Source: keepingcurrentmatters.com Are you planning to buy a home this spring? Though things are more balanced than they were at the height of the pandemic, it’s still a sellers’ market. So, when you find the home you want to buy, remember these four tips to make your best offer. 1. Lean on a Real Estate Professional Rely on an agent who can support your goals. As Bankrate notes: “. . . select the best real estate agent for your needs. They will be a critical part of your home buying process.” Agents are local market experts. They know what’s worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may be looking for in an offer. It may seem simple, but catering to what a seller needs can help your offer stand out. 2. Know Your Budget Understanding your budget is especially important right now. As Sandy Higgins, Senior Wealth Advisor at Capstone Financial Advisors, puts it: “Understand your current budget … what are your expenses, how’s your spending, would you need to make changes?” The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a loan. It helps you be more financially confident, and it shows sellers you’re serious. That can give you a competitive edge. 3. Think Through Everything Before Making an Offer Today’s market isn’t moving at the record pace it did during the pandemic. That means you may have a bit more time to think before you need to make an offer. According to Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com: “In general, you likely have more time to make an offer, although that’s certainly not a guarantee. If you’re on the fence about a home or its asking price doesn’t quite fit your budget, you might want to keep an eye on it, and if it doesn’t sell right away, you may have some room to negotiate with the seller.” While it’s still important to stay on top of the market and be prepared to move quickly, there can be more flexibility today. Lean on the advice of your agent as you explore the options in your market. 4. Work with Your Advisor To Negotiate During the pandemic, some buyers skipped home inspections or didn’t ask for concessions from the seller in order to submit the winning bid on a home. Fortunately, today’s market is different, and you may have more negotiating power than before. When putting together an offer, your trusted real estate advisor will help you think through what levers to pull. Bottom Line When you buy a home this spring, work with a real estate advisor to make your best offer. ----- Source: keepingcurrentmatters.com

Source: stuccco.com Since most homebuyers and homeowners have strong opinions about design, it’s easy to assume that you know what increases the value of a home. However, when it’s time to sell, don’t make decisions based on your own opinion or what you’ve seen online. Instead, use real data about what buyers want in their homes in 2023. The Top 12 Most-Wanted Home Features in 2023 Through the most thorough and up-to-date data sources, we’ve put together this list of the most popular and sought-after home features for 2023 buyers. Thousands of people were surveyed to get these results, and we combined data from multiple reliable sources to get the most accurate understanding of what homebuyers are looking for. However, your local real estate market could have very different home features that are highly sought after. If you are selling your own home, consult with a local home professional before doing any remodels or renovations. That being said, there are simple, dependable ways to help your home appeal to more buyers in almost every part of the US. 1. 87% of Buyers Want a Laundry Room If your washer and dryer sit alone in the corner of your basement, it’s time for an upgrade–or at least a rearrangement. In addition to wanting a room dedicated to laundry, 63% of people also specified that the best place for the laundry room is on the first floor. Today’s buyers want the laundry easily accessible from the main living space. Here are some simple ways to increase the value of a laundry room: Paint the walls Add storage solutions like shelving, cabinets or a rack to the back of your laundry room door Install a built-in ironing board on a wall, which can be easily stored away when its not in use Buy a stackable washer and dryer to create space for a folding table or additional storage 2. 87% of Buyers Want Exterior Lighting Exterior lighting is generally not something that people like to search for on Pinterest or gush over during open houses. However, it adds massive value to the home in terms of security and curb appeal. Potential buyers aren’t going to be satisfied with one dim light by the front door. Start improving this by considering what exterior lighting you already have. You may not need to hire an electrician to wire new lights–simply upgrading your light bulbs or repairing lights may make all the difference. Another way to add value to your home is by adding landscape lighting. While this may require more than a DIY project, outdoor lighting will not go unnoticed. 