Kat Geralis Home Team Wilmington DE Real Estate News Archives

When it comes to winter weather, the shorter days and colder temperatures may make for cozy evenings, but inside your home, it can make your Wilmington DE and Southeastern PA spaces feel darker and smaller than necessary. However, there are dozens of ways to bring more light into your home and help it feel just as cheery as in the spring.

Below are five ways to brighten up your Delaware or Pennsylvania home in the winter:

Take off the screens
Did you know you can let in 30 percent more light when you remove the screens from your windows? If your windows are still sporting them, store them until spring and let the sunshine pour in your home! But don't let them go far— you'll want to put them back in a few months to avoid running your cooling system too much. 

Trim back landscaping
Outside your home, overgrown landscaping and trees can quickly take up prized window space. Set aside a few hours to trim back any hedges, shrubs, or trees that could be blocking light from streaming inside your DE or PA home.

Replace light bulbs
Dim light bulbs can tend to cast a yellow hue over your indoor spaces, creating the illusion of smaller, darker spaces. Replace your older bulbs with energy-efficient models and opt for the cool white tone or blue white tone to help your home feel brighter and more open.

Refresh the paint
If you have rich, deep colors on your walls, the winter weather and shorter daylight hours will do no favors for the spaces. Consider refreshing the paint and choosing a lighter, more neutral tone like beiges, grays, or white to create a more airy feel.

Clean your windows
You may not have thought of this one, simple tip, but dirty windows can easily darken a home. It is only necessary to clean the glass outside of your home once per year, but inside, you should clean windows at least once a month to avoid blocking any light. 

Ready to move on to a new Delaware or Pennsylvania home in 2018? Give the Kat Geralis Home Team a call today for more information about available properties, selling your home, and your home value!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
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Tis the season to sell your Delaware or Pennsylvania home! In my last blog post, I shared Staging Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays and while it can indeed be a great move to list this time of year, you'll want to make sure you are following what NOT to do during the holidays as well.

Below are five things not to do during the holidays if you plan to sell your Wilmington, Newark, or Southeastern PA home:

Do Not: Put up damaging decorations
It's exciting to deck the halls and turn your home into a magical winter wonderland, but if you can, avoid doing so with damaging decorations. Anything that can leave marks or holes on your walls, scuff the floors, rip the carpet, even leave scratches on the ceiling should be avoided. These are easy to spot as a homebuyer and they will take note when the arrive to view your home.

Do Not: Go into holiday debt
As you're buying gifts this holiday season, pay close attention to your budget and your wallet. When the time comes to move into a new home and take on a new mortgage, lenders will not want to see a mountain of debt that you acquired during the holidays. Keep your future mortgage approval in mind as you shop and avoid racking up those credit card bills.

Do Not: Display large gifts
If you plan to give (or receive!) any large gifts this holiday season, it's best to keep them in storage until after your home sells— or at least when buyers may be present. These large gifts can take up valuable space in your home that make the property feel smaller and more cluttered. Keep clear paths and try to create the illusion of an open, airy space if possible.

Do Not: Buy a new pet
Everyone wants a new pet for the holidays, but when you take into account playful paws that can do damage to your home, as well as potty-training, it may be best to wait until you arrive in your new home. As a Delaware or Pennsylvania home seller, you could just be creating more work for yourself in having to cover up stains, odors, and clean up hair to impress buyers. 

Do Not: Buy for your current home
Home-related gifts are great options for the holidays, but be sure not to buy for your current home. Big ticket items like furniture or appliances should be purchased with your new home in mind, or you could wind up with something you may have to sell or replace when the time comes to move. 

Ready to sell your Delaware or Pennsylvania home and move on for the new year? Give the Kat Geralis Home Team a call today! You can also download our FREE e-Guide!

Happy holidays!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
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Selling your Delaware or Pennsylvania home during the holidays can be a lucrative move— if you pay close attention to important factors like pricing and of course, staging. Staging your property is one of the many elements that can help you to sell both quickly and for top dollar and as a seller in today's market, it is certainly something you won't want to skip over!  

As your local real estate experts in the Greater Wilmington and Southeastern PA area, we have included a few tips below for selling and staging your home during the holidays— so be sure to read before you begin to deck the halls!

Match your decorations to the style of your home
Keep your home's decor consistent during this time of year to create a cohesive vibe for homebuyers. For instance, if you have a more traditional home, keep the decor simple, classic, and elegant. If you have a more modern home, bring in modern decor and stick to a minimalist color palette. 

Try not to be too personal
The holidays do evoke nostalgia, as well as family memories you may have made in your home, but it's important to not be too personal when it comes to decor. You can still deck the halls with your favorite ornaments, lights, and the like, but try to save the "Baby's First Christmas" photos and "World's Best Mom" items for the next holiday in your new home. Remember that buyers want to be able to envision themselves in the home, so it's best to create a neutral space without overly personal decor. 

Skip the lawn ornaments
You may love your inflatable Frosty that sits on your front lawn, but today's buyers are easily turned off by loud, garish holiday decor. After all, they may not be able to focus on the exterior of the home itself if they are distracted by glittering reindeer, life-size snow globes, and flashing lights. Pass on the lawn ornaments this year and keep it simple with white lights.

Keep holiday cards organized
Stringing up your holiday cards in a garland-style across your kitchen is a fun holiday pastime, but not when you're selling your home. Keep holiday cards organized by storing them in a drawer or in a basket if you're trying to impress buyers.

Light a fire
Selling your home during the holidays can be a smart move as this tends to be a highly emotional time of year. Buyers are looking for a home where they can begin their own holiday traditions, host gatherings, or watch their family making memories— create a cozy feeling by lighting a fire if you have a fireplace or making sure the property is warm when they come in from the cold.

Ready to move on to begin the new year in a new Delaware or Pennsylvania home? Contact the Kat Geralis Home Team today for more information about next steps and finding your home value! 

Happy holidays!

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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Before you renew your lease or consider signing a new one, you might like to consider buying a home in Delaware or Pennsylvania. There are dozens of reasons why homeownership is the better option over renting and as your local real estate experts, we've included a few of them for you below!

It's less expensive
While you may be intimidated by homeownership, you will be glad to know it is much less expensive than renting! According to a new report, it is now 37 percent less expensive to buy a home than it is to rent nationwide. If you're ready to take that next step toward buying your own home, your first step is to meet with a lender to get pre-approved and find out how much you can afford!

You can lock in your housing cost
The costs of renting are always rising, but with homeownership, you are able to lock in your housing costs for the next 5, 10, 15, even 30 years, depending on the mortgage you choose! Locking in one of the current interest rates, which are currently hovering around historic lows, allows you to watch your home value rise, but your housing costs stay the same! 

There are tax advantages
When you own your own Delaware or Pennsylvania home, there are certain tax benefits that come along with it. For instance, did you know you can deduct the cost of property taxes and mortgage interest from your annual taxes? It's always best to check with your account to see which advantages apply to you, but owning a home is certainly a way to earn tax savings!

Homeownership is forced savings
Think of owning a home in Southeastern PA or Greater Wilmington DE as a means of "forced savings." What that means is that by simply paying your mortgage each month, you are building equity that you can use at a later date toward renovations, paying down debt, or whatever you choose. When you rent a home, that savings is all funneled to your landlord.

It's the best investment
Homeownership has long been hailed as one of the best investments you can make— better than stocks or gold! What's more, no other investment allows you to live in it! When you purchase a home, not only are you helping to build your wealth with the investment, but this one also allows you a place to live! You can't say the same for gold.

Ready to find a place of your own in the Greater Wilmington DE or Southeastern PA area? Do not hesitate to contact the Kat Geralis Home Team with any questions about buying a home in Delaware or Pennsylvania this year or for a list of available properties! We even offer FREE First-Time Home Buyer Seminars! 

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
Find me on Facebook

When you decide to sell your home in Delaware or Southeastern Pennsylvania, you begin to dream about how much profit you can make and moving to your next location. However, there is one figure you'll need to determine before you can make those dreams a reality— your home value.

It is not uncommon for homeowners to over-estimate how much their property might be worth, so as your local real estate experts, the Kat Geralis Home Team has put together a few tips that can help you determine just that.

Comparable properties
One of the first places to look to help find your home value is a list of comparable properties in the area. Look at homes that have a similar square footage to yours or those with the same types of features. Even if you think your home is better than the one down the street, you'll need to consider if it has a larger footprint, updates that yours doesn't have, or more bathrooms as these can add significant value. 

Home improvements
Have you made any recent improvements to your Chester County or Delaware County home? They could make a big impact on your home value— or not add as much as you thought. Know that there are some updates that don't add as much value as others at resale so it is always wise to consider ROI (return on investment) prior to completing projects. If you are unsure if a certain update will boost your value, you are welcome to consult your real estate agent!

