Buying a home is a unique situation in that the age of the property doesn’t tend to influence the price in any meaningful way. When you buy a used car, for example, the age of the car and the number of miles it has accumulated will play a huge role in the price. It doesn’t really work that way with houses, and old homes can easily sell for as much or more than comparable new ones.

So, with price not being much of a factor, how do you know what age home is best to buy? This post will help shed some light on that puzzle, and you can reach out directly to the Tate Realtors at Smith Marketing for help in your home search. 

The Benefits of a New Home

It should be pretty obvious that the main benefit of a new home is that everything in that home is new and should last for years to come. There has been no wear and tear on any of the components, and there should be warranty coverage to protect you if anything does come up. This is one of the main reasons that a significant percentage of home buyers want to find something new to purchase.

It’s also possible that finding a new home is going to be more likely in the areas where you want to live. For example, if there is a new development with new schools where you’d like to send your kids, the inventory of real estate in that area is going to skew toward new construction.

Going Back 10 or 20 Years

When you look at homes in this age range, you’ll find that most of the main structural components are still in good shape, but some of the cosmetic stuff might be starting to suffer a bit. Those fixes can be easy and often inexpensive, like adding new paint or maybe replacing the indoor door handles. Also, a home of this age range might start to look and feel a little dated, so that’s something to keep in mind if you are going to want to renovate in the future.

Older, Historic Homes

You might come across some real estate listings promoting homes that were built more than 40 or 50 years ago. For many people, the appeal of these kinds of houses is in the “charm” or “character” that they offer. Houses are built differently today than they were generations ago, and some buyers will love the aesthetics and layout of an older house.

Of course, that charm can come at a price, as many of the features in an older home might need to be replaced along the way; certainly the appliances that haven’t been brought up to current standards can be an issue. Plenty of problems can pop up after you take ownership of an older home and any warranty coverage that once existed will be long gone.

The reputation of Allen Tate in Greensboro speaks for itself, as the Realtors under this umbrella have been leaders in the Greensboro real estate market for many years. If you’d like to put powerful local knowledge on your side while looking to buy a home, take a moment today to get in touch with Smith Marketing.

There is very little debate in real estate circles regarding what is the most important room in the house – it’s the kitchen. When looking at area real estate listings, the pictures of the kitchen are one of the first places that most home shoppers will stop. But why is that the case? This post will look at some of the many reasons why the kitchen is at the top of the priority list for so many buyers.

Whether you have been looking at existing houses in the Greensboro area or you want to consider some of the best Greensboro homebuilders to work on a custom home project, Smith Marketing is ready to help you with navigating the process. Get in touch today to learn more.

It’s Usually Used Every Single Day

As a starting point, the kitchen is critical to the function of a home simply because it is used every day. That’s true even if you aren’t an avid home cook – you’ll still be using the kitchen daily to get things out of the fridge, warm things up in the microwave, etc. And, if you do like to cook, the value of a good kitchen goes up even more.

There Are Big Differences from One to the Next

Part of the reason that kitchens are such a big deal in real estate comes down to the dramatic differences from one kitchen to another. For the most part, bedrooms are bedrooms – sure, they vary some, but they all have four walls and a closet of some kind. With a kitchen, you can get a wide range of layouts, and some will work better than others. Often, it’s not such much about having an amazing kitchen as it is about finding a house that just doesn’t have a terrible kitchen.

Changes Can Be Expensive

Yet another point on this topic is the fact that renovating a kitchen can be an expensive, time-consuming project to take on for a new homeowner. So, if a potential buyer doesn’t like the kitchen in a house, they are more likely to just move on than they are to invest in that house and then deal with the renovation that follows.

A Social Spot

Given the name “living room”, you might think that it would be the room where people would usually gather – but as you likely know,  that’s not how it goes. People tend to collect in and around the kitchen, so any home buyer is going to want to make sure that the kitchen they purchase is going to be suitable for welcoming people and having a good time with family and friends.

In new construction homes, you can be sure that the kitchen is going to get plenty of attention during the design and build phases. With a great kitchen, the house will be much easier to sell, for many of the reasons discussed above. If you’d like to work with leading Realtors in the Greensboro area to find the kitchen of your dreams, make a call to Smith Marketing today.

There is no denying the pressure that comes along with buying a house. It can be a stressful time, as it’s something you only do a few times in your life – and maybe you’ve never done it before. In this post, you’ll find some fundamental buying mistakes to avoid so you can keep this process on track and come away with a home that you absolutely love.

