of potpourri in the fireplace (nothing too overpowering).
• Anything on the coffee tables or shelves or mantle should be neatly stacked.

DAY 6 and 7 – BEDROOMS

You are in the homestretch! Just like the Kitchen we are going to tackle the Bedrooms in 2 days (maybe even 3 depending on the number of Bedrooms.)
• Follow the same cleaning protocol as you did in the Living Room: wipe, dust, win-dows, floors.
• Change out the sheets, flip and rotate the mattress.
• Here’s the biggie – organize the closets! Make a donate pile for clothing items that no longer fit or are needed.
Seller’s Tips –
• Patch walls and ceilings if during decluttering, you left a trail of nail holes.
• Clean light fixtures (all over the house), replace bulbs, and be sure to put in soft white bulbs not harsh or glaring bulbs.
• Ceiling fans need to be dusted and cleaned.
• Clean smudgy fingerprints off walls, doors, and light switches. (These bedroom doors often are overlooked).
• Nightstands emptied and organized attractively.

Walk through your house, look around and see if there is anything we missed. Looking good? You tackled it and completed the 7-day “Spring Cleaning” Plan. CONGRATULATIONS!

Whether you are looking to buy or sell, C21 Hometown Realty’s Agents have the most homes listed and the most homes sold! Visit one of the ten local offices throughout the Central Coast or click on c21home.com.

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the Central Coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

WILL 2020 BE A GOOD TIME TO BUY IN CALIFORNIA?

Economists say that 2020 will be positive but not stellar for the housing market in California.

Although last year they expected mortgage rates to rise and they fell keeping real estate markets much stronger than anticipated. Lesson…real estate predictions can be tricky business.

CALIFORNIA STILL SHOWING GROWTH

Despite some predictions from expert economists that the west would face a tough 2019 real estate market, California proved to be one of the better housing markets in the country. In fact, the Central Coast median home prices were up 3.3% year over year according to the California Association of Realtors. Southern California had a 7.5% rise, the Central Valley up 6.3%, while the Bay Area had only a 2.2% rise.

PERSISTENT LACK OF SUPPLY

California’s housing market will continue to be fueled by a persistent lack of supply, keeping pressure on rising home purchasing and rental prices. Sales of homes $500k and $1 million rose by 15.5% on average, yet sales under $300k dropped sharply by 14.2% and homes over $2 million dropped slightly by 3.2%, according to California Association of Realtors.

SELLER OPTIMISM RISING

In CAR’s buyer survey, respondents who thought it was a good time to sell increased 4% to 51%. Only 24% of buyers stated they felt it was a good time to buy, down only 1% from last year, despite lower rates. Prices, down payments, and selection are likely the key factors stopping buyers from buying homes. With higher real estate prices, first time buyers will continue to struggle to come up with a down payment thus keeping the rental market strong.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell, market conditions are looking good for 2020. As the #1 broker on the Central Coast, C21 Hometown Realty’s Agents have the most homes listed and the most homes sold! Visit one of the ten local offices throughout the Central Coast or click on c21home.com.

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the Central Coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

2020 VISION FOR REAL ESTATE IS LOOKING GOOD

Lower than expected interest rates kept real estate strong in 2019 and many experts predict 2020 will keep rolling in the same direction. According to a recent article in Forbes, Odeta Kushi, deputy chief economist at First American, shared that mortgage rates will remain low next year, between 3.7 and 3.9%, fueling a healthy real estate market.

PRICES TO KEEP RISING

Tight inventory and increased demand will keep pushing prices higher. In fact, with mortgage rates either staying the same or actually dropping, competition will increase for buyers which may result in bidding wars. Redfin predicts one in four homes will result in a bidding war which is great news for home sellers who may have been holding out when most homes prices dropped slightly on the Central Coast over the past year. The Forbes article shared data from CoreLogic, stating home prices should tick up by 5.6% by next September which is more than 3.5% from this year.

ECONOMIC GROWTH, NOT A RECESSION

Although many economists have predicted a mild recession in 2020, a housingwire.- com report states, “Current conditions point to a recipe for continued economic growth, not a recession. Growth itself may be slower than the strong pace we’ve seen at times throughout the recovery, but growth will still occur for at least the next year.” Reasons cited for the economic growth are a healthy consumer confidence and job growth.

HOME SIZES WILL SHRINK, BUT AMENITIES ARE KING

Inventory will continue to be tight as Millennials and Generation Z enter the market, but Baby Boomers are not budging from their long-time homes. Zillow predicts that new home sizes will shrink for the fourth time of five years due to younger buyers having less money and can’t afford to purchase larger homes. To make up for square footage, many new homes are offering upgraded amenities to attract buyers.

Whether you are looking to buy or sell in the new year, experts agree you should enter the real estate market early in 2020 to take full advantage of the growing market. As the #1 broker on the Central Coast, C21 Hometown Realty’s Agents have the most homes listed and the most homes sold! Visit one of the ten local offices throughout the Central Coast or click on c21home.com.

About CENTURY 21 Hometown Realty – Hometown Realty is the leading real estate firm on the Central Coast of California with offices spanning Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo county offering expert agents and convenient locations.