Location
There is a reason "location, location, location" is a real estate mantra. Factors in your area like the schools, proximity to entertainment, parks, commute times, neighbors, and of course, a sense of community can all either help or hinder your home value. 

Age of the home
Your home's condition and the age of the property can also influence how much it may be worth. Oftentimes, homes deemed "historic" and newer properties tend to be worth more than others. The aforementioned factors do play a big role in finding your home's worth, but typically as homes age, their value lessens.

There are many ways for you to determine the value of your Greater Wilmington or Southeastern Pennsylvania home and it is helpful to have an idea of what you might be working with prior to listing the property. Remember, it's best to put on your home seller hat and set aside your emotional ties to the property to find a realistic price.

Curious about your Delaware or Southeastern Pennsylvania home value? Contact the Kat Geralis Home Team today to find out!

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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As you may have heard by now, the real estate market has much less inventory than it has in past years. We even shared in our last market stats post that inventory for Q2 of 2017 was standing around a 3.9 months supply— a 21 percent decrease from the previous year. But does that mean you should shy away from listing your Wilmington DE or Southeastern PA home this fall? No! 

The real estate market could use your home and if you've been thinking about selling, below are the top tips for a successful sale during this time of year:

Clean up the yard
This time of year, the leaves have started to change and fall and may be cluttering up your yard. Take the time to rake all of the debris currently in your yard to make a nice impression on potential buyers who may drive by or arrive for a showing.

Ramp up curb appeal
Curb appeal helps to create cozy, welcoming feelings in Wilmington DE or Newark DE buyers, so start with your front door! Add seasonal mums on either side and consider adding a subtle fall wreath to welcome buyers inside.

Warm up the house
When the weather begins to turn cold, you'll want to make sure that your Delaware or Pennsylvania home is warm for buyers. Turn up the heat to allow for a comfortable temperature inside and consider painting your living room walls a neutral, warm color to appeal to buyers.

Clean the fireplace
If your Southeastern PA home has a fireplace, this time of year is the perfect window to show it off! Gas fireplaces can be lit when buyers arrive, but if your wood-burning fireplace hasn't been cleaned, now is your opportunity to call the professionals and have it ready for the colder months ahead.

Turn on the lights
Buyers today are looking for natural light in properties, but if your home lacks a wealth of windows, you can still create that illusion by turning on all of the lights. Especially as it begins to get darker earlier, make sure all of the lights are on for buyers so the home feels warmer, more open, and of course, friendlier. 

Do not hesitate to contact the Kat Geralis Home Team with any questions about selling your home this fall or which steps you should take to list your home. We're here to help!

Katina Geralis
DE and PA Real Estate Expert
eXp Realty
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
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Did you know the majority of today's homebuyers aren't aware of closing costs? You may find that you have prepared for homeownership with your down payment and even have your first month's mortgage ready in your bank account, but this very important set of costs is commonly overlooked. 

As your local real estate experts in Greater Wilmington DE and Southeastern PA, the Kat Geralis Home Team has included a few key notes on closing costs below so you are better equipped to make the biggest, most important purchase of your life!

What Are They?

Closing costs are recurring and non-recurring fees connected to both your lender and other parties in the sale—for instance, an attorney, inspector and title company—and are to be paid upfront at the closing table. Unless you have financed them ahead of time or worked your offer to arrange for the seller to pick up the tab, unfortunately there is no way around these costs.

Closing costs typically include:

• Homeowners insurance
• Title insurance
• Loan origination
• Home inspection
• Appraisal
• Document prep
• Property line survey
• Title search and recording
• Loan underwriting
• Wire transfer

How Much Will They Cost?

Closing costs tend to range between two and five percent of the total purchase price of the home. 

How Can You Prepare?

It is true that you may not know how much you will owe in closing costs until you find a home in Delaware or Pennsylvania and meet with a lender, but you can still gather a general idea based on your price range alone. Is your budget for a new home around $150,000? You can expect to pay between $3,000 and $7,500 in closing costs.

Once you've met with your lender in Wilmington, Newark, Chester County or Delaware County, you can estimate how much you will owe in closing costs given your loan product, loan amount and the interest rate you are offered. You can use a mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly payment and how that will fluctuate depending on if you've decided to finance the closing costs into it. 

