About Dauphin County, PA

The Selling Power of Closets in Harrisburg PA! At first glance your closets may seem like insignificant or unassuming rooms in your home. The truth is, however, that closets can be real selling features. Homes must have storage. From clothes to food to cleaning supplies, closets are the heart of every clean house.

The first order of business in revamping your closets is to get rid of the clutter! We all are a little guilty of holding onto clothes and other "valuables" that we no longer need. These superfluous items can make closets burst at the seams and can turn a ready and willing buyer off.

Downsize these items by holding a yard sale, giving them to charity, or gifting them to family and friends. Chances are you'll never miss the items you give away, but your closets will breathe a sigh of relief!

With all that extra clutter out of the way it's now time to get organized. Even cheap fixes can make a real difference.

First, organize your closet by color blocking your clothes, grouping like items, and sorting smaller items into storage totes or even labeled shoe boxes. You can also store away winter/summer items in the garage in the off season.

Tame your shoes with shoe racks. You should always be able to see the floor of your closet!

Are you needing to organize your pantry? Use the same principles as with your bedroom closets. Remove unnecessary items, get storage totes for small and miscellaneous items, and them group like items together.

Every closet needs shelving and racks. Depending on your budget and your housing market there's a wide range of choices. Simple and inexpensive Rubbermaid shelving can be configured in a myriad of patterns and can be installed with nothing more than a drill or screwdriver.

If your budget allows, however, custom built-in units can wow your potential buyers and put your home at the top of their list. Taking it one step further if you have a walk-in closet. Walk-ins are super selling points in a home, so it's time to maximize the potential of this space.

The main key with closets is to allow buyers to see the true size and functionality of the space. You don't want them to be overwhelmed by your junk the minute they open a door and yes, they will open the closets! Instead, let them be inspired by your organization!

How to Sell a House in Harrisburg PA - Pricing Advice for Sellers: One of the most common questions a Realtor hears is, "How do I price my home?" I cannot stress enough to you - the one who wants to sell your home - the importance of pricing your home where it needs to be. Here is the best tip on how to sell a house: this is pricing advice for sellers that will make a difference:

Pricing Advice for Sellers: “They can always make an offer.”

The problem is, most buyers shop up to their price range, peek a bit over, then focus only in their price range. By overpricing, you put your home into a price bracket where they won’t look. The wrong price attracts the wrong buyers. The ones who could afford a market value price won’t see it… and the buyers who do see your home won’t be interested.

Pricing Advice for Sellers: “Couldn’t we try it for a couple of weeks?”

The majority of market activity occurs in the first two to three weeks, therefore, that is the worst time to overprice, because that’s when your best customers see the home. So when you ask, ‘Can we try it for a couple of weeks,’ look what you’re doing. You’re overpricing your home during the period of its best activity, then lowering the price after they’re gone. It’s like having a dinner party on Saturday and having the caterers come on Monday. I recommend that you price it at market value so you can capitalize on the best buyers you’ll have.

Pricing Advice for Sellers: “But we paid more than that for it.”

Many owners connect cost with value when in fact there is no direct relationship. What you paid for something has nothing to do with what it’s worth today. I hear you say that the value of your home should be based upon the cost? Then let me ask, if you had inherited this home, that is, paid nothing for it, what would you try to get for it today? You would want as much as you could get. Why, when you wouldn’t have paid anything for it? Say you were the buyer and you asked what the owner paid for the home you were looking to make an offer on and you found out that they had inherited it. How would that affect your offer?

Pricing Advice for Sellers: “We can always come down.”

People tend to list their home starting thousands of dollars over market price. It doesn’t sell so they reduce the price. It still doesn’t sell so they continue to reduce it until it is at market value. What do you think happens? It doesn’t sell. Do you know why? What question do you ask me at the front door of every home I show you? You ask how long has it been on the market? You ask me that because a long market time creates the belief that it is overpriced or that something is wrong. That’s what happens to homes that are overpriced. They get sold below market price. So, you can come down, but it may be below market value.

