As a Realtor, I’m always clearing up misconceptions about homes, and one misconception I talk about a lot is the value of home improvement projects. You may spend $15,000 on upgrading your home, but that does not mean you can list your home for $15,000 more when it’s time to sell. Very few home improvements offer a…
Being Midwesterners has it perks. Unlike the big-time city slickers from places like Manhattan or Chicago, we don’t often have to deal with big city neighborly problems. Thankfully, we don’t deal with things like taking someone’s parking spot, filling all the shared trash cans, or loud shoes upstairs very often. However, I’d be willing to…
Let’s chat about some reasons why homes in the Lafayette area don’t sell and some ways you can make them more sellable. Even a little love can make a big difference. Reasons a Lafayette-Area Home Doesn’t Sell Price Everyone is thinking location, location, location, but if the price is right, ANY location will sell. In…
I’m writing this from the fetal position. Our kitchen renovation that was to take three weeks is now going on week nine. Have mercy. Renovation Rule #1: Whatever time allotment is given, double it. When we set out on this adventure, everything looked pretty straightforward . . . open up some walls, close up a door, enlarge…
Hear ye! Hear ye! There is no national standard for measuring a residential property. I repeat: NO NATIONAL STANDARD. Actually, square footage guidelines tend to vary from state to state. In some states, square footage is not a required data point. (SAY WHAT!?!?!) Honestly, much of the square footage data is all wrong. This is partially because no one knows HOW to measure a…
Visionaries, unite! It’s no secret that the Grove family buys houses that need work. We can’t help ourselves. A little vision can go a LONG way. But to make that work, you also have to have a plan and a budget. We bought a home with an awesome great room. We envision lots of time…
Boy, oh boy. Owning a pool is no joke, but it’s not an impossibility! What do you need to know about owning a pool? I have some ideas, thanks to some friends who shared as we stepped into this new arena with our recent move. Establish the Rules Early On Establish the rules of the…
Renovating a home can be so fun! But it can also be a lot of work and a HUGE expense! Do you know what you’re getting into? I’m not sure anyone ever knows exactly what will happen when starting a home renovation, but there are some things you can do to prevent unpleasant surprises down…
The weather outside isn’t frightful yet, but you can feel it coming! That fall chill is in the air. Are you winter ready? More importantly, is your home winter ready?
Staging has been a real estate buzzword for the better part of the last decade. Listing a home requires an extreme amount of preparation for those who want to maximize the potential sale price of their investment. Newer technology has propelled this facet of a sale in a whole new direction: virtual staging. This is…