Thursday, November 19

Home Values are on the rise again per Zillow

Zillow Home Value Index
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Wednesday, October 28

4 Steps to Staging for an Open House from HGTV

4 Steps to Staging for an Open House
October 21, 2009

Give your home the “wow” factor it needs to impress potential buyers
by, Shannon Petrie, FrontDoor.com

Holding an open house can be a great way to get your home for sale noticed — that is, if your home is in good condition. If not, well…

“I have personally witnessed people who have walked into a house, turned around, and walked back out,” says Alice T. Chan, a professional stager in San Francisco.

If you’re even thinking about selling your home, chances are you’ve heard of “staging,” or the process of preparing a home for sale via de-cluttering, depersonalizing and neutralizing, among other techniques. If you want to avoid an open house snub similar to the one described above, staging, repairing and generally prepping your home for sale is a must in today’s market.

“Buyers really want turn-key these days,” Chan says. “If a buyer can actually get a loan right now, they’re so strapped after they purchase a property that they literally just want to move in and live. Even if they want to make upgrades later on, they want to feel like they’re getting the best value possible. So give it to them.”

So how do you make your home open-house ready? Depending on your home’s current condition, it can be a large, overwhelming job, so you’ll want to stay organized, take it slow and work step-by-step.

Step 1: Plan and Prioritize
You definitely don’t want to start preparing for your open house by making updates willy nilly. Before getting started, it’s important to understand what improvements will help you sell your home and to make a realistic plan that fits your budget and time frame. Ilaria Barion, a professional home stager in New York and Chicago and author of Set the Stage for a Sale, offers three tips to get you started:

Let go emotionally. The moment you put your house up for sale, it becomes a product, Barion says, so you have to train yourself to stop thinking about it as your home. “What I suggest sellers to start doing is calling it their property instead of their home,” she says.

Identify the target audience. Think about what kind of neighborhood you live in. Is it young and hip and filled with first-time buyers, or is it mature and established with lots of families? It’s important to know what type of buyer you’re targeting so you can stage accordingly. For instance, if you live in a neighborhood that’s popular with first-time buyers and your home hasn’t been renovated since 1977, you’ll want to strip the wallpaper and remove the dated draperies to appeal to young buyers. If you live in an upscale neighborhood, buyers will expect certain high-end features and upgrades. Your real estate agent can help you determine what’s standard in your area.

Determine what buyers want. Barion believes homebuyers are looking for three things: an emotional connection with the home, value for their money and move-in ready conditions. As you’re preparing your home, think about these factors, because you have a lot of control over them. For instance, a buyer will not be able to envision themselves living in your home if your family photos are plastered all over the walls, but you can easily fix that.

Keeping your target buyers and what they are looking for in mind, your next step is to grab a pen and paper, walk through your property as a buyer would and jot down your home’s problem areas, Chan says.

“Really be hard on yourself,” Chan says. “Look through the buyer’s eyes as much as you can. If you can’t be objective, bring someone along you who will tell you exactly like it is, not just what you want to hear.”

Once you’ve finished your list, rank it, putting top-priority issues that are sure to turn off buyers first. Depending on your budget and time frame, it may not be feasible to address everything on your list. But remember, today’s buyers are looking for move-in ready properties. Putting a little more time and money into updates could lead to a quicker sale and a higher sales price.

Step 2: Tackle Big-Picture Projects
When you made your list, you likely found some broad issues that apply to your entire home, like worn-out carpeting or chipped paint. Or perhaps your home seems cluttered and dated in general, a quality that will make it hard for buyers to envision your home as their own. These large problems can seem daunting to fix, but they’re the ones that buyers will certainly notice during your open house. Here are some general fixes you should definitely consider making:

Cleaning

This is a no-brainer. If potential buyers walk into your open house and see dust on the coffee table and soap scum in your showers, say goodbye to your chances of making a sale. Cleaning your home from top to bottom is a cheap and (relatively) easy way to make your home show much better during your open house. Pay special attention to your kitchen and bathrooms — those tend to get dirty the fastest.

De-cluttering and Depersonalizing

Personal items like family photos and knickknacks are distracting and need to be put away before your open house. Just think of it as getting a head start on your packing. Don’t forget to clean out and organize closets and storage space. Buyers will look there too, and messy, overflowing closets give the impression that your home doesn’t have enough storage space. Removing seasonal items — like winter coats and holiday decorations if you’re selling in the spring — is a good place to start. You can also pack up and donate items you have in duplicate and clothes and toys your kids have grown out of.

Fixing What’s Broken

Remember all the little home maintenance projects you’ve been putting off for years? Now’s the time to do them. Make sure all broken windows, leaky faucets and nonfunctioning light switches are in working order before your open house.

Painting

A fresh coat of paint on your interior walls is by far one of the most cost-effective ways to make your home show well. When choosing a paint color, think neutral (warm beige or pale green), not bland (stark white). Whatever you do, don’t just leave your bright magenta bedroom as-is. You may love it, but most buyers won’t feel the same way.

Paint can also work wonders on outdated or cheap cabinetry. Just rolling on some paint can instantly update your kitchen and make it look more high-end.

Replacing Flooring

Flooring is an important update that sellers are often reluctant to make. Some sellers choose to offer a credit instead of replacing their flooring, but Chan says that’s not an effective strategy.

“Giving buyers a credit is not going to have the same effect as doing it for them because they only know what they see, and they focus on the negative,” Chan says.

Try cleaning your flooring first, but if it’s worn or stained beyond repair, replace it. You don’t have to go with top-of-the-line options here unless you’re selling a high-end home. Any neutral-colored carpet or even peel-and stick linoleum tiles for a kitchen or bathroom will make a big difference.

Updating Light Fixtures Light fixtures are the jewelry of a home, Chan says. “They really make a big difference, and they’re also one of the first things to date a property. You can pretty much tell when a house was built or when it was last renovated by the type of light fixtures that are in it,” she says.

So what can you do about those circa-1986 brass chandeliers? You could buy some inexpensive, contemporary fixtures, or if you’re really on a budget, you can simply revamp your old fixtures with a can of spray paint.

Step 3: Hone in on the Details
Now that you’ve tackled the big projects, the hardest and most expensive part is out of the way. The next step to getting your home open-house ready is to “dress it up,” and luckily, you can often do this by repurposing what you already own and adding small details. Working room by room is a good strategy on this step — it’s less overwhelming, and you’ll feel more and more accomplished after each room you finish. Use these tips to fine-tune each room in your home:

Front Yard and Entryway
Even though it’s not actually a room, don’t overlook these areas. Sprucing up your yard and your home’s entrance is essential because it’s the first thing buyers see, so you need to impress them off the bat.

Keep your lawn mowed and well-maintained. Consider hiring someone to take care of this for you while you’re dealing with the other details of selling.
Plant some bright, colorful flowers.
Replace a grungy, old welcome mat with a clean, new one.
Give the front door a fresh coat of paint.
Replace old, faded house numbers with new ones.

Clean out your gutters and pressure wash your home’s siding. If your home’s exterior isn’t well-maintained, buyers will think you’ve slacked off throughout the rest of the house as well.

Living Room

The living room (or the first room buyers see when they enter your home) is another one that needs to have the “wow” factor. Generally speaking, less is more when it comes to living rooms. “Most people have more than enough things, so it’s really about editing what you have and moving things around,” Chan says.

Remove large furniture, like huge sectional sofas.

Arrange furniture to create a focal point, perhaps around a fireplace or a large window.

Don’t push your furniture all the way against the walls.

If your sofa or chairs are not in great shape, disguise them with slipcovers or luxurious throws — a much cheaper option than buying brand new furniture.

Kitchen

“Kitchens and the bathrooms never look good naked; they always look better dressed up,” Chan says. Once your kitchen is spotlessly clean, give it some style.

Remove magnets and photos off the refrigerator.

Clear off your countertops, except for the essentials. “If you use your coffee machine every day, it’s OK to have it out on the counter, but you don’t want your countertops to be a display of every small appliance you own,” Chan says.

Add stylish accessories, tying them together with a theme, Chan suggests. For instance, you could go with a pasta theme and decorate the space with an Italian cookbook, decorative bottles of oil and glass jars filled with colorful pasta.
Use greenery to fill in empty corners and add color.

