That's usually a great idea! But what many people don't consider is the affect your home updates will have on your wallet when it comes time to selling your home.

Below are 5 remodeling projects that you may want to
think TWICE about doing (or not doing at all).

1. Bigger isn't always better. While its great to bring your home into the 21st century, make sure you don't go over-the-top for your neighborhood. Do some research on what is standard for your area and bring your home up-to-date without blowing your competition out of the water. If the houses around you don't have granite counter-tops or heated floors, then maybe you should reconsider those luxuries since your investment may not pay you back.

2. Home office. The cost of a home office will typically only yield a 50% return.  So be careful when considering a built-in desk or bookshelves. You don't want to limit the room to just an office when there is a possibility of a buyer needing a playroom or extra bedroom.  

3. Pools. There are usually 2 types of people: those that see a pool as an enhancement and those that see the pool as a chore. A pool will turn some buyers away because all they are thinking of is the upkeep.

4. New Roofing. It is definitely important to maintain your roof or to replace it if needed, but be cautious when choosing your materials. While clay tile or architectural shingles are attractive, not all buyers notice or care and they most likely won't be willing to pay for it.

5. Specific Touches. Quirky renovations can be fun for YOUR family, but not all buyers will be as enthusiastic about it as you are. Consider the fact that when you make a room into a wine cellar or home theater, you are limiting your buyer pool. You and your family may utilize these amenities, but buyers probably won't pay top dollar for specifics that don't revolve around their interests.

However, just because a house project may not up the value of your home, doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. If you plan to stay in your home forever, then indulge in your interests and increase the enjoyment of your home for yourself and your family. (hgtv.com)

Take these 5 simple techniques to create an ambiance that buyers can't resist.

Seasonal Advantage - There's a reason that stores come out with all kinds of seasonal decorations. Its to appeal to the mood of the season -- making people want to buy more. Same goes for your house. If a buyer is viewing your home in the spring but you still have a few fall or winter decorations up, they will notice. It may not be obvious, but the buyer will feel that some things are out of place. Take advantage of the season by utilizing the decor that comes with it. Buyers will envision themselves living in your house THAT season...not next Winter!

Cozy it up - Fireplaces are a popular selling point -- especially in the cooler seasons. So make your fireplace a focal point. Decorate the hearth with some pillows and place a mirror and some vases on the mantle. Nothing says cozy like a blanket and a book by the fireplace. You will want buyers to notice yours!

Warmth - Literally. Keep your house at a very comfortable temperature. If buyers are viewing your home and it's too cold (especially vacant homes), they won't stick around and will be in a hurry to leave.

Natural Light - Try to time any open houses, or even showings, during peak light hours -- where your house looks it's best. Lighting is a big attraction in houses and buyers like to know that there is plenty of it.

Music - Nothing says "welcome home" like some soft, non-distracting music. A little background music is a great stress-reliever...and buyers are stressed. They are in a hurry and are pressed for time and money. Without them realizing it, they can be drawn to your home because the music made them feel less-stressed and more comfortable.

*Remember that buyers are looking for the place to feel at home. And now you can contribute to that!

Want 
to be a
Competitive Buyer?                
      
Then be ready to buy!
But readiness does not equal impulsiveness. Readiness equals:
- Knowing your budget...and knowing your wiggle room.
- Making a list of your "must-have" ammenities  
- Realizing the things that you could do without
This leaves room for zero hesitation when it comes to making a decision to write an offer on a house. Being ready limits any deals falling through due to needing more time to think about it (which leaves room for someone else to come in and snatch the deal).

Get Pre-Qualified and Pre-Approved for a loan. Do this BEFORE you step foot into a house so there are NO surprises when writing an offer or closing on a home.  

Bid Competitively. Use your agent to assess the market and view comparable homes. The more knowledge you have - the more money you could be saving when it comes to bidding.

Stick to your guns! So keep your budget...your budget! Don't let emotions rise and dictate a bidding war. Let your budget dictate the bidding.
(realtytimes)

This short, 10-question quiz will help you determine what your ideal home style is in congruence with your personality!
Its fun and insightful! And will help you entertain in, search for, & indulge in the style you love. Click on the link below to begin...

http://www.frontdoor.com/Buy/Architecture-Quiz-Landing/1133

Need help finding a home with you style?
Our Buyer Agents are ready to help you begin the search for the perfect style to fit your personality!

The following tips are meant to inspire and motivate you to treat your home like the investment it was meant to be.

1. Make Repairs: Keep up regular maintenance of your home and fix the repairs as needed. That way when it comes time to sell your home, it's ready for the market.

 2. Curb Appeal: It can't be stressed enough that the first impression of your home is the most important. It contributes to the neighborhood value...so keep that lawn manicured, the paint updated, and the flower beds fresh.

3. Community Involvement: Change starts with yourself. You can inspire change by becoming an active member of your community. Family, friends, and neighbors will follow your lead of civic duty. You can easily get involved by joining the PTA, volunteering, & organizing fund raisers and events that promote community.  

4. Updated Kitchen: Kitchens are huge selling points. But be sure that your updates match the comparables in your area. You don't want to price yourself out of the running. So if you love granite and travertine, but homes in your area are selling with laminate, you will probably not be able to ask for a drastically higher price that covers the price of the granite.

5. Updated Bath: Bathrooms also hold much of a home's value. New low-flush toilets cost as little as $100. And light fixtures, hardware, tubs and showers can be easily replaced or resurfaced. And of course, make sure your bathroom is squeaky clean for showings.

6. Energy Savers: Today buyers are looking for homes that are energy efficient. Low-flush toilets, solar panels, water filtrations systems, and insulated windows are all inexpensive fixes for energy savers.

Consider some of these tips and think through what would make YOUR home more valuable in your area. It will be worth the effort!
(realtytimes)

But don't cringe just yet...because THIS year you can make spring cleaning easy by motivating yourself so you don't get overwhelmed.
All you need is ONE week to accomplish ONE task per day.

• Day 1: ELIMINATE CLUTTER: Go through each room and take a box with you. Fill it with anything you know you won't use anymore (tip: if you haven't used it in the past year...you WON'T use it again!). Sort through closets, drawers, and under your bed. Donate the boxes that you filled OR have a rockin' garage sale and make some money off your junk!
• Day 2: Wardrobe Transition: DON'T store your clothes for ALL seasons in your closet! Transfer your winter clothes to a storage space and keep your closet tidy with only your spring/summer clothing and accessories. Then ENJOY walking into your closet!
• Day 3: Bedding: Take ONE day to wash all your bed-skirts, mattress pads, & comforters/blankets. Then while all the beds are naked, flip your mattresses.
• Day 4: DUSTING: You'll need the day to do this one. Clear your house of dust by vacuuming and wiping fans, light fixtures, mirrors, curtains/blinds, and baseboards. You will probably be surprised at what you find.
• Day 5: Windows: Winter leaves its evidence behind on your windows with a film of dirt and grime. Use ammonia and water to wash your windows inside and out. Don't forget to the wipe down the ledges and frame.
• Day 6: Bathrooms: Take a day to deep clean your bathrooms by scrubbing behind toilets. Sort through your medicine cabinet and throw away any expired items. Wash your bathroom rugs & shower mats. Use a  special cleaner to rid your shower of any mildew.
   
• Day 7: Kitchen Beware: Its easy to let your kitchen get dirty because it can happen so fast. Use this day to clean out and throw away any expired items, and sort your products into drawers and baskets. Wipe out your pantry shelving and refrigerator.

OPEN YOUR WINDOWS and let that natural air freshener fill every room! Enjoy the feeling & confidence of knowing that your home is thoroughly clean (and if your trying to sell...the potential buyers will notice!).

Now get yourself outside and take advantage of the weather!

Get the full story & news coverage by clicking on Fox Carolina News.

Thinking about making a move to this great city? Have questions about what its like to live in Greenville?
Our expert team of agents are ready to assist you! Let us show you why Greenville really is an incredible place to live!

Start a Composite Pile - A compost pile is made up of recycled greens and leaves and even kitchen waste. Keep the pile in a sunny spot in your yard and spread a thin layer of it over your garden once a year to keep your soil moist & fertilized.

Maintain Healthy Soil -  Don't overwork your soil or walk on it. Keep it loose so roots can easily spread and deepen.

Mulch - Use it! It suppresses weed growth and maintains moisture.

Water Properly -  Deep soak your plants each time you water to encourage roots to grow deep. Early in the morning proves to be the best time to water.

Go Native - Its just let hassle! Native plants grow organically and will flourish without much fuss.

Minimize Maintenance - Cut back on fertilizers and prune only when necessary. Too much of these things produce tender plants that bugs love most.

Visit Regularly - Take a daily morning walk through your garden with your cup of coffee and take notice of the small things. If you deal with those each day, you won't be overwhelmed on the weekend (when you should be enjoying the fruits of your labor!).
hgtv

The latest trend for bathroom design is luxury. Below are some ways to incorporate this design that is sure to get the buyers attention.

• Heated Flooring: This is becoming the recent rage in bathrooms that have hard-surface flooring. And you can do it yourself for about $500!
• Luxury Tile: Ceramic Tile, Marble or Granite - use real stone! Its ok to splurge in this area. Buyers will notice the royal difference.
• New Paint: Instant update. Popular colors include neutrals like taupe and greys. Adding a splash of subtle color with hues of blues, greens, and purples will add personality to the space as well.
• Heated Towel Racks: Once again...a luxury that conforms your bathroom into a spa-like experience that buyers won't be able to resist.
• Storage & Counter Space: LOTS of it. Pedestal sinks are pretty, but not always practical...especially with women. Opt for a vanity that offers storage or use shelving with baskets.
• Dual Vanities: Allows for more counter space and better functionality.
• Linen Closet: Again...more storage. You can never have too much in a bathroom.

Incorporate some (or all!) of these design features and it will be extremely hard to ignore! Your bathroom will significantly stand out from the competition!

Save! This one is probably obvious. You should be prepared to pay a monthly mortgage payment (no more than 1/3 of your monthly income), but there are also many upfront costs (downpayment, closing costs) that you may not be prepared for unless you have saved for it.

Downpayment Options...explore them! See what kind of loan you qualify for to determine how much you need to save for your downpayment.

Credit report. It says MUCH about you, and lenders use it to determine the interest rate on your loan. The better the score, the lower your rate. So practice great credit!

Get Prequalified. It will give you a ballpark figure to work with as you venture into your home search. And this will keep you from falling in love with a house that you may not be able to afford.

Get Preapproved. This is the official letter from the lender that says they willbe willing to lend you money. Many sellers look for buyers who are preapproved.

Housing Criteria. Make sure you sit down and figure out your needs. Buying a home is a massive expense and you want to make sure you get what YOU want out of it. Include things like "must have 4 bedrooms" and "2-car garage" or "a large backyard". Then you will find a house that you can live in for an extensive amount of time.

Location Location Location. Determine what school district you want to live in, or how conveniently located you want to be to shopping, dining, or your office. This will really help narrow your search.

Hire an expert agent. Let your agent do the work for you when it comes to searching. Agents have access to thousands of homes in your area and can easily help narrow down your search, save you time, and walk you through the buying steps.

Begin! You are now much more prepared to start your search for the perfect home to fit your family...and the process will be much more enjoyable. Have fun!
realtytimes

Sight: Make sure your entire house is tighty & uncluttered. Remove personal styles such as children's paintings or elaborate art or colors. By using simple decor, you are allowing the buyer to imagine their own life in your home. Take down any outdated items and store them away while your house is being shown. To stay budget friendly - use slip covers to hide extravagant patterns or even stains.

Sound: Create a distraction free atmosphere by eliminating unnecessary sounds. Be sure that barking dogs are at a friends house for the day. Turn off any noisy equipment, and keep the TV and radio off as well. Silence can actually be a great selling point!  

Smell: Make every room smell fresh and clean. But be sure to avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach as these can aggravate some buyers. Simply install subtle room fresheners. Candles can also be used (when supervised) to create a great ambiance. Smoke and pet odors are the biggest contributers of "red flags" to a buyer. Painting your walls and thoroughly cleaning your carpet is a great way to rid your house of the smell of smoke. And for pet odor...send your dog to day care for the showing.

Touch: Fix all minor repairs before a showing. Wobbly handrails, broken/chipped tile, or missing door handles portray that the house has not been taken care of. The small details count!

Taste: Provide food and drink at an open house. Make it a small party, and create a great entertainment atmosphere. You can also create the same affect by baking fresh cookies and letting the aroma fill the air.

Stimulate the senses and it will allow you to reach and appeal to a wide range of buyers!
realtytimes

That means the instant they pull into your driveway the clock starts ticking. Mold their impression by improving the outside of your home so they can’t wait to see what’s on the inside!

Here are 4 QUICK, EASY & CHEAP tips to add instant curb appeal - and you can do each in a day!

