real estate | Kristin Graziano Group

Want to Sell Your Home Faster? Schedule a Home Inspection Before You List

October 6, 2019 By admin

When you put your home on the market, you want it to sell quickly—and profitably. And one of the best tricks you can use to sell your home faster and for a higher price? Scheduling a home inspection before you list.

A recent article on Realtor.com broke down the benefits of having your home inspected before you start showing it to potential buyers. Scheduling a home inspection before you put your home on the market gives you a heads-up on any necessary repairs that could lower your home’s selling price (or kill the sale entirely). Knowing what’s wrong with your home gives you extra time to find the right team and schedule repairs (instead of scrambling at the last minute to find anyone who can take the job before you close). And once you have those fixed, it can help you fetch a higher asking price and increase your profit from your home sale.

The Takeaway:

If you’re thinking about selling your home, do yourself a favor and schedule an inspection before you list. Not only will this give you key insights into any necessary repairs, but it can also help you sell your home faster (and for a higher price) once you do put it on the market.

8 Ways A Great Real Estate Agent Can Change Your Life

August 28, 2019 By admin

A real estate transaction can be an exciting thing to experience, but it can also be nerve-wracking and stressful. Your experience will largely depend on the circumstances surrounding your transaction and, perhaps more importantly, the team you’re working with.

A great agent will not only get you over the finish line to the best of their ability, but they can also change your life for the better. Here are eight ways:

1. We will show you we care

In today’s fast-paced world, it seems like everyone’s attention is in short supply. A great real estate agent will show you that’s not always the case, by listening and caring about you and your needs. Not only will being a good listener help an agent do their job, but it’ll also show you that even in business, there are still people out there who care.

2. We can save you a lot of money

There’s an old expression, “If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” Hiring a great agent can save you literally thousands of dollars, as the right agent will not only negotiate effectively, but also know what pitfalls to look for as the transaction moves along, saving you money in the process.

3. We can help you see things in a different way

One of the most overlooked aspects of hiring a great agent is just how much of an effect they can have on your perspective. For instance, you might think that you’re looking for something in particular, but a great agent can take what you asked for and find something that’s even better than anything you’ve ever considered. A great agent is like an expert matchmaker.

4. We will do more than help you buy or sell a home

A great real estate agent will go above and beyond for you. They’ll help you find contractors, give recommendations on design (if you’re open to them), and even help you navigate the restaurants in your new neighborhood. Great agents provide so much value because they want to be your go-to resource for anything to do with real estate.

5. We can find you something that no one else can

Great real estate agents aren’t necessarily miracle workers, but they’re close. A great agent will surprise you with something no one’s ever thought of before, whether it’s finding a property that you didn’t know about, or a solution to an otherwise complex problem. A great agent is proactive and instead of sitting around waiting, will make things happen for you.

6. We can take a lot of stress away

One of the best things about a great real estate agent is the peace of mind that comes from working with them. There are lots of things that can go wrong during a real estate transaction, and a great agent knows this and will not only anticipate issues ahead of time, but will shoulder the burden and solve problems for you, making it a low-stress experience.

7. We will go to battle for you when it counts

The right agent is like a general you can depend on when the going gets tough. From searching for the right property or buyer, to negotiating, to pushing the deal through despite all obstacles standing in the way… a great real estate agent won’t back down from adversity and will battle for your best interests at all times.

8. We can become a friend for life

Maybe your real estate agent is already your friend, but if not, with a great agent you might eventually become one. Real estate is much more about relationships than it is about individual transactions, and great agents know this. They also usually have the kind of infectious personality that you always want to be around. So don’t be afraid to form a lifelong friendship with your real estate agent, it could truly change your life.

If you are ready to make a move with your home, consider giving our team a call (480) 229-6569, we will take great care of you.

Why You Shouldn’t Let A Website Tell You Your Home’s Value

August 27, 2019 By admin

Picture this…

There’s an inexperienced real estate agent in your town.

He hasn’t sold any homes yet.

He wants to drum up some business.

So, he climbs up onto your roof and paints what he estimates to be the value of your home.

He feels like this could be a win-win:

YOU get to know the value of your house, so he was helpful to you, without even having to meet with him…

… and HE gets to show you how that he knows his stuff. Hopefully you’ll turn to him for help once you want to sell your home.

But you’re kind of ticked off, aren’t you?

First off, this guy painted on your roof. That’s just vandalism.

Beyond that, he wasn’t even close to accurate! The value he painted up there is tens of thousands of dollars off.

He didn’t even see inside your home

You notice he did the same thing to all the other houses in the area.

He seems off on the value of all of them.

