Myrtle Beach Real Estate Blog

Purchasing a home is a big investment, and making changes and improvements can often increase your home’s value over time. Some upgrades are more common than others and are often considered surefire ways to add value to your Myrtle Beach investment.

When planning your home remodel, it's important to remember that certain improvement projects will add more value than others. However, certain upgrades actually cost more to install than the money they are worth at the final sale of your home. Projects like kitchen and bathroom upgrades or the addition of another room or bathroom are the best ways to increase the value of your Myrtle Beach home, however there might be other projects to consider as well.

The Popular Projects

What improvements add the most value? More often than not, homeowners will point to the kitchen or bathroom first when they decide it’s time to stage or add value to their home. This type of upgrade not only reaps rewards down the line when the home sells, but you also get to enjoy the fruits of your labor while still living there.

Depending on the size of your kitchen, the average renovation project in Myrtle Beach can run around $12,000 or more. While this might sound like a large chunk of change, keep in mind that homeowners sometimes see a full return on their investment. In some cases, especially now during a competitive...

Summer is the perfect time to give your house a makeover. You have more hours of daylight to use for a little DIY work, and you can get the job done on a long weekend. Best of all, you don't have to do a full gut job or major renovation to breathe some new life into your house. Instead, think about switching out some accessories and making smaller changes that will still have a big impact.

To celebrate the season, try making your house feel like the vacation place of your dreams, and you'll enjoy the relaxing feel of a beach cottage without ever leaving home. You can add some breezy beach decor to enjoy all year long by choosing a seaside color scheme, lightweight soft goods, and some special summery accents. 

Here's how to inject some beach cottage style into your house this summer:

1. Consider Your Color Palette

Bring the colors of the coast into your house by painting your walls a sandy tan or cool aquamarine with whitewashed trim. You can also keep things crisp by painting the walls white and using sea glass shades of green, blue, and turquoise in your accessories (think throw pillows, lamps, and picture frames for starters). If you're really...

Lighting is important, especially when it's time to stage the home. Proper lighting can help make the room look airy and more spacious, and can also make the home look cleaner. Homeowners who need to stage their home for real estate showings can use lighting in creative ways to highlight beauty in the home. These tips will help homeowners use lighting to stage their home creatively.

Clean All Windows

Dirty windows can restrict light coming into the home. Cleaning the windows helps to ensure that all the light is able to filter in through the windows. Maximizing daylight in this way can make the home's interior look more cheerful.

Use Sheers to Create Diffuse Light

Dark curtains can create a heaviness in the room while also blocking light and adding shadows to the space. Replacing dark curtains with sheers enables more daylight to enter the home. Sheers can be left open to allow daylight to pour in directly, or they can be closed to create a diffuse, natural glow.

Use Edison Bulbs for Dramatic Effect

Edison bulbs are creative and artful. They look great on bare bulb...

When preparing a home for sale, it is best to paint interior walls a neutral color, with off-white being the most popular. However, if a buyer has just bought a house and is making it their own, or they are just ready for a change in décor, there is a world of colorful possibilities.

Light vs. Dark Colors

There are good reasons why sellers paint rooms off-white, and these are as true in Myrtle Beach as they are anywhere else. It is unobtrusive, allowing potential buyers to more easily envision the space as their own. But light colors also make spaces look bigger, and buyers are always in the market for more space. If a space feels cramped, keep the paint light to open it up.

However, openness is not always the desired impression. Sometimes small and cozy is what is called for. For these rooms, use darker colors.

Sometimes, rooms are just shaped weird, but clever use of color can help visually downplay it. If a room is overly long, paint the long walls something light and the short walls something darker. This causes the width to expand and the length to narrow, presenting a more proportioned room.

From Floor to Ceiling, Dark to Light

The desire for space is also the reason why nearly every home has its ceilings painted white. If it was dark, it would be smothering.

As a general rule, a room should transition from dark to light as it moves from floor to ceiling. Flooring, therefore, should be the darkest element in the...

Preparing a home for sale can be an expensive process if you’re not working with a professional. The cost for repairs, renovations, carpet cleaning, painting and more can really mount up long before the sign is in place and the home is actually ready for the market. Since most sellers consider preparations like these necessary, they are usually willing to bite the bullet and absorb these costs, knowing they will help to sell their home.

One area sellers often overlook is the staging of their home. Professional staging services can really help prepare a home to be listed, however many sellers find themselves shying away from the expense, especially when repair bills and other expenses have already made a sizable dent in the budget. Luckily, there are several ways you can stage your home easily without spending a great deal.

Stage Your Home For A Quick Sale

Real estate professionals place real value on the staging process. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors^®, 53% of sellers' agents say that staging a home decreases the amount of time it sits on the market. Additionally, 44% of buyer's agents say that staging a home increases the dollar value offered and 83% feel it helps buyers ‘visualize’ a home they are viewing as their future home.

Some of the most common rooms to stage are:

• Living Room (93%)
• Kitchen (84%)
• ...

Moving can be a chaotic time. Between packing every last thing into a box, making sure it gets onto the moving truck and then unpacking at the new home, it can be a wonder that anyone is able to keep track of it all. Here are several strategies homeowners can use while moving into a new home to stay as organized as possible.

1. Take Care Of Business

Be sure to cancel your utilities at your current home and set up the necessary steps in your new home. It’s just a few phone calls or clicks online but it’s an easy thing to forget and no one wants to arrive to a home without power or water – especially in the middle of summer. Change your mailing address with the post office as soon as you have your new address to avoid hassle with new bills, subscriptions and important documents. In addition to this, be sure to keep your important documents in the same place at all times and keep them with you during the move so you know exactly where they are at all times. This includes passports, social security cards, birth certificates, wallets, insurance information and moving documents.

2. Stay Ahead Of The Move

Packing an entire home’s worth of possessions is going to take a long time, and there’s no way it can be done in the two days before the move date. Starting early can help prevent the rush right before the deadline where everything gets thrown into the nearest box, and it can also allow the homeowner to take inventory of everything they have so nothing gets lost or overlooked. Some pros recommend spending one hour a day dedicated...

Painting can be a fun, quick way to refresh any room in your home, making it more appealing to potential buyers. While you can call in professional painters, painting your home’s interior walls can also be a fun DIY project to tackle over a weekend. (And hey, if it doesnt turn out great, the pro’s are just a call away!) If you are a beginner this can be a daunting task! This guide to painting rooms is helpful for new and veteran homeowners alike who want to learn the ins and outs of customizing their home, whether it's for themselves or to stage their home to sell.

Millennials (defined for 2020 as those aged 19-35) remain the largest share of home buyers at 38%, according to the latest NAR Generational Trends for 2020. Defying preconceived notions of the past that a majority of this generation would choose to rent, more and more millennials are ditching renting for their own experience of homeownership. With one in three millennials owning a home, it’s clear this age group is a buying force to be reckoned with!

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed mortgage professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

A New Market Force

A new study finds that plenty in this generation are highly motivated to own and willing to make the sacrifices necessary to quench their thirst for to own a home, a desire not likely to fade according to market analysts. The Millennial generation is segregated into two age groups: Younger Millennials/Gen Yers (buyers 22 to 29) and Older Millennials/Gen Yers (buyers 30-39 years). This group now represents 38%...

Today, there are more ways than ever for homeowners to protect their home and both everyone and everything in it. But with so many options available, homeowners may be at a loss for where to start, so here are six of the different simple and high-tech ways to improve home security. 

1. Buy Smart Cameras and Sensors

Security cameras and sensors are more accessible than they have ever been, and with smart technology, they’re easier to monitor than ever. Homeowners can purchase smart security cameras to place in and outside their home that can be accessed via any smart device, so checking in on home is only a few clicks or taps away. Smart sensors can be placed on nearly any door or window and can notify the homeowner by either text or email if the thing it’s attached to moves during a specified time.If you need help installing and integrating your smart home technologies, reach out to an experienced professional such as Gigatech in Myrtle Beach, who has 25 years of experience helping clients simplify and maximize the complex world of technology.

...

I f you’re staying in the Myrtle Beach area to celebrate Fourth of July, you’re in luck! The Grand Strand hosts an array of Fourth of July events each year for the whole family to enjoy. From parades to contests, games and fireworks, we’d like to share this holiday weekend's best in nightlife, festivals, entertainment, and more... Happy Birthday America!

A home with a pool can have big appeal to the right buyer. However, not all home buyers are specifically seeking a pool. This means that a home's pool may have to win over buyers who are not convinced that they would like a pool on their property. To do this, the pool must be kept in good condition and properly staged. Knowing how to stage, market and present a property with a pool and can help get the most for the sale of a home.

Make Cosmetic Repairs

An older pool can suffer from cosmetic problems like algae, cracks, pock marks in the plaster, water stains and scale on the tiles. Cosmetic issues can lead a home buyer to question the condition of the pool, even if these problems have no real impact on safety and functionality. Have cosmetic problems repaired before putting the home on the market to help reassure buyers that your pool is in good condition.

Keep Up With Cleaning and Monitor the Chemical Content

Keep up with cleaning and monitoring of the chemicals in your pool. The water in the pool must be crystal clear when buyers come to the home. If in...

These days, a lot of buyers want a fairly open floor plan with lots of space. If you have an older home or a house with a lot of enclosed rooms, you may have to fight convention if you want to bring the offers in. These tips help you to show off the space you have and create a comfortable flow for your home, even if you don't have a house with a lot of space or an open floor plan.

Choose One Purpose

Home buyers often expect the home to fulfill a variety of purposes, such as eating, sleeping, entertaining, work and education. If you have many small rooms in the home, trying to cram too many activities into a single space is the last thing you want to do. For staging, the smaller the room, the simpler you must keep the activities. A spare bedroom could be converted into a playroom or entertainment room, instead of letting video game equipment and toys clutter kids’ bedrooms or the living room. An enclosed dining room should be devoted only to that purpose.

Eliminate Visual Clutter in Design

Busyness is the enemy of the small room. Even if all the basic clutter is cleared away and you are left with an open floor and mostly-empty shelving, the room may still look too busy. Fun houses at carnivals are designed with contrasting patterns to trick...

Pests are not only a nuisance to homeowners but a real threat to both the residents who live there and the actual physical structure of the property. They can carry diseases that make people ill or damage the interior components of the home by building their own residences inside the walls or under the floorboards. To lessen or eliminate the damage they cause, keep the following in mind.

Check the Barriers

Holes in the home aren't always easy to spot because they can exist in some of the least likely of places. However, tears in a screen or gaps in the doors or windows are clear invitations for bugs or rodents to make their way inside.

Start Cleaning

Crumbs are magnets for pests and the longer they stay out, the more likely it is a hungry critter will find them. Trash needs to contained, counters need to be washed, and floors need to be swept regularly. It has nothing to do with making the home spotless and everything to do with foregoing an expensive exterminator.

Walk the Perimeter

Standing water is where mosquitos like to reproduce, so it's pivotal to find the sources on the property where it can form. Look to the gutters, tires, and appliance units for the most likely sources and then start sopping up the problem.

Perform Outdoor Maintenance

Firewood needs to be stored as far away from the home as...

Whether you are buying a home or you are selling one, one of the things that you need to understand are contingencies. When it comes to buying or selling a piece of real estate, a contingency is a condition that needs to be met before a contract can be considered to be valid or final. A contingency needs to be agreed upon and signed off on by both parties when entering into the real estate contract. As a result, these should not be surprises. However, if you are not familiar with contingencies, finding out what some of the more common ones can help you better prepare for any during your home buying or selling adventure. These are just a few of the more common ones today.

Contingent on the Sale of Another Home

This is a very common contingency for home buyers to make if they are trying to sell their home at the same time, whether it's in an area like Carolina Forest or elsewhere. This is something that is done because they do not want to be left with two mortgages at the same time so they add a contingency to the contract that states that the purchase of their new home will not be considered final until the sale of their current home goes through closing.

Appraisal Contingency

This is usually a contingency that is in place to help protect the buyer of the property....

Selling a home often calls for a great deal of documentation. Some of this paperwork is generated and managed by a real estate agent, but others may require the seller to collect and maintain. With this list, sellers will know which documentation to watch for while selling their homes.

Selling Paperwork

When people decide to sell a home, they quickly realize that the process of selling can be very complicated. A real estate agent usually handles paperwork related to the actual sale, and includes:

• listing agreement for the property, which indicates how the agent distributes payment for services
• marketing plans to attract attention to the home
• purchase contracts offered by buyers and signed by both parties
• mandatory disclosures about the condition of the property
• home buying contingencies placed by the buyer
• occupancy agreements

Much of this paperwork may need to be completed more than once, if the seller ends up going through the process with more than buyer.

Inspections and Appraisals

In order to sell the home, most lenders require an appraisal to estimate the property's current value. Many home buyers also choose to request a home inspection, to ascertain the home's condition and...

