Summer has finally arrived and the Real Estate market has heated up. The savvy seller has been prepping their home for sale and not waiting till the last minute. This time of year also brings out the buyer for second homes. Location is everything, especially waterfront properties especially in the summer.

Maxine Schulte, broker owner of The Maxx Group in Ferndale (845-866-4673), loves working with lakefront buyers and sellers. Maxine is a resort and second home property specialist. She says, “There truly is no better place to be in the summer than at one of the beautiful lakes that Sullivan County has to offer and it makes the job of selling so pleasant when you are sold on these homes yourself. One of my lakefront sellers located on Swinging Bridge contacted me a while ago to sell his place and asked my opinion as to what we should do to get this home ready for the market. Luckily he called me back in December to prepare which was very smart. It gave him ample time to get things done without scrambling”.
When the real estate market heats up so does everything else along with it such as contractors and painters so plan accordingly because most contractors are already booked up with a waiting list and every home always needs a few finishing touches before being put on the market.

“One of the most noticeable changes we made for this particular lakefront home was having the expansive beautiful beech wood flooring polished to create a shiny, glass like finish. This made a huge difference. Who doesn’t like gleaming floors? Another thing I had suggested was to give the front door a coat of paint to really make it pop and standout. The homeowner picked a color that tied in with the tile entry. The homeowner also painted an accent wall in the living room”, says Maxine.

Simple changes make all the difference

These are all changes that are simple enough but made a big difference especially when it came to photos.

• New bedding
• Updated lighting fixtures
• New towels
• Accent pillows

 

Photography to showcase the current season

Photos are very important and never minimize the little things that give the house a fresh look. Just as important is to make sure the pictures of your home are always updated.

“Yes your home may look beautiful with a foot of snow around it but save those photos for the winter time. Holiday decorations are beautiful during that specific time of the year but nobody wants to see Christmas decorations in the summer so save the snowy pictures for the winter and keep those photos updated with the change of seasons”, says Maxine.

Staging for outdoor living
Don’t forget to set up the lounge chairs on the deck and create a welcoming environment for potential buyers to sit a spell and take in their surroundings. Maxine says,
“This home on Swinging Bridge not only sits lakeside but also features a beautiful pool and professional landscaping. You can’t help but fall in love with this place. I know I did!”