Excitement runs high when you have an accepted offer on your Alaskan home, but what comes next could bring you down if not properly prepared for— the home inspection. The inspection could make or break your deal and is a contingency often written into most offers, meaning the buyer could walk away if the results are less than ideal.
Below are just a few of the items that inspectors will be looking for during their time at your property in Fairbanks, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and beyond:
1. Structure: Integrity of your foundation, state of windows, doors and frames
2. Grounds: Faulty grading, dilapidated pathways and walks, trees, and any standing water
3. Roof: Defects in shingles, flashing, fascia, gutters, chimney and skylights
4. Interiors...
We've shared recently about Why You Should be Optimistic About 2021 Real Estate and to continue on down that path of real estate positivity, we're now breaking down why the current market offers the best opportunity to sell in YEARS!
If you're a homeowner in Alaska, don't be too quick to write off this spring, given the global health situation, as a poor time to list your home. In fact, the local market conditions present a lucrative scenario for sellers!
Below are five reasons why now is the best time in years to sell your home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole or the surrounding areas:
Home Buyer Demand is High
The pandemic may have slowed many things, but buyer demand is not one of them. Buyers are determined...
We're just days away from the new year and we're all glad to put 2020 behind us! There will be much to look forward to in the coming months, and we are excited to report one of them is the real estate market!
As your local real estate experts in Alaska, we are including below three of the most important reasons we can be optimistic about real estate in 2021.
The economy will only improve
According to Tim Duy from the University of Oregon, “There is nothing fundamentally ‘broken’ in the economy that needs to heal…there was no obvious financial bubble driving excessive activity in any one economic sector when the pandemic hit…With Covid-19 cases surging again, it is understandably hard to look optimistically to the other side of this winter…Don’t let the near-term challenges distract from the economic stage...
Now that we're all spending more time at home, there have been plenty of hours to watch home improvement TV and real estate reality shows, contemplating how you can put your DIY skills to work.
But before you grab a paintbrush or do anything drastic, you'll want to know there are several DIY projects you can do to your Alaskan home that will actually pay off at resale.
Below are five home improvement projects Alaskan homeowners can do to improve their property's overall appeal to future homebuyers in Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole, and beyond:
Makeover your cabinets
There is no doubt that kitchens and bathrooms often sell homes. One easy project you can do to makeover your kitchen is to refresh your cabinets. As long as the cabinets are in good shape, you...
As you're shopping for homes in Alaska, you're likely taking note of features like paint color, flooring, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms and even yard size. These are all essential in determining whether a property is for you, but there are also a few others that should ultimately raise red flags and cause you to move on to the next home in your search.
With decades of experience in helping buyers in Anchorage, Fairbanks, North Pole, Palmer, Wasilla, and the surrounding areas find their dream homes, I have included three deal breakers below to ensure you're not purchasing an Alaskan home that will be a source of stress later.
Floor plan
Cosmetic elements like paint colors and flooring can easily be changed, but altering the floor plan of a home may not be in the cards— and...
House-hunting can be a lot of fun for new buyers in the Alaska real estate market, but your judgement can also quickly get away from you. It is easy to focus more on features of the home rather than costs like upkeep and utilities and buyer's remorse can set in after you've signed on the dotted line.
But as your local real estate experts in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, North Pole and beyond, it is our priority to ensure buyer's remorse never crosses your mind! Madden Real Estate will work with you to determine your wants versus needs as well as what is realistic for you in terms of price and home size.
In the meantime, keep in mind the following four common sources of homebuyer's remorse, especially as you tour available properties in Anchorage, Chugiak, Fairbanks, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla,...
After months of the snow and cold, it's finally time to welcome the warm weather, green grass, and sunshine back to Alaska! But even though we'll all be headed outdoors this summer, there are still a few projects to check off of your homeowner to-do list to ensure your property is ready to handle the season.
Powerwash your home's exterior
From the driveway to the siding, the winter dirt and grime can take a toll on your Alaskan home's exterior. Consider renting a powerwasher—or purchasing one if you'll get more use out of it—to get your home looking clean and fresh for the new season.
Seal your deck
If you haven't properly sealed your deck, months of moisture have likely been seaping into the wood which can pave the way to rot and a less-than-ideal appearance. Test a patch by pouring a small amount...
