If you’re considering remodeling your Santa Cruz home, whether it’s a project as small as adding a bay window in the kitchen or as big as adding on a new bathroom, here are a few items you should consider before making the decision to remodel:

• Budget for success – However much you think the renovation might cost, realize that it will likely cost more. Keep that in mind when considering whether you can truly afford to make the changes.

• Put your money toward your priorities – If you live to travel, and you spend very little time in your Santa Cruz home, is the best use of your funds really a renovation? Think about the return on investment as it applies to your happiness. 

• Remodeling only goes so far – If you want to rip out the kitchen and…

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You’ve decided to put your house on the market, you’ve removed all unnecessary furniture and you’ve cleaned it from top to bottom. Even though you have a good start, maintaining a clean household may not be enough; you also have to cater to fussy buyers. By updating just a few features, you’ll immediately increase your property’s appeal to buyers looking at Santa Cruz homes for sale.

Selling a house is stressful enough without having to worry about every detail and anticipating what buyers are looking for. So, we’ve saved you some trouble by listing what buyers are definitely NOT looking for. Make these relatively easy changes and picky purchasers will have less to complain about when it comes to your property.

1. Neglected landscaping ¬– The front…

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Before buyers ever set foot inside a Santa Cruz home, the very first thing they notice is its curb appeal. As autumn approaches and plants start to die, it becomes harder to keep your yard looking fresh. Take advantage of this warm weather to prep your property for the fall with the tips below.

1. Keep your lawn in tiptop shape. Adding grass seed, fertilizing your lawn and using some old-fashioned elbow grease may be all that’s necessary to set your house apart and signal to buyers that you care about keeping it well maintained.

2. Declutter your yard. The same advice you’ve always heard about staging the inside of your house is also true when it comes to your yard. Pick up the toys, pack away the yard gnome collection and store the boat or RV…

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When looking at Santa Cruz homes for sale, buyers prefer high-end features and upgraded appliances — even in houses that are modestly sized. If you’re selling soon then it’s understandable that you don’t want to overspend on renovations. Fortunately, using some of the following money saving tips, you can make upgrades and get a high-end look without breaking the bank.

• Don’t overlook recycling and salvage centers. You could get a significant discount by purchasing second-hand kitchen appliances. Just make certain that you get them inspected by a professional before putting them in your kitchen.

• Buy smaller plants and trees. You may be tempted to buy full-sized plants with burlap root balls. However, those can come at a steep price. Instead, buy…

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When it comes time to sell your house, you want to do everything possible to sell quickly and for top dollar. An aggressive marketing strategy can help drive showings and generate offers. However, potential buyers can become annoyed if Santa Cruz homes for sale don’t live up to their advertised images. Below are some common mistakes sellers make and how to avoid them.

• You don’t post any photos online. Almost all buyers start their searches for Santa Cruz homes for sale online. If you don’t have any photos, many buyers will skip your house entirely. Instead, ensure you at least take photos of the major rooms and outside front, and post them online.

• Your marketing photos don’t match the house. Nothing upsets buyers like deliberately deceptive…

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When it comes to buying Santa Cruz real estate, people focus on the basic questions: Are there enough bedrooms? Is it in a good neighborhood? How is the school system? While these are important points, you also need to focus on the quality of the house itself.

The quality and maintenance of a house can be overlooked when buyers get excited about investing in a home. Fortunately, there are a few areas you can check to get a quick idea of how the Santa Cruz real estate was built and how well it’s been maintained.

1. Look at the foundation. A few small cracks may not be a big deal, but multiple cracked areas could spell trouble. Also, try to see the home on a rainy day, so that you can look for water pools that could turn into basement leaks.

2. 

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If you’re putting your Santa Cruz home on the market, you know you want to make it irresistible to buyers. Here are five updates to consider:

1. Replace or paint garage doors. If you have an attached two-car garage, it is a very prominent feature of the front of your Santa Cruz home. You probably don’t even notice the garage doors anymore, but buyers will. If your garage doors are showing their age, consider painting or even replacing them for a new look.

2. Replace old windows. If your windows are single pane, this is a must. New double-pane windows will not only look great, they will increase the comfort and energy efficiency of your home significantly. In these energy-conscious times, buyers are not interested in a home with drafty old windows.

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With the kids settled back in school, September brings the promise of a normal routine and cooler weather. Don’t get sucked into autumn’s peaceful pace! It’s more important than ever to have your Santa Cruz home looking its best so that you can sell quickly and be in your new home before the holidays.

Most buyers will have multiple properties with comparable features to look at, so you’ll want your house to be the one that stands out — in a good way. To help, here are five inexpensive staging tips to separate your property from the pack.

1. Start with the front door. The front door of your house is the first thing potential buyers see. A few dollars spent on a fresh coat of paint and a couple of updated light fixtures can give your Santa Cruz home a…

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If you are about to put your Santa Cruz home on the market, it’s worth investing some time and a small amount of money in staging. It not only helps your home sell faster, but it can also help you get a higher price for your home.

Here are six staging tips: 

1. Banish clutter – Removing excess clutter is the single most important thing you can do when staging your Santa Cruz home. Clean, open space will sell your home. Non-descript, non-threatening décor allows people to envision living in your home and putting their individual stamp on the place. Ogling your collection of troll dolls, no matter how much they may be worth, will interfere with this process. Consider putting excess possessions in storage and keeping out only what is absolutely…

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Your home can run like a well-oiled machine, if it’s well taken care of. You maintain your car on a regular schedule so why not do the same thing for your biggest investment – your Santa Cruz home.

It’s important to keep track of your home maintenance schedule, including what was done and when it’s due again. You also want to be able to easily find instruction manuals, appliance warranties and receipts. In most homes, those important documents are stuffed in a drawer, jammed in a filing cabinet or lost in a pile of papers.

If that sounds familiar to you, get organized by creating a three-ring home maintenance binder. When you sell your Santa Cruz home, give this binder as a gift to the new homeowner. Here are some of the documents you might want to…

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