Lovely antique cape with 4 acres of open land, another 17 acres of forest, plus a 6 stall horse barn and 1,800 ft. of Blackwater River frontage. Visit www.67PancakeRd.com for more photos and details.
What Sellers Should Know About Home Trends in 2010 In today’s economic climate, practicality and price are the driving factors influencing consumers’ decisions on home building and buying. Here are a few of the top trends in 2010, according to the National Home Builders Assoc.(NAHB).
- Smaller homes. Consumers are buying homes with less square footage, though they still want the open concept floor plan.
- Energy efficient appliances and efficient HVAC systems.
- More natural light.
- Separate laundry room.
- Eat-in, partially separated kitchen.
Home buyers are also looking for walk-in closets, great rooms, insulated front doors, low-E windows, 9’ ceilings, programmable thermostats and separate tub/shower in master bath. Why should you as a seller care about this? Simply put, if you want to sell your house, you need to make your house as appealing as possible to the largest number of buyers. Give buyers what they want instead of what you think is fine. Incorporating as many of these desired features into your house wherever affordable and practical will maximize buyer appeal and help get a quicker sale. Give me a call if you would like the full report from the NAHB on consumer preferences! Donna Forest, Broker Associate 603-526-4116; donna@donnaforest.com www.donnaforest.com
Before getting started, it’s a good idea to hire a professional remodeler for a workable plan and better results, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). A professional has the expertise and skills to assist the consumer and help to keep the budget in check. Here are five tips for planning a successful home remodel that you can enjoy for many years to come. 1. Compile a list of ideas and draft a budget for the work. Prioritize your wish list: Maybe you don’t have the budget for your dream remodel, but professional remodelers can maximize your dollars by doing the work in phases, suggesting budget-friendly products and materials and implementing creative design solutions. 2. Look for a professional remodeler to help plan the project. Start by searching NAHB’s Directory of Professional Remodelers at www.nahb.org/remodel. You’ll get a list of nearby remodelers to contact. Asking friends and neighbors for names of qualified remodelers will also help you find a match with someone who can handle your project and would be comfortable for you to work with. 3. Check the references and background of the remodeler. After you start speaking with remodelers and find one or two who match your project’s needs, be sure to conduct some background research. Remodelers who are members of professional organizations tend to be more reliable, better educated and more likely to stay on top of construction and design trends. 4. Agree on a contract. Talk over the details of the home remodeling project and begin reviewing the contract. You’ll want to check the remodelers’ insurance coverage, ask about any warranties on their work, know who is responsible for obtaining any building permits and understand the process for making any change orders after the contract is signed. Make sure that you and your remodeler see eye to eye before you sign on the dotted line. 5. Take advantage of the energy efficiency tax credits. If your remodel includes replacing windows or doors, adding insulation, installing new roofing, upgrading heating or air-conditioning units, updating the water heater or installing energy generating products (such as solar panels, heat pumps or wind turbines) then you can take advantage of federal energy efficiency tax credits through 2010 that will help defray costs and maximize your remodeling budget while reducing home energy bills. Source: RISMEDIA 3/12/10
If your home is on the market, it might be useful for you to be aware of the following statistics regarding Home Buyers. The source of this information is the 2009 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
Active home search (median):
- Number of weeks searched: 12
- Number of homes seen: 12
First-Time vs. Repeat Buyers:
- First-time buyers: 47%
- Repeat buyers: 53%
- Median age of first-time buyers: 30
- Median age of repeat buyers: 48
Buyers who definitely would use same agent again: 81%
Actions taken as result of Internet home search:
- Drove by/viewed a home: 77%
- Walked through a home viewed online: 61%
- Found agent used to search/buy home: 28%
Information sources used in home search:
- Internet: 90%
- Real estate agent: 87%
- Yard sign: 59%
- Open house: 46%
- Newspaper ad: 40%
- Home book or magazine: 26%
Source: 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
One of the things which has the most impact on our market is what is going on in states from which many of our buyers come. That’s why it was exciting to see a couple of articles in RISMedia at the end of June which was reporting increased sales of single-family homes in Connecticut and Massachusetts. These sales were up about 39% in Connecticut and about 37% in Massachusetts in May 2010. As reported in one of the articles, this was “…the sharpest increase in sales year-over-year for the month of May in more than two decades…” from the latest report by The Warren Group, publisher of The Commercial Record. Some of this increase was certainly attributable to the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, but the Warren Report also expressed the opinion that pent-up demand from buyers who had been delaying buying a home because of concerns about the economy or job security had also added to the surge. A good number of the buyers in our area-for retirement, vacation, or even relocation-do come from Connecticut and Massachusetts. This news would indicate that these buyers may be feeling more confident about pursuing purchases in New Hampshire and that will be good news for sellers. Source of Information: a Regional Spotlight article posted in RISMEDIA, June 30, 2010 and June 25, 2010
Make your appointment today to see this comfortable cape nestled in the trees in the Eastman community. 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. Visit www.3Slalom.com.
Enjoy one floor living in this spacious, 3,300+ sq. ft. ranch on 2.26 acres. Sunny and light with pleasant views. Close to schools and shopping. Visit www.131RowellHillRd.com for more photos and details.
Sunny 3 bedroom cape set back from the road can enjoy even more room by finishing off the basement or bonus room above the garage. Oak cabinets, pantry, garage--all on 3.10 acres. Visit www.56Southgate.com for photos and details.
You'll want to pack your clothes and move in once you see this attractive cape in Wilmot on 28+ acres. Views of Mt. Kearsarge, nicely landscaped. For more photos and details, visit www.287CampgroundRd.com.
Not all remodeling projects deliver the same bang for the buck when it comes to resale. If you are planning to sell soon and think that renovations will increase the value of your home, then some research might be in order. Studies suggest that most renovation projects do increase the price of a house; however, the increase is typically less than the cost of the project. Generally, a homeowner will experience a return of 75% to 80% on the dollar at resale. Some of the more cost effective improvements are major kitchen upgrades, bathroom remodeling, and anything that adds square footage. Keep in mind that the cost recouped will also be affected by the quality of finish and even the type of neighborhood and local conditions.
Probably the biggest advantage that remodeling has is the fact that it increases the appeal of your home to buyers. A gleaming state of the art kitchen with granite countertops and bathrooms with tile and glass can sell a house more quickly than a home with an outdated kitchen and harvest gold appliances. Particularly in this market, that is the goal, to make your home stand out from the competition.
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