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Before You List Your New Castle County DE Home!

Wednesday, February 5, 2025
by Tucker Robbins

It’s time to get ready to put your home on the market, and there are some things to think about before you have it listed.  There’s work to be done, and some dos and don'ts that should be taken into consideration if you want your home to sell! 

 

  • - The exterior of your home is the first thing a potential buyer sees; paint the siding, if necessary, and make sure the roof is in great shape.   

  • - Clean up the yard, front and back, and add some seasonal plantings for color. 

  • - A deep clean inside is necessary.  Wash windows, (inside and out), walls, draperies, scrub the bathroom’s every cranny, and shampoo the carpets. 

  • - If you have pets or a smoker in the home, a professional clean may be necessary, or even a new coat of paint on the walls. Pet odors and cigarette tar stay on everything.  Ask a friend or neighbor to come in and do a smell test and tackle any issues that they share with you. 

  • - Deciding what colors to paint the walls shouldn’t be of your personal taste.  Choosing neutral colors is best, and don’t stop at the living areas walls--paint every room. 

  • - Check all the doorknobs, and if any are sticking or simply not working, replace with similar hardware, or replace all of them.  It’s also important for all the exterior door locks to be in proper working order and replace any that aren’t. 

  • - Major repairs or restoration should be done by a pro or an experienced DIYer.  If you choose not to make a repair that you know is needed, you’ll have to be up front to your agent, make the needed fix is listed in your disclosure, and be ready to lower your selling price. 

  • - Sellers want their home to stand out, but don’t overdo it!  Using generally popular fixtures and finishes is better than going with the latest trend. 

  • - Even if your storage space is limited, make it appear like there’s plenty of room.  Remove seasonal clothing from closets, as well as occasionally used kitchen gadgets from cabinets and counters, and put them in storage with the rest of your things. 

  • - Consider staging, and if you can’t afford to go full scale, find a designer that will use your furniture and decorative pieces to maximize space, as well as have it looking its best. 

 

Lastly, don’t go it alone; find a RealtorⓇ that knows all that you don’t about selling your home.  Using an agent gets your home “out there,” and will make the process easier for you as well as for the buyer.  
 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtor Tucker Robbins.   

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Reasons to Consider Moving During the Winter

Wednesday, January 24, 2024
by Tucker Robbins

If you are considering selling your home and moving into another one, you may want to consider doing so during the winter time.  There are several reasons for this and those reasons are listed below for your consideration. 

  1.  If your plan is to hire a moving company to help you move then doing so in the winter can be a much cheaper time to do so.  Moving companies tend to be their busiest during the summer months, then slow down a bit in the fall and even more so during the winter months. The cheapest months to hire a moving company are typically January and February so now is the time to do so. 
  2. Another reason to consider moving during the winter time  is because storage units are typically a bit cheaper during the winter.   Many times storage facilities will become less full during the winter as folks have already moved their stuff out during the warmer months.  Also the storage companies are known for running specials during the winter to attract business. 
  3. If you choose to hire a moving company during the summertime you may find that you have a hard time hiring the one you really want because there are so many others trying to move during this time.  However, if you decide to move during the winter you are more likely to be able to hire the moving company of your choice due to less competition. 
  4. Yet another reason you might want to consider hiring a moving company during the winter  is due to the fact that the summer can get really hot and your items run a greater risk of getting destroyed by being hauled in a moving truck for a long period of time.  Things can melt, warp or just get plain hot and damp when the days get so terribly hot. 

These are just a few reasons why, if moving is in your future,  that you may want to go ahead and do it during the winter time instead of waiting until spring or summer.  

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.   

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7 Tips for Selling Your Home with Pets

Wednesday, August 9, 2023
by Tucker Robbins

While a home is in the de-cluttering and depersonalizing stage before it goes on the market, remember that your pets are as personal as family photos on display. Many homebuyers are pet owners as well, but a seller needs to eliminate as much evidence of their furry family members as possible.  
 

  • Before listing the home, thoroughly clean carpets and hard surfaces with an enzyme cleaner, which will help eliminate any pet odors or stains. The Humane Society offers some tips on cleaning furniture, hard surfaces, and repairing scratches. 
     

  • Keep pets out of the listing photos; sure, they can be cute and gain online views, but some buyers will not consider a house that has pets living in it. 
     

  • A cat’s litter box should be cleaned thoroughly with a 50/50 water/vinegar solution to help neutralize unpleasant smells and clean the litter daily. Using a covered litter box is perfect, especially one with a carbon filter. 
     

  • The outside of the home is as important as the inside, and any dog runs or play areas need to be spruced up and look their best. Fill in any holes and spray odor neutralizer in places used most often. 
     

