How to Get Every Dollar You Deserve

The ability to reap additional profits on the sale of your home can be accomplished if you make the right improvements.  Many changes can provide the prospective buyer with enhanced feelings about your home.  Feelings of more space, more light, more closet space, greater privacy warmth and security.  Basic, simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional response in a potentional buyer.  If you are working with a small budget these simple techniques may work wonders.

The Magic of Mirrors!

Mirrors can provide a great sense of space and elegance when properly placed.  Be careful not to overdo it, but when placed properly throughout your home, each area will seem larger.  Try looking in your garage or attic to find old mirrors, give the frame a new coat of paint if necessary.  You may also want to visit flea markets or yard sales, you can always get a great deal on an old mirror or two.

Adding Additional Closet Space

One of the biggest complaints heard from buyers is that there just isn’t enough closet space!  Simply purchase an inexpensive closet organizer and installing it in any or all of your closets can make a big difference.

Bring Old Floors Back to Life!

Nothing turns off a potentional buyer quicker than dull, dingy, disgusting looking floors.  Whether you have ceramic, wooden, vinyl or carpeted floors do whatever you can to make them shine again.  If your carpet is beyond cleaning, replace it.  This may sound expensive but new carpeting can add thousands of dollars to the value of your home.

Add Attractive Plants

Having plants in the house is not only healthy for you but you create a warm feeling with them.  Many indoor plants are less expensive then you might think.  Attractive pots such as ceramic, brass or even designer plastic will add a designer flair to your home.  Hanging plants such as Boston Ferns are inexpensive , easy to care for and would go great in your new home when you move.

Clean Up the Bathroom

The bathroom is still a very important room to a potential buyer.  Give your bathroom a face lift if needed:  fresh paint, decorative mouldings, tile grout, new designer faucets are all attractive eye catchers.

What is That Smell?

Though people don’t like to admit it everyone’s home has a certain smell to it.  We never notice it because we live with it day to day.  Strategically placing fresh scent devices throughout the home will be pleasant to the nose of any potentional buyer.

The above article is to be used as an informational tool only and does not quarantee the sell of your home.

Is This A Good Time To Buy A Home?

My answer to this question is always “Why Not”!

There are many real estate market predictions available, everybody has an opinion.  The bottom line is that if you want to buy a home there is no wrong time.  I say this because the motivation to buy a home is not determined by regional market conditions or locations, but rather by your personal needs.  Industry opinions, economic reports, and investor speculations do not sway or predict when a particular home buyer will be ready to buy.

For a large majority of home buyers the most compelling reasons to buy a home are based on individual circumstances and personal needs. Some of the factors are: family needs and desires, convenience to home, school, work, and social activities, a new situation at work , a rise in income, and a sense of security and independence.  Even though there are many changes in the real estate market, both up and down people still need and want to buy homes.  The desire to own your own home is deeply rooted in the fabric of our consciousness.  The value of home ownership gives far more satisfaction than the opinions of economic reports.

Today there are many different loan programs with flexible terms to fit all types of buyers.  The days of the mandatory 20% down and great credit are almost a thing of the past.  Recently, I spoke with several mortgage lenders and they all agreed that the interest rate are at an unbelievable low. 

You must decide that you want to buy a home.  Sounds simple, yet many home buyers find that getting started is the hardest part.  Buyers think they have to over come obstacles such as, do we have to have money down, can we get out of our lease, can we afford the payment, how much can we afford to buy.  To get the answers to the many questions you have you should start by contacting us here at Deborah Burton Realty, LLC.  We will lead you in the direction you need to go.  

I have written several articles on the benefits of buying a home.  Whether the reason you buy is that of a tax advantage, basic need or desire “Get up and get started” the process is easier than you think. 

I personally don’t know anyone who doesn’t  want someplace to call their own.  The purchase of a home can be a lifelong achievement, but one that is truly a worthy accomplishment.

This article is to be used as an informational tool only.

Flowers Add Color To Your Home

Flowers are used for many purposes, including landscaping, weddings, gifts and even to decorate the interior of your home.  Because they are colorful, beautiful and an affordable way to decorate, flowers can help bring an otherwise dull room to life.

Prints
 Believe it or not, you can add colorful flowers to your home without having to choose between real or silk designs.  How?  It's easy.  There is no shortage on full-color art prints and/or photographs featuring flower arrangements or even a single dramatic blossom.  As a homeowner, you can choose a framed print that sits nicely on your desk or a poster-size print that is designed for display on a wall.

Creative Color
If you're on a budget or simply have a knack for crafting, consider using your favorite floral gift wrap and turning it into a beautifully framed print.  You can do this by purchasing a frame and cutting a piece of gift wrap that will fit perfectly inside.  That's all there is to it; you now have a framed print that looks exactly like a work of art.  This type of floral accent is easy, affordable and a perfect way to add color to your home in a fun way.

Greet Your Guests
If you really want to wow your guests, add a hanging flower basket outside your front door.  When someone walks up to your house, they will instantly be greeted with color.  You can choose anything from flowers to strawberries, the latter of which are just as good to eat as they are to look at.

Silk vs. Real
Whether or not you choose to decorate your home with real or silk flowers is a personal decision that's based on a number of factors.  Due to current manufacturing capabilities, many of today's silk flowers are stunningly similar to the real thing.  Therefore, one of the greatest concerns facing homeowners is whether or not they are allergic to real flowers.  If you or someone in your family is allergic, it's better to use silk flowers in order to avoid the sniffles.
When it comes to decor, maintenance is always a concern.  Many homeowners choose silk flowers because they require no maintenance and will last for many years with the proper care.  Compared to real flowers, they are much more economical because they do not need replacing every week.  With that being said, there are also many benefits to choosing real flowers for the purpose of adding color to your home.  One of the most obvious is the scent that real flowers can offer to a room.

Spruce Up Your Home on a Budget.

Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home's Exterior

Make your home more appealing for yourself and potential buyers with these quick and easy tips:

1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows or architectural details.
2. Mow your lawn, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing to make the lawn sparkle.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4. Install new doorknobs on your front door.
5. Repair any cracks in the driveway.
6. Edge the grass around walkways and trees.
7. Keep your garden tools and hoses out of sight.
8. Clear toys from the lawn.
9. Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade your outside lighting.
11. Buy a new doormat for the outside of your front door.
12. Clean your windows, inside and outside.
13. Polish or replace your house numbers.
14. Place a seasonal wreath on your door.

Your home is a reflection of you and your family.  The exterior of your home is the first impression Buyer’s have of your home.  If the exterior of your home is in need of repair and maintenance then the Buyer’s will assume the interior is in the same condition.  If  Buyer’s will not come in to look at your home they certainly will not buy.

Kitchens: The Heart of the home!

Are you a gourmet chef or maybe you just want to look like one. With today’s design features and high-tech appliances you can make a great impression, whether you prefer made-from-scratch or carryout. Some of today’s trendy Kitchen amenities include:

Roomy Islands

A few years back kitchen islands were a revolutionary idea. Now it seems like everybody has one or even two. Islands come in all shapes and sizes with built-in cook tops, sinks, drawers and more.

Sensational Sinks

Speaking of sinks you no longer have a choice of only white or beige. You can now choose from stainless steel, cast iron, granite, quartz or even hand-painted china. Your sink can be under mounted, flush mounted, free standing or pedestal style.

Flashy Faucets

Faucets are now curvy and sculpted with a wide variety of colors and materials. The latest features include built-in water heating and filtering units and of course the must have pullout spray head.

Gadgets Everywhere

You can create your dream kitchen down to the smallest detail, with a coffee maker that starts brewing when your alarm clock goes off, a remote control toaster, a professional grill & sandwich maker and an automatic bread maker. With so many different types of gadgets you can chose those that just suit your lifestyle.

