We are always on the search for tools and technology to ensure we can provide the very best service for our clients. HomeTagz is a cutting edge innovation which applies “tags” to selected listings to identify the highlights of that property. It’s a great way to make sure that potential buyers see all of the improvements, upgrades, interesting facts and more.  

Once a profile is created for a property, it can be shared with the seller so they can easily continue to add “tags” and keep track of the changes that they make. For example, this would be a great way to record paint colors, finishes, upgrades, and any important property disclosures. Then once the property is sold, the seller can pass along the HomeTagz profile to the next buyer.so they have an archive of information if they ever need to reference it in the future. 

Contact us to learn more about how we will be using HomeTagz.  

On the fence about selling your home? We believe this is a year of great opportunity.

Here are two good reasons to sell in 2019:

Interest rates are still low

You have good equity in your home

Guest blog written by Austin Smith, a full service licensed Electrician in Indianapolis.

A little more about Austin Smith:

I was blessed with an opportunity in my late 20’s to join the IBEW 5-year apprenticeship and to be trained as an electrician. Because I moved to Indiana from England with my young family I took my training very seriously.

So you have made the hard decision to list your home for sale. It might not be perfect but it’s where your children grew up, has a kitchen with a great layout and a backyard where you always dreamed of building a big patio and pool. So many memories, so much potential. It’s not flawless, but it’s yours.

But somewhere along the line, life changed and what was once the ideal home, isn’t what aligns with your future moving forward. Maybe your children have grown up and moved away and you are ready to let go of all the unused space, a career change is requiring you to relocate or maybe you found a new home that fits your life better than this one. Whatever it is, making this massive decision to move is never easy.

After you find the right REALTOR® and sign all the paperwork, the reality kicks in that you have to “depersonalize” your very personal space. You clean, paint and make repairs. It’s a lot of work but you do it all so that your home will look it’s very best. Once the photos are done and the listing is live, the first couple of days are so exciting! Getting a rush of people demanding to see your house as soon as possible is electrifying, intoxicating! Even if the showings don’t rush in, you are optimistic that your home won’t spend more than a couple days or weeks on the market, right?

Well no matter how wonderful your house is and how much blood, sweat and tears went in to preparing it for the market, there is a chance – a really good chance – you are going to need to wait AT LEAST 90 days for your home to sell.

Yes you read that right, 90 days or 3 months!

If your house is unique, in a higher price bracket, in need of serious repairs, located in an uncommon setting or any other number of reasons – it will most likely take even longer. It doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with your home or even that it is overpriced. It is just that sometimes you may be ready to sell but the right buyer isn’t ready just yet.

So what do you do?

Before you panic, lose confidence and retreat back to the decision that selling isn’t the right choice. We recommend starting with taking a deep breath. Then,

Understand that you are experiencing something very normal during this time of transition and nearly everyone shares this concern at some point when selling their home.

Know that each zip code, neighborhood – even street – can vary when it comes to how quickly a home will sell. With all of our listings, we carefully research and monitor market activity. We will keep you informed on a regular basis and will let you know right away if we need to modify your home’s listing. You never have to worry that the reason your home isn’t selling is due to a lack of information or visibility about the current market.

Trust that when you have a home listed with the Monteith-Legault Real Estate Company, we are marketing, networking and working very hard behind the scenes to ensure as many potential buyers see your home as possible and that your home is priced right.

Even in the best market, finding the right buyer takes persistence. In the end, every home is perfect for someone. We are here to help you find that someone, all we ask is that you have a little faith and a lot of patience.

Why are professional photos important?

Over 95% of home buyers start their search online. What exactly are they looking at? You guessed it, photos! 

Great photos create buyer interest! We need to create interest in your home from the start. We don’t want to consider a price reduction after weeks of no showings or calls. You can see why great photos could potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Photos should be tackled as a team! You get your home ready and we’ll make magic happen behind the camera. Let’s get your home ready for awesomeness!

Here’s what we need you to do and where.

Where will photos be taken?

You’re short on time. Everyone is nowadays. Let’s focus on what will make the biggest impact. 

We won’t be shooting closets or the garage, so don’t worry about those at all. Feel free to pack these spaces to the ceiling if need be! We will shoot main living spaces, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms. So make sure they are clean, decluttered and ready for their close ups.

What can you do to prepare?

Declutter! If you do nothing else, declutter! What does that mean? It’s more than just pushing things against the walls or shoving them in a corner. We need it gone! If you are crunched for space, or don’t want to box up things you may need, place them in the garage or spare bedroom. It’s better to not shoot a simple bedroom that you needed to pack full, then it is to have that stuff scattered throughout the home ruining the rest of the photos. It sounds like a lot of work, but we’re selling a home. You’re going to be doing this step anyways. Before the photo shoot is a great time to get started!

Natural light is the best light! Oftentimes, people darken their windows with dark curtains or blinds.  Slide open dark curtains and twist those blinds to allow some of that beautiful natural light inside.

Say cheese or slide out of the way please! You are more than welcome to be home during the photo shoot, but there are a few things to know. We shoot with wide-angle lenses. When you stand to the side and think you are out of the shot, most times you are not. We try to shoot with angles that show the layout of the home. This means we could be shooting in one room and showing something clear on the other side of the home. If there is more than one floor, let us shoot one floor while you’re on the other.  This goes for pets too. Loose pets can make it very difficult to photograph the home. Oh, don’t forget to hide their food/water bowls too!

Here are a few things that should be a given, but let’s mention them anyways!

Make beds, hide toiletries, remove vehicles from driveways, and if you find a free minute, run the vacuum! 

Selling your home can feel like a lot of work, but I assure you the steps above are a necessary part of capturing what makes your home special. Be a team player and it can save you thousands of dollars and days or weeks on the market. Go team!

Learn more about Hoosier Property Media

Website: http://www.hoosierpropertymedia.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoosierPropertyMedia/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoosierpropertymedia/

– Drain and cover outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems.

– Organize and clean gardening supplies.

– Have chimney swept and clean out fireplace.

– Clear the gutters.

– Have furnace serviced.

– Clean windows and blinds.

– Check the batteries in smoke alarms.

– Clean out dryer vent.

– Change the direction of ceiling fans.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you need some recommended companies to assist with maintenance around your home

When selling your home, it is important that you do everything you can to make your home look and operate it’s very best. This gives potential buyers peace of mind and streamlines the process for everyone involved. Here are some of our top recommendations for simple but significant things you can do to prepare your home for inspection.

1. Fix minor wear and tear

Most home inspectors are very detailed in their reports and make note of everything that needs attention or repair. The better your home presents, the less that must be noted as a point of concern. Seal cracks in the driveway and make sure caulking around doors, windows, faucets and sinks is in good shape. We also recommend having the chimney cleaned and don’t forget to check that all switches and outlets are operational.

2. Service major appliances

If you haven’t had your HVAC system, hot water heater or water softener serviced in the last year, we advise our clients to have this done before the inspection. Have this documentation ready for the inspector to show that systems have recently been inspected.

3. Have a pre-inspection

Many home inspection companies offer a pre-inspection. This is an option to you to help make sure your home is in tip-top shape before the buyer has their inspection. This also gives you the chance to have any repairs done before the buyer requests them.

4. Be ready for inspection day

The buyer’s inspection company will schedule the inspection for 3-4 hours depending on the size of your home. The inspector, the buyer and their agent will be at your home during this time. Just as you did for showings, make sure you and your pets are not home at the time. Make sure to leave any necessary keys. That way the inspector can access all parts of your home, garage and storage sheds.

For more advice on preparing for your home inspection, please do not hesitate to reach out and we would be happy to assist.

