Kat Geralis Home Team Wilmington DE Real Estate News Archives

Many Delaware and Pennsylvania homeowners tend to believe spring is the best time to list their property and prepare to move on to a better, more suitable home. And while they may not be wrong, it is important to note that selling is not always the best answer for every scenario. Depending on how long you've spent in the home and your location—among other factors—it may be ideal to consider staying put and simply making a few improvements. 

Below are five questions to ask yourself as you determine whether to sell or renovate your Delaware or Pennsylvania home this spring:

How long have you been in the home?
If you have spent decades in your Delaware or Pennsylvania home, it may be time to consider a move to a new property that better suits your tastes and space needs now. However, if it's been less than five years, consider staying a little longer. It may be best to determine what improvements could be made to allow the property to better accommodate you and your family. 

Do you know what renovation requires?
Renovation is an exciting concept— dreaming up changes to your Delaware or Pennsylvania home and seeing them come to life. But just keep in mind that real life renovation is not a real estate reality TV show. These projects can take much more money than you anticipate and last much longer than planned. Be sure to cover all of your bases, from required permits to budget, before you decide to start your projects. 

Will your projects over-improve your home?
Home prices in Delaware and Pennsylvania are, for the most part, based on comparable properties in the area. It is important that your renovation won't over-improve your home so much that you price it out of the neighborhood when the time does come to sell.

Have I outgrown the home or will I soon?
Many buyer motives in today's real estate market is space— a lack of it! Take stock of your storage and family needs in terms of bedrooms and living space. Have you already outgrown your home? Can you see yourself needing more space in the near future? If so, it may be best to consider moving on now!

Could my location be better?
For homeowners everywhere, location is one of the most important priorities! There's a reason why location, location, location is a common phrase in real estate. Where is your home located in Delaware or Pennsylvania? Do you like your neighborhood? What are home prices like in your area? If you can think of a better place your home could be located, consider selling and moving to your ideal area. If not, it is likely best to stay put and make the necessary improvements to your home. 

Do not hesitate to contact the Kat Geralis Home Team for more information to help you make this important Renovate vs. Sell decision this spring! We have walked numerous homeowners through the process and are here to help you do the same!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
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Especially during the winter months, once all of the holiday decor is put away, Delaware and Pennsylvania homeowners start to play with how to make their living spaces feel both brighter and larger. After all, homebuyers today are looking for that open, airy layout! There are dozens of easy ways to go about it, and even if you are working with a smaller footprint in your Delaware or Pennsylvania area home, you can count on the Kat Geralis Home Team for expert tips!

Below are five ways you can make your Delaware and Pennsylvania home both look and feel larger:

Don't empty the room
If you're already prepping to sell the home—maybe you've even moved on to another property—don't feel tempted to leave the rooms empty. You may think this makes the spaces feel larger, but it can actually confuse buyers as they have no point of reference for their own furniture or if there is enough room for entertaining.

Highlight focal points
As you are arranging furniture, mind the focal points of the rooms. Do you have a great picture window? How about a fireplace? Consider these in your seating arrangements and furniture placement to draw attention to them without letting the space feel cluttered. For example, you wouldn't want to place a chair in front of that window and block the view!

Do a furniture edit
It may seem obvious that clutter will cause your Delaware or Pennsylvania home to feel smaller, but just to be certain you're not going down that road, do a furniture "edit." Opt for a smaller loveseat and chairs instead of a large sectional, remove knick knacks and excess decor items like baskets that could be taking up vital floor space.

Stay neutral
Deep, bold colors may be trendy, but not when it comes to selling your Delaware or Pennsylvania home and creating an illusion of a larger space. Stick to a neutral palette as it will appeal to more buyers and trick the eye into thinking the space is airier and more open than it actually is.

Let in the light
We may not currently have much to work with in the middle of winter, but you will want to let in as much light as possible! Before buyers arrive, turn on all of the lights, replacing any dim bulbs, and open all of the curtains. If you have exterior lights, be sure to turn those on as well.

As always, if you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Delaware or Pennsylvania, do not hesitate to reach out! The Kat Geralis Home Team is here to help!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
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As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home— but it's also the place that can become the messiest! With the new year just days away, Delaware and Pennsylvania residents are preparing for a fresh start and what better spot than in this busy area of your home?

