Ways to Increase your Home’s Value
By Kevin Mihm | June 23, 2009
When you first purchase a house in Pittsburgh, Wexford or Pine Township, you’re most likely thinking of ways to build a home for you and your family. A big yard means plenty of room for the children to play. A newly renovated kitchen means you can finally throw the types of dinner parties you’ve always wanted. A master suite, well, that’s just icing on the cake. However, when it comes to sell your Pennsylvania home, it’s important to remember that all those little (and big) changes can also mean big little (and big) changes in your sale price.
While most homeowners should make changes to their houses that suit their lifestyle rather than the eventual sale price of their home five, ten, or even twenty years down the road, there are a few things to keep in mind. After all, if you will someday be selling your Pittsburgh house, you want to be sure you’re maximizing your profit.
- Repair all the little things – now. Most of the time, homeowners are willing to overlook the little idiosyncrasies like a broken step on the porch or chipping paint on the kitchen cabinets while they live in their house. These small repair needs are a bit like a knee that acts up in the rain or a car that always requires you to turn the key three times to the right before starting; they just become part of the everyday backdrop of your life. However, for someone buying a home in Pittsburgh, Wexford or considering real estate in Pine Township, these things can become glaring problems. By fixing issues as they arise (rather than waiting until you’re ready to sell your PA home), you not only avoid making major repairs all at once, but you actually get to enjoy the repairs while you live there.
- Know your neighborhood. If you live in one of Pittsburgh’s family-friendly neighborhoods, chances are things like well-maintained yards, large family rooms, and spacious kitchens will be worth more in the long run. If you live in a Wexford condo, you might find that built-in bookshelves and jacuzzi bathtubs are more appropriate. While you don’t have to tailor every change to your eventual sales audience, you can choose to make the types of changes that will translate into the highest returns.
- Don’t ignore the less visible changes. Almost all of the houses for sale in Pittsburgh go through cosmetic changes before they hit the market. Fresh paint, new kitchen appliances, and good landscaping are fairly common. Less common are things like a new roof, updated plumbing, or even a newly-installed automatic sprinkler system. However, these things show up in a home inspection evaluation, and when you put your trust in a PA real estate agent like Kevin Mihm, these types of changes will always get the focus and attention they deserve.
The most important thing you can do to your Pittsburgh home is enjoy the time you’re going to spend there. However, by keeping its eventual sale at the back of your mind, you’ll be able to get the most out of your life – and your investment.
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
Guide to Buying a Fixer-Upper in Pennsylvania
By Kevin Mihm | May 23, 2009
In the Pittsburgh, Wexford, Pine Township Pennsylvania real estate market, buying a home with the intent to fix it up is one of the best investments you can make. There’s no better way to take control over your home ownership than to customize the design, floorplan, and landscaping of everything from a single story rancher to a charming Victorian – especially if you’re looking to use the current Pennsylvania real estate economic climate as a way to get the home of your dreams without breaking the bank.
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
The Importance of Curb Appeal
By Kevin Mihm | April 24, 2009
Most real estate agents will tell you that the best time to sell a home in the Pittsburgh, Wexford, Pine Township Pennsylvania areas is during the late spring and early summer months. When the weather turns warm, the vibrant growing season commences, and children can be seen playing happily in the yard, potential homebuyers really begin to connect with a house – even before they set foot across the threshold.
In real estate lingo, this is known as curb appeal.
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
Staging Your Home
By Kevin Mihm | March 23, 2009
Staging your home is a great way to prepare your home to sale and to make it look alluring to buyers in the Pittsburgh, Wexford, Gibsonia Pennsylvania areas. Staging your home has become popular during the last decade. Read this article to find out some great ideas on how to get your home ready for potential buyers and get it sold sooner, rather than later.
Within the first minute, people decide if they could live in your home. The problem is that there are so many homes on the market right now, that if yours doesn’t catch their eye immediately, then they have other choices. The struggling housing market is forcing people to take more drastic measures to sell their homes. Many homeowners say they need all the help they can get. With the market not being so good, there are ways you can make your house stand out. Staging your home is the way to make your house stand out in the Pittsburgh, Wexford, Gibsonia Pennsylvania areas.
The idea of home staging is to highlight your home’s best attributes and positively affect potential buyers. Staging your home isn’t about your own tastes. It is about making the home appealing to the general population. Whether you go at it alone or use a stager, you need to have the attitude that your home is no longer your home.
