Even if your house hasn’t been featured on “Hoarders,” making an effort to clear out clutter and to ensure that your home is as neat and tidy as possible before opening your door to buyers is common advice in real estate circles. It is vital for buyers to see themselves someplace better and more beautiful. Real estate is apirational; when buyers walk through your door, you want them to think “Wow, I could see myself at home here.”  Buyers want to see themselves someplace better and more beautiful. They want the feeling that if they move in there, it will be organized, clean and attractive. If they walk into a cluttered, messy space, there’s none of that feeling that life will be better.

Even if your home is in good condition, if it’s cluttered, people will think it needs a renovation, and that lowers the value.

But cleaning up isn’t always easy. People find it hard to part with things that have emotional value, and that can be very difficult. It may not cost much to do it, but it is the hardest thing for people to actually do.

People can take advantage of this opportunity, and take the time to get organized. In doing so, you are going to save money on moving and also on storage. And don’t expect to get it all done in one weekend. It could take a few weeks, even a month, but it is all about doing small projects, one at a time.

Small areas to tackle are wardrobes, kitchen pantries and drawers, and collections of CDs and DVDs. One rule to live by when organizing and downsizing; be ruthless. If you are unsure about anything, don’t hesitate, get rid of it.

Following this advice and reorganizing your home may help it sell faster because when potential buyers view it, they can easily see themselves in your house. Don’t hesitate to start today!

If you are searching for the perfect home in Saint Louis, MO, this is the place for you! This is the cream of the crop of St. Louis Real Estate. Move into this 2 bedroom, 2 full bath home, and enjoy the luxury! This is an absolutely stunning, completely renovated home with all major systems updated since 2000. Take a look at the custom kitchen renovation with slide out shelving, under/over cabinet accent lighting, Pella window with built in shades, and gleaming hardwood floors. The family room leads to an oversized deck with a hot tub. Enjoy the lovely summer days on the deck, under the awning, and look over the completely fenced-in level yard. The basement is very neat and clean, and offers a larger than normal walk-out to the back yard. Take a video tour by visiting City Living at Its Finest

For more information, call Gisele Perez at, 314-398-7158, visit us at www.theGETMOVINGteam.com, or e-mail us at gperez@psphomes.com. You can also call Prudential Select Properties, 636-296-1444.                   

Figuring out if you are ready to buy a house — whether you’re a renter or you are aiming to move up or size down — can be a daunting task. But don’t despair, there are six easy questions that you can ask yourself that will indicate if you are ready to take the buying leap.

To begin with, ask yourself the question, “Am I familiar with the market?”

If you’ve been paying attention to how much houses are listed for in the neighborhoods you’re eyeing and have a realistic view of how much a house will cost you, you’re in good shape. But if you’re dreaming about that big corner house with no clue about it’s asking price, you may want to spend some more time becoming familiar with the market and how much houses are going for. You can accomplish this by simply calling /texting/or e-mailing me, Gisele Perez,  with the GET Moving team, and requesting a current market analysis of homes you are interested in.

Once your home is listed and the for-sale sign is firmly implanted in your front lawn, all is ready for would-be buyers to tour your home. Or is it?

Good jobs enable people to achieve the American dream of home ownership. And every time a house is built, bought, or sold, jobs are created—lots of them—right here at home.

Consider these supporting facts supported by the most recent census:

Home sales in this country generate more than 2.5 million private-sector jobs in an average year. For every two homes sold, a job is created.

Each home sale touches dozens of different professions, from real estate agents to home inspectors, to the county clerks who file your paperwork.

Every home purchased pumps up to $60,000 into the economy over time for furniture, home improvements, and related items.

Housing accounts for more than 15% of the Gross Domestic Product, making it a key driver in our national economy.

Housing has led this country out of six of the last eight recessions.

America needs jobs. Housing creates jobs. That’s one of the many reasons home ownership matters to people, to communities, to America.

Jobs and home ownership, a mutual supporting relationship in which you can’t have one without the other. So, when you are ready to take the next step and buy your dream home, call Gisele, and be encouraged by the fact that you are supporting our economy!

