Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Home

Whether your home is on the market or not, these tips will make your home more appealing for yourself and for potential buyers:

1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows and cut down on light.
2. Buy a new doormat.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4. Put new doorknobs on your front door.
5. Put a fresh coating on your driveway.
6. Edge the grass around walks and trees.
7. Keep your garden tools out of site.
8. Be sure kids put away their toys.
9. Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade your outside lighting.
11. Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.
12. Polish or replace your house numbers.
13. Clean your gutters.
14. Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.
15. Buy new pillows for the sofa.
16. Buy a flowering plant and put in a window you pass by frequently.
17. Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.
18. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.
19. Buy new towels.
20. Put a seasonal wreath on your door.


www.deannwatts.com

SOLD!!

So, you've sold your home and ready to move. Here are a few tips to help the process be easier.


1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually 2-4 weeks ahead of the move.

2. Notify credit cards, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.

3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.

4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.

5. Cancel the newspaper.

6. If using a moving company ask about insurance coverage for moved items and what items are covered.

7. Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.

8. Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.

9. If you are moving from a condo or apartment, Check restrictions on using the elevator or certain exits.

10. Pack an “open first” box with the things you’ll need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

Plus, if you’re moving out of town:
1. Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.
2. Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.
3. Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.
4. Let a friend or relative know your route.
5. Empty your safety deposit box.
6. Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.

Get Ready for That Open House

1. Add a touch of color. Use fresh or silk flowers to breathe life and color into the main rooms. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room.

2. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels, and fancy guest soaps.

3. Does it smell good? Set out potpourri or fresh baked goods for a homey smell. Make sure that there are no lingering scents from cigarettes or pets.

4. Help them envision living there. Set the table with pretty dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture themselves there. For example, in the basement lay out a chess game.

5. Beautify the entrance. Buy a fresh doormat with a pretty pattern or a clever saying.

6. Make the rooms feel bigger. Take one or two major pieces of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness.

7. Accentuate counter space. Put away kitchen appliances and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter space.

8. Lay logs in the fireplace. Or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.

9. Depersonalize the rooms. Put away family photos, mementos, and distinctive artwork.

10. The lawn should sparkle. Turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes to make the lawn sparkle.

Make Your Home More Saleable

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Before you sell your home.

1. Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

2. Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

3. Get a pre-sale home inspection so you’ll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

4. Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

5. Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don’t forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.

Holden Beach, NC

These pictures are from the ICW side of the west end of Holden Beach. I took these yesterday when it was a comfortable 74 degrees. There was moderate boat traffic which is a sure sign summer is on it's way.




















Many Holden Beach residents have a pier and/or boat lift. Living at the beach is all about boating or fishing. So where better to enjoy your pick than in your own back yard.

These pictures were taken in a new community called Caison's Creek. This association offers clubhouse, pool, day dock, and community pier for a low yearly fee. Check out more on this community with a virtual tour at www.deannwatts.com.

Enjoy your day and come see us soon!!

Never Too Old & Never Too Late

I heard an amazing and inspiring story this morning. A grandfather who took his 6 year old grandson to school each, would watch and listen as the children learned to read. This grandfather, who I believe was about 70 years old, finally gathered enough courage to ask the teacher if she would teach him to read.

The grandfather can now read and is grateful to be able to read the labels on can goods. Something so simple to many of us, was something grand to him and it made his life much easier. The teacher of 18 years said she knew she made a difference but it was not until this year that she realized what a difference she does make.

This just shows you are never too old to learn something new. So what are you going to learn today?

New Home Listings

If you haven't checked out my website lately, you are missing out. I recently added two home listing as well as a lot. All three are excellent properties. If you don't see something you like, let me know what you need and I'll be glad to help.

Things have really picked up in the past few weeks. Buyers are coming out and ready to buy. Some sellers have increased their prices. So it looks like real estate is coming back to the fast track. Rates are still low and inventory is plentiful, so don't wait too long to make you investment.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Day at the Docks

It's that time of year again, Day at the Docks will be Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. This Holden Beach event is always a crowd pleaser. The festival is kicked off Saturday with a 5k and 10k run at 8am. You'll find arts & crafts, food and entertainment the whole weekend. Never been? Don't miss out again on a week end of fun.

First Time Home Buyer?

Buying a home for the first time can be very confusing and not to mention scary. You not only have to think about the type of home you want but you also are faced with confusing loan terms, deadlines, and rates.

Homeward Bound is holding a FREE class for first time buyers. This 6 hour class will give you a Homebuyer Education Certificate. Call 910-253-0699 to register and receive more information. The class is scheduled for April 5 from 8:30am-4pm.

Brunswick County Still Growing

Last year Brunswick County was rated as the 14th fastest growing county in the country. That says a lot. New rankings have been released and Brunswick County is now ranked 17th. That is still very impressive. This ranking was from July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007.

Census reports predict the population of the county grew 5.5% from 94,048 to 99,214. The last census, completed in 2000, Brunswick County population was 73,141.

The real estate market may have slowed, but Brunswick County appears to be beating the odds and continues to be a sought after destination.

I can't argue with that. I love Brunswick County! It is filled with beautiful beaches, lakes, rivers, waterways along with very rural areas as well. Everywhere you look there is something wonderful to see and discover.

Swinging Through the 50's and 60's

This Friday, April 4th at 8pm and Sunday, April 6th at 3pm will the Sea Notes spring concert. This is a very talented group of locals who perform 3 shows a year; Spring, 4th of July and Christmas. If you have never been to one of their concerts you should check it out.

My family and I went to the Christmas concert and it was wonderful! Not only was there singing but hand bells, flutes, piano, and other instruments featured throughout the event. My four year old daughter just loved it and wanted to know when they would do it again.

It is held at Hatch Auditorium at the Baptist Assembly in Caswell Beach. Seats fill up quickly, so get there early. The website is www.sea-notes.com.