Fall can be a great time to buy or sell a home.  Historically, the fall season is often a busy time of year for home buyers and sellers in Andover and North Andover.  According to MLS records, a total of 107 single family homes were sold in Andover and North Andover during September, October and November 2007.  With the fall season upon us, it can be a great time to buy or sell a home. For more information about opportunities in today’s real estate market, contact Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners in Andover, MA.

Paint the front door. You would be surprised at how much a bold, complimentary new door color will liven up the curb appeal. A freshly painted door will add instant impact to the front of your house.

Maintain your yard. A poorly maintained yard leaves the impression of a home in disrepair. Keep your lawn in good condition, haul away any trash and mow, prune and weed whack your yard often.

Install new cabinet handles. If you don’t want to go through the expense of installing new cabinets, swap out old, broken or unsightly handles with handsome new replacements. It’s easy and affordable. 

Paint the walls. If you decide you want to update a room’s color palette, the right shade can dramatically change the feel of a room. Sometimes just painting one wall or section is all that’s needed.

Pressure-wash your home. You may not need to spend a lot of money repainting your home’s exterior. A good power wash will often have your paint job looking as good as new.

Contact Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners in Andover, MA for more ways you can improve the value of your home. This is especially important if you are thinking about selling your home.

© 2008 Buffini & Company All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

If you’re considering a home improvement project consider the latest trends in home fashion and design.  Take a look at some of these recent innovations in home design. 

Surfaces: Engineered stone is more affordable and less porous than granite.  Reflective glass tiles are becoming more popular than traditional ceramic tiles.

Flooring: Bamboo is tougher and more eco-friendly than wood flooring, but beware that low-cost versions risk warping. Concrete slabs are now retro-chic, along with exposed brick or steel in walls. Cork has become a hip, durable and quiet floor.

Home Automation Systems:  Household functions including lighting, climate control, personal computers, window coverings and home entertainment systems can be wired and controlled by a single on-site or off-site control system.

Garage Conversions:  Flooring, enclosed walls, lighting and furnishings can add usable living space and still provide for storage.  Purpose-specific spaces are also popular in other parts of the home.

Contact me, Paulette Zuena at REMAX Partners, Andover, MA  for more ways to improve the value of your home.

© 2008 Buffini & Company All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission

Is your home ready for a change?  Even if you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a major remodel, there are many options that will give your home an instant facelift and provide a great return on your investment. Across the county, homeowners are looking to upgrade their homes with purpose and style. Whether to increase value, add functionality or create a more enjoyable living environment remodeling projects account for about 40% of all residential construction spending and about 2  per cent of the U. S. economy.  Homes that lack features of other homes in the neighborhood tend to sell for less and stay on the market longer.  Still its important to remember that some home improvement projects will give you a better return on your investment than others.  For example, the addition of a new office, extra bath or a spare bedroom are projects which add the most value to your home while a "lifestyle" home improvement project  such as a swimming pool  or tennis court may be important to you as a home owner but may not add measurable real estate value.  For more information about the latest trends in home design or to find out more about which projects will give you the greatest return on your home improvement investment, give me a call or contact me, Paulette Zuena, RE/MAX Partners in Andover, MA.

Clean out, organize closets. Get sorting—organize your piles into “don’t need,” “haven’t worn,” and “keep.” Closets must be only half-full so buyers can visualize fitting their belongings.

Update window treatments. Buyers want light and views, not dated drapes that darken. To diffuse light and add privacy, consider energy-efficient shades and blinds.

Hire a home inspector. Do a preemptive strike, since busy home owners seek maintenance-free living. Fix problems before you list the home and then display receipts and wait for buyers to offer kudos to sellers for being so responsible.

Install crown molding. Install molding proportional to the room’s size, and architecturally compatible. For ceilings nine feet high or higher, add dentil detailing, small tooth-shaped blocks used as a repeating ornament. It’s all in the details, after all.

Screen hardwood floors. Buyers favor wood over carpet, but refinishing is costly and time-consuming. Screening cuts dust, time, and expense. What it entails: a light sanding, not a full stripping of color or polyurethane, then a coat of finish.

Enrich with color! Paint is cheap but forget the adage that it must be white or neutral.  Just don’t get too avant-garde with jarring pinks, oranges or purples.  Soft colors say "welcome" and lead the eye from room to room.  Think soft yellows and pale greens. Tint the ceilings a lighter shade.

Upgrade the kitchen and bathrooms. These are make-or-break rooms.  Make each room squeaky clean and clutter free.  Update the pulls, sinks, and faucets. In the kitchen add on cool appliance such as an expresso maker.  In the bathroom mimic a hotel or spa.  Fresh towels are a must!

With buyers more scarce, it’s important for sellers to offer what many want most–top value for their money!   Let’s consider some simple ideas to help you get the most for your home.

Buff up curb appeal.   You’ve heard it before, but it’s critical to get buyers to want to look on the inside.  Be objective.  View your home from the street. Check the condition of the landscaping, paing, roof, shutters, front door, knocker, windows, house number and even how window treatments look from the outside.  Add something special–such as big flower pots or an antique bench.  Help viewers remember your home!  Many buyers drive by homes before scheduling a tour. Make sure your home is one buyers will want to visit.

For a free report "21 Tips to Sell Your Home Faster" contact Paulette Zuena.