One of the best things to do when searching for “houses for sale near me” is to work with an experienced Realtor like those at Smith Marketing. With their knowledge and experience on your side, things won’t be as stressful, and the years and years of experience and expertise that the Smith Marketing Realtors have will help you navigate the process and allow you to relax and enjoy this exciting time.

Failing to Get Preapproved

One of the worst things you can do in this process is to start shopping for a home before understanding exactly what you can afford. Sure, you might use an online calculator tool to estimate what your budget could be, but that’s not the same thing as actually getting preapproved for a certain amount with a lender. Do this step first so you can shop and make offers with confidence.

Being Too Stringent

Yes, buying a home is a big purchase, and you want to get something that you like and is going to work for you and your family. With that said, the perfect house almost certainly isn’t out there, and you are shopping for real estate in the real world. Compromises are a part of life, and you need to set realistic expectations from the start. Remember to focus on the things that really matter, such as finding a house that is in an area that you like and has enough space for your family to live comfortably. Other things like the color of the walls, the condition of some of the fixtures, or other minor points can all be changed later on once you get moved in.

Thinking You Can Ignore Market Conditions

No one is above the market when buying a house. You are going to be playing within the conditions that are set by the market currently, and there isn’t anything you can do about it. So, if the market has a lot of buyers and few properties available, it’s likely that you’ll need to pay at least the asking price, if not more for the property that you want to buy. Making low-ball offers in an effort to get a super deal might result in frustration and lengthen the time it takes to find a home that works for you and your family.

Waiting Until You Can Put 20% Down

It’s great to have a large downpayment for the purchase, but realistically, not all buyers actually reach the mythical 20% mark. Plenty of loan options are available for buyers who have less than 20% to spend on a downpayment, so don’t let this issue hold you back from starting to shop for a great house.

Finding the best homes for sale Greensboro has to offer isn’t difficult when Smith Marketing is your chosen partner. Take a moment today to get in touch with the team and learn exactly how the team of Realtors at Smith Marketing can help you whether you are buying or selling.

In recent years, modern technologies have played an increasingly important role in many homes throughout Greensboro and surrounding areas. So-called smart home features are more popular than ever and can make life more convenient and relaxing, and even safer. This post will look at some of the best gadgets in this space, so you can consider which you might want to add to your house or include in a custom home project.

To work with Greensboro Realtors who are always current on the latest tech in this industry, turn to Smith Marketing for assistance. The real estate agents at Smith Marketing can help with shopping for an existing house or building one from the ground up – so don’t hesitate to get in touch today.

Advanced Home Security

It’s a great time to be adding security features to your home, as there are so many powerful – and affordable – options on the market today. Plenty of different components can come together to create a home security system, including things like video doorbells, security cameras, motion detectors, and more. Customizing a system to suit the needs of your home is easier than ever and will result in a robust security layout.

Smart Lighting

No longer do your lights have to operate in the same basic way that they have for generations. Now, you can use smart lighting to give you far more control over the entire lighting system in your house. With just a tap of the screen on your smartphone, you can do things like schedule your lights to come on or off, change their color, or match them up with the rhythm of your favorite song.

Robot Vacuum Cleaners

When compared to some of the other technologies that are available in the home tech landscape, robot vacuums have actually been around for a while. With that said, these devices continue to get better and better, and they can save you a ton of time once set up and programmed to do what you need.

Smart TVs and Appliances

Many of the things that you have in your home can now be connected to the internet to gain additional performance and convenience advantages. For example, with a smart TV, you will no longer be limited to just a cable connection – you can stream countless different shows and movies from a range of available services.

Smart Plugs

This last point on the list might seem pretty basic, but it can actually make a big impact on how you experience your home. Using a smart plug that can be turned on or off through your phone, it’s possible to control many different parts of your house, such as lamps, coffee makers, and on and on. Also, when you leave your home and can’t remember if you turned off a particular item, you can just use your phone to check the status of the smart plug to confirm. 

The right mix of tech gadgets for your home is going to depend on your specific needs and what you like to do in and around your home. As you search for “homes for sale near me”, make sure to partner with Smith Marketing to put local experts on your side for this exciting process.

When selling a home, you don’t want to overlook even the smallest of details. Sure, big points like the size and square footage of a home are going to play a primary role in how quickly the house sells and for how much, but there are plenty of other factors involved, as well. This article will look at one of those other factors – the colors of the home – and how they might play into the selling process.

To get help from the leading Allen Tate Greensboro team as you prepare to sell your property and potentially buy a new one, get in touch with Smith Marketing today.

Embracing Tradition

When picking colors that you think will help to attract buyers and sell your home, you need to think first about the market you are in and what people are likely to want and expect. In the Greensboro area, many of the properties are more traditional in nature and have a timeless approach to décor. The bright and trendy colors and styles that might play well in other parts of the country – specifically, bigger metropolitan areas – aren’t going to be such a hit in other areas. Stay true to the market that you are serving and you will be far more likely to have a deal sooner rather than later.

Soft Shades Rule the Day

Most likely, you’ll want to go with some softer shades when painting walls or adding staging touches that will be on display when you list the house. You want to make sure that potential buyers can picture themselves living comfortably in the space right from the start, even if you’ll be taking most or all of those decorations with you. Pastel shades tend to work well when aiming for a traditional look, but you could opt to get the help of a professional designer to make sure your selections are on track or check with your real estate agent to get valuable input. If you are working with an experienced Realtor such as those at Smith Marketing, they will have a very good handle on what is currently popular and more importantly what to avoid. 

Always Play It Safe

Getting a house ready to sell is not the time to take bold chances with your design decisions. Rather, you want to play it down the middle and try to create a look that is going to appeal to as many people as possible. When decorating your own house that you are going to live in for many years to come, you can feel free to take whatever risks you want with the design and opt for bold colors and styles. That’s not an approach that is likely to pay off on the market, however, so play it safe – even if it feels a bit boring – and make sure every buyer feels welcome so you can have the biggest possible pool of bidders.

Whether you are listing your home, looking at homes for sale, or doing both, Smith Marketing is the Greensboro real estate partner you want to have on your side. Reach out right away to learn more.

Greensboro, North Carolina is a popular place to live. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to call this place home – or haven’t even visited for a weekend – you might not quite understand what is so special about this city and the surrounding area. This article will take a closer look at what makes Greensboro different and why so many people are so happy to call it home.

As Greensboro Realtors, Smith Marketing is up to the challenge of finding the ideal property in this market for you and your family. Whether you are ready to look at homes for sale or you just want to learn a little more about this area, get in touch today to get started.

It Starts with Location

When it comes to real estate in general, the importance of location has become something of a cliché. It is said so often, however, because it is true – location really is everything in real estate, and that’s a big part of why Greensboro is such a popular place to live.

For those who aren’t familiar with the area, just open up a map and take a look around. You’ll quickly notice that no matter what it is you’d like to do, there is a good chance you can do it relatively close to Greensboro. Want to head to the beach? You can be on the shores of the Atlantic after a comfortable drive to the east. Feeling like getting into the mountains? Head to the west instead and the Appalachians will be waiting for you. Not many places have such geographical diversity within a short drive of home, which is a big part of what makes Greensboro so enjoyable.

A Comfortable Size

Finding a city that is just the right size can be a bit of a challenge. In a huge metropolis, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the congestion and feel like you are lost in the crowds. On the other end of the spectrum, living in a small town isn’t for everyone – some people feel like they want to have more things to do and see than what is offered by the typical small town.

Greensboro manages to strike a beautiful balance between the two. With a population of around 300,000, there are plenty of people here to attract businesses and entertainment, yet congestion is not a problem often seen in the city. Once you have a chance to explore the city and get familiar with what it offers, you might come to the same conclusion as many other residents – this is the perfect size for a city that you can call home for the long run.

Getting Outside

Anyone who loves spending as much time outdoors as possible is sure to be impressed by the experience of living in and around Greensboro. There are seemingly endless parks to enjoy, lakes for fishing and boating, numerous golf courses, trails, and on and on. Pretty much any type of outdoor activity that you enjoy is going to be accessible when you call Greensboro your home base.

Speaking of being outside, the weather that occupies Greensboro for most of the year will encourage you to do just that. In the summer, you can look forward to warm afternoons with highs regularly in the 80s and low 90s. When winter comes around, you’ll avoid the bitter cold of the north, but will switch to cooler patterns with daytime highs frequently in the high 40s and low 50s. It’s an enjoyable climate with enough seasonality to keep things fresh without dealing with the harsh extremes that other places experience.

Abundant Opportunities

Whether you are striving for more education, a new career, or a little bit of both, Greensboro has something for you. The economy in this part of North Carolina gets its strength from its diversity, as there are many different sectors active here. Some of those include manufacturing, technology, logistics, and healthcare, among others. Growing a successful career is absolutely possible in this area and you may be excited to explore all of the various paths that a professional life in Greensboro could take you down.

The educational opportunities in Greensboro are just as impressive. Several great schools are available here, including the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University. In fact, some people come here as students and wind up staying for a lifetime once they get a taste of the Greensboro lifestyle. Any chance you have to come here to enroll or work at one of the outstanding schools is something you should consider carefully.

