A common question that comes up when listing a house is: how do I make my home look the best as possible for showings? In other words, what impresses buyers when looking through a house?
Here are some tips that can help a home look great for potential buyers.
Declutter
If you have a lot of furniture in a room, you will want to take the amount down to a minimum to make the rooms look as big as possible. This will also help buyers make a mental picture of their own furniture in the rooms.
If you have a lot of personal pictures around the house, you will want to minimize how many there are throughout the house.
Also, buyers will go through your closets and kitchen cabinets (and many times the refrigerator if it is an item that they will want to keep). De-clutter these areas as much as possible and keep the kitchen counter clear.
If you have an eclectic pet, remove it for a while. Reptiles and spiders can alarm buyers.
In general, try to be as organized as possible. Less is more in these situations. People do not want to fight through the clutter. They want to look at the house, not all of your stuff. They want to see themselves in their new potential living space.
Clean Up
While this sounds simple, it can be challenging to do and maintain; however, it makes a difference.
Keep the floors swept (including the garage).
Wipe down furniture throughout the house. If you have a furniture polish, do a quick run-through.
Do a cleaning of the windows.
Wipe up the stove.
Clean the ceiling fans (a way to do this is to put a pillowcase over each blade to catch all of the dust).
At the end of the day, you want to keep people focused on the house, not distracted by dust.
Maintenance
Curb appeal can make a big difference. Pull the weeds, trim the bushes, put down some new mulch, and edge the sidewalk. These extra few hours of your time can make your property really stand out when a buyer pulls up to your house.
There are many times that people ask me what are the important places to update in a home. The big answers are kitchen and bathrooms first. However, that is the broad answer, also assuming that those areas need an overhaul. The "smaller" items to update would be making sure the front door is looking nice (paint, if necessary), update the faucets (especially in the kitchen), put new hardware for kitchen cabinets, and replace any torn or worn screens.
For Showings
If possible, you will want to turn all of the lights on and open any shades/curtains in the house before the potential buyers come to see the property. There are two reasons for this: it makes the house pop when the buyers first come in and this keeps the buyers and the agent from being distracted looking for light switches.
Try to keep the grass cut.
Also, if you have a programable thermostat that drops or raises the temperature during the day, you will want to change the setting to be consistent throughout the entire day. Many buyers are able to view properties during the day due to more flexible work schedules, people who work second and third shifts, and some people taking lunch breaks to view homes.
Also, as a precaution, either lock up in a safe or remove any valuables or personal information. While most agents try to pre-qualify and stay with their clients during the viewing of a home, there is an outside chance of an issue occurring.
If you are thinking about listing in the near-term or far, I would be happy to meet you to help answer any specific questions on your property and do a competitive market analysis to see how comparable properties are selling in your area.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
God's Designs, Inc., Helping To Make a House a Home
One of the things I really enjoy about my job is learning about great opportunities in the community--and I'm not just talking about the return on investment of a particular property. No, I'm talking about a great charity I learned about recently.
On a recent sale, the seller and I were discussing the closing date, and she mentioned that she needed to coordinate a pick-up of some furniture she was donating to a local organization. That organization is God's Designs, a local non-profit group that takes a hands-on approach to helping people through the furnishing of houses and apartments with donated furniture, pictures, floral arrangements, and curtains.
The way it works is God's Designs receives referrals from known social agencies and churches around Louisville. Their clients are people who have few essentials based on circumstances. The situation could be someone coming out of a homelessness or a seminary student who has come from abroad with nothing but a suitcase.
They are very involved in the process with their clients. There is a visit with the client a week or so before the actual set up of the house or apartment to determine the specific needs. Then, the team for God's Designs does all of the set-up work while the client is not there. A term deemed for the process is a "mini extreme makeover". Once the work is completed, the family arrives to experience the joy of the newly furnished home, and the day ends with a house blessing.
God's Designs can be assisted through the donation of household items (except for clothing), monetary donations, time, or through Kroger's donation program.
Find out more detailed information at http://godsdesignsinc.com/index.html.
On a recent sale, the seller and I were discussing the closing date, and she mentioned that she needed to coordinate a pick-up of some furniture she was donating to a local organization. That organization is God's Designs, a local non-profit group that takes a hands-on approach to helping people through the furnishing of houses and apartments with donated furniture, pictures, floral arrangements, and curtains.