State of the art appliances

When you enter a modern kitchen you might not even notice the appliances. They are probably recessed into the wall and disguised as cabinetry or hiding behind panels that match the cabinetry. Even if the appliances are running you might not notice them. Today’s dishwasher is so quiet; you no longer have to leave the room to talk on the phone.

Your kitchen is undeniably the heart of your home. Families gather here at the end of the day for supper, your kid’s do their homework at the table, and company congregates here instinctively drawn to the warmth and comfort of this special room. No wonder the kitchen has been awarded the title “The Heart of the Home”. For this reason, when selling your home the Kitchen is the most important room in your house. Make sure it is clean, clean, clean and is as up-to-date as possible.

The information above is to be used as an informational tool only.

Simple Ideas to a Beautiful Bath




Your bathroom; it’s a sanctuary, a haven, a place to wash all your worries away. If your bath is not living up to its full potential but, you don’t want to embark on a lengthy remodeling process, maybe one or all of these helpful ideas will help:



Let there be light! Lighting can create a clean, airy feel or set a peaceful, tranquil mood for you bathroom. To add more light you could install a skylight, enlarge a window or add bottom-up shades for brightness and privacy. To tone down the lighting, add a dimmer switch or use small lamps or candles. Sometimes it nice to have a warm relaxing glow rather than a stark white light.



Add a dash of color Who says bathrooms have to be boring. It’s easy and inexpensive to add color with bright towels, decorative shower curtains or just a coat of paint. A few small colorful changes can make a big difference.



Treat your toes to new flooring With the many flooring options available today your choices are practically unlimited. Ceramic tile comes in a wide range of sizes and colors. Hardwood flooring has become popular flooring for use in bathrooms. Even tried-and-true linoleum has some exciting choices available. New flooring will make an unbelievable difference in the look of your bathroom.



Live in luxury Bathrooms have a practical purpose but, more and more people are treating their bathrooms as private retreats. Adding touches like fireplaces, media centers, and electric towel heaters. Add a collection of bubble baths and a vase of fresh flowers your bathroom will feel like a spa.



Have some fun Many people overlook the bathroom when decorating their home. A bathroom is a great place to express yourself. Decide on a style and then look for fabrics and accessories to bring your idea to life. I have shown several homes where the homeowners have used unique pieces of furniture to make wonderful addition to their bathrooms. For example an antique table or cabinet can be converted into a vanity for a one-of-a-kind look. Use your imagination!



Not long ago a bathroom consisted of a tub, a sink, a toilet and a mirror. Today with a little work and your imagination your bathroom can be so much more. I suggest visiting home improvement stores and flipping through decorating magazines to get some ideas. While searching for ideas you will see that bathrooms have come a long way.

This article is to be used as an informational tool only.

Common Sense Home Security Do’s and Don’ts

Your home is an important financial asset. But more than that, it’s the center of your family’s life. It’s a place where you find shelter and should feel safe. Unfortunately no matter where you live break-ins can occur. According to recent FBI data a burglary occurs every 14 seconds. For residential burglaries, 63% involve forcible entry, more than half occur during daylight hours. These are frightening statistics, but here are a couple of steps you can take to minimize your chances of becoming a victim.

Do:

• Protect you doors. Statistics show that 80% of all break-ins are through a door.

• Keep your doors visible and well lit.

• Install dead bolt locks. Simple door locks are easy to get past.

• Purchase a timer that will automatically turn your lights on and off when you’re away.

• Have your mail and paper delivery stopped if you will be out of town for an extended period of time.

• If you see a strange vehicle on your street, jot down the license plate number.

• Keep important papers in a safe deposit box.

• Mark all your electronic equipment with a permanent etching of your name and address. This helps identify property and makes it harder for a thief to sell.

Don’t:

• Hide a spare key in the mailbox, over the doorway or under the mat. These are the first places a thief will look.

• Leave a note on the door, saying that you’re gone. You don’t want to announce to the world that your house is empty for the weekend.

• Keep a lot of cash in your house.

• Enter the house if you arrive home and see any signs of a break-in. Call the police and let them go inside first.

For the ultimate in home security, you may want to consider an electronic security system. As a Realtor® I am seeing more and more homeowners install electronic systems they all commit to me that it has defiantly made them feel more at ease about there family’s safety. Also keep in mind that when selling your home a security system can be a valuable amenity. These systems typically include a combination of door and window censors, motion censors and smoke detectors. The cost of an electronic system will vary with how extensive a system you install. With a monitored electronic system you have the assurance that someone is watching your home at all times. No matter what kind of system you chose remember to keep it activated during the day, when most break-ins occur.

An investment in a home security system may earn you a discount on your homeowners insurance. You should contact your insurance agent for more information.

The above information should be used as an informational tool only.

How To Make Home Buyers Hate Your Home

Through the years home buyers have made comments to me about what they like and dislike about homes they view. In this article I decided to share some of their dislikes.


• Odors

House odors are number one on the home selling no-no list. Odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind.

• Dogs that meet you at the door or in the driveway

Being a pet lover myself this comment always hits close to home. Dogs frighten some people and irritate others. You’ll have a much better response from showings if you control your pets–dogs, cats, whatever. Some sellers attempt to place the pet in a bedroom or garage and then ask people not to open the door into that area. This is a bad idea, would you buy a house you can’t inspect. Remove pets during showings if possible. If you can’t remove them then you should place them in crates for their own safety and to get a more positive showing.

• Dirty Bathrooms

Grimy bathrooms are an instant turnoff. Scrub them, paint them, and buy a new shower curtain, rugs and towels. Do what it takes to make it shine. If you’re serious about selling your house, the extra work is a must.

• Dimly Lit Rooms

Dark homes are a turnoff to most home buyers, so brighten them up. Try some of these hints.
Replace dim light fixtures and add bulbs with the maximum wattage allowed
Install additional light fixtures
Remove heavy drapes to let the sun shine in
Trim tree limbs and bushes that block windows
Repaint rooms that have dark wall colors
Dirty and fogged windows are another buyer turnoff. Clean them inside and out. If possible replace any double-pane windows with broken seals.

• A House Full of Busy Wallpaper

Busy wallpaper in every room turns off most buyers, even people who love wallpaper rarely like what you’ve chosen. It’s a personal decorative touch that they want to choose for themselves. It’s the masses you must appeal to when selling your house, so take a hard look at your wallpaper and decide if it should be removed and replaced with paint. Never paint over it, because it will be obvious that you did and buyers know that makes removing it even more difficult.

• Bugs

Roaches, spiders, any insect that shouldn’t be in the house. Get rid of it.

• Poor Curb Appeal

You must grab a buyer’s interest from the curb if you want to sell your house for top dollar. I have had home buyers who refused to go into a house with and unkempt yard, or peeling paint. Okay sometimes you can’t afford to paint, but you should still get the yard in tip-top shape.

• Gutters with Plants Growing in Them

Some people never clean their gutters, more than once buyers have said to me what else have they not maintained. Gutters that do not have an open flow can cause drainage problems.

• Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings

Sellers should leave the house during showings. Home buyers feel awkward about opening closet doors and lingering for a really good look. Buyers are reluctant to give a true opinion of the house when the seller is present. This makes it harder for your REALTOR® to get positive or negative feedback from the buyers. Therefore, the REALTOR® has no way of knowing why they did not like your house it could have been something simple you would be willing to replace or repair, but because you were there they were afraid to offend you.


Most of these issues can be corrected without spending a lot of money. Do it now before your house gets a reputation among buyers as the house that smells, the house with the huge barking dog, or the house where the owners won’t leave buyers alone, once your house gets this reputation your house will be last on the list of the homes buyers want to view.

The statements made above are the opinion of  Deborah Burton Realty, LLC and will not guarantee the sell of your home.