Buying a home can be a very emotional process, but negotiating the price shouldn’t be. The key to saving money when purchasing a home is sticking to a plan during the commotion of high-stakes negotiations. Your Realtor can guide you through the process and give you advice, but when it comes down to it, you are the only one who can make the final decisions during each round of offers and counter offers.

Here are six tips for negotiating the best price on your new home.

1. Get prequalified for a mortgage

Getting prequalified for a mortgage proves to sellers that you’re serious about buying and capable of affording their home. That will push you to the head of the pack when sellers choose among offers; they’ll go with buyers who are a sure financial bet, not those whose financing could flop.

2. Ask questions

Ask your agent for information to help you understand the sellers’ financial position and motivation. Are they facing foreclosure or a short sale? Have they already purchased a home or relocated, which may make them eager to accept a lower price to avoid paying two mortgages? Has the home been on the market for a long time, or was it just listed? Have there been other offers? If so, why did they fall through? The more signs that sellers are eager to sell, the lower your offer can reasonably go.

3. Work back from a final price to determine your initial offer

Know in advance the most you’re willing to pay, and with your agent work back from that number to determine your initial offer, which can set the tone for the entire negotiation. A too-low bid may offend sellers emotionally invested in the sales price; a too-high bid may lead you to spend more than necessary to close the sale.

Work with your agent to evaluate the sellers’ motivation and comparable home sales to arrive at an initial offer that engages the sellers yet keeps money in your wallet.

4. Avoid contingencies

Sellers favor offers that leave little to chance. Keep your bid free of complicated contingencies, such as making the purchase conditional on the sale of your current home. Do keep contingencies for mortgage approval, home inspection, and environmental checks typical in your area, like radon.

5. Remain unemotional

Buying a home is a business transaction, and treating it that way helps you save money. Consider any movement by the sellers, however slight, a sign of interest, and keep negotiating.

Each time you make a concession, ask for one in return. If the sellers ask you to boost your price, ask them to contribute to closing costs or pay for a home warranty. If sellers won’t budge, make it clear you’re willing to walk away; they may get nervous and accept your offer.

6. Don’t let competition change your plan

Great homes and those competitively priced can draw multiple offers in any market. Don’t let competition propel you to go beyond your predetermined price or agree to concessions—such as waiving an inspection—that aren’t in your best interest.

If you are seriously contemplating buying a home, keep these tips in mind, and contact me, Gisele Perez, to get moving!

So, you’ve finally made the decision. You are going to invest your money and buy a home, but how do you start the process? There is a wealth of information out there, everything from tips on what kind of house to buy to when you should buy. You can navigate the market yourself and search dozens of potential properties until you find the perfect one, but then what do you do? Behind that dream house of yours lies a hidden network of negotiations, legal paperwork, and hoops to jump through before you can finally call it “my home.” 

If you decide that this may be too much for you to handle on your own, you should seek the advise and council of not only a Real Estate Agent, but a REALTOR®. All real estate licensees are not the same. Only about half of all real estate agents are REALTORS®, and only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR “®” logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate.

I am proud to say that I belong to this set of elite real estate agents. I have been a REALTOR® with Prudential Select Properites for 7 years, and I have 17 years experience in sales. After I earned my degree in Project Management, I knew that I wanted to offer the best of the very best services to my clients. To me, that means that I abide by the strict code of ethics as defined by the the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and go beyond what is expected of your average real estate agent. I dedicate myself fully to my clients; your needs are my needs and your wants are my wants. So, if you are at that point in your life where you are ready to make your dream come true, don’t hesitate to contact Gisele Perez (www.theGetMovingteam.com), and Get Moving today!

As you head out for the stores after your big Thanksgiving dinner, don’t forget to keep these helpful hints in mind.