The way it works is God's Designs receives referrals from known social agencies and churches around Louisville. Their clients are people who have few essentials based on circumstances. The situation could be someone coming out of a homelessness or a seminary student who has come from abroad with nothing but a suitcase.
They are very involved in the process with their clients. There is a visit with the client a week or so before the actual set up of the house or apartment to determine the specific needs. Then, the team for God's Designs does all of the set-up work while the client is not there. A term deemed for the process is a "mini extreme makeover". Once the work is completed, the family arrives to experience the joy of the newly furnished home, and the day ends with a house blessing.
God's Designs can be assisted through the donation of household items (except for clothing), monetary donations, time, or through Kroger's donation program.
Find out more detailed information at http://godsdesignsinc.com/index.html.
Monday, March 28, 2016
"Mmmmm, [Louisville] donuts." --Homer Simpson
I love doughnuts (and donuts). Truth is that I really don't care how it is spelled--I just know I love fried dough drenched in sugar.
Louisville is an old-school city, which means that it has a history of old-school bakeries. And, there is beauty in that both the good ol' corporate donut shops and the good ol' local doughnut shoppes exist in harmony.
On the corporate front, I have always enjoyed getting some hot doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (I
believe that in heaven a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts can be consumed with no negative after effects). And I was excited when Dunkin' Donuts appeared in the Louisville scene a few years ago, where a good breakfast sandwich and some well-flavored hash browns can be added to a doughnut meal.
In regard to keeping it local, here are some more detailed regional observations:
Nord's
Maple bacon...need I say more? I mostly enjoy their traditional glazed and French Fry (it's basically a glazed doughnut in the shape of a Long John with twists in the middle). Their cake doughnuts never fail (including the seasonal pumpkin donut--but be forewarned, an addiction can form). Grab whatever you prefer and head on over to Sunergos coffee right next door. Just be sure to leave the appropriate amount of time needed if in a time-crunch, as there is almost always a line (sometimes out the door).
Louisville is an old-school city, which means that it has a history of old-school bakeries. And, there is beauty in that both the good ol' corporate donut shops and the good ol' local doughnut shoppes exist in harmony.
On the corporate front, I have always enjoyed getting some hot doughnuts from Krispy Kreme (I
In regard to keeping it local, here are some more detailed regional observations:
Nord's
Maple bacon...need I say more? I mostly enjoy their traditional glazed and French Fry (it's basically a glazed doughnut in the shape of a Long John with twists in the middle). Their cake doughnuts never fail (including the seasonal pumpkin donut--but be forewarned, an addiction can form). Grab whatever you prefer and head on over to Sunergos coffee right next door. Just be sure to leave the appropriate amount of time needed if in a time-crunch, as there is almost always a line (sometimes out the door).
Friday, March 11, 2016
Hipster Restaurants in Louisville
Logical Conclusion: There are a lot of local restaurants in Louisville. There are a lot of hipsters in Louisville. There are a lot of hipster restaurants in Louisville.
I was talking with two of my friends the other day, Sarah Cooke and Michelle Miller (both great foodie last names), and we got to talking about the various hipster restaurants around town. As we discussed, we observed that there are more of these establishments than we originally had thought. We also observed that they are not confined to one area of town, allowing hipsters (and fans of good food) to be free to live and work where they want in Possibility City. I know I'm probably missing some solid hipster places in this post (and missing obscure places makes me less hip), but here are some observations.
In discussing these restaurants, I'd like to start in what may be one of the epicenters of hipsterhood, Germantown/Schnitzelburg. You can go with Eiderdown to get some higher-scale eclectic German foods or head over to Four Pegs, where you can order some chicken and waffles (what I like to call Southern hipster cuisine), a wrap, or a good old fashion burger while you listen to Weezer's Blue Album.
Not far away is Hammerheads, where your cool factor rises greatly as you descend into the basement. What I appreciate most about Hammerheads is that it proves that not all hipsters are vegetarians, vegans, or pescetarians. We can all breathe a little easier knowing that hipsters can eat a diet of smoked meats and french fries drenched in various oils and yet still fit into skinny jeans.
Heading to the NuLu, we have multiple places to go where thick-rimmed glasses are welcome. The entire area boasts of Kentucky Proud products, giving us local farm food in an urban atmosphere. Sophisticated names like Rye, Decca, Feast, Grind, Harvest, or Royals Hot Chicken line the district. If feeling more athletic (wanting to burn off calories from those craft beers), one can rock out his or her sports plaid for some outdoor ping pong at the Garage Bar.
The Avenue (those of you with sense will know it as Frankfort Avenue) has put up a lot of good eats in the last few years. If you want to feel country hip, head toward the Silver Dollar where food is served up in a remodeled fire house. If you want to feel more originally hip, go the short distance down to El Mundo (Spanish for The Mundo).
On the B-Town, vintage shoe-wearing hipsters are free to roam to any restaurant of their choosing. I like to think of it as an area for Free Range Hipsters. One can get gourmet Mexican food at El Camino, snag a pizza at Tony Boombozz (or Za's or Wick's or Impellizzeri's), or get happily overwhelmed by the choices at Ramsi's Cafe on the World.
J-Town, an area not historically lined with hipsters, has given us the Mussel and Burger Bar. The servers may not be dressed in the traditional garb of the mid to late hipster eras, but the menu consists of duck fat (immediate sign of hipness), pretzel buns, and local, grass-fed beef. All of which do fine getting stuck in the beard.
Even if we aren't all hipsters, we can all enjoy some good hipster food (which is expanding at a rapid rate). However, wherever you go, just make sure to go by bike to stay green and hip.
I was talking with two of my friends the other day, Sarah Cooke and Michelle Miller (both great foodie last names), and we got to talking about the various hipster restaurants around town. As we discussed, we observed that there are more of these establishments than we originally had thought. We also observed that they are not confined to one area of town, allowing hipsters (and fans of good food) to be free to live and work where they want in Possibility City. I know I'm probably missing some solid hipster places in this post (and missing obscure places makes me less hip), but here are some observations.In discussing these restaurants, I'd like to start in what may be one of the epicenters of hipsterhood, Germantown/Schnitzelburg. You can go with Eiderdown to get some higher-scale eclectic German foods or head over to Four Pegs, where you can order some chicken and waffles (what I like to call Southern hipster cuisine), a wrap, or a good old fashion burger while you listen to Weezer's Blue Album.
Not far away is Hammerheads, where your cool factor rises greatly as you descend into the basement. What I appreciate most about Hammerheads is that it proves that not all hipsters are vegetarians, vegans, or pescetarians. We can all breathe a little easier knowing that hipsters can eat a diet of smoked meats and french fries drenched in various oils and yet still fit into skinny jeans. 
Heading to the NuLu, we have multiple places to go where thick-rimmed glasses are welcome. The entire area boasts of Kentucky Proud products, giving us local farm food in an urban atmosphere. Sophisticated names like Rye, Decca, Feast, Grind, Harvest, or Royals Hot Chicken line the district. If feeling more athletic (wanting to burn off calories from those craft beers), one can rock out his or her sports plaid for some outdoor ping pong at the Garage Bar. The Avenue (those of you with sense will know it as Frankfort Avenue) has put up a lot of good eats in the last few years. If you want to feel country hip, head toward the Silver Dollar where food is served up in a remodeled fire house. If you want to feel more originally hip, go the short distance down to El Mundo (Spanish for The Mundo).
On the B-Town, vintage shoe-wearing hipsters are free to roam to any restaurant of their choosing. I like to think of it as an area for Free Range Hipsters. One can get gourmet Mexican food at El Camino, snag a pizza at Tony Boombozz (or Za's or Wick's or Impellizzeri's), or get happily overwhelmed by the choices at Ramsi's Cafe on the World.J-Town, an area not historically lined with hipsters, has given us the Mussel and Burger Bar. The servers may not be dressed in the traditional garb of the mid to late hipster eras, but the menu consists of duck fat (immediate sign of hipness), pretzel buns, and local, grass-fed beef. All of which do fine getting stuck in the beard.
Even if we aren't all hipsters, we can all enjoy some good hipster food (which is expanding at a rapid rate). However, wherever you go, just make sure to go by bike to stay green and hip.
Matt Gatewood
REALTOR
Keller Williams Louisville East
Keller Williams Louisville East
502-594-6582
Friday, February 26, 2016
The Arcade Expo
When I was a kid, there were three arcade places in town that stole my time and quarters. The first was Malibu near Poplar Level and the Watterson (where I would sweat playing Cabal), the second was Aladdin's Castle (distinct memory of playing Out Run at my friend's after-hour birthday party), and the nameless-to-me-now one in the Mall St. Matthews (they got my entire piggy bank on one game of Terminator 2).
I have fond memories of these times. They were simpler for me. I eagerly anticipated Friday night with my dad (the boys' night) where I would get a chocolate ice cream cone and spend all of my dad's overtime pay on Star Wars (either version), Airwolf, and Dig Dug for good measure.
Even though these arcade houses faded into the distance a long time ago, there has been a new hope: The Louisville Arcade Expo. Since 2011, Joe Stith, Matt Fleitz, and Jeremy Fleitz have been putting on show with enough radiation to send you back to the Cold War. "The Arcade Expo is a celebration of all things retro gaming. It's about bringing back something magical that has been lost in modern gaming. It's about that feeling you got when you went to the arcade and saw all the new, awesome games like Street Fighter II. Or the rush you felt the first time you picked up the star and barreled through in Super Mario Bros," said Joe Stith.
The show features over 30,000 square feet of retro game with a certified pinball tournament, gaming contests (with super creative trophies), a travel through time of gaming consoles, a costume contest, and guest speakers (this year's show includes a famous pinball designer and stars from the documentary, King of Kong, A Fistful of Quarters). "To those who lived during that golden age of gaming we want them to have another chance to relive the glory days; as well as introduce a new generation to the incredible analog gaming scene of the 70s, 80s, and 90s," continued Stith.
The Expo is held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel off of Hustbourne Lane on 1776 Plantside Drive (near Bachman Subaru), and it is jam packed, wall-to-wall, with great gaming titles. The pinball section is loaded for any wizard, containing both old and new machines (my favorite in the past has been the Joust machine--yes, a Joust pinball machine). A walk through history is found in the console and computer game section, starting with Atari and Apple IIe and ending with the N64 and original XBox.
When asked about some of his favorite parts of the Expo, Stith said, "Seeing the pride and joy that a mom or dad gets when they show their young kids how they played games 'back in their day', and then seeing the kids and parents having a blast playing together."
The dates of the show are March 4-6. The hours are Friday 2:00 pm-12:00 am, Saturday 10:00 am-12:00 am, and Sunday 10:00 am-4:00 pm.
The cost of admittance is $25 for the day/$55 for the weekend. All games are set to free play (no quarters needed). With pre-registration, the cost is $20/day or $45 for the weekend. In addition, there is a discounted rate for staying at the Ramada Inn.
Gauntlet II thrown.
http://www.arcaderx.com/
I have fond memories of these times. They were simpler for me. I eagerly anticipated Friday night with my dad (the boys' night) where I would get a chocolate ice cream cone and spend all of my dad's overtime pay on Star Wars (either version), Airwolf, and Dig Dug for good measure.
Even though these arcade houses faded into the distance a long time ago, there has been a new hope: The Louisville Arcade Expo. Since 2011, Joe Stith, Matt Fleitz, and Jeremy Fleitz have been putting on show with enough radiation to send you back to the Cold War. "The Arcade Expo is a celebration of all things retro gaming. It's about bringing back something magical that has been lost in modern gaming. It's about that feeling you got when you went to the arcade and saw all the new, awesome games like Street Fighter II. Or the rush you felt the first time you picked up the star and barreled through in Super Mario Bros," said Joe Stith. 
The Expo is held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel off of Hustbourne Lane on 1776 Plantside Drive (near Bachman Subaru), and it is jam packed, wall-to-wall, with great gaming titles. The pinball section is loaded for any wizard, containing both old and new machines (my favorite in the past has been the Joust machine--yes, a Joust pinball machine). A walk through history is found in the console and computer game section, starting with Atari and Apple IIe and ending with the N64 and original XBox.When asked about some of his favorite parts of the Expo, Stith said, "Seeing the pride and joy that a mom or dad gets when they show their young kids how they played games 'back in their day', and then seeing the kids and parents having a blast playing together."
The dates of the show are March 4-6. The hours are Friday 2:00 pm-12:00 am, Saturday 10:00 am-12:00 am, and Sunday 10:00 am-4:00 pm.The cost of admittance is $25 for the day/$55 for the weekend. All games are set to free play (no quarters needed). With pre-registration, the cost is $20/day or $45 for the weekend. In addition, there is a discounted rate for staying at the Ramada Inn.
Gauntlet II thrown.
http://www.arcaderx.com/
Matt Gatewood
REALTOR
REALTOR
Keller Williams Louisville East
502-594-6582
Saturday, March 21, 2015
First Dairy Kastle of the Season
Old Man Winter smacked us in the face (literally) with a couple of big snows and bitter cold in February; however, spring is officially here. That means that the real estate market should start to open up more, especially with low interest rates, good supply levels, improved economic indicators, blah, blah, blah. Let's talk about what is most important: the Dairy Kastle is open.
I recently made my first trip of the 2015 ice cream season, and the experience reminded me of the movie, The Polar Express. In it, Santa Claus announces "The first gift of Christmas". For me, I like to celebrate "The first Dairy Kastle of the season". What was my choice this year, you may (or may not) ask? It was a small vanilla and orange swirl in a cone. Now, like the main character in the movie, I was faced with a world of choices, and everyone who goes to the DK will find themselves in the same spot. I could have gone with a single flavor, several choices of swirled flavors (including the new pineapple flavor this year), a flurry, milkshake of many varieties (traditional, orange cow, or brown cow), a sundae, banana split, or a legit slush puppy.
The DK brings people from all areas of town and walks of life together for what is important: sugar. No matter where we are in life or where we live, we now know that spring has begun with the opening of this important institution. Just bring some cash (no credit cards, checks, or bartering) and some patience for the line (but well worth the wait).
I recently made my first trip of the 2015 ice cream season, and the experience reminded me of the movie, The Polar Express. In it, Santa Claus announces "The first gift of Christmas". For me, I like to celebrate "The first Dairy Kastle of the season". What was my choice this year, you may (or may not) ask? It was a small vanilla and orange swirl in a cone. Now, like the main character in the movie, I was faced with a world of choices, and everyone who goes to the DK will find themselves in the same spot. I could have gone with a single flavor, several choices of swirled flavors (including the new pineapple flavor this year), a flurry, milkshake of many varieties (traditional, orange cow, or brown cow), a sundae, banana split, or a legit slush puppy.
The DK brings people from all areas of town and walks of life together for what is important: sugar. No matter where we are in life or where we live, we now know that spring has begun with the opening of this important institution. Just bring some cash (no credit cards, checks, or bartering) and some patience for the line (but well worth the wait).
If you have any questions about the real estate market (or about Dairy Kastle), please let me know.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
The Louisville Renaissance
I feel that I’m constantly hearing of another accolade for Louisville. This is a notable thing, especially for a native of this eclectic, historical city. I must say, though, speaking directly to this wonderful city, that, ‘You’ve come a long way, baby.’ My memories of growing up here are excellent; however, (for you younger millennials out there), before there was Waterfront Park, there was a waterfront filled with scrapyards and fuel tanks. No one went downtown with any regularity. There were things around to do, but there wasn’t a great energy.
Things have changed. The Big Four Bridge is not just rusted metal sitting on stones anymore. Grass actually grows on the river. NuLu is the place to be. Bardstown Road has more fun places to eat and hang out than ever (while still successfully maintaining its weirdness). There are now more places to eat downtown than Count Von Count can number. The Goss Avenue antique mall is being re-done in Germantown. The University of Louisville has expanded and grown. Delicious restaurants are popping up on every corner. Churchill Downs started night racing. The energy has changed.
And, there is national recognition. CNN named the Derby City one of the top 20 travel destinations in 2013. This went further with National Geographic Traveler naming Louisville one of the top 20 Best in the World locations in 2013 (yeah, I said world, not national). My favorite award for the Ville came in 2012 from GC when it named Louisville the most manly town in America. Yeah, that’s right.
All the tips of the hat to Louisville being a great location to visit are great. But, what about to live? Yes, in 2011 Parenting magazine chimed in, listing Louisville to be one of the top 10 places to raise children, citing affordable housing, museums, and being the “City of Parks” (thanks, Frederick Law Olmsted).
Louisville is a city filled with beautiful tree-lined parkways, vast parks, historical buildings, excellent food, and fun things to do and see. I titled this post, “The Louisville Renaissance”, but I guess I really ask the question--is this a re-birth or just the beginnings of even better things to come?
Matt Gatewood
REALTOR
Keller Williams Louisville East
Keller Williams Louisville East
502-594-6582
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