It’s still kind of intriguing, though, because you’re like, “Hmm, I always felt like Bill’s place was worth less than mine. Looks like I was right. But there’s no way Gary’s house is worth more than mine, that agent is craaaazy. Unless maybe Gary did some major remodeling inside…”

But how would the agent know? He never even went inside your neighbor’s house. Or your house. Or anyone else’s house.

He just eyeballed everyone’s house from outside, and took a quick peek at some data available to the public. Then slapped his estimate up on your roof for everyone to see.

His estimates are all over the place. Some high. Some low. Once in a while he seems to be somewhat in the ballpark.

His “value” affects your actual value

Beside the fact that this guy vandalized your roof, now you have people sizing up the value of your home based upon a number he came up with, without even seeing inside your home.

It was careless and thoughtless.

He lacked respect for your privacy, your equity, and ultimately your wealth. The value of your home can now be viewed by anyone, for whatever reason they feel.

It would be even worse if you were in the middle of trying to sell your home, and now you have buyers pulling up, seeing your painted roof, and considering his estimate when (and if) they make an offer.

Can you imagine if a real estate agent actually did this?!

You’d probably want to report him to the police, his real estate broker, the real estate commission… and all of your friends, family and neighbors.

You’d want everyone to know not to trust this guy, or give him any business.

Online valuation sites are basically doing this to you

You’ve probably seen or heard about websites where you can look up the value of your house (or anyone else’s house) for free.

It seems great because there’s no need to even talk to a real estate agent. Just pop in the address, and voila, you get to see the value of the home.

You might figure that it’s super accurate, since they use fancy algorithms and stuff.

However, these online real estate valuation sites are all basically painting a number on your roof, without ever having gone inside, and without ever having sold a house. And they’re definitely not experts in your local market.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about it.

They’re using public data to come up with their estimates. They didn’t steal anything. They didn’t actually paint on your roof (they just hover a value over it digitally).

They post disclaimers about their accuracy (or lack thereof), at least if you really, really look for them.

Plus, who would you even report them to anyway?!

Start valuing real estate agents’ values

The thing is, these sites exist because people tend to like them, and look at them. They wouldn’t exist if people didn’t continue to click on them. But people do.

They certainly are convenient, and entertaining, even if they are not accurate.

Many people just don’t want to deal with real estate agents, until and unless they have to. But that’s actually what you should be doing if you want an accurate value of your home.

Great real estate agents take a lot of time and pride in estimating the value of a home. This is not something you can do remotely by simply reviewing public data and algorithms.

In order to be accurate, even a local real estate agent needs to see inside of your home.

So, instead of encouraging these online valuation sites to exist, by visiting their sites and clicking around…

…click on a local real estate agent’s site, and invite him or her in to take a look at your house, and come up with an accurate value.

Don’t rely on an online valuation.

And, whenever possible, spread the word about the inaccuracy of these online valuations because they can affect the perceived value of your home… and beyond. And they will exist as long as people continue to pay them any attention.

Pay attention to real estate agents instead.

14 Housewarming Gifts People Actually Want

July 21, 2019 By admin

We’ve all experienced the stress and tension of moving, right? Even after you’ve done all the footwork to find the perfect place, you’ve still got to deal with utilities, packing, moving trucks, lukewarm fast food meals, lost and broken items…

Oh, and if you’ve moved more than 20 minutes away, even after you’ve unpacked, you’ve got to find a new grocery store, school, park, favorite restaurant, etc. etc. etc….

So yeah, we all know…

Moving is a seemingly endless stress buffet.

When someone you love is going through it, how can you help to alleviate that stress? Well, outside of paying for their movers (PS SO WORTH IT), you can give them one of these moving/housewarming gifts. Some are gifts of time, some are thoughtful treats, and some are available on Amazon so even if your friend is moving to a new town, you can send Prime to the rescue! Best of all, you don’t have to get cutesy or craftsy; you can send any of these goodies as-is.

Check ‘em out and you, too, can be the most thoughtful friend/family member ever when you send housewarming gifts people actually want…

1. FOOD

At the end of a long day of taking all their worldly possessions off of a truck, your friends are going to be HUNGRY. And this isn’t any run of the mill hunger; it’s more like an I-just-ran-a-marathon hunger. The really bad part of this is that they won’t have food in the house and will probably be too tired to hit the ol’ grocery store. Solve this problem by sending them dinner. If you’re in town, you can bring it by (but don’t stay a long time), and if you’re not, you can send DoorDash or UberEats to feed these hungry folks for you.

2. COFFEE

Ahh, the first morning in a new house. So calm, so quiet, so… WAIT, where the heck did we pack the Keurig? And what box are the K-pods in?! Doing a Starbucks run (or, again, sending a delivery driver to do it for you) will have your tired pals crying happy, caffeinated tears faster than you can say Cinnamon Dolce Latte.

3. WINE / BEER / COCKTAILS IN A CAN

When your friend is done bringing in boxes, they probably want to relax with a frosty adult beverage. Let them know you’re thinking of them with booze in a can. Canned bevvies are all the rage right now and so easy to enjoy. No need to locate the bottle opener, corkscrew, or bar accessories; they can just pop the top and sip away.

4. YOUR ELBOW GREASE

While this is the least fun option, it’s also probably the most appreciated. Whether it’s running to buy more boxes and tape, helping to load that absurdly heavy table, or sitting and chatting while you both unpack the kitchen, your friend will appreciate you for pitching in on their hardest days. Also, they’ll owe you one heck of a big favor.

5. CLEANING SUPPLIES

Running out of paper towels and Windex when you’ve got to clean out the fridge in the place you’re leaving is just about enough to make a person cry. Same thing when you get to the new place and it’s… less than spotless. Coming by with a box of essentials will elevate you to a godlike status… and if they don’t end up using them right now, you know they’ll get used in the future.

6. BATHROOM ESSENTIALS

Just like the paper towels, there are other paper products that you absolutely, positively HATE to run out of. Bring a package of TP — the GOOD stuff, not the kind that feels like tree bark… and some premium hand soap. Again, you know they’ll appreciate it mucho and it’s definitely not going to go to waste. (Err, no pun intended.)

7. A CLEANING SERVICE

If you owe your friend-on-the-move big time, or you’re just #ballerstatus, send them a cleaning service. Having someone do the work for you is a beautiful thing, and walking into a sparkling clean home when you’re still trying to get everything in your life back to normal brings such a sense of relief. It might not even be as expensive as you think. Depending on the size of the house and the location they’re in, you might be able to get this great gift for less than $100.

8. A CUTE DOORMAT

Via Amazon

There’s nothing like a fresh, new start at a fresh, new house, and nothing says, “Welcome!” quite like a fresh, new doormat. There are so many neat ones available on Amazon or at your local Target. No matter what their taste is, you’ll be able to find something that applies.

9. PLANTS

Houseplants lend a homey vibe no matter what the season. Bring over a few potted plants and know that you’re enriching your friend’s new home environment — both with a pretty plant AND with life-giving oxygen. Not sure if your friend is a plant-y person? Bring a succulent or two; they’re notoriously hard to kill.

10. A LIST OF FAVES

If your friend is moving into your area, save them a ton of time by bringing them a list of neighborhood favorites. Add things like restaurants, things to do, and local services they might need. Big ol’ bonus points if you have a trustworthy babysitting reference — that alone is worth its weight in gold.

11. POOL FLOATS

Did they get a new pool along with the new digs? Pool owners LOVE getting goodies for swim time. Ride on floats, beverage floats, remote-controlled boats — it’s all good! Also, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll secure an invite to go swimming when summer hits.

No pool? No problem. Get them something to help them enjoy their new garden or patio… whatever form of the great outdoors they have. After all, no matter how nice the house is inside, sometimes it’s nice to hang out outside, too!

12. KITCHEN TOWELS

When you’ve got a sparkly new kitchen, putting your dingy old towels on the counter is kind of a downer. Gift your pal some spiffy, clean kitchen towels and they’ll think of you every time they walk into the kitchen.

13. A SUBSCRIPTION CRATE

From candy to coffee, dog treats to dinners, there’s a subscription crate for just about anything your friend is into. If they’ve moved away, let them know you’re thinking of them on the regular with a monthly crate. It might not get there on moving day, but it will relieve some stress and make them feel loved all the same!

14. NOTHING PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE

This should go without saying, but sometimes well-meaning people think that just about any time is a good time for “advice.” Moving time is NOT the time to gift a Dave Ramsey book (even if the house is on the pricey side), nor is it a time to ask why they have so darn much stuff and then offer a trip to Goodwill. Your friends are already under enough stress, so no matter how much you “wonder if you ought to say something,” the answer is NO — or at least, not right now.

11 Ways to Sell Your Home Faster Then Lowering the Price

July 3, 2019 By admin

From leaving the house for showings and open houses to having to keep the place spotless at all times, having a home on the market can be a nerve-wracking endeavor. Once you’ve made the decision to sell, you want to know that you won’t be in this anxiety-filled limbo forever. You want to hand over those keys, collect your check and move on — literally!

So, without lowering your asking price, what can you do to sell your home in a hurry? The following are 11 strategies that will help your property sell quickly without your wallet taking a heavy hit.

1. Declutter.

Few things detract from the beauty of a home quite like clutter. Though straightening and organizing is rarely the way most homeowners want to spend their days, it makes a huge difference. We’re not just talking about scrapping the junk mail either. Rid your entryways and mud rooms of extra coats, bags, and boots. Keep those countertops clear, and don’t forget to straighten up inside the kitchen and bathroom cabinets!

2. Rent a storage unit.

Try removing one third of your items — especially from closets — before putting your home on the market, as this will make your home appear more spacious. Consider renting a storage unit rather than stuffing your basement or attic — because buyers look there as well!

3. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before.

Whether you’ve lived in a home for a few months or a few decades, some stains become invisible to you. While not every visitor will perform the old white glove test, they will notice things like dirty windowsills and dusty shelves. (And that crusty stuff on the bottom of your oven needs to go too.)

4. Up your curb appeal.

If a property looks well-cared for from the outside, chances are it’s been well-maintained on the inside too. Plus, prospective owners look at a lush lawn as one less thing they have to deal with after they move in.

5. Remove personal items.

As hard as it might be to imagine that no one wants to see your Beanie Baby collection, it’s true. Not only will quirky displays distract would-be buyers, they can turn them off to the property completely. Don’t take that chance.

6. Be your own marketing machine.

While having a great agent in your corner is half the battle, don’t be shy when it comes to spreading the word on your own. You never know who has friends or family looking for new digs!

7. Make sure your photos are perfect & plentiful.

Most buyers will form a first impression of your home based on online listing photos. So you definitely don’t want to leave picture-taking to an amateur. An experienced photographer knows how to show off each room to its full advantage. Don’t miss an opportunity to attract buyers by allowing your space to look cramped and dark.

8. Make minor upgrades (that make a major difference).

Fresh coats of paint brighten up rooms and make them appear fresh again. If you don’t have the money to splurge on a major kitchen renovation, consider inexpensive updates like switching out the hardware or light fixtures. If you’re willing to invest a bit more, replace an outdated appliance or two.

Something as simple as cleaning the grout in your bathroom will go a long way toward making the place shine.

9. Keep the pets (and their odor) out.

While you might think of your pet as a furry family member, not everyone is going to be as fond of Fido — or his funk. You may be immune to the scent of your cat or dog, so ask someone you trust to tell you if your home has an odor as that proves a major turnoff to buyers.

Once you’ve got the smell under control, make sure your pet is not on the premises for any showings. People with allergies or those who fear an unfamiliar pooch not only feel more comfortable but take the time to explore rather than run back to their car.

10. Adding a closet, adds a bedroom.

If you have a den or home office and believe your place would sell faster if it had another bedroom, adding a closet is easier than you think. If you’re handy, instructions abound, making this a DIY project for any weekend warrior. Rather leave it to the pros? Homeadvisor.com estimates the average cost to build a 6.5 feet wide walk-in closet is around $1,500, which is a small investment compared to how much value another bedroom adds to your home — and its asking price.

If this takes your three-bedroom home to a four-bedroom and that’s what sells fastest in your neighborhood, it’s time to start planning.

11. Take care of anything that will pop up during inspection.

You know that loose handrail you’ve been ignoring? Fix it. Now. If you’re aware of problems that will undoubtedly appear on a home inspector’s report, deal with them as soon as you can so you don’t waste time or lose a potential buyer.

Renovating To Add To Your Home’s Resale Value

June 2, 2019 By admin

When you renovate your home, you want to get the most bang for your buck. Not only do you want to make your home a better place for you and your family to live, but you also want your renovations to add to your home’s resale value.

But what, exactly, are the features that will help your home sell faster?

According to recent data from Realtor.com (which analyzed more than 1 million single-family listings), the top three renovations that will help you sell your home quickly and at a prime price point? A chef’s or gourmet kitchen, a theater room, and a home gym. These renovation projects were named the “most profitable home features for sellers banking on quick sales.”

Those three features were deemed the most profitable. But they weren’t the only renovations that helped homes fly off the market. Also included on the list of features that will help your home sell faster include a three-car garage (#4), solar panels (#5), a home office (#9), and an in-ground pool (#10).

The Takeaway

If you’re thinking about renovating and adding features to your home, you’re going to want to think about your return on investment and choose a renovation that’s going to help your home sell quickly and profitably. Call us and we can do an initial walk through with you and talk through the areas you are considering.

The Takeaway: