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Tips for Selling Your Home

Wednesday, July 20, 2016
by Tucker Robbins

Tips on Selling Your Home

More than likely if your house is on the market you have done your best to get it as clean as you possibly can.  What you may not know is that there are many other tips and tricks that go above and beyond cleaning your home to help you in the selling of your home.  A few of those tips and tricks are listed below. 

  • One of the main things you need to do if you want to sell your home  is to leave when someone is taking a tour of your home.  This may sound like a no brainer but you would be surprised at the number of folks who try to stick around during a home tour.  The prospective owners want to see the house and envision themselves in it. This cannot happen if you are lurking in the background during the tour. 
  • Another tip for selling your home is not to leave your pets behind during a home tour.   Although people love pets, they don’t really want to meet your pet in person while touring your house.  Be sure to clean up after them as well and not leave the pets belongings strewn throughout the house. 
  • Be sure to move your car where the Realtor and the prospective buyer will have a place to park when touring your home.  If you need to park all of your extra cars at a friend’s or neighbor’s house during the tour, do so.    
  • Be careful not to leave your bills and other mail laying around on the kitchen counter-tops when you have someone coming to take a tour of your home.  Not only is clutter a turn off to prospective buyers but it is also not a good idea to leave important documents lying around that can be seen by eyes that don’t need to see them. 
  • Do not call your Realtor five minutes after the home tour has taken place.  Be careful to give him or her time to do their job and get things in order before they come to you with feedback from the tour. 

These tips for selling your home  are very helpful if you are sure to take them to heart.  Most importantly remember to do your part in the preparing for the sale of your home and always be willing to negotiate.  

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

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Tips For Avoiding Identity Theft After a Move

Thursday, February 5, 2015
by Tucker Robbins

The previous blog about preventing identity theft during a move dealt primarily with precautionary steps to take from your old residence to thwart clever criminals.  So you’re now safely ensconced in your new  home. And you can breathe a sigh of relief, right?

identity theftActually, no.  Unfortunately, there are clever identity thieves waiting at that end of your relocation, also, and your efforts to outwit them must continue at your new address.  Read on for more advice:

  • Once you have reached your new home, check to make certain that you have all the important papers and documents you carried with you—and immediately put them in a safe, secured place.
     
  • Locate and unpack the box containing your electronic possessions—tablet, IPhone, computers, etc.  Account for each one and consider changing your passwords.
     
  • Carefully look through your bank statements to make certain that there are no unauthorized charges.  You might also think about requesting new credit reports to be sure that your status hasn’t changed significantly.
     
  • Make certain that you are receiving your mail at your new address.  If you are missing any statements, checks, and the like, report those losses immediately.
     
  • Contact your old neighbor to verify that he/she is collecting any mail that arrives to the prior address.  Arrange for it to be mailed to you or go by and pick it up, if possible.
     
  • If you have to cancel any bank accounts or credit cards because of your relocation, close the account, cut up any cards associated with the account, and shred unneeded papers.
     
  • Replace the locks on immediately- preferably before you even move in, as the old tenants could still have keys.
     
  • Be diligent and cautious when providing personal information, especially your social security number, to new doctors, organizations, or schools. 
     
  • After the move set up a “safe zone” where you store important papers and can work on private matters away from the eyes of visitors to your new home, repairmen, utility workers, and strangers.

Although you may not be able to protect your identity 100%, you can go a long way in ensuring peace of mind by being proactive, diligent, and aware, especially during a move.

Information provided by Wilmington Real Estate Expert Tucker Robbins.

 

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Tips for Getting Your House Ready For Winter

Friday, November 21, 2014
by Tucker Robbins

As all of you know, Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means that winter is basically here.  There are many things that must be done to get your house ready for winter.  If you properly prepare your house for winter, you and your family will be able to enjoy all that winter has to offer without worrying about getting cold inside.

  • house in snowHave someone out to your house to check your HVAC system  is a good idea.  You want to make sure you stay nice and cozy warm during the winter and that your heating system doesn’t go on the fritz during the coldest months of the year.  Typically you should have your HVAC system checked twice a year; right before summer and right before winter.
  • Go up into your attic to make sure you have adequate insulation.  This is especially important if you have just purchased a house.  If the home you have purchased is an older home you may have to add a bit more insulation or replace what has been there for years to get optimal benefit from it. It is currently recommended to have at least a 16 inch depth of blown insulation in the attic. Fiberglass bats should be between R-49 and R-60.
  • It’s also a good idea to have your duct work checked.  If the home you have just purchased had a lot of pet’s living inside previously you will likely have to have your duct worked cleaned so that your air system works properly.  You will also want to check for mold (especially if there is or you use a duct mounted humidifier) so that you and your family will be able to breathe easily. 
  • Purchase some draft dodgers for your doors and windows before winter starts.  You may be surprised at just how much cool air these crafty little things can keep out of your home and how much they can help with your heating bill.  You can purchase draft dodgers at most stores or you can even make them yourself with some fabric and beans. 
  • Pull your space heaters out of the attic and put them to use.  They will help a lot with your heating bill as well and can be used in whatever room you wish.
  • Winterize your outside faucets. Sometimes that means shutting the water line off inside and then opening the outside faucet to drain them. Newer designs are easier to winterize but no matter what the design is, NEVER leave a hose attached to the faucet in winter.
  • Once the leaves are down, either clean your gutters or have your gutters cleaned. Most landscaping companies will clean gutters at this time of year.
  • If you have a car that you don't use much, make sure to fully charge the battery. Batteries loose 1% of their charge every day and a battery with low charge can easily freeze - which ruins the battery.
  • If you feel you would like a recommendation of a local contractor/handyman to help with any of these chores, please feel free to call or email me, Tucker Robbins. (302) 777-7744 or Tucker@RobbinsRealEstate.com 

The days that the cold air starts to take the place of the much warmer days of fall are here.  Do your part to make sure your family stays warm this winter by getting your house ready for the cold months ahead.  I am sure your family will be happy you took the time to make sure they are comfortable and your home will be a much happier place as a result. 

Information courtesy of Wilmington Real Estate Expert Tucker Robbins.

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