Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale

Welcome to Part 2 of The Bathroom!! In Part 1 I talked about cleaning the vanity, cabinets and drawers, and also suggested some repairs that you may need to consider when selling your home. In Part 2 we are going to address some other tips to make your bathrooms sparkle and appeal to buyers.

Buyers will notice a filthy shower, and nothing turns a buyer off quicker. So, spend some time here.

Remove personal items – cleanser, shampoo and conditioner, shave cream, razor, body sponges – from the shower/tub area.

Discard items that are unnecessary and store the rest under the sink. Test the faucets and showerhead. Do the faucets turn off all the way? If not, change the washers. Is the water spraying freely from the showerhead? No? Then remove it and check to see if it’s clogged. If it still doesn’t work properly after cleaning, replace it.

Carefully examine tiles and the tub. Does the tub have chips and discoloration? It may need to be resurfaced or replaced.

How do the tiles look? Any loose pieces or chips? Are there cracks in the grout? Scrub the bathtub, tiles and grout until they are mold and mildew free. Regrout gaps between tiles. Scrape and replace discolored caulking.

When the shower and bathtub have been overhauled, top off your repairs with a new, crisp shower curtain or liner in a neutral color.

Take a good look at the ceiling and walls. Do you see any mold, mildew, fingerprints or grime? If so, scrub it with bleach. Cracking or curling paint should be scraped and repainted in a neutral color.
Here is a good rule of thumb: Place only three items on the vanity area. Many real estate experts suggest these include potpourri, a new or clean, filled soap dispenser, and a plant. It’s a good idea to keep the toilet tank top cleared as prospective buyers and inspectors may want to peek inside it.
After the big clean-up and repair job in the bathroom, it’s important to maintain the fresh smell and appearance each day the house is on the market. The space should be kept uncluttered, clean and sanitized. It should reflect well on the house of which it is a part and offer few glimpses of the personalities who currently live there.

At this point, a homeowner enters the sprucing-up stage. After cleaning every nook and cranny in the bathroom, it’s time to add the finishing touches. All dirty towels and wash cloths, bath mats and robes should be removed. A clean set of towels should be displayed before the house is shown. Trash baskets should be emptied and floors wiped daily. All personal grooming items – tooth brushes, make-up, combs and brushes, hair dryers, perfume, etc. – should be tucked away, preferably in a container and stored in a drawer or cabinet.

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Now that you have your bathrooms sparkling, let’s talk about something else that is important! CURB APPEAL!! That will be the subject of the next blog post in this series of Tips for Selling Your Home.

Wondering what your home may be worth in the current market? Request a complimentary market analysis from me. I will also include a copy of my “How To Sell Your House For Top Dollar, Fast”.

Tags: preparing home for sell, salem oregon home for sale, salem oregon home selling, salem oregon real estate, sell home, seller tips

Posted in Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, Salem Oregon Sellers Top Dollar Tips Series, salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate, sell a home in salem oregon | 2 Comments »

SALEM AREA HOME SELLERS! HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR GETTING YOU TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR HOME! THE BATHROOM PART 1.

Monday, December 21st, 2009

SALEM AREA HOME SELLERS! HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR GETTING YOU TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR HOME! THE BATHROOM PART 1.

I am starting a new series of articles based on my Seller Newsletters full of tips for selling your Salem area home for top dollar even in the current Salem Oregon Real Estate Market. If you would like to be added to my free newsletter list, please contact me, and I will get you added right away.

We are going to start this series off with the bathrooms. When a house is on the market, it becomes less the owner’s home and more of a display item. Nowhere is this more important to remember than in the bathroom. Buyers don’t want to see the seller’s personal hygiene items, moldy remnants of steamy showers, or a soap scum-covered collection of empty shampoo bottles. They want to be confident that this most private of rooms is well maintained and sanitized. The trick to make the area seem less, well…private.

Preparing a bathroom for potential buyers is a four step process:

Clean
Repair
Sanitize
Spruce

Every surface that can hold something – vanity, toilet tank, shower window, floor – should be cleared of as many objects as possible. The same thing applies for anything that can be opened – medicine cabinet, drawers, and linen closets.

Cleaning begins with throwing out any expired medication, make-up that hasn’t been used in a year, nearly empty containers, and any other useless objects found while emptying cabinets and drawers.

The process continues with wiping each shelf, drawer, and cabinet door. When everything is out from under the sink, take the time to check the faucets and pipes for leaks.

If faucets leak, washers probably need to be changed. In some cases, the faucets may be corroded and need to be replaced. If this is the case, opt for an inexpensive and very plain model. Fill the sink with water. If it drains from the sink slowly, pour in some drain clog remover and see if this helps. When everything is clean and in working condition, neatly return items to the cabinet under the sink, using containers for small objects like bath toys, sponges or cleaners.