Homes are selling like hot cakes right now and if you have recently purchased or sold a home or know someone who has, this probably doesn’t come as a surprise. In this strong sellers market many homes are receiving an offer or even multiple offers in a matter of days instead of weeks or months. While the rush of showings and receiving an offer or several offers is very exciting, it is also common for sellers to feel a sense of doubt. This feeling often stems from concern that a seller should have waited to sell because they could have sold for more. However, we encourage sellers to stop second-guessing themselves and to make peace with when they sold and for how much. Here are some reasons you should never worry if you sold your home too soon:

• Step back and consider the long term 

  If you worked with a REALTOR® from the Monteith-Legault Real Estate Company, rest assured that our knowledgeable team of experts negotiated the best possible deal for you. The housing market, just like the stock market, can change at any time. It’s better that you took advantage of the best market at the time rather than waited to see if things changed later on. Consider how you will feel in 5 or 10 years, chances are the most important thing you will remember is that you sold your home for a great price and had an exceptional and professional experience with our company.

• Home values are increasing everywhere, not just on the home you are sellingIf you are looking to buy a new house after the sale of your home, consider that values everywhere are increasing. If you wait a year to sell your house to get more return on your investment, chances are the next property you buy will also be sold at a higher price.
• The home may not fit your needs anymoreMost people sell their homes for a reason, not just on a whim. Maybe your family is growing, you accepted a job across town or maybe you have just outgrown your current home. Whatever the reason, embrace it and know that bigger better things are to come.

We encourage you to not worry and simply embrace the experience of selling your home. If you would like us to evaluate your unique situation and provide a Comparative Market Analysis at no cost, please contact us today.

– Josh Monteith

For a full list, contact us.

EXTERIOR

• Ensure sure yard is tidy and remove any debris or dead plants

ENTRY

• Replace worn rugs or welcome mats.

LIVING SPACES

• Remove any furniture that closes in a space or is unnecessary. You want every room to feel as spacious as possible

KITCHEN

• Clean everything off the outside of the refrigerator. Remove all magnets, photos, drawings etc.

BEDROOMS

• Make sure placement of furniture highlights layout of room, avoid any furniture covering the windows

BATHROOMS

• Make sure shower doors, tub, tile and grout are clean and free of watermarks

CLOSETS

• Pack away or donate any unused clothing or shoes. The more space you can clear up, the better

OTHER TIPS

• Vacuum every evening or morning and use a carpet freshener occasionally as well. Have carpets professionally cleaned, or replaced if damaged.
• Make sure hard surface floors are clean and remove hallway rugs to show off the flooring
• Open shades and curtains to let in light
• Light a fire in the fireplace to create a comfortable ambiance

While moving is an exciting adventure, it can also be a lot of work. Whether you are moving into your first home or getting ready to upgrade to a new home the best advice we give our clients is work ahead and pack a little at a time. In addition, if you are preparing to sell, sorting and storing away the items you don’t use on a regular basis, helps your home feel more organized and welcoming to potential buyers.

Here are some quick and easy ways that you can save time, energy and money:

• Clean out all closets and sort items into three categories. Save, donate/ sell or throw away. That way you are only moving the items that are important and getting rid of the rest.

• Don’t pay for new boxes. You can find free boxes from stores, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

• Buy mover’s plastic wrap. This product is perfect to protect mattresses, furniture and more from dirt and dust while moving.

• Mark and label your boxes. Use colored markers or stickers to coordinate with each part of your home so that you can quickly and easily tell which boxes belong to each area of your home. For example, all green boxes have kitchen supplies.

• Reserve the right sized moving truck. Rent a truck that’s too large and you are paying for more than what you need. Rent one that is too small and you may have to make multiple trips.

• If you are hiring movers, get several quotes before you commit. Contact us for names of some reputable companies we frequently work with.

• Pack a moving survival box. Put scissors, tape, snacks, cleaning supplies, paper towels, toilet paper and any important documents in a box or basket and keep it with you for move in day.

For more information, tips and advice, contact our team and we would be happy to help you with your next move and finding the home of your dreams.