Landscape – The quickest and most obvious way to improve your yard is to add new or fresh mulch, and decorate your walkway with bushes, small trees, &/or flowers. Make sure everything is freshly mowed and trimmed!
Paint – Paint can instantly perk up an older home! You can go as far as putting a new coat of paint on the whole house, or simply splash a fresh, neutral color on your front door and shutters!
Light Fixtures & Hardware – The light fixtures outside of your home speak volumes about it's age. Updating your light fixtures is cheap and easy!
You can also replace the hardware on your front door if it is old, rusty, or outdated. Here’s a cheaper tip – spray paint your hardware with an outdoor, rust-free paint!
Character – Make your front porch inviting simply by adding a wreath (that matches the season) to your front door, a doormat, and porch furniture. Keep it simple & cozy!

Potential buyers will now be instantly attracted to your home when they see it from the street...waiting in great expectation to walk through your front door.

To learn more about ways you can attract buyers and sell your home faster, contact one of our listing specialists.

But is it the most effective way to sell your home? Moreover, is it the safest way? It’s important to understand what you’re getting into when selling your home as a FSBO.
Take a look below at some hazards a seller might experience when not using an agent.

 - A FSBO can’t be listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS only gives access to licensed agents, and agents use the MLS for the majority of their work in matching potential buyers to your home.
 - Buyer agents are hesitant to show a FSBO home. If there is not a listing agreement with an agent, there is no set guarantee that a buyer agent will be compensated for their services, since a buyer agent would receive a percentage of the listing commission.
 - Often FSBO’s overprice their home. They don’t have a knowledgeable agent to help them assess the value of their home based on the comparable homes in their area & neighborhood, and the market conditions.
 - Buyers are prone to feeling intimidated at a showing of a FSBO, especially if the owner is at the property. They are hesitant to discuss the pros and cons of the home, and are even more opposed to making an offer if they know that they will be negotiating directly with the seller. Agent representation on both sides provides an effective emotional buffer.
 - Legal trouble is more prevalent with a FSBO. If a seller overlooks one required form or disclosure, it could easily turn into a buyer lawsuit. It’s best to have an agent walk you through the process to avoid any and all possibilities of a deal falling through.
(realtor.com)

 Choose wisely!
Hamilton & Co.’s Listing Specialists are ready and eager to take the selling burden off of your shoulders!

The South Carolina State Housing Authority recently launched a new home loan program specifically targeted to South Carolina's heroes: our teachers, firefighters, law enforcement and EMS workers.

The program, called Palmetto Heroes, offers down payment assistance up to $7,000 (forgiveable) and a low, 30 year fixed rate of 5.125%. It is limited to $40 million across the state, so the money will go fast. Anyone interested in taking advantage of this program should act quickly.

A first time buyer using this program and combining the federal $8,000 tax credit would have $15,000 to buy a home. Combined this with a fixed low interest rate and downward pressure on home prices, now is one of the best times to buy a home in a generation or two.

You can click here for more details and specifics on the program. Click here to begin your home search.

Whatever your reason...job, family, or lifestyle change, it might be time to relocate (we hope you are relocating to Greenville, South Carolina). Making the transition from one city to another is never an easy proposition. However, following a few simple steps will make for a smoother transition.

A few tips from Recession Wire:

• Use your internet hubs -- connect with people in your town using social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

• Find or create and ex-pat group -- chances are others from your hometown have come before you...use your network at home to seek them out and share experiences.

• Read the daily paper -- get and stay informed on what is going on locally. Check out the Greenville News online to stay on top of Greenville-area happenings.

Take a minute to read the full article here and let us know how we can help you with your relocation needs.

Yeah, not pretty...oh well. See you at the game.

 Atlanta Bread Company**
Azia
Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders**
Boston Pizzeria
Bruster's Ice Cream**
Chophouse '47
City Range Steakhouse Grill
Doc Chey's Asian Kitchen
Firehouse Subs**
Five Guys Burger and Fries**
Flat Rock Grill Woodruff Rd
The Great Bay Oyster House
Happy Pie
Inergy
The Lazy Chicken
Leopard Forest Cafe
Lieu's Chinese Bistro
Marble Slab Creamery
The Mellow Mushroom**
Mi Mi's Steakhouse of Japan
Moe's Southwest Grill**
Nathan's Famous Frankfurters**
The Open Hearth
Overlook Grill
Paisanos Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant
Pollo Campero
Roly Poly
Salsarita's Mexican Cantina
Spinx Deli
Stella's Southern Bistro

Let There Be Mom is a charity that was created to help moms (and dads) diagnosed with a life-threatening illness to preserve a legacy of the ailing parent. Take a few minutes to check out some of the stories of the families this group has helped over the last couple of years. These stories will no doubt make you hug your family just a little bit tighter tonight.

Enjoy an evening out with your family this Thursday and do a good thing for your community.