Follow these easy tips for creating a clean slate in your kitchen just in time for 2020:

Clean out the cabinets
First, start by removing any odds and ends that belong in other places of your Delaware or Pennsylvania home— mail, books, electronics. Next, empty every cabinet, drawer and shelf, clearing out any broken or rarely used pieces to make more room for the others. Tackle the pantry and toss out any expired items or anything you're trying to steer clear of in the new year ahead.

Clean off all of the shelves, the inside of drawers and cabinets and begin to place the items back inside. Just make sure the items you use most often or those close to expiring are well within your reach!

Clear away grease and grime
A well-used kitchen can be quite messy, so it's time to give everything a good cleaning! Remove all oven knobs, drawer pulls and appliance handles and soak them in a soap and water mixture. While they are soaking, wipe down every surface with a kitchen degreaser, including tile grout and backsplashes. 

Be sure to dust spice racks, pot hangers, light fixtures and clocks that may be high enough to forget about!

Mind the appliances
Two of the most frequently used items in your kitchen are likely the oven and the refrigerator and they can quickly build up residue and grease if not cleaned often. Treat these just as you did the cabinets earlier— pull everything out, toss out expired or old items, soak racks and shelves and wipe down with a degreaser or specific appliance cleaner. 

Soak the burners if possible and clean any fallen food that may have collected underneath. Before you put everything back together, make it a point to dust coils and fans behind the appliances.

As always, if you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Delaware or Pennsylvania, do not hesitate to reach out!

We wish you a happy and safe new year!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
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Many homeowners in Delaware and Pennsylvania believe spring and summer are the best, if not the only, time to sell— but that is not always the case! In fact, it is this idea that brings a wave of new inventory to the market every spring and thus, increases competition among home sellers!

Instead, consider the benefits of selling your home during the holidays or the winter season, in general. There are numerous factors that make this time of year one of the best to move on and the Kat Geralis Home Team is happy to share a few with you below!

The lack of competition
Just as I mentioned above, there are simply fewer homes for sale in Delaware and Pennsylvania during the winter months. Because many homeowners prepare and renovate their homes in the winter in order to list in the spring, the inventory tends to remain on the lower side this time of year. By selling your home now, you can give your home more time in the spotlight than any other time of year!

Buyers are more likely to notice your home now as they will have fewer properties to overwhelm them!

Buyers are ready to move
Just before the start of the new year, homebuyers in Delaware and Pennsylvania grow increasingly motivated to change their scenery and settle into a new home. Or they may have a strong reason to— job changes and relocation are two common factors for moving into a new home before the new year.

Holiday decor
While we may not have any snow in Delaware and Pennsylvania, the holiday season does evoke magical feelings for buyers. Seeing properties lit up at night or draped in festive greenery can help buyers feel more at home and see themselves (and their own decorations!) in the new space. Listing your home this time of year can play to your advantage simply due to the charm of the season.

Remember, if you're thinking about waiting until spring to sell your home in Delaware or Pennsylvania, so is everybody else! Contact the Kat Geralis Home Team today to discuss how you can take advantage of the winter season by listing now!

Ready to get started on listing your home before 2020 comes? We even offer FREE Home Valuations and FREE Home Seller e-Guides!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

As we get closer to the official start of winter in Delaware and Pennsylvania and temperatures continue to drop, homeowners would be wise to consider whether they are prepared for winter storms ahead. While some may feel prepared for any weather coming our way, others will be scrambling to de-ice sidewalks and driveways and protect pipes after the fact. 

As your local Delaware and Pennsylvania real estate experts, the Kat Geralis Home Team is happy to provide a few suggestions to protect your property from winter weather and help you stay as stress-free as possible through these hectic holiday months.

Remember, the cold, winter conditions can wreak havoc on your home and it's important to take the following steps ahead of time:

Shut off outdoor faucets
Be sure to shut off inside valves for your outdoor faucets and unhook hoses. Any excess water left in the exterior faucets should be drained ahead of a snowfall in Delaware and Pennsylvania. When the temperatures dip low, the pipes leading to these faucets are susceptible to damage, so you might also consider wrapping them in a towel for added insulation.

Protect indoor pipes
Cold air can also put your indoor pipes at risk of bursting. Open your cabinet doors under the sink to allow warm air from your home to circulate inside. If necessary, you can always turn up the heat inside your Delaware or Pennsylvania home to warm up the pipes.

Clean the gutters
Prior to a snowstorm, your gutters should be clear of any leaves as ice dams can form and flood your home.

Purchase salt and sand
Sprinkling salt or sand ahead of a snowfall can actually cut down on your shoveling time! A few hours before the snowfall, toss on walkways and driveways to be safe.

Check carbon monoxide detectors
Gas appliances and wood-burning fireplaces have the potential to produce carbon monoxide, so it is always wise to conduct a routine check of your detectors. 

As your local Delaware and Pennsylvania real estate experts, the Kat Geralis Home Team is here to answer any questions you might have about buying or selling a home in the winter months—as well as year-round—so do not hesitate to contact us!

And if moving is on your agenda before 2020, we even offer FREE Home Valuations and FREE Home Seller e-Guides!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

Thanksgiving is now just two weeks away and as a Delaware and Pennsylvania area resident, you may be preparing to host the holiday in your home. You've cleaned each room from top to bottom, you've purchased your turkey, but just as your guests arrive, you realize the oven won't heat.

Holiday hassles are not uncommon in the hustle and bustle of the season, but there are precautions you can take to avoid them!

Follow these three rules to make sure you can enjoy your Thanksgiving feast without worry.

Problem: The Oven Won't Heat
Unfortunately, a heating malfunction in the oven will pop up in Delaware and Pennsylvania homes everywhere during the holiday season. But the good news is that there is an easy solution to prevent it! Do not allow the oven to self-clean until after the holidays as you risk blowing a fuse or thermostat. What's more, it can be tricky to find an available oven technician around this busy time of year.

Problem: You Have No Heat
Although the weather may not call for much heat this Thanksgiving, you don't want to risk your thermostat going out. The key to this is having your HVAC system serviced as usual each year. Regular maintenance tasks like replacing the filter can help you avoid holiday disasters such as this.

Problem: The Fridge Won't Cool
Thanksgiving cooking requires a chilly refrigerator to keep every dish in its best form and discovering this problem too late can really put a damper on your holiday plans. Install a thermometer on your fridge to make sure it stays below 40 degrees. The coils located underneath or on the back of the appliance should be free of dust and allowed to breathe. Remove any boxes that may be preventing air from circulating around these.

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the busy holiday season and an opportune time to both buy a new home and sell your current home in Delaware and Pennsylvania. 

If you're feeling like moving on to a new home for the new year ahead, contact the Kat Geralis Home Team today for more information about your home selling options in Delaware and Pennsylvania!

We even offer a FREE Home Seller e-Guide!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
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It's time for a new Delaware and Pennsylvania real estate market update! As you know, the market is always changing, especially with the seasons, but buyer demand is still high in Delaware and Pennsylvania since buyers now shop year-round for properties on their smartphones, tablets, even set up email alerts with new listings! 

Inventory is still slightly under where it was at this time last year. But remember, this is always changing! If you have questions about the market where you live, it is always best to contact your agent for an up-to-date look at the market. As your local experts, the Kat Geralis Home Team is here to help!

From July to September 2019, 2,004 homes were sold (about the same as the last time we shared this report) with a median sold value of $248,000 (slightly up from our last report). The number of units listed during this timeframe was 2,199 homes— which comes in just under this number from our last report, but as you can see, buyers are still very much browsing inventory and not waiting long to jump on the home that best meets their needs! Even with the changing seasons!

The average days on the market for New Castle County for homes listed during July, August, and September are as follows:

July: 37

August: 42

September: 39

While the summer months are typically a popular time for buyers to move homes in New Castle County, you'll notice that the Days on Market (DOM) for properties during this time didn't drop much as we headed into September.

Updated real estate market stats can provide brief insight into the local real estate market, but they are just that— brief! Contact us today for more information about the market where you live in Delaware or Pennsylvania or with any questions you have about buying or selling a home before the end of the year!

We even offer FREE First-Time Home Buyer Seminars!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

If you haven't heard about the latest and greatest from the real estate world, you'll want to put iBuying Programs on your radar! 

iBuying real estate companies essentially allow motivated sellers to submit their properties to buyers who can make an instant cash offer.

eXp has just debuted their iBuying Program, called Express Offers, and while currently only available in select markets, plans to expand the program into more states by the end of the year. 

Express Offers, eXp's iBuying platform, allows agents to submit their sellers' homes to several institutional investors who are able to make an instant cash offer. In addition, the agent can submit the home to more than one investor to yield multiple offers for their sellers— whereas many other iBuying programs only allow for one instant offer at a given time.

