Ryan DeRoode | Twin Cities MN Realtor - Ryan DeRoode

Summer Home Maintenance Tasks: Jobs to Do If Your House Is For Sale

Summer is the perfect time of year to get a head start on home maintenance tasks you always put off, such as painting trim and doing yard work. If your house is for sale this summer, there are some additional things that should be done in order to make it attractive and appealing to potential buyers. Add these 5 tasks to your summer checklist to help buyers see your home as the beautiful home they picture themselves living in.

1. Washing windows

Nothing can ruin a potential buyer’s impression of your home more than when they look out to see your lovely yard, pond, or lake view, than windows which are dirty or water spattered. Clean windows are an immediate way to show your potential buyers that your home is well cared for, and that the views outside are to be enjoyed. If your time has already filled up with summer activities and you have no time to do it yourself, consider hiring this job out. The average cost of window cleaning for a 1500 square foot house is approximately $150-300 (Home Advisor)

2. Clean Window Screens

As long as you’re paying special attention to your windows, don’t forget about your screens. Screens can be easily cleaned with a gentle spray of water and then left to dry in sunlight. If you have any holes or tears in the screen, replace the screen. This repair usually costs $50 or less, and you’ll be glad you did when you don’t have mosquitoes buzzing you at 2am!

3. Cleaning gutters

If your home is for sale this summer, it’s a perfect time to make sure the rain gutter and downspout are clear of leaves or other debris. Cleaning out gutters will not only prevent unnecessary water damage to exterior wood siding when heavy rains come- it also shows that you care about how the house looks from outside, before a potential buyer comes to visit. Left cluttered, clogged gutters can contribute to leaky roofs, or damage that can be very expensive to fix. Even more unsettling is that outside critters looking for warm bedding may make a home in these areas, and eventually may make their way into your home.

Considering doing it yourself? Check out this video from Lowes: https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/cleaning-services/clean-windows/

Want to hire it out? Prices do vary, depending on square footage of your home, but is up to approximately $1.50 per linear foot (Home Advisor: https://homeguide.com/costs/gutter-cleaning-cost)

4. Power washing exterior walkways and driveway

Power washing walkways is a quick and economical way to give a fresh, clean look to your sidewalks and driveway. Your house will look fresh and inviting, ready for that first open house of the summer. Even if you don’t have a pressure washer, it’s quick and easy to rent one.

Here’s how to do it: https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/hardscape/power-washing-a-walk

5. Ensure flowers look healthy, and greenery looks neat and trimmed

Be sure that the plants are healthy and cared for throughout the hot months by regularly watering them, either through hand watering or use of irrigation systems. Remove any diseased leaves from shrubs, trees, or hedges as they will provide hiding spots for invasive pests, which can spread disease quickly among nearby vegetation. For hedges or shrubs, make sure they are not unruly, as this will give an impression that your home is not cared for.

No flowers? Consider adding a couple of summer-hearty potted or hanging plants to your steps or outdoor entrances. The pop of color will add visual interest and an extra bit of life to your outdoor space. Consider geraniums, fuchsias, impatiens, or begonias.

Enjoy your summer, and your sale!

Summer is a great time to tackle some home maintenance tasks, and even more-so if your home is listed and getting showings or open houses. I hope these tips not only make a powerful impact on your potential buyers, but help you enjoy the time while you’re living in your home!

Image credit: tab1962 | iStock | Getty Images Plus

The Best Decision You’ll Ever Make? Getting Pre-Approval Before You Search for Your New Home

What are you looking for in a new home? Is location important to you? Do you prefer a certain style or type of house? What about square footage and lot size?

What are you looking for in a new home? Is location important to you? Do you prefer a certain style or type of house? What about square footage and lot size? If so, then your research has just begun. But before going any further, have a qualified mortgage lender pre-approve your loan. You’ll be glad that you did!

Why is this step so important? Here are 3 reasons!

Pre-approval clarifies your focus and increases your confidence.

A mortgage pre-approval is a great way to know for sure that you can afford the home before going through all of the time and energy in your search. It’s also important because getting approved isn’t guaranteed, even if you have enough cash on hand or think interest rates are favorable at present.

In order to get accurate results, lenders need detailed information about how much money you’re bringing with you into this transaction and what future expenses look like (such as gas bills, insurance, or other utilities). The more they know upfront, the better able they will be to structure an affordable mortgage plan for your needs.

The process typically takes around 20 minutes from start to finish; it includes filling out some basic personal and employment information, along with answering questions about your monthly expenses and income.

Once pre-approved, generally about 24 hours later, you can start looking for your new home confidently, knowing that you have a mortgage company behind you to provide the financing should one of these properties be right for you. You’ll know how much you can spend, as well as what your approximate monthly mortgage payment will be.

Pre-approval increases your chances of being selected if you’re in a bidding war.

Put yourself in the seller’s shoes – if you have two equal offers coming in for your home, are you going to choose the one that is more solid (with a pre-approval) or an offer where the buyers haven’t yet determined if they qualify for the purchase price? As a real estate agent, I have seen the domino effect of deals falling through when a potential buyer wasn’t pre-approved. It can be heartbreaking for multiple parties, who then may have their future plans derailed when an offer falls apart. In the current market, not having a pre-approval may mean that your offer simply is not even considered.

A word of caution – no real estate deal is final until both parties “sign on the dotted line”. Even with pre-approval. A mortgage can still be denied, such as in the case that buyers go out and take on additional debt (no new cars, boats or credit cards, please!) or experience a sudden job loss or reduction in income.

Pre-approval saves YOU heartache.

By starting the process of a pre-approval, you’ll discover if there are any obstacles in your way, such as poor credit or insufficient income. The best time to start this process is BEFORE you begin your search for the perfect home! It’s better to know now than later, when it could cost more money and ruin your chances in securing the house of your dreams. By discovering any outstanding issues early in the process, you can correct inaccuracies in your credit report, work to resolve any outstanding credit issues, and monitor your debt to income ratio.

A mortgage pre-approval is an inexpensive and quick way of knowing if you can afford a new home, before wasting hours looking at houses that are out of your price range.

By being pre-approved, you can be more confident in the offer you present to a seller, as well as have a knowledge of where your upper limit is, should you end up in a bidding war, or in a situation where you need to have an escalation clause.

I’m here to help.

As your realtor, I can help guide you through this process. Connecting with the right people, the right lender and having a team of people educated in the ins and outs of real estate may make the difference in helping you get into your perfect new home!

Image credit: AndreyPopov | iStock | Getty Images Plus

Selling Your Home in a Seller’s Market

If you’re in the market to sell your home, now is not the time to take matters into your own hands. As you may be hearing in the news, reading in papers, and seeing everywhere online, we are currently experiencing a “seller’s market” – which means that there are more buyers than there are available houses on the market. If you want to find success when selling your home, it’s crucial that you partner with an experienced realtor who can advise and assist throughout this process. Follow these three steps for finding and working with the perfect agent for your needs!

Step One: Choose your real estate agent.

There are many different types of agents, so it’s important to make sure that the one you choose matches your needs and experience level. Right now is the time to choose an agent who is experienced. Consider getting a referral from a friend who has had a good experience and read online reviews. A seller’s market is fast-paced and your process will need to be guided by someone with knowledge of your geographic area, but also has your best interests in mind. He or she will be guiding you as you make decisions and it is important that you develop a level of trust.

Step Two:

Determine your next steps. Have a plan in mind for what you want to do AFTER your home is sold. With as quickly as homes are selling, you may not be able to find your perfect home right away, and may need to get a rental home in the area you plan to move into. Your real estate agent should be able to not only give you options for your next home, but also help you know pretty accurately how much financial capital you’ll have available from the sale of your existing home to get to the next place you want to call “home”.

Step Three:

Prepare to list your home. Ask your realtor for guidance on staging, pricing, and how they plan on getting the word out about your listing. You may want to consider hiring a professional stager, if you don’t feel confident in your decorating skills or know what buyers are looking for. With the “just right” staging, your home may be presented multiple offers – which means you will have more choices and options to leverage for what your future goals may be. Don’t assume that you can sell your home “as is”, just because of a “seller’s market” – this is the time to maximize the impression your home may have on potential buyers. In addition to staging, be sure to declutter, remove family photos (you can put them up in your next home!) and provide the experience of a clean palette for the new homeowner to make their dreams a reality.

