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Make yourself at home in the Tri-State with local Realtor Todd Nelson. Find out current market conditions in the area, what to do to prepare your home to sell, remodeling tips to maximize value, where new subdivisions are being built, about current interest rates and more.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

10 Stellar Staging Tips Before An Open House or Showing




Preparing your home to sell can be a challenge. The following are some tips to help your home stand out in the competitive market in our area:


Stellar Staging Tips

1. Clean out your closets and the clutter. Have a yard sale or donate unwanted household goods to charity.

2. Pack up extra toys, linens, small kitchen appliances, and the like and store them offsite or in the garage.

3. Be sure the trees are trimmed, the shrubs are pruned, and the lawn is mowed and watered regularly. Turn on the sprinklers for five minutes 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.

4. Refrain from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor (fish, garlic, cabbage) and from introducing any other unappealing odors into the home.

5. Have a professional service clean the home, including the carpets and the windows.

6. Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.

7. Serve cookies and coffee at an open house; people will linger longer.

8. Arrange fresh flowers throughout the home and have a fire in the fireplace in fall and winter.

9. Add extra lamps in dark rooms or dark corners, and turn on the lights when you show the
home to prospective buyers.


10. Remove stacks of magazines, ashtrays, sports trophies, family photographs, and other distractions.





Three are staging consultants that can help place furniture and accessories in the best locations for making your home stand out. Contact me at todd@toddnelson.com for more information on these type of consultants.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

One of Cabell County's Newest Subdivisions, The Breckenridge Subdivision!


Looking for a gated community with a very convenient location right on Route 60 to build your dream home?





An upscale gated community is coming to the Ona area near Cabell Midland High School. The Breckenridge Subdivision will be located on Route 60 just across from the former Kiwana Vista Park in Ona, West Virginia. This is another quality subdivision from developer Scott Wheeler Development who developed Saddlebrooke Estates located off of Yates Crossing in the Milton area. This will be a gated community with concrete streets, underground utilities, and restricted covenants for the owners protection. There will be 25 lots with sizes ranging from a quarter acre to about a half of an acre. Homes being built in Breckenridge will most likely range from $350,000 and up. For more information on becoming one of the first residents of Breckenridge, contact Betty Sargent at Old Colony Realtors at (304) 743-1000 or myself at todd@todddnelson.com. If you are a developer or real estate agent and are currently developing a new subdivision, email me to be highlighted in an upcoming story on the Herald Dispatch Real Estate Blog at todd@toddnelson.com.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Maximizing Value When Remodeling Your Home

Thinking about remodeling projects for your home?

Before beginning a significant remodeling project, think about what project investments would have a greater return if selling the home may be in the future. Some people may think that they never will sell, but later because of circumstances, decide to sell their home.

Some of the best returns of investment come from remodeling the kitchen or bath. Believe it or not, Remodeling Magazine’s 2005 Cost Versus Value Report illustrates that doing a midrange remodel of a bathroom can translate into a national average of 102.2% recoup on the initial investment.

A minor kitchen remodel consisting of such things as replacing the appliances, adding new fixtures, countertop, new flooring, painting, and changing cabinet fronts and drawers could translate into a national average of 98.5% recoup on the investment. Other ideas for remodeling and their national average recoup of investment include roofing replacement (84.7% recoup), siding replacement (95.5% recoup), window replacement (89.6% recoup), and basement remodel (90.1% recoup).

Certain remodeling projects such as additions should seriously be evaluated. The cost of additions can possibly price your home out of the market as compared to homes in your area. It may be cheaper to sell your home and buy a home that already has what you want.

According to the Cost versus Value Report a bathroom addition could translate into an 86.4% recoup, a family room addition (83% recoup), and a main bedroom suite addition (82.4% Recoup). Consulting with a Realtor or licensed appraiser before such additions are added is highly recommended.

Adding nice landscaping also can increase curb appeal and translate into more money when selling a home.

First impressions of a home are often made from the exterior upkeep of the home so improving what buyers see first can improve the outlook of selling a home. Inexpensive ways to improve the condition and appeal of a home include such items as painting, changing hardware on kitchen cabinets, replacing certain light fixtures and faucets, and an overall good cleaning of the home.

For more detailed information on Remodeling Magazine’s 2005 Cost Versus Value Report, feel free to contact me for a free copy at todd@toddnelson.com or by calling (304) 733-7158.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Watch the interest rates, they keep falling!

Interest rates have been all over the place in recent weeks. Most recently interest rates for mortgages have begun to fall again. Last Friday a local mortgage broker was quoting 5.875% on a 30 year fixed interest rate mortgage. The West Virginia Housing Fund released $20 million to be loaned out at a 4.99% fixed interest rate on a 30 year loan. There is about $13 million left. If you are a first time home buyer who qualifies for this program, you can get this rate and even with no down payment, 100% financing. Closing costs can be financed as well up to a certain amount at a reduced rate as well. Call your local lender to find out more details. If you were on the fence about buying a home, now might be the time to make a decision. Email me as well if you should have any questions on real estate at todd@toddnelson.com.