While the top of the toilet tank is bare, lift up the top and check the water level and condition of the inner mechanisms. Flush the toilet. Does the water refill to the correct level? Does the water shut off when it reaches this level? If not, then the inside mechanism with the seat and stopper at the bottom of the tank will need to be replaced.

One of the many benefits of listing your home with me is that at Coldwell Banker Mountain West, we have a group of handymen that are employed by our company to do basic handyman repairs on our seller’s homes for as long as your home is on the market, and on our buyer’s homes for as long as they own their home. It’s called our Lifetime Handyman Repair Service. They will take care of any leaking faucets and shower heads, toilets that are not working correctly, and they will put fresh caulking in your bathroom once you have everything else ready to go in the bathroom which helps to provide a cleaner and fresher appearance. Our Lifetime Handyman Repair Service has saved our sellers and buyers a great deal of money by providing free repairs.

So, there you go, some tips to get you started on getting your bathrooms in order before putting your home on the market. Stay tuned for part 2 of The Bathroom.

Would you like a free copy of my book “How to Sell Your House for Top Dollar, Fast”? Or, would you like me to do a walk-thru of your home to provide you with a pinpoint price analysis of your home, along with a copy of my “101 Quick and Easy Tips to Make Your Home Show Like a Model Home”? If you would like more information about the services that I offer to my sellers, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846 or MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

Tags: home sellers, preparing home for sell, salem oregon home for sale, salem oregon home selling, salem oregon real estate, sell a home in salem oregon, seller tips

Posted in Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, Salem Oregon Sellers Top Dollar Tips Series, salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate, sell a home in salem oregon | No Comments »

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE—WHAT A DIFFERENCE A “STAGE” MAKES-HOME STAGING, THAT IS! SALEM OREGON HOME SELLERS, COULD STAGING BE THE ANSWER TO GET YOUR HOME SOLD? SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES FOR YOURSELVES….. AND YOU DECIDE

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE—WHAT A DIFFERENCE A “STAGE” MAKES-HOME STAGING, THAT IS! SALEM OREGON HOME SELLERS, COULD STAGING BE THE ANSWER TO GET YOUR HOME SOLD? SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES FOR YOURSELVES….. AND YOU DECIDE

If you are currently a SALEM OREGON HOME SELLER, or thinking seriously about putting your home on the market, I am sure you are aware of the fact that in the current SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE MARKET your home must be the best home, at the best price. There is competition all around you, and your home needs to stand out as the BEST HOME in that price range!

Now, I am going to fess up right now…. In the past, I have not been a huge fan of home staging because my listings sold within a short time after putting them on the market. The last couple of years have shown a huge shift in the LOCAL SALEM REAL ESTATE MARKET.

I recently had the opportunity to get to know a local home stager, Margaret Oscillia, of Creative Concepts and Contracting, through some local blogging and social networking classes. After several months of my many, numerous questions, and viewing her before and after photos and results once she staged a home, I decided that maybe there was something to this “staging stuff”. I went ahead and booked her for two of my listings/sellers.

Here are some before and after pictures of one of my seller’s homes. This home began as a vacant home, but the great thing about a home stager is that they have several different levels of staging. You can do a full stage, or a partial or minimal stage. You can also start off with a consultation to see what kind of suggestions they have that can bring you a “Top Dollar” offer. Many times they can work with your current furnishings, just making minimal changes, and adding a little “pop” to the rooms.

ENTRY

LIVING ROOM/DINING

FAMILY ROOM

MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BATH

So, you decide, which pictures are more likely to peak your interest, and cause you to pick up the phone to schedule a showing appointment with your Realtor?

If you would like more information about SELLING YOUR SALEM OREGON HOME, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846, or email me at MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Creative Concepts and Contracting, or if you would like to see more of their before and after photos, here is the link to their blog.

Of course, after seeing just a few of the photos for this fantastic home, you may want to see more. So, here is all of the information on this wonderful single-level 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in South Salem. This home is listed at only $249,900.

Lovely Single Level 3/2.5 with indoor sauna

Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Description

Novak Audio Tour

$249,900

Single Family Home
For Sale

Main Features

3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
Interior: 1999 sqft
Lot: 0.14 acre(s)

Location

5559 Novak CT SE
Salem, OR 97306

Mel Wagner

Coldwell Banker Mtn. West Real Estate, Inc.
(503) 931-1846
MelWagnerBroker@msn.com
http://www.MelWagnerBroker.com

Listed by: Mel Wagner

Our recent listings

Dual Living!! 4/3 in West Salem
What a Cutie!! 3/1 with Fenced Backyard.
Charming cottage located in the beautiful historic district of downtown Salem.
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Salem, Oregon home for Sale. Single Level 3/2 with large fenced backyard.

