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Questions to Ask When Searching For A Realtor

Wednesday, April 25, 2018
by Tucker Robbins

All your life, you have seen For Sale signs in front yards, and there’s always a Realtor’s name, and in these modern times, a photo of them.  How did the seller decide on that Realtor?  Did they open the paper to the classifieds, close their eyes, and point to a spot in the Homes for Sale section?  That’s very unlikely, and it may take a few interviews, but you and your Realtor should be a good fit.  

 

  • Any friends that have recently bought or sold their home can get you started on a reference list.  Ask them what they liked most/least, and what they would do differently. 

  • Look to the internet for initial research.  Go down your list and search for each Realtor’s listings, blogs, and testimonials. Record contact information of Realtors you’re most interested in. 

  • Call each Realtor and set up an appointment to meet for a Q&A session. 

  • Before your first meeting, familiarize yourself with real estate professionals terms, as each title has a different job. 

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  • Have this list of questions to ask on hand at every meeting: 

  • - How long have you been in real estate? 

  • - Are you in the real estate business full-time or part-time? 

  • - Do have more buying or selling experience? 

  • - How many homes have you sold in the past twelve months? 

  • - Do you specialize in any certain neighborhoods or locations? 

  • - How many clients are you working with now? 

  • - What’s the best mode of communication for you? 

  • - Do you utilize the internet and social media to list your homes for sale? 

  • - What makes you stand out in our local market? 

  • - What should I know as a seller/buyer? 

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  • - A good Realtor welcomes these questions and will be honest with you when they answer them. 

  • - Don’t be surprised if the real estate pro interviews you as well! They need to know about you as much as you need to know about them. 

  • - Meeting with potential Realtors help you see their personalities, and having good chemistry is essential to your Realtor-client relationship.  You will be spending a lot of time with each other. 

  • - References with contact information are essential and can help you seal the deal with the right real estate professional for you and your needs. 

  • - If the Realtor is new in the field, don’t count inexperience against them.  They should be eager to add your sale to their portfolio and want to offer you a great experience. 

 

Once again, you will be spending a great deal of time with your Realtor, on the phone as well as in person.  Rismedia has more qualities and information for Realtor-hunting before the home hunting begins.  You will be sharing a lot of personal information with them, and a good relationship is vital to the sale or purchase of your home.  All your research could lead to a long-term relationship, not just a real estate agent. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins. 

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New Castle County DE Real Estate Market Watch For March 2018

Tuesday, March 27, 2018
by Tucker Robbins

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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New Castle County DE Real Estate Market Watch For December 2017

Monday, January 29, 2018
by Tucker Robbins

New Castle County DE listings decreased from 420 new listings in December 2016 down to 389 in December 2017. The average sales price decreased to $248,306, while days on market dropped by 11 days.

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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DIY Home Staging

Wednesday, January 3, 2018
by Tucker Robbins

You’ve taken the plunge, and put your home on the market.  How do you stage it for potential buyers, and keep it looking great while living your day-to-day? Follow this guide for some practical ideas. 

 

  • 1. Look at your front entry closely. Paint porch rails and columns, and your front door, if necessary. Replace the door, if necessary.  
     

  • 2. Landscaping is extremely important for first impressions--clean out the flowerbeds, put down some new mulch and fresh plants, if the time of year is right. 
     

  • 3. Get rid of clutter and anything that isn’t necessary. Go ahead and pack these things for your potential move so you’ll have one less thing to do when the time comes. 
     

  • 4. Clean out closets, and throw away, give away or store anything that you’re not using or haven’t used in six months. Buyers will look in closets and cabinets to see how much storage is available. 
     

  • 5. Clean, clean, clean.  Your home needs to be spotless, but once it’s done, it’s easy to keep clean for realtor showings.  If you don’t have time, consider hiring a cleaning agency. 
     

  • 6. Using decorative containers to store things that you need while living in your staged home is a great way to hide extra clutter. Totes, benches with storage, and inexpensive shelving with baskets are great ways to hide your can’t-live-without things. 
     

