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Giving You the Service You Deserve Kevin Darrow |
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JANUARY 2012 |
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Direct Line: 212.465.8000
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Inside This Month's Issue:
* Should you remodel before you sell?
* How to be sure your neighborhood is safe.
* Question of the Month: Getting your home ready for an open house. |
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Should You Remodel Or Lower Your Price? |
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* I specialize in First-Time Buyers!
* Top seller for the past 5 years!
* Buyers and Sellers are welcome!
* We offer FREE listings by email!
* Yes, we do speak Spanish! |
Many sellers have been asking themselves one very important question: "Should I make upgrades to my home before I put it on the market or should I list my home at a lower selling price?" Although there’s no simple answer to that question, each option does have its benefits. In the end, a compromise between upgrading and setting a fair list price is probably your best bet. If your home is inferior to other homes on the market in your neighborhood or in your immediate area, you might want to take the plunge and do any needed renovations (especially if your home needs the upgrades anyway). You may not get a full return on your investment, but bringing your home in line with other homes may be a necessity. However, be careful that you don’t go overboard. If your renovations are too over the top, your home may end up being too pricey for your particular neighborhood. On the other hand, if you’re worried about your house sitting on the market longer than you want it to, you may be better off if you list your home at a more competitive and aggressive price. This doesn’t mean that you need to under price your home, however. You just need to price it according to what the current market will bear—and according to the current value of your house at its current condition. The smart thing for you to do may be a combination of remodeling and lowering your list price. Making smaller upgrades to your house—to bring it in line with similar houses in your area—is usually a good idea if there’s a wide discrepancy between your home and other homes. In addition, you should always do minor cosmetic upgrades such as painting, carpet cleaning, landscaping and general upkeep. In terms of your price, make sure you list your home at a fair price—whether or not you make any renovations. ∆ |
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A Message From Kevin
I hope that you find this newsletter helpful and informative. Feel free to call me anytime with any questions you may have. I look forward to being able to help you with your real estate needs!
— Kevin |
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A Safe Haven: How to Make Sure Your New Neighborhood Is Safe |
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You’ve found the perfect home. Perfect size, perfect yard, perfect amenities and perfect view from the bay windows. It seems to be the perfect neighborhood as well. Or is it? How can you really be sure that it’s a safe neighborhood? Before you buy, you should always investigate your potential neighborhood—or you may regret your decision down the line. The first step in your research is to check crime statistics on the internet. Some good websites you may want to check out include HomeFair.com, Homes.com and Yahoo! Real Estate. Although all three sites are useful, HomeFair.com has an extensive resource called The Relocation Crime Lab. This feature allows you to research crime indexes for thousands of cities and compare the crime rates of your current residence against your future residence. However, just browsing the web isn’t enough. To get better crime statistics, go to the local police station near your future home and ask them for a report on all dispatched calls to the neighborhood. Most police stations are more than happy to provide this information—and you may be surprised by what you find on that report. After your visit to the police station, walk your neighborhood, preferably at night. Are there people loitering at odd hours? Is the area well-lit? And do you feel safe or uncomfortable? The bottom line is that if you don’t feel safe walking in the area near your potential home now, do you think you will ever feel safe? Another step in checking out the neighborhood is to talk to local business owners, non-profit groups and the city hall. All three can provide good info about the safety of the area. Some non-profit groups you may want to contact include Kiwanis, Lions Club or Rotary International. Local business owners are a great source of information and can be very candid about how safe the area is. Finally, knock on a few doors and talk to your potential neighbors. Ask them specifically about safety issues. Have there been any problems or incidents in the neighborhood recently? Is there a community association and/or a neighborhood watch program? Chances are good that you’ll get all the information you need and more. Plus, you’ll get a head start on meeting your new neighbors—truly an important part of your new home. ∆ |
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January's Question of the Month |
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"I'M HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE AND A FRIEND TOLD ME I SHOULD REMOVE ALL PERSONAL ITEMS AND PUT THEM IN STORAGE. HE EVEN SUGGESTED REMOVING EVERYTHING THAT’S SMALL ENOUGH TO PICK UP. IS THIS REALLY SOMETHING I NEED TO DO?"
Although packing up anything that you can lift may be a little extreme (such as your microwave or house plants or lamps), your friend does make a good point in terms of “de-personalizing” your house and removing clutter. When prospective buyers tour your house, they often envision how their belongings will fit. Not only do they try to imagine where their furniture goes, but they also mentally place personal items like pictures. By putting your personal items temporarily in storage, you can help those potential buyers better “connect” with your house. Also, by removing clutter, you open up the house and give the appearance of more space. A room chock full of bric-a-brac will always look smaller than it is. Cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms are prime candidates for clutter removal as well. Prospective buyers will often nose through your cabinets and may be put off if your cabinets are packed. They may end up thinking, How in the world will my stuff ever fit in this small space? So, as a general rule, try to keep clutter to a minimum. It just may be the difference between selling your house quickly and not selling it at all. ∆ |
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Kevin Darrow, Realtor® Darrow Properties & Associates
Direct Office Line: 202.465.8000 |
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Cell: 212.465.6547 |
Fax: 212.465.8005 |
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Kevin Darrow
Giving You the Service You Deserve
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| Darrow Properties & Associates 746 East Street New York, NY 10002 |
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