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Posted in Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, home staging, homes for sale, salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate, sell a home in salem oregon | No Comments »

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE HAS GREAT NEWS FOR SALEM OREGON HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS—THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT WAS OFFICIALLY EXTENDED TODAY AND NOW INCLUDES SOME HOME SELLERS THAT WILL BE BUYERS!!

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

SALEM OREGON REAL ESTATE HAS GREAT NEWS FOR SALEM OREGON HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS—THE FIRST TIME HOME BUYER TAX CREDIT WAS OFFICIALLY EXTENDED TODAY, AND NOW INCLUDES SOME HOME SELLERS THAT WILL BE BUYERS!!

Earlier today President Obama signed the unemployment bill which also includes an extension for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, and a new tax credit for sellers who will also be home buyers once they sell, if they qualify.

Here is a basic rundown of what exactly this means to Salem Oregon Home Buyers and Salem Oregon Home Sellers:

Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.
Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010.

There are some qualifications that buyers must meet to be eligible for the tax credit:

First time home buyer must not have had an interest in a principal residence in the last 3 years.
Sellers must have lived in their home for 5 out of the last 8 years as their primary residence.
All purchases must be in contract by April 30, 2010.
Buyers have until July 1,2010 to close on their purchase.
Home purchase must be $800,000 or less.

Buyers must also meet income guidelines:

The single person income cannot exceed $125,000 to qualify for the full credit.
The married persons’ income cannot exceed $225,000 to qualify for the full credit.
There is a “phase out” in place for incomes exceeding that which may still qualify the buyer for a partial tax credit.
Married persons filing separately have different amounts of credit that they can qualify for-first time home buyers is $4000, and current homeowners is $3250.

If you would like to view a comparison of the previous credit vs. the new credit, the National Association of Realtors has put together a chart.

So, what could this mean to the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market, you may be asking? The hope is that by extending the credit, it will keep those first time buyers buying. In addition, by extending this credit to current home owners, these home owners will be moving up or down in size, which will bring more buyers into the market for those middle and higher price range homes. That portion of our market has been lagging behind for some time now.

If you are a first time buyer, or a seller, that has questions, or would like assistance to get started, you can contact me directly at 503-931-1846, or MelWagnerBroker@msn.com.

If you are relocating to the Salem Oregon area, I have a relocation package that can provide you with current information on home prices in Salem, Oregon.

If you are a Salem Oregon Home Seller that would like to know what the current market value of your home is, you can request a free, no obligation market analysis here.

If you would like to stay updated on new and breaking information regarding Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, be sure to join my business page on Facebook, and subscribe to my blog.

If you are just curious about whether or not the Salem Oregon Real Estate Market is stabilizing, or would like more information about a neighborhood that you may be interested in moving to, you can visit my Salem Oregon House Values site to see what is going on in any neighborhood that you are interested in.

Tags: first time homebuyer tax credit, home buyers, home sellers, relocate to salem oregon, sell a home in salem oregon, tax credit extended

Posted in Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, homes for sale, salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate, sell a home in salem oregon | No Comments »

Salem Oregon Real Estate-Today is the Grand Opening for Real Deals in Salem, Oregon.

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

SALEM OREGON HOMES AND REAL ESTATE WANS YOU TO KNOW—There is a great new store in town!! Today is the Grand Opening for Real Deals in Salem, Oregon. Real Deals will be open only two days a week-Thursdays and Saturdays! They are located at 1320 Liberty ST NE (corner of Liberty and Gaines). Hours of operation are 10-6 on Thursdays and 10-3 on Saturdays.

Whether you are a seller that could use some new home decor for staging your home, or a new home buyer looking for some home decor for your new home, Real Deals has some great items for you at WAREHOUSE PRICES!!! As a seller in the Salem Oregon Real Estate market, you know that staging can make all the difference in having your home stand out to our Salem area buyers. If you are interested in learning more about staging your home to sell, or would like to set up a consultation for home staging services, you can visit Creative Concepts and Contracting.

If you are just getting started with the home buying or selling process, please visit my website for some great tips for buyers and sellers, and also free reports.

Happy Shopping!!

Tags: home decorating and decor, home staging

Posted in Salem Community Events, Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, home staging, homes for sale, salem oregon homes for sale, salem oregon real estate | No Comments »

Salem OR Homes 4 U: SALEM BUYERS-TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT-FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND GET THE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

Salem OR Homes 4 U: SALEM BUYERS-TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT-FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND GET THE ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

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Tags: salem oregon homes for sale

Posted in Salem Oregon Real Estate and Homes for Sale, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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