Following are some tips to consider:
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
What buyers look for, or look out for when purchasing a home.
By Kevin Mihm | February 12, 2009
What should buyers look for, or look out for when purchasing a home in the Pittsburgh, Wexford, Gibsonia Pennsylvania areas? This article will help sellers look into some important aspects of selling their home and what potential buyers look out for as well.
The way you live in your house is not the way to sell your house. So, what makes a house a home for sale on the market, and one that soon has a “SOLD” sign out on the front lawn? And what aspects are important to look at because potential buyers will ask the question, “How much work are we going to need to do prior to moving in and beyond?” The appearance and cleanliness of the home are significant. Always have your home ready to be shown at a moment’s notice with me, your agent, Kevin Mihm because this is what buyers are looking for. And a tip- burned out lights need to be replaced; classy lighting and upgraded fixtures can ameliorate the value of a home. Also, buyers said they would be willing to pay more for a home with a renovated kitchen.
Here are some things a buyer will look out for when dealing with the purchase of a home. The buyer will consider the following:
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
New Year brings optimism for the 2009 Real Estate Market
By Kevin Mihm | January 28, 2009
What better way to start the New Year, then to bring confidence to our 2009 Real Estate Market. Ringing in the New Year being hopeful and optimistic will allow us to decide what we can do to improve our way of thinking about what is currently going on in the market. The New Year begins with us having a positive outlook and is a promising time for those of us looking to buy a home in the Pittsburgh, Wexford, Gibsonia Pennsylvania areas.
Here are a few reasons to make a real estate investment in 2009:
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
Real Estate during the Holidays
By Kevin Mihm | December 19, 2008
Now is still a really good time for Real Estate in Pittsburgh, Wexford, Gibsonia Pennsylvania areas. Buyers can, and do, get serious during this busy time of year. Lots of sellers take their homes off the market during the holidays, assuming no one will be buying at this time. But with serious buyers still out there and a lower inventory of homes, your home has a good chance of standing out. With fewer homes for sale, competition is decreased. There are good reasons to sell your home during the holidays.
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
Unclutter Your Home and Get It Ready to Sell in Pittsburgh, Wexford, Gibsonia Pennsylvania
By Kevin Mihm | November 22, 2008
It is very important to make a great first impression to the potential buyers of your home. Every seller wants their home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it’s not luck that makes that happen. It’s careful planning and knowing how to efficiently unclutter your home that will excite buyers. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an appealing and marketable home.
Get rid of those items that have been sitting around for years without being used or even handled. This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Buyers and real estate agents should see your house in its best condition from the very first day it’s on the market.
Here are a few approaches to take to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”
Another way to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell is to make those minor repairs and best of all, make the house sparkle! Only do one room, or even one small area, at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Your best friend is the trash bag; when in doubt, throw it out. Many find it easier to use boxes to sort items, so you don’t have to find a home for everything as you unclutter. Most important, be quick and decisive when sorting. Tell yourself:
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
Model Home Show at Lake MacLEOD, Pine Township, Gibsonia PA 15044
By kevinmihm | November 20, 2008
Join us November 22nd and 23rd…12Noon to 4PM LUXURY MODEL HOME SHOW at Lake MacLEOD Every so often something extraordinary happens to change the standard by which luxury housing is measured. Rarely are those changes as profound as the standards achieved at Lake MacLeod which offers beautiful wooded 1+ acre lots overlooking a 10-acre lake, Fishing, Boating, Community Boathouse Recreation Center, Walking, Hiking & Exercise Trails, Playgrounds and beautiful Pennsylvania luxury living at its finest! Only 75 homes will be built in Lake MacLeod. Packages from $950,000.
Four model homes are ready final selections. Move in within 60 days..click here for home information: RES - Full/Photo
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »
Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh announces its Top Agent for September, 2008
By kevinmihm | October 29, 2008
October 27, 2008Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh announces its Top Agent for September 2008Coldwell Banker Real Estate Services is proud to recognize Kevin Mihm for exemplary efforts in September. Top Agent Pittsburgh from the North Hills Office: Kevin Mihm - $4.8 Million in Listing Volume and $3.1 Million in Sales. Kevin Mihm has been Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh’s Top Agent every month since January 2008.
Topics: Pine Township PA Homes for Sale, Pittsburgh PA Real Estate, Wexford Pennsylvania Real Estate | No Comments »