School is Opening Soon...Prepare a Homework Space for Your Children
School will be starting soon! Set your kids up for year-long success by preparing a homework and study space for them. Get your home ready for learning with these tips. Choose a Space If your child is easily distracted, you know they need someplace quiet to focus on their homework. Choose a space away from all the noise and action taking place in the kitchen or family room. A desk in their bedroom will give them the quiet workspace they need so they can focus without distraction. If your child thrives in social settings, you might want to have a space at the kitchen island or dining room table where your child can do their homework and still be part of the action. Organize Your Space Think organization! Use bookshelves and bins keep your kids’ books and supplies easily accessible. Make it Fun Your kids are more likely to want to spend time in their study area if they help create it. Have them help pick out fun colors if you’re painting walls or just let them choose the artwork that will decorate the walls. Let them make the space their own! Good Lighting Having the proper lighting is essential for your child to work by. A colorful light fixture might be another way to add fun to their study area. No matter what space you choose or style you go with, make sure to include your kids in the design process. If you decide you need a bigger home to accommodate your growing family, contact the Dawn Nowak Team. We’re here to help you with all your real estate needs!
5 Moving Tips
If you’re buying or selling, you are going to be going through the moving process. Make it easier on yourself with these tips. Book movers early Reserve your moving company or moving truck as early as you can. When buying or selling, you have a target closing date. Remember, this date is not set in stone, so you could easily close a week or two after this date. With this in mind, you will want to book your movers around when you think you’ll be moving. Get rid of stuff Don’t take all your stuff with you. You probably haven’t used it in years! Have a garage sale or donate it. If it’s really outdated or not useful, toss it! Label your boxes By labeling your boxes, you can at least have them brought to the correct rooms to unpack later. You certainly don’t want to be looking for kitchen items in a bedroom! Pack a box of paper plates, cups, coffee, snacks, and pet food. This way you can take a break, eat, and get back to work unpacking! Change your address Inform your local post office of your new address by completing a change of address. Don’t forget to let your credit cards and any other bills you get know about your new address. Let the utilities (gas, electric, and water) companies know you are the new owner, so they are on and working for you when you want them. You also want to have your cable and internet working when you move in, so sign up for these services early too. Research area garbage collection companies and sign up with one. You know you’ll have a lot of boxes and other trash to get rid of right away. Be patient Moving in and getting settled takes time, so be patient! Expect things to go wrong. Just don’t stress about moving. The boxes aren’t going anywhere. Take a break and get back at it!
Ask Your Listing Agent These Questions When Selling Your Home
Selling your home is a significant decision, one that involves careful planning and consideration. If you’re thinking about selling your home, you want to be sure you’re hiring the right person for the job. At the heart of a successful home sale is choosing the right listing agent to represent you. This crucial decision can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and profitable transaction. But how do you know if a listing agent is the right fit for you? The answer lies in asking the right questions. Here are some essential questions to ask your real estate agent when interviewing them to list your home, along with explanations of why you need to ask them: #1. Experience and Track Record: Why Ask?: Experience speaks volumes in the real estate industry. A Realtor with a solid track record is more likely to handle the complexities of selling successfully. Look for someone who can manage your listing well and attract buyers consistently, not just after their work hours. Surprisingly, 87% of Realtors don't make it past their second year. Choose a Realtor with five years or more in the market, showing both experience and dedication to the job. Questions to Ask: Do you work in Real Estate full-time or part-time? Are you a licensed Realtor and how long have you been licensed? Can you provide examples of homes similar to mine that you have successfully sold in the past? How many properties have you sold last year? (Some agents have been agents for 20 years and sell 5 houses a year.) #2. Local Market Knowledge: Why Ask?: Real estate markets can vary significantly from one neighborhood to another. A listing agent who understands the local market can provide valuable insights and strategies tailored to your area. Right now, it’s a ‘seller’s market,’ which means it’s a great time to sell! There are many buyers out looking and also many investors. We recommend our sellers price their homes on the low end to drive as many buyers as possible to the house to get multiple offers. For almost all houses in this market, the list price is lower than the sell price. Questions to Ask: How is the market? How well do you know the local market? What are the current market conditions in our area? Are there any specific trends or challenges affecting the sale of homes like mine? Do you usually represent buyers, sellers, or both? #3. Marketing Strategy: Why Ask?: This is one of the main reasons you hire a Realtor. Effective marketing is essential for attracting potential buyers and maximizing the sale price of your home. Understanding your agent's marketing strategy ensures that your property receives the exposure it deserves. It is important as well that the Realtor conducts open houses to get the most buyers in the house as possible to get a BIDDING WAR for your house. Questions to Ask: What is your marketing strategy for selling my home? How will you market my property online and offline? Do you have a website? Do you provide professional photos and videos featuring my home? Will my property be featured on its property web page? Will you advertise my house for sale? Will my home’s listing be included and FEATURED in major national websites such as Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com? Will you be using paid advertising to attract buyers? Will you be having weekly open houses? If so, will you be conducting the open house yourself? Do you already have a buyer for my property? Do you have a network of potential buyers or connections with other agents? #4. Communication and Availability: Why Ask?: Open communication and accessibility are crucial throughout the selling process. You want an agent who will keep you informed and address any concerns promptly. Read a potential Realtor’s reviews to see what their past clients say about them. A great Realtor communicates constantly from listing day to closing day and even after. Questions to Ask: How do you prefer to communicate with your clients? What is your availability like, and how quickly can I expect to hear back from you? Will I have a dedicated point of contact throughout the selling process? Do you plan to place a lockbox to allow other realtors access to my home? #5. Pricing Strategy: Why Ask?: Properly pricing your home is key to attracting interested buyers and securing a timely sale. A listing agent should have a clear strategy for pricing your home competitively. Also, by pricing the house correctly, you should receive multiple offers. Make sure your agent accepts escalations and has delayed negotiations. These tactics will also help you get the most money possible. Questions to Ask: How do you determine the asking price for a home? Can you provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) to justify your recommended listing price? What factors do you consider when advising on pricing adjustments? How would you handle multiple offers? How much will you charge to sell my property? Who is your broker? Remember – asking the right questions is essential when selecting a listing agent to sell your home. By delving into their experience, market knowledge, marketing strategy, communication style, and pricing approach, you can make an informed decision that sets the stage for a successful home sale. Don't hesitate to interview multiple agents until you find the one who best aligns with your needs and goals. After all, your home is one of your most significant assets, and it deserves expert representation every step of the way. If you are looking for a trustworthy and reliable Realtor –Look no further! Contact Dawn Nowak today to learn more about her. Call her or email her to get started: 585.317.7749 (Rochester) 716.288.6881 (Buffalo) DawnSoldAnother@kw.com Visit our beautiful, informative website at www.DawnSoldAnother.com
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