Articles Tagged "homeownership"

Are you dreaming of selling your home this holiday season? Selling your home during the holidays is a great idea since there are fewer homes on the market and therefore less competition. However, you'll need to stage your home so that it looks subtle and tasteful, with just the right amount of holiday touches. Finding that balance can be tricky! 

Luckily, our team has helped many families sell and stage their homes, and that includes during the holidays! Our real estate agents have prepared the following tips to help you this holiday season.

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Home improvement projects come in all shapes and sizes! And let's not forget all kinds of price tags. If you're on a tight budget, there are still many home improvement projects that can help make your home more comfortable and appealing to potential buyers. 

Let's look at projects that buyers looking for Chattanooga homes for sale might notice in your home. 

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Clutter has a way of accumulating, even if you work to keep it at bay. Certain areas of your home tend to hide clutter, so you'll need to make sure you address these areas if you want to cut down on the chaos.
  
Our real estate agents point out the following spots where clutter could be hiding in your home and how to tackle this clutter once and for all.

1. Entryway
   As your guests walk into your home, the first thing they might see is an area cluttered with backpacks, shoes, umbrellas, and more. The entryway, since it becomes a dumping zone for the entire family as they come home, can quickly become messy. So it's best to utilize the space well with hooks, storage bins, and a shoe cubby. Adding a bench with storage underneath can also provide a spot to take your shoes on and off and a spot to stash them in an organized way.
     
2. Entertainment center  
   Your entertainment center is easy to overlook when you're decluttering, but it often harbors items you haven't used in years. Its drawers and shelves can hold old cables that are no longer needed, old gaming systems that no one has used in years, and a collection of remotes for old televisions and other electronics. Clear your space so it holds just what you need for your television and other electronics, and be sure to dust shelves, wires, and devices thoroughly.
     
3. Underneath the bathroom cabinets
   You probably add items to the clutter underneath your bathroom cabinets, but if you're like most people, you rarely do a thorough purging. Go through the area and get rid of old items that are never used or haven't been used in years.
     
4. Linen closet  
   A linen closet should contain two sets of sheets for every bed in your home, as well as blankets and pillows that are good to use. Go through your closet and get rid of old mismatched sheets and blankets that have seen better days. Animal shelters can often use these items, but call and make sure first before making a trip.
     
5. Jewelry box     
   Go through your jewelry box and keep what you actually wear and what has sentimental value. Other items can be sold, donated, or given to a friend or relative who will wear them.
     
6. Garage   
   Garages seem to be magnets for clutter – so much so that many homeowners can't even park their cars inside anymore. Especially if you don't have a basement or attic, your garage can quickly be filled with various items that have been haphazardly placed there. Invest in some overhead storage bins and other storage for items like athletic equipment and seasonal items.
     
7. Pantry   
   Grocery items can easily get pushed to the back of your pantry as you buy new ones, and the area can quickly become disorganized and filled with plenty of items that are out of date. Clean it out completely and toss what won't be used. 

When it comes to preparing your home for the market, tackling clutter is a must! Contact us at Fletcher Bright Realty to find out more about Chattanooga homes for sale. Whether you'd like a larger home with more storage, a first-time homebuyer, or are downsizing offer retirement, we can help you find what you need and love! 

Far too many homeowners think it's a problem they will never face, yet more than 350,000 home fires occur every year. National Fire Prevention Week is observed this year from October 4-10th and serves as a reminder for all the ways you can prevent a fire in your home. House fires claim an average of 2,500 deaths and more than 11,000 injuries. Your home is more than a financial investment; it's an investment in your family's safety, and our real estate agents recommend checking the following during National Fire Prevention Week. 

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Autumn is arriving in the Appalachian region and Chattanooga is ready to embrace the changing colors. If you love the fall season as much as our REALTORS® then you're surely planning on decking out your porch with a variety of decorations. The fall season is one of the most wonderful times of the year to get creative and make the entrance to your home extra special. Use one of these five unique themes to create a picture-perfect porch this fall!

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House hunting is an exciting but stressful exercise. You're looking for a home you'll fall in love with, but also one that comes closest to your needs, in terms of location, size, and cost. Along with the excitement come concerns about going over budget and other pitfalls. 

As you search for Chattanooga homes for sale, you need a strategy. To get you started, here are several things you should do before you get serious about house hunting.

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Feel like your home is lacking in curb appeal or utility? There's no better time to tackle outdoor projects than the warm summer months. Not only will a little outdoor work improve the livability of your home's exterior areas, but it will help your property stand out if you list it with other Chattanooga homes for sale. Check out one of these outdoor projects to spruce up your property's outside spaces and provide your family with more opportunities for outdoor living.

1. Pressure Wash Your Deck or Patio
   A deck or patio is the perfect spot to spend your summer evenings. Make sure that it looks its best with a pressure washing session. Pressure washing will remove all the dirt and grime, and it's a lot more efficient than scrubbing the space by hand. Our real estate agents know that a home with clean outside areas performs better with potential buyers than one in need of a little TLC.

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Updating a kitchen has always been one of the best methods to add value to a home and help attract potential buyers. But it doesn't have to cost a fortune! There are many easy, affordable home improvements that can breathe new life into this space. Our real estate agents provide the following ideas that will help you refresh your kitchen even on a strict budget.

1. Give Your Floor New Life
   Instead of replacing your old wood floors, just refinish them using polyurethane-based porch and floor enamel. If your kitchen has a layer of old vinyl flooring, it could be worth pulling it up to see what's underneath. Sometimes, buried under old vinyl are good hardwood floors that only need to be refinished. 
2. Jazz Things Up With Fresh Paint
   Wall paint is an easy way to make a huge, sweeping change to the kitchen without breaking the bank. Giving the walls, ceiling, and trim a couple of coats of bright, neutral tones or white can instantly reinvigorate even the most tired of spaces. 

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Flipping a home isn't just profitable but fun and exciting. Our real estate agents here at Fletcher Bright Realty know many of the best Chattanooga homes for sale that might be attractive to investors. Beautiful homes of many different architectural styles can be found right here in Chattanooga.

House flippers of all experience levels have a reason to rejoice: Tennessee has been named a Flip Friendly State for 2020 according to a recent Bigger Pockets article.

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Although it's best to transplant plants when they're just getting green in early spring or dormant in fall and winter, sometimes moving a plant in the summer must be done. Regardless of the type of plant you're moving, it's important to make sure you follow specific steps to achieve the best results. Our real estate agents advise clients with Chattanooga homes for sale on how to get their yards in tip-top shape for showing. They share some transplanting tips that can set you up for success.  

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Springtime is right around the corner, and that means it's almost peak home-buying season. If you've been thinking about adding your house to the inventory of Chattanooga homes for sale, it's a great time to do it. 

Our real estate agents have been talking to many local homeowners who are ready to take advantage of the spring market. We're anticipating a hectic season, which means you'll need to put some effort into making sure your home stands out from the crowd. Luckily, it's easy to do! These four tips will help put you at an advantage when springtime buyers come to call. 

1. Start with Spring Cleaning
   Before you start showing your home, go out of your way to make sure it's pristine. A top-to-bottom deep cleaning will ensure that your home makes an excellent first impression. In addition to basic cleaning, you'll want to do things like:

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Fletcher Bright Realty is always looking for ways for buyers to get the most from their homes. 

Our REALTORS® note an important rising trend in the area: Energy-efficient homes.

Energy efficiency helps homeowners in more ways than one. First, it lowers the long-term cost of ownership. Efficient upgrades can cut hundreds or even thousands of annual utility and repair bills. They also make the home easier to sell and stand out among other Chattanooga homes for sale.

2020 is just around the corner. Now that we're living in the future, it's the perfect time to look for new ways to make your home more energy-efficient. Whether you're doing it for yourself or preparing for a sale, it's sure to pay off.

Let's look at some of the best improvements:

1. Install Energy-Efficient Roofing
   Pound for pound, energy-efficient roofing is perhaps the most effective environment-friendly update you can make. Metal roofing reflects a large amount of heat, making it easier to stay cool in summer or warm in winter with less expenditure. An alternative is "cool roof" shingles, which maintain a classic shingle roof but uses specialized reflective granules.

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According to the National Association of Realtors, one-third of all homes sold in 2018 were purchased by first-time buyers.

How do you know when to make the transition from renter to the owner? If the following signs apply to you, it's time to start looking at Chattanooga homes for sale. 

1. Is Your Rent Going Up ... and Up ... and Up?
   Only four states have rent control provisions, which means most renters are subject to periodic increases. Last year, apartment rents in the South went up an average of five percent. Timing and amounts of rent increases can vary, making it difficult to budget and save.
   
   
2. Do You Have a Healthy Savings Account?
   For many people, down payment and closing costs are the biggest barriers to buying a home. While the traditional 20 percent down payment means no additional fees such as private mortgage insurance, FHA loans can be secured with as little as 3.5 percent down. In the meantime, you're building equity, and you can eventually refinance.

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Springtime in Chattanooga is almost here! That means that it's time to make your way through your annual home maintenance checklist.

Our REALTORS® at Fletcher Bright Realty understand that spring cleaning can be quite the task, especially when you have so many other daily or weekly responsibilities to juggle. To help you complete your chores and keep your home looking and functioning well, we've created this handy checklist that will keep you on task and on target for a clean spring!

Most homeowners like to knock off a few easy projects inside before moving to the exterior. Here is a list of 20 home maintenance tasks that you can complete inside the home:

1. Go through your cleaning products and verify they're still good to use.
2. Dust fan blades in each room.
3. Replace light bulbs that have burnt out.
4. Clean cabinet tops in the kitchen, dining room and office.
5. Service your HVAC unit so that you can confirm all components are working properly.

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Winter brings the chill and can make you want to curl up inside. But nobody wants a sky-high heating bill either. If you've been out walking the dogs, hiking, running errands, or touring Chattanooga homes for sale, these tips will help keep you warm and toasty all season long.

1. Schedule a tune-up. Before the heating season starts, have an HVAC professional make sure your heating equipment is in good working order. Cleaning, removing fuel deposits and changing filters will reduce inconvenient breakdowns and keep it operating at peak efficiency.
   
   

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Our REALTORS® are glad to see the holiday season return to the Chattanooga area. Our city hosts some truly unforgettable holiday events, from the Chattanooga Holiday Market at the Chattanooga Convention Center, to the Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker at the Tivoli Theatre.

But if you're like a lot of Chattanooga residents, there's a good chance you'll be heading out of town to visit friends and family elsewhere. If that's the case, now is a good time for a refresher course on keeping your home secure while you're gone. 

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When Punxsutawney Phil emerged on Groundhog Day, he saw his shadow. Legend has it that this means another six weeks of winter. If you're planning on selling your house this spring, that's good news for you, as you have a few extra weeks to get your home ready to go. But don't wait too long, because as the days warm up, so will the real estate market!

Here are ten things you should focus on doing right now to get your home ready to sell this spring.

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Fall is a lovely time to spend time outdoors enjoying the beautiful Tennessee scenery, but those leaves will eventually fall and many of them will find their way into your gutters.

Maintaining your gutters is a very important habit for homeowners because it can help prevent potentially costly home maintenance issues. So while it may not be as enjoyable as scoping out Chattanooga's fall scenery, scooping out your gutters is a habit that's worth developing to protect your biggest investment. Our Chattanooga REALTORS® have created this guide to help you clean your gutters this fall.

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What to Do When Your Offer to Buy a Home is Rejected

You found your dream home and made an offer, but your agent just called with the bad news: offer rejected. What to do next? If your purchase offer was just rejected, it might not be too late to try renegotiating, so don't walk away without more information. Either way, it's important to turn this into a learning opportunity, because you'll probably be bidding on multiple homes in Chattanooga. Take these steps to make the most of your first failed bid.

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10 Home Security Tips to Say Bon Voyage With Confidence

Whether you're cruising the Caribbean or snapping selfies in Miami Beach, you can't enjoy the moment if you're worried about someone breaking into your Chattanooga home. The U.S. Department of Justice reports the summer months are a peak season for household property crimes. While you're away from home enjoying a vacation, you don't want to worry about what is happening at home. Here are 10 tips from our real estate agents to protect your home while on vacation.

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Whether you're looking for homes in Chattanooga or elsewhere in Tennessee, one thing is for sure: Your new home is one of the most important investments you'll ever make.  Even before closing, you should start thinking about the best way to protect your investment. There are two major options: Home insurance and a home warranty.

Both of these products can help you protect the value of your home against the unforeseen. You can choose either or both depending on your needs.

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The Ultimate Spring-Cleaning Guide from Our Pros at Fletcher Bright Realty

It's spring clean season.  The time of the year we all get the urge to give our homes a little TLC after a long winter.  And, if you are thinking about selling your home this year, spring is the perfect time to check-off a few tasks off your to-do list before you schedule that first showing.  Our team of Chattanooga REALTORS® has created this "ultimate spring-cleaning guide" so you will be ready to enjoy the warm weather and summer months ahead.

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First Impressions Mean the Most 

Curb appeal is one of the most important factors in selling your home.  If you make a good first impression with your home's curb appeal, everyone--including potential home buyers in Chattanooga--will want to see what is inside.  Check out these ten simple curb appeal improvements to make your home more appealing to "drive-by" house hunters.

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Finding the Pefect Condo in Chattanooga for You

Buying a condo in a city like Chattanooga offers you plenty of conveniences not easily found in other communities—like access to downtown restaurants, shopping and entertainment.  However, if you are interested in buying a Chattanooga condo, you should know that part of picking out the perfect living space is asking the right questions. Our REALTORS® in Chattanooga know exactly which questions to ask to uncover information that shapes your condo buying decision. Let's take a look at some of the best questions to ask before making a commitment to a condo.

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The Importance of Seasonal Home Maintenance

Fall is a beautiful time of year—the colors change and the weather gets cooler. It's also a busy time of year, when kids go back to school and lives kick back into high gear after the lazy days of summer. Even with the bustle, it's essential to think about home maintenance. Your home will benefit from a few fall tasks to keep it optimized and prepped, and ready for anything.

Many homes in the nation endure weather extremes. To run efficiently, and to prevent potential costlier repairs, homeowners must perform a few tasks each season. Not only can it save a lot of money in the long run, it can prevent the discomfort of dealing with an issue when the inclement weather is happening.

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