Tag Archives: Knoxville Realtor

Landscaping for Curb Appeal

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As the expression goes, “You have one chance to make a first impression.” This is especially true when selling a home, and that is why curb appeal is essential.

When you sell your home, it is important to de-clutter, making every room as neat and tidy as possible. The same rings true for your yard, as well. Is the hose knotted up in the middle of the yard? Are shrubs overgrown and messy?  Is the walkway covered up with weeds? Ask a friend or relative to look at your yard’s curb appeal and offer an objective opinion. They can point you to areas that you may have overlooked. In addition to de-cluttering your yard, trimming bushes and hedges, and edging sidewalks and walkways, also consider these suggestions:

Spruce up the porch or patio with outdoor containers. Greenery or seasonal blooms will bring life to the area.

Spruce up existing flower beds with seasonal flowers. A flat of annuals is relatively inexpensive, but will offer a big bang for your buck.

Enhance flower beds with fresh mulch. Mulch is easy to apply, and it provides an excellent contrast to colorful flowers.

Repair or replace any chipped paver stones or any landscape edging. Any visibly distressed areas of the yard give the potential buyer the impression that the property isn’t maintained.

Eliminate weeds and green up your grass. Children are the only ones excited about a yard full on dandelion blooms. If your budget allows, consider a lawn service that will help you manage your weeds.

For more tips for selling your home, speak with experienced Knoxville Realtor, Judi Starliper or visit her website.

Biggest Seller Mistakes

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In this competitive real estate market, sellers should look for every advantage when listing their Knoxville home for sale. Mistakes can be costly and should be avoided, or the seller may risk losing a sale. Here are some of the biggest seller mistakes.

Listing the home before it is ready to be sold. The most showings occur shortly after the home is placed on the market. If the seller has not completed the necessary steps to get the home ready, the home will not show well, which will discourage many potential buyers. Sellers shouldn’t get impatient or procrastinate when listing their home. Finish painting, de-cluttering, and cleaning before the home is listed.

Making costly improvements that do not yield a return on investment. Most potential buyers are internet savvy and conduct research on the home’s neighborhood. If the home is listed for much more than other homes listed in the same market, the seller may not be interested in looking at the property. If the seller needs to update the home, they should focus their efforts in rooms, such as the kitchen or master bathroom, where they will realize the biggest return on their investment.

Not pricing the home correctly. Sometimes sellers fall into a trap of pricing the home based on what they need to net, rather than based upon comparables and what the home’s value is in this current real estate market. An experienced real estate agent will be able to prepare a list of what similar houses sold for in the seller’s neighborhood and help price the home so it will sell.

Choosing a real estate agent based on a personal, emotional connection, rather than a financial decision. Everyone knows a friend of a friend who is a real estate agent, but if they’re not familiar with the seller’s neighborhood or community, or if the agent only works part-time, they could put your listing at a disadvantage. A Realtor who has experience selling in the community has the knowledge of which marketing tools to use so that the home gets maximum exposure to all potential buyers.

Getting too emotionally involved. Moving can be stressful and selling a home can be like a roller coaster ride. Understanding that your home is a product or commodity to potential buyers can make the process easier. To a seller, the home is wrapped in memories and can feel like an extension of their personality, however, the potential buyer does not share the same sentiment, yet. The seller shouldn’t take it personally that an offer is not made after every showing. 

Not disclosing any problems. Trying to cover up a home’s problems, rather than disclosing them, raises a red flag to buyers. It could even ruin the sale. The seller should know that the buyer will have an inspection done and problems will be evident to the inspector.

Selling a home in this competitive Knoxville real estate market can be challenging, unless your contact an experienced Knoxville Realtor, like Judi Starliper. For additional seller tips, view the website.

Spring Break in Knoxville

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The countdown to Spring Break has begun for Knoxville area school children. Don’t despair if a trip to the beach or Disneyworld isn’t in your plans, there are plenty of fun-filled, kid-friendly activities right here in the area.

Ijams Nature Center is a wildlife sanctuary and learning center located on 275 acres of walking trails, ponds, and fields. They offer children and family programs, and they also feature a spring break camp with each day focusing on a different theme. Campers can attend the whole week or just one day.

The Knoxville Zoo offers Camp Wild for school-aged children. Kids can enjoy a day of adventure or the full week. They will participate in activities, like a behind-the-scene tour of animal areas and creating animal-inspired works of art. The Knoxville Zoo is also a great way to spend the day making memories with your family.