The holiday hustle and bustle is just beginning in Alaska— from gatherings with friends and family to decking the halls, shopping, and even traveling. This time of year is undoubtedly one of the busiest and moving may be the last thing on your mind, but does that mean you should wait to buy a home in Alaska?
As your local real estate experts in Alaska, you can count on Madden Real Estate to help you find your dream home and identify the best opportunities to do so— one of which is right now! Below are three reasons to consider buying a home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla, or North Pole during the holidays:
There is less competition...
Spring is an exciting time of year where everything is beginning to come alive again— the weather, the flowers and even, the homebuyers! Many first-time buyers will enter the Alaskan real estate market in the coming weeks and months, ready to land their dream home. However, the truth is if you're not careful or prepared, you could run into the same common obstacles that others have tripped over.
Below are four mistakes that first-time buyers should avoid this spring:
Rushing into the purchase
As you shop for homes in Alaska this spring, it's important that you take your time. Do not feel pressured into a home purchase simply because there are other offers on a property or due to rising...
While inventory may be lower than it has been in past months, there is no shortage of homebuyers in the Fairbanks Alaska area! Buyer traffic has continued to rise and with May having just begun, it's safe to say we are in for a busy summer in the local real estate market!
If you have just started your home search in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer or North Pole, now is the perfect time to prepare to make your home purchase a reality. Below are five ways Alaskan buyers can prepare to purchase a home this year:
Research your creditYour credit score will be an important piece of the puzzle when meeting with a lender. They will comb through your credit, pulling your scores from the three major reporting bureaus, to determine...
Looking to upgrade your front entrance? Re-Painting is a great place to start. Fresh paint is an affordable, interesting way to update your home and it also offers long-term protection.
Choose a color that complements the style of your home and existing exterior colors. For something eye-catching, go with light or deep colors. A unique color scheme is the best way to stand out but don't go overboard.
Re-staining the front door will set your home apart on a street lined with factory-painted doors.
Create contrast to add visual interest and personality to your front entrance.
Accessories are easy and inexpensive finishing touches that make a noticeable difference.
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In a previous blog post, I introduced you to how you can renovate your home in Alaska while increasing your property value. Projects like remodeling your kitchen and bathrooms, redecorating and boosting outdoor appeal are all excellent ways to ensure you have a favorable turn-out when the time comes to sell, but it's also important to keep in mind those that can do the opposite.
If you have home projects on the horizon this year, you will want to steer clear of the following three that can hurt your property value in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Eagle River, Palmer, Wasilla and the surrounding areas:
Removing bedroom space
Maybe you'd like to expand your closet, create a recreational space or even make room for a master suite— but just remember, once you've decreased the number of bedrooms in your...
Spring is nearly here and along with the new season will come a wave of activity in the real estate market. More buyers will begin their house-hunting journey for properties in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, North Pole, Palmer and the surrounding areas and sellers will take the necessary steps to list their home and move on.
It will be a busy time for moving in Alaska and with the hustle and bustle, many things are bound to be overlooked. Madden Real Estate has put together a list of common things people forget to do before moving to a new home in Alaska so you can cross the added stress off of your list!
Cancel any recurring charges
Memberships and mail orders are two factors that can continue to rack up your credit card bill while you're in the midst of moving in ...
If you read our last blog post on trends in Alaska real estate, you'll notice a common theme— lack of inventory! Alaska needs more listings in order to fulfill demand from those buyers currently searching for "the one," but left with few choices. So what's in it for you if you decide to pursue listing your home in Fairbanks, Anchorage, North Pole, Eagle River, Palmer or Wasilla now? Aside from the fact that homes in Alaska are still selling at reasonable rate, home values are also increasing!
Our team at Madden Real Estate can help you sell your home as efficiently as possible and to help move things along, we're sharing a few tips to help prepare your property for a quick sale:
Price the property...
This time of year, schedules tend to pick with festive holiday events, traveling to visit friends and family far and near, gift shopping and as we are in Alaska, winter sports! But even with all of these on your calendar, that doesn't mean that selling your home should be placed on the back burner! The holiday season can be one of the best times to sell your home in the Fairbanks area and waiting to list until spring can cause you to miss out on the advantages in the real estate market right now.
Relocating for the new year
Did you know the holiday season is a popular time for families to relocate? With a job change among the many reasons to move during the winter, many buyers in the market right now are looking for a home to settle into for the new year....
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