As the old saying goes,”you never get a second chance to make a first impression”.  The same holds true in selling your home!

GETTING READY TO SELL

One of the most important things to do before putting your home on the market is to take care of the “easy” things. Make a list of things that need to be repaired – leaky faucets, chipped paint and loose hinges – and fix those items. 

FIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CURB APPEAL

Curb appeal, or how your home shows from the street, is one of the key things that will sell or not sell your home. If buyers are turned off by the outside of the home, it will be very difficult for you to get them into the home and change their opinion. Curb appeal will be the key to making the right first impression. Here are 5 things you can do to improve your home’s curb appeal.

1. Declutter the yard by removing toys and lawn furniture

2. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes and edges, plant fresh  flowers to add color OR  leave open space with fresh mulch for them to plant the colors they want

3. Paint doors and windows with a fresh updated color

4. Patch holes in the driveway and reapply sealant

5. Wash windows and screens

SHOWING YOUR HOME - DO’S AND DON’TS CHECKLIST

MAKE sure you have successful showings AND Follow these proven showing do’s and don’ts and you’ll be on your way:

SHOWING DO’S

• Clean the home from top to bottom

• Mow your lawn

• Send pets to the neighbors

• Keep things organized and clutter free

SHOWING DON’TS

• Leave valuables out and on display

• Leave pictures or personal effects out

• Clutter in closets (buyers will open these areas)

• Allow pets fur or smell to permeate the house (always vacuum up fur and neutralize any pet odors)

STAGING BASICS-

What is staging, anyway? Staging is the process of enhancing the impression a prospective buyer has about your home. Staging is all about removing things from your home that make it look smaller, drab or dated OR too personalized. It differs from decorating because decorating involves bringing things into the home to enhance the look of it. The key to staging is simplicity and getting prospective buyers to a place where they can picture themselves in the home.

DECLUTTER – Remove “you” from the home (meaning pictures, personal items, religious relics). Replace personal photos with scenery or postcards. Less is more! A good rule to follow is to have no more than 3 items on any surface. Remove all items from kitchen counters and store them away.

NEUTRALIZE – Neutralize the rooms with light- colored paint, like creams, tans and white. Keep bright colors to a minimum and use neutral and/or natural colors that can work with many different styles.

KEEP IT CLEAN – Nothing sells better than a clean and well — maintained home. Always keep the home feeling and smelling clean for showings. Some inexpensive upgrades that can make a huge difference to the buyer include:

• New bed treatment (especially for the master bedroom)

• New towels for the towel rods

• Fresh paint

• Replacing old lamps or lighting fixtures

FEELING OVERWHELMED OR DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO STAGE-

Hire a professional stager to take care of it all. Pricing can range from$1800 up to $5,000 depending on the job.  There are some realtors that offer free staging on listings they list. Meaning, they stage the home with your items and accessories getting it in “showing condition".  

I offer free staging with my property listings!

~Jessica Alaine

5 Reasons to hire a Professional Interior Designer

Looking to update your interior décor? Or maybe you’re moving into a new home and want to add your unique interior design, but aren’t sure if you should do it alone? Deciding whether you’ll do it yourself or hire a design professional can greatly affect the outcome of your project. But what does an interior designer really do? Why should you use one? To help answer those questions, we’re going to cover the top 5 advantages of using a professional interior designer.

1) Guidance by an Expert

Who doesn’t want the benefits of expert knowledge? An interior designer knows where to start, how to plan for success and what it takes to create the desired end result. From design styles to making lists , mixing and matching of style tastes and decisions.  A designer lends advantages at every stage of your project.

2) Project Management

Your interior designer is there to listen to your inspirations and create a unique plan based on your wants and needs. Each design project is different and an interior designer will recognize this, then cater to what you want in your own creative way. Interior design and design & remodel projects can quickly become massive undertakings. But with experts managing the work for you, you’ll know the job is getting done efficiently and if something unexpected comes up, your designer is there to handle it for you.

3) Get More for Your Budget

We all want to get the best deal for our budget. With an interior designer, you will be able to stay within your budget without having to sacrifice customer service or style. Not only will an interior designer help you decide on options, they have industry connections, special places to find that perfect item that may not be at the mainstream shops. They’ll help you to find what you’re looking for at better than retail prices, passing the savings along to you!

4)  Eliminate Stress and Save Time

Interior design projects can easily become overwhelming. Luckily, your interior designer  is there to handle the entire process which saves you time. You can choose your level of involvement, but don’t forget that you’re paying for a well designed and managed project. So reduce your stress and let them do the work. When there is more than one owner, it can get tricky, your designer knows how to add looks that both owners like and bring them together for a harmonious  feel and look and They’ll be the ones doing the back-and-forth with all the contractors and companies involved to complete your project.

5) Amazing Results

When everything is all said and done, you should expect to see stunning results from your interior designer. You collaborated with them and leveraged their professional expertise, and together you created amazing design results.

