So you want to get your home looking fresh and new but don’t have the big bucks to make major changes?  Here are a few ideas to help you look like you spent more than you did and create a market ready home!

• Can’t afford new kitchen cabinets? Give them a good cleaning with a product like Cabinet Magic, or even try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove the daily dirt, grease and splatters. Top with Old English or Murphy’s Oil. Then replace the cabinet knobs with more updated styles. Before you pay full price at a big box store, try shopping at a  “Restore” store which benefits Habitat for Humanity. However you buy them, count all the drawers and cabinet doors to ensure you buy enough to complete the job.
• To add a custom feel to your base cabinets, add roll out shelves (available at Container Store, big box stores and online).
• Can’t afford to repaint the whole kitchen or baths? Wash the walls. (Again a Magic Eraser is great for easily cleaning grease, oils and dirt from painted walls without scrubbing the paint off). Then clean and paint the door and window trim with semi-gloss paint. Just refreshing the edges will create a freshly painted look.
• Bathroom updates: Do the same cleaning and trim painting as you did in the kitchen. Then replace the faucets, showerheads, hardware, towel racks and toilet paper holders as needed. Make sure they all match to create a customized renovation. Scrub the tub, toilet and sink so they gleam. If they need to be replaced, do so and then promote as “brand new”.  Can’t afford a new tub? You can get one reglazed for a few hundred dollars.  Again, a stop at a Restore location can help you find some high end materials at a fair price and support Habitat at the same time.
• A new shower curtain will add a fresh look BUT make sure you replace the outdated, rusty shower rod and curtain hooks. Also, put up fresh, clean matching towels with no ragged edges or stains.
• Update your light fixtures. There are lots of places where you can find updated versions at a not so upscale price. New fanlights, chandeliers and ceiling lights can take your home from outdated to modern with minimal cost and effort.
• Now this might seem like an obvious notion, but is often overlooked. Take time to go through your home and clean all your switch plates and outlet covers. Hands leave lots of prints and dirt. A clean white switch plate against a freshly washed wall and trim can do wonders. If they’re too far gone, invest in new ones. It will be worth the minimal cost.
• Wash your windows. Then clean your curtains, draperies and blinds so your buyer sees only the beautiful sunbeams pouring through.
• Also clean your rugs or carpets. If they are too far gone and you can’t afford to replace them, consider offering a flooring allowance to your buyers. At least then they can look past how worn they are knowing they will be able to replace them once they purchase your home.

These should give you some great starting points and may inspire you to think of more things you can do that will cost you more in elbow grease than they do in dollars while producing very positive results toward achieving your home selling goals!

Are you a seller?  Why a pre-approved buyer is stronger than a pre-qualified buyer.

Are you a buyer? Why being pre-approved will give you more leverage with sellers.

Defined:

• Pre-Approved means that the buyer has completed a full application, verification and credit process with a mortgage lender. Therefore,  their lender has committed to fund that buyer up to a specific amount.
• Pre-Qualified means that though the buyer has provided the lender with enough financial information for them to make a determination that they can afford a home within a certain range, they have not verified that information or made any commitment to fund the buyer for any specific amount.

Simply reading the definitions above should make it clear that whether you’re the buyer or the seller, working as or with pre-approved status provides a stronger edge in the marketplace. As a buyer, you can negotiate with confidence and strength with a seller, even outbidding others who might be offering more money but don’t have a mortgage commitment. You know exactly what you can afford and your seller knows your financing is secured.  As a seller, you can feel comfortable accepting a pre-approved buyer’s offer and taking your home off the active market because you eliminate the worry that they won’t get financed.

The bottom line is this. If you’re buying a home, taking the time to get pre-approved instead of pre-qualified could make the difference between moving into your dream home or watching someone else call it their own.  If you’re selling a home, choosing a pre-approved vs pre-qualified buyer will minimize your stress and maximize your opportunity to move to a smooth closing.