Happy Easter!

Happy Easter From your Friends and Family at GATELY Properties!

May this holiday bring you closer with those in your life and celebrate life.

Budget Friendly Projects With Big Returns

 

Budget Friendly Projects With Big Returns

Not all home improvement projects are created equal. Some renovations may cost a lot but not add significant value to your home. This list goes in the opposite direction: Here are some inexpensive home improvement projects that will not only increase your enjoyment of your home, but will also increase the home’s value.

  1. High quality ceiling fans: In a recent National Association of Home Builders survey, ceiling fans ranked No. 1 as the most-wanted decorative item. If your ceiling fans are outdated, replace them with something in the $400 range-it’ll make a big difference when it’s time to sell.
  2. Trees: Mature trees can be worth as much as $10,000 toward the value of your home. Trees also protect your home from the elements and prevent erosion.
  3. Energy efficiency: Buyers are increasingly interested in saving energy, so any efficiency update is worthwhile. Switching from a wood to gas fireplace is a great start.
  4. Outdoor lighting: Exterior lighting is great for highlighting the accents of your home, and you can typically expect a 50 percent return on investment.
  5. Molding: You can finish a room with crown molding or railing for as little as $1.50 per foot if you take a DIY approach, and it’s extremely desirable among prospective buyers.

 

Five things that factor into comps

Value and Home

Five things that factor into comps

You may think that sale price is the only factor when you’re looking at comps and trying to set a price for your listing. But it’s actually a bit more complicated. Here are five things that affect comps that you might not be aware of.

  1. New construction nearby: Because of low prices for lots and varying prices in home building materials, new homes can actually be cheaper and cost less per square foot than existing homes. If there’s a lot of new construction nearby, that can affect the price for your own listing.
  2. Renovations: Recently renovated homes typically sell for more than homes that haven’t been updated in a while. If you’ve recently upgraded your home-especially sought-after upgrades like the kitchen or master bath-your home should be priced appropriately.
  3. Developable lots: Not all lots are created equal. Even if the square acreage is the same, a lot that’s easily developable will get a better price than a hilly or rocky lot that needs a lot of preparation.
  4. Listing price vs. sale price: Whether sellers actually get their asking price depends greatly on the market. When you’re pricing your home, it’s important to look at sales prices, not just listing prices. The listing price doesn’t always accurately reflect what a home will sell for.
  5. Location: Nearby amenities, safety, schools, and noise levels can vary greatly within a neighborhood. Homes in more desirable parts of the neighborhood will sell for a higher price, all else being equal.

5 Researching Tips for Homebuyers

5 Researching Tips for Homebuyers

By Dixie Somers by RisMedia’s Housecall

Being a first time homebuyer can be an intimidating prospect; it seems like there’s so much to learn! The process doesn’t get less challenging the second or third time around, but here are five tips to help you research and prepare for your next home buying experience.

Location, Location, Location

It’s a cliché but it’s true: location really is the most important part of the real estate equation. However, the right location isn’t the same for everyone. Take your family’s priorities into account and know where you would buy a home, and where you would not. Try to be flexible, but if you’re longing for a place with a yard, then a balcony might not cut it, however a roof deck might! Always look for the exception to the rule. It’s also a good idea to compare home prices around the home that you’re considering. This will help you figure out if your house is a good deal and in line with the market expectations.

Find Your Financing

Finding the perfect house can take years, but once you find it things will move quickly. Most real estate markets are fast moving and a great house at a great price can easily go on the market in the morning and be under contract by the evening. When you find that house you have to be ready to jump on it. This means that you should have your financing figured out before you make an offer. Ask friends, family, any law or finance professionals your family uses, or ask your REALTOR® for a recommendation for a mortgage company. Be sure to get quotes from several different firms so you have a general idea of what your rates really should be.

[idx-omnibar styles=”1″ extra=”0″ min_price=”0″ ]

Understand the Vocabulary

You should take the trouble to educate yourself about some of the jargon that comes with the real estate territory, otherwise, you might find yourself completely out of your league when discussing purchasing terms.

Check out the Neighborhood

If you’re looking for homes outside of the neighborhood you live in, the best way to get a feel for it is to go and spend the day there. Find a few open houses you’re interested in and go make a day of it. Have lunch, stroll the streets, check out the parks, schools, and find out what kind of people live there. These are the things that give a neighborhood its flavor, and things that you can’t know until you go there and see for yourself.

Choose a Trustworthy Agent

A real estate agent can make or break your home buying experience. If you don’t have an agent you already know and like, ask for recommendations, check local ratings sites and ask around. This can be a very personal relationship, so if you find an agent you believe in, hang on to them!

We at GATELY Properties would love to be your trusted agent. Check out our testimonials

About GATELY Properties

Call our office at 661.220.5506 and get going with GATELY! 

Buying a home is an exciting and stressful process, but with these tips, we hope you’ll have a great experience researching, shopping and purchasing your next home.

Tackle these projects in a single day

Tackle these projects in a single day

It’s easy to get stressed out just hearing the word renovation. You’re instantly thinking of having your home life disrupted by construction debris, cluttered rooms, and loud noises.

But you don’t have to spend a ton of money and brace yourself for months of inconvenience to upgrade your home. Here are a few projects that you can knock out in a single day, and they’ll greatly improve the look and enjoyment of your home.

Paint or replace an exterior door: If you know the correct dimensions and specifications for a replacement door, replacing an exterior door is a quick and easy job. That’s even more true if you’re repainting it. Preparation and a few coats of paint will only take a few hours.

Plant some low-maintenance trees: Young evergreen trees are relatively simple to plant, and after some heavy watering in the first few weeks, they’re very easy to maintain. They’ll add some color and texture to your landscaping, instantly improving curb appeal.

New light fixtures: Whether they’re on the interior or exterior of your home, something as subtle as light textures can have a dramatic effect. Swapping out traditional fixtures for something modern or industrial can completely transform a room.

New hardware: Drawer pulls and door knobs are easy to change out, and like light fixtures, they have a big impact. You’d be amazed how your kitchen or bathroom could look with new hardware.

Need a great contractor referral or know anyone thinking of buying or selling real estate? Call our office 661.220.5506 and get going with GATELY!

Make your home Stand Out in TEXT!

Luck Doesn’t Sell Listings, Copy Points Do

Every buyer starts their real estate search with a list of features which can return hundreds or thousands of matching homes online. Make your listing a must-see by describing the benefits of your listing instead of simply listing the features. Doing so can transform your “4-bed, 3-bath home for sale with huge deck and great view” into an opportunity to “Abandon busy city living and envision yourself basking on your generously sized deck, enjoying a view most people can only dream of! Make the ‘possibilities’ realities with this spacious 4-bed, 3-bath home!”

First Impressions Matter

The first thing a homebuyer looks at is your listing photo (which your professional photographer is taking care of, right?), but the second is your headline. Regardless of whether you’re sending your listing out in an email, printing a flyer, or posting it to Craigslist, your listing’s headline is your opportunity to convince buyers to click for more information. Check the real estate section of Craigslist to get an idea of what other agents in your area are doing…then do something different to stand out.

Example: If you see a lot of “4-bed, 3-bath home” or “3,000 sq ft. home on 5 acres…”

Try something like:

  • Million-dollar view just $350K!
  • Centrally located! Be anywhere in 10 minutes!
  • Your suburban oasis awaits!
  • Ditch the noisy neighbors!
  • Need more space? We’ve got you covered!

Paint a Picture

Your property description shouldn’t just list the features your home offers. It should tell the story of what living in the home will be like. Start with an introductory statement to capture buyers’ attention, then give the basic listing details. After you’ve done that, cover the benefits of the listing’s primary features.

Example: Instead of “Great starter home for first-time buyer or investment opportunity. 3/2 with vaulted ceilings in living room. Centrally located and minutes from parks. Large yard”

Try something like:

“Spend less and get more with this great 3/2 starter home! You’ll love the natural light and vaulted ceilings this open floor plan offers. Imagine spending your weekends relaxing with the family or invite all your friends over and fire up the grill—your huge yard has plenty of room for everyone. Situated in an award-winning neighborhood, you’ll be just minutes from Gardner Park’s scenic trails and downtown!”

Make an Impact with Real Estate Marketing Power Words!

Make a Connection

Once you get the buyers picturing themselves living in your property, you want them to contact you (the most important part). Create a call to action that’s clear and lets buyers know what’s in it for them.

Example: Instead of just “Call now to schedule a showing!”

Consider adding something like:

  • Visit your future home today!
  • This is an investment you don’t want to miss!
  • Don’t let someone else buy your new home!
  • Don’t settle for anything else!
  • Find out how you can buy this home for less than the cost of paying rent!

P.S. Don’t forget to include your contact info!

Tips For Moving Into Your New Home

Congratulations, you’ve bought your home and it’s move-in time. Wait! Before you move in, read on to get some practical and important tips.

Tips For Moving Into Your New Home

You’ve closed escrow and the keys to your new home are yours.

Change the locks!

The first thing you should do is change the locks. It’s hard to say who may have access to your home. Anyone from real estate agents to the sellers or maintenance people: all could still have a set of keys to your home. Be safe and change the locks first thing.

If the home doesn’t have deadbolts on the doors, install them. Door has glass on it? Be sure you install a deadbolt that uses a key to unlock from both sides.

If someone is breaking into your house and there is glass on the door, it can be shattered and the intruder can just reach through the broken glass and turn the deadbolt. Instead use a key deadbolt and keep an extra key near the door but out of reach and out of sight from the outside.

Create an inventory of your belongings.

Don’t risk losing something that means a lot to you. Take an inventory of all your belongings. It’s best if you can pack your items in clearly labeled and numbered boxes that are marked for particular rooms, such as kitchen or bathroom supplies.

Using an inventory sheet to detail what each box contains will make it so much easier to unpack and remember where things are. You may need to find something quickly before you’re fully unpacked. If you’re using movers or friends and family to help, the inventory sheet will also help you keep track of your stuff and make sure that it all ends up in your new home. You can find moving inventory sheets on the Web.

Repair and paint while the home is empty.

It’s a no-brainer but sometimes goes overlooked. If you have to make major repairs, try to do them before you move in. It’s easier to take care of major maintenance or messy repair jobs when the home is empty.

So, give your new home a good look and mark down the maintenance needs, then try to plan your move-in dates for after the work is completed. Even if the work is being done in an entirely different room, it still helps to have the house empty. That way you can feel better about leaving workers in the home while you’re not there because your home is empty.

Whole-House cleaning.

It’s maybe the only time you’ll have this opportunity. Give the entire house a good top-to-bottom cleaning. It’s a great way to start a new life in a fresh, clean home. Plus it’s a lot easier to clean everything when nothing is inside to be moved around.

This is a good time to make sure things like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are all functioning properly. Change the batteries on them so that you can track the need for new batteries with the anniversary of the home purchase.

Thinking ahead and taking a few extra steps will save you time and energy. It will simplify the move-in process and make your home a safe place to get good sleep on your first night.

Improve or move?

Improve or move?

Unless you built a custom home, you probably have a long list of things you’d like to improve in your current home. Browsing online listings might get you in the mood to upgrade to a new home, or you might be thinking about renovating your current home after binging on HGTV. The answer to renovation vs. relocation depends greatly on what you’re trying to fix.

Thinking about a new kitchen? If you’re dreaming of a chef’s kitchen with new appliances and beautiful cabinets, renovating your own kitchen gives you incredible ROI and is less costly than moving. You’ll increase the value of your own home if you ever decide to sell, and there’s a great sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a custom renovation.

Need more space? If you’re running low on bedrooms, there may not be a lot of options. Converting an existing room to a bedroom doesn’t create any new space. If you’re in a condo, an addition is probably impossible. And additions can be expensive even if it’s a possibility. Moving is usually the best option.

If the neighborhood isn’t ideal You may have seen some potential for your neighborhood when you first moved there, but perhaps it still isn’t welcoming the shops and restaurants you expected. If that’s the case, consider moving. There’s no sense in waiting years for the neighborhood to improve, especially if you can move to a house in the same price range in a more preferred part of the city.

If you need contractor referrals or need to speak with one of our professionals about what it would take to sell your home, call our office 661.220.5506 and get going with GATELY!

Thinking about buying soon? Make sure your credit is in order

Thinking about buying soon? Make sure your credit is in order

There’s no more important time to work on your credit score than when you’re about to apply for a mortgage. Improving your credit can save you a ton of money-we’re talking about thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Here are the actions you can take that will have a notable impact on your score.

Pay down your credit card balances Credit utilization is one of the biggest factors in determining your credit score. Your credit utilization should at least be less than 30 percent of your limit, and it’s even better if you can get it below 15 percent. This rule applies to both individual cards and your overall credit limit.

It may even be worthwhile to use some of the cash funds you were planning to use for a down payment to pay off credit card balances.

Do no harm While you certainly want to improve your score if possible, at the very least you’ll want to keep it steady. Avoid opening new lines of credit if you’re applying for a mortgage in the very near future. This will cause a hard inquiry to show up on your credit report.

Take care of negative items It’s good practice to check your credit report for negative items a few times a year-you can get one free report from each of the three major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) per year.

If you find any negative items (collections, late payments, etc.), write a letter to the original creditor. Explain the circumstances that led to the negative item, and request that it be removed from your report. It can be surprisingly effective, and removing a negative item will improve your credit score in a hurry. You can find some good templates for a request letter online.

Five tips for first-time buyers

Five tips for first-time buyers

No matter how much time you spend on researching and educating yourself about your home purchase, it’s hard to cover every detail. Here are a few tips for avoiding rookie mistakes with your first home purchase.

Save as early as you can:

Even if you think you’re years away from buying your first home, try to start saving for your down payment. It makes a huge difference in your monthly payments, and helps avoid paying Private Mortgage Insurance.

Be thorough with mortgage shopping:

There are countless resources out there that can help you get the best terms for your mortgage. It may seem like a lot of work to shave less than a point off your mortgage rate, but it’ll save you thousands in the long run.

4 Tips for Keeping Your Rental Property Secure

Consult a skeptic:

You’re likely to fall in love with a home, and that can make it difficult to take problems seriously. Bring along a skeptical friend or family member who can give you an honest opinion.

Be patient with getting settled:

You’ll be anxious to make your new home your own, but take some time to see how your budget truly shakes out. In other words, hold off on big furniture purchases and remodeling projects.

Make sure you’re happy with the neighborhood:

The house may be perfect, but don’t discount the surroundings. You don’t want to end up in the suburbs if you’re going to miss walking to your favorite coffee shop, and you don’t want to settle for the city if you’re looking forward to some peace and quiet.

About GATELY Propeties

Specializing in residential resale and new construction of North Los Angeles County (Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and San Fernando Valley). GATELY Properties is dedicated to helping you make the best financial and lifestyle choice for your situation. If it is cashing out, upgrading, downgrading, or even relocating we're here to help. Gately Properties was founded on the premise of building a Boutique Real Estate Office that focused on the client and community. Gately Properties helps strengthen the community where they we work and practice real estate because by combining real estate professionals and local neighborhood experience with up-to-the-minute real estate resources we deliver the results home buyers and sellers need today.

Hours & Info

21136 Alaminos Dr.
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
661-220-5506
No Walk-ins
M-Fri: 9am - 5pm
Sat - Sun: Appt Only


DRE # 01967385
Privacy Policy