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Bathroom Trends to Avoid When Selling Your Delaware or Pennsylvania Home

Thursday, April 27, 2017
by Katina Geralis

If there are two spaces that can help sell your Greater Wilmington home, it is the kitchen and the bathroom. Buyers today are looking for homes that require little updating and if your home fits the bill, you could already be well on your way to home sale success! But how can you be sure your property has what buyers are looking for?

Let's start with the bathroom! Below are four bathroom trends that could risk turning off Delaware and Pennsylvania homebuyers this year:

The all white bathroom
This may have been the trend in past years, but buyers today are shying away from the all white space. White tile, white floors and white paint in the bathroom can be tricky to keep clean, especially with moisture in the room. But you don't need to completely renovate your bathroom to get around this— you can easily paint and bring in color with towels or even swapping out hardware and light fixtures.

Wacky color schemes
While buyers are looking for color in their bathroom, it's essential to not get too carried away. Outlandish color schemes like mustard yellow, bright pink or even purple can be too much. Introduce subtle colors, sticking to soft hues as much as possible.

Medicine cabinets
This bathroom feature does provide more storage, but it can take up valuable space, especially in small rooms. If you have a medicine cabinet in your Chester County or Delaware County PA home, you might consider replacing it with open shelving or with a simple mirror instead.

Oversized tub
This may make your bathroom feel smaller and buyers will notice. In fact, the desire for bathtubs has been on the decline in recent years, with more buyers preferring a spacious shower. You do not need to remove your tub, but if you're thinking of replacing this feature, be realistic about its size. 

You can count on the Kat Geralis Home Team to walk you through the home sale process, from finding your property value to preparing for showings to negotiating the best offer. Give us a call today for more information! 

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
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Delaware and Pennsylvania Home Improvement Tax Deductions to Take This Year

Thursday, March 2, 2017
by Katina Geralis

If you made home improvements to your Delaware or Pennsylvania home in 2016, you are likely eligible for certain tax deductions that can save you immensely on your return. But how do you know what you are able to deduct from your renovation? The Kat Geralis Home Team has included below those tax-deductible home improvements that you are able to claim:

Energy Efficient Upgrades
This credit is geared toward major system upgrades in your Greater Wilmington or Newark home. In order to claim, you need to have purchased a new AC system, furnace, water heater, skylight, windows, home insulation or energy-efficient roof for your home in 2016. Also, keep in mind there is a lifetime cap of $500 on this credit, so if you've already hit the limit, you cannot claim any more.

Energy Generating Upgrades
As a homeowner, you are able to claim up to 30 percent of the costs of solar panels, solar water heaters, fuel cells, wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps for a tax credit. This credit is good through 2019 and does not have a cap like its energy efficiency counterpart mentioned above.

Upgrades That Add Value
Most renovations made in your Southeastern Pennsylvania or Delaware home are eligible for a tax credit. For instance, if you built an addition, renovated a bathroom or kitchen, replaced your roof, added a deck or replaced any windows or doors, you can deduct those costs, so save your receipts! Remember, the upgrades need to add value to your home, so repairs don't count!

Interest from Home Improvement Loans
Just as you can deduct the interest of your mortgage payments, you can deduct the interest from a home improvement loan or HELOC if the money is used to renovate your home. Any home improvements are eligible for the credit and you can deduct up to $100,000 in interest.

Renovating is a great way to boost value in time to sell your Chester County or Delaware County home this year. Give the Kat Geralis Home Team a call today for more information about selling your home, your home value or available properties in the Greater Wilmington area.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
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Spring Home Projects That Will Boost Your Curb Appeal in Chester County and Delaware County PA

Thursday, March 3, 2016
by Katina Geralis

With the weather beginning to warm up and the official start of spring just a few weeks away, many homeowners in Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley are looking for ways to improve their property. But if you're one of those making a home to-do list this spring, it's important to consider the projects that will be worth your while in terms of boosting curb appeal and adding value.

Consider the following home projects that will pay off when it comes time to sell you home in the Greater Wilmington, DE area or surrounding counties in Pennsylvania.

Clean it up
Before you can start on improvement projects like adding new landscaping or painting the shutters, start by giving your home's exterior a good cleaning. Power wash away all of the grime, dirt and mildew that could have built up over the long winter. Wash the windows, inside and out, and don't forget to wash away any dust or dirt on the garage door. In some cases, simply washing your home can add thousands to the sale price.

Grab your paintbrush
Giving your home's exterior a fresh coat of paint might be just what you need to grab Greater Wilmington buyers' attention this spring. This is one of the easiest and most effective projects to complete—although it can be costly—as both the appraiser and buyer will see the value.

Groom the yard
Your home's lawn is a major focal point, especially in the spring. Take the weekend to clean up any branches and debris from around your home and groom any overgrown hedges, bushes, trees or plants that may give a Delaware or Pennsylvania buyer the wrong impression. 

Add new landscaping
Once your yard is cleaned up, you can start to plan for new flowers and other landscaping. Add fresh mulch around your trees, place a few pots filled with flowers by your front door and give your window boxes a fresh look. 

Replace fixtures
Do you have an old porch light that has a mind of its own? Now is the time to replace fixtures like outdoor lights, mailboxes and house numbers. These may be small touches, but they can have a big impact on giving your home an updated feel.

Questions about selling your home in Greater Wilmington? Wondering what your home might be worth in today's market? Give the KG Home Team a call today! We are here to help!

You can even download our FREE Home Seller e-Guide!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
Find me on Facebook

Staging Newark and Wilmington DE Real Estate to Sell

Thursday, May 1, 2014
by Katina Geralis

More homebuyers will be looking to the Wilmington real estate market this spring and summer. As a home seller, you would do well to highlight your Delaware home's best features. In many cases, staging can make all the difference! Some popular features a Wilmington DE homebuyer looks for are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, storage space, and updated appliance, but they will be looking to see themselves in the home. Your home's overall flow, neutrality and ability to help the buyer feel comfortable are important— and much of this can be achieved by you, the home seller, with home staging. Below are a few staging tips to help you attract more homebuyers to the property:

Update the Spaces
It doesn't take much money to update the rooms in your Wilmington and Newark homes. For instance, a new coat of paint and shiny, upgraded hardware can all be done in a weekend, but really give the spaces a fresh, welcoming feel. To begin, make a great first impression and give your front door a fresh coat of paint. This little detail can help the potential buyer feel invited inside and give them a sunny outlook on the home overall.

Let There Be Light
Bright, airy homes are a must for many homebuyers in today's real estate market. And as a seller, you can add this factor yourself in your homes in Newark and Wilmington DE with updated light fixtures. But if adding in new or additional lighting is not an option in your home, simply swapping out low wattage light bulbs for high wattage bulbs can bring up the lighting factor with little effort. If you notice that updated light fixtures is one area where your home is lacking, replacing these is a great investment and can add charm to your home.

Bathroom/Kitchen Updates
Do you find that your kitchen is one of the areas of your home you spend the most time in? Homebuyers will notice that too! These are two areas where you'll want to focus your staging. You don't need a complete remodel, but updating appliances and fixtures here can peak homebuyer interest. At the very least, replacing the caulk and grout in these rooms is always a nice idea.

Curb Appeal
Again, first impression are everything when it comes to Wilmington, DE real estate. Take some time to amp up your landscaping, clean up the yard, replace railings and old outdoor hardware, make sure windows are clean and functioning— overall, take note that your home looks inviting from outside. Many homebuyers will begin their search online and if your home shows well in photos, it can bring them to your door!

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
Keller Williams Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me
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