Buying a home for the first time in Greater Wilmington and Southeastern PA is both an exciting and uncertain time. Let the Kat Geralis Home Team walk you through the process, every step of the way, so you can feel more at ease and enjoy the prospect of finding your dream home!

Give us a call today for more information about buying a home or available properties in the area! We even offer FREE First-Time Home Buyer Seminars!

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

September is here and it's time to start getting your home ready for the fall season ahead. Say goodbye to summer by putting away garden tools, patio furniture and cleaning the gutters to make way for the falling leaves. 

As your local real estate experts in Wilmington DE and Southeastern PA, the Kat Geralis Home Team has listed five home improvement tasks to complete around your home this month:

Clean up siding
During the summer months, the siding on your home can easily become mildewed and damaged. Check for cracks in the siding that may need repaired and take the time to pressure wash away any dirt and grime that may have accumulated over the last few months. You will want to have any issues fixed before the cold arrives!

Check windows and doors
The seals around windows and doors become increasingly important during the fall and winter as they can let warm air escape and cold air enter. Check these seals in your Wilmington DE area home and if you spot a place where air can escape, you can apply a new bead of caulk or weatherstripping depending on its location.

Clean the chimney
If you have a fireplace in your Southeastern PA home, now is the time to have it swept for use in the fall and winter. The build up of soot can make you more prone to a chimney fire, so it's best to let the pros tackle this job.

Have HVAC inspected
When you go to reach for the thermostat this fall, you will want to know everything is in working order. Call your local technician to have your HVAC system inspected now and take care to change out your furnace filter. There is often a long waiting list to have systems inspected when the weather turns cold, so avoid this obstacle and cross it off your list now!

Clean and store yard equipment
It's time to put away the gardening tools, patio furniture, garden hose, and the like. While you may use them a few more times in the coming weeks, you can at least clean them now to ensure they will not rust or become damaged once in storage. Clear a space in the garage or shed to store all of your yard equipment and outdoor furniture and once you've decided to call it for the season, you'll know exactly where they go!

Ready to make a move this fall? Contact the Kat Geralis Home Team today for more information about selling your home and finding your next dream property in Greater Wilmington, Chester County and Delaware County PA!

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
Find me on Facebook

By now, you've likely watched a reality TV show about buying a fixer upper home and thought to yourself, "that looks pretty easy." It is indeed exciting to mull over the prospect of making a home feel fresh and new again, but what the real reality will reveal is that fixer upper homes require much more time and money than their television slots allow.

Below are four questions to ask before you decide to purchase a fixer upper home in Wilmington DE or Southeastern PA:

What are the costs?
It can be a thrill to think about what a home in need of repair could be, but it is essential to consider all costs when buying a fixer upper in Wilmington, Newark or the surrounding areas. The last thing you want is to be surprised by mounting bills when the deal is done. In addition to the purchase price, look into costs like monthly maintenance, taxes, insurance, and how much equity you may have in the home once all of the work is completed. It never hurts to consider resale right off the bat!

Is everything sound?
You will want to have an inspector come in and check if the structural elements, as well as running systems are in working order or if they need replaced. The inspector will be able to tell you what needs replaced immediately and what can stand to wait. Remember, it never hurts to ask the age of systems like electrical and how much longer they have left. If you need a recommendation for an inspector in the area, your real estate agent is a wealth of resources! 

What is the scope of work?
One of your next steps when buying a fixer upper in Wilmington DE and Southeastern PA will be getting bids from contractors. Reality TV shows can make it seem simple to tear down walls, but there is so much more involved than what is actually shown. Gather bids from several contractors before choosing one and be sure to check references. While cost-effectiveness is important, trustworthiness will always play a major part.

Are there tax incentives?
Certain renovation projects come with tax incentives, depending on the work and the area in which the home is located. After all, you will be boosting the value of the property! Check which incentives may be available to you once you've completed all work.

Do not hesitate to give the  Kat Geralis Home Team a call today for more information about buying a home in Chester County or Delaware County or for a list of available homes in the area!

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

Now that we’re in the midst of summer, the real estate market has seen a rapid increase in buyer demand! Buyers are out in droves in Greater Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania, ready to find their dream homes, however they are also being met with limited inventory. How do you know what the market is like in your area? You can always count on the Kat Geralis Home Team to keep you updated with how the current real estate market in Wilmington, Newark, Chester County, Delaware County, New Castle County and beyond is behaving. Just take a look at the following statistics!

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