In the End, It’s the People

Everything that has been discussed above presents a compelling argument for moving to Greensboro, but above all else, it’s the people of this city that really make it what it is. The friendly, approachable nature of the South as a whole is really put on display in Greensboro, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet are going to be found here. Unfortunately, some places are famous for being a bit frosty toward outsiders, making it hard for new people to become integrated into the community.

It’s just the opposite in Greensboro, and you’ll almost certainly find yourself feeling welcomed and included right from the start. This is a comforting thought if you are going to be moving from a long distance away and won’t know anyone when you arrive. That isn’t going to be the case for long, as you’ll start to meet people and form connections as soon as you move in and start to live and work here. Whether coming alone or with a whole family, Greensboro will make you feel at home from day one.

Working with an Allentate realty agency like Smith Marketing is a great way to get a handle on the competitive Greensboro housing market. As one of the leading Allen Tate Greensboro Realtors, you will be in good hands when you trust your home search to this group of experienced professionals.

The housing market is always in flux. If you don’t work in the real estate industry, you probably don’t pay very close attention to how prices are moving up and down – until it is time to buy or sell a home. Then, as you start to look at Greensboro MLS listings, you may find yourself wondering if the prices have been moving up or down recently. This article will take a quick look at the current state of affairs in North Carolina.

If you would like to partner with a top real estate agent for your upcoming transaction, Smith Marketing is the easy choice. Reach out today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

A Relatively Flat Trend

Looking at the median sale price of homes across North Carolina doesn’t reveal much of a strong trend in either direction. For the whole of 2023, prices were up just slightly according to Redfin, but it was a modest increase. Zooming out and looking at the past three years, the story is pretty much the same. Homes in North Carolina are more expensive now than they were three years ago, but not dramatically so.

So, to get back to the question posed in the title of this article, no, home prices in North Carolina have not been dropping. There hasn’t been any dramatic movement in the market recently, but any trend has been slightly upward toward higher prices. Overall, North Carolina remains a great place to purchase a home, as the home prices in this state are quite appealing to many other places across the country, and this region offers a great standard of living, nice weather, economic opportunities, and more.

It’s Very Difficult to Predict the Market

When you get down to it, the reality is that it doesn’t much matter what has been happening with the market recently, as those movements are no predictors of the future. For example, if the market prices for homes in North Carolina have been going down for three months in a row, should you wait to buy and let them drop even further? No – because they could start to go back up again at any time. There is simply no way to know the future of the market, as myriad factors are involved in determining whether they go up or down.

The best course of action when buying a house is simply to deal with the facts of what you know at the moment. You can know the current market condition and the asking prices for the kinds of homes that you are considering. Take that information, along with details like interest rates and other related factors, and decide what is best for your family.

Whether you decide to buy an existing property or you choose to partner with one of the best Greensboro homebuilders to create a custom house, the Smith Marketing team is ready to serve you. Get started today!

Greensboro, NC is a great place to live. The list of advantages of calling this place home could go on and on and on, including the wonderful weather, great park system, miles and miles of hiking trails, excellent athletic facilities, cultural events, diverse dining options and so much more. In addition to all of that, the family-friendly nature of the city and the surrounding area make it ideal for those with young kids. This article will highlight a few of the many great places for families to spend their time.

If you have been looking for homes for sale in Greensboro to make a move into the area, Smith Marketing would be proud to partner with you on the real estate shopping process. With a long history in this market and connections throughout the area, you’ll be in good hands.

The Children’s Museum

When compiling a list of the best places to spend time with kids in the Greensboro area, the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum is an easy one to put at the top. Like so many other kid’s museums across the country, this place is far from a stuffy, boring affair. Kids are encouraged to get their hands dirty, explore a variety of exhibits, and generally have a great time. Local residents will want to consider purchasing a membership so they can return time after time, as there is always something new to see or do here.

The Natural Science Center

Along the same lines, the Greensboro Science Center is another popular destination for adults and kids alike. There are actually many attractions combined at this impressive facility, including the Animal Discovery Zoological Park, the museum, the OmniSphere Theater, and the Wiseman Aquarium. As with the Children’s Museum, having a membership to the Greensboro Science Center is an investment that will continue to pay off for families throughout the year. Don’t be surprised if it only takes one visit for your kids to start asking to go back, over and over again.

Country Park

The grounds of Country Park are one of the best places in all of Greensboro to spend time outdoors. With more than 400 acres of space to explore, including 13 miles of trails, you and your kids won’t get bored here anytime soon. There are playgrounds to enjoy, a mountain bike trail, two fishing lakes, pedal boat rentals, and all in a beautiful natural setting. Of course, being a public park, you can come here and play for free, which is a nice option for families with young kids who need to burn off energy whenever possible. If you are new to the area and have been looking for places to check out, be sure to make a visit to Country Park sometime soon.

