Blog - Paul Lamba

It’s amazing how much damage water can cause. Just two gallons of water from a burst pipe or overflowing toilet can wreak havoc throughout your home and necessitate thousands of dollars in repairs. Ouch!

What should you do at the first sign of water leakage?

1. First, stop the source. Turn off the nearest water valve. If you can’t find it, turn off the main water valve to your home.
2. Next, do everything you can to soak up as much water as possible. If necessary, lift carpeting. Pay particular attention to water settling next to walls or inside ductwork. Get these areas dry as quickly as possible.
3. Contain the water. This is important. Do your best to prevent water from infiltrating other rooms to prevent further damage. Once the…

As you may know, staging involves setting up the furniture, art and accessories of each room so that, overall, your home looks as appealing as possible to buyers. It’s similar to what furniture stores do when they create displays of model bedrooms, kitchens, etc.

When you’re staging your home, the master bedroom is particularly important. Here are some simple staging tips worth trying:

1) Consider using mirrors to make the bedroom seem larger and more comfortable.

2) Put a new comforter on the bed.

3) Update the wattage or add a lamp if the lighting is dim. (Make sure lights are turned on during a viewing.)

4) Be ruthless when removing clutter from the room, particularly the closet. Don’t have anything stored under the bed.

You might be surprised to know which spaces in a home most buyers look at when viewing a property. If you’re preparing your home for sale, make sure to consider the following places that are likely to be checked out:

1) Inside closets. Buyers want to get a sense of the size and capacity of all your closets. Make sure they’re clean and well organized. Avoid the “overstuffed” look.

2) Basement. Do you think buyers will stick to the main room of your basement? Think again. Some interested buyers will also check out the furnace room, cold room, electrical box, and even crawl spaces.

3) Under the sinks. Buyers will definitely look under the kitchen sink. You can expect some buyers to open the doors of bathroom vanities as well. Make sure…

Imagine you’re viewing a home for sale. You venture to the basement, check out the furnace room, and notice the water heater. Is it owned or rented? As a potential buyer, you’d want to know.

Now imagine a property you’re viewing has a brand-new gas fireplace. Nice! Is it under warranty? Is that warranty transferrable to you if you buy the home? Again, you’d want to know.

So, when you’re selling, it’s important to pull together all the necessary records you will need in order to answer these types of buyer questions. After all, if a particular warranty transfers to the new owner, that’s a selling point.

Take the time to find receipts, warranty certificates, and other documents related to:

1) Renovations (e.g., a bathroom…

When you’re selling your home, several viewings of your property may be scheduled on the same day. That can be a good thing because it can create increased excitement about your listing.

To prepare for a multiple viewings day, follow these tips:

•          Clean and prepare your home the day before. That way, you’re not scrambling to get things ready in the morning.
•          Confirm the time of the first appointment. Schedules can change quickly.
•          Plan to leave your home a half-hour before the viewings begin. Some buyers might feel awkward if they run into you as you’re coming out.
•          Make a last-minute checklist.
•          Assume the viewings will go overtime. Plan to be away at least a half-hour after the…

Many people decide to move for practical reasons. For example, some might be required to move due to work relocation and others may realize that their household has changed and they are ready to downsize or upsize.

But personal goals play an important role too.

In fact, when deciding whether or not to sell your property and find your next dream home, it’s essential to consider personal goals—your own and those of other family members too.

After all, where you live, and the type of home you live in, can greatly impact your goals and dreams.

For example, if you’re active in a particular sport or another hobby (such as hiking), being able to enjoy that activity locally might be an objective. If your goal is to live in a certain…