Happiness is made at home. When you walk through your front door, settle down at the table with your loved ones, or curl up on the couch with a glass of wine and a good show, you should feel at ease, peaceful, and happy! But what are you supposed to do if your house isn’t making you feel happy? Try rearranging your furniture, getting some cozy candles, trying out a new decor style. Or maybe it’s time to think about upgrading to a new home altogether. If you want to talk more about what your options are for making your home your happy place, just send me a DM! . . . #Dreamhome #sellingthedream #homesweethome #homeiswheretheheartis #homeownership #homegoals #letstalkrealestate #wannabuyahouse #homebody #cozyhome #modrealtyok #PDSA #okcrealestate #oklahomarealestate #edmondrealestate https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq0cxPSs3T3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ravyn is kind, courageous, and resilient. We are so proud of her for fighting through adversity and we couldn’t be happier for her new chapter. Thank you for trusting us with this process! We are so glad you found the perfect place to call home! 🏡❤️ . #okhomies #okc #edmond #oklahomacity #edmondoklahoma #okcmetro #realestate #edmondrealestate #closingday #okrealestate #realtor #kellerwilliams #kwrealestate https://www.instagram.com/p/CHYu6TUhZPX/?igshid=1lbp6ywjqszst

This little beauty is just that, B-E-A-UTIFUL! by Sarah Brown-REALTOR at 1821 Dorchester Dr Nichols Hills. If you’re interested in this home hit HER up, if you need some great images for YOUR home hit ME up. . . . #Real estate photography #art #decor #homes #loveit #luxury #realty #realtor #setlife #business #HashmeApp #shop #realestate #photography #architecture #photooftheday #interiordesign #realestatelife #realestateagent #industrialdesign #realestateagents #interiorarchitect #propertymanagement #realestateinvestor #realestatephotographer #OKCRealEstate #OklahomaCityRealEstatePhotography #EdmondRealEstate #EdmondRealEstatePhotographer (at Nichols Hills, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CABkx7rh8h0/?igshid=bjnp38dr078c

Getting Your Home Market Ready

Looking to move while interest rates are down? We asked the experts at ERA Courtyard Real Estate what their top 5 tips are to making sure your home is market ready. Thanks to Jeffrey Langum, Kat Kosmala, Jon-Michael Littleton, Jarrett Carter and Jilian Gardner for providing such valuable information to all the The Scout Guide Edmond readers!

Declutter  Get rid of unnecessary items that make rooms look smaller and busier. Minimize personal items including photos, excessive decorations and most kids' toys but don’t just stick to the inside, go outside too.  Clean out the flower beds, add fresh mulch and fresh color to help with curb appeal. Freshen up any areas of trim that need to be replaced or painted, clear away any cobwebs or bugs from the exterior and add a nice new welcome mat to the front porch. Clean out and organize the garage as well, the entire home will feel more taken care of when a buyer walks through a garage that is well organized and not overly full.

Make Necessary Updates

Many sellers make the claim that they will just let the buyers re-paint the outdated room or make other updates so that it matches the new buyers’ tastes.  While this sounds good in theory, it will typically cost you more in the long run than it would have to make the updates.  

Make updates in areas of the home that will bring a return, these include the kitchen, bathrooms or master bedroom. Neutralize the home by painting any rooms a light gray (we suggest Revere pewter by Benjamin Moore) or lighten the trim to a white to help bring the home up to date.

Make Necessary Repairs All homes need repairs, but you want a prospective buyer walking through your home picking where their furniture goes, not walking through thinking about all of the repairs they will have to make.  Walk through your home as a prospective buyer and see what repairs you would notice, then fix them! The return on making the repairs is much higher than the costs savings in comparison to the price you will lose by not making them.

Stage the Home  A home that is lived in, especially by a family, isn’t necessarily the same as a home that is staged to sell. Place your furniture in a way that shows it well (large), not necessarily the way that you like to have it set up to watch TV.  Change out the light bulbs and make sure they all match. Add some pops of color if the whole home is neutral.  Place fresh flowers around the home and open the blinds to let in natural light.  

Deep Clean Clean like company is coming over….then keep going.  The home needs to be spotless.  Vacuum, mop, scrub, do it all! This also includes cleaning the air.  Most people can’t tell if their home has a foul smell to it, so I encourage them to have a friend come and do a smell test. Utilize tools like Glade Plug-Ins, but don’t overdo it and create a stronger smell. Wash the windows until they sparkle! This really makes such a difference! Power washing the exterior goes right along with this. It really gives patios and walkways a face lift.

SHARE / TAG A FRIEND THAT NEEDS THIS HOME! 💲30,000 Price⬇️& #OpenHouse 7/28/19 Sunday2️⃣➖4️⃣PM This...

SHARE / TAG A FRIEND THAT NEEDS THIS HOME! 💲30,000 Price⬇️& #OpenHouse 7/28/19 Sunday2️⃣➖4️⃣PM This 5 Bedroom home sits on a 1.42 ACRE (mol) lot in #Edmond, #Oklahoma and features an updated kitchen, partial basement, chain link fence dog run and so much more! 5701 Parkhurst RD, Edmond, OK. 📲 Mary DeMoss, Realtor 417-235-4715 for more info or visit ➡️www.525RealtyGroup.com⬅️ #525RealtyGroup #OklahomaHomes #EdmondSchools #EdmondHomes #okc #oklahoma #edmond #edmondok #edmondhomes #edmondrealestate #okcthunder #luxury #land #hgtv #oklahomaphotographer #socialmedia #millionaire #home #house #realestate #realtor #instagram #beautiful #builder #oklahomabuilder #beautiful #dreamhome #edmondrealestate #acreage (Feed generated with FetchRSS) from https://www.instagram.com/p/B0ciQophZQC

Let’s talk about money–and how much you need to make each year to buy a house. It can be a bit taboo, but when it comes to real estate, talking about finances is key to having a successful real estate journey. How much house you can afford ultimately depends on your personal financial situation. Finances are different for every person, so that’s why it’s key to get pre-approved before starting to search for a home. Your lender will be able to get you the final numbers, but this post is to help you get a ballpark figure for how much house you can afford based on your yearly income. Want to get more info on the financial side of buying a home? Grab your FREE copy of the Buyer Guide at the link in bio! . . . #realestate101 #realestatetips #realestateterms #realestatevocab #realtortip #askyourrealtor #realtorexpert #realtoradvice #realestateadvice #realestatecontract #homebuyertip #homesellertip #selleradvice #realestatequestions #modrealtyok #okcrealtors #okcrealestate #okcrealestateinvestors #edmondrealestate #edmondhomes #edmondrealtor (at Edmond, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cqrrvwnsa4J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #okcrealestateinvestors #oklahomarealestate #oklahomarealestateagent #okcliving #okclife #buyingokc #sellingokc #edmondok #edmondhomes #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqrjInwNxHU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Spring is nearly here, and that’s reason enough to get excited! With more daylight and warmer temps, plus all the great home projects to get started on, spring can be a welcome reprieve after the winter. Tell me what your 3 favorite things about spring are in the comments! . . . #spring #springfeeling #springfever #Dreamhome #sellingthedream #homesweethome #homeiswheretheheartis #homeownership #homegoals #letstalkrealestate #wannabuyahouse #homebody #cozyhome PDSA #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqYDaHUp0xU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Every real estate agent has different skills, strengths, and interests. Some agents are amazing at selling homes and understanding the market. Others are great at negotiating and getting the best deal for their clients. Some agents are super peppy, while others are just as excited to help you, but are more chilled. You get the picture: every agent is different! That’s why it’s so important to find the best agent for you and your needs. You need to find an agent who has the experience you need and you can trust. I always recommend that buyers and sellers interview at least three different agents before making a final decision. I’m currently accepting new clients, so if you’d like to talk more about how I can help you achieve your real estate agoes, just send me a DM! . . . #realestate101 #realestatetips #realestateterms #realestatevocab #realtortip #askyourrealtor #realtorexpert #realtoradvice #realestateadvice #realestatecontract #homebuyertip #homesellertip #selleradvice #realestatequestions #PDSA #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqS4ttYJ9FJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

What will your legacy look like? Let me know in the comments! For many people, their legacy is their gift to their loved ones and the world after they’re gone. This often includes real estate. I can help you build your legacy if it includes real estate. Together, we can create a plan to develop your real estate legacy so you can leave a legacy that will make an impact on your loved ones for many years to come. Want to get started? Send me a DM or tap the link in bio to set up a time for us to talk. . . . #legacy #realestateinvestments #iloverealestate #realtorlove #realtorforlife #yourrealtorforlife #topagent #listwithme #realestatemarket #sellrealestate #sellersagent #selleragent #listingagent #luxuryrealtor #sellyourhome #PDSA #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqHqzU8M6Ru/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Every homeowner has a home project they’d love to get done–it’s just a fact of life. But sometimes, having the spare cash to put into that project is harder to come by. Apps to the rescue! Each of these apps make saving money easy and fun, so you can tackle that home project. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have owned your home for a while, these apps can make saving for that kitchen remodel or fancy tankless water heater. It’s so much easier–not to mention faster–compared to doing it the old-fashioned way. What are you going to do with the money you save? Let me know in the comments! . . . #realestate101 #realestatetips #realestateterms #realestatevocab #realtortip #askyourrealtor #realtorexpert #realtoradvice #realestateadvice #realestatecontract #homebuyertip #homesellertip #selleradvice #realestatequestions #PDSA #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFDVnSt-F5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Your home is likely the largest investment you have. Sometimes life happens, and you’ll need to find out how you can tap into your investments. A second mortgage is a way to use your home’s equity to get cash, making your investment in your home more liquid. Maybe you want to pay off high-interest credit card debt or go back to school. A second mortgage can be one way to do that. Basically, a second mortgage is another loan taken out on your home’s equity. You can get a loan for a portion of the amount you have in equity. The amount will differ depending on your lender. But be careful: having a second mortgage can increase your risk of foreclosure if you can’t repay the loan. Obviously, you want to avoid that at all costs, so make your decisions carefully. Want more information on second mortgages? Just send me a DM! . . . #secondmortgage #realestate101 #realestatetips #realestateterms #realestatevocab #realtortip #askyourrealtor #realtorexpert #realtoradvice #realestateadvice #realestatecontract #homebuyertip #homesellertip #selleradvice #realestatequestions #PDSA #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife #modrealtyok (at Edmond, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2-AQKPY-e/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Want to make your life easier? Complete these home renovations before you move in! Some updates are so much easier to do when you’re not living in the same space, along with all of your stuff. If it involves the floors, the walls/windows, or the ceilings, chances are that your renovation would be best done before you move into the space. Want more tips like this? Make sure to hit that follow button! . . . #realestate101 #realestatetips #realestateterms #realestatevocab #realtortip #askyourrealtor #realtorexpert #realtoradvice #realestateadvice #realestatecontract #homebuyertip #homesellertip #selleradvice #realestatequestions #PDSA #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife #modrealtyok (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0TVwrJwmC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Long-term rentals can be an incredibly smart way to start investing in real estate. Rentals are a great way to start your real estate investment journey because they rise in value over time and tend to beat inflation. Then, when you sell the investment, you’ll get the money paid into it back in your pocket. Additionally, you’ll get tax benefits! Long-term rentals can be easier to manage than short-term vacation rental investments. Plus, you’ll get a consistent second stream of income for very little work on your part! Want to see if a long-term rental could be the right investment for you? Just send me a DM! . . . #investmentproperty #investinrealestate #realestateinvestment #rentalproperty #rental #PDSA #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpx7xgGvtgj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Did you know that you can get help paying for your first home? Finding the money to put towards closing costs and a down payment can be challenging for many first-time homebuyers. Luckily, there’s a range of options to help you buy a home! For down payments, there are several government and private down payment assistance programs that can help you get the funds you need to buy a home. When it comes to closing costs, there are similar programs available. You can also ask the seller to provide seller concessions to lower your closing costs. Want to learn more about the options available in our area? Just send me a DM and I’ll get you the info you need! . . . #buyersmarket #homebuyer #firsttimehomebuyer #homebuying #homesearch #househunting #homebuyingprocess #downpaymentassistance #homeequity #homeshopping #buyersagent #buyeragent #homeownership #homegoals #letstalkrealestate #wannabuyahouse #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpvhA-RP8u-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Pop quiz! Drop your answer in the comments and then come back here to learn what the answer is! When you’re ready to buy a home, you need to get a… pre-approval! A pre-approval is when you take your financial info to a lender, they run a credit check, and then let you know how much of a mortgage you will likely be able to receive. This information is crucial for determining the price range of homes you can look at. Plus, sellers love to see pre-approved buyers because it means that your financing is basically secured. A pre-qualification isn’t as good as a pre-approval as it doesn’t include credit history or an in-depth financial analysis, but it’s a good first step if you’re just testing the waters. If you’re ready to jump in and buy a home, getting pre-approved is the way to go. Want to talk more about pre-approval? Send me a DM and I’ll get you the information you need! . . . #realestate101 #realestatetips #realestateterms #realestatevocab #realtortip #askyourrealtor #realtorexpert #realtoradvice #PDSA realestateadvice #realestatecontract #homebuyertip #homesellertip #selleradvice #realestatequestions #modrealtyok #okcrealestate #okcrealtor #edmondrealestate #edmondrealtor #edmondokhomes #sellingokc #buyingokc #oklahomarealestate #buyingandselling #wannabuyahouse #okcliving #okclife (at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpskBSEJaGw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=