  • More likely than not, exotic pets can scare some potential homebuyers away. Make arrangements for someone with experience to care for them while the home is on the market.  Petsitter.com can help find the right person to care for your caged pets. 
     

  • When leaving the house during a showing, take the dogs along, and place the cats in a carrier if possible. If taking them with you is inconvenient, ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to pet sit during the showing. 
     

  • If taking your pets with you or a pet sitter is totally out of the question, crating your pet is the best solution, with signage that lets everyone know to leave the pet alone. 

 

Get your pets used to a new routine, and if they are not already crate-trained, start before the home is listed. While everyone’s safety is important, keep in mind that cleaning and repairing any pet damage are crucial to making a good impression on potential buyers and selling your home. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credits: WIN Home Inspections

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7 Things First-Time Home Sellers Should Expect

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
by Tucker Robbins

You have decided to sell your home, and dream of it immediately becoming a highly desired property with a bidding war that drives up your asking price and closing in thirty days dance in your head. Dream on! These seven tips can help bring you back to earth: 

 

  • - While you love your home, not everyone else will. Sellers must detach their emotions about the house while it is on the market. Think of it as a financial transaction or see it from the expectant house hunters’ point of view.

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  • - Major issues with your house should be repaired before the For Sale sign goes in the front yard, and if repairs are not possible, a repair credit will have to be offered to the buyer. Be prepared to do some painting and patching, at the very least. If you want the best sale price, you should do your best to earn it.

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  • - It is vital to be available to your agent, whether it be via phone calls, texting, or email. They are your link to the buyer, and it is possible to lose a sale by not being accessible.

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  • - If you or your agent have decided to hire a staging firm, do not take offense if they ask to put your belongings in storage. It is not about your personal taste, but about making the home appealing to the general public and seeing it as their home.

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  • - Flexibility is key when allowing potential buyers to see it. You will not be getting a weekly showing schedule that is set in stone, so be prepared for inconveniences.

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  • - Because every accepted offer does not result in a sale, have the “big” things packed and ready to move, but hold off on packing the necessities until closing is imminent!

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  • - Some sales take time, but incentives can make a property more attractive: cash towards the closing costs, a year’s home warranty, and payment of HOA dues are just a few ideas to attract buyers. 

 

There is much more to selling a house than decluttering and keeping the home clean for showings. Hopefully, being prepared, flexible, and practical will not only produce a satisfactory selling price, but it will also make the process less stressful for you and your family. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins. 

 

Photo credit: facebook.com/firsttimehousesellers

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How to Know When Its Time To Sell Your Home

Wednesday, June 22, 2022
by Tucker Robbins

You may have thought about selling your home before but you just aren’t sure now is the time.  There are a few signs that now is the correct time to sell your home and some of those signs are listed below for you so that you can be sure you’re making the right decision. 

  1. If your home has gotten a bit too small for your growing family and you are trying daily how to figure out where to put everyone, you may need to put your house on the market.  If you are making your kids bunk together and then trying to add another baby to the mix, you may need to purchase a home that will be more able to fit your needs. 
     
  2. If you have changed to a job that has taken you father away from your home than you had anticipated and therefore has caused your daily commute to be longer than you like, it may be time to sell your home.   Selling your home for a job change is a big reason that many folks sell. 
     
  3. If your lifestyle has changed and you simply don’t have time to take care of your home anymore, you may want to sell it.  This can be caused by such things as your children moving out and you becoming empty nesters.  Many times the room you once needed becomes way too much for just you and your husband once your kids move out. 
     
  4. If you need a bigger home to accommodate your growing family but the thought of remodeling sends your head into a spin, you may want to go ahead and put your house on the market to see if you have any interest in it first. 
     
  5. If you have equity in your home and you want to take advantage of the great rates that are currently available before they disappear you may want to go ahead and put your house on the market. 
     
  6. If you live in a neighborhood in which a lot of houses are currently selling, you may want to put yours on the market  to see if you get any interest in it and possibly even sell it.   Now is the time that folks are many times getting full asking price for their homes so it is a buyer’s market. 

​​Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins. 

Photo credit: DartHomes 

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A List to Create for Potential Buyers

Wednesday, November 18, 2020
by Tucker Robbins


Selling a house usually involves so many things, decluttering, deep cleans, moving belongings to storage, and many more tasks. Once the big jobs are done, and the For-Sale sign is staked out, sit back, and put yourself in the shoes of a prospective buyer. Some questions cannot be answered in photos and home description, so why not jot a few things down to make it easier for someone who would like to buy your property?  