3. 83% of Buyers Want Ceiling Fans If you asked all your friends what they wanted in a home, you probably wouldn’t hear a large number of them gushing over ceiling fans. However, 83% of people chose this home feature over hundreds of other choices, so this is a home feature that shouldn’t be ignored. Ceiling fans are relatively cheap and easy to install, so this is a home improvement that could significantly improve the perceived value of your home. Another way to upgrade the look of ceiling fans and make your space feel much more luxurious is by installing a fan-delier. These light fixtures look like chandeliers and include the functionality of a ceiling fan. They’re growing quickly in popularity and could be a highlight that will help you sell your home for the most money. 4. 83% of Buyers Want ENERGY STAR-rated Windows Home features with energy efficiency are increasingly important to today’s buyers. A home with ENERGY STAR windows will regulate the home’s temperature and save money for the homeowners, so it’s pretty obvious why this is something buyers look for. Unfortunately, windows are not a simple or cheap home improvement. However, it’s helpful to know the importance of ENERGY STAR windows and appliances if you’re planning a remodel. If you already have certified windows, be sure to include this as one of the features when marketing your real estate listing. 5. 82% of Buyers Want a Patio While patios have been a highly desirable home feature for many years, the pandemic increased this value of it even more. Homebuyers are looking for a place to sit outside, drink coffee, entertain guests, or watch their kids and pets play. If you want to increase the value of a single family home, building a patio should be high on your priority list. Homebuyers rated patios even higher than rear porches, decks, and even front porches. In fact, 82% of construction and home building experts noted that hardscaping is the most important exterior project of 2023. Fortunately, patios can also be simpler to build because they are on the ground, not raised above the ground like decks. If you’re looking to make significant improvements to your home, creating a patio could add massive value. If your home has a scenic view or a cozy cranny that a patio can be in harmony with, your patio will be especially desirable and therefore valuable to you and your home’s eventual buyers. 6. 81% of Buyers Want a Side-by-Side Kitchen Sink Although large farmhouse sinks can be seen all over DIY channels and design magazines, it doesn’t mean that it’s what buyers actually want. This is exactly why you should always look at the facts when you’re evaluating what improvements will sell your home–side-by-side sinks were rated as one of the top features homebuyers want. As always, there are exceptions when a farmhouse sink may be the best choice for your kitchen design. However, the function of a double basin sink is much more likely to appeal to the most buyers. 7. 81% of Buyers Want a Walk-in Pantry It’s no surprise that having a designated, spacious area to store food and kitchen supplies is extremely valuable to homebuyers. If you talk to your friends and family about what they want in a house, this is something that’s almost guaranteed to come up over and over again. If your home wasn’t originally built with a walk-in pantry, it may be a challenge to add one to your kitchen layout. Even if you or the current homeowners are able to fit all of your kitchen supplies without a pantry, buyers viewing your home might need more storage. Since this is a priority, designate a space for pantry items if possible so buyers can see how to maximize kitchen storage. 8. 81% of Buyers Want a Front Porch Front porches have returned in popularity, and likely because they add functionality, design, and curb appeal to a home. However, since this is an exterior home feature, the actual value of it may vary depending on the climate in your location. The best way to learn ‘whether’ (terrible pun) or not a front porch is a home feature desired by local homebuyers is to look at your local real estate market. Search for homes that have been recently built and recently sold around the price that you want to list. Do these houses have front porches? Do the marketing notes emphasize this feature as a valuable asset? 9. 81% of Buyers Want ENERGY STAR-Rated Appliances ENERGY STAR appliances are particularly appealing to buyers because they’ll save money in utility bills and maintenance over time. However, homeowners generally don’t want to buy all new appliances right before selling their home. This would be a massive out-of-pocket expense that’s unlikely to earn an immediate return on investment. However, knowing the importance of ENERGY STAR certified appliances is important to keep in mind if you plan on selling your home eventually. As you invest in your home, the energy rating of each appliance should be a vital part of your decisions. 