Bedroom

A good rule of thumb when staging your bedrooms is to emulate a hotel room — emphasize luxury and comfort.

Turn your master bedroom into a proper master bedroom: no extra beds for the kids, no workspaces, no everyday, nice-to-have things that don’t really belong in a bedroom.

Cover your everyday bedding with luxurious bedding or a nice throw. You don’t have to spend a lot of money here — discount stores have plenty of inexpensive options that look high-end.

If your mattresses are sitting on the floor, buy or rent bed frames to lift them up.

Bathroom

Like the kitchen, your bathrooms will show a whole lot better with a little bit of style.

Put away your everyday towels and replace them with new towels. Also add a new shower curtain and fresh, fancy soap.

Hide toothbrushes and other toiletries in baskets or other storage containers. This keeps them easily accessible, but lets you stow them away quickly before an open house.

Dress up the space with some candles or a silk flower arrangement.

Backyard

For many people, the backyard serves as a dumping ground. Clean this space up and make it a place where buyers can see themselves spending time.

Add furniture — a bistro table and two chairs for a smaller area or a dining set for large yards.

Stage it as a place for entertaining. Set out a tray with a pitcher of lemonade, or put out some coffee and bagels for a breakfast scene.

Step 4: Put on the Finishing Touches

It’s here: the big day of your open house! Your home should be in tip-top condition and ready for potential buyers. Don’t forget these last-minute details:

Set out vases of fresh-cut flowers. They’ll make your home smell nice and add a splash of color.

Let in the light. Buyers want a bright, open house, not a dark and dreary cave. Turn on all the lights and open all the curtains.

Adjust the temperature. Keep the home comfortable — not too cold or too hot.
Serve food and drinks. A cold glass of lemonade in the summer or some warm, freshly baked cookies in the winter will encourage buyers to stick around longer, giving them more time to check out your home.

Safeguard your stuff. Stash valuables and prescription medications in a safe place.

Leave! You’re probably proud of how fantastic your house looks right now, but don’t stick around to point this out to buyers. The last thing you want to do is make them feel uncomfortable. Spend the day out and about and let your perfectly prepped home sell itself!

See the original article here

Thursday, May 21

Eric Stewart of Llewellyn Realtors presents this Virtual Tour of 9404 Wooden Bridge Road


Looking for a great home in Potomac, Maryland? Well you found it! View the Virtual Tour of 9404 Wooden Bridge Road, potomac, MD 20854 brought to you by Eric Stewart of Llewellyn Realtors. Eric is the host of the radio talk show, "Pointing You Home with Eric Stewart" on 630 WMAL. Listen every sunday morning at 7AM!


Need a Potomac Virtual Tour Company? Contact BakerB Solutions at 301.424.8272 to place an order, or visit us online at http://www.bakerb.com/.

Wednesday, May 20

Monday, May 18

Addendum to Listing Agreement - Internet Advertising


A new law requires that any listing an agent secures must have the Internet Advertising section completed by the property owner. In our area, this can be found as:

* GCAAR: "Addendum to Listing Agreement - Internet Advertising"

* MAR: Section "7. MARKETING/MLS/INTERNET ADVERTISEMENT", or Page 2

* NVAR: Section (to be announced)

This section/addendum must be completed by the seller. Within this addendum/section, there are specific authorizations that will allow you to publish information about the property on the Internet.

BakerB Solutions has a policy that requires a copy of this section/addendum to be included with all virtual tour orders. We need to confirm that the owner of the property has authorized us to enter the property, take photographs, assemble the virtual tour, distribute that tour online through the MLS and other websites (like Realtor.com, etc.).

In addition, in order for that property to have the social networking option activated (see this post for details on Virtual Tours and Social Networking), the section/addendum must read:

"Owner x authorizes or □ does NOT authorize the display of unedited comments or reviews of the property (or display a hyperlink to such comments or reviews) on MLS participants’ websites." - Where AUTHORIZE is checked or has an "x".

Download a copy of the GCAAR Addendum to Listing Agreement - Internet Advertising here. Only authorized GCAAR members can use this form by copyright law. For more information about this requirepment, please visit the GCAAR website in the members section on this page: http://gcaarrocks.com/toolkit_ektid5580.aspx

This site states:

"In response to the terms of the settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), Sellers must now consent to

* allowing their property to be on the internet;

* allowing their full property address to be on the internet;

* allowing information regarding a valuation of the property to be available through third
party sources on the internet or through a hyperlink to a third party;

* allowing unedited comments and remarks (blogging) to appear through third party sources
on the internet or through a hyperlink to a third party.

If a Seller does NOT consent to any one of these above items, the Seller will indicate such and the listing broker, i.e., agent, is required to notify MRIS of the Seller’s position opting out of one or more of the above items. To notify MRIS, you should either complete the “Addendum to the Listing Contract” or complete the “Seller Opt-Out Form” available on MRIS’ website (once it includes all 4 questions and not just 2 of them as it does right now) and submit a copy of the signed form to MRIS ONLY IF THE SELLER OPTS OUT OF ANY OF THE 4 ITEMS. If the Seller agrees to all 4 items, nothing is sent to MRIS and the form is kept in your files. This form will be unnecessary once MRIS has the technical capability to have the listing agent indicate whether the property should be deleted from any of the above 4 areas, but for now, you need to fax the signed information over to MRIS, again, ONLY if the Seller opts out."


This policy has been put into place to protect everyone invloved: the Seller, the Listing Agent, the Virtual Tour Photographer and BakerB Solutions, Inc. Should you have any questions, or would like to place an order for a virtual tour (after you have secured the addendum from your client), please contact us at 301.424.8272.

Thursday, May 14

Main Level Suite in this Property at 20016 Doolittle Street from Kevin Grolig


Looking for main level living? Then check out this Virtual Tour of 20016 Doolittle Street, Montgomery Village, MD 20886 from Kevin Grolig at Llewellyn Realtors. There is also a Single Property Website at www.20016Doolittle.com, For more information on Montgomery Village Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions, visit http://www.bakerb.com/ or call 301.424.8272.

Victor Llewellyn Does it Again!


Victor Llewellyn of Llewellyn Realtors is one of Montgomery County Maryland's top 1% of all realtors. Here is another listing with a Virtual Tour of 5801 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817. For more tours from your Bethesda Maryland Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions, visit http://www.bakerb.com/ or call 301.424.8272.

David Dabb has a great new Single Property Website at www.17504IraCourt.com

Single Property Website at www.4417Highboro.com


Dave & Peggy Reed of Llewellyn Realtors have a great new Virtual Tour of 4417 Highboro Drive, Mt. Airy, MD 21771 with a Single Property Website located at http://www.4417highboro.com/. For more on Single Property Web Sites and Web Sign Riders, contact your Mt. Airy Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions at http://www.bakerb.com/ or 301.424.8272.

Custom Built Home Virtual Tour at 2720 Covered Wagon Way


Virtual Tour of 13503 Grenoble for Victor Llewellyn


Nice new listing for Victor Llewellyn of Llewellyn Realtors with a Virtual Tour of 13503 Grenoble Drive, Rockville, MD 20853. For a tour on your property or listing, contact your Rockville Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions at 301.424.8272 or online at http://www.bakerb.com/.

Friday, May 1

www.MyFREEAgentFinder.com


As you probably can tell from all the posts in this blog that we do business with a lot of Realtors. The fact is top Realtors count on BakerB Solutions to provide the highest level of professional marketing solutions for their listings. We are the company agents turn to in order to get homes sold. We provide professional results at a fair price. But most importantly we have good relationships with each of our Realtor clients. We understand how they run their business. We understand their personality and what types of people they work with best.

If you are considering selling a home or buying a home, consider contacting BakerB Solutions BEFORE you talk to any Realtors. We would be happy to make some recommendations based on what you need for your specific situation. Lets face it, not all agents will work well with everyone. If you want to interview a true professional Realtor, but aren't sure where to start, give us a call at 301.424.8272 and we would be happy to talk with you at NO COST TO YOU!

This is not a gimmick. This is just honest people trying to help you sell your home as quickly as possible for top dollar. For more details on our "My FREE Agent Finder" service, visit this link: http://www.myfreeagentfinder.com/, and then call BakerB Solutions at 301.424.8272. Or shoot an email to agentfinder@bakerb.com.

Virtual Tour of 17820 Mill Creek Road presented by Mark Day

Jean Pirovic's Single Property Websites at www.13FallingCreek.com and www.3919Commander.com





These tours were produced for Jean Pirovic of Long and Foster by Silver Spring Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions. To see more samples of Maryland Virtual Tours, visit http://www.bakerb.com/, or to order a virtual tour, call 301.424.8272.

Wednesday, April 29

Amy Donley's Virtual Tour of 2500 Seibel Drive


Virtual Tour for 2500 Seibel Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20905. This tour was created for Amy Donley of Long and Foster by Silver Spring Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions. To order a tour or see more samples, visit BakerB Solutions at http://www.bakerb.com/ or call 301.424.8272.

www.310Swarthmore.com a Single Property Website for Nimrod Shmul


Aerial HDR Photo of 312 Runner Road for Jacquie Kuker

Have you seen the BakerB Solutions Aerial Photography? If not, look below for the series of shots we used to create this beautiful High Dynamic Range (HDR) image for Jacquie Kuker of Long and Foster for her listing at 312 Runner Road, Great Falls, VA 22066.
And this is what Jacquie had to say in response:
"Your talent is stupendous and I will be in touch with you in the future. GORGEOUS SHOT. THANK YOU!!!!"

This is the final blended product:


And here are the images used to create this image. We took 3 seperate Aerial images and blended them to create the HDR image:

First Image = Under Exposed (Step -1)

Second Image = Over Exposed (Step +1)

Third Image = Normal Exposure (Step 0)


For more information regarding On Location Aerial Photos or Elevated Photography with our 60 Foot Tripod, contact BakerB Solutions (http://www.bakerb.com/) at 301.424.8272 or email us at Aerial@BakerB.com.

Monday, April 27

Connect with LinkedIn Groups for Realtors!

Are you a member of LinkedIn? Are you a Realtor? Then maybe you should consider becoming a member of these groups:

Maryland Real Estate Professionals Networking Group
and/or
Washington DC Metro Area Realtors Networking Group

Eric Stewart Virtual Tour of 2888 Glenora Lane


Isn't nice weather great for your virtual tour? Here is a Virtual Tour of 2888 Glenora Lane, Rockville, MD 20850 completed for Eric Stewart of Llewellyn Realtors. For more tours from your Rockville Virtual Tour Company, BakerB Solutions, visit http://www.bakerb.com/ or call 301.424.8272.

Single Property Website for Mark Day here: www.20219YankeeHarbor.com


Llewellyn Realtor's Mark Day has a nice new Townhouse listing located at 20219 Yankee Harbor Place, Montgomery Village, MD 20886. The virtual tour has been linked to a Single Property Website at http://www.20219yankeeharbor.com/. For more sample tours from your Montgomery Village Virtual Tour Company, BakerB Solutions, visit us online at http://www.bakerb.com/ or call 301.424.8272.

Thomas Powers Virtual Tour of 15001 Emory Lane


Thomas Powers of Llewellyn Realtors presents this Virtual Tour of 15001 Emory Lane, Rockville, MD 20853. Contact your Rockville Virtual Tour Company, BakerB Solutions, at 301.424.8272 or visit us online at http://www.bakerb.com/.

Sharie Powers Sivertsen NEW CONSTRUCTION Floor Plan Tour of 4818 Foxhall Crescent NW


This is a great new construction property with artist renderings and a Floor Plan Tour of 4818 Foxhall Crescent NW, Washington, DC, 20007. This tour is brought to you by Sharie Powers Sivertsen of W.C.& A.N. Miller Realtors (a Long and Foster Company). Currently the tour has floor plans, but come mid-June/July we will have full photos available. For now check out the floor plan tour created by Floor Plan Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions. To order a floor plan tour call 301.424.8272.

Gary Downs Virtual Tour of 1416 Sturtevant Road


Sunday, April 26

Virtual Tour Social Networking Made Easy!

