Check out the latest One Cool Thing at The Lawhead Team’s blog about remodeling return on investment:

Not all home improvements are created equal. These five projects will reward you the most when it comes time to sell:

• New Roof – The cost is approximately $7500 and your return is 109% at $8150.
• New Garage Door – The cost is $2300 for a two door garage and the return is 87% at $2000.
• Hardwood Floors – The cost to refinish hardwood floors is $2500 with a return of 100% at $2500. The cost to buy new is $5500 with a return of 91% at $5000.
• Better Insulation – The cost is $2100 with a return of 76% at $1600 (plus the added savings on heating and cooling costs).
• New Siding – The cost is $13350 with a return of 75% at $10000.

Source for Remodeling ROI: HouseLogic

The Lawhead Team would like to share the latest One Cool Thing about some common mistakes a seller will make when selling their home:

Selling a home isn’t easy. Avoid these common slip ups that can cause your home to linger on the market.

• Your home has an odor – Whether it’s lack of cleanliness, pets or any other odor, if your realtor tells you there is a funny smell that needs to be removed, believe them!
• Your home is too personal – From custom paint colors, like eggplant, to too many mementos and family photos, realtors suggest not only decluttering your home but also making it as neutral as possible.
• You turn down showings – If buyers can’t get in to see your home, they aren’t going to make an offer and your home will linger on the market. Be as flexible as possible for showings and work with your realtor as much as possible.
• Seller that hangs out during the open house – Buyers want to imagine themselves in your space, not be confronted by you in your space. It’s awkward for them to tour your home, open closets, and speak openly to their realtor if you’re in the next room.

Looking to sell your home? Avoid seller slip ups and call The Lawhead Team to help!

The Lawhead Team would like to share the C.A.R.’s latest One Cool Thing about what can affect your home value.

It’s common knowledge that location, crime, and neighborhood comps can affect home value. But what are some of the more invisible factors that influence sales prices?

The view angle from the backyard

The maximum angle that opens up to scenery or nature from your backyard. This is measured from no scenic view at all from your backyard to 180 degrees, indicating that the view is scenic from every angle.

Footage length

The length in feet of the street-facing side of the home’s lot can affect home value.

Backyard exposure to neighbors

The measurement of how easily neighbors can see into a home and backyard.

Privacy

Researchers factored in backyard slope, distance to neighbors, home density, and other metrics to determine a privacy score. The more private, the more desirable.

Backyard slope

Homes with downhill-sloping backyards tend to be more desirable than homes with backyards than slope uphill.

Source: HouseCanary

Contact The Lawhead Team today to find out what your home value is!

The Lawhead Team would like to share the following article from the NSDCAR (North San Diego County Association of REALTORS) about the impact the Presidency could have on our real estate.

How Trump Presidency Could Impact Real Estate

In a nation in which homeownership is largely seen as synonymous with the American dream, it’s a question that real estate professionals are now asking:

• How will President Trump impact the U.S. housing market in 2017?
• Will a Trump presidency launch a sustained upward trend in homeownership rates?
• Mr. Trump is a real estate tycoon who has made a fortune building luxury condominiums, hotels and casinos. But will that experience enable him to help the middle class, which faces a lack of affordable housing and rising prices?

The surprise election of Donald J. Trump has real estate professionals wondering how a new Washington regime will impact our profession, one way or another. During his campaign, Mr. Trump has said his priorities would be cutting taxes and creating jobs. In addition, Mr. Trump’s tax plan explicitly stated that he would preserve the mortgage interest deduction. If we take him at his word, then the prospects for the housing market are not bad. Today, Americans want to feel secure and believe they have a fair shot in the marketplace. Overall, I believe Donald Trump represents good news for home buyers and sellers.

Mr. Trump has a tremendous opportunity to write a new chapter in housing policy and build a legacy based on achievement and improving prosperity for the working class. If President Trump is successful in launching massive rebuilding programs in inner cities and for aging infrastructure across the country, then the impact could be tremendous for real estate, the building industry and skilled labor.

Meanwhile, industry analysts vary in their predictions on the impact to the real estate profession under a Trump administration with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress. Mr. Trump made his billions as a real estate developer so he knows well the hurdles of dealing with zoning burdens. We might see fewer regulations for new home construction, thereby lowering the cost of building and increasing homeownership. Simply put, Mr. Trump’s first term will be defined by fulfilling his campaign promises and economic improvement.

Among other crystal-ball predictions:

— If Trump is anything, he is a guy who has built buildings. And, a lack of inventory is widely considered the biggest current drag on the housing market. So, if builders could benefit from lower corporate taxes and deregulation, then the result could be an expansion of existing home inventory. In July of last year, the U.S. Census Bureau announced the homeownership rate in this country had hit its lowest level since the government began measuring the stat in 1965.

— The housing market thrives on optimism. Boosted by a Trump confidence pop, demand may increase and mortgage money may become plentiful as equity-sharing mortgages become more widespread with support from big lenders. If banks make it easier to lend to average Americans and lower the credit scores required to qualify for mortgages, then this could increase the buyer pool and give more people a pillar of the American dream: homeownership. Subsequently, lower mortgage rates also could lead to higher home values. Even if rates slightly increase, factor in Mr. Trump’s promised tax cuts, big spending initiatives and reductions in regulations, then home buyers face higher interest rates still won’t be a huge problem.

— Watch for a move away from stringent mortgage underwriting to more normal lending, as well as reforms to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Indeed, some investors are betting Mr. Trump will move the government-controlled mortgage giants into private hands. The fate of mortgage rates may depend in part on the how much pressure the Trump administration puts on the Federal Reserve.

— Speaking of optimism, a combination of tax cuts and government spending in the form of upgrading nation’s infrastructure and for national defense is certain to provide a boost to the economy. A stronger economy is always good news for real estate professionals. Accompanying gains in consumer confidence also will further move the economy higher. If we are rooting for the economy to improve, then we are hoping that with Mr. Trump’s background as a business entrepreneur and real estate developer will pave the way for more growth and more development, which would be a net beneficial for real estate.

Click here to read entire article

The Lawhead Team would like to share the following reviews from our website.

“Your service as my listing agent was superior! You always returned my phone calls quickly and I felt like I had fair representation from you throughout the negotiations and escrow period. Even though you were representing both myself as the seller and the buyers, I feel your service was unbiased toward either party and you were providing service above and beyond the normal call of duty to get the job done. I always choose you as my agent for my real estate needs and time after time your performance reminds me of why I always choose you.” -Don

“I am very grateful for your tremendous effort in the recent selling of my home in Alga Hills. From the moment I listed the house with you, my tenants and I were treated professionally and courteously. It was definitely your knowledge and expertise that enabled me to sell quickly with another agent and in the short time you had the listing before you procured your own buyer, I received much more attention and follow-up phone calls from you than I had received from the other agent the whole time I was listed with him.” -Greg

“Done, and I would like to thank you for all of the help you gave us in finding our home in Rancho Santa Fe. We really appreciated your professionalism and all the EXTRA things you did for us. We look forward to seeing you when we finally move into our lovely home. Thanks again for everything.” -Karen & Don

“The level of service you provided was very professional and your knowledge level was excellent. I enjoyed working with you two and appreciated the hand holding at times. You answered my questions thoroughly and represented me fairly.” -Linda

We would love to hear from you! Leave us a review here.

The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to get your house organized! The Lawhead Team would like to share a these tips from Coldwell Banker to get your started.

1. Get Rid of Indoor Condensation – Look for indoor condensation on windows and take corrective action. For 7 ways to reduce humidity in your home, check out this great video from Andersen Windows & Doors.

2. Make a maintenance calendar – Review warranties and product material to check on recommended maintenance for furnace, equipment, appliances, and tools. Mark your calendar to track scheduled upkeep and service.

3. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize – After the holiday decorations come down, your walls can feel a bit dull and empty. January is a great time to add new home decor accessories, like fresh throw pillows or framed photos of the past year’s activities.

4. Get ready for the big game – Now’s the time to get ready for the ultimate game day. Here are 5 winning football party ideas that will score big.

5. Organize your files – While most paperwork is now maintained digitally, it’s still important to make sure you’re organized and backed up. Take an afternoon to sort through online statements, contacts and emails that piled up over the holidays. And after all of that hard work, be sure to back up to a hard drive or cloud service.

6. Sort and toss – Take time to sort through your toiletry products in the bathroom and food items in the pantry. Toss anything that is old or expired and start fresh for the new year.

7. Ready to Move? Do this first – If you’re thinking of selling your home in 2017, make it a resolution to collect these 10 pieces of valuable information well before the spring real estate rush.

The Lawhead Team would like to share these fall tips from HomeAdvisor to help you stage your kitchen for the season. 

1. Fall counter decor

You should always keep the countertops nearly clear when potential homebuyers are walking through. In fact, you should keep it down to about two to three essentials if you’re living there from day to day. For the fall season, you can add small elements like placemats, fruit and leaf decor (window drapings, vase, etc.).

2.  “Fall odors”

The smell of leaves, apple pie, pumpkin and cinnamon evoke the cozy feelings of fall. Candles are nice and actually baking something “fall-like” before a showing is a sure way to make potential buyers feel more at home during a showing.

3. Colors of fall

Depending on the current condition of your home, you might consider a fresh coat of paint. What color you decide to use may or may not be influenced by the season. While you should always lean towards neutral colors, you might consider accent walls or cabinets in browns or dark tones of red or green if you think they would work.

4. Bring nature in

If there are windows in the kitchen, make sure to keep them clean. Depending on the weather outside during a showing, you might open them and let the fresh air in. It helps to create a flow between nature outside and the atmosphere you’re trying to create in the kitchen. If your budget allows, you might also accent the windows with fall-like window treatments to create an even easier flow.

