Creative Open House Ideas

Have you been experiencing slow traffic or no traffic at all during your open houses? Try these 3 ideas to discuss with your agent to make your house stand out from the rest!

1. Have a Garage Sale at the same time.

This is a great idea for two reasons. Garage sales always bring people. If they know that there is an open house at the same time, they will most likely stop in. The more people the better because word of mouth will help to get your house sold! You can also "de-clutter" your house at the same time, which makes it easier to stage as well as make a lighter move.

2. Don't host an open house when everyone else does.

Open houses are typically on Sundays in the afternoon. Why not have one during the week after 5 when people will be driving by on their way home from work? Adding some wine and cheese will also offer a nice transition into dinner time. Even weekday mornings could work after people drop their kids off at school.

3. Have a "Full Service" Open House

Ask your agent about involving a loan officer at your open house. Potential buyers will be able to find out what financing is available to them and possibly get pre qualified. Additionally, including a contractor helps buyers envision their "dream home". They can bring sample materials, photos and digital renderings to show the potential of the property.

Tips to Maximize Small Spaces

When selling your home, it is important to maximize your space. Easier to do in a large home, but what if you have a small house? Or a small room? There are several ways to maximize your floor space and enhance your home's beauty.

Remember, prospective buyers appreciate what they can see so you need to make sure you are showing them what you've got. The most obvious tip is to remove clutter. Clutter makes the space look smaller. Clutter in the closets, on the counter tops, in cupboards and especially in rooms will "shrink" the space and hide features that should be shown off....granite countertops, custom shelving or unique features of a room.

Some additional tips to help you maximize your space:

#1. Make sure that each room is easily identifiable. The computer desk should not be in the dining room....unless the dining room is being used and marketed as an office. Otherwise, move the desk.

#2. Remove throw rugs to show off your hardwood floors and take down pictures off the walls in order to create less distractions and hence open up the space more.

#3. Remove large pieces of furniture in overstuffed rooms. Put it in storage or if you're not going to take it to the next house, sell or donate it. The key is to create open space so that people can easily move around the room.

#4. High contrasting or dark colors make rooms look smaller. That doesn't mean you have to go out and paint everything white! Color is good but blending and using more medium-to-light tones will help open up the space.

There are many options these days for storage, including furniture and end tables that have hidden storage built in. Another option is to install bed risers, which safely lift a bed in order to create storage space underneath.

Nothnagle's Home Services offers short and long term storage options as well. If you just don't have the space for everything, you can store out-of-season clothing and household items you may not need every day in order to create more space.

The Price is Right!

According to several real estate professionals in the Rochester area, pricing your home right is what it will take to get it sold. The current market is more in favor of buyers than sellers, which is why they are not rushing to buy and are instead looking for the best deal. Now that all of the tax credits have been over for nearly a year, the panic to buy is not as strong, but there are definitely still buyers looking.
When listing your home, take into consideration the competition and don't concentrate on your assessed value. Chances are, your home will sell slightly under what it is assessed for, but the Rochester market is still strong compared to other areas in the country.

Other important factors to pay attention to are that buyers not only want a great deal, they want something that is move in ready with updates. Small cosmetic things like fresh paint, new cabinet hardware and fixtures can make a big difference to buyers, although it is relatively inexpensive and easy to do.

I Can Fix That, But Should I?

Deciding whether you should hire a professional or handle the project yourself can be difficult. Each year over 100,000 people get in over their heads and end up injuring themselves on their DIY home improvement jobs. Depending on your skill-level and experience, some tasks may be unreasonable and dangerous to attempt on your own, but this is not always the case. Here's how to decide: Stick to routine maintenance Seasonal home maintenance is ideal work for the weekend warrior because you can tackle these jobs when you have free time. Since these projects are routine, each time you complete them, your savings will add up. Mowing your own lawn, for example, can save you $50 or more a week (depending on costs in your neighborhood). Some other tasks that are not out of reach, even for the most modest DIY-er, include:

• Snow removal





• Trimming hedges





• Washing windows





• Sealing decks





• Painting fences





• Fertilizing lawns





• Replacing air conditioner filters





• Cleaning gutters

Be sure to use extreme caution when on a ladder washing windows or cleaning gutters. Every year, emergency rooms are filled with people with ladder injuries. A good rule of thumb is that unless you have skill and experience with heights, avoid any ladder taller than six feet. The same goes for operating power saws and attempting any major electrical work; if you don't have the experience, it's simply too risky. Become your own general contractor If you're willing to put a bit of time into finding the right professionals for your project, you could act as your own general contractor. This means to hire, schedule, and pay the carpenters, plumbers, and other tradesmen yourself. This could save you 10% or 20% of the job cost (the contractors typical fee). This tactic works especially well if it's a small job that only requires a few subcontractors. A great resource is Nothnagle Home Services. They can put you in touch with the highest-quality professionals Rochester has to offer. The best part is that each Home Services partner will provide you with an exclusive deal, only available to Nothnagle clients. Make contributions on big jobs Performing tasks that are labor-intensive but require relatively little skill are the perfect jobs to tackle yourself. Tearing out kitchen cabinets, pulling up old floors, daily site cleanup, and product assembly are examples of things you can do that can save you hundreds, even thousands, off construction costs. One thing to avoid is getting in the crew's way. If you do, you could slow them down and end up dishing out more than you save. It is a good idea to make your contributions in the mornings before the workers arrive, or nights and weekends after they've left. Add finishing touches Many finishing touches are quite simple and DIY-friendly. For example, painting your own basement is easy enough, and could save you over $1000. If you have the patience and ability to learn a new skill, setting tile, laying flooring, painting walls, and installing trim are jobs that are not out-of-reach for you. Just remember that the results of your finish work are very visible. If you do not have the steady hand, sure eye, or patience for intricate tasks, you might be better off hiring a pro.

Best Place in New York State for Business & Careers

In a recent study done by Forbes conducted by ranking 200 of the largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S., Rochester, NY proved to be the best place in New York State for Business & Careers. New York City ranked ahead, however, Albany & Long Island ranked behind Rochester.

The unemployment rate in Rochester is 7.1%, which is under the national average with a median home price of $118,500 and a cost of living at 11.4%, which is also well under the national average.

Numerous universities and schools such as The University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology make Rochester an international center of higher education bringing professionals to the area for employment opportunities year round. Several companies are reentering downtown Rochester, such as Paetec and Nothnagle Realtors to begin a downtown revitalization.

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