Date Archives: December 2019

When you're selling your home, photographs play a large part in attracting potential buyers. Winter can be a difficult time to take appealing photos as everything can look darker and drearier. Instead of colorful spring flowers, you may have piles of snow in your yard.

Our agents have experience selling homes in the winter and suggest the following tips for doing winter listing photography right:

• Use winter decorations wisely
  Winter decorations can brighten up the inside and outside of your home for photographs. Keep things understated and attractive, since potential buyers will want to be able to imagine themselves in your home. Don't have too much personal décor inside, and tone things down a bit outside. A wreath on the door, garland on the mantle, and twinkling clear lights on the roof or shrubbery can add festive yet tasteful touches. Think Martha Stewart, not Clark Griswold!
  
  
• Prevent snow build-up
  Keep your walkways, driveway, porch, and deck clear of snow. Instead of just shoveling it onto your lawn, cart it away in a wheelbarrow. Piles of snow not only don't photograph well, but they also pose a hazard to people who come to look at your home. Gutters should be cleared of icicles so they can't cause damage, and you may also need to salt down areas that become icy.
  
  
• Spruce up your home's exterior
  Bare trees and bushes will leave the exterior of your home more exposed than it is in the springtime. Use a pressure washer or hire a professional to thoroughly clean your home's exterior, including the windows. Depending on the weather, this may need to be done periodically so your house stays looking its best. And if your home's exterior has faded or chipped paint, arrange to have a fresh coat applied.
  
  
• Make your front porch look inviting
  Your front porch will show up prominently in outdoor photos of your home, so it's worth your time and effort to make it look inviting. The porch can also be a good spot to introduce some color if your winter landscaping is lacking it. Refresh the paint on your door and porch while adding touches like new house numbers, a door handle, and a pretty doormat. You should also install new lighting. Finally, choose some colorful planters and fill them with plants that add additional winter colors, such as winterberry holly. This shrub puts on an abundant and showy winter display of brightly colored berries.
  
  
• Let the sunshine in
  Winter homes can look dark and gloomy, so open the blinds and draperies to let natural light inside. Your home will look brighter, and photos also usually look better if they're taken in natural light. If you have a fireplace, turn it on while your photos are being taken and when you have an open house or showing. This can create a warm atmosphere while also providing more light.
  
  
• Calm the clutter
  Clutter distracts potential buyers from seeing your home's positive attributes and gets in the way of them seeing themselves in your home. Purge distracting items that make your house look cluttered, even if you have to temporarily rent a storage facility to do so. Otherwise, photos will mask your home's positive attributes and make it look stuffed and overcrowded.

Contact us to learn more about how you can make sure your winter listing photography is done right. We know what buyers are looking for in Long Island homes and can advise you on any changes you can make to show your home off to its best advantage.

Do you think you're too busy to take up a hobby? Scientific studies show having a hobby provides personal and professional benefits, making you healthier and more productive.

Bring in the new year with a new and improved you. Our real estate agents share some of their favorite hobbies around Long Island. Which one will you try?

• Find Your Om at Om Sweet Om Yoga - 12 Irma Ave., Port Washington 11050
  Yoga focuses on the mind-body connection for better overall health. Start the year stress-free at Om Sweet Om Yoga, just minutes from Port Washington homes for sale. Classes are available for all skill levels, abilities, and ages, including YoGuy classes targeted specifically for the male body. New students can participate in two weeks of unlimited sessions for only $39. Classes are offered seven days a week. Visit the website for the full schedule.
  
  
• Learn to Cook at The Well-Seasoned Chef - 45 New Hyde Park Road #A, Garden City 11530
  Growing tired of fast-food and deli counter take-out? Resolve to eat healthier and save money in 2020 with cooking lessons at The Well-Seasoned Chef. With a formal culinary education and a rich family tradition of cooking, Chef Sophia makes creating fresh, tasty dishes accessible to all. The Well-Seasoned Chef maintains a nut-free facility near Garden City homes for sale, with other food allergies and sensitivities accommodated as well. Visit the website for schedule and pricing.
  
  
• Paint a Masterpiece at The Art Studio - 221 N. Long Beach Road, Rockville Centre 11570
  Dress up the walls of Rockville Centre homes for sale with a DIY masterpiece created at The Art Studio. Instead of guiding you step-by-step to copy an existing work, instructors at The Art Studio teach a full range of methods including drawing, painting, clay, and mixed media. Classes focus on helping each student develop skills and reach their full creative potential. Looking for a unique theme for a children's party? "Paint on the Gogh" with The Art Studio's fully-equipped bus seating up to 20 kids. Visit the website for schedule and pricing, including multi-class packages.
  
  
• Knit a Scarf at Rumpelstiltskin Yarns - 269 Main St., Huntington 11743
  Stay warm during chilly winter weather around Huntington homes for sale by learning to knit colorful scarves, sweaters, and blankets at Rumpelstiltskin Yarns. Classes run two to five weeks and beginner projects are clearly designated. There are also several once-a-month classes focused on different versions of specific crafts such as Fair Isle, lace, and granny squares. If you hit a rough spot, the "Yarn Doctor" has periodic open sessions when you can receive help. Visit the website for schedule and pricing.
  
  
• Dig Up Family History at the Port Jefferson Free Library - 100 Thompson St., Port Jefferson 11777
  The late writer and poet Maya Angelou once said, "If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going." Explore your roots at Port Jefferson Free Library, which offers appointments for one-on-one time with a librarian to start your genealogy research. Want to take a deeper dive into the past? Monthly genealogy research group meetings are open to the public at Patchogue-Medford Library, about 20 miles from Port Jefferson homes for sale. PJFL is open 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. weekdays, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 - 5 p.m. Sunday.