Step Four:

Go Virtual. Make sure your realtor uses professional photography for photographing your home, and that they are presenting your home in the best way possible. Your real estate agent will likely be sharing these photos on his or her social media channels or website, and possibly even to a buyer already in mind. First impressions are the most important!

Step Five:

Make a plan for showings. Depending on your location, you may want to limit times of showings, or require only pre-approved potential buyers. This helps to limit the traffic within your home (also a bonus for living in the middle of COVID-19) but also can create a feeling of urgency for the best qualified and mostly highly interested buyers to be seeing your home.

Step Six:

Get excited and wait. Your real estate agent will help you through this process, and let you know when a buyer has come in to make an offer. They will help determine the best offer, in multiple offer situations, so that you can move forward with confidence.

Selling your home in a seller’s market isn’t easy, but with the right agent, you’ll be glad you did. If you have additional questions about selling your home, I’d be happy to help and am here to provide a free market analysis to help you get started.

Image credit: danny4stockphoto | iStock | Getty Images Plus

Financial Benefits to Home Ownership

Owning a home can be very rewarding. You get to make decisions about how you want your property to look and be utilized, instead of having a landlord dictate the terms. On top of that, there are many financial benefits associated with owning a home. Here are five great reasons why buying a home may be beneficial to you financially.

Mortgage Deductions

If you own your home, the mortgage interest deduction can help save you money on your taxes. The purpose of this incentive is to encourage homeownership. While investment properties may not be eligible for this deduction, in 2020 taxpayers could deduct mortgage interest on the first $750,000 of indebtedness, according to the irs.gov website. While it’s advisable to seek the advice of your tax preparation agent when claiming this deduction and determining eligibility, it’s clear to see this has the potential to be a significant savings.

Equity

You may build equity in your own property. With each payment, you’re potentially investing in your future, giving you the option to buy something that is maybe out of reach at the current time. As each month passes by, your ownership of your home increases, and you may eventually find yourself with equity in your property. In some cases, this could be used as collateral for loans and credit cards, should the need arise to borrow money or require additional funding when emergencies arise.

Saving Money Over Renting

It’s possible that owning a home over renting one can help save money each month. The monthly cost to rent an apartment in Lakeville (via Apartments.com) starts at $1400 and up, depending on amenities and location. This contrasts homeownership costs which can range $1200-1350 per month on average as of April 2021. As you can see, not only is your monthly payment less, but you’re also potentially building equity. Keep in mind there are other costs of home ownership that you may not be responsible for when you are a renter.

Consistency and Predictability

Home ownership gives the homeowner a layer of predictability for monthly payments. You know what your payments are going to be each month, and it’s less likely that you’ll get hit with an unexpectedly high rent hike. While some utilities may fluctuate, provided additional home loans aren’t taken, your mortgage payment will be pretty consistent over the lifetime of your loan.

Investment Opportunity

Home ownership continues to be an asset that appreciates. Home ownership can be a great way for families and individuals who are looking for more security in their finances to invest, or those that simply want an investment opportunity. The value of the property will generally increase over time because it’s not likely there is going to be a sudden decrease in demand for housing. With many other investments such as stocks and bonds, the risk factors may fluctuate, but owning a home has proven over time to be a way to gain and ultimately transfer wealth.

In conclusion, home-ownership can be financially beneficial. From tax savings, to consistency in payments, home ownership continues to be an asset that appreciates, and owning a home has proven over time to be a way for people to gain wealth. There are also many other potential benefits such as providing security in finances or being able to invest with less risk than stocks and bonds. Owning a property may not always deliver financial freedom but it does provide you with opportunities!

*This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide investment, tax, or legal advice.

Image credit: Wipada Wipawin | iStock | Getty Images Plus

Prepare Your Home for a Spring Listing

Spring is near, and it’s a great time to sell your home. Not only can we expect a bump in sales as those wanting to move delayed their decision because of COVID-19, but Spring has always been the most active home selling season across the U.S. and in the Minneapolis area. As we look forward to winter warming into a beautiful and active selling season, you can begin preparing your home for sale. What tasks are worth your time?