  • 7. Rearranging furniture to make rooms appear larger is a huge plus--even taking out lesser-used pieces makes a big difference in how open your rooms will look.  If you’re unsure of this step, ask your realtor for the name of a decorator who specializes in rearrangement and using what you have to improve the space. 
     

  • 8. If your decor is bold and bright, go ahead and give the walls a fresh coat of neutral paint colors. 
          

  • 9. You don’t need to purchase new furniture once you’ve toned down the wall paint--slipcovers are an inexpensive way to make your pieces look like new. 
     

  • 10. Remove personal artwork/photos from your walls and replace with mirrors, inexpensive prints of landscapes or animals.  

 

Once you’re ready for your realtor to schedule showings, give everyone in the house a responsibility schedule, and stick to it.  Be diligent about keeping furniture dusted, floors vacuumed, countertops wiped off, and dishes stashed in the dishwasher. If you just take out an extra twenty minutes every evening or morning, your home will impress your potential buyers. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/

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New Castle County DE Real Estate Market Watch For November 2017

Thursday, December 21, 2017
by Tucker Robbins

New Castle County DE listings decreased from 628 new listings in November 2016 down to 615 in November 2017. The average sales price decreased to $236,593, while days on market dropped by 10 days.

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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Displaying Framed Pieces!

Wednesday, November 29, 2017
by Tucker Robbins

Moving into a new home means looking for the right touch for the blank walls.  Artwork or family photos are the perfect fillers for these spaces, and hanging them can be a task.  Let’s look at some practical rules and tips for making those plain spaces come to life. 

 

Single Frames 

  • 1. Pick your space, picture to hang, and gather measuring tool, chalk or pencil, level, hammer and nails or screwdriver and screws. Picture-hanging kits can be purchased at hardware and home stores as well. 

  • 2. If the place you’ve chosen doesn’t have a stud for a nail, it is best to use an anchor and screw hanger.  These are inexpensive, and can be found in any hardware store.  Follow the easy instructions for installation for a strong mount for the picture. 

  • 3. Measure up to approximately 57” on the wall; this is where the center of your picture should be--average eye height. The top of the frame will obviously be higher. 

  • 4. Hold the frame up to the wall and use a pencil or some chalk to mark the approximate place for the nail/anchor screw. 

  • 5. Install the hardware you’ve chosen, and hang the frame. 

  • 6. Sometimes the frame doesn’t want to hang level.  Use self-stick rubber dots on the back corners of the frame; these will hold it in place, and protect the wall from damage. 

 

Gallery Walls 

  • 1. If you’re creating a gallery wall using several pieces, and include family snapshot photos, children’s artwork, art prints, and even fine art. 

  • 2. Create a clean, modern look by using the same style and color frames, same color palette, or same theme. 

  • 3. Use the largest picture for a focal point. Hang it first, using the 57” on-center idea. 

  • 4. Make templates of your artwork with newspaper.  Lay your pictures down on the paper, and trace around the edge. Cut the templates out. 

  • 5. Place the templates on the floor, or on the wall with masking tape, in any formation you like, changing the arrangement until it looks like a well-fitted puzzle. 

  • 6. Not all large pieces need to be in the center; a pleasing arrangement would have the focal point hanging to the left of your display, with smaller frames hung on the right.  

  • 7. Once you are satisfied with your mock-up gallery, hang the pictures using the first four tips. 

 

Bonus Display Tips 

  • 1. Renters or anyone who doesn’t want to bother with hammer and nails can use removeable sticky strips for framed pieces.  3M Command Strips are perfect for this easy display idea. 

  • 2. Use an art ledge for an easy display. These can be purchased at home stores and painted or stained to suit your style.  Attach to the wall at the 57” level, or 12” above the furniture, and place your pictures and artwork on them--no other hardware needed! 

  • 3. There are a multitude of free printables--seasonal and inspirational quotes--available on the internet.  Keep one or two spaces on your walls for a quick-change whenever you feel the need. 

 

No matter your decorating style, hanging framed items has a few rules that you should follow for aesthetics’ sake, but choosing what to display and how many is a personal decision.  Make your home your own by showing off what you love most, making the statement with your framed decorations. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: www.utrdecorating.com

 

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Sprucing Up with Paint!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017
by Tucker Robbins

If finances are tight, but you’re ready to give your home a new look, paint is the budget-friendly way to go.  Making it a DIY project is even more cost-effective, and with so many options and ways to add color to your walls, you need some guidance so it will look like it was done by a pro. 

 

Which Paint and What Finish? 

  • 1. Latex paint is best for walls, and oil paint is perfect for wood trim, because it seals stains.  2. Oil paint takes longer to dry, and has a strong odor, but if you add a tablespoon of vanilla extract per gallon, and open the windows, it helps keep the odor in check.  

  • 3. Flat paint goes on easily, but doesn’t clean easily; glossy paint is great for cleaning, and comes in semi-gloss, and satin, but doesn’t cover wall imperfections. For a nice compromise, an eggshell finish is somewhat flat, but easy to clean. 

 

Choose Your Color 

  • 1. Choose a color for the room/s you’re updating, and don’t be afraid of using a bold color.  2. This adds character and some wow factor to your home. Neutrals are great for quick-change decorating, or if you’re thinking of selling soon. 

  • 3. Using pint-can paint samples, apply a 2x2 foot area of each color on the wall you’re planning to paint, allow to dry for 24 hours, and look at them at different times of the day.  4. You’ll get a more accurate feel for the color in the different lights, and whether you can live with it or not. 

  • 5. Don’t forget the ceiling! You can change the feel of the room’s height by going a shade darker (for a lower ceiling feel), or go a shade lighter or use a lighter color to give the illusion of a higher ceiling. 

 

Painting Prep 

  • 1. Measure your room for square footage, and make sure you buy enough paint--about one gallon per 400 square feet. 

  • 2. Purchase good painter’s tape, drop cloths, putty, a good putty knife, caulking, and any tools you may need for removing hardware from any doors or walls. 

  • 3. Protect light fixtures, trim, or wall sconces with painter’s tape.  Move furniture and put down drop cloths. Use wall putty or caulking to fill and smooth any holes or other wall damage. 

  • 4. Clean, sand, and dust walls, using a vacuum to make sure all of the dust is off the walls. 

  • 5. Priming the walls is really important if you’re covering a dark color, if there are stains on the walls, or if you’re painting paneling or new sheetrock. Tint the primer with a little of your new wall color before applying. 

 

Start Painting 

  • 1. Paint mixing isn’t 100% perfect. Professionals mix all of the gallon cans together in a five-gallon bucket for color uniformity.   

  • 2. Paint in corners and close to the ceiling with a good brush before you paint the walls, working your way down to catch drips. This process is called “cutting in.” 

  • 3. Working in an overlapping W-pattern, apply paint until you need to reload the roller.  If you notice paint drying quickly, work in 3-4 foot sections of wall, but a whole wall can be accomplished in the case of a slower drying process. 

  • 4. Smoothing the paint is important and is done by using what paint is left on the roller to paint as close to the ceiling and corners as possible, where you’ve already cut in. This gives a smooth appearance to the finish. 

  • 5. Clean your equipment as soon as painting is done:  latex paint can be washed off with dish detergent and warm water, but oil paint should be cleaned off with paint thinner.  

  • 6. Once the paint is dry, after about 24 hours, move your furniture back in, but hold off hanging anything on the walls for a few days, and don't wash them until the paint has cured, usually two weeks to thirty days. 

 

A newly painted room can make your home feel fresh, and make it look as if you’ve redecorated.  If you’re feeling really adventurous, try painting a pattern on your wall.  It may take more time, but the dramatic effect it makes in the room makes the wall a focal point in itself. <span class="SpellingError SCXW241503921" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-position: left bottom; background-image: url(" data:image="" gif;base64,r0lgodlhbqaeajecap="" 8aaaaaaaaaach5baeaaaialaaaaaafaaqaaaiilgaxcchrtcgaow="=&quot;);" border-bottom:="" 1px="" solid="" transparent;"="">diy Network has some great tips for a patterned accent wall here.

