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Gisele Perez
St. Louis County MO Realtor
    Years of Experience: 7

    ABR - Accredited Buyers Representative
    RELO- Relocation Certified
    BPO- Broker Price Opinion Certified

Direct: (314) 398-7158

Office: 636-296-1444



Company Info

Prudential Select Properties
3805 Vogel Rd.
Arnold Mo
636-296-1444

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Sell Your Home Faster – Declutter and Reorganize!

Monday, April 30th, 2012

 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!

You, Home Ownership, and the Economy

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

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!

Negotiate The Best House Buy For You

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

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!

Increase the Value of Your Home for Under $1000

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

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!

 

 

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