Ryan Vaught's (rvaught) Blog

Many prospective buyers find the kitchen to be a very important factor to the house buying decision. Even though your kitchen may not be new and state-of-the-art, you can still do several things to help make it sparkle and shine and win over prospective home buyers. Follow these tips to help make...

December 9, 2008  Home safety precautions are always important, but it is especially important to make your home "accident-proof" while it is on the market. Many potential buyers will be coming through your home who won't be aware of the minor hazards that you and your family instinctively avoid....

Many realtors have shared stories of having their fingers or ankles nipped by furry creatures during a showing. We have opened the front door to the home we are showing only to have a purebred Persian kitten scoot toward the nearest busy street. If you have pets and are going to put your house on...

December 3, 2008 Odors...flowers...first rain...new car...stinky socks...freshly painted house...Smokey house... You can most likely get a clear "smelly" image of each of the above odors.  Our nose tells us a lot and it doesn't lie!Be aware of odors in your home-both pleasant and unpleasant. If y...

December 2, 2008 Once you get your home listed for sale you may find it difficult to step aside and let your agent take over.  You may be fighting the urge to linger around while prospective buyers view your home, hoping to get the chance to point out all of the "bells and whistles" you know make...

November 20, 2008 Like I promised yesterday, here are some more tips for how to get your home sold in this not-so-optimal market: Freshen up inside. Cheap things such as a fresh coat of paint can really make a difference.  If you want to spend that extra dollar to help make a big difference consi...

November 19, 2008  As many of you already know and can see, real estate values have been taking a fall across much of the U.S.  On top of this, the pace of selling a home on the market is down sharply, causing many homes to sit on the market for months and months.  Here are some strategies that y...

November 18, 2008 Many real estate listings come from individuals who tried on their own first to sell their home. Sellers who try to sell their own home learn the hard way that selling a home is not easy. Keeping it sold and getting to the closing table is even more difficult. What are the pitfa...

November 13, 2008 Here is a scenario that you may encounter when you sell your home. You make a listing appointment with a real estate agent who shows up with a detailed market analysis and a list of all the advantages of listing with his or her company. The agent then walks through your home wit...

November 12, 2008 If you are about to list a home that you have lived there for many years, you know that it is not perfect. For example, there might be a leak in the basement that is noticeable only after a heavy rain. Your garage door might stick, and the dishwasher may be prone to work stoppag...