It’s no secret that social networking is quickly becoming the norm in internet marketing. That is why our virtual tours have social networking built right into the virtual tour viewer. With a click of the mouse, viewers can add your virtual tour to their social networks. Imagine your virtual tour becoming a viral marketing tool virtually overnight.

BakerB Solutions has unleashed yet another powerful property marketing tool that helps you stay competitive in an aggressive real estate market. In just one click, your virtual tour can be submitted to popular social bookmarking and networking sites such as:

Digg
Delicious
Furl
Facebook
FriendFeed
MySpace
BackFlip

LinkedIn
Reddit
Twitter
StumbleUpon
Technorati
Mixx
Bebo

Now you, your customers, and their friends can bookmark your virtual tours on these sites!!
To try it out, click here, to launch a sample tour. Then follow the steps below to add this tour to your space.


1) Click the "Share Tour" tab in the menu bar within the virtual tour.
2) Click on "Social Networking" to display the list of icon links at the bottom of the virtual tour interface.
3) Find the social networking site you would like to link to and click on the icon link to post the tour.

Once you are launched to your social networking site, in most cases you will be able to add a personal note to enhance you post. That's it. Now you are ready to leverage the power of your BakerB Solutions Virtual Tour with your favorite social networking site!

Kevin Grolig Virtual Tour of 17910 Coachmans Road


Virtual Tour of 17910 Coachmans Road,Germantown, MD 20874 a new listing fron Kevin Grolig of Llewellyn Realtors in Rockville, MD. To see more tours, visit your local Germantown Virtual Tour Company, BakerB Solutions, at http://www.bakerb.com/, or to order a tour, call us at 301.424.8272.

Jean Pirovic Virtual Tour of 3319 Stanford Street


Check out the awesome additions on this property in the Virtual Tour of 3319 Stanford Street,Hyattsville, MD 20783 completed for Jean Pirovic of Long and Foster. This tour was completed by Hyattsville Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions. To order a tour, contact us at 301.424.8272 today!

Thomas Powers Virtual Tour of 12105 Brittania Court


Take a look at Llewellyn Realtor's Thomas Powers' new listing with this Virtual Tour of 12105 Brittania Court,Germantown, MD 20874. To have a tour done of your listing, contact BakerB Solutions, your Germantown Virtual Tour Company, at 301.424.8272 today!

Jean Pirovic Virtual Tour of 6910 40th Avenue


Friday, April 24

WMAL Radio Host Eric Stewart Presents







Eric Stewart, WMAL Talk Show Radio host of Pointing You Home presents this Llewellyn Realtors Virtual Tour of 5303 Brookeway Drive,Bethesda, MD 20816. Take a look at this wonderful Bethesda Home Virtual Tour. To see more tours, or to order a tour, visit BakerB Solutions or email us at orders@bakerb.com.

Thomas Powers new listing at 13503 Crispin Way


2 Properties from Kevin Grolig at Llewellyn Realtors


Here are two great new listings from Kevin Grolig at Llewellyn Realtors. To view the virtual tour of either property, just click on the link below:



(Montgomery County Maryland)



(Frederick County Maryland)


To see all of Kevin Grolig's virtual tours, visit Kevin Grolig's Virtual Tour Gallery. Call 301.424.8272 for more information on Frederick County Virtual Tours or Montgomery County Virtual Tours.

John Sheehan Virtual Tour of 2434 Astrid Court


Virtual Tour of 2434 Astrid Court,Brookeville, MD 20833 presented by John Sheehan of Llewellyn Realtors in Rockville, MD. Tour provided by Maryland Virtual Tour Company BakerB Solutions. To order a tour, call 301.424.8272 or email orders@bakerb.com.

Jean Pirovic Virtual Tour of 4900 Laguna Road



Virtual Tour of 4900 Laguna Road, College Park, MD 20740 from Jean Pirovic of Long and Foster Real Estate. Tour created by BakerB Solutions. To order a tour, call 301.424.8272.

King Farm Virtual Tour in Rockville, MD from Ethel Skenderis of Long and Foster

View the virtual tour of King Farm located in Rockville, MD just off Rockville Pike. This tour is brought to you by Ethel Skenderis of Long & Foster Real Estate in potomac, MD.