Two more ‘E’ words set JtRealty Lakefront to Mountainside apart: education and execution. The real estate market in the Mt.  Washington Valley is dynamic; our team shares and develops complementary expertise to provide our clients with a result-based experience. Satisfaction is the job done today, not tomorrow.

Our work does not stop after the transaction is closed. Client feedback is critical for continued small company success. Not only does JtRealty Lakefront to Mountainside “hear” client testimonies but we “act” as well. My most recent testimony was cause to celebrate: a Bearfoot Creek land purchase on Attitash Bear Peak in Bartlett NH, that hit the market four days only. We closed in 12.

“Joy is ‘excellent’ in service performance. She followed up with all details both complicated and simple. Our transaction went extraordinarily well. THANK YOU.” – Drs. Nelson & Debra Pan, Melrose MA

We would like you to become a raving fan too, so review our latest best buys or email me your specific criteria. Your purchase or sale is a testimony away.

This home in Fryeburg is picture-perfect

Sometimes all you have to do to make a ho-hum property really sparkle are a few little inexpensive tricks.

You know the saying, “you only have one chance to make a good first impression”. When a buyer walks up to your home, make sure it is inviting. If necessary, paint the front door.  If your doorknob is old, invest in a shiny new one. Make sure the front steps are swept clean of debris, and of course, shoveled off in winter.

In summer, a potted plant on the top step and window boxes full of flowers are very welcoming. In autumn, decorate the entrance with pumpkins or mums.

In winter, make sure the ski paraphernalia is put away and not lying around the mudroom. Buyers will want to make sure that there is enough storage for their winter gear.

When a showing is scheduled, turn on all lights and leave the house.

Inside, add touches of luxury. Place fresh flowers, beautiful linens and large, white fluffy towels throughout the home. Set the table with your good dishes, as if you’re expecting company.

Use slipcovers on mismatched furniture. If a piece of furniture is an essential part of the room but it doesn’t match well, or if the upholstery is worn, slipcover it.

Clean out the closets. Buyers will poke around the closets in the house to see if there is enough room for their clothing and personal items. Throw out or donate anything you haven’t worn in two years and put dryer sheets between clothing to maintain a fresh smell. (Conway Area Humane Society  accepts donations at their re-sale shop, ReTails in Norcross Circle).

Invest in new light switch covers. Most buyers will interact with several of the light switches throughout the house. Worn and dirty switch covers show inattention to detail.

Make traces of your pets disappear. Do not remind the buyer of the smells, hassle and daily toll a pet takes on a house.  Vacuum carpets with a pet freshener product.

Play soothing music during a showing. Instrumental or jazz music will provide harmony throughout the house which will help to muffle the sounds of traffic and life outside the walls of your home.

Clean anything a buyer will possibly touch. Buyers will touch different parts of the home to get a feel for what it would be like to actually live there. Thoroughly wash all doorknobs, cabinets, cupboards and hand rails.

Of course, it goes without saying, make sure that the entire home is spotlessly clean and uncluttered.  Now is a good time to start packing up anything that you do not use regularly. Pack away all the clutter and store it in cartons in the garage or basement. Let the buyers imagine their own belongings and furnishings in your home. Don’t distract them with your family photos and memorabilia.

It doesn’t have to cost you a bundle to make your home welcoming and buyer-friendly.

By Joy Tarbell

In this market, selling a house can be more challenging than ever. As a real estate professional, I have used many ideas to help clients make their property look its most attractive to potential buyers. As a REALTOR for three decades, I have suggestions and tips to maximize your potential in selling your home.

Every house and every property is different, and I recognize that a “walk through” can inspire specific ideas for each property. But here are some universal suggestions that will make any house look more appealing for sale.

1. Clean everything. Eliminate damaged and soiled items, get rid of half of the furniture and rearrange the other half, and remove any personal items. It is important to give the buyers the ability to see themselves in the property.
2. Accent lighting. This can help make the home more attractive and accentuate the positives by highlighting the homes attributes and diminish the negatives of any setting. The key is to realize that you are playing with contrasts.
   • A light along fabulous furnishings, an architectural element, or detail will show that element off.
     A light behind an object will frame the object in darkness and bathe what is behind it in a wash of light.
   • Use highlight and contrast to make a room feel longer, higher, or warmer.
   • Keep the elements that you do not want seen in darker settings, and the ones you want highlighted in light.
     Set the mood with accent lighting and candles to provide warmth and drama that will set your property apart from all others.
     Accent lighting is the easiest and most effective enhancement.

Some other home lighting tips:

3. Paint. This is perhaps the most common enhancement that is done to a property. Because a buyer might have their own ideas about colors, I usually do not recommend a full paint job unless the property needs it. Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint is only required in a few areas to refresh a house. I have found that the front door is a good place for new paint, as it is the first part of the house to be touched by a potential buyer.
4. Don’t go overboard with fancy flooring. There was a time that new berber carpeting and travertine meant that the FOR SALE sign would be installed the next week. None of the buyers that I shopped with planned to keep any of those inexpensive additions. People were buying houses, not because of the new carpet and new stone, but because the market was hot. Many of my clients would have preferred to restore older tile work, choose the color and quality of carpets, and completely renovate the kitchen. None of them liked having to pay for improvements that would be replaced. The floors and surfaces should be clean and attractive, but unless there is damage, I suggest lovely area rugs that your client can take with them.
5. Replace the hardware in the kitchen and baths. It’s a fairly inexpensive way to refresh your property. If the cabinets are in decent shape, new knobs can update a room easily. These are little details that can make a huge impact on a potential buyer. If the front door knob is in disrepair, it will be hard to get a buyer’s confidence back.
6. Spruce up the exterior. Follow the same advice as the interior and apply it to the exterior. Make sure that everything is clean and edit the furnishings. New cushions for the outdoor furniture can immediately make the yard look more comfortable. You might need to replace the light fixtures, since the elements are usually not very kind to exterior accessories. Consider a few nice plants in lovely pots and a brass wind chime to heighten the outside living experience.

I hope that these suggestions will help you provide inexpensive and effective ways to help you present your property in the best way.