1. Research: start your Black Friday 2011 sale research on Thanksgiving day or earlier.
2. Make a plan: identify what you want to buy, which stores have the best sales on Black Friday, and what time they open.
3. Timing is everything: arrange stores by opening time from early to late.
4. A fool and his money: be wary of Black Friday deals with quantity limits. If a store only has 10 items at that price, go elsewhere.
5. Visualize: know where your items are in the store.
6. Stay Safe: Previous Black Friday sales were honestly deadly; please don’t trample or shoot anyone!
7. Power of numbers: go with a team and attack separate stores or separate sections of the same store. Designate a meeting place.
8. Bring a snack: only amateurs stop at the food court on Black Friday! (Or the bathroom – so go before you leave.)
9. The quiet ones: don’t ignore stores that don’t advertise. They will have Black Friday deals too!!
10. Have fun: enjoy your family, friends and deals!

Are you looking for a little extra help with funding when it comes to financing for your first home purchase? If you are looking for a home in St. Louis County, the City of O’Fallon, or the city of City of St. Charles, Beyond Housing is here to help you.  

Created in 1975, Beyond Housing provides and offers support to low-income families in meeting their life-long goals, including home ownership. They assist current and prospective homeowners throughout the St. Louis region in their efforts to acquire and maintain their homes. Their educational workshops, one-on-one personalized services, and other services are designed to help families and individuals build and maintain wealth through savings and equity in their homes.

Check out a unique homeownership program, Catch the Dream – Keep the Dream, which provides education and one-on-one counseling to prepare participants to make informed choices throughout the home buying process. Catch the Dream includes: 8 hours of valuable home buyer education (in classroom or on-line), a private session with a homeownership counselor to outline financial goals, review the credit report, assist with credit repair (where applicable), assess available programs and provide referrals to Beyond Housing partners, including professional lenders, realtors, home inspectors and property insurers. I have personally attended this value packed program as a real estate agent and as a homebuyer, and I found it to be one of its kind.

Beyond Housing can also provide down payment and closing cost assistance to eligible families who purchase qualifying homes in approved jurisdictions. For St. Louis County, the down payment assistance is $3,000. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable information about the home-buyer process and get assisstance to purchase your first home!

Call or text me, the GetMoving team, to get started on your home buying process today!

Get Moving, and increase the value of your home for under a $1000. There are seven ways to improve your house while staying on a budget. Refer to the tips below and text Gisele Perez to get a home improvement coupon.

1. Add a new entry door   Spruce up your curb appeal and save energy by upgrading your exterior dorr.  Steel doors, which can mimic many types of wood, typically run for $400 at big-box stores and offer the strongest barrier against intruders.

2. Get organized. Decluttering and maxmimizing storage space are inexpensive ways to transform a home. Add space to kids’ rooms by installing platform or bunk beds ($400-$600); neaten piles of shoes with shoe organizers ($20), which can do double duty as catch-all organizers in family room closets and kitchen pantries; extend bookshelves to the ceiling, creating storage in otherwise dead space.

3. Save with a programmable thermostat.Switching from a manual to a programmable thermostat (less than $500) can save you up to $180 a year in energy costs. The latest models offer remote programming via the Internet.

4. Replace. Replace cabinet hardware.  If you’ve got traditional knobs and pulls, try contemporary; change from staid to whimsical.  Compare big-box retailers, they often have huge selections for budget prices. (10-pack for $20).

  5. Update

Update bathroom flooring.  Give bathrooms a quick facelift by replacing old tile with vinyl flooring or ceramic tile, which can cost as little as $3 per square foot for material and installation.

 6. Create luxury with a shower panel.  Get a programmable shower panel with adjustable spray jets, fog-free mirror, and multifunctional shower head. Most systems easily attach to existing plumbing. Panels typically sell for $360.

 7. Change the Purpose of an Exterior Room  For example,turn a mudroom into a garden room. Bring nature inside by recasting your drab mudroom into a flower-filled garden room. (If you already have a utility sink, you’re halfway there. If not, it will cost you $200 to $350 to tap into existing, nearby plumbing, and $80 for a plastic tub.) Repurpose an old wood table into a potting bench. And hang your basket collection from J-hooks attached to a forged iron curtain rod ($100).

What improvements have you made recently under $1,000? What are you planning to do in the next six months?Text me or facebook me  to recieve your coupon and get started today!