Do THIS to sell your home for 20% more

Staging. Here’s why:

Staging goes beyond mere aesthetics. It’s about creating an experience that allows buyers to envision their lives unfolding within the walls of your home. In a market where first impressions are everything, a well-staged home stands out, inviting and compelling.

Data from the International Association of Home Staging Professionals reveals that staged homes not only sell three to 30 times faster than non-staged ones, but they also fetch higher prices – often 20% more than expected.

And the best part? The investment in staging usually costs less than the first price drop you might have to make if your home lingers on the market.

It’s a smart, strategic move with proven results.

The Atlanta market averages a 45.6% increase in new listings every January

In Other Words…

The housing market in Atlanta is going to be increasingly more competitive for buyers and sellers. For sellers, that means homes in less than ideal condition or location may find that their homes sit on the market longer as more options become available. For buyers, this could mean pent-up demand since there has been little viable inventory. Additionally, interest rates are nearly 1.5% lower than the peak earlier in the year. With further rate reductions expected in the coming months, more buyers may be able to enter the market, increasing the likelihood of multiple offer scenarios.

5 Ways to cut down your energy bill

We’ve got your personal cheat sheet with five strategies to conserve energy and elbow those extra costs out of your monthly bill:

• Consider time-of-use rates. Learn about your utility’s time-of-use rates, which vary depending on the time of day. Strategically plan your energy use to save money. You can find these rates on your energy bill or the utility’s website.

• Leverage smart home plugs and thermostats. Combat standby power consumption (up to 10% of your energy use) with smart switches for appliances and programmable thermostats. Schedule when they turn on and off efficiently.

• Adjust the water heater temperature. The U.S. Department of Energy says lowering your water heater temperature by 20 degrees can save 4% – 22% annually.

• Efficient water heating. Water heating is the second-largest home expense, averaging $400 – $600 yearly. Consider a $150 water heater smart controller to heat water only when needed (potentially saving 10% – 30%) and insulate your water heater to cut heat loss (saving 7% – 16%).

• Monitor specific energy usage. Make sense of rising bills by tracking energy usage and setting custom alerts. Knowing where your energy goes is the first step to making meaningful changes.