How Lighting and Paint Can Improve Your Home

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Today, we’ll discuss lighting in the home. As the days grow shorter and the nights get longer, lighting becomes even more important in the sale of your home. Those bright Indiana days become less frequent as we move closer to winter. Here’s some tips we’d like to share with you!

Ditch the low-wattage incandescent bulbs. They make your home look dark and dingy. Daylight bulbs, however, brighten things up. They’re full spectrum light bulbs that mimic natural light and can also boost your mood. When shopping, be sure to look for daylight bulbs that have a range between 5,000 and 6,500 Kelvins!

Use bright interior paint. Did you know that paint manufacturers have a scale for the reflective value of the different paint colors? The LRV scale begins at zero with black and rises to 85 with the brightest whites. The next most reflective color is yellow. Specially formulated paints can reach an LRV as high as 90! Check with your local paint store about information on LRVs. Ceiling recommendations are between 60 and 90 LRV. Wall recommendations are from 35 to 60 LRV. Experts suggest avoiding paints with a glossy sheen because they can create an annoying glare.

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to make your show better, please contact me. We can get your home to sell for top dollar. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Three Things that Deter Home Buyers in Bloomington

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Today I'd like to talk about three very common buyer turnoffs. If you can avoid these issues when you're selling your home in Bloomington, then you have a much better chance of selling quickly and for top dollar.

One major turnoff is a dirty kitchen and dirty bathrooms. These are major selling points in your home, and they need to be sparkling clean, along with the rest of your home. Putting in a little elbow grease can pay dividends when you close on a property. You may even need to hire a professional to come and clean your property.

The second thing that can turn buyers away is a home that is cluttered and disorganized. We accumulate a lot of things when we live in a home, but they don't belong in the home when you're trying to sell it. Buyers don't want to see a wall covered with trophies and photos, they want to see your home for what it is. Remove collections of photographs, artwork, or anything else that obscures the buyer's perception of your home. Aim to put away at least half of the things that you own, or take this time to donate some things to charity.

The third thing that can literally push buyers away is a smelly home. You may have infants, or pets, or maybe you cook a lot of cabbage or curry. It may not even be that your home stinks, it just smells differently than what people are used to. Try to neutralize your home with Febreze, but don't use too much because people will then think that you're trying to hide something.

If you can avoid these three things, you home should impress buyers and that will increase your chances of selling quickly and for top dollar in Bloomington!

Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval in Bloomington

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Today, we’ll talk about the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval with Brandie Denton at Waterstone Mortgage.

What is a pre-qualification letter? Normally, a pre-qualification letter includes obtaining a credit report and gathering information from the borrower directly. We can do this in just a few minutes over the phone.

What is a pre-approval letter? A pre-approval letter is issued after receiving required documentation by an underwriter. This can be issued in as little as two to three days once we receive all the required documentation.

What’s the advantage of having a pre-approval to the buyer? The advantage here is the chance of a better negotiation with the seller because it will give the seller more confidence in your offer.

Is there a checklist for the process? Yes, Brandie uses a checklist that I email immediately to clients after pre-qualification. She sends it to her client and Realtor. Also, we use closeyourloanontime.com here at Waterstone Mortgage because it has a check list.

We hope you found some of this information helpful today. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please give us a call!

As a Buyer, Should You Trust a Listing Agent?

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When you drive by a home for sale in Bloomington, you'll see the name of a real estate agent on it. That agent is representing that seller, and that's who you need to go through if you wish to purchase the home.

However, don't think that this listing agent is going give you a good deal on the home. They are working on behalf of the seller, and they have no obligation to assist you when you buy the home. This is called an exclusive listing agreement, and the listing agent has a legal obligation to work on behalf of the seller. Any information you share with the listing agent is fair game for the seller, so be careful what you say to the listing agent.

If you are trying to buy a home, you need to link up with a qualified buyer's agent. A buyer's agent will represent you and communicate with the listing agent in order to get you the best price and terms on the home.

Don't forget who works for who! As a buyer you will need an agent to work for you as well!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Right now is a great time to enter the Bloomington real estate market!