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: markspaintingblog.com

 

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New Castle County DE Real Estate Market Watch For August 2017

Thursday, September 21, 2017
by Tucker Robbins

New Castle County DE listings decreased from 818 new listings in August 2016 down to 774 in August 2017. The average sales price increased to $256,570, while days on market dropped by 8 days.

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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Home Buying/Selling Psychology

Wednesday, July 12, 2017
by Tucker Robbins

Buying or selling a home is scary, happy, sad, exciting and the list goes on.  The emotions we all go through can be from one end of the spectrum to the other.  Homes tend to be our castles, our places to get away from the rest of the world, to just be us with no questions asked and nothing expected.  For this reason buying or selling your home is a pretty big deal.  Perhaps one of the biggest you may be involved with in your lifetime.    Let’s take a look at a bit of home buying/selling psychology to see what all might be involved and how to get through it all.   

 

  1. 1. Some times people get their mind set on that particular house, without giving much thought as to just how many hours they may have to work to keep it.  Think about your priorities when you are planning to buy a new home, then figure out which is more important to you….the house being exactly as you have planned in your mind or the amount of quality time you will be able to spend there with your family.  

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  3. 2. If you want to purchase a large home, you may have to come up with a pretty big down payment.  Think about whether or not you will have enough cash left over to decorate your place to fit your vision.  Perhaps buying a smaller home with a smaller down payment might work better for you desire a larger decorating budget.   

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  5. 3. When selling your place, consider if you really want to give up all the wonderful things you have done while there.  For instance if you have built a nice grill area in the backyard or a water feature or even put in a pool, spend some time thinking about if you really want to leave all of that behind.   

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  1. 4. Keep in mind that your children may have become quite fond of their home and may or may not be so easy to uproot from the place they have known all their life.  Is it worth it to move out from under the roof that sheltered precious memories? 

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There are many different emotions that you may experience whether you plan to sell your home or buy another one.  Now that you have become more aware of a few of them you may be better able to cope with what may come your way.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

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Man Cave’s Give Way to the She Shed

Wednesday, July 5, 2017
by Tucker Robbins

We have all heard of the man cave and many of us have them in our homes.  Did you know that there is something called the she shed that is starting to take over the popularity of the man cave?  That’s right!  Women now have their own special place they can go to get some alone time and it is called the she shed!  Below is a little bit of information about this new phenomenon.   

 

  1. 1. She sheds came about as a shed that was used for gardening but in the last decade they have quickly become nice outbuildings decorated in tasteful  feminine décor that are used by women to get away from it all!  How exciting is that?!  

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  1. 2. She sheds can be used for whatever you want to use them for.  For example if you like to read, create a she shed filled with books and comfy furniture.  If you like sewing and crafts make a she shed centered around that.  The world is your oyster when it comes to what kind of she shed you can create.  

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  1. 3. She sheds can be created on a budget scaled to fit your vision. They do not have to break the bank and they have endless potential. Again, you can make what you want out of your she shed.  

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  1. 4. If you want to build your own she shed there are plenty of DIY helps online to help you get the job done .  There are even she shed starter kits at local, well known hardware stores.  

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  1. 5. She sheds can even be used as beauty salons if you have a license and you want to have a shop at your home.  All you would need to do to make this a reality is to add the necessary plumbing to a she shed.  You can make them quite beautiful if you have the time and money that is required to do so.  

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  1. 6. As far as the “look” of a she shed, you can do it up or make it blend in.  Decorative lighting, artsy paint schemes, big windows, there are no limits. Plan your she shed to be whatever suits your fancy.    

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Now that you know there is such a thing as a she shed, it’s likely you will want to go online to find out more.   All you need to do is Google she shed and you will be well on your way to finding out about all there is to know in the world of the she shed! 

 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

She Shed  

Links:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/shed-shed-kits-ideas-decor ,  https://www.littlethings.com/she-sheds-taking-over-man-caves  

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Displaying blog entries 41-50 of 57

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Photo of Tucker Robbins Real Estate
Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)
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