Join us at Our Upcoming Seller Seminar?


Our seller seminar is just around the corner, and you won't want to miss this helpful (and free) event. REGISTER HERE
There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers.
If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.


I’ve got some exciting news to share: You’re invited to our free upcoming seller seminar! The event will take place at the GIANT Food Store Community Room (2300 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110) on Thursday, October 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Navigating today’s dramatically changing real estate market can be challenging, especially when it comes time to try to sell your home. Listing these days can lead to a lot of confusion, and that’s why my goal for this seminar is to help you overcome this. This seminar will give you the tools, resources, and information you need to make the best decisions for one of your biggest investments.
This seminar will give you the tools, resources, and information you need to make the best decisions for one of your biggest investments.
I’ll explain the necessary steps it will take to achieve your selling goals, and also shed some light on current market conditions. 

We will also have a panel of expert speakers at the seminar, including a stager, a home inspector, and a mortgage lender—each of whom will offer invaluable insight into their role in the real estate process.

Ultimately, I want to set you on the path to success as a seller in today’s buyer’s market. 

Also, if there are any questions left unanswered at the end of the seminar, I will give you an opportunity before we wrap things up to ask me about them. 

If you have any other questions, would like more information, or are interested in attending, give my team and me a call at (717) 695-3177 or send us an email at info@joydaniels.com. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming seminar.

Clean Your Garage and Make Your Home Sell for More


As a home seller, cleaning and organizing your garage goes a long way in impressing buyers.
There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers.
If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.


Do you think garages sell homes? Many people ask me whether or not garages play an important part in a home sale, and my answer is always yes. When preparing to sell a home, the garage is one of the most forgotten rooms in the house. By nature, garages are places where we store many things that we don’t want or need in the house. They are also places where oil and gas are spilled due to cars,lawnmowers, etc. Garages also tend to store toys, mementos, and many other items we thought were vitally important to us at one time. Then, when we go through our piles of things, we wonder why in the world we thought they were important in the first place! As you can guess, all those boxes, stains, smells, unorganized tools, and other items can add up to an unsightly mess in the eyes of potential buyers. This means if you’re putting your home on the market, it’s time for a cleanup. And, just as important, it’s time for a rigorous reorganization of the garage to make it shine in buyers’ eyes. Here are a few steps to help eat that elephant one bite at a time: 1. Go through all of your boxes and sort the items they contain. Be ruthless! Toss out anything that no longer has any use or meaning. Even better, donate items that are still useful to your favorite charity—it feels great and makes somebody else happy at the same time. Plus, you can claim a tax deduction. By cleaning out the clutter, it will be easier to take the next step.
Garages don’t actually sell homes, but they make a big statement about the home and the homeowner trying to sell it.     
2. Clean the garage as thoroughly as possible. Get rid of any dust and dirt wherever you find it. If you have minor oil or gas stains on the floor, try pressure-washing them. However, if they are larger or they’ve been longstanding, then you’ll need to find a more thorough cleanser. Even better, you can paint the floor to create a clean, pristine appearance, showing that you care. And if you are feeling really ambitious, consider coating your garage floor with an epoxy paint that was designed to turn it into a warm and inviting room. This also reduces slip-and-fall accidents and makes any future floor cleanings easier.    

3. Consider a garage organization system. Usually the cheapest options are storage bins and wall hooks. If you’re willing to spend more, there are also wall panels and flooring packages available. Depending on your needs, an organization system can range from approximately $40 to thousands of dollars. If you simply Google “garage organization systems,” you’ll find plenty of links to companies selling these products. Whatever system you choose, it will definitely give your garage a clean and organized look. 

I can’t stress how impressive it is to potential buyers to have a well-organized garage. This tells them that you’re a person who really takes care of every detail of your home and property. And that, in turn, let’s them know that buying your home will be a great investment on their part and well worth the asking price. 

The bottom line is this: Garages don’t actually sell homes, but they make a big statement about the home and the homeowner trying to sell it. Cleaning and organizing yours is well worth the effort.

Remember, if you’re thinking about buying a new home, the Joy Daniels Real Estate Group has a team of qualified, experienced listing partners and buyer specialists who are ready to work with you to make every real estate process a positive experience. 

If you or someone you know is ready to buy or sell a home, give us a call today at 717-695-3177, email us at info@joydaniels.com or you can visit us online at www.joydaniels.com.

                                                                   

5 Home-Selling Tips for Pet Owners


If you’re planning to sell your home and you have pets, here are five tips to help you navigate the process with ease.
There are a variety of opportunities in the Central Pennsylvania real estate market for both buyers and sellers.
If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.


Many homeowners have pets, and their animal companions definitely become part of the family. But when it’s time to put your home on the market, you need to consider that not everyone loves pets. Buyers need to be able to see themselves living in your home, and that doesn’t include your pets. Here are some things you should consider if you have pets and you need to prepare to sell your home: 1. Make repairs. Pet damage isn’t a selling point for your home. Dogs and cats at some point in their lives, no matter how well behaved they are, are going to damage something in your home, whether it be carpet, hardwood floors, walls, or grass in the yard. Repairs need to be completed prior to your home going on the market. Some repairs can be expensive but, correcting them will pay off in the form of an increased bottom line. 2. Remove pet odors. Even the biggest animal lover doesn’t want a home that smells like pets. Your furry friends’ favorite place to lay takes on their scent over time. Accidents also happen and you never want your home to be remembered as the house that smelled bad. One of the top reasons a homebuyer will pass on a home is a strong odor. Having your carpets and floors professionally cleaned will in most cases remove the odors. There are some homes that will need to replace the carpet if the odor cannot be removed.
Leaving your pet home during a showing is asking for trouble.     
3. Clean up the yard. Pick up any messes that are in your yard. That’s not a surprise any buyer wants if they’re walking in your yard. Look to see if there are any spots that need new sod laid or damage repaired. Your outdoor space is a big selling point for many buyers, and because of that, you need to pay equal attention to the yard as you do to the interior of your home.

4. Erase signs that you have a pet. Your pet’s bowls, beds, toys, food, etc., will all need to be put away. Pet accessories are not staging items and look cluttered when left out for photos and showings. Aside from an aesthetics standpoint some buyers do not like pets and in turn, you want to avoid leaving signs out that you have pets in your home. If a buyer asks, you’ll need to answer honestly but, you can often avoid the question ever being asked if your pet’s belongings are put away.

5. Remove your pet for showings. If there’s one tip you take away from this post, it needs to be this one. There are far too many risks that come with a pet being left in a home for showings. Buyers and their agents are strangers to your pet, and that creates a liability for you. When pets are scared or unsure of what’s happening, they act differently. Pets can also get out during a showing, and no agent wants to be looking for your pet if they escape. Leaving your pet home during a showing is asking for trouble. If you can’t get home from work to remove them, have a neighbor keep them, or consider hiring someone to come remove them from your home before a showing starts. 

I hope that I was able to share and encourage you with some key preparation you can do to prepare your home for sale if you have pets. If you are thinking about purchasing a new home this summer, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. At the Joy Daniels Real Estate Group we have a team of qualified, experienced listing partners and buyers specialists who are ready to work with you to make every real estate process a positive experience.

If you have any real estate needs or questions, feel free to give us a call today at 717-695-3177, email us at info@joydaniels.com or you can visit us online at www.joydaniels.com.