The American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge features many exhibits that will capture the attention of children and adults alike. Also, this museum provides a glimpse into the history of Oak Ridge and its role in World War II.

Sir Goony’s Family Fun Center in Farragut provides a fun-filled day for kids of all ages. With miniature golf, go-karts, and paint ball, there’s something for everyone.

Tuckaleechee Caverns is a short drive to Townsend. Estimated to be 20 to 30 millions of years of old, these caves are located under the Smoky Mountains. Tour guides provide historical information about the area and about caves.

The Lost See is the site of the largest underground lake. Located in Sweetwater, the Lost See adventure allows visitors a chance to explore caverns, tour an 18th century village, and take a boat ride on the underground lake.

Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains is the perfect spot for a family picnic or an early morning bicycle ride. An early evening drive around the cove could offer a chance to spot some exiting wildlife.

Knoxville is a great place to raise a family because of the excellent school systems and the wonderful opportunities for adventure and family fun. If you are looking for a home in Knoxville, it’s best to consult with a Knoxville Realtor, like Judi Starliper, who has experience in finding families their perfect dream home.

The Benefits of an Open House

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Spring is almost upon us. The signs will begin to appear, the grass turning greener, the blooming flowers, and real estate “Open House” signs on every corner.

In this technological age where pictures of homes are on every real estate website, people sometimes wonder what the benefits are to having a Open House.

In order to sell a Knoxville home in this competitive real estate market, effective marketing of the home must occur. Basically, it’s about getting the house for sale in front of as many eyes as possible. An Open House is one of the methods to increase the number of people who view the home.

People attend Open Houses for a variety of reasons. During an Open House buyers don’t feel pressured and they can look at the home at their leisure. Also, potential buyers do not feel pressured to work with an agent or even feel obligated to leave their personal information with the agent.

Another benefit of an Open House is that potential buyers are free to ask questions about the home and the neighborhood.

Open Houses also capture extra interest and generate excitement in the area. It is a way of getting “lookers” into the house on the spur of the moment. People who are riding around are inspired to drop in and look at the home since it is open.

An Open House provides buyers an opportunity to let many people view their property at one time. This means getting it show ready once, rather than multiple times for multiple showings. Also, homeowners may keep in mind, while the Open House might not yield an offer, it could produce referrals. Someone who attended the Open House may know a friend or relative who would love the home.

If you are buying or selling your home in the Knoxville area, it’s best to use an experienced and professional Realtor, like Judi Starliper and the J-Star Team.

Tips for Moving with Children

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Congratulations! You’ve just landed that new job or promotion, however, the new position requires you to move. This means a big change, especially if you have children. Here are some tips to make the move to a new house as smooth and stress-free for you and for your children.

Your attitude about the move will influence your child’s feelings. When you initially discuss the move, do so in a comfortable, informal setting where they will be able to express their opinion and concerns. Explain what the move means to you and the family. Explain that a lot of people move and share a personal story about one of your moves. Also, discuss their role and that they’ll be needed to look at houses and to pack boxes.

Have kids offer opinions on the home purchase. Ultimately, you will make the final decision on the home, but ask them what they like or don’t like about the houses that you have narrowed it down to. If it’s a long-distance move and they can’t travel to see the houses, show them pictures. When an offer and acceptance is made on the new home, have a small celebration to generate excitement.

Have a garage sale or compile items to donate to charity. The kids will need to help determine which of their belongings make the move and which can be sold or donated. Assure them that you will only get rid of items they no longer use and they can keep treasured belongings.

Learn more about the community where you’ll be moving. Read about the history of the community and share it with your children. Research points of interest, like parks, shopping venues, and groups you and your children might be interested in joining.

Allow them to create a design plan for their room. Determine a budget and let them help decide how that money will be spent. Allowing them to pick their room color and a few accessories will help to get them excited about the new house.

Host a party for your child and their friends. To prepare for the party, your child can write notes to their friends that capture a special memory. At the party, have your child’s friends enter their address, telephone number, and email address into a book. Take plenty of pictures at the party of your child with each individual friend. Make two copies of the picture. When you move, your child can write to their friend and include the picture.

Settle in. Unpacking boxes will take several days or weeks, however, it’s important to plan some fun with your kids. Schedule an afternoon, evening, or day to go to one of the points of interest that you researched. Pack a picnic lunch and head to the park or spend some time at an area attraction, like the science museum or aquarium.

Moving with kids can be stressful, but with proper planning, it can be manageable. The right Realtor, like Judi Starliper, knows the area and will help you find the home that suits you and your children.