Home Selling Tips for the Holidays

Although there are fewer buyers actively looking for new homes between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year, it’s important to remember that the key word here is fewer.  That doesn’t mean that no one is looking!  In fact, buyers who are searching for a home during the traditional "slow" time are typically very motivated.  If they are involved in a relocation to the West Bank, you can bet that the holiday season doesn’t put their home search on the back burner. 

You have a wonderful opportunity to show your home at its sparkling best when decorated for the season…provided you follow a few tips:

Subtle decorations are the most welcoming

I know that you are proud of your collection of inflatable lawn decorations that took you years to amass.  But making your front yard look like the display area of the local discount store is not the way to entice buyers to the front door.  Santa, the reindeer, the elves and Frosty will all understand the extra year in storage, I promise.

Don’t let your tree(s) take over the room(s)

I’ll be the first to admit that I used to be a snob about my Christmas tree, so I bought two of them every year.  One for me, with all of my lovely, coordinated ornaments and other decorations.  And one for the kids, for all of that tacky junk they insist on hanging on the tree and then smothering in tinsel.  As the kids have grown, we’ve reached a compromise with one tree, but tinsel is still not allowed.  When decorating your tree, keep in mind that less is more.  Neatly stacked presents with matching bows might seem over the top to you, but will make a really good impression on a buyer!

Fresh seasonal flowers or plants make a space more inviting

Poinsettias, fresh garlands and pine cones – all of these things give just the right touch.  That blinking wreath that plays O Christmas Tree when anyone approaches the front door does not.

Scents of the season

The aroma of the holidays can fill your house with just a little cider warming on the stove.  Trust me, buyers prefer the smell of cinnamon to that of the cat box (which should be discreetly tucked away in a spot that the cat knows about).

Sounds of the season

Soft, seasonal background music can set the stage for a showing.  Please remove Grandma and the drunken reindeer from the CD player immediately.

Lighting

I saved this for last because it’s where most faux pas occur.  Neatly hung lights along the house are attractive and festive.  But, just as the inflatables have to spend another year in storage, so does the giant blinking star for the roof.  Those crazy blinking lights that spell out Merry Christmas to the satellites?  Out.  I’ll even go out on a limb here and say that I’m pretty sure that the astronauts are not looking for their next home from space.

Remember, decorations should serve to enhance the beauty of your home – not distract potential buyers from actually seeing it!  Have a question about selling your home during the holidays?  Give me a call or drop me an email.  It would be my pleasure to help.

More about selling your West Bank home:

• Getting Your Home Sold in This Market – 10 Steps to Success According to Professional Home Stagers
• Home Selling Tips and FAQs

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

West Bank Real Estate FAQ: What Do I Have to Bring to the Closing?

In the final days before a closing, I always hear the same question from every buyer and seller:  What do I need to bring? Lucky for you, it’s a pretty short list!

Buyers

• Drivers license – The law requires all title companies to verify your identification by making a copy of your drivers license or state ID.  Don’t worry, they have privacy policies in place to keep your information safe.
• Certified funds – Once you know the amount of money you will need to bring to the closing, don’t forget that the funds will need to be in the form of a cashier’s check made payable to the title company. 
• Additional documents – Occasionally, there will be something special requested by a lender.  If so, don’t hold up your closing by forgetting it. 

Sellers

• Drivers license – As with buyers, the title company must verify that you are who you say you are
• All keys to the house – Much appreciated by the buyers
• Gate code – If you live in a gated community, the new owners might want to be able to get in!
• Alarm information – Directions for use, your super secret code and contact information for the alarm company
• List of special service providers – Pool service, lawn service, your go-to air conditioning guy…all of this can be life saving for a new owner
• Receipts for repairs – If there were any repairs or improvements made after inspections, bring the receipts with you (this is part of the inspection response agreement)

That’s it!  By the time you are ready to go the closing, the hard part is over.  Negotiations are finished, repairs are done and the movers have packed for you.  Congratulations on a successful sale!

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

5 Family Friendly Things To Do on the West Bank of New Orleans

With the end of the year racing towards us, you probably have a calendar filled with "things to do".  Parties, shopping, cooking…not to mention fitting some work in there somewhere.  Even though it’s a very hectic time of year, I still think it’s important to find some down time to spend with the kids.  After all, with all of the emphasis on family during the holiday season, it might be nice to actually get to spend some time with them.

That said, here are my top 5 picks for things to do with the kids for the rest of 2008:

Turkey Bingo

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 – Family friendly bingo sponsored by the Sunshine Club of Algiers.  Head over to the Holy Name of Mary School cafeteria and play bingo for turkeys!  Food, drinks, sweets and raffles start at 7:30 pm.

Plaquemines Parish Orange Festival

Friday through Sunday, December 5-7, 2008.  Held at the Medal of Honor Park on Barriere Rd., the Orange Festival offers fun, food, music, a 5k run, contests for the kids (sack races, a pie eating contest, an orange race) and more.  Visit the Orange Festival website for a complete weekend schedule.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Caroling in Gretna

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – See Santa, sing Christmas carols and watch as the official tree of the City of Gretna is lit for the first time.  The fun starts at 6 pm at Gretna City Hall and everyone is welcome.

Donate a Toy to Toys for Tots

Friday, December 12, 2008 – The Marine Forces Reserve Band will be performing Santa Meets Sousa.  Free and open to the public, a donation of a new, unwrapped toy is suggested.  All toys collected will benefit the children living in the Westwego area.

Make a Holiday Craft

Saturday, December 20, 2008 – All ages are welcome to join the park ranger at Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego for a morning of crafts.  The fun starts at 10 am.  Call (504) 736-7155 for more information.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season,

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Where Is Your PCS Taking You?

Have you received PCS orders from NAS JRB New Orleans or NSA New Orleans to a new military installation in the U.S? 

While a PCS is just a normal part of being in the military, it doesn’t make your upcoming move any easier or less stressful.  After choosing the right West Bank agent to help sell your home, the next most important choice you have to make is determining who will assist you in finding a new home in your new community.

If you are relocating from the West Bank to another part of the country, I can help you find just the right REALTOR in your new destination.  As part of a nationwide network of agents who are dedicated to assisting military families with their relocations, I have contacts who specialize in the areas surrounding major military bases from coast to coast (and Alaska and Hawaii too!) and who know the schools, neighborhoods and ins and outs of the community.

Don’t stumble through your military relocation alone – give me a call.  While you are packing, I’ll find the right partner for your next move.

 

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

Let’s Talk Turkey – Turkey Bingo!

Next week the kids are out of school and the grocery stores will be packed with folks hunting and gathering all of the things they need to prepare too much food for too few people.  For many, it’s a stressful time, trying to do everything just so.  I don’t know about you, but I usually need a break from all of the preparations and look forward to some time out of the house just to have a little fun.

What could be more fun than Turkey Bingo?

The Sunshine Club of Algiers is sponsoring it’s annual Turkey Bingo on Tuesday, 11/25/2008 in the Holy Name of Mary School cafeteria in Algiers Point.  Since the 1930’s, the Sunshine Club has distributed holiday baskets to between 150-200 local families in need.  The big, annual spaghetti dinner was canceled this year due to Gustav, so Turkey Bingo needs your support!

Winners of the bingo games get their very own turkey to take home and it’s a wonderful way to spend a little quality time with friends, family and neighbors.  Here’s a thought – if you win, the Sunshine Club will gladly take that turkey as a donation towards the Christmas baskets that will be distributed on December 20th.

The first game starts at 7:30 pm and bingo cards are only $1.50 each.  Watch out for those power players that can play a table full of cards at once!  Kids, as always, are welcome and there will be food, drinks and sweets available along with a parade of prizes and a 50/50 raffle.

For more information, contact Gary Laigast  at (504) 450-7460.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living.  All rights reserved.

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