Pricing Advice for Sellers: “We need the money.”

An owner’s need for money doesn’t affect the value of the home. Being objective about an asking price can be difficult when driven by a need for money. If you don’t get that extra amount, what will you do? You will either sell the home at market and alter things at the other end, or stay here and wait for the home to be worth more. If your decision is to stay, then obviously their need for money exceeds the motivation to move. What if you found a home to buy that was $12,000 overpriced, would you pay the extra amount if you knew the owners really needed the money?

If you follow this pricing advice for sellers, you have a better opportunity of being competitive in this economy; and therefore selling quicker. Please think about this pricing advice. It comes from years of experience!

I am seeing improvement in Central PA housing! The median sales price for homes in Harrisburg PA for Nov 11 to Jan 12 was $156,000. This represents an increase of 1.3%, or $2,000, compared to the prior quarter and an increase of 6.5% compared to the prior year. The average listing price for Harrisburg homes for sale on Trulia was $181,822 for the week ending Feb 15, which represents a decline of 0.2%, or $322, compared to the prior week and an increase of 0%, or $85, compared to the week ending Jan 25. Average price per square foot for Harrisburg PA was $118, an increase of 2.6% compared to the same period last year.

How to Sell a House in a Tough Market in Harrisburg, PA So, you've decided to sell a house in a tough market. It is stressful! But there are things that you can do to help speed up the process. Even simple details like rearranging furniture and replacing light bulbs can bring better results with buyers; therefore enabling you to sell a house quicker.

Where should you focus your attention when you want to begin to sell a house? Start by looking over these tips and deciding which areas of your home can benefit from some changes that don't cost much; yet can increase the offers on your home.

Off the walls: Moving your furniture away from the walls can make the room appear larger not smaller. A lot of people think it's the opposite. Of course, it depends on the shape and size of the room. If you're trying to make the room appear larger, just remember that you don't have to shove all the furniture against the walls. Sell a house with the thought that less is usually more!

Mix & match: Just because you bought a couple of pieces of furniture as a set doesn't necessarily mean that they have to live together in your house side by side. Sometimes you can take one item and place it in another room and create a unique look that actually fits your space better than when the two items were paired together. Move furniture and artwork around to see what is most visually attractive. It may not be how you lived in the home, but often the way a home shows best is not necessarily the way it's lived in. If you want to sell a house, go outside your 'norm' and get creative!

Junk room: Even just adding a colorful chair and small table can start to make a room look more appealing. If you have a junk room, and you want to sell a house, it's time to tidy it up! Even a room that is a "miscellaneous" room should have some pleasant decor. Give the room a purpose. Is it a reading and writing room? Is it a sewing room? Is it the game room? Sell a house with the intention of helping buyers see how you use the space. This way they'll get their own ideas about how to use the area.

Turn on the lights: A room that has poor lighting can make buyers want to leave the room quickly without even understanding why. They might feel cold, uncomfortable, and overall uneasy in the room. Staged homes look great often because of the lighting. According to HGTV.com, there are three types of lighting that help create good lighting: "ambient (general or overhead, task (pendant, under-cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall)". If you want to sell a house quickly, the best way is clean and bright!

Match the paint and drapes: This is an easy tip to make a room appear seamless. Paint the room the same color as the drapes. This creates the illusion that the room is larger and gives an unending feeling. Also, if you have an adjacent room, paint it the same color and it helps the rooms to blend together and seem like one larger space rather than two small spaces. Sell a house as if you were buying the house! Think what would please you most.

Go neutral: Outdated furnishings and bold paint colors can turn off buyers quickly and even reduce offers and will not sell a house quickly. Don't worry if you've been turned off by the off-white walls you grew up with, neutral doesn't mean just boring beige anymore. Today, neutral colors include warm tans, honeys, and even soft blue-greens. Remember to use these colors in large areas. It's often a good idea to keep the extra bold colors to accent walls. Buyers don't always appreciate bold colors.

Rule of three if you want to sell a house: Our eyes are attracted to groups with an odd number of pairings. It seems groups of three are very eye-pleasing. But don't just take a trio of home decorations and line them up - that's boring! Use different textures, sizes (height and width), colors and shapes. Place them in a triangular formation. You can use a couple of groups of three on a larger table or surface.

Hotel Swank: The bathroom is one area to really take a close look at before you sell a house. Just about nothing is worse than walking into a dirty, smelly bathroom. If your grout is worn or dirty, spend the money to get it cleaned and sealed or do it yourself. This can be a tedious task but it will help when it comes time to sell your home. Get rid of any countertop clutter like electrical cords and items that somehow wound up in the bathroom but have no reason to be there. Add a couple of mildly fragrant candles and roll your towels (like the hotels do) and set them on a counter or in a basket; it'll give it that welcome feeling -- like visiting a spa.

Remember, if you want to sell a house in a tough market, it's about creating broad buyer appeal. Buyers are sure to appreciate special finishing touches, especially when some listed homes (like many foreclosures) aren't being maintained.

Why Buy a House in Harrisburg PA: Five Great Things about Homeownership If you've been on the fence about homeownership and if you should buy a house, now is the time to take a leap! Don't let the negative press deter you from one of life's greatest joys.

Take a look at five short and sweet reasons why you should buy a house. Remember, homeownership is great!

You get Equity when you buy a house
When you pay rent, you never see that money again. It is lining the landlord's pocket. Yes, to buy a house you may come with some hefty initial costs (downpayment, closing costs, inspections), but you will make that money back over time in equity built in the home. Historically, homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent a year. Some areas are still experiencing normal appreciation rates. For the areas that have seen harder times since the recession, experts feel that the housing market will recover. Homeownership is about building long-term wealth. A home bought for $10,000 in 1960 is most likely worth 10 times that in today's market.

You build Relationships when you buy a house
Renters tend to see their neighbors come and go quickly. Some people sign year leases while others are in the community for much shorter terms. Apartment complexes also tend to have less common shared space for people to meet, greet, and socialize. When you buy a house, however, you are a Homeowners! You'll have yards, walking trails, or community pools and clubhouses where you can get to know each other. Neighbors stay put much longer (at least three to five years if they hope to recoup their closing costs). This means more time to develop relationships. Research has shown that people with healthy relationships have more happiness and less stress.

When you buy a house, you have Predictability
Well, as long as you have a fixed-rate term on your mortgage it's predictable. Most people who buy a house today know that a fixed-rate is the way to go. This means your payment amount is fixed for the life of the term. If your mortgage payment is $500 today, then it will still be $500 a month in 10 years. This allows for people to budget and make solid financial plans. The sub-prime crisis meant many homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages saw their monthly payments rise and then rise some more. Homeownership, though, generally comes with a predictable table of expenditures. Even the big purchases are predictable. You know most roofs last just 15 years (or so). You know that each year you'll need to pay for the gutters to be cleaned, and so on.

When you buy a house, you get "Ownership"
Okay, this is a given. Homeownership means you "own" your home. That comes with some incredible perks, though! You can renovate, update, paint, and decorate to your heart's desire. You can plant trees, install a pool, expand the patio, or do holiday decorating that would rival the Kranks (if the HOA allows!). The bottom line is this is your home and you can personalize it to your taste. Most renters are stuck with the same beige walls and beige carpet that has been standard apartment decor for 20 years. Now is your chance to let your home speak!

Great Deals: It's a great time to buy a house!
Interest rates are at historic lows. We're talking 4.0 percent instead of 6.0 or higher. This means big savings for today's buyers. Home prices have also taken a dip since the recession, which means homes are more affordable than ever. If you have steady income and cash for a downpayment, then be sure to talk to me about what homes in your area could be a fit for you.

Homeownership can be a real joy. It's time to get off the fence, buy a house -  into a home that is right for you!