5. Natural lighting elements

Lighting is an essential element of home staging, no matter the season. In fall, in particular, it’s all about enhancing the twilight or sunset and complementing of all the fall colors. For lighting in your kitchen, consider accent and track lighting. Or, you could install recessed lighting on a dimmer switch, which will allow you to control the brightness of the kitchen to complement the mood outside.

The Lawhead Team would like to share these projects from Coldwell Banker to do before you list your home.

Use this checklist to get your home ready:

Project 1: Front Door and Entryway

The first project on your homeowner’s checklist is to address your front door and entryway. Beyond your front yard, your door and entry will be the very first impression on a potential buyer. Literally look at everything from the ceiling right down to the floor and draw up your list of to-do’s. Here are some common areas you can spruce up to make this area truly shine:

• Door finish or paint: Is your door dull or drab? Consider repainting, restaining, or adding another level of varnish to erase aging.
• Door hardware: How do your hinges and handles look? If they are a bit dull, try to shine them up using the right type of chemical for the metal type. If they’re banged up or in truly bad shape, now is the time to spend a few dollars to replace.
• Entry flooring: What type of flooring does your entry have: rug, wood, tile? No matter the type, clean it vigorously, fix any issues, or consider replacing it entirely if it’s in dire condition.
• Floorboards: Floorboards show aging in your home like no other accoutrement. They get banged up, accumulate dust and dirt, and just sometimes look awful. Clean these and possibly repaint.
• Lighting: Look at the lights both right outside your front door and in your entry. Replace light bulbs, clean out light surrounds, and add additional lighting if necessary.
• Furniture and belongings: While your entry might serve as the area in your home where things are dumped as you come in the door, your prospective buyers don’t want to see this. Clean up and clean out to provide a spacious and inviting area.

Project 2: Painting

Painting is one of the lowest cost ways to totally transform your home, and it’s also one of the easiest and fastest DIY projects you can undertake. Go through every room of your house with a brutal eye. Is the paint dingy or peeling? Are the colors of some spaces more likely to scare off sellers than reel them in? Consider using very neutral colors that will allow buyers to picture their own furnishings in your space.

Project 3: Landscaping

Although this is listed last, it’s actually one of the best ways you can entice buyers into loving your property. Cut back overgrowth, prune trees judiciously, plant attractive annuals, put down seeding or sod for missing patches of grass, and basically just spend the day — or five — working up a sweat around your yard, turning it into a masterpiece. This is the largest sweat equity project, so you’ll likely not need to spend much, but your own hard work can bring buyers inside.

The Lawhead Team would like the share which features can help get your home off the market faster.

Not all homes are equal, and don’t sell equally either. So what features can make or break the sale? Here’s what recent data showed about how much of a difference the most popular features can make in selling a home.

Spanish-style homes are HOT HOT HOT 

• Making up only 1 percent of the studied for-sale listings, Spanish-style homes spend a median of only 47 days on the market which is 1/2 the national average.

It’s all about the view…but what view?

• Homes with a city skyline view sold the fastest at 83 days on the market.

THE RIGHT INTERIORS = A CLOSED DEAL

Stainless steel is still a must-have feature for buyers, helping homes sell an average of 15% faster than homes without stainless-steel appliances

LOCATION STILL RULES

• Good school districts still help make the sale with an average of 76 days on the market.
• Homes near major medical centers command the lowest prices, receive the fewest views, and stay on the market for the longest.

Source: Realtor.com

The Lawhead Team would like to share the following information to help you avoid common home staging mistakes. 

In Home Staging, Less Is More

If you’re painting, try to keep the colors neutral. While you might like lime green, for instance, your potential buyers may not. If you plan to install new carpet, it should also be as neutral as possible. Alternately, you can offer the buyer an allowance for installation after close of escrow. This would enable the buyer to choose the carpet or decide on a different floor covering altogether.

When to Make Major Updates

If you plan to stay in your home for a number of years, you may “step out there” by taking on more expensive home improvements like remodeling the kitchen or bathrooms. You can justify these home improvements because you and your family will be enjoying them for a long time to come.

A new kitchen gives you the best bang for your buck. New cabinets, countertops, and modern backsplashes can work wonders for the room that’s so often the focal point of your home. But be prepared for being without a kitchen for at least six weeks. This doesn’t sound bad until you do it. Remember, you’ll have no stove to cook on, and you’ll be doing dishes in the bathroom sink. In the end, though, it’ll be worth it.

Before You Make Home Improvements

If you do plan to make home improvements prior to putting your property on the market, get advice from a real estate agent, who will be familiar with what a typical buyer may be expecting. If you’re paying someone else to do the renovation work, check that person’s qualifications first, and don’t pay them more than 10 percent up front of the total cost of the proposal.

Source: Coldwell Banker