Do your plans for 2020 include buying or selling a home? Contact us at Coach Realtors for friendly and experienced help with your real estate needs at any time of the year.

It's a common misperception that the real estate market comes to a halt when the holidays come to town. The reality is that many people are looking to put the keys to a new home under the tree. Our REALTORS® are experts at selling homes throughout the holiday season and the following are some tips that can help your home stand out among the bright lights and inflatable Santas in the neighborhood. 

1. Be Delicate when Decking the Halls. You don't want to go overboard with your decorations. Choose a few neutral wreaths, a handful of candles, your tree, and a smattering of the ever-popular poinsettia. Leave the inflatable reindeer and extravagant decorations in the box for next year's celebrations in your new home.
   
   
2. Create a Cozy Ambiance. The smell of hot cocoa, Christmas carols coming through Alexa, and some warm cookies are always a welcome touch. These accents create a comfortable ambiance that is soothing and inviting. This encourages prospective buyers to rest and relax as they look around your home.
   
   
3. Coordinate Schedules with Your Real Estate Agent. You'll want to make sure that your real estate agent doesn't have any long trips planned over the holidays. You will also want to let your real estate agent know your schedule so they know when the home will be available for showings, open houses, etc.
   
   
4. Coordinate with the Title Company, Lawyer, and Bank. As with your real estate agent, you will need to know the availability of these individuals and entities. This information can make closing easier and less stressful for you and the buyer.
     
5. Create a Virtual Tour. Creating a virtual tour of your home allows prospective buyers to view the property when they have time to take a look. It's an invaluable marketing tool that gives buyers the ability to look around while they're shopping, traveling, or waiting for family to arrive from the airport.
   
   
6. Include Year Round Photos. Including photos from spring and summer in your listing shows prospective buyers how the home looks throughout the year. It adds a sense of warmth that can melt hearts and warm buyers up to thoughts of spring picnics and summer BBQs.
      
7. Price the Home Properly. You want to position the home so that it's a good deal that stands out in the marketplace. If your price is too high, buyers will pass it by. If it's too low, buyers will think there's either a problem with the property or that you are in a vulnerable position. Neither is good, and your real estate agent can help you set a price that is attractive and in line with similar properties on the market over the holiday season.
   
   
8. Target Your Marketing. You want to narrow your marketing down to the most motivated buyers in your region. Depending on your area, this could mean focusing on military personnel, real estate investors, buyers looking to take advantage of tax breaks, recent college graduates, or new/relocating employees of companies that are expanding at the start of the year.
   
   
9. Spruce up the Landscaping. While snow may cover the landscaping some of the time, you can't count on it to cover every blemish. Make sure that your trees are trimmed, leaves are raked, and any dead plants, etc. are removed from the yard. 

Contact us for more information about selling your home over the holidays. Our team will answer your questions and help you develop a solid marketing strategy for your property. 

Our REALTORS® know that the neighborhood really matters when choosing your new home. Long Island is full of wonderful neighborhoods ready for you to call home. Throwing a party is a fun way to celebrate the holidays in your new home with family and friends. And no holiday celebration is complete without some holiday cookies. Let's face it, everyone loves cookies! They're perfect to round out the food choices at your own celebration, bring to someone else's party, or to give as a gift for the host or hostess. Here are some of the best places on Long Island to get cookies for your holiday party.

• Cookies by Design - 1969 Jericho Turnpike, East Northport, NY 11731.
  After you're done looking at East Northport homes for sale make sure to stop at Cookies by Design for a dessert everyone at the party will love. Whether you're looking for a gift box with a variety of flavors, a giant cookie to share, or an arrangement of custom-decorated cookies, you'll find what you need here. Hosts and guests alike will be impressed. 

• Butter Crust Bakery - 36 Laurel Road, East Northport, NY 11731.
  Butter Crust Bakery is a family-owned bakery that has been serving East Northport for over 50 years, so you know your holiday cookie order will be delightful. Their elegant and tasty cookies make every party a special occasion.

• Butter Street Sweets - 256 Main St., Northport, NY 11768
  Butter Street Sweets provides photo-worthy cookies to Northport homes for sale that are perfect for your holiday party. Whether you prefer custom-decorated cookies or a platter of classic holiday favorites, your guests and your taste buds will be impressed! 

• Chip 'n Dipped - 342 New York Ave., Huntington, NY 11743
  Chip 'n Dipped offers a unique take on holiday cookies, with all your favorites dipped in delectable chocolate. After you're done checking out Huntington homes for sale stop by and watch them create homemade treats, you'll love to eat. If your holiday parties are taking place out of town, don't worry. Chip 'n Dipped can ship nationwide.   

• Buttercooky Bakery - Locations in Floral Park, Huntington, and Manhasset
  With three locations around Long Island, including one near Manhasset homes for sale, Buttercooky Bakery can meet all your holiday cookie needs. Traditional butter cookies in a wide variety of flavors, your favorite Italian cookies, and specialty cookies can take any holiday celebration you're having to the next level.

No matter what holidays you celebrate this season, your get together is always better with cookies! Local businesses are just one of the many features that make Long Island a great place to live. And our agents at Coach REALTORS® can help you find the right home you'll love. Contact us today to get started.