Ashby Homes

This column was written by Cathy Vingelli, a realtor for Hal Knopf Realty.

So You Want to Sell Your Home?Whether you are buying a home or selling the one you currently live in, the stress level can be exhausting. If you're well informed there’s no need to panic. This column will be chock full of information for both buyers and sellers. And, of course, if any reader has a real estate question for me, well…fire away!

Welcome to “The Big Move”Thinking about selling? Many quick fixes will cost you little or no money, and make all the difference in the world. Remember that first impressions are the most lasting. Try to look at your home in an unemotional manner. Think about what your potential buyer will be looking at when they look at your home. At this point, you might want to visit some open houses and take a look at whatmakes people excited or turns people off.

When you get home from your open house tour, take a long, slow walk through your home — starting at the sidewalk. If you have a brick stairway, is there mortar between all the bricks? What condition are your stair rails in? If they’re wrought iron, do they need a quick coat of paint?

Now take a look at your driveway. Patch holes and resurface. And while you’re standing in the driveway, look at your gutters — are they clean? And how’s the siding look? A powerwash is inexpensive and shows the potential buyers that you care about your home. Now, what about your yard? Make sure the lawn is mowed, edged, and that the bushes are trimmed. If there are fallen leaves scattered around, collect them. And why not buy some pots of colorful flowers to place near the front door?

Next, take a look at your coat closet. Is it packed to the gills? Buyers love to look in closets and cabinets. Yours should all look like there’s plenty of room. Everyone likes to think that there’s more than enough storage in the home they will be purchasing. As everyone knows, you can never have too much storage space. And clutter coupled with disorganization is a turnoff.

What about the rooms themselves? Scrape peeling paint and check out cracked caulking. Easy and inexpensive, and makes all the difference in the world. Even if your house is filled with kids’ toys, you’ll need to find a way to make that playroom/den look spacious. Consider buying colorful plastic crates for toys. This will help keep the room clean, even with your kids playing in it daily.

Last, but not least, vacuum, dust, and make sure that there are no food or pet odors. All these suggestions will cost you little or nothing, and will show owners that you care for your home and that it is well maintained.

Next column — how to choose a Realtor — a guide for buyers and sellers.Please feel free to email me any real estate questions.

Cathy VingelliHal Knopf Realtycathyvinre6@verizon.net

Everyone has a different opinion on what actually sells the home — emotions, rationalism, financial sense, etc.

Let's start with a level playing field. Assume that all houses you look at are in a reasonable price range for you. Pricing is part of the equation, but other factors contribute to “falling in love.”

Location, location, location, as the saying goes. But again, if the perfect house shows up, and the location is less than perfect, love can still happen.

Here are 10 things that, all other things being equal, can help to sell your house:

1. Light: Preferably sunlight. Open the blinds. Turn on the lights. When people enter a house and it is bright, they love it.

2. Cleanliness and order:  See my previous column on de-cluttering. A house that is tidy sells much better than one that is cluttered. Order looks better and signals a house has been well cared for.

3. Curb Appeal: You only get one chance to make that first impression. Buyers can love or hate your house before they even walk in the door. Stand across the street, look at the house and think about how it will appeal to a stranger.

4. Smells: Avoid distasteful smells like fish, garbage, dirty laundry and the like. Opt for fresh air, cookies, clean linen smell. They can all be bought.

5. Maintenance: Even the smallest undone repairs give the impression the seller does not care, and makes people wonder what else might be hidden. Don’t give them anything to think about, fix up anything that might give rise to questions.

6. Landscaping: The grass is mowed, leaves are raked, flowers are in full bloom and not past their prime, trees are pruned, the water hose tidily hung up ... that is a winning concept. And in winter, a groomed impression can still be easily achieved.

7. Reonvated kitchen: Don’t spend a lot, but make it welcoming. Consider color, countertops and lighting.

8. Renovated baths: Same rules as the kitchen. Fresh wall color and updated fixtures are a small investment and go a long way.

9. Updated floors and fixtures: At the very least get the carpets and any tiles steam cleaned. Are they still stained? Then maybe replace them. Show your buyer that the house was cared for and updated periodically.

10. Purpose and floor plan: If you have spaces in your house that people are left to interpret, show purpose. A desk, a card table, a cushy chair for a reading nook all eliminate "dead" space.

It is said that in the first 90 seconds a buyer falls in love. In many cases that is so. But others narrow choices down and the second time they go, rationality takes over and the above points take over.

Thinking of selling a home on Long Island? Here is some Home Seller information.

Thinking of buying a house on Long Island? Download my Free Home Buyer’s Guide.

How can I help you?

Donna GalinskyFiveTownsRealEstateGuide.comPugatch Realty Corpdgalinsky@pugatch.com516-317-9253

A selection of new homes in Sheerness, north Kent, has been launched, with prices starting from £99,000.

The development, which features 11 different new homes types, is currently being developed by Persimmon Homes and is sure to appeal to a wide range of people seeking to find a property in the country or coast.

Set within the preserved grounds of the former Minster Hospital, Clarence Place is a development of two-bedroom apartments, maisonettes and bungalows, suitable for first-time buyers, downsizers and investors, as well as three and four-bedroom family homes.

There is a diverse selection of homes, with each housetype offering different combinations of warm red and ochre brick work, creamrender and timber cladding, instilling an eclectic, village-like exterior within the development.

Many two-bedroom apartments, bungalows and houses offer a separate kitchen-breakfast room, living room and two bedrooms, with an en-suite bathroom and shower room. While others offer open plan kitchen-living-dining rooms, a family bathroom and en-suite shower room to the master bedroom.

The new homes, which are available to buy through selling agent, Spicerhaart Land & New Homes, range in price, from £99,000 to £249,995.

Julie Carver, sales manager at selling agent, haart, said: "With 11 different house types available at Clarence Place, there is a home to suit every buyer. From traditional layouts, to flexible open-plan living spaces, each home, whether a two-bedroom apartment or four-bedroom family house, is distinct both inside and out.

"With the stamp duty holiday for first time buyers coming to an end in March, we would certainly advise anyone looking to purchase their first home to visit the stunning new show home."