Making A Vacant Home More Sellable

Homes show better when they are furnished. Not only are spatial relationships easier to judge, but furniture can hide a multitude of sins. There is a reason for builder's furnishing their models rather than showing them vacant! When vacant, everything shows...the good, the bad and the ugly!

But, there are things you can do to make a vacant house show in a more positive light.

1. Arrange for exterior maintenance.
First impressions count and you don't want to stop maintaining the lawn just because you have vacated the house. Arrange for a neighbor to cut the grass or hire a lawn service. If you have a sprinkler system, keep it working.

If the house is on the market in the fall, arrange for leaf clean up and if selling in the winter, snow removal.
Spruce up beds with fresh mulch and plan annuals for color.

2. Paint of fix up as required
Repair or repaint the exterior as needed. Remember those first impressions.

3. Paint and fix up inside
Go through the house after the furniture has been removed and touch-up or repaint any walls or woodwork that need it.

Make any repairs that are needed. If the little things are maintained, the buyer feels comfortable that the big things have been maintained, also.

4. Neutralize colors
A bold wall color can be dramatic when complimented by furniture and accessories. But in an empty room, bold colors just become sore-thumbs. Neutralize colors as needed.

5. Leave furniture
If possible leave the furniture in the house or rent furniture. Empty rooms appear to be smaller than they actually are.

6. Clean thoroughly
Clean the house from top to bottom and in every knook and cranny. Clean sells!
If the house has been on the market for a couple of months have a cleaning service come in and clean again. Empty houses get dirty.

Leave the security system activated and give instructions to your Realtor on how to turn it on and off.

To some buyers, a vacant housecan be plus because they if they need to move in quickly. Be sure to let prospects know you can close quickly.

For any questions concerning selling a vacant house in Knox County, give me a call at 740-397-7800 or visit my website. You'll be glad you did!

Interest Rates Drop For Knox County Home Buyers

Positive inflation news resulted in a drop in interest rates this week according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Interest rates this week for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.17 percent, compared to last week's 6.22 percent. This is the first drop in rates in the last six weeks.

A drop in interest rates is always good news, but it is the icing on the cake when it happens during the spring buying/selling season when inventory is at its peak. Spring is when buyers have the most homes to choose from and now have great rates as a bonus.

Are you thinking of buying Knox County real estate? Visit KnoxCountyMLS.com to have new listings emailed to you as they hit the market. It's fast, easy and hassle-free.

Safe Tax Filing Online

There have been reports in the last few days of scams with online tax filing websites. With 73 percent of returns being filed online, scams are a real problem. MarketWatch.com has informative tips on how to stay safe online and protect your personal information.

To protect yourself against scams when buying a home and have someone looking out for your best interests, give me a call at 740-397-7800 or visit my website, your Knox County real estate resource center.

Prepaid Interest Tax Deduction For Knox County Home Buyers

Tax Day is only a few days away! One of the many benefits of home ownership is that the interest you pay on your home mortgage is tax deductible. Your lender sent you a year-end statement back in January showing the interest you paid for the year. This number should be used on your tax return.

In addition to this, Knox County home buyers can also deduct the pre-paid interest, which was paid at settlement. This pre-paid interest is not reflected on your lender's year-end statement. It is documented on your HUD-1 statement from closing. The HUD-1 is the document that reflects all the monies related to your transaction. Add this figure to the figure your lender provided for a total of all the interest you paid for the year.

More information on home mortgage interest can be found in IRS Publication 936. for more information on Knox County real estate, visit my website or give me a call at 740-397-7800.