TRUE AMERICANA MEANS BIG BUSINESS FOR CENTRAL COAST

It’s Mid-State Fair time here on the Central Coast! A timeless tradition of true Americana, celebrating our heritage of agriculture, arts, crafts, competitions and show-stopping entertainment. Bright lights, carnival rides, fair food, exhibits and top-name entertainers were just some of the reasons that a record-breaking 430,000 guests made the trek to Paso Robles in 2017.

If the entertainment line-up is a top indicator for guest attendance, 2018 will be on track to deliver large Fair audiences once again. The free concert stage is hosting well-known artists such as Crystal Gayle, Monte Mills, Kris Kristofferson, Bear Market Riot, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and newer artists For King & Country and recent winner of The Voice, Cassadee Pope. The main stage will light up each night with stars such as Florida Georgia Line, Pitbull, Demi Lovato, Gabriel Iglesias, ZZ Top, Tim McGraw with Faith Hill and Luke Bryan.

In addition to the draw of America’s top entertainers, Mid-State Fair offers great family entertainment with Livestock Competitions, Horse Shows, Petting Zoo, Country Finals Rodeo, Robotics for Kids, Tractor Races, Youth Performances and a newly revamped Carnival. The Mid-State Fair offers great entertainment value for the low admission price of $8-$12. If you will be attending multiple days, the Season Pass is the way to go, just $30 for children 6-12 and $60 for Adults offering admission everyday to the fairgrounds.

Not only do Central Coast residents flock to this event but it attracts huge crowds from all around the state. That means big dollars and big business for the area, especially Paso Robles. Hotels, motels and restaurants feel the biggest impact but even retail stores benefit from the tens of millions of dollars the Mid-State Fair brings to the community each year.

How Long Will It Take To Sell

How long will it take to sell a home is a key question asked by every seller during the listing presentation. The answer usually depends on price. If you price too high, not only will it take longer to sell, but you will typically get less money for the home than it is worth. Listings that languish in an overpriced status typically get “low-ball” offers from buyers. The longer on the market, the lower the offer. The old strategy of pricing high and hoping for the best typically yields the worst results.

The best strategy for pricing a property is pricing low. Not only will you sell the home in a shorter time frame, but the value pricing is likely to attract bidders who over bid the listing price or who will pad their bid with fewer contingencies. It sounds counter productive, but pricing below market attracts far more interested buyers and a higher sale price.

Regardless of your pricing strategy, you should know what to expect.

Most homes sell in 30 to 60 days.

This is followed by 60-90 days, then oddly, 120-180 days. 90-120 is awfully close behind.

Aiming to sell takes focus

Aiming to SellWhen selling a home in an unfavorable market, it can be hard to face some facts. Most likely, your home will not command the price you want. It might be hard to cut your losses and move on. And you may find you have more emotional ties to selling your home than logical ones.

Such feelings are not a surprise, says retirement expert Jan Cullinane, author of “The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life.” Business decisions often are more emotional than we realize. But understanding some basic theories of behavioral economics—how psychology affects economic decision-making—can help us all make better financial decisions.

“Leaving a home can be very emotional,” Cullinane says. Yet, she adds, when we need to sell a home in a down market, we need to understand the obstacles and the behavioral economic factors so we can cut the emotional ties.

“We’re much more emotional, like Homer Simpson in our thinking, rather than logical like Spock from ‘Star Trek,’” Cullinane says. “When it comes time to sell our home, it helps if we are aware of these factors and how we think.”

Being aware of the following behavioral economic concepts help with this difficult decision-making:

Status quo bias. “It’s easier to do nothing than to do something,” Cullinane explains. People don’t want to change things unless there are compelling reasons.

Loss aversion. In this market, you may have to sell your home for less than you thought. On the flipside, when you buy your next property, you’re likely to buy it at a discount. But that doesn’t always make us happy. “We feel worse about a loss than we feel happy about a gain,” Cullinane says. Recognizing our loss aversion can help us come to terms with the loss and appreciate the gain.

Endowment effect. “We put a higher value on something we own than on something we don’t own,” Cullinane says. The endowment effect can create a roadblock when putting a home on the market. It also means that others won’t value our home the same way we do.

Anchor. We all have an “anchor”—a fixed price for which we think our home should sell—and we don’t want to sell it for less than that amount. Often, our anchor is based on what we paid for the house and what we feel it should be worth now, even if market conditions have changed dramatically. We need to get past that emotional anchor. “Let’s face it, your home is worth what someone is willing to pay for it,” Cullinane says.

Sunk costs. When we have put money into something that we can’t get back, we have a tough time cutting our costs and moving on. For instance, if you remodeled your deck, you may not be able to recoup that money when you sell. You need to realize that money is a sunk cost—it already has been spent and you won’t get it back—and move on.

If you’re retiring, or moving for other reasons, it helps to realize that your home is not worth now what it once was. Those high sales prices aren’t coming back any time soon, but you can get a good deal on a new purchase.

“Knowing that you feel worse about a loss than you feel happy about a gain—and recognizing that intellectually—goes a long way to getting over that emotional hurdle,” Cullinane says. “Knowledge is power.”

This article originally appeared on the Equifax website. http://blog.equifax.com/real-estate/when-selling-a-home-end-the-emotional-ties/

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