Tag: Bethlehem

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Ready, Set, Sell: 7 Expert Tips to Prepare Your Home for a Successful Sale

A well staged and clean home.

Selling your home can be a daunting and overwhelming task. However, with careful planning, attention to detail, and a bit of elbow grease, you can make your home stand out from the competition and appeal to potential buyers. In this blog post, we will provide you with some useful tips to get your home ready for sale.

  1. Declutter and Organize

The first step in preparing your home for sale is to declutter and organize it. Remove any unnecessary items from your home, including old furniture, toys, and other items that are taking up valuable space. Consider renting a storage unit to store any extra items that you want to keep but do not need in your home during the selling process. Or consider conducting an estate sale to help turn your treasures into cash.

Organize your remaining belongings and ensure that they are stored in an organized manner. A well-organized home creates a positive impression on potential buyers, and it helps them envision themselves living in the space.

  1. Clean and Repair

A clean and well-maintained home is crucial when preparing it for sale. A dirty or cluttered home can give the impression that the property is poorly maintained, which can deter potential buyers.

Ensure that your home is clean from top to bottom, including floors, carpets, walls, and windows. Clean the kitchen and bathrooms thoroughly, ensuring that all surfaces are spotless. If necessary, hire professional cleaners to help you achieve a thorough cleaning.

Repair any visible damage to your home, such as cracks in the walls, leaks, or broken fixtures. Repairing minor damages can significantly improve the overall appearance of your home, making it more attractive to potential buyers.

  1. Enhance Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home is the first thing that potential buyers will see, so it is essential to make a good impression. Enhancing your home’s curb appeal can increase its value and attract potential buyers.

Start by ensuring that the front yard is well-maintained, including mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, and removing any weeds or dead plants. Consider adding some colorful plants and flowers to brighten up the space.

Repair any visible damages to the exterior of your home, such as cracks in the driveway, peeling paint, or broken windows. A fresh coat of paint on your front door can also enhance your home’s curb appeal.

  1. Depersonalize Your Space

When selling your home, you want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in the space. One way to achieve this is by depersonalizing your home.

Remove any personal items, including family photos, artwork, and other personalized decor. This allows potential buyers to focus on the space and imagine themselves living in it, rather than being distracted by your personal belongings. I once was on a showing where the buyer knew the people in a photo. She said, “Oh that’s BettySue! I went to high school with her.” Needless to say, the buyer couldn’t see beyond her memories of BettySue after she recognized her in the photo.

  1. Stage Your Home

Staging your home is an excellent way to showcase your home’s best features and create a welcoming atmosphere. Staging involves arranging furniture, adding decor, and creating a specific ambiance that appeals to potential buyers.

Consider hiring a professional home stager to help you create a welcoming and inviting space that highlights your home’s best features. A well-staged home can make a significant difference in how quickly your home sells and the price that it sells for.

  1. Price Your Home Competitively

Pricing your home competitively is essential when selling your home. Overpricing your home can deter potential buyers, while underpricing it can result in a loss of profit.

Research the local real estate market to determine the average selling price of homes in your area. Consider working with a professional real estate agent to help you determine a fair and competitive price for your home.

  1. Create an Inviting Atmosphere

When potential buyers visit your home, you want to create an inviting atmosphere that makes them feel at home. Consider adding some finishing touches, such as fresh flowers, scented candles, and soft music.

And when you are ready to learn what you should do in your own home, Call Diana Hodgson 610-417-1174 for expert advice. I also have a group of excellent professionals who will be able to help you get the work done. Call Diana Hodson when you are ready to list your home for sale.

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10 Things that I love About Bethlehem, PA

When you’re thinking about Moving to the Lehigh Valley, you may consider Bethlehem!

Hi Everybody!  I want to tell you about the ten things that I love about Bethlehem.  If you’re thinking about moving here, it’s a great place to live!

#10-  It’s close to Philadelphia which is about an hour and a half away.  New York City is almost two hours away.  And the Poconos where we can go skiing and have fun in the mountains is just about forty-five minutes north of here. But still there are lots of rural spaces all around town.

#9 – It’s a great place to live with a good cost of living and plentiful jobs

#8 – You can’t miss the restaurant scene and the beer scene here in Bethlehem.

#7 – there is lots of music and the arts scene is really cool

#6 – Because of the universities and colleges there is a great academic vibe throughout town

#5 – There is always fun places to go and exercise outside

#4 – Main Street!  Spending the day on Main Street in Bethlehem is always a great pastime.  It’s fun to visit all of the shops, enjoy really wonderful food in fabulous restaurants and just watch the world go by

#3 – Bethlehem is filled with gorgeous architecture

#2 – The Historic District as well as the City’s history cannot be beat

#1 –  We love our festivals in the summertime!

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Lehigh Valley Real Estate Values for December 2018

Lehigh Valley Real Estate Market Statistics for December 2017 The real estate value of your Lehigh Valley home has changed!  As you will see by the numbers, the Lehigh Valley Real Estate Market has been going strong for more than a full year.  If you want to sell or buy a property, please call me, Diana 610-417-1174.  If you want to know what your neighborhood or town are doing comparing to these overall numbers, please call me and we can get that information to you.  If you would like to know how the value of your property has changed, Call me!   Here’s the NEWS-
  1. 448 New Listings have come on the Market in December that’s a -10.2% decrease over last 2016 December. And Year to Date (YTD) we are at 11,562 new listings on the market just -0.5% under last year’s 2016 numbers.
What does this means to you?  It means that if you are a buyer you have -10% more properties to choose from than you did in 2016 December.  But it also means that the market inventory hasn’t increased any more than it was in 2016.  It is slightly under last year’s numbers.  
  1. 612 Closed Sales or Settlements occurred in December 2017 which was a -3.6% decrease over last year. 8,346 YTD closings have occurred in 2017 which is a +4.0% increase over last year’s numbers.
What this means to you?  It means that the real estate market is still robust.  It is a good time to sell a home.  
  1. 52 Days on Market (DOM) for December! WOW! That’s a decrease of -24.6% over last December.  The YTD DOM number is 48 days on market!  A -22.6% decrease over this time last year.  Yikes, I don’t ever remember it being this low before.
What this means to you?  If you are shopping for a property, you will have stiff competition among other buyers.  If you are a buyer, you need to be pre-qualified with a recognized lender and ready to write an offer the MINUTE you see a property that you like.  There is no time to “sleep on it”.  If you like the property, I can guarantee that there will be several other buyers who like it as well and who are willing to make an offer too.  So with that said, in a multi-offer situation be prepared to pay the asking price (if not more) for the property.   As a seller it means that your property will sell quickly if it is in good shape and well priced.  If it is overpriced for the market it will sit (even in this market), I promise you.  
  1. The Median Sales Price for December and YTD is $182,750. The YTD number is $185,000. The median means that if you line up all of the sold properties, the exact middle of the list is $182,750. This number is up + 3.2% for December and up + 4.5% YTD.
What this means to you?  This means that the home prices are still rising.  It means that because many buyers are paying full asking price (or more) for a property the median number is on the rise.  It is another indicator that the market is strong and if you are purchasing a property there is little room for negotiations on price.
  1. Average Sales Prices are up too! No surprise here.  The Average Sales Price is $219,499 which is +8.2% above what the number was last December.  The YTD sales Price is $215,271 which is up +5.0% over where it was last year.  WOW!
What this means to you?  More of the same…. Prices are on the rise and you’ll need to be prepared for that fact when making an offer.  As a seller, WooHOo!  It’s a great time to sell. Get your house listed NOW!   But remember once you sell, you will be purchasing at the top of the market just like everyone else.  
  1. Percentage of List price paid is still strong. For December buyers have been paying 97.5% of the asking price which is a +0.3% increase over last December.  And the YTD number is just as strong at 97.7% which is a +0.5% increase over last year.
What this means to you?  Once again, buyers don’t have much negotiation room on price.  And for a seller, if your property is in good market condition you will be getting full asking price or slightly less for your property.  
  1. This is the scary part…..Inventory Levels….For December the inventory of homes for sale is 1,606 which is a -28.4% decrease over last December.
  What this means to you?  It means that as a buyer you don’t have much choice.  And it means that you don’t have time to make a decision.  As a seller it means that it’s a GREAT time to sell because you have almost NO competition.  So your house will sell quickly and at full (or almost full) price.  List NOW, there’s no time to wait!  
  1. And Drum Rolls Please ….The BIG indicator….Months of Supply of Inventory. It’s at an all time low of 2.2 months supply!  This is down -35.3% over last year.
What this means to you?  It means that as a buyer you will be seeing fewer homes that meet your criteria.  It also means that you will be writing more offers because the properties that you are bidding on may be sold to another buyer.  And it means that the properties in your price point will be selling quickly.  As a seller, it means that you should be considering getting your house on the market.  It also means that if your house has not sold, you need to do something about the price or about the condition.  Buyers still understand the market and what their money will buy.  So they will not bid on properties that they feel are overpriced or in bad condition.  And if they do make a bid it will be at their perception of what the property is worth in today’s market place.   Diana Hodgson, Realtor, SRES, SRS, Keller Williams Real Estate, direct phone 610-417-1174, email: [email protected]    Website: www.RedHeadAgent.com