Friday, February 26, 2016

Top 4 Home Maintenance Tips for First-Time Owners



Top 4 Home Maintenance Tips for First-Time Owners

 

Being a first-time homeowner and getting the keys to your new Lake Zoar real estate can make your head spin with thoughts on what you are going to do with your property. With all that excitement, it’s easy to overlook routine home maintenance, especially when you’ve never had to deal with these tasks before. Read on for some home maintenance to-dos you will need to handle in the first year of buying a home.
Make your Lake Zoar real estate last longer, here are 4 ways how.
1. Check wood decks for moisture
You need to inspect your wood decks in order to maintain your newly purchased Lake Zoar waterfront home. Remember that wood decks, including redwood and pressure-treated woods, need to be sealed and stained to avoid water damage and rot. You can tell if the last seal is still working by simply doing a splash test. Fill a glass of water and spill it on your deck. If you see tiny beads of moisture on the surface, it is a sign that the sealant is still repelling the water. If that doesn’t happen, it is an indication that you should reseal your deck. Do a splash test at the beginning of every summer and reseal your deck every two or three years.

2. Locate the main electrical panel for your home
Finding the main electrical panel is another step that you can take to ensure that your home is taken care of. If you need to shut off the electricity for any reason, the main shut-off is usually in that panel. Make sure each of the circuit breakers or fuses are labelled so that you will know what parts of the house they service. In case one becomes overloaded and blows a fuse or trip the breaker, it will be easy for you to identify where the problem occurred. You also need to make sure that there are no water leaks anywhere around the panel. Should there be water near the panel, don’t go near it. It is better to call in professional help in this situation.

3. Be prepare for every need
Maintaining your newly purchased Lake Zoar home for sale is not a one-time task, it is a year round job. As a first-time homeowner, it will be helpful if you will invest in the tools that you will need to tackle your home maintenance duties. Gearing up with a set of basic hand tools and an arsenal of lawn and garden implements will help you avoid problems with snow days and other seasonal changes. You may also invest in a storage system for home maintenance equipment so that everything will be in one place and within reach when needed.

4. Take care of your home’s exterior
Maintaining the exterior of your home is not only essential for curb appeal. It will also help in protecting your property’s structural elements and energy efficiency. If you encounter problems such as damaged siding, clogged gutters, and insufficient grading, address them immediately. Don’t forget to do a regular and thorough inspection of your roof’s condition so that you can fix any trouble spots and stay ahead of repair needs.

Taking care of these tasks will help you prevent major home hassles, inefficiencies or unsightliness down the road. Check out http://HomesInConnecticutForSale.com today for more home maintenance tips and ideas.

If you want to work with a real estate professional who can assist you in buying or selling Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah homes, Lake Warmaug and Lake Zoar real estate, call me, Deborah Laemmerhirt, at 203-994-4297. I have the knowledge, expertise, and tools to help you close that deal.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

5 Secrets for Selling Your Candlewood Waterfront Home Fast



5 Secrets for Selling Your Candlewood Waterfront Home Fast

 

Selling your property to buyers of Candlewood Lake homes can sometimes be a long and stressful process without any assurance of success if you don’t know where to start or if you do it by yourself. The secret to selling your home fast and for top dollar is to know the tricks of the trade and who to ask for help. 
Here are 5 tips to have a successful real estate selling experience in Candlewood Lake.
If you don’t want your home sitting on the market for months, follow these best tips:

1. Sweeten the deal
One sure way to make your home more attractive to buyers of lakefront properties in Candlewood Lake is to make offers that will sweeten the deal. In a down market, buyers expect great deals on listings so make sure they know that they are getting one from you. Your home will receive more attention if you offer the buyers some credit towards closing costs or offer to pay the closing costs entirely. You can also motivate buyers by offering to close in a short amount of time. If it is possible, close on the home within 30 days to make your deal more irresistible.

2. Make sure your home is in “move in condition”
A home that is in move in condition has a bigger chance of selling faster than other homes for sale in Candlewood Lake since most buyers want to move into their new home as soon as possible. It will also give potential buyers the impression that they will save money from repair costs since the home is move-in ready and most probably doesn’t have any major structural problems. Make sure that the doors, appliances, and electrical and plumbing fixtures are in compliance with the current building codes and in working order.

3. Set the right price
Setting the right price for your home is one of the most important things you should do and should not leave to chance, emotion, or guesswork. The best way to do this is by consulting a local real estate agent. You may also ask friends to tour your home and weigh in as well. Don’t just settle for being the lowest priced home on the block, especially if improvements and upgrades have been done. You might end up on the losing end with this strategy. Your real estate agent can help you set a listing price based on other similar Candlewood Lake homes for sale the market.

4. Hire a professional
Although selling your home by yourself may save you some money, having a real estate agent on your side will work to your advantage and help you avoid costly and irreversible mistakes. A real estate agent knows your local market and can help you navigate around potential financial pitfalls.

5. Light it up
Proper lighting in and around your home can help sell it faster and for a good price. According to experts, good lighting is one of the things that buyers want in a home. Let the sunshine in by taking down the drapes, cleaning the windows, changing the lampshades, increasing the wattage of your light bulbs, and trimming the bushes outside. A home that is bright and cheery will be more sellable.

Follow these tried and tested tips to ensure the best outcome for your home for sale. Check out http://www.CandlewoodLakeHomesforSale.com today for more ideas on home selling.

If you want to work with a real estate professional who can assist you in buying or selling Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah homes, Lake Warmaug and Lake Zoar real estate, call me, Deborah Laemmerhirt, at 203-994-4297. I have the knowledge, expertise, and tools to help you close that deal.