Why is this appealing to sellers? iBuyers allow home sellers the opportunity to unload their home quickly, equalling a faster sale and avoiding traditional marketing.

If iBuying Programs are something that strikes a chord with you or you're interested to learn more, keep reading for a few key facts on what you should know:

• iBuying Programs typically look for homes that meet specific requirements, IE. age of the home, condition, improvements needed.
   
• Offer prices are often less than the current market value due to the iBuyer wanting to make a profit (and likely quick!).
   
• iBuying Programs can cost you more in fees, potentially ranging from 13 to 15 percent of a home's sale price.

Contact the Kat Geralis Home Team today for more information about your home selling options in Delaware and Pennsylvania!

We even offer a FREE Home Seller e-Guide!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

With the majority of buyers today starting their home search online, it is important to wow them during this initial look. If Delaware and Pennsylvania buyers see something they don't like just from flipping through listing photos, they are less likely to ever make it to the front door for a showing or visit an open house.

So how do you pique the interest of buyers in Delaware and Pennsylvania without turning them off?

Below are five things you will want to avoid as a home seller in our area:

Do not convert your garage
Keep in mind that a large number of buyers who will begin house hunting this spring are first-timers who are tired of renting, with others simply in the market for more space (which includes a place to park their car). Avoid converting your garage to anything other than what it was intended for— that means no living room, gym or media space.

Do not convert your spare bedrooms
If you have multiple bedrooms in your Delaware or Pennsylvania home, you can get by with keeping one as an office space while it is on the market as this can easily be changed back. But if you have built-in media equipment, wine storage, craft or workbenches in additional bedrooms, it could be a major turn-off for buyers who are looking for more space for their family.

Do not lay carpet over hardwood
Buyers today love wood floors, so don't cover them up if you have them! Older homes are more likely to have a layer of carpet over wood flooring and you might consider removing it before buyers arrive.

Do not leave out your dog accessories
Of course you love your pets, but a potential buyer may not. Pick up any toys or beds that are scattered around the house and consolidate them to one area.

Do not install bold fixtures
A helpful rule of thumb for Delaware and Pennsylvania home sellers this year is to create a neutral space that appeals to the majority of buyers. That means swapping out your over the top light fixtures with those more on the simple side. 

Selling your home may seem like uncharted territory if you're not familiar with the process, but we have decades of experience in assisting homeowners! Give the Kat Geralis Home Team a call today with any questions you have about listing your home or how you can prepare your property for the real estate market. 

We even offer a FREE Home Seller e-Guide!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

Fall is nearly here and it's no secret that homebuyers don't hold back from perusing homes in the local real estate market during this time of year. Mortgage rates are still historically low, home prices are rising in addition to rents and first-timers are ready to invest into something of their very own in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

But when you are new to purchasing a home, you can overlook the many ways you can potentially save money in the process. Keep the following in mind as you house hunt this spring and as always, do not hesitate to reach out to our experts at the Kat Geralis Home Team with any questions!

Look past cosmetic issues
Many first-time buyers in Delaware and Pennsylvania tour a home only to write it off because they didn't like the paint colors. Remember that these are only minor cosmetic issues and can easily be fixed! Look past the paint and if the home could work for you, you might want to act before the competition does!

Get pre-approved
This step may not save you money, but it will save you time when a seller is reviewing offers. A pre-approval letter shows you are serious about the purchase and that you have the funds to back up your offer.

Don't open new credit cards
If you want to set yourself up to receive the best possible interest rate for your mortgage, it is wise to steer clear of opening any new lines of credit prior to applying. These hard inquiries on your credit report will remain there for up to two years and as a result, can cause a drop in your score.

Shop around for a mortgage
Even seasoned homebuyers in Delaware and Pennsylvania forget to shop around for a mortgage! Gather rates from different lenders on the same day in order to accurately compare terms and rates. Even the smallest different in percentage can equate to thousands over the life of the loan.

Work with an agent
Did you know working with a real estate agent saves you more money when both buying and selling a home than if you tried it on your own? The Kat Geralis Home Team has decades of experience in assisting buyers navigate the market and can help you negotiate the best offer possible.

We would be glad to assist you with finding your dream home in Delaware or Pennsylvania this fall! Give us a call today for more information and a list of available properties!

We even offer FREE First Time Home Buyer Seminars!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook