So Cal Homes and Lifestyle by Patty

Though the real estate business never stops, most people associate its busy periods of the year with the spring and summer seasons. And while this is true to a large extent, those who think that selling a home in the fall is a bad decision are sorely mistaken. Just as families want to get into new homes before the school year starts, which makes spring and summer busy seasons, there's also an urgency to get into new homes prior to the holiday season. It's one of the reasons why you shouldn't hesitate to list your home in the fall season. Here's a look at five more reasons why it's smart to list your home in the fall: 1. Demand Is Still There It's a seller's market out there, which means that there's still high demand for quality homes. So don't think that buyers have put their searches on hold until next spring, because they're still out there. You'll take advantage of this continuous demand by listing in the fall. 2. You Can Enjoy...

1. Prepping the room More time will be spent preparing to paint than actually applying the coats. It pays off — good preparation will save you from dealing with hiccups. Remove everything you can from the walls and doors, including doorknobs and electrical outlet faceplates. Wipe your walls clean; dirt and oil prevent paint from bonding with the wall. Use cotton instead of plastic drop cloths — plastic is slippery to walk on and leaves paint wet and easily tracked around the house. Mix all the paint in one big bucket to even out any slight variations in color from can to can. You can always pour the paint back into the original cans if you have too much. Don't be afraid to dive into deep green or fall into fuchsia! 2. Taping, to make it easy While still technically preparation, taping is crucial to keeping your paint neat and professional-looking. Apply the tape in short, overlapping strips where walls meet, on the side you want to pr...

Once you have decided that you want to put your home up for sale, you should start taking the steps to get it ready to go on the market. While some homes may be almost ready for pictures and a showing, there are others that may need a lot of work. Because of this, it is always a good idea to evaluate the condition of your home as soon as you know you will be selling. Use these steps to not only determine what you need to do but also get started on your home preparation.  ·          Have a home inspection done. You can definitely take a look around your home to see if any work needs to be done on the cosmetic side but you should consider relying on a professional to tell you if there are any underlying problems that you will need to fix before selling. This is a small price to pay so you can know exactly what needs to happen around your home and you can also start getting quotes from the inspector.  ·    ...