A home selling plan is necessary when you have decided to sell. There is much more to the home selling process than putting a sign in the front yard. Danny Margagliano has written an article about the necessary steps to take when selling your home.  One of the first steps is to address any deferred maintenance and make necessary repairs on the home. Another important step is to hire an experienced real estate agent. A real estate agent can guide you through the home selling process, prepare a comparative market analysis so that you can price your home to sell. Other considerations including if you are planning on staging the home so it presents in the best possible light.

Key Things Every Living Room Should Have

Your living room is a room which needs special attention to create an inviting and enjoyable atmosphere. Anita Clark has written a detailed article about key elements in a living room. She discusses the importance of proper seating arrangements and that can take time by shopping ensuring that the furniture is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. Other considerations include making sure your living room is filled with natural sunlight and fresh air. Open the windows and allow the fresh air to circulate. These things will make you feel good, help you wake up in the morning, and improve your mood.

Killer Social Media Marketing Tips

When you are considering social media and digital marketing, you need to know what your goals are in advance. Eileen Anderson has written an excellent article about top social media marketing tips for real estate and other businesses. The first thing needed is a professional looking and updated website to start a blog. Once your website is up and running, you will need to create good content that is engaging and creates value for your readers.

Eileen discusses the various social media channels including Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Instagram has 400 million users and their ads outperform all other platforms. Insta stories are very popular and a great way to get yourself in front of others. It is ideal to engage on all the social media channels, and commenting, liking and following others is a great way to do so.

Buying a Home with an HOA

Petra Norris has written a very detailed article about purchasing a home with an HOA.  It is important to educate yourself about how a homeowner’s association works, and the pros and cons of a homeowners’ association. Petra discusses the difference between an HOA and provides the definition of  Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions or CC&R's. The CC&R's are the rules within the HOA governed subdivision.

There are common issues governed by an HOA and those include exterior paint colors, landscaping, there may be a smoking ordinance, pets and more. It is imperative to understand the rules and regulations before purchasing a home which has an HOA.

Why Does a Home Buyer Need a Real Estate Agent?

Jeff Nelson has written an informative article about why buyers need their own real estate agent. A buyer's agent works for the buyer and has fiduciary duties to that buyer. A buyer's agent will guide them through the home buying process, keep them within the stipulations and time frames of the contract. An excellent buyer's agent will also explain what to anticipate during the home buying process to avoid any surprises.

A buyer's agent will also guide the buyer with ensuring they obtain a home inspection and determining what to negotiate after a home inspection with the seller.

Home Improvements that May Impede Your Home Selling Efforts

Did you know that there are some home improvements that actually lower the value of your home?  The whole idea of home improvement is to "improve the home" and add value. More often than not, homeowners may get too ambitious and move forward with improvements without actually considering whether they will add value to the home or not. Home improvements which impede your selling efforts should be carefully thought out before completing them.

Trendy wall colors, textured walls, trendy kitchen remodel all seem like a good idea at the time, however, some of these improvements may not have staying power, and in the following year, it will not be in style. When selling, home improvements should be on the neutral side so that you have a bigger buyer pool.