When checking out Myrtle Beach homes for sale, there are certain things homebuyers are looking for. And although home buyers are different and they may have different tastes and needs, they are looking for different things and features in a home. On the other hand, if you are targeting a certain group of homebuyers, it will be easy for you to determine what they are looking for.
What Home Buyers are Looking For
Up-to-date kitchen
According to experts, the kitchen is often the first room that homebuyers want to look at when they visit Myrtle Beach homes for sale. And for many homebuyers, the kitchen is what makes or breaks their decision to buy the house. This is why, if you are planning to sell your home, you need to make the kitchen up-to-date. You can do this by repainting the walls and replacing worn out counters and cabinets. You should also consider replacing some of your kitchen equipment and appliances with ones that are sleeker and more modern.
A welcoming and relaxing first impression
Some homeowners will start assessing the house the minute they see it from inside their cars. Some do not even have to get out of the car to assess whether or not a house suits their needs and tastes. Considering this, you need to make sure that the house you are selling makes the right impression at first sight. And to do this, you could repaint your sidings, have your yard landscaped, or add plants on the front door.
Modern bathrooms
Aside from the kitchens, another room that homebuyers look at is the bathroom. Real estate professionals believe that most homebuyers do not only want a clean and sanitized bathroom. They also want a bathroom with modern features such as double sinks, vanity cabinets and toilets. You do not have to spend a lot of money on this. You can simply replace cabinet handles, towel bars, shower heads and faucets with ones that offer a more recent design. Other ideas that you might want to consider is an open floor plan and water-conserving fixtures for the bathroom.
Neutral colors
According to recent reports, Myrtle Beach homes for sale that have more neutral colors sell more quickly than those with bolder colors. The reason for this is because neutral colors cater to a wider range of homeowners. More specifically, it allows homeowners to be able to see or imagine how they will decorate the house. They will also be able to easily plan how they will decorate the room. Moreover, if they decide they want a different color for their walls. They can just paint over the walls.
Aside from these, an important thing to remember when selling homes is that the house you are selling should be clean, neat and tidy. Organize your stuff and make sure there are less of your personal belongings on display. Need professional assistance looking for Myrtle Beach homes for sale? Call Cheryl Woodward now.
Questions To Ask Before Buying A Home in Myrtle Beach
Several homebuyers are drawn to the distinctive culture possessed by beach towns like Myrtle Beach. But what if the beach town where you are considering buying a home you like is also a hurricane zone? Your home will definitely be at higher risk of getting seriously damaged. So how will you know if the property that’s located in a hurricane zone, is worth buying? Here are a few questions that you need to ask yourself.
How much will you pay for insurance?
Whether a hurricane hits or not, you have to pay for insurance. Insurance rates run the gamut. According to the numbers provided by the Insurance Information Institute, in 2012, Idaho had the lowest premiums at $528 while Florida had the highest at about $2,084 per year. What does this mean? Before you begin searching for a house, talk to an insurance agent first. Although it may seem as if you are doing this backward, meeting with an insurance agent will give you an estimate of the insurance cost you need to cover every year.
Should I Buy A Property On The Beach Or A Few Blocks Away?
The location of the property that you wish to purchase will have a significant impact on your risk and premiums, even if you go with a house that is located just a couple of miles inland. It will all be based on the flood hazard locations defined by the National Flood Insurance Program’s Flood Insurance Rate Map. The spots that were considered as Special Flood Hazard Areas are places with the highest risk. They have a minimum of 1 out of 4 chance of flooding throughout a 30-year mortgage.
Keep in mind that you do not need to be close to the water to be considered in a flood hazard area, like the communities in Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach. So if you are house hunting together with your Myrtle Beach real estate agent, you need to take into account where each property falls on the map and their flood zone designation.
What Kind Of House Should You Buy?
According to the experts from Full Potential Real Estate, the house type you wish to purchase will also make a big difference since there are a few homes that were made to specifically stand up against hurricanes. Some of these houses are dome-shaped, which lessens the wind damage, while a few are built on stilts to lower risks of flooding. These houses might also obtain a much better rating from your chosen insurance company.
Don’t forget to ask your real estate agent to show you all the houses that were designed to withstand wind and water or if you prefer a conventional home, be sure to hire a reputable home inspector who can help set realistic expectations regarding the home’s capability to withstand a hurricane before you make an offer.
You may have lower insurance costs if the house you wish to purchase was built to code and can stand up against any hurricane or storm. In case the house is not up to code, you need to work with a contractor who can make improvements on the property. However, don’t forget to calculate the costs before you make any commitment. In case the insurance savings are not bigger compared to the cost to remodel, then the house may not be worth it.
In Case Damages Do Not Happen, What Will Be My Deductible?
Regardless of where you live, your homeowner’s policy may cover hurricanes. However, these policies are different depending on your financial responsibility in the event you need to file a claim that is hurricane related. Although you might not be able to get yourself out of a hurricane deductible, you can still manage to cut costs by shopping around. Insurance companies offer different costs so be sure to obtain a minimum of three estimates before you finally choose a carrier.
Should I Also Have Flood Insurance?
You need more than a regular homeowner’s insurance if you live in a coastal region. Generally speaking, damages associated with high powered winds of tropical storms and hurricanes are not covered by standard homeowners insurance. You need to keep yourself protected by getting a flood policy. It will be issued by the National Flood Insurance Program. The policy will cover property damages if the toppled levees, as well as the heavy rains, have caused flooding to your house. Ask the insurance agent to explain everything about your insurance in detail. Be sure to ask questions if there is anything that you do not understand. If you don’t want to have any regrets, be sure to get a flood insurance.
There is a lot to consider when buying or selling a home in Myrtle Beach. Full Potential Real Estate can help navigate all the issues. Give us a call today and we will assist you with the process.
Full Potential Real Estate, LLC
PO Box 571
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 251-3794
http://fullpotentialrealestate.com
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We Serve – Carolina Forest SC, Surfside Beach SC, Conway SC, Myrtle Beach SC, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Little River, Murrells Inlet, Longs/Loris, Forestbrook