The real estate agents at Smith Marketing are ready and excited to serve you. Rather than continually searching for “land for sale near me”, just turn to the Smith Marketing team and lean on their expertise to find exactly what you need.

As a property owner, you are likely always looking for ways to boost what your property is worth. Your home may be the most valuable thing that you own, so adding to the value of this asset – even by just a percentage point or two – can make a big difference in your finances. So, what is it that is going to add the most value to your property? The article below will take a closer look.

Whether you are looking at Greensboro NC homes for sale or you want to add your own property to the MLS listings sometime soon, Smith Marketing is the right partner for the project. Take a moment today to get in touch and you’ll be in good hands.

Get Rid of the Clutter

This one almost seems too good to be true, as it doesn’t take any investment and only modest effort to see results on this point. By decluttering your home before it is time to sell, you will make the space feel dramatically bigger, and prospective buyers will have an easier time seeing themselves moving into the house. Of course, you don’t have to be ready to sell to benefit from cleaning out the clutter, as doing so can help you in terms of stress reduction, lowered anxiety, and more. The clutter has to go!

Consider Some Fresh Paint

Paint is not expensive, especially if you are able to do it yourself. By adding fresh paint, you’ll make the space look and feel newer, even though you’ll only have spent a small amount of time and money on the project. If you are doing the painting with the idea of selling the house in the near future, make it a point to pick neutral colors that aren’t going to send anyone running in the other direction. Play it safe with your design choices to keep as many people as possible in your pool of prospective buyers.

Pick Up the Curb Appeal

Another way to give your property value a boost without investing a lot of money into the process is upgrading the curb appeal through better landscaping. Improving landscaping doesn’t have to require a major redesign or an expensive team of professionals – it might be as simple as keeping the grass in good condition and making sure the flower beds are weeded.

Add Useful Square Footage

To make a big move toward having a more valuable property, you could hire a contractor to complete an addition to the home. Of course, this is going to be more expensive than the other ideas discussed above, but it can more than pay off in the long run when you get ready to sell the home and it has more useful square footage than it did previously. Of course, there are zoning and code restrictions to keep in mind here, so do your homework before planning to go ahead with this endeavor.

As an Allen Tate real estate team, Smith Marketing has built an excellent reputation in Greensboro, Oak Ridge, Summerfield and the surrounding areas. Don’t buy or sell real estate in this area without first reaching out to the expert real estate agents at Smith Marketing to learn more about what they can offer. You will be glad you did.

Perhaps the last thing you want to do as a property owner is take some kind of action that is going to decrease the value of the property you own. Making a choice that causes your property to decline in value on the open market would be a costly error that could change your financial future. This article will help you understand some of the things that you need to avoid to make sure your property value stays as high as possible moving forward.

If you’d like to team up with Tate Realtors for an upcoming real estate transaction in the Greensboro area, call Smith Marketing right away to discuss your needs. With tons of experience and a long list of happy clients throughout the region, you will be able to move forward with confidence.

Declining Appearance

When selling a home, appearance matters. In general, the better the house looks, the more quickly it will get offers – and the higher those offers will be. If two houses go up for sale on the same block and have exactly the same stats in terms of square footage and bedrooms, you can be sure that the one that looks better will sell for the higher price (and will sell faster).

The appearance of your home can include many things, including interior and exterior paint, landscaping, and more. As you get ready to go into the selling process, take some time to look at how your home will appear to prospective buyers and upgrade any areas that seem to be run down. Even just a fresh coat of paint or a few hours of work on the lawn and garden could make a world of difference.

Repairs in Waiting

You’ll certainly be looking at a lower sale price if your home has things that need to be fixed right away when someone new moves in. Having these things fixed ahead of time – like problems with the HVAC system, for example – is going to be well worth it and will make the selling process much easier.

Problems in the Kitchen and Bathrooms

It’s commonly said that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, and that is almost certainly true (along with the location of the house). People spend a lot of time daily in these two spaces, so they want them to be as nice as possible. You don’t necessarily have to go through a whole kitchen or bathroom renovation to sell your house for a good price, but you do want to address any obvious issues that are going to cause people to pause and think twice about making an offer.

Good real estate agents are worth more than most people understand during the buying and selling process. If you have been searching for “houses for sale near me” and you can’t quite find what you want, it’s time to reach out to Smith Marketing to put the experts on your side. Don’t wait another day to get started.