Your To-Do List to Get Your Home Ready to List This Spring

Clean Those Often-Overlooked Areas

It may seem silly, but ‘erasing’ signs of wear and tear can create a positive ambiance for buyers. While many won’t stop and examine your outlets or baseboards, having these items clean will give your home an overall fresher, better maintained, and more welcoming feeling.

So, dust your fan blades, wipe off outlet covers and light switches, dust the baseboards, and use a cleaning eraser to remove scuffs from your walls.

Let the Light In with Clean Windows

No buyer wants to purchase a home that lacks light. This means washing the windows both inside and out is a must. Yes, you can wait until it’s a little warmer, but do not skip this task.

Touch Up Paint

For those dings and marks that cannot be wiped away, take out the paintbrush and get painting. Not only does the fresh smell of paint give your home an inviting scent, clean walls give potential buyers a blank canvas where they can make your home their own.

Clean Up the Yard and Landscaping

Curb appeal matters to buyers. So does being able to picture using your outdoor space to its fullest. On a warm day, survey your front yard and backyard for unsightly debris, and shrubs that need to be pruned. You may even want to add some annuals for a bit more color and warmth to your garden beds, or potted plants near your front door. And don’t forget to wipe down your outdoor furniture.

Declutter

Paring back on your belongings lets your home shine its brightest come spring. So have a plan for the kids’ toys and other items that distract buyers. You can rent a temporary storage unit or invest in a few more decorative storage bins.

Are You Looking to List Your Home This Spring?

If you’re planning to sell your Minneapolis home this spring, there’s no need to wait to give me a call. I am happy to discuss how you can stage your home, and recommend minor repairs to help you get the best price for your house. Spring is near, so let’s get started now. Give me a call today.

Image credit: marchello74| iStock | Getty Images Plus

Finding Your Lakeville Home in a Seller’s Market

Searching for real estate It’s easy to see why you would want to buy a home in Lakeville, Minnesota. This Minneapolis suburb is picturesque and filled with friendly neighbors ready to greet you. In fact, Lakeville is one of the most family-friendly cities outside of the Minneapolis city center. But as houses get swept off the market in record time, it can feel daunting to find your perfect home. So how can you find your dream home in this beautiful city, despite the seller’s market?

1. Hire a Professional Lakeville Realtor

Now, more than ever, you need a realtor familiar with the area and well-versed in the market. Browsing on listing websites just won’t cut it. You need a realtor that can learn when houses that fit your specs are going to hit the market. I can set you up with early alerts for homes that are becoming available to give you a jump on the competition and more time to decide on an offer amount.

2. Begin with Your Best Offer

In this market, there is no room to haggle and negotiate over the course of days and weeks. Properties are gone almost as soon as they are listed. I’ll advocate for you, and keep you apprised of what a home is worth, but in a seller’s market, there is rarely room for counteroffers.

3. Be Ready to Bid

Because homes are going fast, it’s important to know what you want and make a move when you see it. If a home fits your needs and most of your wants, be prepared to make an offer. Sellers don’t have to wait. So they won’t.

Make bidding easier by pre-qualifying for a mortgage. Give yourself peace of mind by making a list of your wants and needs and checking them off during a walk-through.

4. Think Creatively

Some sellers are ready to move–they’ve secured another home or they need to relocate for work. These buyers can be motivated to opt for a quicker closing. You can also offer flexible closing terms and if possible, cover your own closing costs.

5. Consider Full Asking Price…Or More

Most sellers are well-informed of how much their home is worth–and guess what? That’s what they expect. A quick full-price offer can satisfy a buyer, and close down other offers if they accept. Depending on the price range, you may have to come out the gate with an offer over asking price. This is a huge benefit during a seller’s market since bidding wars can turn into a real headache and heartbreak for buyers.

If You’re Looking for Homes for Sale In Lakeville, Give Me a Call Now

There’s no need to wait. Just because it’s a seller’s market doesn’t mean you have to delay buying your next home. I specialize in finding the best homes in Lakeville, no matter the market. I can help you navigate this seller’s market and advise you throughout the process. Don’t wait any longer to begin the process of finding your dream home. Give me a call now.

Image credit: BrianAJackson| iStock | Getty Images Plus