Stacey Bauer- Realtor at the Gary Mercer Team at Keller Williams

Buying a new home at the same time as you’re selling your current home is all about timing , of course. Here are a few ways that you can make buying & selling work for you and your family, without having to move into short-term housing. .... In this scenario, you would focus on finding a new home you list your current home. Once you find a home you love, you will submit an offer with a home sale and settlement contingency- which means you will buy the home only if you can successfully sell your existing home. . This is a great tactic if you’re confident that your current home will sell quickly. With this scenario, you can request to extend the closing date of your new home past the typical 30-45 days. This will give you enough time to sell your current home during that timeframe, before moving into the new home. - . Also known as a post-settlement occupancy agreement, a rent-back allows sellers to stay in their home until a specified date past closing. After settlement, you (the sellers) would pay rent to the buyer who now owns the home (almost as if they are your new landlord for 30-60 days). This would allow you the time and money to find a new home with no contingencies. (). A HELOC allows you to borrow against the equity in your current home. You can use this money as your down payment on the new home, and pay it off once your current home sells. Buying and selling at the same time can be complicated and at times overwhelming, which is why I am here to help make it as stress-free and exciting as possible! If you are thinking of buying and selling at the same time, give me a call. I can help you decide which option may be best for you!

Moving takes a ton of time and energy and can be quite stressful. While moving isn’t by any means easy, I've put together a few helpful tricks to help you pack and unpack faster, reduce the overall amount of work involved, and ultimately make the process go smoother than it might have otherwise! 1. Assemble the first-day basket with disposable plates, cups, and forks so you can eat without your dishes. Don't forget toilet paper, paper towels, and a few cleaning supplies a...s well! 2. While your clothes are still hanging in the closet, put them inside a trash bag to make unpacking simpler. 3. Cover both sides of a mattress with a fitted sheet to keep it clean during the move. 4. Pack books, photos, or other heavy items in wheeled suitcases for easy mobility. 5. Give each room a different color packing label. 6. Use towels and blankets in place of bubble wrap. 7. Use wine cases to pack your glassware. If you're starting to think about a move of your own, I’d love to help! Send me a message today.

Thinking of selling? Here are the three most common home-selling myths I’ve been hearing from clients on a regular basis, along with what you should know about each. MYTH 1: Overpricing a home leaves room for negotiation. Overpricing your house in the belief that you can reduce the price back later is a strategy that can backfire badly. For instance, if you price above market value and sit on the market, buyers may wonder if there’s something wrong with your home that kept ...other buyers away. So to keep from selling your property at below market value and from wasting valuable time, don’t fall into the overpricing trap. MYTH 2: Selling by owner saves me money. It can seem that way at first, but on average, a real estate agent will net you 25% more on your sale (completely covering any agent commissions). When you find the right agent, they will price your property to get you the most money in the shortest time, all while handling all of the paperwork, prospective buyers, and negotiations. There is a reason why less than 10% of homes sales each year are sold by their owners! MYTH 3: A home doesn't need to be prepped for sale. While there are buyers who are looking specifically for a fixer-upper, the majority of buyers in our current market prefer a home that is - . HGTV has set certain expectations for buyers today, and therefore they are willing to pay more to get exactly what they want. We are selling the dream of homeownership, and the dream does not include removing wallpaper, painting the entire house, or installing new flooring throughout. Everyone is busy these days, and they'd rather pay more to have everything already done. There are things we can do that will make a BIG impact in the eyes of a buyer with little impact on your wallet, resulting in a great return on investment. Shoot me a message if I can help you or someone you know with any other real estate questions!

Try to answer the following question ’ ? (The following answers aren’t allowed)... You can’t say you don’t have the time, because everyone has the same amount of hours in a day. You can’t say you don’t have the money, because money can be raised, borrowed, or earned. You can’t say you don’t know how, because any skill can be learned. You can’t say you don’t have a supportive partner, because staying in that relationship means you aren’t supporting yourself. You can’t say fear, because we all know that’s something you’ve made up. You can’t say, I’m what’s stopping me, because there aren’t two of you, so that’s not really plausible. You can’t say your family or friends won’t approve of it, because it’s your life, not theirs. There will NEVER be a perfect time to go after what you want, you just have to take the leap and dive in.

Accurate description of our current real estate market

Just the thought of getting organized and decluttering can feel overwhelming and is easier said than done. Think of decluttering as a way of editing your home it can instantly boost your mood and productivity levels. If you are thinking about getting started on your decluttering journey, I've compiled a list of tips from professional organizers for getting your home in tip-top shape. .... The best way to stay organized is finding a home for everything and making sure the item returns to that place when it is not in use. - . If you haven't used something in over a year, toss it. If you have a junk drawer filled with a dozen pens but you only use two, get rid of the rest. Old glasses with old prescriptions? Donate them. Blankets or towels you don't use anymore? Give them to a local animal shelter. ’ , , . Only keep what you love. This allows you to narrow down your possessions to only your favorite things. . The best way to tackle decluttering is to go one room at a time. This will also build confidence as you experience visible success at each step. Parting with possessions can be emotionally difficult for some people, which is why it's important to take it one step at a time. What room are you going to start in first?

Not feeling like cooking, but still wanting to keep your resolution to eat healthy? Check out some of my favorite local restaurants offering healthy choices! ? ... - Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar - The Juice Merchant - Roots Cafe WC - Saladworks See more

? An way is by swapping out dated lighting fixtures (ugly brass anyone?). Replacing lighting fixtures modernizes a space for very little money, and in spaces like the dining room and kitchen, where a chandelier or pendant light can be quite prominent, a different light fixture can greatly improve the space.