The winter blahs are on the horizon. How can you keep them at bay and infuse your life with a newfound purpose? That’s easy–put your Virginia Beach home on the market. Although spring is traditionally considered the optimum time to sell a home, there are positive aspects to selling in the winter.

Buyer time constraints: A majority of corporate moves take place around in the winter, and transferees need to find a home quickly. Parents are also anxious to get their children settled in a new school as soon as possible. By the way, some experts believe it is better for a child to move during the school year as opposed to the summer months. Starting a new school immediately upon arriving in a new location allows for an easier time of making friends and establishing new routines..

Tax credit extension: Now that the Home Buyer Tax Credit Act deadline has been extended to April 30^th, many first-time buyers and “repeat buyers” are seriously looking to purchase a Virginia Beach home–and soon!

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Although the interior of your home may be lovely, you can’t use that fact to your advantage if potential buyers don’t come inside to see it. The majority of house shoppers are influenced by first impressions, and, according to the National Association of Realtors, nearly 50% of them make their decision about your Virginia Beach home before stepping through the door. Ensuring that prospective buyers will want to see more doesn’t have to be time-consuming or cost-prohibitive; there are numerous ways to strengthen your home’s curb appeal, to capture the interest of buyers, and most likely increase the selling value.

When selling your Virginia Beach home, appearances are important. The exterior of the house should be attractive and in good condition, and the well-maintained grounds should be pleasing to the eye. The first thing to do is to look at the exterior objectively. Assess the color scheme (siding, trim, brick, roof) and determine if the architectural features of your house are in keeping with the rest of the neighborhood.

Perhaps the easiest way to boost curb appeal is to clean. Pressure wash to remove mold and mildew from siding, decks, walkways, and driveways. Make sure that your windows sparkle and remember to wash the screens. Gutters, too, may need cleaning–or replacing. Investigate snap-fit vinyl systems, decorative rain chains, or even a copper system for a high quality look.

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Installing a new insulated garage door is a simple home improvement project that has many benefits. This simple change adds desirable curb appeal and increases the value of your Virginia Beach home. The best part is, it also saves energy and tax credits are given to homeowners who install approved garage doors. 

There is a list of manufactures of approved insulated garage doors that make homeowners eligible for a federal tax credit, which is more valuable than a tax deduction. Homeowners who purchase and install one of the garage doors on their Virginia beach home in 2009 or 2010 could receive up to a $1,500 federal tax credit. However, this is not a new idea. The legislation to award homeowners for installing specific garage doors was originally passed in 2008. Then, the maximum amount possible for homeowners to receive from the tax credit was $500 or 10 percent of the product’s cost. The new federal stimulus plan put in to action in February 2009 made installing a new garage door even more worth while. The new legislation promises triple the amount the original legislation offered. The maximum federal tax credit is now 30 percent of the product’s cost, or up to a maximum of $1,500. 

Another way installing an insulated garage door can help pay for itself is through energy savings. More than often people find that rooms next to or above the garage are the coldest rooms of the house in the winter and the hottest in the summer. This is because old garage doors that are not insulated allow brisk winter and scorching summer air to flow in to the house. The inefficient garage doors can also allow heated and air conditioned air to escape, like money flying out a window. Installing a new qualified, insulated garage door will help reduce energy bills year round and make your Virginia Beach home more comfortable. 

The new and improved garage doors are more attractive to the eye, which increases the curb appeal and value of your Virginia Beach home. Garage doors take up a considerable amount of space on the front of a home. The front of the home is the first thing homeowners, guests, and people passing by get to see when approaching the house. A typical white or almond colored garage door can make a house look plain and boring. It also makes the home blend in with every other house on the street. New garage doors found on the approved list offer a variety of the latest styles, including a carriage house or country look, sleek and contemporary, steel doors with real wood grain panels. No matter what the style of your home, there is sure to be a garage door that compliments and completes the picture.

Learn more about curb appeal and your Virginia Beach home at ButlerTeamHomes.com.

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?

Spring has sprung and so has the Virginia Beach real estate market. Spring is our busiest market time in real estate and now is when you will want to spruce up and get your home ready to sell. One of the best investments you can make when preparing to sell your Virignia Beach home is to improve its ˜curb appeal. We have all heard many times¦you only get one chance to make a good first impression. This holds true for real estate. If buyers arent impressed by the outside of your house, you will never get them inside. And it is pretty difficult to sell a house you cant get people into!

Here are the top ten things you can do to add ˜curb appeal to your Virginia Beach home:

1. Get out the paint! There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint. Paint the siding, paint the trim or, at least, paint the front door. And dont forget the prep work, like sanding off worn and chipping areas and priming, can make an exterior paint job last a lot longer and look better. 

If you are thinking of selling your Virginia Beach home and want input on adding ˜curb appeal and getting your home ready to sell, give us a call at 866-222-0158 #550. We are glad to meet with you and help you priortize your ˜honey-do list. For the current market value of your home, visit, HRHouseValue.com.