Designing the interior of your dreams should be a fun and exciting experience. There are many advantages to using a professional interior designer, but everyone’s situation is different. So it’s best to assess what’s most important to you, and then make the decision that gives you the best chance to achieve your interior design goals. I have worked with many budgets and situations and am happy to offer my design skills to your next project.

~Jessica Alaine

What Is A House Rehab?

It is the process of taking a property and restoring or improving upon it. This usually helps boost the property’s condition without drastically changing the floor plan. The house is then flipped for greater value, or kept as a portfolio investment for an investor and placed on the rental market. It is  important for investors to first understand the intricacies of such an undertaking. First off, there are three categories of rehabs: personal rehab, rental rehab and a fix and flip. This is important for an investor to comprehend, as each approach will differ in how profits are made, as well as the costs that go into the project.

How Much Does It Cost To Rehab A House?

A rehab can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $75,000 and up. There are three basic expense costs investors should account for: materials, labor and permit costs. To find a rehab project within your budget, it is a good idea to start by assessing the amount of funds you have access to. This will help you narrow down the size of the property and rehab you can take on. Next, begin your online search of potential properties and start your list of items that will need to be repaired or updated.

How Long Does It Take To Rehab A Home?

It can take anywhere from three weeks to six months depending on the size of the job to rehab a home. There are several factors investors can use to determine how long a project will take, including the size of the property, the specific renovation projects, and the team of laborers you hire to get the job done. 

How To Start Rehabbing Houses?

To start rehabbing houses, investors should first research their market area, assess your financing options and assemble a team to work with. A great place to start is by referrals from other investors, attending a real estate networking event in your area if you are local and getting to know other real estate professionals. Property management companies deal with many investors and they can have a list of vendors and project managers to share if you are going to use them to bring the property onto the rental market after renovations are complete. 

Project Management

The importance of finding a quality contractor is second to none when rehabbing a property. These individuals will play a crucial role in transforming your property into a winning investment. However, not all contractors are created equal and if you are not local you may not know which ones are good as you want to steer clear of bad contractors, which can ultimately end up costing time, patience and money. Locating a local project manager is a good alternative, as they will have their contractors vetted, and be familiar with the team’s work and performance.  I have a great team set up here in San Antonio, and have years of experience in locating investment properties, designing the rehab and overseeing the project from start to finish. I am a licensed REALTOR® and also an Accredited Luxury Home Specialist.  My interior design background helps facilitate my input on all the rehab projects I oversee. 

~Jessica Alaine

I love to hike and spend time in nature.  If you enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and spending time in nature as I do then read on, and find out about some amazing hikes and trails in San Antonio and Boerne as Texas is a big state with a diversity of ecosystems. 

Cibolo Nature Center

140 City Park Road, Boerne

In Boerne you must go to visit the Cibolo Nature Center. There are four trails combine to form a 3-mile trek that takes hikers on a mini ecological tour winds through marshes, woods, a creek and a native Texas prairie. Along the Native Texas Prairie Trail, for instance, hikers can experience an ecosystem that once covered a large portion of the state but is now endangered.. The Cibolo Creek Trail, by contrast, is shaded by huge cypress trees and the lush river bank.

Friedrich Wilderness Park

21395 Milsa Drive, San Antonio

180 acres of land  donated by Norma Friedrich Ward “Friedrich Wilderness Park”. The park has added over 400 acres to that original gift. Great trails to enjoy while observing the nature preserve, wildlife watering hole and glimpse some of the endangered birds basking in the sanctuary of the park preserves.  The park has several  named trails with levels of difficulty to select from. 

Eisenhower Park

19399 N.W. Military Hwy., San Antonio

Whitetail deer, armadillos and other wildlife aren’t the only unusual sights.  Because it’s so close to Camp Bullis, there are (often) a lot of military people with big packs on. The fact that the trail is so popular with soldiers in training, is a pretty good indication that it’s not a leisurely stroll. The steep climb, aided in places by stairs, yields plenty of rewards for the effort. At its summit, Hillview lives up to its name, granting spectacular views of the city below. The vantage point is such an attraction that the city even built a viewing tower. The views are definitely the star of the hike, but the descent through rocky low-growth shrubby areas, are interspersed with views of downtown San Antonio!

Comanche Lookout Park

15551 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio

Named for the Native Americans who are said to have used its hill as a lookout point when hunting, Comanche Lookout Park is small but mighty. It offers over 4 miles of trails, including the steep Tower Loop that takes hikers up half a mile to the fourth highest point in Bexar County. The land was originally owned by the second president of the Republic of Texas in the 1840s then purchased in 1923 by retired Army Col. Edward Coppock. He and his sons erected several facilities, including a medieval-style tower that still remains on top of the hill. 

The list is endless... such a blessing, to have so many wonderful hiking trails to explore~

Jessica Alaine

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