 

Best in the Neighborhood Provide addresses, phone number, and emails for the “best of” the community: 

  • - pizza, veggie burgers, coffee shop, or other places to eat 

  • - nearest parks and recreational areas; include neighborhood sports organizations for children 

  • - lawnmower or auto repair, neighborhood teen that mows grass, local handyman, tree service 

  • - HVAC repair, plumber, electrician, pool care
    - b    anks, dry cleaners, salon, and barbershop  

 

Necessities List the companies in your area that provide the following services: 

  • - electricity, cable, satellite, internet, phone providers, heating fuel 

  • - sanitation pick up, local municipality office, water/sewage, emergency management, health department 

 

Work Performed on Property 

  • - additions, renovations, foundation repair, painting, floor work, roof repairs, snaked/cleared drains 

  • - plumbing, electric, septic/sewer, water pump, well water testing, ductwork repair/cleaning, added insulation, HVAC service 

  • - Cleaned gutters, window/door repair/replacement, tree work, lawn care, garage door opener  

 

Utility Information List average cost of monthly expenses, as buyers sometimes are  curious about them: 

  • - Electric, water, phone/internet, cable/satellite, landscaping/pool care, waste removal/recycling, heating fuel 

 

Finally, create a list of the fun things that happen in and around your community! Share information about local festivals, any farmers’ markets, the annual neighborhood cook-out--anything you would think useful to someone new to the area. Creating these lists may not be necessary, but the information will be ready in case a potential buyer asks. You can never make too much effort to sell your home. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.  

 

Photo credit: magnolia home inspections 

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What Can Hurt Your Home Sale

Wednesday, August 26, 2020
by Tucker Robbins


House hunters have many expectations when they are looking for a new home. Most sellers usually have made themselves at home, and love many aspects about it, but not all buyers would agree. Do not hurt your home’s sale with these: 

 

  • Nothing shouts “Don’t buy me!” more than an unkempt yard!  If nothing else, keep the grass cut and weeds and shrubbery trimmed. Put a bit more effort into it, and put down fresh mulch in the flowerbeds, and add a pot of flowers to the top step. 
     

  • No one wants to walk into a house with plastic storage containers stacked up in each room “hiding” the seller’s clutter. When you declutter, get rid of things, or put them in storage if you cannot part with them. Your rooms will appear larger without a lot of stuff in them. 
     

  • Touring a house that has a grimy stove or mildewed bathtub caulking is a huge turn-off:  no one wants to move into a dirty home. If you cannot find the time to clean the house spotless, hire a professional to do it. 
     

  • Natural light is important to most home buyers, so window treatments that block light need to come down, cleaned, and stored for moving. Add sheers, blinds you can open, or pull the shades up completely when you know the house is being shown. 
     

  • Items such as rodent traps or insect baits, should not even be an option for you. If you know you have mice or insects in your home, have them exterminated before you put a sign in your yard.  
     

  • Wall-to-wall carpeting is not as appealing to buyers today as it was in the past. If you can afford it, remove carpeting that is hiding hardwoods and spruce them up. No hardwood? Have the carpets professionally cleaned, and if you really need to sell, offer a new carpet credit to buyers. 
     

  • When you know about a problem and don’t bother to make repairs--think dripping faucets or cracked windows--buyers will not be impressed with your house, and if they’re remotely interested, offers won’t be close to your asking price. 
     

  • Any unpleasant odors will put off most people, and homebuyers will wrinkle their noses as soon as they walk in. Cleaning is important to remove dirt, but you need to clean for odors, too. Follow these tips from realtor.com® for removing any funky smells from your home. 

 

The impression your house makes on potential buyers largely depends on you. Salespeople of all kinds must make a pitch to draw the buyer in, then grab and keep their attention. The effort you put forth will show in the feedback and offers you will receive. In the case of selling your home, sweat the small stuff! 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.  

 

Photo credit: alldaychic

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What Today's Buyers Want in a Home

Wednesday, August 5, 2020
by Tucker Robbins


Assuming home buyers are happy with three bedrooms, one and a half baths and a decent kitchen may take your house to sell a bit longer.  Today’s buyers are highly likely to have specific desires in a new home. Are you ready? If not, let this be your guide to getting your house in ready-to-sell shape! 

 

  • Energy Efficiency:  Energy-Star windows, smart or programmable thermostat, LED lightbulbs and full-house water heater are all attractive to buyers who are concerned about energy costs as well as those concerned about going green. 
     

  • Home office:  If there is no room in your house that is a dedicated home office, create one!  Stage a space in the kitchen or living area or smaller bedroom with what appears to be a working spot. 
     

  • Upgraded kitchen and bathrooms:  While completely renovating these rooms are a possibility, it may not be in your budget. Take a good look at each, and decide what wallet-friendly projects will make them look new: painting kitchen cabinets, new stainless appliances; in the bathroom, new faucets, lighting fixtures, or add pizazz by framing a mirror in glass tiles. 
     

  • Dining space:  An eat-in kitchen or open-flow kitchen and dining room are what many are looking for, especially families. Kitchen islands with seating will suffice when the budget does not allow for creating space for a dining table in the kitchen. 
     

  • Organized storage:  Buyers want homes with ample storage. While you can’t create space, you can build space in closets and the laundry room by adding shelving or pre-fab storage systems. 
     

  • Hardwood flooring:  While not an inexpensive project, consider putting hardwoods or less costly engineered wood in the entryway and living space. 
     

  • Security:  Front-door video cameras, plenty of outdoor lighting as well as smart lighting features are all great for starters.  

 

While not every house hunter is looking for all of these, upgrading a few things will likely get their attention! Talk to your Realtor® about who is looking for a home in your location; they will have recommendations on the best changes that need to be made for your house to sell! 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.  

 

Photo credit: clevland magazine

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Tips That Could Help Sell Your New Castle County Home Quickly

Wednesday, June 17, 2020
by Tucker Robbins


No matter how much painting you’ve done, how many bags of fresh mulch you’ve put down or how great that new kitchen backsplash looks, there is no guarantee your house will sell quickly.  But in some cases, you need to sell fast.  When you don’t have time to do a complete overhaul of the home, there are a few things you can do to help that For Sale sign become a Sold sign: 

 

  • First and foremost, find a seller’s agent that has a history of quick home sales.  You’ll need to do a bit of research, but if the REALTOR® has the experience, you’ll have a head start on getting your home sold sooner. 
     

  • Having your house pre-inspected will save a step during the process and will help you with disclosure issues.  
     

  • It wouldn’t make sense to price your house a bit below its value during a normal home sale, but if you want to get qualified buyers interested soon, this may be your best bet. Just prepare to lose some extra cash. 
     

  • Consider selling the house at auction, but again, it will sell for a lower price than during a typical sale.  You may even be in an area where your real estate agent is your auctioneer as well, and you can be assured they have your interests at heart! 
     

  • Offer buyer incentives: offer cash-backs or credits, i.e.., painting, new carpet, new kitchen appliances;  if the house is in a managed community, cover one year of HOA fees; pay the closing costs; set a closing date and offer a credit for meeting that deadline. 
     

  • A major buyer incentive is to go so far as to pay down their mortgage costs with points, as the buyer will have a lower interest rate, saving them money in the end.  Investopedia tells us how seller-paid points can benefit the seller as well as the buyer. 

 

Keep in mind that needing to sell your home quickly for personal reasons is different than a short sale.  Your reasons may be work-related, or you’ve already found another house, but whatever the reason, you want to do what you can so your house doesn’t sit on the market--you just may have to accept a loss in exchange for a fast sale. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

Photo credit: quora

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Staging Your Home Inexpensively

Wednesday, April 29, 2020
by Tucker Robbins


If you’ve made the decision to put your home on the market, your Realtor® has probably told you that staging plays an important part in the sales process.  You have a little painting you’d like to do, as well as do some work in the kitchen, but a full house staging just isn’t in your budget. Don’t be intimidated by the thought of having to fork out a lot of money to make your house looks perfect--there are inexpensive ways to stage your house, and here are just a few: 

 

  • Discount department stores are full of inexpensive home decor: faux plants, decorative pillows, framed art and mirrors.  
     

  • Sheer window panels cost less than half the cost of new curtains, allowing natural light to shine through, which is a huge plus, as a dark house isn’t on very many house hunters’ lists. 
     

  • After cleaning carpets or even refinishing hardwood floors, an area rug or runner to brighten and protect them may be necessary.  
     

  • The bathrooms can be given a fresh look with new shower curtains and a set of fluffy white linens in each room. 
     

  • Big box stores are the source for inexpensive cabinetry hardware, light fixtures, as well as faucets that you may choose to replace. 
     

  • A vase of fresh flowers brightens any room!  Discount bouquets or even single blossoms can be purchased in department store produce sections or flower markets and can last a week or more if cared for properly. 
     

  • If you’re planning on placing a bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter, purchase oranges or apples instead of lemons. They can be eaten by the family, which saves money, as they won’t be tossed out! 
     

  • On the outside, inexpensive mulch can transform the flowerbeds.  Pots with annuals planted in them are all you need for a splash of color on the front steps. 

 

If you must use what you have, like many homeowners, ask your agent if they can recommend a stylist that specializes in redecorating with what is available. The cost would be much less than using an interior decorator, not to mention less stress for you.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

 

Photo credit: pinterest

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Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)
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