Just like knowing which fork to use at a banquet table, selling your home comes with all sorts of hidden rules about good manners. Learning the rules of home selling etiquette will make the process feel a lot smoother, and you may find that knowing how to behave during open houses and showings helps you sell your house a little bit faster. Here are the top five home selling rules to go by when selling your home.

Most rules about good manners have to do with making the people around you feel comfortable and relaxed — in the case of selling your home, your behavior should be determined by what is most likely to make people shopping for a new home feel like they're welcome into your home, yet under no pressure to buy.

Although this may sound complicated, there are a few easy ways to ensure buyers feel at home when visiting your home. Here’s what you should know to make a good impression.

1: Make Yourself Scarce

One of the many benefits of working with a real estate agent is that you don't need to come in contact with prospective buyers during showings. It's not that meeting them is outright rude or anything, but your presence on the property is a big reminder that you're the owner. Most buyers won't want to offend you by commenting on your choice of kitchen cabinets, so they won't feel free to discuss your home or voice their opinions to their own real estate agent if they feel you hovering in the background.

It's also much easier for buyers to picture your house as their own...

For some people, a fixer-upper is the ideal home because it allows them to start with something old and turn it into something new that suits their tastes exactly. When looking for a new fixer-upper home, it’s important to know what to look for to avoid buying a home that’s in such poor condition it isn’t even worth renovating, so here are a few things to keep an eye out for when looking at fixer-upper homes.

First: How Much is Too Much?

When considering a fixer-upper, it’s important to take into account how large of a project it’ll be. Not all fixer-upper homes are created equally, and it's important to proceed as you would in any home buying process. Some may just have a couple big jobs that need to be done to make it feel like home, while others may need to be completely gutted and reworked from the inside out. Before committing to a fixer-upper, all buyers should decide just how much work they’re willing to do on a home before beginning their search for one.

Layout

How the home is configured can be one of the most difficult things to change when it comes time to start renovating. An example of bad home layout is having bedrooms directly beside the family room or living room. When looking for a fixer-upper home, finding one with an acceptable layout can save the buyer a lot of money and stress later on.

Roof and...

Building in extra insulation, or replacing old home insulation, is an excellent way to save energy and money on heating or cooling. In fact, improving home insulation is one of the most efficient ways to increase home value. These tips help homeowners understand how to decide if they need more insulation, and which kind might be best.

When Does a Home Need More Insulation?

There are a couple of ways homeowners can determine that they need more insulation. The first involves an analysis of the home's heating and cooling, and the second concerns the actual condition and thickness of the existing insulation. Homeowners may already have some sense that their insulation is not up to par. Certain rooms feel uncomfortably hot or cold, and using the HVAC system does not seem to make a difference. Using an infrared thermometer may be an easy way to identify certain thermal irregularities in the walls.

For a more complicated and thorough inspection, homeowners can get into their home's insulation and see if it meets local standards. The attic insulation is a good place to start. Every type of insulation has a different level of protection, known as R-value. Homeowners can find the R-value that is needed for new construction in their area, and determine if they have enough insulation to suit. If they do not, they should consider adding more.

How Does R-Value Work?

All insulation is measured in what is called “R-value.” The ...

When it comes to energy efficiency and ways to save on heat energy, look for smart features and expertise to help you save energy, reduce your electric bill as well as add value to your home.

1. Begin With A Right-Sized Home

If the home you buy is simply too large for you or your family’s needs or plans, you stand a good chance of wasting energy through excessive heating and cooling costs. If it’s too small, you’ll feel cramped and uncomfortable. It’s a big investment, so seek balance and buy it “right” from the outset. Reconsidering how right your home is? Call one of our real estate agents or start your search online to see the homes available along the Grand Strand.

2. Purchase Energy Star Appliances Such as Your TV, Dishwasher, Washer and Dryer, and Microwave.

How much do Energy Star appliances save? Over time, it can be alot. Especially the refrigerator, as it alone contributes about 10 percent of the energy use in a home and can make a noticable difference. Also, unpluging any electronics tha are not in use or turning off power strips is a good idea to avoid phantom charges. 

3. Install Efficient Lighting Such as Compact Fluorescent (CLF) or LED Bulbs in Every Fixture.

Lighting accounts for about 6 percent of an energy bill each year. If you're wondering do LED light bulbs save energy, just know that this can be a cheap, quick fix to save on energy.

4. Get an Energy...