Life Update

Hi everyone! It's been awhile so I thought I would pop in. For those of you who know me, you know I had a pretty big life event happen 2 weeks ago. ;) For those of you who don't know me personally, I had the honor to marry my best friend and sweetheart, Kyle Fillman, on June 17th and I couldn't feel more blessed. Kyle is truly the sweetest gift from the Lord.

Most people probably aren't talking about their wedding on their Real Estate blogs, but I've never been one to separate my business and personal life ;) To me they go hand in hand. Over the past 2 weeks it's been very surreal and SO incredibly special knowing I am now "one" with another person. Kyle's family, friends, & acquaintances are now my people too and I truly feel the love and support. From recently listing a house in Markle (Kyle's hometown), to plastering my new "Stacie Bellam-Fillman" signs all over, I feel our two different worlds being fully blended into one-- and I LOVE IT! :)

We have been so encouraged by so many people, even my sweet clients, and I want to thank you so much for being patient with me the week leading up to the wedding and while I was on my honeymoon! It was an amazing time away with my new husband and SO re-energizing. I think a week away laying on the beach, interacting with dolphins, going out to dinner, and loving on my sweetheart did good for the soul :)

Now that Kyle and I are back and settled into our new home, I'm extremely excited and re-energized for the remaining 6 months of the year. I'm back to thinking up creative marketing ideas and excited for the buyers and sellers I will have the privilege of working with in the near future :)  SO, if you are in the Columbia City, Warsaw, Fort Wayne, South Whitley, Churubusco, Huntington, and (yes, even Markle ;)) area and wanting to buy or sell a home, I would love the chance to work with you! I offer free professional photos for all my listings, taken by my wonderful sister Bridget, and would love to help you with such a special milestone. 

 

Kyle & I are so thankful for you all!! God bless <3  

Catching Up

Over the past few days my girlfriends have inspired me. After looking at their adorable DIY blogs, I attempted to give mine a little makeover. :) And commit to posting on it more frequently.  My goal for today's post is to give a few tips to anyone who is trying to sell their home this winter. (or maybe considering it). I know there are a lot of you out there, including several of my own clients who are dealing with having their house on the market during the holidays. I'll keep this brief and give 4 tips that will hopefully help you this time of year!

Tip #1--
Patience. I know this is not fun and may not even seem like a very helpful tip. But it is :) When it comes to selling your home in the winter,  patience is vital. Though there are still buyers purchasing homes throughout the holiday season & winter months, there are less of them. Meaning your house may be on the market for longer than it would during the summer. Good news though-- there is less inventory of houses in the winter, making less competition for you. Stay patient & it will eventually sell!

Tip #2--
Inviting & Warm. Use this time of year to your advantage. I don't know about you but I love the festiveness of this time of year. Use Christmas decor to make your home feel cozy & stand out next to the competition. Realtor.com gives a list of tips to help achieve this atmosphere.

Here are my top 10 from their list:  

1. Hang a festive wreath on your door
2. Play holiday music in the background
3. Keep the house cozy. Entering a cold house could chill potential buyers’ enthusiasm.
4. Light a fire in the fireplace just before the agent shows your house. (But never leave a fire unattended.
5. Choose a tree and decorate it to complement the room where it’s displayed. 
6. Keep decorations on the conservative side. You want your house to be noticed, not your decorations.
7. If your house is being viewed in the evening, tell your agent how to turn on the holiday lights.
8. Be certain your windows are sparkling clean. (this makes a big difference)
9. Let there be light. Open blinds and curtains and turn on interior lights to reduce the pervasive dreariness of winter months.
10. Bake holiday cookies and treats to fill the home with enticing aromas before the prospective buyers arrive. (Or Candles...:) )

Tip #3--
Price your home well. This tip holds true for any season, but especially in the winter you want to make sure your home is priced where it should be. A home that is overpriced may deter your potential buyers. If lookers are already less frequent during the winter months, you don't want steer away your lookers who walk through the door! Have a Realtor do a market analysis for you. And in case you didn't know,  I do free market analysis' for anyone who needs their home priced out :)

Tip #4-- (my last tip for the day)
Remove furniture if necessary (declutter). With all of the beautiful Christmas decorations this time of year, it is easy for houses to get a little cluttered. If your Christmas tree is now located where a chair use to be, store the chair in the garage or elsewhere rather than putting it in a cluttered space inside. Remember, the less furniture the bigger your space looks!

Hope this was a good refresher for anyone who is trying to sell their home right now! Best of luck :)