10. 81% of Buyers Want Hardwood Floors in the Living Areas The days when carpet was the most-desired floor type are long gone. The majority of homebuyers want hardwood flooring in living areas, and having the same flooring in multiple rooms is another benefit. If you already have wood flooring, be sure to feature that in your listing photos and description. It’s hard to determine exactly why buyers prefer hardwood over all other types of flooring. There are many buyers who truly want the real thing, but there are also plenty of buyers who want the look of wood without having to commit to the maintenance. If you don’t already have hardwood but want to upgrade the home’s flooring, laminate, vinyl, or wood-look tile may be the best choice. 11. 80% of Buyers Want a Full Bath In Main Living Area It’s very common for older homes to have a half bathroom or powder room near the main living areas of a home. However, 2023 buyers want full bathrooms close to the busiest areas of the home. There are many possible reasons for this real estate trend, but it’s likely that it makes it easier for guests to be comfortable without having to go into every room of the home. If you have a full bathroom in your main living area, it’s a good space to make some home improvements to maximize its appeal. Since bathrooms can be pricey to renovate, focusing on the one closest to the living area will bring you the highest return on your investment. If you don’t want to get your hands dirty or spend tens of thousands of dollars on a full bathroom renovation, just do it virtually. Virtual staging can give prospective buyers a clear visual of the room’s potential, and it only takes 24 hours to complete. 12. 80% of Buyers Want Energy Efficient Lighting Our designers and photographers will tell you that the lighting of a home is an extremely important factor in the overall feel and design of any space. Homes with lots of bright, natural lighting feel bigger, more open, and ultimately appeal to more prospective buyers. However, 90% of the energy produced by traditional incandescent bulbs generates heat, which increases costs and is unnecessarily wasteful. Luckily, upgrading the lights in your home is extremely simple and affordable. You can find energy-efficient LED bulbs at most hardware or big box stores, and simply replace the energy-burning lights you currently have. Although LED bulbs will be slightly more expensive up front, they’ll save you money (and help the planet) over the long haul. ----- Source: stuccco.com

< Back 785 Willborough Rd, Burlingame 785 Willborough Rd, Burlingame Sold $1,100,000 Property Description ​ Contact Agent Benson Group (650) 245-4530 bensongroup@compass.com Request More Info Property Details Property Type Single Family Home Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 Size 1,610 sqft Side Represented Seller Year Built 1931 Property Location 785 Willborough Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010, USA

< Back 886 Kelmore St, Moss Beach 886 Kelmore St, Moss Beach Sold $460,000 Property Description Nestled in the hills of Moss Beach, this adorable cottage is perfect for first time buyers, retirement, or vacation home. Features ocean views. 7,500 sq. ft. lot. Hardwood floors, plantation shutters. Upgraded kitchen and bathroom. Sunroom, large BBQ deck with staircase to backyard. Lushly landscaped. Under house storage. Potting shed. Low traffic area. Contact Agent Benson Group (650) 245-4530 bensongroup@compass.com Request More Info Property Details Property Type Single Family Home Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Size 810 sqft Side Represented Seller Year Built 1957 Property Location 886 Kelmore St, Moss Beach, CA 94038, USA

< Back 1424 Yew St, San Mateo 1424 Yew St, San Mateo Sold $2,796,000 Property Description Nestled on a quiet side street, this expansive home offers a chance to live in one of the Peninsula's most sought after neighborhoods. Complete with a white picket fence adorned with roses, the pride of ownership shines through in this property. The remodeled kitchen with an eat-in-dining area & adjacent family room gives the much sought after great room concept. A gorgeous private backyard with built in pool and spa offers the perfect place to unwind. Beautiful hardwood floors throughout. Large 2 car garage. Top rated schools, parks nearby, and easy access to downtown San Mateo, shopping, and highways 92 and 101. Contact Agent Benson Group (650) 245-4530 bensongroup@compass.com Request More Info Property Details Property Type Single Family Home Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 3 Size 2,410 sqft Side Represented Seller Year Built 1973 Property Location 1424 Yew St, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA