April Florczyk-208 Market
Top Buyer’s List Item: The kitchen is the first thing most buyers notice! Most memories in a home are made in the kitchen; it's where everyone always migrates. Having an updated kitchen can really make a difference in how buyers feel about your home.
Listing Prep: Light, bright, and airy is always the way to go! Oftentimes the way we live in a home is completely different than the way we sell a home. Make sure the interior of your home is decluttered and professionally staged before listing. Never underestimate the magic of a simple fresh coat of paint. Moving outdated furniture out is a simple task that really can make a property instantly feel updated. And don't count out how much a deep clean can really highlight features in a home.
Seller Advice: Invest the time and money to work with a professional agent. It's a great way to ensure the time, effort, and money you put into the home will pay off in the end and add additional value.
Buyer Advice: If a home hasn't been updated by the seller, look at it as an opportunity to gain equity. Having a vision of what the home could be versus what it is now can go a long way for those on the hunt for their next home.
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Ian Brown - Group One Sotheby's Realty
Popular Interiors: Modern is what most of the people moving into Idaho are familiar with and prefer. Country/farmhouse has been around for a while and is still popular, with the warm, homey feel that comes with it. There has recently been a spin on the two interiors where people will take modern fixtures and features and add them to a country design house, making it the best of both designs.
Success Story: I recently had a buyer that wanted a large kitchen/dining room area and a shop. They bought a fixer-upper in Meridian, and removed a non-load-bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room to open up the rooms. They also built the shop they were wanting because of the larger lot they purchased. With the little bit of sweat equity, they got exactly what they were wanting.
Seller Advice: You want a realtor that will price your home accordingly. If it is not priced correctly, you could be losing money, or if it is listed too high and sits on the market for a while, people will think there could be something wrong with it.
Buyer Advice: Be ready to act immediately once you find the home you want. Being able to present a clean and solid offer will make the seller feel confident in your ability to smoothly close on their home.
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Angie Dilmore-Blackrock Homes
Popular Interiors: Make the most of interior spaces by staging with furniture and accessories that are well-proportioned for each room. Many times, a minimalistic approach with accessories, as well as limiting personal photos and keepsakes, will appeal to a larger buyer pool. Lastly, a professionally cleaned home always helps make a great first impression.
Dated Features: If the height of bathroom vanities and countertops is 32”, it hints at a construction standard 30-plus years ago, unless it is a custom home. Other clues include oak cabinetry, condition of kitchen appliances, heavy use of wallpaper with borders, certain paint colors, and of course lead-based paint.
Seller Advice: When guiding sellers, we suggest looking at their home as a product instead of a home. With a fresh perspective, it’s easier to see the home through a buyer’s lens and make appropriate adjustments. If a seller is somewhat removed from the property, as in an investment/rental property, we recommend getting a professional home inspection to learn more about the structural and mechanical conditions prior to putting the home on the market.
Buyer Advice: If buyers need financing, visit with a lender first to obtain a pre-approval letter. I’ve found lenders are more accurate than online calculators in determining a monthly payment as well as a down payment.
