Spring is coming. Homeowners are looking for ways to get the house spring cleaned and ready for prospective buyers. Where to start is often the challenge. Depending on how routine maintenance and cleaning have been, this may be an easy or difficult task. A thorough cleaning makes the home stand out more than one that only looks good on the surface. People can usually tell a deep clean from surface clean. Prospective buyers need to envision themselves in the home. 

Clean Up and Ship Out

The best rule of thumb when spring cleaning is to get rid of things that don't belong. This may be old clothes that have not been worn or old furniture that won't be going to the new place. Reduce the amount of clutter and donate to a good cause at the same time. It is well worth the investment to stage the house for prospective buyers by taking time to bag up clothes, toys, papers, and documents that can be shredded. It also helps to put things in storage so they are out of the common areas where people might see them (like too many books, DVDs, or personal items).

Outside Clutter

Nothing is less appealing to prospective buyers than a home's exterior that has not been maintained. The outside of a home is important as a first impression. Curb appeal is important because house hunters go off first glance to request a showing. Some key tips to consider:

• Lawn maintenance matters. Keep the lawn free and clear of clutter and long grass in spring or summer. Keep it free of leaves and make sure the hedges are trimmed
• Clean up gutters and downspouts of debris to make sure it is flowing well
• Spruce up flower beds, add additional plants, or trim some hedges to clean up landscaping
• Put out a new mat that welcomes prospective home buyers to the property
• Add a few touch-ups to paint or exterior siding that will help make it look more presentable

Windows

Make sure all the windows are clean. Homes are better with blinds and curtains pointing up. A clean window still gives more light into a room and gives buyers a chance to get a clear picture of the interior of the home. Make sure to clean and get rid of streaks. Check sliding doors, large windows, and outside doors, too.

Little Things Matter

Look at all the little pieces of the home from the perspective of a potential buyer. When looking around, think of it as whether someone will think a quirk is just a quirk or if it needs work. Things that are loose and squeaky may need extra love for the moment. If knobs are missing or loose, it is best to replace them.

A small amount of cleaning goes a long way. Don't hesitate to speak to a real estate professional about getting your home spring cleaned and ready for sale. It takes a village to get it done right. Be sure to put in the time and effort now. It will pay dividends in the future.

Even if cleaning is not your favorite part of the sale process, we can help make the rest easier. Our goal is to support you as you search for that perfect property and sell your current home. We help you navigate the home inspection process, spring cleaning, and everything in-between. Let us know how Choice Properties can help you through the process. 

Real Estate Buyer FAQs

Homeownership is a common goal shared by many in the United States. Buying a home may be one of the biggest investments we make in life and is a rewarding accomplishment! Although many share the dream of owning a home, it's common for most people to be scared about following through the process. This is due to the homebuying process feeling intimidating or overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! Working with the right real estate agent will make the process go smooth and easy. The expert agents at Choice Properties have answered your real estate buyer questions to help put your mind at ease.

Am I ready to be a homeowner?

The first step from taking the leap from being a renter to a homeowner is viewing your current financial status. Start by taking a financial inventory of your lifestyle, debts, and assets. Lenders look for those who hold a strong financial status and reliable job, as a mortgage loan must be paid on time. Another factor to consider is your credit score. Maintaining a good credit score will help you get the best loan and interest rate.

Is renting or buying a home better?

While renting and buying both have pros and cons, it simply comes down to what a person wants when buying a house. Many look at this opportunity as an investment and take pride in homeownership. This allows you to build equity with monthly payments, while also qualifying for tax incentives to help offset new homeowner expenses.

What do I look for in a new home?

When starting your home search, start by gathering your thoughts by creating lists. Identifying what you are seeking in a home, whether it's more space or a large backyard. This will help set expectations within your home search. Ask yourself if the home you are interested in is large enough to fit your needs now and in the future.

How do I get a mortgage loan?

Before setting up appointments to tour homes, it's best to shop for a mortgage rate to understand your budget. In the pre-qualification phase, you are given an estimate of what you can borrow based on your financial status. To be pre-approved for a mortgage loan means a lender has agreed to offer you a specific amount.

Choice Properties understands your needs and desires when it comes to the home search. We are here to help you define what you want, seek the best property and move forward feeling educated and able to make good decisions throughout the process. You can trust us to help you navigate it with the best real estate agents working for you. Call us to get started on your dream home search today.

Tips on Maximizing Space in Your New Home

Regardless of how big your new home is, we all crave the need of maximizing space to make our homes feel spacious and welcoming. If you have been wondering how to make your bathroom more organized or tips on making use of your spare bedroom, stay tuned! The experts at Choice Properties are sharing our tips on maximizing space in your new home, allowing you to truly enjoy your recent purchase.

Open Up Your Entryway

The entryway is the first area of your home that guests welcomes guests. This space should be functional, allowing space for maneuvering quickly and easily. Take full advantage of the space by adding a bench or sitting area for guests to remove shoes. A coat rack also makes it easy for kids to grab backpacks when rushing to the school bus! Mounted wall hooks are easy to install and don't take up much space.

Organize Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the busiest room in any home. This means the space should be enjoyable, comfortable to cook in, and functional to entertain guests. Maximizing space by adding vertical storage shelving in your pantry is a great way to hide food and making use of other cabinets. Using drawers for kitchen utensils and cabinets for plates gives items a designated spot.

Tidy Up Living Rooms

Have you noticed how your living room may become cluttered without even trying? This is a high traffic area and can easily become tight. Whether it's family movie night or Saturday football, consider rearranging the space for better enjoyment! Multifunctional furniture, such as ottomans, are perfect for tucking away video game accessories. If you're looking for a coffee table, consider one that offer drawers and open shelving to store TV remotes.

Don't Hide Junk in the Garage

Although the garage is the perfect place to store items, be sure to do so properly rather than hiding boxes of junk. If your garage became piled with miscellaneous items during the move, it's time to go through and purge the unnecessary. Take this time to donate unused furniture that is in storage or discard broken appliances you never got around to fixing. Installing an overhead ceiling rack for luggage, recreation equipment, and seasonal decorations allows you to park your cars where they deserve!

Make the Most of Your Bedroom   

Every bedroom in your home should be a place of comfort, giving you a space to escape from the daily stresses of the world. It can be easy for nightstands to become cluttered or drawers to be overflowing. Maximize the space by ensuring drawers are cleaned of outdated or unused items. Adding storage to your closets is a great way to organize jeans, work pants, and shoes without taking up space.

Choice Properties provides the best in service when it comes to finding your dream home. Our excellent team of realtors will support you in finding the right home at the right place, right now.

Give us a call today!

Read This Before Buying a Fixer Upper

Whether you're a first time home buyer or experienced with the home buying process, purchasing a house is an exciting time! Taking time to discuss your desires in a home with a trusted realtor will help make your dreams come true. For some, this may be newly built home with extra storage on a limited budget. Others may prefer to purchase a "fixer upper", which requires an open mind and deep conversations. The agents at Choice Properties suggest you read this before buying a fixer upper, preparing you with questions to ask along the way.

Questions to Ask Your Agent

What is the value in this neighborhood?

It's important to keep in mind the area in which you're looking to purchase a fixer upper. Considering your investment in the long run is critical with these projects, as you don't want to get stuck in a house you can't sell down the road.

Is the home located in a historic district?

Purchasing a victorian home to renovate is a dream had by many. Featuring original crown molding, wainscoting, and beautiful stained-glass windows. Your agent should make you aware of this, but homes in historical districts often have to be renovated with an association or to a city standard. This means obtaining approval for projects and updates, which also comes with a price tag.

Questions to Ask Yourself

How is the overall layout of the home?

Although changing the layout is possible, it's also an extra cost along with time added to the project. Considerations for how existing rooms flow and which walls are able to be knocked down to create a larger space should be kept in mind. Make note of the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you are seeking versus what the house currently offers. Will you have to add another bedroom or bathroom?

Do you have the time, patience, and energy for a fixer upper?

Choosing to completely renovate a home is a large project that requires many considerations. Are you prepared for unexpected issues or delays? Asking yourself these questions will help you decide if a fixer upper is truly what you are seeking.

Flipping a house is a big project, but can be done with determination!

Fixer uppers can be great investments in the long run, but require a promised commitment. Ask yourself if you are truly ready for a big project and tackle it head on, creating the home of your dreams!  If that answer is yes, it's time to call a Choice Properties agent to discuss the current options on the market!

Choice Properties understands your needs and desires when it comes to the home search. Whether you are looking to purchase a fixer upper or move in ready home, our team is ready to help. You can trust us to help you navigate it with the best real estate agents working for you.

Call us to get started on your dream home search today.

5 Ways Homeowners can Avoid Foreclosure and Rebound

Owning a home comes with the responsibility of not only maintenance, but a financial obligation to pay a mortgage. As life happens, individuals may be presented with challenges and financial stress that can result in missing a payment. If several payments have been missed without contact with the homeowner's leasing company, a foreclosure might be presented by the lender. Although this is one possible outcome of falling behind on mortgage payments, there are several ways to avoid the foreclosure process even if a homeowner cannot afford the debt. The expert realtors at Choice Properties have listed 5 ways homeowners can avoid foreclosure, and rebound out of the rut.

Foreclosure Workout

During the time between the foreclosure announcement and the house auction, lenders are encouraging a compromise rather than proceeding with the auction. Lenders want to see homeowners stay on the right track, and are willing to negotiate a mortgage payment suitable for the current lifestyle.

Short Sale

Following the Notice of Default filed by the lender, but before the auction, there is a time where new potential buyers could make an offer on the house. If an offer is made on the house, lenders have the ability to consider accepting or declining the offer. If the homeowner presents a reasonable short sale offer, the lender may see this as saving them the time and effort of finding a qualified buyer in a soft market.

Bankruptcy

The only option to immediately stop foreclosure is to file for bankruptcy. Once bankruptcy has been filed, federal law prohibits any debt collectors from continuing collection activities, including foreclosure. This means the homeowner will face the creditors in court, buying the homeowner more time to recover financially. This law requires mortgage companies to work in-hand with homeowners, compromising to find the right solution.

Deed in Lieu

In this step of the foreclosure process, homeowners voluntarily sign the deed of the home over to the bank. Although this option sounds easy, it can significantly impact a homeowner's credit score. Lender's can be reluctant to sign over the home, as they fear homeowners are manipulating the system and being dishonest about their financial stress. This makes it difficult for lenders to agree to a deed in lieu.

Assumption/Lease-Option

Most loans in today's world are no longer assumable, meaning the average mortgage contains a clause where the borrower agrees to pay off the loan entirely. If a homeowner is facing foreclosure, they may have the advantage of persuading their lender to modify the loan. This allows another buyer to assume the loan, making it a win-win for all parties.

Consider taking action to avoid home foreclosure, rather than ignoring the situation. There are multiple ways homeowners can steer clear of a completed foreclosure, all of which are easy to navigate.

Choice Properties understands your needs and desires when it comes to the home search. We are here to help you define what you want, seek the best property and move forward feeling educated and able to make good decisions throughout the process. You can trust us to help you navigate it with the best real estate agents working for you. Call us to get started on your dream home search today.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Spring is here, which means it is time to dust off those feather dusters and get the buckets out for some deep cleaning. Most people are not sure how to give their hardwood floors the cleaning it deserves, especially if there are children and pets in the home. Try some of the following to help you get started on that spring cleaning.

Cleaning Up

Ceramic-tile floors can be cleaned easily with warm water, but it is never as easy to clean hardwood. The truth is some cleaning products can harm those beautiful hardwood floors, and take the shine right out of them. To get the most out of your spring cleaning extravaganza, it helps to try the following:

Choose the best products

Knowing what to use on those floors is very important. It will help keep the shine and finish looking like new while keeping it clean. Floors that have been surface sealed compared with unfinished floors differ in how to keep them clean. Most newly-installed floors are surface sealed to provide easy maintenance. All you need to do is sweep, then damp-mop for easy cleaning solution. For non surface-sealed floors, they may be sensitive to water penetration. Sweeping and vacuuming are helpful, but also stripping the old wax then putting a fresh coat should buff it up nicely.

Don't do this…

If your budget is stretched, look for basic soap and water for surface-sealed floors. For engineered hardwood, the best option is a floor cleaner recommended by suppliers of the floor. For non-surface sealed floors, you can find wax strippers and liquid or paste waxes from manufacturers for price comparison. Never ever use vinegar cleaners with ammonia, bleaches, oil-based soaps, or anything that claims to be a one-step wood cleaning product. They may scratch the floor and leave it with residue.

The enemy is water…

Whether the floor is surface-sealed or not, water is not a friend to hardwood. If a floor is not sealed with urethane, polyurethane or poly-acrylic sealant, don't mop it. Use a felt or cloth mop, wring it out and use it just barely damp.

The overall dirt can be cut down in the home using doormats and rugs in high-traffic areas. Rubber backed mats can easily trap water underneath so be careful about using them on the floor. Sometimes it helps to hire a professional if you're not quite sure how to get the job done right.

Choice Properties provides the best in service with high demand properties. We provide a place where you can look at the home of your dreams and guide us in helping you purchase it with ease. Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction. Call us if you are ready to find your dream property.

Central Ohio Homes face all the onslaughts of winter and the cold.  Snowbirds who head south for winter can help protect a vacant home with some easy steps. Theft, water damage, heating and electrical system malfunctions are possible threats while a person is away for long periods of time. Learn how to winterize a home to avoid some of the pitfalls that occur with a home left unoccupied for the cooler months.

Appearances Matter

A home which appears occupied is going to be a less likely target for theft. The following steps can help:

• Forward mail, stop newspaper delivery or ask a friend to collect items

• Arrange for snow removal after storms

• Use motion-sensitive exterior and interior lights on timers and set for varying times to discourage prowlers

Protection from Thieves

Thieves may notice when a family has left a home unoccupied and try to gain access to the property and items left in the home. Start with the following steps to protect a home from thieves:

• Secure external doors and windows with deadbolt locks and install locks on sliding glass or French doors

• Do not post vacation or travel plans on social media where potential thieves can find the information easily

• Store valuables left behind in a safe deposit box or secure offsite location

Protect Pipes

Water damage can be a huge expense and headache for homeowners who are away for the winter. Follow these tips to avoid water damage:

• Completely turn off water supply if nobody is living in the home for a long period of time. Consult with a heating professional about options for heating systems

• Drain pipes of water by opening faucets, flushing the toilet and pouring antifreeze into the toilet tanks and bowls to prevent remaining water from freezing and cracking

Keep Home Plumbing Warm

When a family vacates a property for a period of time, the water supply may stay on. If this is the case, here is what to do for protection against the elements:

• Keep furnace running to help ensure home stays warm and pipes do not freeze if not draining water pipes

• Set temperature at 55 degrees or higher to help keep interior of the floor and wall cavities above freezing (where water pipes are located).

• Shut off water to washing machines and dishwashers to avoid leaks

• Turn off heat source and water supply to hot water heaters

• Consider shutting off and draining outdoor water faucets

Routine Maintenance

Routine maintenance checks are important for a home. Have the heating system inspected and serviced before winter. The fuel tanks must be filled and someone should check fuel levels while the family is away. Be sure to maintain electrical power if the heating system will be running. Remove dead trees or limbs to avoid property damage and unplug all unnecessary appliances prior to leaving.